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songboy
Published on 12/05/08 at 12:04
The install was smooth. No problems then and now problems now. I run a Macbook laptop with Logic8/Mainstage. I had no compatibility problems. I just plug my M Audio Axiom keyboard in and start playing. If you are not familiar with synths and/or computer audio programs, it can be a little tricky. This was actually the first computer synth I had ever used. After a few days of just going through patches (there are a bunch as expected) and randomly tweaking knobs to see what they do, I have gotten a much better grasp of how to use it. Most of the patches sound really good that only a fine tweaking is needed to make it fit your fancy.
I have never looked at the menu, I am sure it will help but at this point I use the synth sparingly so I haven't had the motivation yet. I imagine it is fairly thorough, but these days if you have any questions, its almost easier to find a chat site about whatever it is you are using.
SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE
I have a Macbook with the intel core duo, 2.2ghz processor, 4 gb ram, 120 gb HD. I use a Presonus FirePod in my studio, a Presonus Firebox when I am mobile and the Internal Core audio in the Laptop when I have to (I don't know the specs on that) and with all configurations this synth works flawlessly. The performance is good. The synth has great sounds and out of my Firebox, has rich textures and good quality lows and highs. So far, this synth has never crashed or gunked up or anything.
OVERALL OPINION
I have been using it for 3 months now. What I like most is the huge quality array of presets. They really are sweet. When live, I almost never tweak them internally because I have a sweet analog effects chain (moog, Diamond, BBE, Analogman) I run it through to get some crazy sounds. I actually got all three of Rob Papens synths (Blue, predator, the other one I can't remember). They were in fact the first computer based synths I ever tried. I plan on collecting more but for now, they work great. It can be hard to spend a couple hundred dollars on software when you can get a pretty sweet hardware synth for the same or a little more. If you are like me and need to be able to write music wherever you are at anytime, then having a great synth in your computer is worth the cash, and yes, I recommend this be one in your arsenal. I would definitely make the same choice again.
I have never looked at the menu, I am sure it will help but at this point I use the synth sparingly so I haven't had the motivation yet. I imagine it is fairly thorough, but these days if you have any questions, its almost easier to find a chat site about whatever it is you are using.
SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE
I have a Macbook with the intel core duo, 2.2ghz processor, 4 gb ram, 120 gb HD. I use a Presonus FirePod in my studio, a Presonus Firebox when I am mobile and the Internal Core audio in the Laptop when I have to (I don't know the specs on that) and with all configurations this synth works flawlessly. The performance is good. The synth has great sounds and out of my Firebox, has rich textures and good quality lows and highs. So far, this synth has never crashed or gunked up or anything.
OVERALL OPINION
I have been using it for 3 months now. What I like most is the huge quality array of presets. They really are sweet. When live, I almost never tweak them internally because I have a sweet analog effects chain (moog, Diamond, BBE, Analogman) I run it through to get some crazy sounds. I actually got all three of Rob Papens synths (Blue, predator, the other one I can't remember). They were in fact the first computer based synths I ever tried. I plan on collecting more but for now, they work great. It can be hard to spend a couple hundred dollars on software when you can get a pretty sweet hardware synth for the same or a little more. If you are like me and need to be able to write music wherever you are at anytime, then having a great synth in your computer is worth the cash, and yes, I recommend this be one in your arsenal. I would definitely make the same choice again.