MachFive in a Nutshell-- POLL

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:08 pm

As the days go by (and as this thread gets longer), I'm almost certain that both K2 and MachFive are in my future. K2 will likely be first as a full-featured front end device, but I still have hope that M5-II will show great promise. What it may currently lack in features, it makes up for in native functionality.

I also see some commenting on the upcomng Nanosampler. Again, native compatability is paramount here. It's also nice to know that a simple sample player is in place when a fully featured sample player is not needed. I'm currently flying in short aif's of certain other sounds right now, but these are limited to percussion instruments and sound effects which can make the most of the 5-second limit. It really makes more and more sense to have at least two different sampler VI's for different purposes.

RJ Wade Music · Post by **RJ Wade Music** » Wed May 24, 2006 12:08 pm

I'll give it a 4. I've converted my entire ESX24, Inertia Pro, EMU E4XT, and Akai Libraries. Yes I do have a few issues. But overall, I LOVE the instant access to sounds, the editabilty, and intergration with Digital Performer.

I've sold everything except my controller.

Thanks for reading.

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed May 24, 2006 8:41 pm

Hey RJ-- thanks for chiming in. The easy integration with DP is a major feather in M5's cap. The only thing holding me back right now is the wait for version 2. Perhaps v1 users will get a discount, but since I don't have it at all it will be more cost effective for me to wait.

The most serious issue that has arisen since this thread started is the reality that a VI farm of at least one or two additional Macs on a network is a growing necessity. Granted, we have yet to see how efficiently or how much better the Intel towers will handle things, but if I'm going to commit to all virtual instruments I'm going to need more than a G5.

mcevilley · Post by **mcevilley** » Thu May 25, 2006 10:11 pm

Frodo, the only advice I can give you is to make sure you research your sampler before "diving in head first." DON'T make the mistake of just buying the first thing you see. Ask around, read up on it, and then, when you feel like you are fully informed...pull the trigger.

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed May 31, 2006 2:01 pm

mcevilley wrote:Frodo, the only advice I can give you is to make sure you research your sampler before "diving in head first." DON'T make the mistake of just buying the first thing you see. Ask around, read up on it, and then, when you feel like you are fully informed...pull the trigger.

LOL!! Yes-- here we are five pages into a discussion that started 2 months ago. I'm certainly doing my homework and taking members' opinions very seriously. I've not dropped a dime just yet-- not on a universal sampler, anyway. In the interim, I've upped my RAM to 8 GB, but my computer is only seeing 6 GB. I've confirmed my biggest fear-- that the RAM is good, so the ol' G5 is going into the hospital soon.

But if M5 v.2 will do a bit more of what K2 does now, that might be the way to go for a start. K2 will likely find its way home as well. I don't see anything else out there that has any honest appeal besides these two. I am going to wait a while longer-- at least until my system is running as it should.

Thanks for the advice!!

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:57 pm

Well, Mach 5 v1 just arrived, thanks to a fellow U-nation forum member!!

Wish me luck on the install...

Matcher · Post by **Matcher** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:23 pm

Hi Frodo,

I think I'll get the v1 very soon too, since the upgrade to II will be free for recent buyers of the v1.

Can you comment the bundled sounds? I read that they're "weak" or something so I though maybe it'd be good to have some nice sample package to throw in and let the UVI kick some ass

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:40 pm

Matcher wrote:Hi Frodo,

I think I'll get the v1 very soon too, since the upgrade to II will be free for recent buyers of the v1.

Can you comment the bundled sounds? I read that they're "weak" or something so I though maybe it'd be good to have some nice sample package to throw in and let the UVI kick some ass

I haven't been through everything just yet, and will likely post a detailed assessment of each patch when I get through them. I will say that all the sounds I've auditioned so far are "clean". For what it is, it has great fidelity.

Lots of people have been raving about the Bosendorfer piano. It's "okay", but I still love Ivory for more serious piano work-- even solo. The M5 Bosendorfer would probably work in a track, but it didn't take very long for me to resolve not to use it as my first choice.

