Sonic TALK 547 - Mr Curly And A Carrot

Notes thanks to Marc the Darc
6:00 - ArduTouch synth DYI kit
20:35 - New version of TouchAble
28:57 - iZotope sponsor/contest
30:38 - Tascam Model 24
42:47 - Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.5
54:35 - Doing what you love
1:02:32 - Linsey Pollak
1:08:25 - Closing remarks & goodbyes
#sonictalk #livepodcast #musictechnology
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[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Thanks again for having me folks! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@InkyDaCaT]

Matthew you are always helpful to the chatties and a great addition to the awesome panel..although I want to say contestants? 😕😂

[@manuvre7999]

Good for you Mathew! May the goDs balance your workload for you. 👾👾👾

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Working late again last night - must give myself some time off soon to re-energise!

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

HA! Yes contestant! Thanks so much for the kind words - see you next time!

[@InkyDaCaT]

@@matthsmatthsmatths well few weeks till term starts, so try and enjoy before it starts again.

[@MarctheDarc]

Notes: 6:00 - ArduTouch synth DYI kit 20:35 - New version of TouchAble 28:57 - iZotope sponsor/contest 30:38 - Tascam Model 24 42:47 - Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.5 54:35 - Doing what you love 1:02:32 - Linsey Pollak 1:08:25 - Closing remarks & goodbyes

[@InkyDaCaT]

You star 😉

[@MarctheDarc]

It is my pleasure, my good people 😉 But if I wasn't doing them, you'd still be covered by Nick the following morning.

[@InkyDaCaT]

Brilliant show as always, have to rewatch as too busy chatting!

[@frunkfrankly]

Title should have been "Integrating a palmpilot into my workflow". That comment made me laugh so hard, great show as always!

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Frank same here!

[@els1f]

Absolutely! 😂

[@Dogboy73]

I love the idea of the Omnisphere 2.5 thing. Now I just need Omnisphere & a high end synth to hook up to it. But it's very cool.

[@leehutzulak]

Zoom L-12 replaced the Onyx 820i in my live recording set up - it's been amazing - don't have to bring the laptop to shows anymore. 5 headphone outputs means everyone gets their own mix too. Not too concerned about post / pre fader recording - in addition to the multi-track recording you can also record the stereo master track with all FX and levels from the live performance...

[@torus6083]

The Soundcraft Signature 22 MTK is another desk that is a similar option to the Tascam Model 24.

[@RickMaczka]

just sold my Souindcraft 22MTK , sad time, loved it and so useful to have a usb 24 track record option with such a full featured mixing desk.Best thing sounded great, especially when cranking up the pre amps til they got the red ;light flashing then it was gorgeously warm and fat. Hard to get a "loud recording " for some reason, had to use the trim in the DAW to get levels up, but not a deal breaker

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Toby Mitchell indeed. Had that but sadly not post fader recording.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

Thanks for mentioning that Toby Mitchell. I was wondering what is the difference between the Tascam Model 24 and the Soundcraft Signature 22mtk aside from 2 more channels? If the Tascam Model 24 can record everything exactly as it's level and panning then it is an upgrade from the Soundcraft Signature 22mtk as I notice that when I have auto pan running from my synth live it doesn't come out on my recordings through the Soundcraft Signature 22mtk. This may be because of how I have mine configured, I don't know. Under a grand is a good price though

[@mookmusik]

Don't forget the Arturia stuff is NKS compatible so can be controlled by NIs' Kontrol keyboard dials mapped to the parameters of the soft synths.

