production hardware

Any old hardware dinosaurs out there?

I had a play with a SidStation last nite, analogue synth that uses the SID sound card chip out of a commodore64 (partially a digital chip so im told). 

Fuck me, impressive sounds to say the least, and unlike any of the soft synths ive used the presets made shit hot sounds at both ends of the keyboard.  Starting at a grand, i dont think ill be getting one myself soon.   

ive got a roland mc-303 which ive just boxed up

fun to play with, has some nice pad sounds in it and can be used as a midi controller i beleive

didnt come with a manual so i didnt get a chance to use it to its full potential

I got a roland v-synth.... Its the shit but looking at upgrading it to a v-synth GT which we had demo'd at work last week, amazing synth.

That should keep you going for a bit 

I gotta Juno G. Bloody confusing to get used to though

The MC-303 is a turgid piece of shit. I hated the things when they came out and I hate them now. It's basically a run-of-the-mill sample CD in a tacky plastic box.

Sorry Khem

I got an Akai S2000, Akai S3000XL and Emu E6400 in the way of samplers, they don't get a lot of use these days though. I'm not getting rid of them though, the Akai boxes are beatiful for breaks and vocals, and the E6400 is a monster for basslines. One of these days I'll get around to using them all the time again.

all good, shoulda seen the layer of dust i had to peel off of it before i boxed it up.

I still use mine when im playing in bands but i do agree with Griff its nothing more than a sample CD in a box,

The plus is its reliable as

not really hardware like you guys are talking about but i'd love to get a novation remote sl and a new sound card.... oh and a duende or uad card and waves plugs and legit logic 8

What sort of card you after mate?  Thinking of getting an external one in a year or so (internal M-audio 192 now)...

rme fireface 400 or apogee duet. got a tascam us-122 atm

cool, i need to do some reading

Yeah all those groovebox type things are pretty average, nothing at all like the original 303. A bit of fun but thats about it. The best one of em was that Yamaha rmx1, but even that was pretty shite really.

Emu samplers are the shit, I flogged my s950 and nabbed a ESI-32. If you look hard enough you can snaffle a MPC2000 for ~$500-$600, at that price it's insane.

i've been hunting for an e6400 on and off for years... still not seen one at the right price though.

Best sampler 2nd to the MPC Is the Roland W30, once you get the hang of the editing screen their so easy to use and have a awesome grungy sound ( 12bit/32K ) theres also a onboard sequencer but the only real way to use it is with a MIDI dump from a external device.

I had a S2000 but sold it pretty quick because i couldnt get the SCSI to work with my comp, im pretty keen to get my hands on a 3200 and give that sucker a shot

I am probably one of the world's biggest fan of the SID chip. I was looking at those external hardware synths with SID chips, but for the price I would rather whack a MIDI interface on a real C64 



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http://www.firestarter-music.de/prophetcart/

http://www.prophet64.com/

If you cant find a hardware SID solution you might want to try the QuadraSiD VST from reFX.

4 SiD's in one.....

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www.refx.net

The SiDStation is definitely a killa piece of kit but are prone to lockups on a regular basis. I know 2 ppl that have owned them and both of them ended up selling them because they locked up so much. Probably something to do with the fact their based on second hand chips. Who knows...

I looked at some software SID's but they just didn't cut it. HardSID, which has the chips located on a PCI card, is the closest thing for the PC.

I don't know if Elektron are still taking orders for SiD Stations or not, you used to be able to send your C64 mainboard to them and they'd make u a Sid Station.

Do these HardSiD guys do that?? Coz i still have a fully functioning SX64 (yes, the PORTABLE version) !

SX64 were truly portable at about 30kg 

Haha yeh, it weighs a fuckin ton.....

I still have some 5 & 1/4 disks for it too.

Love the integrated screen as well...... so easy to read......

Yep I've still got pretty much all my games still.. ahhh IK+ and Great Giana Sisters
Rob Hubbard was king of the C64 muzos, he created amazing shit from a 3-voice synth
..may have to just start a C64 thread   

anyways

I'm after a decent firewire interface for my Mac. My PC can continue to give me glum looks with its Audiophile 2496.
I looked at the Apogee Duet at Derro's the other day - very nice looking unit, although I wish it had balanced outs, spdif in/out and midi in/out. Hopefully they're working on a big brother which has these features.

For these reasons, I still have my eye on an Edirol FA-66 or 101, or the Focusrite Saffire. Very tasty looking. Anyone here used em? I think Griff was telling me he had the rack-version Saffire pro?

Rob Hubbard was the king of game music, period. I was talking with Phorte the other day about him actually, apparently he's done some demos for the latest version of Reason, or at least one of the synths in it. If you're lurking around here Phrote, post and let us know mate.

