Solaris has arrived!

[Jaime Chimuelo]

I can only say what a great reward Solaris is to me.

I have had many of the cherished Analog synths of Yore, so the Scope XITE-1 (and it's Modular IV w/ Audiorate Modulations too BTW) was OK for replacing polyphonic Analogs and Digital synths for stage work.

But my Low end was still purely Analog and I am sure anyone here who gigs live knows exactly what I'm talkin' 'bout.

The 96k processing and the new Sharcs allow me to get damn close to an Analog synth.

But Solaris is so " Modular " in it's design, that a really skilled programmer can get some great sounds, like Elkhardt gets.

Even on Bowens software version of Solaris, or Prowave, basic PhysMod was easily achieved.

Here's an example of the Karplus String.

 

http://forums.planetz.com/download/file.php?id=7416

 

The Reed sounds I am pretty sure are the Recorders that use the Sample Oscillators.

I have a killer 16 player String that can sound like a Violin section, or Bit Crushed for the Melotron sound. It was a favor from a major String/Orchestral developer, so I can't mention the name until after NAMM, but it's incredible how good it sounds. I was expecting it to sound Mono and sterile, but it's quite bitchin'...

 

Solaris live is such a treat. Before I needed to use my SE-1X's for everything monophonic, but Solaris has taken those chores on so well, I am to the point of going with a laptop, the XITE-1 and Solaris w/ an extra controller Keyboard. No more racks of hardware............FINALLY, after years of no Crew, I can set up for a soundcheck in 5 minutes....No more tips for whiny Union stagehands either...

 

Happy New Years....

 

 

[Matocaster]

Knowing how he works, he is not using samples. I have heard him get those same medieval instrument sounds out of an analog modular.

 

Yes those aren't samples. That's actually his programming. It sounds quite amazing!

 

[Al Coda]

I am to the point of going with a laptop, the XITE-1 and Solaris w/ an extra controller Keyboard.

 

Have you found a powerful laptop w/ PCIexpress being compatible w/ Xite-1 and being able to run SCOPE 5.1, VST and NI stuff in addition ?

I know you use such a rig together w/ Reaper and Kontakt, but on a rackmount PC up to now.

 

Happy New Years....

 

happy new year too

 

A.C.

[Jaime Chimuelo]

http://www.buzzbox.com/top/default/preview/clevo-brings-intel-s-sandy-bridge-e-cpus-to-notebooks/?clusterId=4173821&id=39770088&topic=brings%3Asandy-bridge

 

Yepp.

I work at CES every year so I was hoping for an MSI using the Clevo, but I will stroke the Clevo guys for the laptop they tested out last year, and grab it as a used demo. It even has a built in card reader for Solaris too...

I wouldn't really need this but Kontakt loves the Quad RAM, and since I don't use Native plugs, I can run Bidule/Forte at the gigs that aren't automated, and Reaper at the automated gigs. Reaper is a PITA at times, but the best/stable performer and playback host I have used. I trust it like my old QX-1 hardware sequencer.

You might like the ADK Pro 9000 i7 desktop replacement. It has the proper 54/34 Express slot for the XITE-1 also.

Once Scott starts building and selling the X79's, he is also sure to build, the 9000's will surely drop in price.

 

I am looking at 2-2500 USD for a used Clevo w/ 32GB's of RAM. so I can see ADK asking at least 32-3500 for theirs.

FWIW, the Clevo mobo has been tweaked and tested for over a year, and while I love Asus, Gigabyte, Intel and MSI boards, all of them are guilty for early released products that need a BIOS update, or some other " NON-GAMING " applications.

These guys love the tweaker crowd and understand they will BETA test for free so they can pose with their rigs hooked up to Frankenstien looking Nitrus Oxyde Coolers, etc.

 

 

[Al Coda]

http://www.buzzbox.com/top/default/preview/clevo-brings-intel-s-sandy-bridge-e-cpus-to-notebooks/?clusterId=4173821&id=39770088&topic=brings%3Asandy-bridge

 

... but I will stroke the Clevo guys for the laptop they tested out last year, and grab it as a used demo. It even has a built in card reader for Solaris too...

 

Thx for the link and info !

What´s the model of the Clevo notebook ?

That motherboard seems to offer everything thinkable for audio/MIDI work.

Do you know what the Firewire 800 chipset is,- is it TI ?

 

Reaper is a PITA at times, but the best/stable performer and playback host I have used.