The electric pianos are good-- spent a bit of time playing around with them. I do like the "suitcase" piano, but I need to explore more of the layering and cross-over points more carefully. it seems that like a lot of ep samples there's a huge gap in velocity layers between the softer touch and higher velocities which trigger that slight speaker distortion that we like so much.

There are a couple of threads already on M5's stock sounds. Now that I've got the plugin I'll need to check those out myself. The things that concerns me the most are:

1. There's no support for Mach5 samples (that I know of), and MOTU has been rather quiet about what other soundbanks they plan to release.

2. With the mystery of future M5 soundbanks coupled with continuing uncertainties about when v2 will be released, there remains the issue of how well M5 will import other formats AND the key mappings, which are so crucial to the success of a sampled patch's usefulness.

I mean, no one wants to deal with doing keymapping for a 6 layer grand piano, fumbling with 500+ samples and velocity x-overs for each pitch for starters. It may be a fun project, but in a pinch we want to load in samples and start playing rather than to spend all of our time sound designing.

I am, however, looking forward to creating SFX with M5, and the surround features appear to be a real plus. Right now, that's where the unit will really shine, imho, but I'm not going to get my hopes up for importing a massive Giga or Akai collection just yet.

I am happy, though, that installation couldn't have been smoother. There was one little snag with iLok, but I forgot to put in the M5's iLok and had another iLok in place instead. it only took a few seconds to transfer the M5 authorization to my other iLok. I had it up an running within a minute after the iLok site finished the transfer. Very cool.

monkey man · Post by **monkey man** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:18 am

Deleted post.

monkey man · Post by **monkey man** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:18 am

Frodo wrote: I am happy, though, that installation couldn't have been smoother. There was one little snag with iLok, but I forgot to put in the M5's iLok and had another iLok in place instead. it only took a few seconds to transfer the M5 authorization to my other iLok. I had it up an running within a minute after the iLok site finished the transfer. Very cool.

Yaaaay!

Gee, you've been soooo patient, Frodo.
You deserve to have some (tweakin') fun!

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:04 pm

monkey man wrote:
Frodo wrote: I am happy, though, that installation couldn't have been smoother. There was one little snag with iLok, but I forgot to put in the M5's iLok and had another iLok in place instead. it only took a few seconds to transfer the M5 authorization to my other iLok. I had it up an running within a minute after the iLok site finished the transfer. Very cool.
Yaaaay!
Gee, you've been soooo patient, Frodo.
You deserve to have some (tweakin') fun!

Cheers, monkey man!!

Sometimes patience pays off, other times it causes one to miss out by waiting too long. Given that v2 is conspicuously absent it became sort of a wash. I'm really pleased so far.

Again, that installation process caused a lot of problems for many users. In OS 9, there were a few more user options for installation for some software-- resulting in a greater number of installation problems, but in OS X the installers keep the user out of the process for the most part (except in some cases where the user is allowed to choose the app location). With such automated processes, it boggles the mind when things don't install properly in OSX. I've fallen victim to this plenty of times, but thank goodness it worked!!

Can't wait to try out the surround features!!!

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:14 pm

Frodo wrote:Lots of people have been raving about the Bosendorfer piano. It's "okay", but I still love Ivory for more serious piano work-- even solo. The M5 Bosendorfer would probably work in a track, but it didn't take very long for me to resolve not to use it as my first choice.

I've been using it lately for darker-sounding piano. Works well for that.

The electric pianos are good-- spent a bit of time playing around with them. I do like the "suitcase" piano, but I need to explore more of the layering and cross-over points more carefully. it seems that like a lot of ep samples there's a huge gap in velocity layers between the softer touch and higher velocities which trigger that slight speaker distortion that we like so much.

Exactly. Electromechanical keys need to have dirt and irregularity.

There's no support for Mach5 samples (that I know of), and MOTU has been rather quiet about what other soundbanks they plan to release.

