Ballack13 wrote:2 questions;
How does this group buy thing work? Seriously you compared this to Altiverb? You own Altiverb? Just asking cos that's pretty nice.

Howdy,
I own a couple analogue hardware reverbs, and one software reverb which is Altiverb (not including LIVE's reverb - but I do use it too, once in a while in long FX chains).
Aether is indeed comparable to Altiverb in as much as it sounds really really nice, but they offer different functions.
Altiverb is a convolution reverb, meaning you can make your own IR (impulse response) from any space, or even from vintage/modern EQ's ....run the test signal through a space or device, capture the end result and Altiverb does the rest. There's always new IRs. Altiverb is very expensive, but comparable in cost to your average hardware unit that doesn't do half as much - and it's worth every penny, it really is the dog's bollox - but you'll be saving a while. It's also invaluable for people who do sound for visual media IMO.
Also, I want to correct something elexicano said earlier about convolution reverbs. Whilst I haven't used them all, I do use altiverb ...and it is obscenely low on cpu. Much lower than aether. When you load up an IR in Altiverb, (like a large stadium or cathedral) you get a hit of 25% cpu for a fraction of a second while the IR loads, then it runs at a steady 4% cpu strain and sounds like pure gold - it is the stuff of science fiction...no shit. I've been getting hits of 55% with aether when loading a preset, then running with a steady 25% cpu strain. I run a 2ghz dualcore mac osx 10.4.11 2gigs ram
Anyone who says altiverb is a cpu hog really is full of shit, and they're just perpetuating an internet myth....based on earlier reviews of earlier convolution reverbs on really old computers, probably. That or it's just mass hysteria, I don't know which.
but anyways I want to get back to aether,
Aether sounds...well, etheral....funnily enough. And it's worth the cpu cost IMO. I've been cruising the presets and finding spaces that can clobber altiverb, but hey that's apples and oranges. Altiverb is a pricey convolution reverb and offers all the magic of Impulse Response sorcery and endless libraries of IRs, and aether is (for the moment) a very affordable synthetic/algo reverb.
I've been holding out for an algo reverb to compliment altiverb for ages, and aether is it for me

Any reverb nut who might be saving up for altiverb would be a FOOL to miss out on this opportunity to pick up Aether for peanuts along the way. I think it's probably worth the $250 it previously cost and the $350 it's going to cost, but I haven't tried
every reverb (demo) available - just a few of the better known ones. Anyways, owning altiverb I wouldn't have been able to justify that much cash on another software reverb at the moment - especially since it's so lean on cpu (take note elexicano). But the group-buy is super generous of 2caudio/Galbanum ...and aren't we lucky!
Finally, there are
DEMOS for Aether and altiverb and all the rest of them. That's why I wondered if morerecords was sniffing glue, while I take his (wrong) opinion on board regarding the sound, I found it crazy he'd think someone would buy a reverb they didn't like...and he could somehow save them money & disappointment? The only hype I think we're all buying into is the group-buy, it's super value. Whether people like the sound or not is up to them, obviously.
Demos, people, use the demos (and rtfm etc)
PS: I'm 50/50 on the gui....the knobs and visual feedback etc ain't too bad - there's a central EQ reading that's pretty useful...shows you what eq range transients and potential problem spikes are in for quick correction. but the 'canvas' the useful bits are laid onto is kinda naff, and some pictures representing spaces are really naff....and it's a bit on the big side, but WHATEVER! the developer has more than alluded to the fact these issues will be addressed
PPS: Once you've decided you love the sounds and want to purchase a license, joining the group-buy is simple. You buy a kind of coupon from their website, which costs nothing. When the group-buy ends, you will be sent a link via email where you will give your payment details...once the money goes through, you get your serial number and the full functionality of Aether will be unlocked. It's all documented on the website, and from the kvr thread which is linked from page1 of this thread