 

Yep !

I just made the switch from Cubase to Presonus Studio One Pro for the DAW work, but when I started testing usage of SCOPE together w/ Phead Reason wired to the Scope mixer and adding VSTis by using Reaper, Reaper´s outputs also wired to the Scope mixer, I also found it being the most efficient and stable ASIO host for VSTis in that combination.

 

I trust it like my old QX-1 hardware sequencer.

 

Ha, ha,- that´s what I have left over here too since the 80th.

 

You might like the ADK Pro 9000 i7 desktop replacement. It has the proper 54/34 Express slot for the XITE-1 also.

Once Scott starts building and selling the X79's, he is also sure to build, the 9000's will surely drop in price.

 

Well, I know ADK, but ´cause I´m in germany, I´d prefer to buy here.

To me, the idea using a powerfull laptop, Xite-1, Solaris, Kurz PC361 and a fully weighted 88-keys board controlling VST & Phead Reason is a dream and would probably replace almost every piece of vintage gear I own.

It will break my heart selling Moog, Oberheim and other stuff, but I´m also tired using the large racks and the transport and service probs drive me nuts meanwhile.

 

A.C.

 

 

[Jaime Chimuelo]

I will come back and post here after CES and NAMM.

Any laptop that is an X79 will most likely be a Clevo made mobo, retagged with Dell, HP, etc.

Sager seems to be building the AMD solutions.

I will know more after the gig in 11 days.

 

Jeez I gotta go, I just saw Faith Hill doing the NFL game so now my Balls are smokin'........

Damn that woman is fine.

 

[Les Mizzell]

Another set of Solaris Demos has been posted by Ken Elhardt. Pretty amazing stuff! The Solaris is moving higher and higher up my "want" list!

 

 

 

[Al Coda]

Another set of Solaris Demos has been posted by Ken Elhardt. Pretty amazing stuff! The Solaris is moving higher and higher up my "want" list!

 

 

 

Very good !

Multi Mode and it´s the most flexible pure synth available.

 

A.C.

[Jaime Chimuelo]

I just finsihed editing the sounds by the Elk and I cannot believe the Kettle isn;t a sample.....?

He has given me weeks of reverse engineering to study.

The Karplus String sounds are good, but this preset called Bar Chimes is just sick.....

Really Nice Stuff.....

[Jaime Chimuelo]

Solaris Is My SHepard That Many Shall Want,

It Maketh Me Compose In Green Pastures, It Leadeth Me By Weak VA's,

It Restoreth My Sound, In It's Names Sake.

 

Yea THough I Gig In The Valley Of Weak VST's, I Fear No Audio,

For Solaris Is With Me.

SC's Support & Staff, THey Comfort Me,

They Preparest my Rig In The Presence Of My Enemies,

My Sound Overwhelms Them,

Surely Fat Synths Shall Follow Me, And I SHall Dwell In The House Of SCope Forever.

Amen.

 

[zahush76]

Lol.

Did you write that using solaris?!

[Jaime Chimuelo]

I actually read the old texts, including the Epic of Gilgamesh, Torah, Mahabharata, etc.

Fascinating stuff.

But the man who really answers my prayers is Benjamin Franklin.

I collect as many if them as I can, so I can buy even more gear....

[Elhardt]

Elhardt here! This thread popped up in a google search so I thought I should chime in.

 

John Bowen contacted me about doing a some presets for the Solaris and so he sent me one for a few weeks. By doing this also I figured this would put an end to people saying I'm cheating by using samples since anybody with a Solaris can now see how I programmed them. No samples were used! And no Karplus Strong type stuff either. Not only that, but in all sounds except one, I refrained from cheating by using any of the digital wavetables too. The only exception was the full stops out pipe organ sound in which I used 4 different VS/Waldorf waveforms that had more than one pitch in them which would affectively give me more than 4 oscillators of sound. Even then, I used unison chord mode to double up and multitracked for a stereo sound plus bass pedals (also because notes kept cutting out when playing big chords on my Solaris).

 

I haven't heard yet what John Bowen uploaded as far as my demos, but I didn't do any reed sounds as somebody mentioned. Not sure what he was referring to beyond my Recorder. I have a Recorder sound in one demo that I need to EQ to be brighter, and I have a very short 19 second long renaissance dance demo that also uses the Recorder in it. I have done better Recorder sounds on other synths do to specific features that are unique to different synths, but the one in Solaris uses all 4 oscs, 4 filters, 4 LFO's, 6 EG's, EQ, and other stuff, so it's none-the-less a sound that literally uses the Solaris to its max.

