(this is the fourth and last part of a long post...)
The third comparison:
Effects & DAW integration (VST)
=================================
The last but very important part of a DSP card,
to use it to process audio instead of going
native or outboard.
To get right to the point...
Do the SFP based FX have anything to compete
with if you compare to the UAD and TC Powercore ?
I already have the UAD-1, and bought it for the
awsome models of compressors etc. I'm planning to
get the TC Powercore as well, to get the "other side"
of the palette. I have some native VST/DX effects
as well.
Where in all this does SFP fit in ?
If I have UAD & Powercore, Reaktor, some native and
some outboard gear from TLAudio, TC Fireworx etc,
is there still room for Vinco and the other ones ?
When people have DAW's of around 3GHz P4 with 1GB+
memory - along with the VST-link and V-stack
possibilities that are evolving, maybe the SFP
Sharcs don't make such a difference anymore ?
With XTC-mode not being all perfect, maybe the other alternatives are just as interesting ? Or more ?
/Magnus
Is SFP/Creaware still a competitive platform ?? Feedback wan
-
King of Snake
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well I sort of skimmed over everything you've written here, but I think you need to ask yourself some questions. What do I expect from my CW gear? Do I need the things it does? Are there better alternatives? that sort of thing.
For me, there could be no substitute. I do not have a hardware studio, but my two pieces of hardware, a Nord Rack and an electric guitar are perfectly integrated with SFP and Cubase. I do not have and do not need a hardware mixer. The only thing I'd like is a decent midi controller for my SFP mixer.
It's true that, as CPU's become more and more powerful, there might be less need for DSP's to "lessen the workload" on your CPU, but I think it's safe to say that most of the new SFP stuff blows most native stuff out of the water. The SHARCS may be old, but they are dedicated to just one thing: making good sounds
I don't think there's any other software around like SFP, that can integrate and route everything freely so easily.
For me, there could be no substitute. I do not have a hardware studio, but my two pieces of hardware, a Nord Rack and an electric guitar are perfectly integrated with SFP and Cubase. I do not have and do not need a hardware mixer. The only thing I'd like is a decent midi controller for my SFP mixer.
It's true that, as CPU's become more and more powerful, there might be less need for DSP's to "lessen the workload" on your CPU, but I think it's safe to say that most of the new SFP stuff blows most native stuff out of the water. The SHARCS may be old, but they are dedicated to just one thing: making good sounds
I don't think there's any other software around like SFP, that can integrate and route everything freely so easily.
well, there's Hansi Zimmer on the other side of the scale 
The UAD and PowerCore are good at what they do - if you need exactly that - there are rather limited possibilities for 3rd party stuff to extend the thing.
OK, there's Sony Oxford
you know who Sony is - they may be able to afford such a developement, but regular folks ? DSP assembler coding ?
On SFP you HAVE a complete developement system (CW is just careful with licensing) anyone seriously interested can afford.
Obviously the current stuff is just the tip of the iceberg as CW's recent releases show.
I have that much touted NI B4 and it looses completely against the B2003.
The recent ProOne has an improved sound quality as well - and that was considered one of the best synths available in it's original form.
John Bowen (as a famous synth guru) himself admitted that his excellent stuff more or less just uses BASIC building blocks of SFP, while Adern with their upcomig Flexor package went one level below that, with stunning results
Give Red_Muze the algorithms of the UAD and he programs you that thing - bingo. The only problem may be WHEN will we see a release by CW
I'm not shure, but since they are rather successful with their 'circuit modelling' in rebuilding classic stuff, we may expect quite a lot from them in the future.
I admit that I'm a fan of software quality opposed to clock rates, I give a sh*t on the latter one
cheeers, Tom
The UAD and PowerCore are good at what they do - if you need exactly that - there are rather limited possibilities for 3rd party stuff to extend the thing.
OK, there's Sony Oxford
you know who Sony is - they may be able to afford such a developement, but regular folks ? DSP assembler coding ?On SFP you HAVE a complete developement system (CW is just careful with licensing) anyone seriously interested can afford.
Obviously the current stuff is just the tip of the iceberg as CW's recent releases show.
I have that much touted NI B4 and it looses completely against the B2003.
The recent ProOne has an improved sound quality as well - and that was considered one of the best synths available in it's original form.
John Bowen (as a famous synth guru) himself admitted that his excellent stuff more or less just uses BASIC building blocks of SFP, while Adern with their upcomig Flexor package went one level below that, with stunning results
Give Red_Muze the algorithms of the UAD and he programs you that thing - bingo. The only problem may be WHEN will we see a release by CW
I'm not shure, but since they are rather successful with their 'circuit modelling' in rebuilding classic stuff, we may expect quite a lot from them in the future.
I admit that I'm a fan of software quality opposed to clock rates, I give a sh*t on the latter one
cheeers, Tom