MOTM

A bit off-topic... Has anyone on this list used Arturia's "Moog Modular V" 
virtual Moog synth?  www.arturia.com  While my interests lie mostly with analog, 
I have no particular bias against digital.  To me, it is all about the sound 
and not the technology that got you there.  Anyway, I downloaded the demo 
version (which bursts about 1/2 second of white noise after about 8 notes having 
been played) to see what it is all about.  For $226 at zzounds, the price seems 
pretty good but I'd like to hear from trusted friends on this list rather 
than manufacturer's hype on usability, sound quality, and overall value.  Anyone 
have this, who would be kind enough to share his or her thoughts?

It has a built-in sequencer that works pretty much like the real deal and I 
was fairly impressed by the sonic result when various "modules" are 
deliberately overloaded.  Somebody actually paid attention to that oft overlooked detail. 
 I am on a strictly limited budget so that piece of code won't appear in my 
kit unless kudos abound.  There are Wintel and MAC versions available.

The fixed filter bank even had a Q control for each passband.  That was a 
nice touch and seems quite useful.  I think the demo has value in that one can 
patch up modules they don't yet own (or aren't yet available ala MOTM).  That'll 
help to confirm whether that bit of functionality is a must-have-now or a 
get-it-later.  For example, it has 9 VCOs.  That could help sell some 300s if one 
decides that they didn't know they really needed more VCOs!  I don't know if 
this program is truly useful as an instrument but the demo was helpful in 
sorting out what I like and dislike about knob-per-note sequencers.  Still, might 
be useful to load onto that older PIII machine with an AWE64 Soundblaster for 
MIDI control in, and audio out.  It might be "another tool in the kit" or 
might be a waste of cash.  But unlike real synths (like MOTM) one cannot simply 
add another module.  If you want just one more function you're pretty much 
screwed.  So much for a modular virtual synth that isn't modular after all!  Still, 
it seems compelling.  Comments... please!

Cheers!
Tom Farrand

> Anyone have this, who would be kind enough to share his or her thoughts?

Needs more features implemented (real S&H, self-oscillating filters, real
fixed filter bank, etc.) But it's the closest non-DSP software solution that
comes closest to the Moog sound. You can pretty much forget about the
"polyphony" feature. It takes up enough CPU just for one voice.

I hear they have other vintage synths in the works as well.

> A bit off-topic... Has anyone on this list used Arturia's "Moog Modular V"
> virtual Moog synth?

Yes. I purchased it a couple of weeks ago.

> friends on this list rather than manufacturer's hype on usability, sound
> quality, and overall value.  Anyone have this, who would be kind enough
> to share his or her thoughts?

Love it. Very, very close sound to a real Moog modular. If you're looking
for that rubbery yet solid sound of Moog filters, this does a pretty
damned good job of it.

> dislike about knob-per-note sequencers.  Still, might be useful to load
> onto that older PIII machine with an AWE64 Soundblaster for MIDI control
> in, and audio out.  It might be "another tool in the kit" or might be a
> waste of cash.  But unlike real synths (like MOTM) one cannot simply add
> another module.  If you want just one more function you're pretty much
> screwed.  So much for a modular virtual synth that isn't modular after
> all!  Still, it seems compelling.  Comments... please!

Buy it. You won't be disappointed. And contrary to popular belief, the
synth engine in Moog V is *NOT* a CPU hog. The graphical section is what
is giving it a bad name, as it's a REAL CPU hog, even on really stout
machines.

-->Neil

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neil Bradley
Synthcom Systems, Inc.  Radio Shack -
ICQ #29402898	             You've got questions, we've got blank stares.

Yes, I had it for a few months and returned it.

The synth itself sounds amazing. Easily one of the best VAs out there, 
I had a lot of fun playing with it. However...

I had a terrible time trying to actually write music with it. Why? It 
crashes like nothing else. I could get it to blow up and take my 
ProTools session with it in about 15 minute intervals. The stand alone 
app would take a little longer. Arturia's excuse? "the plug-in Software 
Development Kit we used for this version was still not stable at the 
time we released the Moog Modular V"  WTF? And you released it anyway 
and hoped no one would notice??  This is a beautifully sounding modular 
synth marred by poor software engineering and quality assurance 
practices.

--mikes

I bought it too. Played with it for a while and then deinstalled it and 
put it back in its box.
Not yet stable enough (OSX). Plus there's a lot of functions within the 
program that are very "flaky", which is a big nuisance when you're 
composing. When a soft synth requires more attention than everything 
combined in your rig to function my rule is to put it on hold until 
someone else gets it to work and swears by it.

Tobias

Mike Estee wrote:

> Yes, I had it for a few months and returned it.
>
> The synth itself sounds amazing. Easily one of the best VAs out there,
> I had a lot of fun playing with it. However...
>
> I had a terrible time trying to actually write music with it. Why? It
> crashes like nothing else. I could get it to blow up and take my
> ProTools session with it in about 15 minute intervals. The stand alone
> app would take a little longer. Arturia's excuse? "the plug-in Software
> Development Kit we used for this version was still not stable at the
> time we released the Moog Modular V"  WTF? And you released it anyway
> and hoped no one would notice??  This is a beautifully sounding modular
> synth marred by poor software engineering and quality assurance
> practices.
>
> --mikes
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service 
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.

> app would take a little longer. Arturia's excuse? "the plug-in Software
> Development Kit we used for this version was still not stable at the
> time we released the Moog Modular V"  WTF? And you released it anyway
> and hoped no one would notice??  This is a beautifully sounding modular
> synth marred by poor software engineering and quality assurance
> practices.