 

I should note that I have done better impressions of most of those sounds on other synths with the exception of the Kettle Drums (which are a tad better than previous ones I think), for various reasons. For instance, there were things not implemented in the Solaris yet that would have helped me, bugs in things that are there, no multi-timbral mode, I couldn't use external devices, and the expression pedal input didn't work on the Solaris sent to me. Karplus Strong stuff wasn't possible either because the coders didn't provide positive feedback abilities on the comb filters, only negative, which gives hollow sounds. John Bowen didn't seem aware of this when I told him about it. Hopefully he'll have his coders beaten for that one.

 

As for Jamie saying he can't believe the kettle drums aren't sampled, I should point out that nobody out there can program kettle drums on an analog synth. That's why I like to do those on various synths just to show they can be synthesized. Tomita used a mellotron, Carlos used real ones, and the late John Mitchell claimed they couldn't be synthesized (until I whipped some up on a Nord Modular and he said they sounded better than the real thing). I hate to let too many of my programming secrets out there but now everybody can see how I programmed them. I was going to do a complete realistic drum set too much like my Alesis Ion ones, but I didn't have time and it's very slow to program complex sounds on the Solaris. As a result, the Solaris will never have a realistic drum kit.

 

I only had the synth for a few weeks but felt an obligation to at least record a few short multi-tracked demos (most being pieces Tomita did), because once I sent the Solaris back, that unfortunately would be pretty much the end of hearing the Solaris do anything beyond the most rudimentary. In fact, the situation is even worse than I predicted several years ago on the Solaris forum. Last time I checked, all that has come from Solaris purchasers is one guy running through the factory presets, one guy comparing the tone of his Solaris to a JP-8, one guy who wanted to imitate a boring sawtooth bass sound from a boring song on his $4000 synth, and a few photos of Solaris' in people's living rooms. And that pretty much sums up the state of synth use these days.

 

-Elhardt

 

[Al Coda]

 

John Bowen contacted me about doing a some presets for the Solaris and so he sent me one for a few weeks.

 

That happened lately and you had a stock model or a prototype w/ unfinished OS available ?

 

(also because notes kept cutting out when playing big chords on my Solaris).

 

Doesn´t sound good, but also I didn´t read any user post elsewhere reporting this behaviour.

I´d like to see Matocaster, Jaime Chimuelo and Marzzz (if he received his Solaris already) commenting on this.

 

As a result, the Solaris will never have a realistic drum kit.

 

Congrats,- I highly appreciate that result and hope Solaris won´t have any drumkit at all as well as no piano !

 

Last time I checked, all that has come from Solaris purchasers is one guy running through the factory presets, one guy comparing the tone of his Solaris to a JP-8, ...

 

and the OB-8 ...

 

... one guy who wanted to imitate a boring sawtooth bass sound from a boring song on his $4000 synth, and a few photos of Solaris' in people's living rooms. And that pretty much sums up the state of synth use these days.

 

-Elhardt

 

Well, everyone´s taste is different, but I liked the comparisons of Solaris, JP-8 and OB-8 very much as well as I liked your Solaris audio demos.

You demonstrated some stunning abilities of this synth as well as your excellent programming skills even the machine might have had issues at that time.

It´s also no secret Solaris lacks multimode but will get it next future.

For me,- if Solaris is able to replace monophonic and polyphonic analogue synths, wavetable-modules like Waldorf Microwave, Wavestation SR and Prophet VS rack, gets multi mode and does some extras incl. quality FX and is a reliable piece of gear when available in the shops,- it´s worth a buy because I can sell some of my old dinos and modules then, all gear I never bring out on the road anymore because I fear failure or loss.

Shrinking the gear is very welcome to me.

 

A.C.

[Jim Alfredson]

And that pretty much sums up the state of synth use these days.

 

This literally made me laugh out loud.

[Elhardt]

That happened lately and you had a stock model or a prototype w/ unfinished OS available ?

 

I received the Solaris early November and sent it back the beginning of Jan because John needed it for this NAMM show. I had it about 7 weeks. I believe John said I had one of the first 4 units made that had the pedal inputs reversed (on shipping units the reversed inputs were fixed and a customer confirmed the expression pedal now works). The OS was finished as far as I know. He certainly didn't have anything I could download that was later and corrected any of the bugs.

