Wiardgroup

Chris Muir <cbm@...> wrote:
>
> At 8:53 PM +0000 11/5/07, Gary Chang wrote:
> >I am using a tcelectronic STUDIOKONNEKT 48
> 
> I'm really interested in that interface, but the net is rife with
horror stories about the quality and stability of the TC drivers. Have
you encountered any problems?
> 

Chris,

Yes, on Craig Anderton's site, there is much banter about the TC
Konnekt series and how dodgy their software is.  (I am beta testing
this unit, so it has not been released in the US at the present). 
Here is the low down on why I am still interested in this product....
 It is true - there are some angry folks out there who bought
StudioKonnekt 24s who are angry with TC about releasing the interface
prematurely before the software was sorted out....

First off, there is no issue with any of the TC drivers when used in
the Windows platform.  The problems that TC have had are entirely in
the MAC domain.  I have tested the SK48 in both environments.

Regarding the Mac system operation, this unit's drivers seem to be
intact and stable.  I am able to use the unit as an interface with
logic with very little incident.  Presently, while configured as my
stage mixer, I can change levels, sends, pans and mutes from the
remote without any issues.

I can see how I would use the interface - I would configure the inputs
and outputs for my monitoring (so that the master knob controls the
proper outputs going to the monitors) and save the setup, loading it
whenever I use the unit for that situation.  The majority of controls
that I would use can be addressed and adjusted on the remote control
or front panel.  Of course, TC intends to fix the issues with the
control panel software application for the Mac before they release
this product, but even now, I can use this interface very well, even
with the crashing control panel app - I just don't load the
application while using it.

The issues really are in the use of the control panel application
concurrently with the remote control and another music application
that is playing audio through the unit.  While the software is dodgy
at present, what is significant is that when the control panel
application freezes, the SK48 still continues to operate completely
fine - only the software crashes, and there is enough on board
processing going on in the unit that it actually can survive several
crashes and reboots of the control panel app and still carries on with
its tasks undisturbed by all of the mayhem....  

I suppose that it would be all pointless if the box didn't sound any
good.  The hardware is every bit as good sounding as the Apogee stuff
that I have, with a few very cool architectural features that makes it
very appealing.

gary