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8 Ż roland vm-3100 studio pack Roland Studio Pack PCI Recording Package VM3100Pro - blue eye soul
Not bad, for the price its a good deal. Great effects. Easy to use, alittle bit of a problem whith interfacing . its a good product but its almost not worth the troubles. its hard to get pops and cracks out too

8 Ż After using Logic and the SI24 for allmost a year. Roland RPCSI24 Studio Pack Pro with Motorized Faders - Frans
The SI-24 is the follow up of the studio Pro Package. So If you search the net (after disbelieving this review) you will find loads of references of reviews about the first version. The first version contained a VM3100 and the RPC-1 pci card.

The package contains a SI-24 control surface, a RPC-1 card, a Licenced version of Logic RPC Pro (with dongle) (wich is a smaller version of Logic 5. 3 Platinum). And some overlays to use with other software like Sonar, Cubase and Pro Tools.

I'll start of with the greatest features of it all, It can mix in Surround 5. 1 at 96 Khz. (The new standards for DVD-A are 192Khz for 2 channels and max. 96Khz at 5. 1 or higher). Wich is great for authoring. The Logic RPC Pro, used with a powerful pc, like a Athlon 2000+ or a P4 2000 or faster and a maximum of 1GB of memory (remember, logic 5 wil give an error when used with more memory than 1GB).

I haven't tested this machine with an Mac, but a version for the mac is on there aswell, and I worked with a Mac ( I like logic very much so my next machine will be a Mac Dual G5).
I now work with a dual athlon and 756mb memory and a dual IDE Raid, so I don't need a freese function. But if desired U can buy FX Freese, wich will give you that feature aswell.
Allso If desired and you wanna buy Logic 6 because of Space designer (a convolution Reverb) U can use SIR with version 5. And Guess what? SIR is free.

When used with logic rpc pro, you will be able to connect all the hardware and you will be up and running in no time. Beware!! Do not put in other exotic soundcards, cause the system (running winxp) will regard this as if you were ignoring it's privacy. But when running alone, it will do a very good job.

After installing run some of the songs from the RPC CD. And see what this system has to offer you. And why would you wanna choose the RPC Pro instead of the Sonar version? Well two important reasons. Sonar isn't surround and Logic RPC is, and you can edit all in your screen. Just open the big example song and you will see loads of yellow and red lines running through the tracks. You can edit here volume and panning. Wich is most important when outhoring.

You won't get this in other sequencers, it's a patent Logic holds. Allso you can toggle fast through the screens with the buttons right on the console. But ofcourse the numeric part of your keyboard will be as fast as this (allso a great feature when using with two screens)

So make your mix, press bounce in the masterfader and your song is ready to be encoded in Dolby DIgital (encoder not included (in surround it will bounce to 6 tracks, but stereo is offcourse allso available).

My RPC-1 can allso play back 192khz sampled songs when using for example Cool edit (or Adobe Audition as it is called).

Lost sinq with the console, press go back to Default. Is the driver buggy? Get a new driver from rolandvs2480 site . The SI24 is in fact the mixertop, used in the VS2480. So to get the SI24 going under SX2 get your SI6. Xml there and get it going fast with the press of a few buttons.

To round off this review. I payed 1800 euro's for this console. You will get it a lot cheaper. The SI-24 is allso supported in Logic 6 (NOT in Logic 5. 51 Platinum) So if you allso wanna buy a computer, then please buy a MAC.

This is a very advanced piece of hardware, and allthough not touch sensitive (it will select a channel when a fader is moved) it has a nice compact feel and will mix your every mix. Is your system down after installing some new VST instruments? Just rename the VSTPlugins folder in the Logic folder to old. Create a new empty one and start testing wich VST instrument is incompatible with your set up.

Oh yes. Logic 5 can allso handle a movie to be added to your sequence.

Just get this and enjoy. And remember, getting a Logic Control and a 8 channel audio card will be much more expensive.

Regards,

Frans van den Berge
Muziekschuur

8 Ż All the Tweaks Needed Absynth software synthesizer PC - 2ByMeta4
I have to give Absyth its due; it is an incredible tool with all the controls and features of an analogue synth as well as the ability to record and save samples/loops.

If I was pressed for using a single, 'stand alone' soft synth,' Absynth would be it.

While the factory presets are nice (Brainwashed is my favorite), there are a few - too few - Absyth add-on samples/banks out there; many for free.

As a VST/DXi, Absynth is an asset to any music recording/production program.

Great job!!!

2x4

9 Ż Almost There! Cakewalk Software SONAR 2 XL Multi-Track PC Recording Studio Windows - 2ByMeta4
Since I've used Cakewalk products over the past 8 years, I've had the hands-on opportunity to experience their product line's groth and software development.

Sonar 2. 0XL (updated to 2. 2 through download at Cakewalk) is the LAST of the Windows 98/Me OS programs from Cakewalk. As such, it is a serious tool which uses, and works with, those OS's with a minimum of CPU usage unlike Steinberg products.

There are, however, two glitches that keep 2. 0 from being perfect; 1. ) The absence of a VST to DXi adapter within the program (it is sold seperately for an annoying amount of money as a download), and, 2. ) the absence of an onboard 'burn to CD' feature (to Redbook specs).

To the latter, I do keep in mind the program is a 'HD recording program,' not a burner. Still, it would have been nice to burn a CD from the Sonar console.

All that being said, 2. 0 is the best PC HD recording program available under the 98/ME platform.

Under 2000/XP, Sonar 3. 0 has outdone itself. . . . . I just received my copy of 3. 0 Studio yesterday. . . . That review will be forthcoming.

2x4

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