 

Doesn´t sound good, but also I didn´t read any user post elsewhere reporting this behaviour. I´d like to see Matocaster, Jaime Chimuelo and Marzzz (if he received his Solaris already) commenting on this.

 

John thought it might be old code in a processor that deals with the keyboard which I gathered was different from the Sharc processors that generate the sound. Normally I'd also think that if nobody else has reported such a thing, then the problem was solved in shipped units. However I've come across basic problems like this in other synths that hundreds of other people own and not one of them had a clue, which also leads me to believe there is very little or very basic use of synths and very little musicianship once a synth ends up in somebody's house. The Solaris I received was in the hands of lots of other people (it came straight from Keyboard magazine's reviewer), and seems I'm the only one who noticed such an obvious problem like keys randomly not sounding when played. On mono lines there was little problem, but the more notes, the bigger the chords, the worse the problem.

 

Congrats,- I highly appreciate that result and hope Solaris won´t have any drumkit at all as well as no piano !

 

That's an odd response since the Solaris doesn't have a small fixed preset bank size and having more patches doesn't take away from others. The drums I would have done would be realistic quality sounds much like my kettle drums and not some horrid cheesy 808 type stuff. There is a "Low Piano Chords" patch I did that sounds okay for chords in the low register, but the Solaris didn't have the resources for me to transfer my Arturia Moog acoustic piano over. A drum kit and full piano patch would allow people to learn new advanced programming techniques even if they don't use the sounds, and that's part of what presets are about. And not being samples means they're completely modifiable into new sounds.

 

Well, everyone´s taste is different

 

That's another problem, the tastes of people buying synths, and since those tastes are generally geared toward the mindlessly simplistic or crude, then a Solaris is way overkill. And it means that somebody who thinks a boring sawtooth bass sound from a lame piece of music is interesting is not one who will create a Solaris masterpiece.

 

I liked the comparisons of Solaris, JP-8 and OB-8 very much..

 

While I don't remember the actual content of the audio file that compared them, simply comparing the tone of one instrument to another isn't really actually using the instrument (I'm pretty sure that's not what he bought it for). Too many people put up files of raw synth tones or comparisons, and that's all they do, which was kind of my point. Now that he's gone through the exercise of comparing, I'm pretty sure we won't hear anything more him except for maybe more comparisons.

 

Shrinking the gear is very welcome to me.

 

Yes, and I'm still waiting for somebody to come out with a synth that has both an advanced architecture and user interface with one knob per function, but nothing seems to cover both of those categories at the same time.

 

[Al Coda]

 

I believe John said I had one of the first 4 units made that had the pedal inputs reversed (on shipping units the reversed inputs were fixed and a customer confirmed the expression pedal now works). The OS was finished as far as I know. He certainly didn't have anything I could download that was later and corrected any of the bugs.

 

Hi and thx for that reply !

 

I expected you had a early unit and it´s good to know they fix issues.

According to the OS,- I doubt it´s really finished because it can´t be up to now.

I´m a SCOPE user, you know,- and I´m aware of the DSP assignment and DSP offload issues in regards of the new S|C hardware (Xite units w/ combination of old and new SHARC chips) and SCOPE SDK.

More below ...

 

John thought it might be old code in a processor that deals with the keyboard which I gathered was different from the Sharc processors that generate the sound.

... and seems I'm the only one who noticed such an obvious problem like keys randomly not sounding when played. On mono lines there was little problem, but the more notes, the bigger the chords, the worse the problem.

 

Well, even John Bowen´s ZARG devices for SCOPE sound really good (I own 5 or 6 older ones for SCOPE v4), these were never very optimized for the SCOPE cards.

Means: They use lots of DSP w/ the result of not much polyphony and compared to the other SCOPE devices coming in the synthesizer packages 1 & 2.

The ZARG Solaris device is a DSP hungry beast and hard to use w/ a 15 DSP card, which is built from old 60MHz SHARC devices only.

For the hardware Solaris keyboard instrument using new 333MHz SHARC chips only, changes in code for Solaris was definitely necessary and probably not completely finished because the SCOPE SDK update came very late last year as well as John didn´t own a S|C Xite-1 and waited for the SDK while developement of Solaris moved ahead.