[@TheJonHolstein]

NKS only has 8 dials, so it is not like having a synth in front of you. They could have easily doubled up on that, perhaps using 8 with the colors LCDs and 8 with the simpler display of previous products. But that would still be less controls than on a typical synth. I would really like to see some company doing a proper hardware synth controller, with a lot of dials and faders, and use ligt indicators, displays to tell values. And perhaps a magnetic top-plate and some fridge magnet styled blocks, for naming parameters, without having to use a dedicated display for every parameter. At this point NKS is more of performance keyboard style interface, with patch browsing and a few typical controls, and the rest involves several of display pages, just like it typically does on performance keyboards with a few soft controls. Some are fine working in that way, programming sounds step by step, or just using the pre-assigned (page one) parameters. Or it can bee seen as any softsytnth, and then the NKS system is there just as a more powerful keyboard/pad midi controller. The hardware profiles of Omnsiphere, is just part of the software though. It is a poly expander of the hardware. Or one can make profiles, that have the character of another brand synth, but with the controls of the synth one is sitting by. So playing on a DSI suddenly sounds like a Moog, and vice versa. But omnisphere is also a sample library, with some quite unique samples. And the synth engine can be used in much more complex manners than possible on the mapped hardware. So it isn't really a control system for Omnisphere, the hardware profiles are a thing of their own. One can also use the hardware profiles as a starting point, starting out with a 1:1 feature-set of the panel of the synth, but then add extra modulations. or change the filter, or the osc, and in that way, it is more "modular" than emulations. (it would be interesting to see Arturia add the origin concept to V collection, where one can add modules of different synths, the hardware never really managed to do that).

[@mookmusik]

Kinda like a halfway house..

[@kentxx12]

Good show Nick and you are a very good seller, Matthew shall now buy the Tascam Model 24 and the Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.5 :)

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

I think you may be right! Thanks for watching!

[@SRDhain]

Not watched one of these in ages, so thought I'd sit through it. A Totally new line up and some great content 👍 Matthew made an interesting point at about the 38 minute mark as I was considering the soundcraft years back, but the same issue cropped up, so no dice. I'm all for a return for analog desks as other than the Mackie variants, you're looking at a heavier outlay for the bigger input ones when you factor in soundcards et al.

[@vinnien]

Bad example about being a chef. What chef goes home at 6 PM? Also, being a chef can be a very passionate job. Most of those those girls and guys work all the time also.

[@sonicstate]

Yeah your right.

[@vinnien]

But I love your stuff Sonic State!

[@GrizBass]

Yep, banker is the quintessential job to use in that regard guys. Make note :)

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Yep my bad. I’m sure it’s a tough industry indeed 👍🏻

[@GrizBass]

Just busting your chops Matt. I work for a bank but not a banker; network engineering. Have to work weird hours sometimes. Much rather do what you guys do. I'm envious to say the least.

[@j.dietrich]

The Tascam Model 24 has no MIDI. What were they thinking? It looks like a great product, but it would be so much more useful with a couple of mini-jacks for clock and MMC. Does anyone still make SMPTE sync boxes?

[@j0kerface]

got the behringer ufx1604 for some time, it's feature packed with multitrack recording to daw or on usb drive, all pre/post fader, 4 aux sends/returns, decent fx, compressor & eq

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Ah yes good one. I did look at this one but can't remember why I didn't jump for it.

[@j0kerface]

Matthew Hodson probably the behringer name, I know most people get turned off just by that haha. Can't complain, for its price per features it works just fine, wish it had a proper manual though since it's my first mixer ever and sometimes it's hard to figure out the signal flow.

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Yeah I think thats a fair point - some do get turned off by the name but I personally don't mind them at all (controversial I know!). Glad its working out for you!

[@MarcChevalier]

Matthew Hodson - I've been on the same manic quest for a USB multitrack 'interface' type of analog desk for several weeks, and when I spent the hour or so of research on the UFX1604, it was the inability to route all tracks BACK to the desk that knocked the Behringer off my shopping list. It sends 16 tracks to the computer, but appears to only route 4 tracks back to the desk via USB? (I wish Firewire wasn't so long in the tooth; I'd love an Allen & Heath Zed r16)

[@MarcChevalier]

Vaga - Or am I incorrect about the number of tracks coming back to the ufx1604 from the computer being only 4?