The new USB modules will use the the updated UVI engine which supports a higher functionality. Given that they're the builders of Mach Five, I presume more of their library with be transferrable to M5 2. For example, I know that the new incarnations of Ultra Focus and Xtreme FX will port into their new Plugsound module. I'd guess it's likely the same will hold true for M5 2 which will use the same suped-up UVI.

Not that I know any better.

Actually, I'm thinking I might create some samples for M5. Why not?

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:45 pm

chrispick wrote:...Actually, I'm thinking I might create some samples for M5. Why not?

If nothing else, M5 is indeed a blank canvas. Having access to various libraries caters to M5 as a glorified rompler of sorts-- but I'm all in favor of giving the creative mind and spirit a workout!

Good point about the warmer piano sound-- M5 does have an advantage of being easier on the CPU than Ivory. When piano is not so much a critical front end necessity, it's nice to know the Bosey is there.

Hope you're right about the updated UVI and v2. We've been pondering this for two years now. I'm more anxious than ever to really put M5's alleged/apparent "universality" to task in a big way.

monkey man · Post by **monkey man** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:51 am

Frodo, FWIW, I've not had a sampler since the EIV (E-Synth) circa '96?
Having built and ditched a handy library for EPS and ASR-10, followed by AKAI S-3200, followed by the whole EMU thing, I myself am left with a "blank canvas".
It's been a tough "wait", but as my hopes have been pinned on V2 (I want to stick with MOTU for VI's), I've been following your "research" with a keen eye. May I request you continue to post your findings, right through the V2 upgrade, so that we all can benefit? Please? I for one would certainly be grateful!

FWIW, I argued with the MOTU wholesalers in South Australia for around 3 years over whether MOTU would write and possibly include a sampler and VI's. I've been waiting (it's a budget thing) for this convergence of affordability and (predicted) reliability. So you see, I've literally been hangin' on to your every word! The lack of activity in the MV forum of late doesn't exactly inspire confidence either! I've often wondered what potential non-MOTU buyers think both of the V2 delay and the general vibe of the forum.

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:02 pm

monkey man wrote:Frodo, FWIW, I've not had a sampler since the EIV (E-Synth) circa '96?
Having built and ditched a handy library for EPS and ASR-10, followed by AKAI S-3200, followed by the whole EMU thing, I myself am left with a "blank canvas".
It's been a tough "wait", but as my hopes have been pinned on V2 (I want to stick with MOTU for VI's), I've been following your "research" with a keen eye. May I request you continue to post your findings, right through the V2 upgrade, so that we all can benefit? Please? I for one would certainly be grateful!

My friend-- it's a DEAL!!

monkey man wrote: FWIW, I argued with the MOTU wholesalers in South Australia for around 3 years over whether MOTU would write and possibly include a sampler and VI's. I've been waiting (it's a budget thing) for this convergence of affordability and (predicted) reliability. So you see, I've literally been hangin' on to your every word! The lack of activity in the MV forum of late doesn't exactly inspire confidence either! I've often wondered what potential non-MOTU buyers think both of the V2 delay and the general vibe of the forum.

FWIW-- this info is worth a lot. I've waited 2 years until earlier this year I just had to dig deeper, talk to users, find out just why everyone was so anxious to dump v1.x to get to v2.

Back when M5 was first released, I was discouraged from ordering it because it was half-baked. Surround didn't work properly on all systems and it didn't stream initially as advertised. Those updates came later. It was a general disappointment for a much anticipated VI as far as software debuts go. It's universality remains in question, but hopes for v2 (and more patience!) may yet render a victory in this regard.

What it's capable of doing is indeed remarkable, and for all of my scurtiny and criticsm, there was enough positive user data that kept me interested and spurred me to buy it at last.

Between you and I, we can get the right answers as long as we keep the right questions afloat. Let's keep each other (and our other M5 colleagues) posted on any rumors or info we can find.

Cheers!