 

As a reminder for all the others in the forum,- Solaris hardware synth uses the same BASIC hardware technology you find in S|C Xite-1 except the usage of old 60MHz SHARC chips beneath the new 333MHz SHARCs.

 

Even S|C w/ SCOPE 5.1 and Xite-1 is aware of issues, making it necessary to assign devices to dedicated DSPs manually and DSP offload will be essential for more polyphony and better automatic DSP assignment.

 

As a result, Solaris, advertised w/ 15 - 18 voice polyphony, now is a 10 voice polyphony synth until updates will be introduced.

Not only higher voice count but also MIDI multi-mode depend on these OS optimizations.

 

You said you recognized the polyphony issues using unison-poly mode and I assume, these issues are caused by what I described above.

Unison-poly uses more DSP and as long DSP offload developement isn´t finished and Solaris code optimized for the hardware, dead or cut notes will happen in complex patches.

 

In fact, I´m waiting for these improvements coming this year and hold back buying Solaris until promises become reality.

 

 

That's an odd response

 

I doubt it is ...

 

The drums I would have done would be realistic quality sounds much like my kettle drums and not some horrid cheesy 808 type stuff.

 

I liked your kettle drums very much, demonstrating your skills and what the synth is able to do,- but as a keyboard player and not being a sounddesigner in 1st place, I don´t need much drums in (new) synthesizers, given the fact I own a lot of synths from the past as well as all kinds of virtual instruments for studio use.

I´m also hate the s**tload of drumkits I never use in my Kurzweil PC3.

Now, I can accept a PC3 is more a workstation synth than a Solaris is and cusomers want drums in a workstation type keyboard,- but in Solaris I don´t see the need for drums at all even your kettle drums and the stuff you planned to program is/ would be a welcome addition because it´s good and different compared to samples.

 

In your former post you spoke from REALISTIC drum KITS, so that was the line provoking my comment.

If I want a realistc drum kit quickly for daily work, I simply don´t start programming single drum sounds on a synth from scratch but go over to NI Kontakt and a library, load and play.

That doesn´t mean, programming some special drum sounds on a (modular) synth is senseless or unusable if there´s the time to do it and the music wants such work.

 

There is a "Low Piano Chords" patch I did that sounds okay for chords in the low register, but the Solaris didn't have the resources for me to transfer my Arturia Moog acoustic piano over. A drum kit and full piano patch would allow people to learn new advanced programming techniques even if they don't use the sounds, and that's part of what presets are about.

 

I agree on that in regards on learning programming techniques.

 

And not being samples means they're completely modifiable into new sounds.

 

Yes !!!

 

That's another problem, the tastes of people buying synths, and since those tastes are generally geared toward the mindlessly simplistic or crude, then a Solaris is way overkill. And it means that somebody who thinks a boring sawtooth bass sound from a lame piece of music is interesting is not one who will create a Solaris masterpiece.

 

In my age of 57 meanwhile and using all kinds of synths professionally since the 70th I fully understand your words above.

OTOH, I also understand the people being less idealistic because todays world of cheap work wants "quick and dirty" solutions and not hrs or days of synthesizer programming from scratch.

If someone works mainly as a sound designer, that´s a different story.

 

While I don't remember the actual content of the audio file that compared them, simply comparing the tone of one instrument to another isn't really actually using the instrument (I'm pretty sure that's not what he bought it for).

 

No, he probably didn´t.

I had the impression he wanted to show how Solaris compares to vintage synths soundwise and that helps me deciding if I want to have a closer look on a music instrument or not in future.

What I do w/ such a synth after pulling the trigger,- well who knows ?

In 1st place, I´m looking for a modern synth replacing my Oberheim Xpander, Minimoog D and some others for live usage and giving me some additional options I don´t find in the old ones.

Solaris haptics alone are very promising in that direction,- and I already know the sound and behaviour of SCOPE and ZARG devices running in a SCOPE environment.

 

Too many people put up files of raw synth tones or comparisons, and that's all they do, which was kind of my point. Now that he's gone through the exercise of comparing, I'm pretty sure we won't hear anything more him except for maybe more comparisons.

 

I don´t know this guy, so it´s some kind of speculation.

Maybe he comes up w/ a great album one day or w/ a great piece of film music,- maybe not.

 

I'm still waiting for somebody to come out with a synth that has both an advanced architecture and user interface with one knob per function, but nothing seems to cover both of those categories at the same time.

 

That would possibly be a large Modular, covering analog and digital domain and filling a room again.

