VST Learning Curve

[TAKnipe]

What have I learned about VST's. hmmmmmmm

I learned that there are two major camps of pc users: PC & MAC :eek:

I learned that companies that make VST software are sketchy about revealing pertinent facts about their software. 64 bit compliance???????
**** Note to makers of software players - Put the information out front every site I went to took forever to search and nothing is clear.

FXpansion - Nothing about 64 bit OS compliance

ToonTrack - Nothing about 64 bit OS Compliance * Toontrack offers ToonTrack solo 64 bit beta but doesnt work correctly with Vista 64 atleast as far as I have gotten so far. *** Update: Once I got Vista completely updated to current spec the original 32 bit ToonTrack solo works and doesnt hang upon closing. I wish the 64 bit version was stable but I am glad the original now works under 64 bit OS.

Sonic Reality Infinite Player - Who knows the information is so scattered I could barely find out how to purchase the software ala carte. Then I asked Squids at VDrums whether the software could handle 32 inputs. Apparently you can use 2 Yamaha modules but only 16 inputs will show on one tab. See update **** Update: There is a tab at the top of the player that you can use to navigate pieces 1- 16, then 17 - 32 and so on all the way up to 64 pieces. And the software is 64 bit compliant.

Only one company samples a 6" Imperialstar tom (ToonTrack)

I am muddling through this and wont post a final verdict except for what I did and how I got there but I have to tell you that once you choose VST's be prepared. It is not plug and play but then again neither is Windows. :)

[CaTaPulT]

Agreed Tom.
As so many have said on the forums in the past, VST or software samples with midi controllers are the wave of the future, possibly, but for that to happen, they will have to standardize them all. After messing around with the Steven Slate Drums EX package, I'm impressed with the sounds, not so impressed as to how to make it all work properly, more like a nightmare for me and I've given up (one lost customer for possible other VST purchases). The industry needs to make ONE standard that both the software and hardware companies will follow to make using these great sounds painless and uncomplicated. Until that happens, eDrum modules will keep selling well.
The one advantage a module has over a dedicated midi interface is that you can program a few backup drum kits in the module just in case the computer you are using as your sound source fries, won't boot up, keeps getting the blue screen of death, gets stolen, etc. Then a few slight changes to the module settings and you can continue your gig, might not sound as good, but you can still play.
Take care

Regards: >>>> Jack <<<<

[TAKnipe]

Hey Jack, Agreed, the sounds are absolutely out of this world. I do think its the wave of the future but I also think there needs to be a standard applied. As excited as I am to get this working I am equally dissapointed that there needs to be so much tweaking and the fact that nothing is standard. I will say that the ToonTrack software seems very easy but if you want to use the 64 bit version of ToonTrack Solo then it goes from easy to impossible.

I dont know why it is so hard to list on the website what is required to use the product properly. If its not fully compatible with 64 bit OS's then simply say so and you save the customer alot of trouble. True I wont ever go back to a 32 bit OS but when the product is stable I will purchase it and feel confident about using it.

I am holding out hope for the Xtreme 3 and Yamaha's ability to get the 3rd party samples to perform at a higher level. No one seems to get that I want kit pieces and not kits. I want to decide what toms I want to use and do not want a package of stuff i dont want. Not everyone plays a 4 or 5 piece kit and that is where the direction of VST's are at right now.

From now on I will not purchase a product that isnt exactly what I want, I would rather not have to mold something that is 75 percent of what I want. It does not make any sense to me. This goes for every product not just VST's hardware in particular, in tough economic times we need to scrutinize every detail to make sure you will be satisfied. It doesnt make sense to purchase things 4 times when it isnt correct.

[TAKnipe]

I am updating the original thread. Tom

There is updates for both Ininite Player and Toontrack :)