G'day all,

Well, its not too long now until the Media Station arrives..So its getting a bit exciting now.

I have been running some prelim tests on a few VST effects and synths I have, seeing how they might run under the supplied VST host, and no problems, and with Wine now being a very stable Linux platform, I anticipate it will be exactly the same result on the actual keyboard.
I can now get a real idea of how things like Jamstix 2 and Slayer are going to sound, add these to Gigasynth and on top of what is supplied I will probably buy the Rhodes VST, the name escapes me for the moment, but you guys know which one I mean.

Anyhoo, more later...including a full, "under the hood" report + some small demos, which I think I will be able to post to the Lionstracs website, need to check with Dom first.
I will also be able to fully report on the MIDI implementation as well as using it with external modules (Motif XS Rack + Tyros 2).

Cheers
Dennis

I am interested in many things, but particularly reported latency (If Linux can report it). Hardware is getting pretty fast, which equates to responsive playing...

Dom or others have not yet published a really TOTL demo of this supposedly TOTL product, but I think that the MS is the step to the right direction. Maybe in your hands it will show off better.

Waiting for review and demos.

Unless you are highly skilled, I don't think you'll impress anyone with your out of the box demos. The critics who criticize it just don't get that the idea of the MS is not the preprogrammed material, but the programmable material... It is like clay to be molded and painted anyway you want - unlike Korg, Yamaha and the others...

Latency..boh...good questions..
look yourself... http://www.lionstracs.com/store/images/gui2007/B4asio.jpg

next week I will receive this one and then I will make a report and some demos: http://www.spectrasonics.net/instruments/omnisphere.html
They still waiting my report too...guess why?

I don't know how usefull spectrasonics Omnisphere will be to the generall keyboardplayer...

Fact is that its the most innovating VST in a long time.

I think Omnisphere will have a great future in music production, and even revolutionise part of it.

Good point..
We can say the same..why keyboardplayers buy the M3 or Oasys?
it mean that a lot of keyboardsplayers want have the super synths sounds on gig stage too.

I get orders of another 12 MS X-76 Pro full expanded from the USA, ONLY if Omnisphere is full working.
Then the combination of Omnisphere, NI Komplete synth, Giga streaming and all controlled by the Qranger Sequencer Audio-midi in realtime....Bingo!

Now for sure someone there will reply:
MS sounds crappy....I know the story....

[This message has been edited by LIONSTRACS (edited 10-03-2008).]

No, really... we get it

Trouble is, do the people that BUY the MS get it as well? Let's assume they do... So where are the demos by USERS who understand this machine that eschews factory content, unlike MotifXS, M3, and FantomG (seeing as how you want to now put it in THEIR company now, after apparently failing to make a connection with arranger players )?

Imagine an XS without the vast library of GOOD loops and arpeggios it comes with, or an M3 or FantomG with the same problem!) Content isn't an arranger exclusive... the best WS's come OOTB with an extensive selection of HIGH quality content to get you started.

Where are the demos by the people that apparently DO understand the 'no OOTB content' part of the spiel? I am simply troubled by what is being touted as an ADVANTAGE to the MS buyer, that it has little you can use OOTB, it's entirely up to you, blah, blah, blah. OK, let's assume there IS someone out there that considers that an advantage... A person of great technical skill and ability....

Why doesn't he post something... anywhere?

In the meantime, of course, players of apparently lower ability are making chart toppers on MotifXS, M3, FantomG, often using barely edited factory patches!

A great painter OF COURSE wants to paint something unique... but he still needs paint. It has been a long time since most painters actually MADE their own paint. They buy it from a store. What they do with it from that point onwards is their unique contribution, but no-one is telling them 'if you want to use OUR canvas, you HAVE to make your own paint!'

Factory content in an arranger or WS is the paint that we use to start out with. We can alter it or replace it to our own needs, but we need some paint to get started. No manufacturer sells a WS with no usable content, and tells it's potential customers 'You are on your own... do it ALL yourself'

But let us assume that maybe there IS someone who would prefer to have a keyboard with little content he can be proud of out of the gate. Where does this mythical creature post this cutting edge music? Because I would SURE like to listen to it...

Hi Chony,

Yes I agree, but its absolutely nothing to do with O.O.T.B. for me and the MS.

It is the fact that for the first time I can build a keyboard , from the ground up, to suit what I want to do.

Its not like the others that allow SOME modification to a locked in sound palette and operational system.
Only changing when a new physical model is released with a commensurate hefty price to pay.
Or having other proprietary systems that do not change in methodology, or evolving so slowly that it takes years to see real improvements.

I would even hazard a guess that at some stage we might even be able to develop a "Chord Sequencer" for the MS...

Who knows, it is OPEN architecture so if a developer can create a program to do it, just add it on!!!

The MS I think will allow total freedom in all aspects of what a keyboard should be.

The fact I can add and subtract software systems at will, or when they get better is a HUGE advantage. Which means "I" get to choose when I want an upgrade, not the manufacturer.

I have spent many, many years chopping and changing keyboards and modules trying to find the "perfect" one. Some came very close, but there was always one or two things missing.

The Media Station, I believe, will be that keyboard because it will be fully customisable to what I need and want. I can vary it at will, change it to suit my mood, or change it to suit particular gigs...The list could go on and on.

And THATS the special thing about the Media Station I reckon.

Yeah I know thats a bit dramatic but in a way thats what the MS is all about. Letting the owner not only create music, but create their own individual tool for that purpose.

I can't wait to get started.

Dennis

No, I'm not putting the MS in the company of the XS and Fantom, because they would not be able to accomplish what the MS can. The MS can play using VSTis, and other sampled instruments. I don't think that even you would disagree that the Steinway Bosendorfer sampled piano, the DFH and BFD sampled drum kits, B4 organs, Garritan sampled Saxes and Qantum sampled Brass are much better than any arranger or workstation could ever hope to be. Now imagine being able to use them on your keyboard!

The reason nobody has made any good samples is not because they are not possible, but because (1) Lionstracs has only recently started to realize that they have to get these keyboards out to professionals who can do this (2) the kind of people who know what they are doing do not lurk on sites like SZ. (No offense, SZ in my favorite keyboard forum, however it is made up of the most untechnical people. There are very few people on SZ who use the keyboards to their full abilities.)

The attraction of the MS to me is unique because all of my styles on the Yamaha and Korg are custom. I create everything myself. Now imagine doing that with the sound and power of the MS! Then again, I do a specialty performance and charge much more than what I've seen others on this forum are charging. If you're charging through the roof, you need something unique that some kid with $3000 can't replicate...

Also there is no one making "chart toppers" as you say, with the regular arranger keyboards... Don't know where you got that from...