 

A.C.

 

[matted stump]

Yes, and I'm still waiting for somebody to come out with a synth that has both an advanced architecture and user interface with one knob per function, but nothing seems to cover both of those categories at the same time.

 

The Bahn Sage does just that!

[Al Coda]

 

The Bahn Sage does just that!

 

Yep, on paper and as a prototype,-

http://www.sequencer.de/synth/index.php/Bahn_Sage

 

And ironically he himself is the designer never been able to bring it out, but now hoping for others could for a max. list price of 4K bucks.

 

The reality is,- Solaris is the most complex machine available today for a street price of EUR 3.600.- incl. VAT.

I hope it sells well, but I´m not sure, because most users look for a much lower price today, regardless of quality.

 

A.C.

 

[Marzzz]

The Bahn Sage was actually a famous hoax, instigated by Elhardt. The actual closest thing to the reality is the Schmidt, all yours (maybe in 2013) for around 25,000:

 

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p4/marzzzA6/IMG_4135.jpg

[Al Coda]

 

all yours (maybe in 2013) for around 25,000

 

 

That´s what I call "Reality Check" !

 

b.t.w., just have seen you in the NAMM 2012 Solaris vid "picking your nose" ...

 

A.C.

 

 

[GovernorSilver]

I'd want Elhardt's drum patches in my synths, even if I don't end up using them.

 

I think I'd learn a lot studying the patches, and perhaps using some of them as starting points for my own patches, which may not even be a drum sound once I'm done.

 

Elhardt, you got any Nord Modular G2 patches you'd be willing to share?

[Elhardt]

Yep, on paper and as a prototype,-

http://www.sequencer.de/synth/index.php/Bahn_Sage

 

And ironically he himself is the designer never been able to bring it out, but now hoping for others could for a max. list price of 4K bucks.

 

The reality is,- Solaris is the most complex machine available today for a street price of EUR 3.600.- incl. VAT. I hope it sells well, but I´m not sure, because most users look for a much lower price today, regardless of quality.

 

Since I designed the Sage solely as a hoax and I'm not a synth manufacturer, it was never meant to come out. But I would expect somebody else to do something similar for $4K or less and I don't see why it wouldn't be possible.

 

As for the Solaris being the most complex machine available today, well, that's not quite true. The Nord Modular is/was far more complex. In fact John Bowen asked what it would take to get my Nord Mod violin programmed on the Solaris, but no way it could be done. And then there's soft synths, which have been killing off hardware VA synths. I have Reaktor, and that's all anybody needs to do anything in the world. If I want a Solaris, I can create a Solaris synth in Reaktor with a no-compromise knobby interface on the screen, and so it's had to justify $4K for yet another synth in my house.

 

[Elhardt]

Elhardt, you got any Nord Modular G2 patches you'd be willing to share?

 

I don't own a G2, only a G1, so no luck there. In fact after a major clean up of old computers, disc reformatting, and new OS installs, I don't currently have the Nord Editor installed, and so my G1 sits useless until I reinstall it.

 

[GovernorSilver]

Elhardt, you got any Nord Modular G2 patches you'd be willing to share?

 

I don't own a G2, only a G1, so no luck there. In fact after a major clean up of old computers, disc reformatting, and new OS installs, I don't currently have the Nord Editor installed, and so my G1 sits useless until I reinstall it.

 

Ah, fair enough. It's because of your G1 demos that I now own a Nord Micromodular and G2X. Nomad (open-source replacement for Nord G1 Editor) worked last time I tried it a couple of years ago. I've devoted more time to learning how things work on the G2.

[Jaime Chimuelo]

I swapped out my Solaris as I had one of the 1st 6 where pedals were reversed, so I got me a new one at NAMM.

I like playing old Zawinul stuff, Hancock electro so I need 7-9 voices as the 9th voice is to keep the chords from retriggering 8 note Pads, i.e. Palladium from Heavy Weather, even ARP String Ensemble type stuff where Octaves low and 5 voices above are desired.

For ITB work Solaris isn't crucial, but for realtime live performance it's a great synth. As a controller for Scope Modular synth patches it's a pleasure too.

 

Loved the Kettle Drum KE, very nice. It helped me create the Steel Drums I always liked with even more authenticity.

Been using static sampled Steel Drums form an ancient X Sample instrument from the Gigastudio days, so naturually it has lost much of it's low end converting to Kontakt. Now I can just use Solaris....