Anyway ..Yeah, I got a Saffire. There's no actual rack versoin of it, there's the regular Saffire, the budget version (Saffire LE) or the Pro range (the Pro 10 I/O and the Pro 26/I/0) wich are pretty self explanitory. I love my Saffire, it's got everything I need in an interface. I have a desk, so I don't need crazy inputs, and eight analogue and two digital outs is more than enough for pretty much anyone who's doing home studio/prosumer stuff. Unless you're tracking an entire band you don't need more than that, and if you do you're probably the kind of person that's running PT anyway. Having two headphone jacks on the front panel is handy for tracking too, if you plan on doing any. The main selling point for me was the fact that it's a Focusrite product, so I know that the converters are pretty solid and the pre's are about as nice as you can get in it's pricerange. Edirol are really good, but in my eyes the Saffire is the best you can get for that ammount of hard earned flow.

Saffire for $300 tempting...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOCSAFFIRE

Holy crap ..that's like AU$335! I wonder what the shipping on that would be ..

Actually, disregard that. US shipping only. Feck.

bleh, damn...

I've been using an Edirol UA-25 usb interface for about 2 years now, it's part of the same series as the FA-66. One thing I can tell you is Edirol have done extensive work on the drivers for these interfaces, they are rock solid! I've never ever had an issue with this device, it performs flawlessly every time. I'm looking to go Firewire myself, even tho I'm a PC boi...  My vote goes to the MOTU Traveler or Tascam 1884. the Tascam has 4 (yes 4) MIDI outputs, which for me is great coz I have some old hardware I like to control.

4 MIDI outs? Holy crap, that's rather awesome.

What are the rest of the specs for the Tascam?

Full specs here - http://www.tascam.com/details;9,14,46,16.html

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Also there is a rackmount version thats got the 4 midi as well, the FW1804, it's the same engine without the control surface.

http://www.tascam.com/details;9,14,45,16.html

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Just brought an MXL990 condenser mic from derringers, had a play and very happy.  Thanks to Dan for ya help

Following hot on the heels of our talk on C64 sounds comes a new C64 VST - Basic64



http://www.delamancha.co.uk/basic.htm

We'll have to wait for some feedback from users to see just how "authentic" it really is.

Following on from my comments regarding Edirol's rock solid drivers there is some more good news.

The code monkeys over @ Edirol have released Leopard drivers for all of their products.

As a user of their products I hold them in high regard. Driver development is key to a good interface and Edirol do not fail to bring the goods.



The Leopard compatible list includes the following EDIROL devices:
* EDIROL Supports Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard)
* USB 2.0 Audio Devices: M-16DX, UA-101 USB 2.0 mode, UA-1000
* USB 1.1 Audio Devices: M-100FX, PCR-1, PCR-A30, SC-D70, SD-90, UA-1EX, UA-3FX, UA-4FX, UA-5, UA-20, UA-25, UA-101 USB 1.1 mode, UA-700, UR-80
* USB MIDI Devices: UM-1 Series, UM-2 Series, UM-3EX, UM-550, UM-880, PC-50, PC-300, PCR-300, PCR-500, PCR-800, PCR-M1, PCR-M30, PCR-M50, PCR-M80, PCR-30, PCR-50, PCR-80, SC-8820, SC-8850, SD-20, SD-80, SK-500

Still trying to get the hang of my kawai 5000s - it's got more knobs in it than ricky martin's love party

mainly using it for midi purposes and creating melodies...

Hahaha you can sell it to me if you like !   

Nice k/b tho..... I use a CME-Pro UF5. Not quite as spanky as the Kawai, but it does the job.



I bought it coz it's red and it goes faster

 

Tascam have just realeased what looks to be strong competition for the Edirol UA-1000.

Rack mounted, 16 in's / 4 out's. Sleek and sexy.....

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http://www.tascam.com/details;9,15,1056,14.html

Well i'm not sure this comes under the category of Production Hardware but it's not worth starting a thread for so i'm dumping it here.

Pioneer have just released the DJM400 DJ mixer, with some reasonably impressive features for a compact mixer.
I've never really been a massive fan of the earlier DJM's, I feel they tend to sound a little plastic, let's hope they've improved on the design...



From the press release:
Pioneer's newest entry-level mixer with an all-digital mixing bus (24bit/96kHz) featuring 7 onboard effects, including the all new In-Loop Sampler! The DJM-400 matches Pioneer’s CDJ-200 CD turntable in both function and design, allowing DJs to expand the range of DJing and remixing. Its new symmetrical design is the same size as a CDJ-200 enabling an easy fit in a compact DJ coffin.