After spending 4+ hours on it last night with Cubase SX, I'll add some
additional problems I've seen with it. While it sounds great, it is a
buggy program.

1) Switching patches causes the memory utilization to go up, and up, and
up, etc.... The program has memory leak problems.

2) If your CPU utilization is over 50% aside from the Moog V itself, Moog
V will glitch occasionlly (none of my other plugins like Pro-53, Battery,
FM7, Absynth, or Model E have problems)

3) Eventually, after many patch changes and tweaks, the app will start
spewing out tons of noise, bring the system to a complete halt, and
studder for about a minute. Only shutting down the app and restarting it
fixes the problem.

I've found the best way to work with it is to make your patch changes,
save it, then exit the app, bring it back up, and then use it. Sheesh.
I've long advocated that 95% of programmers out there shouldn't be
programming. I cannot believe that they'd release an app like this and not
test it better. It has problems on both the PC and the Mac - similar ones
it sounds.

-->Neil

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neil Bradley
Synthcom Systems, Inc.  Will work for modules.
ICQ #29402898

well,
  I am really glad to hear these revues,  I was really close to 
getting Moog Modular V, but after reading all these posts I think I 
will save myself from the headache. Like I don't have enough problems 
with OSX and Logic Audio 6.1  and I don't want to even want to go 
into using OSX with Akai SYS... LOL.  anyone want to buy an Akai 
s5000?

thanks

Howard



--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, Neil Bradley <nb@s...> wrote:
> > app would take a little longer. Arturia's excuse? "the plug-in 
Software
> > Development Kit we used for this version was still not stable at 
the
> > time we released the Moog Modular V"  WTF? And you released it 
anyway
> > and hoped no one would notice??  This is a beautifully sounding 
modular
> > synth marred by poor software engineering and quality assurance
> > practices.
> 
> After spending 4+ hours on it last night with Cubase SX, I'll add 
some
> additional problems I've seen with it. While it sounds great, it is 
a
> buggy program.
> 
> 1) Switching patches causes the memory utilization to go up, and 
up, and
> up, etc.... The program has memory leak problems.
> 
> 2) If your CPU utilization is over 50% aside from the Moog V 
itself, Moog
> V will glitch occasionlly (none of my other plugins like Pro-53, 
Battery,
> FM7, Absynth, or Model E have problems)
> 
> 3) Eventually, after many patch changes and tweaks, the app will 
start
> spewing out tons of noise, bring the system to a complete halt, and
> studder for about a minute. Only shutting down the app and 
restarting it
> fixes the problem.
> 
> I've found the best way to work with it is to make your patch 
changes,
> save it, then exit the app, bring it back up, and then use it. 
Sheesh.
> I've long advocated that 95% of programmers out there shouldn't be
> programming. I cannot believe that they'd release an app like this 
and not
> test it better. It has problems on both the PC and the Mac - 
similar ones
> it sounds.
> 
> -->Neil
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

> Neil Bradley
> Synthcom Systems, Inc.  Will work for modules.
> ICQ #29402898

With all that said and at the risk of going completely off topic, I 
use Vaz Modular regularly and really like it.  It's as stable as 
your device driver (which means that in some cases it will crash, 
but it's not really Vaz's fault).  The Vaz has a nasty edge to it 
that I like, but can also sound pretty fat.

Mike

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "Bob" <knarleybass@y...> wrote:
> well,
>   I am really glad to hear these revues,  I was really close to 
> getting Moog Modular V, but after reading all these posts I think 
I 
> will save myself from the headache. Like I don't have enough 
problems 
> with OSX and Logic Audio 6.1  and I don't want to even want to go 
> into using OSX with Akai SYS... LOL.  anyone want to buy an Akai 
> s5000?
> 
> thanks
> 
> Howard
> 
> 
> 
> --- In motm@yahoogroups.com, Neil Bradley <nb@s...> wrote:
> > > app would take a little longer. Arturia's excuse? "the plug-in 
> Software
> > > Development Kit we used for this version was still not stable 
at 
> the
> > > time we released the Moog Modular V"  WTF? And you released it 
> anyway
> > > and hoped no one would notice??  This is a beautifully 
sounding 
> modular
> > > synth marred by poor software engineering and quality assurance
> > > practices.
> > 
> > After spending 4+ hours on it last night with Cubase SX, I'll 
add 
> some
> > additional problems I've seen with it. While it sounds great, it 
is 
> a
> > buggy program.
> > 
> > 1) Switching patches causes the memory utilization to go up, and 
> up, and
> > up, etc.... The program has memory leak problems.
> > 
> > 2) If your CPU utilization is over 50% aside from the Moog V 
> itself, Moog
> > V will glitch occasionlly (none of my other plugins like Pro-53, 
> Battery,
> > FM7, Absynth, or Model E have problems)
> > 
> > 3) Eventually, after many patch changes and tweaks, the app will 
> start
> > spewing out tons of noise, bring the system to a complete halt, 
and
> > studder for about a minute. Only shutting down the app and 
> restarting it
> > fixes the problem.
> > 
> > I've found the best way to work with it is to make your patch 
> changes,
> > save it, then exit the app, bring it back up, and then use it. 
> Sheesh.
> > I've long advocated that 95% of programmers out there shouldn't 
be
> > programming. I cannot believe that they'd release an app like 
this 
> and not
> > test it better. It has problems on both the PC and the Mac - 
> similar ones
> > it sounds.
> > 
> > -->Neil
> > 
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
---

> -----------
> > Neil Bradley
> > Synthcom Systems, Inc.  Will work for modules.
> > ICQ #29402898

Enough already :(

Paul S>
went to dentist, been going downhill since