New version of free VST instrument, Crystal

[Glenn]

This is just a note to let you know I've created a group for Crystal users at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crystal-users/ If you have a moment, visit that link and sign up. I expect it will be a place where we can swap ideas about using Crystal, trade patches, and discuss future directions for Crystal. I'll get things started this week by sharing some of my own tips and tricks for using Crystal. If you're looking for help using Crystal, this group will be great place to ask questions since other people will see and benefit from the answers. As extra incentive to join, anyone who signs up this week will get early access to the next version of Crystal , version 2.2. If you're not familiar with Crystal, it is a popular free VSTi (software synthesizer) for both mac and windows. You can download it at http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/ - Glenn

[not Cereal]

there are numerous support groups for people addicted to crystal. also, if you make it yourself you run the risk of blowing up the trailer. :thu:

[Anderton]

Hey Glenn, thanks for letting us know. For those not familiar with Crystal (I reviewed it in EQ), it is a FREE (as in TOTALLY FREE, you don't have to steal it) VST synthesizer with great sounds and some pretty deep programming aspects. I just downloaded the V2.1 and can hardly wait...BTW it works fine with a wrapper in Sonar. Don't know how much time I'll have to contribute to your discussion group, but if I find out anything earthshaking I'll definitely stop by.

[Wrave]

I'll be there. I've been using Crystal for a couple of months now and think it is awsome! I even ordered Decembers "Computer Music" to get 2.0 but before it arrived I had downloaded 2.1. Still the mag had a good introductory tutorial that taught me a couple more things. I'm hoping there'll be some more tutorial type stuff soon.

[Glenn]

Hi Craig - Have fun with 2.1. There are a whole bunch of new features like wave sequencing and sound font import. wrave - That's a good point about the December issue of Computer Music. I believe it is still on newstands in the states and even if people download Crystal 2.1, I'd recommend getting that issue of CM for the Crystal tutorial (and it has lots of other good stuff). - Glenn

[RABid]

Hi Glenn. Nice to see you on this forum. Don't forget to let the people know over in the Keyboard Mag section. We like VSTi's too. :D Hmmm. That reminds me. I need to check on that Computer Music subscription I paid for a few months ago hoping to get an early edition of Crystal 2. Darn Brits took my money and never gave me anything to read. Robert

[Glenn]

I added a post over there, thanks. - Glenn

[Glenn]

Crystal 2.2 is now available for free download. If you haven't already done so, get your copy by joining the crystal users group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crystal-users/ The release notes in the Files area have the download instructions. - Glenn

[Sylver]

Thanks Glenn, I look forward to checking it out. Crystal has been getting raves reviews around here. I'm sure that Wewus will slobber all over this post when he sees it. The Sound Font feature sounds really cool.

[Wewus432]

Yeah, I already went to the Yahoo forum and downloaded it, and then I went to the Green Oak site and got two more preset banks after some one very kindly told me they were listed under patches. Patches are the same thing as Banks. Duh huh? So now I've got 300 something Crystal presets and 400 or so Synth1 presets to play around with, plus I'm designing some of my own sounds. A lot of the time I'm using the Synth1 sounds in the forefront and then using Crystal for bubbling background, ambient things, but this varies too. Crystal has some great FM sounds. One of my favorite presets in Crystal is called Enhanced FM Bass. Crystal and Synth1 layered together are the [i]MOTHER[/i] of all softsynths!