[@cornerliston]

Nice episode, as always... I didn't know modular patch cables (mini jack) had ground. I thought only TRS carried ground (or three part mini jack)?

[@HazeAnderson]

I was here for the live stream this morning but I had to leave for work. Work work. So funny that after I left y'all discussed the very thing I was doing. Yeah ... I got out of music to do computers because of the money situation. And the money was good, but I was still missing something. Now I have my hobby: hardware jams. But I am not quitting the day job -- quite the contrary ... the job fuels the hobby and the hobby fuels my tolerance to deal with the job.

[@seth4766]

nice vibe with Matt and Ben =)

[@walterrothe7861]

you are the only guy I trust and fallow

[@definitelymiami7978]

i wonder if Touchable will be a free upgrade or if i'll have to buy again. just bought it not two months back...

[@HazeAnderson]

regarding 1:04:49 "The Clarinet is a closed pipe and produces odd harmonics only. The sound waves from a clarinet are Square waves ... An Oboe looks a bit like a Clarinet and also has a reed in its mouthpiece. However, it is an open pipe and produces both odd and even harmonics. Sawtooth waves give a richer sound." [emerald.tufts.edu/programs/mma/ctfm/fourier.html]

[@danwool]

Weird none of them use Omnisphere much. I do indeed work on deadline driven projects a lot, but even when I don't Omnisphere is often the first VI instantiated....I'll be curious to hear what the synth community thinks of the 2.5 synth engine. To me the new Hardware Presets sound incredible. Way better than the previous emulations available in Omnisphere.

[@cornerliston]

Nick, what you think about having a bit heavier setting on the compressor? Or not possible to compress the sound when streaming live? Fortunately I can solve it running the sound via UA-interface's console... but a more compressed sound might be welcomed by other listeners as well?

[@sonicstate]

I could certainly compress a bit more yes, will take a look at the settings

[@cornerliston]

Marvelous. Compress the shit out of it. It's already so lo-fi. : )

[@astrophonix]

I work to such tight briefs I could front a Bronski Beat cover band!

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Do it! :)

[@phoenixdk]

Have you guys ever covered Axoloti? It's a purpose built audio board, that has good, totally programmable DSP. Has 2 audio in, 2 audio out, MIDI DIN in / out, and other stuff. I've been using it for a year or so, and it's proven really great for making a MIDI fx pedal, sort of. Controllable with pots or via MIDI in / USB, also capable of synthesis, modulation, audio fx, CV signal generation, MIDI -> CV -> MIDI conversion, ... If it hasn't been on Sonicstate yet, I promise, it really should be!

[@TheJonHolstein]

I guess the preset numbers games, come from the sample-pack side of Omnisphere. They do have a lot of non-typical sounds, so for that crowd getting a lot of new presets can be exciting. However, since the new ones seems to be tailored for the synth part and particularly the hardware profile part, it doesn't make as much sense, as it won't be as unique compared to other packages as the sample-pack part of the package. Omnisphere isn't the go to sample pack collection, though, it doesn't do the typical symphonic and acoustical sounds, it falls more in to the creative type of sampled sounds. But I guess the synth oriented part of it, could be the go to collection for synth sounds, but then there are other synth VSTs out there, that also comes with a lot of presets, and paying for the odd and creative samples of the Omnisphere package but only using synth presets would not make that much financial sense. I've seen many pictures of studios where Voyager or Sub 37 is the only knobby synth, and for such a studio to be able to have a hardware poly synth, for this price is a bargain. I mean, they mostly use soft-synths anyway, so the sound difference between the actual hardware and software should not matter, as it would become an instrument of its own. (For those that want the specific sound of the hardware it wont sound exactly like the it, but if it doesn't quite cut it, it should at least work as a placeholder for programming and arranging synth parts before multi-tracking the hardware). That would still be underutilising the software, though. But using only that part of the Omnisphere software would make more sense than just using the synth presets, as in this case, it would be offering something no one else has done yet. This far, they have "emulated" hardware with midi cc controls as that is what makes sense for hardware profiles, and Arturia for example has emulated hardware without full Midi CC specifications, so they don't quite overlap with the typical emulations in software, as they tend to be of non midi or early midi vintage synths.