 

Thanks Again....

 

 

 

[johnbowen]

I have Reaktor, and that's all anybody needs to do anything in the world. If I want a Solaris, I can create a Solaris synth in Reaktor with a no-compromise knobby interface on the screen, and so it's had to justify $4K for yet another synth in my house.

Well, this all depends on if you like the sound quality output of Reaktor, which has always bothered me for some reason. And of course, part of the cost of the Solaris is the knobby interface and displays. But true, if you are doing exacting sound design for specific purposes as Ken does, such as needing 42 filters for a certain sound, a software modular system is going to be better.

(Also, to counter my statement about Reaktor, you also need to decide if you like the sound quality output of the Solaris. I think Ken wasnt too satisfied, but I do appreciate the great amount of time he spent working on sounds, and I think there were some really impressive results.)

[johnbowen]

The Bahn Sage was actually a famous hoax, instigated by Elhardt. The actual closest thing to the reality is the Schmidt, all yours (maybe in 2013) for around 25,000:

Yes, I think Ken would really love the Schmidt, and do some great sounds with it!

[Al Coda]

 

As for the Solaris being the most complex machine available today, well, that's not quite true. The Nord Modular is/was far more complex.

 

Good you said "was" in that line, because it´s a discontinued product only available used today.

And in opposite to Solaris, there´s a computer needed to fully operate the NORD Modular, so it´s a bit unfair comparison.

 

In fact John Bowen asked what it would take to get my Nord Mod violin programmed on the Solaris, but no way it could be done. And then there's soft synths, which have been killing off hardware VA synths.

 

1st, I thought we´re talking about a DSP based hardware synth here in this thread and not about soft synths, being much cheaper, but to offer a great sound quality these need a very powerful host computer and additional audio/midi hardware as well as USB controller interface haptics, which will never fit the functionality of a/the plugin perfectly.

Add all these costs and the time investment to get all running smooth and think of the compromizes in regards of the perfect haptics.

 

I have Reaktor, and that's all anybody needs to do anything in the world.

 

This statement surprises me very much.

I´m a NI Komplete user since the beginning and have Reaktor too.

I doubt that´s the sound quality I want to hear in my one and only synth.

It has tremendous functionality, but is a hard to operate piece of software using the computer mouse and keyboard and stareing into a screen all the time while programming is also not my prefered task of the day.

 

If I want a Solaris, I can create a Solaris synth in Reaktor with a no-compromise knobby interface on the screen, and so it's had to justify $4K for yet another synth in my house.

 

Ha, ha,- I believe that when you´ve done it.

Not a hoax again, please.

 

Obviously, we have different demands albeit your favoritism of extremely complex modular engines.

 

As a S|C Scope user, I hear the difference in overall sound and feel the difference in latency between a native VSTi and a DSP Scope device every day and since years.

B.t.w.,- there are great modular synths available for SCOPE and the included old Modular III w/ 3rd party Flexor modules kicks Reaktor´s ass IMO.

 

For the gigging as also studio session player, it´s essential finding a connection to the instrument, so the keybed and haptics are more important than complexity of the engine is.

 

From the specs, Solaris is a relatively complex synth engine already, at least for a hardware synth,- and the layout of the UI is well done and no compromise to me.

It´s a synth for players and programmers, not only for programmers and my impression is you´re one of these.

 

A.C.

 

[Al Coda]

Well, this all depends on if you like the sound quality output of Reaktor, which has always bothered me for some reason.

 

I´m with you !

Reaktor is my least used synth in the NI Komplete package.

 

And of course, part of the cost of the Solaris is the knobby interface and displays.

 

I´m happy you did it that way regardless of costs.

This UI and because I use SCOPE, own some of your older ZARG plugins and used and use vintage synths of all kind,- that makes me want a Solaris.

 

But true, if you are doing exacting sound design for specific purposes as Ken does, such as needing 42 filters for a certain sound, a software modular system is going to be better.

 

Best is both,- Modular in SCOPE and Solaris as the controller keyboard synthsizer.

 

I do appreciate the great amount of time he spent working on sounds, and I think there were some really impressive results.)

 

Me to, I liked the sounds he did w/ Solaris very much, so I´m confused he now likes Reaktor more than Solaris.

Maybe it´s a matter of taste, but comparing VST/AU synths w/ hardware synths is comparing apples & oranges IMO.

 

A.C.