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SM Pro Audio V-Machine
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SM Pro Audio V-Machine
mathos78 mathos78

«  If you want easy, go your way! »

Published on 02/16/12 at 15:42
I give you my impressions after a few hot days of testing on this little machine ..

Unsuspecting users, not hobbyists; GO YOUR WAY!

The software supplied with the machine and serving to connect the PC to the machine are totally ergonomic.

After unpacking and connection of the little beast to my PC, I try to install the software included in the box.

First surprise, the installation software, supposed to connect to internet to install the latest update immediately stops with a message in my friendly "Unable to find Setup.exe, blah blah blah"

After being manually download this file and installed it manually in the right place; Whew, finally accepts the software to install ...

Second surprise, the software does not recognize the machine connected via USB ...
After several trials and research (do not expect to find your answer in the manual or the manufacturer's documentation), I finally deduced that the updated version of PC software is not compatible with the version "firmware" of the machine ...

A ride on the English forum and I find how the updater firmware of the machine (something that is not explained or recommended in the manual) ..

Finally, the software and machine communicate ...

Third step, and probably the most painful ... how it fonctionen you it?
AND there, the trouble begins ... the documentation is terse on the subject. Install a plugin on a machine seems almost as complicated as to get an elephant in a 2CV ... and software could not be more difficult and complex to handle ...

Each command (delete a plugin, format the memory machine, etc.) is a real torture and a headache ...

After 5 hours passed on, I still have not managed to install a plugin that runs when I am not a novice in this area ...

Apart from that, the unpleasant surprise to have crackles (rare but still annoying in the case of a use "on stage") when the machine plays the sounds ...

The sounds come with the machine base are zero and more like the Casio synth of the 80s as a real sound library worthy of the name ...

Anyway, I still eventually managed to install the plugin VST Native Instruments B4 Organ, thanks to the Wizard of the machine (which will install some plugin for which the company VMAchine the designer to create small Wizards files can help you install the plugin on your machine) ..

Otherwise, when the Wizard function is not available (in 90% of cases) is just a c ... unbelievable galley ...

Well, other than that, I will also mention the incredibly slow transfer time between the machine and the PC and I will summarize the software side with the vague impression that the program designers have tried to make it unusable as possible ....

-The good machine ... this enormous potential provided we know how to use it ...

-There is a huge community of users and lots of very interesting topics on the forums mainly English that will help you in your journey.

- The machine is well made, strong, beautiful and made a signal with noise quite pro. (Too bad the audio cabling is not a little more pro-unbalanced output jack, mini jack output for headphones).

- It is sold new € 200 (down from € 600 at launch) on some sites selling online Europeans (who seem to want to get rid of their stocks :-)

At that price ... and if I can and put my favorite plugin, this choice will be worth well worth it ...

Damage that are used and especially its configuration is as tedious, and the software suite is truly "crappy" (pardon me the word).

Handymen, technology experts and computer music, it's there's hope ..

Novices, busy people, and not go your way ... DIY!