Virtual Instruments - how many?

[Shooshie]

i've been using DP for a long time (when it was still just P) and my productivity exploded when I got MachFive and MX4. Particularly when MachFive 3 came out and everything got a lot easier. I've got a few other UVI instruments but I am very, very, happy with what I have.

I'm a big fan of Mach 5.3 (and all versions, for that matter). It's one of the most brilliant pieces of audio software that I've ever seen. I have often said that MOTU should bundle it with DP as an integral part of the application. They complete each other. The two together create a powerhouse DAW that would be hard to match.

When DP9 is released, we'll all get (free) MX4, so I guess I'll soon be playing with that. Someone mentioned that the currently bundled VIs in DP do not have advanced architecture, which limits wha you can do with them. Sidestepping the extended commentary I made earlier on that very subject (you can do a lot more than you think), the addition of MX4 will pretty much eliminate the claims that DP's bundled synths aren't up to snuff.

Meanwhile, if anyone wants to buy a couple great synths to add to their collection, I could not do better than to recommend Tassman 4 and Ultra Analog, both by AAS.

Rather than go crazy collecting all the synths out there, thinking that one will finally satisfy, I chose the path of using what's available as creatively as possible, then rounding it out with what I consider the finest instruments in the business. Mach 5.3, along with AAS's Tassman 4, and Ultra Analog VA2 provide you with an arsenal that IMO is unequaled. The company, Applied Acoustics Systems, also sells sound banks to go with some of their synths. These consist of presets. I don't own any, but I'm sure they are amazing, because the instruments are amazing. I prefer to roll my own, or use "post-sets" (presets modified by me).

Shooshie

[Tim]

Hey, Shoosh. Your post makes me want to check Mach V out again. I got it when it came out, but went with NI's brilliant marketing (and brilliant product).
Heh... I have MX4 somewhere on an iLok too.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

+1000 for MachFive and don't discount the usefulness of Plugsound Pro. If you buy M5 XtrememFX (which is a PSP product) is included.

Kontakt is also a good choice and 3rd party vendors offer inexpensive instruments that are pretty great. Some are over priced due to intensive sampling but most are reasonable and fairly unique. They are not generally compatible with other VIs and won't work on the free Konrakt player.

[Shooshie]

Hey, Shoosh. Your post makes me want to check Mach V out again. I got it when it came out, but went with NI's brilliant marketing (and brilliant product).
Heh... I have MX4 somewhere on an iLok too.

I used to enjoy the Hammond B3 sliders in Mach 5. Haven't tried that since Mach 5.3; I hope they're still in there. You could roll your own synth. Of course the big deal about M5 is the amazing ability to construct sample libraries or alter them. And it does a pretty good job playing most libraries, though programming for Kontakt is iffy at best in M5. Definitely a tinkerer's tool.

Shoosh

[stubbsonic]

Whatever DAW, If it's linear recording & sequencing, that will do just fine. I'm not into pattern or loop based stuff.

Besides VI, one can always go old school and just hook up hardware and record to tracks. I'm putting some of that together again too (I'm an expert level K2000 series user).

*I'll want to look into hooking into Garageband VIs from DP. As mentioned here - http://www.motu.com/techsupport/technot ... 6218004846

I'm a long-time K2xxx user as well (since 1991)! I use a K2661 on live gigs, and have a K2500RS in the studio for quick mockups and some odd audio tasks. I don't know if you can sequence external MIDI modules with GB. You might be able to with some kind of plugin.

I think you've got it down to a pretty good set of finalists. And the fact that you have an upgrade path to DP makes the choice between Logic and DP more of a tossup. And really I think that choice would have to do with your budget and how much the plugins mean to you.

If you are really into acoustic sounds, the sampler in Logic is good and has a decent library, but it isn't AWESOME, just ok. If you have a library of sounds you like with your K-2xxx, you can fill in the gaps there.

If budget is a big factor, start with Garageband and see how far you get. If you run into a wall, then you can move to Logic (which will be a similar interface).

If learning-curve, workflow, and versatility are the factors, go with DP8.

If bundled VIs and Plugs are the priority, go with Logic.

[Shooshie]

Awww, let's cut to the chase.

Get DP. You will never regret it. I can't say that for the others on your list. Someday add Mach5 and Kontakt. You'll be happy as a raccoon with a bowl of clams.


Shoosh

[stubbsonic]

It is VERY likely that Shooshie is right. The only possibility that you MIGHT regret it is if you run into one of the rare snags that can occur with any software. Let's call it the "grass-is-greener" form of regret. You buy "software A" and run into a problem. Then you say, "This wouldn't have happened if I'd gone with software B!".

However, this forum is a truly fantastic resource for help & support above and beyond MOTU's support. That counts big. Odds are Shooshie himself will be the one to get you out of some sticky wicket. He has helped thousands (and that is no exaggeration)!

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Raccoons use bowls? I thought they preferred plates?

[Shooshie]

Raccoons use bowls? I thought they preferred plates?

Plates and bowls are fine. Just don't give one a fork or knife. It's spoons only!

[monkey man]

You said not much to add?

Hey, for Shoosh, that wasn't much at all, Magilla.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

As Tim might say: Oh. (Except when Tim says it, it sounds intelligent.)

[monkey man]

Oh.

Gee, I didn't sound intelligent either, Magilla.

I didn't realise there was a second page when I made that comment, so the timing was way off! What a goose of a simian I am.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

You're funny nick

[Tritonemusic]

You're funny nick

Yeah, funny looking.

Shoosh, I just wanted to say that I am a big fan of Ultra-Analog VA-2. It's amazing how much that thing can be manipulated if you put some time into it.

[Prime Mover]

MainStage is my live playing environment, and it is amazing. HOWEVER, I'm not crazy about their VIs either. Yes, there's a lot more of them and they're probably better than DPs, but they are far from superb either. I'm a little spoiled because I have Komplete 9... fact is, nothing Apple offers can touch that, and Komplete is probably just a "higher end toy bucket" in some people's minds. I have found myself really liking a few of Apple's effects, though, especially the "Spacial Designer", which I've used to create some really nice reverb/delays for spacey stuff; probably something MOTU could add to their toolkit. But their synths feel like cheap versions of better stuff out there. Their sampler is like a jumbled poor-man's Kontakt, the analog synths can't hold a candle to Massive or the Korg offerings I have, their electric pianos and organs sound real enough, but they don't sound pleasing to my ears. So I wouldn't salivate over Apple's offerings either. Granted, they get you out of the gate faster, but you're still playing with cheap knockoffs.

You gotta start somewhere. First thing I recommend is going out and getting a big bundle like Komplete... you'll be using it for the rest of your life on a lot of things, maybe even the majority of things. Then, as you discover additional needs or holes in your inventory, add higher-end, more focused stuff.