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I looks like TC Electronic is trying to compete in the synth area. They now have a couple of big name synths available for the PowerCore with the Virus and now the V-Station.

http://messe.harmony-central.com/Musikm ... rCore.html

These are the type of partnerships/alliances that Creamware needs in order to really get more exposure and have sales take off. (Not that the Creamware and third-party synths are not good. In fact, they are better, just not big name, well recognized synths that will bring a lot of exposure and new sales.)

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: powerpulsarian on 2004-04-06 15:05 ]</font>

John Bowen is a big name. Why don't we ever hear about him on the news sites?

I think that the bottom line here is that these partnerships are almost entirely made possible by the fact that the Powercore line of products uses the same Motorola class DSP chips that most MI manufactures use. These are (relatively) easy ports for Access and Novation, but especially Access as this synth was already in plugin form on the TDM platform (again, same Motorola DSP).

For Creamware to attract these companies would mean for them to essentially completely rewrite the synth from ground zero to suite the SHARC platform. From a business perspective it's obviously not attractive, especially for an already niche product like a DSP card. I'm very suprised Novation did the move to a native VSTi as this must have required immense work, but they were going to a broader market. For Access or Novation to move to a TC card is easy money. Take an already developed product, invest little money and resources and move existing code to well copy protected solution. It's almost a no brainer.

Having said this, I'm glad CW doesn't use the Motorola chips. I think the net result (sonically) is much better as nearly the all the TC and third party plugins suffer from the same fixed point processing. It's pretty easy to clip the signal in any of these if you aren't careful. There's also much less support for anything above 48khz as it requires the processing to be split across multiple chips.

I'm a fan of all three cards (CW, TC, UAD) - each has pro's and con's, but I really don't feel like CW is missing out in terms of quality in the current synths. Granted, names like Access and Novation attract the newbies, but CW synths can easily hang tight with them.

On 2004-04-06 15:16, Shayne White wrote:
John Bowen is a big name. Why don't we ever hear about him on the news sites?

Shayne, don't get me wrong, in principle I completely agree with you, but name any of the developers of either Novation or Access off hand? I can't. I bet most people can't either.

It's the same reason why most people don't know John... only synth nerds know the makers, while the general crowd only knows the products they created.

On 2004-04-06 15:52, sinix wrote:
I think that the bottom line here is that these partnerships are almost entirely made possible by the fact that the Powercore line of products uses the same Motorola class DSP chips that most MI manufactures use. These are (relatively) easy ports for Access and Novation, but especially Access as this synth was already in plugin form on the TDM platform (again, same Motorola DSP).

And the next one could be the Nord Modular as a plugin for the PowerCore. (Doesn't it also use the Motorola DSP?)

The software interface for the Nord Modular is already there, it would just be expanding it from running on Clavia's hardware to running on a PowerCore card (Clavia would be selling just the programming at a lesser price since it would be without the hardware/manufacturing costs.)

the latest Nord G2 rack unit is below 500 Euro - no need to put that on an already overcrowded card
The G2 was featured in a modular synth special in German Keys mag and from all they wrote I'm pretty shure how it sounds.

Not that I have any sentiments against Clavia, but the enthusiastic review triggered a strange mixture of sadness and anger in me.
There were some complaints, like NO compatibility to existing patches and a 'not so perfect' sound à la 'distinct Clavia', yet it was considered almost a sensation.

where do you want to put CWA's Modular paired with Flexor One and Two then ???

It's existence was just mentioned somewhere in the general part of the text...

annoyed, Tom

Only 500 Euro for the G2 Engine? Wow, I thought it was more than that, more around 1,200????

By the way, what if Creamware released a special version of the Noah that just focused on the Modular, and bundled it with Flexor? That would be sure to get some attention!

To keep the price down as much as possible, they should just include the Modular + Flexor and nothing else.

That would give the G2 a run for its money.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: powerpulsarian on 2004-04-06 19:57 ]</font>

On 2004-04-06 19:45, powerpulsarian wrote:
Only 500 Euro for the G2 Engine? Wow, I thought it was more than that, more around 1,200????

you're right - I messed it with the voice expansion
engine 1119 euro, expansion 435

sorry, Tom

Well, they had Elektra for a while, but it only had 3 DSP chips (useless!!) and only came with the Mod II (not as fancy as newer packs). So a new Modular bundle might be good...

Frankly, I think they should make a version of SP/Noah/whatever that comes ONLY with MiniMax and bundle it with the MidiMax. If they played their cards right price/performance-wise, they could attract everyone who might buy Arturia's thing otherwise.

Hi
The POCO PCI is also under £400 in the UK which is a good price, then around £200 each for the Nova and the Access. So it is competitive with CWA….. but no I/O.
I also searched Harmony Central for John Bowen and it returned 21 hits for him, many in relation to CWA, so he is not that obscure in the music media.
The POCO will probably be my next purchase.
Regards
Kenf

Well what can I say,

I own em all, PowerPulsar, Powercore & UAD-1, why limit yourself to one sound, each of those DSP cards has its own unique character and to be honest as much as I love my CWA stuff, I could not get along with out the other devices.

Those UAD Comps are so impressive and the price of that card is so cheap I do not see why any one would bother using anything else, unless they do not care for its character, but then again, who doesnt like the LA2A on vocals? /boggle

The Powercore I mainly use for Chorus/Delays/Reverbs, but mopstly for the verbs, the Classicverb sounds AMAZING it is just sooo smooth and warm sounding on vocals I cant bring myself to try anything else currently, onc3e I appy a classic verb plate to a vox things just suddenly sound all spacious and sweet, I canbt explain it, it just has a great character that sits so well with the sound of the UAD Plugs.

Then you have the CWA stuff, I use this for my signal chain and mixing and wll of course, SYNTHS! I love having a bunch of DSP's to be able to throw tons of synths, comps, effects, filters, SSB effects and mixers, the CWA effects, synths and especially the mixers have a totally different sound which is great, everything I run through the CW stuff just is wide and warm, its got a great stereo image some how, maybe its in the mixers dynamics I dont know..

All I can say is when you put all these things together it leaves for some spectacular sonic possiblities. So I say I am all for it, and once they release the TC Virus/V Station, I'll be sure to buy em both

Cheers!

For me, the major difference is the VST interface.. there are inherent latency problems with the Powercore/UAD because of the VST integration. I personally would love to see versions of these cards with I/O - even if it's just ADAT.

But I agree that they sound pretty good, and rather than compare them and buy one, it makes much more sense to have them all.