Kontrol + Massive + other crap for $250?

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:01 pm

I've been looking into getting an audio interface and then audiomidi.com slapped me in the face with this deal.

Any opinions on Kontrol or Massive? Kontrol isn't really mentioned on here in any of the threads on audio interfaces.

I'm not a huge fan of Native Instruments but for that price for the 2 it's real tempting. Anyone else notice NI seems to be giving away their synths in bundles lately? Did they finally realize they aren't the only option for softsynths anymore?

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:05 pm

I do think the competition has gotten really really stiff lately and they are aware of it. I've seen absynth 4 for like $149. thats shockingly low especially considering thats what I paid for operator.

from what I've heard most people love massive, though it does require a ton of cpu so if you're computer isn't up to snuff I would almost suggest passing on massive.

don't know anything about kontrol though.

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:09 pm

I remember back in the day you weren't considered a valid electronic musician if you didn't own Absynth. Now that they are version 3? 4? I don't even see it mentioned anymore. And things seem to be really quiet on the Kontrol interface. Somebody has to own one.

iamnotcool · Post by **iamnotcool** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:10 pm

i too am interested in the AudioKontrol. if anyone can give some feedback on this, i'd really appreciate it.

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Fri May 04, 2007 11:52 pm

I Tried Massive demo and it really is indeed a very Nice synth.both soundwise and modulation wise.very high quality. I intend on maybe buying one sometime in the future...different agenda right now...

R.J.Dubya · Post by **R.J.Dubya** » Sat May 05, 2007 2:18 am

I've got a hell of a lot of soft synths, and I've tried just about every one I've heard of, and Massive is my favorite sounding. It's huge. No idea about kontrol. Seems pretty run of the mill. But that sounds like a pretty good deal.

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Sat May 05, 2007 4:21 am

personally if I was gonna buy a softsynth at the moment I'd definetly go with zebra 2 over anything else. but I've been stearing clear of softsynths lately.

but to me, zebra 2 pretty much takes the cake.

dmacintyre · Post by **dmacintyre** » Sat May 05, 2007 6:56 am

I've got both. I sold my MOTU Ultralite as I didn't need all the I/O's and bought the Audio Kontrol. Doesn't blow you away with features but let me just say that the audio quality is outstanding and IMHO better than the MOTU. I don't use the midi controller wheel and buttons much but it excels as an audio interface. If you need it for DJ'ing, it's got a simple 1/2 or 3/4 output selector switch for the headphone monitors too. There are people on the NI forum complaining about audio clicks but I have never heard a single pop or click from mine (I'm on MacBook Pro).

Massive is also an excellent synth but it depends what you are going to do with it. If you are not into programming and like industrial, raw sounds I'd say Massive has perfect presets for you and can be easily tweaked. Remember that synths are far more subjective as it depends on your sound design skills, musical objectives, etc. Regarding CPU load, Massive has a variety of sound quality settings to suit your CPU, so that shouldn't be a consideration.

David

Syntheme · Post by **Syntheme** » Sat May 05, 2007 7:25 am

i just got massive after using a demo copy for a few weeks. You can put it onto a lower quality setting which uses half the cpu of the maximum setting; and perhaps my ears are jaded, but i can't tell the difference sound wise!

. If there is one , it is very subtle, so you could use low quality while working on the track, then switch to hi quality when you render - i haven't bothered doing that yet though.

It's a really nice vsti - and tons of great presets to use as starting points to get your own sound.

ewistrand · Post by **ewistrand** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:38 am

I use both myself

The AK's the interface I bring along with my rig if I'm mostly playing guitar (if I'm playing lots of keys I'll bring KORE instead). It's nice and portable, doesn't have any more controls than is needed, and sounds good. That, my original Rig Kontrol, the rack with my PC in it and a MIDI pedal and I've got a reliable, consistent sounding "amp rig" that more than duplicates the multiple amps and cabs I used to drag around with me. A stereo line out to the house and I'm golden.

Massive's a lot more than the dnb monster it's promoted as being. It's got IMO the best GUI design of any of the NI synths, the way to assign modulations is as easy as it gets, it's got great randomize functions to help you out of a patch making rut and it sounds as huge as anything. The CPU load in ultra mode is pretty high (about 50% for 16 voices on one core of my 4600x2), but I think the sound's worth it. Your mileage may vary...

ew

dmacintyre · Post by **dmacintyre** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:50 am

ewistrand wrote:It's got IMO the best GUI design of any of the NI synths

+1. FM8 is prettier but Massive is the most logical by far.

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:58 am

I think people got bored of Absynth y'know. They're bored of that ethereal sound that you get with everything.

ewistrand · Post by **ewistrand** » Sat May 05, 2007 4:32 pm

Amberience wrote:I think people got bored of Absynth y'know. They're bored of that ethereal sound that you get with everything.

If that's all they're getting, then they aren't trying, Andy. They're being too hemmed in by what other people've done with it.

I've found Absynth to be as punchy and rude sounding as any VA out there if I program it to be that way.

ew

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Sat May 05, 2007 5:05 pm

dmacintyre wrote: Regarding CPU load, Massive has a variety of sound quality settings to suit your CPU, so that shouldn't be a consideration.

David

sure. if dropping the sound quality down to the crappy settings and keeping your polyphony to 1 note seems like a good idea then by all means

dmacintyre · Post by **dmacintyre** » Sat May 05, 2007 5:10 pm

Johnisfaster wrote:
dmacintyre wrote: Regarding CPU load, Massive has a variety of sound quality settings to suit your CPU, so that shouldn't be a consideration.

David
sure. if dropping the sound quality down to the crappy settings and keeping your polyphony to 1 note seems like a good idea then by all means

I think that's a bit harsh. The CPU load and polyphony depends what you're running it on and many of the patches don't sound dramatically different between Ultra and High quality as someone else has also remarked.

D.