[@agnz]

Matt should look into fl studio patcher for the 'customizable gui' workflow within a DAW

[@universalhead316]

Check 1010 Musics Euroshield for a eurorack ‘meta’ soft/hardware module.

[@kellymerrill5294]

I want to like omnisphere, but why I went from hardware to software back to hardware is because I want to interface with the limitations of hardware...less is more.

[@korneykretov4668]

Affordable platform is Axoloti

[@RobLocksley]

Just got to the part where you are talking about Raspberry and wondering about an interface with a screen; you even mention Rebel Tech and yet did not mention the Magus that got all of the above. Raspberry might not be optimal to run quick code with little latency as an ARM, the OS is overhead - get rid of it.

[@gueorguititov89]

Midas F32 and F 16 are great with plenty of options, good preamps. , eq, unfortunately firewire...

[@matthsmatthsmatths]

Yes really like these desks and was very close to grabbing one but the firewire legacy just basically made me go the other route. More USB mixers please!!!

[@andydunnock8114]

Try the Teensy 3.2 and Adafruit Audio board for Pure Data. Dirt cheap.

[@TheJonHolstein]

The problem with pre-making DIY based computers is that there is nothing that one could offer that would be the bases for a business if it is going to be completely flash-able. People could build on their own cheaper. Or any other company could start doing the same. Someone could develop a OS or framework, that would be unique, but then developers would have to develop for that, rather than it being completely flash-able, and would have to be adopted for that. Or develop some unique hardware. But for that to offer any benefits, again developers would have to develop for that specifically. Or it would have to be more advanced hardware, like a case in the shape of a keyboard controller, and then it would no longer be dirt cheap anyway. It is too bad though, because it would be nice to see someone go for it. But it wont be a huge market niche and it would be a low margin kind of product. But on the other hand I would much rather see a music making dock for iPads (and other tablets, by using USB connector and requiring the usb adapter kit for ipads, in order to keep compatibility for future generations), with Audio+Midi, and a few controllers, and a tiltable, lockable mutli holder, that can fold over, for easy carry and set-up. There are some really good music software for iPads, but hooking it up to necessary I/O and controllers, quickly makes it a mess. And then one still need a stand for the ipad really. So having it all in one, just slotting in the tablet, and connecting a single cable (if the USB adapter is kept on the cable, it is a single connection to the port on the iPad, even if it would be the USB 3 version that also can supply additional power), would make it much more approachable.

[@sonicstate]

Good points John.

[@TheJonHolstein]

Google had that DIY synth, they could have turned that in to a kit to sell via their store, and allow for downloading alternative OSes on to it. It would have probably gained some traction, among developers, and thus been a good platform. However when google does products/services directed at users, they do so to gather information, for their ad business. And that synth just doesn't fit that category. And the price would be higher as well. If Steinberg would like to promote VST on linux they could probably build something for that. But expect it to be at least 299 but could very well be more, in that case. And perhaps they would lock it down somehow, to only run an OS that supports VST. Still could be a great little thing, though. If for example Teenage Engineering would make something like that, they would like to design a cool hardware, so it would not be in anywhere near the pocket operators in price. Probably quite expensive hardware. Given the products Mutable instruments used to make, they could perhaps put something like that out there, but then it would still be a DIY kit in parts. Perhaps you are the ones that should start the trend. Decide on the specifications, and promote it on the show. And then there are probably people in the audience that would buy the hardware you decide on, and start building synths for it, if you would also offer a place to distribute the audience made synth code. You could sell SonicState enclosures. (laser etched acrylic cases, with the necessary ports, and room for the hardware). (There could even be the offical Nick Batt synth, a paraphonic PWM based synth, with 12dB filter and a modulated reverb at the end)

[@sameddy2729]

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