Check it - http://www.pioneerdj.com/gear_djm400.html

can't wait to check this out

Pioneers new series of mixer are actually built like a real mixer, not like a plastic toy box with knobs.

Well that's certainly good to hear. I have good memories of mixing on Pioneer stuff but haven't used any of the newer ones...

For all you Pro Tools out there...... 7.4 just released.

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=61&

Digidesign is now shipping the latest release of its industry-standard Pro Tools software. Previewed for the first time at the AES (Audio Engineering Society) convention in New York last month, Pro Tools 7.4 software offers numerous new music and post-production features and workflow enhancements for Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE, and Pro Tools M-Powered users.

Topping the list of new features is a powerful, multifaceted new music composition and production tool called Elastic Time. The software also provides improved networking compatibility with Avid Unity ISIS™ shared storage systems and new support for HD video workflows.

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Check these monitors.... i'm runnin them at the moment 2.1 sound great for smaller rooms.

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Good write up here for them...

http://www.axetopia.com/news/2004_08/images/media_desk.jpg

Really well priced too approx $1100

very interesting... may have to come in for a listen to those.

this is what ive got, its pretty sweet. a mate at jb hooked me up and i got it for $630

Im still a fan of the motu 828

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Korg has just released the new KP3 Kaoss Pad Version 2.0, which offers a whole selection of user-requested features and provides a number of additional improvements to functionality.

The KP3 built on the KAOSS legacy with added capability and features. Now, say Korg, version 2.0 for the KP3 takes those features even further, providing greater flexibility in the areas of effects and sampling functionality. The Version 2.0 package, which includes the version upgrade, a newly revised 2.0 Editor Librarian for Mac and PC and all instructional documents is available worldwide as a free download from your local Korg website.

Additions/Improvements:
* Sample Playback Trigger Functions Add Versatility
New sample trigger options have been implemented to provide greater control over looped samples. The new Gate function plays a sample only as long as you are pressing the sample pad. You can also decide whether the sample is retriggered from the beginning or plays continuously. Furthermore, the trigger type can be assigned per-sample pad.

* Polyphonic Sample Edit Mode Streamlines Sample Mixing
The four samples can now be played simultaneously, and this allows for volume mixing of all samples in the Sample Edit mode. Additionally, triggering and muting of samples can be controlled in real-time while in this mode.

* Additional Loop Type Offers Greater Rhythmic Possibilities
A new loop selection offers greater control over how a sample retriggers when using one of the loop programs involving the touch pad. Now, the starting point of the sample can be changed depending on how you drag your finger across the touch pad.

* KP3 Editor Version 2.0
KP3 Version 2.0 works in tandem with the new Version 2.0 Editor Librarian. All previously mentioned functions are now represented in the Editor Librarian program, which works for both Mac and PC.

This Operating System update for the KP3 adds many useful features. A full listing of improvements is included in the download package. Korg recommends the use of the most current software to all users.

id love to get my hands on one of these... James Zabiella is the master of the kaos pad

This is insane!   Virus Ti

Some of the most dirty, ground-Shakin basslines ive ever heard.

The coolest thing though, is that it runs as a hardware standalone, or as a multichannel vst/au plugin and midi controler
As far as i know the first of its kind. 

 Maagic for those of us who dont like cables that much



read from the brochure brother...

http://www.access-music.de/events/11-2004/virusti_details_keyboard.php4?product=virustikeyboard

i'd love a virus, not cheap though!

i got one for free off your mum

is that Punter in the background?

5K on EvilBay

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http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200188119631&indexURL=7&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

Who did that?   THATSHITISFUCKINHILARIOUS!

NOW, GO WARM ME UP SOME "PORK CHOPS-O-CHUNKY"

lol just fiddlin with my onboard soundcard on asus blitz formula motherboard
plays 192000 24bit

different much

oh my fuckn god
lol

If your only playing 44.1kHz content, then it is up-sampling to 192kHz which may sound crisper through the DAC.

I used to have a shitty SB Audigy which had a locked sample rate of 48kHz, meaning that everything being recorded or played back was being brought up (or down) to this rate. Even if you were recording a 44.1kHz track, it would be sampled at 48kHz, then brought down to 44.1kHz which lead to sync issues. The only way to get around this was to do all your audio work at 48kHz which kinda sucked.

I would never be caught calling on-board software-based sound or gaming cards as production hardware. They're just not the same.

it was the closest currnt thing at the time i could see.
impressed with the quality jump regardless.
i dont produce, just enjoy so i prolly wouldnt justify crazy card anyways

   Sorry Cale, looks like you cant whore it up on this thread then

whoring days are behind me,
im loose as a goose now.

can i pimp out some of my post whores on here tho?>