Paint Audio CE-1

[mbenigni]

I'm more than confident that they're the same company. They might have improved, though. But my experience is what I can speak of.

Regarding the device... Well, I wouldn't trust it anywhere near a PC-of-your-choice + interface + midi controller, which you can upgrade if power has become insufficient, be sure about AD/DA controllers quality, be sure about the MIDI controller quality or expand/shrink it as needed, etc.

VSTs for live use in a format different than a proper computer+interface only seems to be feasible in the QC format, and look how hard the process is being for them.

Another guy presented a mini pc based system to run VSTs months ago. It had a touch screen and whatever. He planned to sell it in the 1k ballpark. I've heard nothing else from that project. I thought it was impossible to make it totally useful for live use, and it has little life span. And for that price, I can't find the point. And if it is for home use... Well, obviously it loses any sense.

Well, my practical prediction is the one I've made above. I'm standing by it. I guess only time will prove me wrong (or right... ha!).

Why are you “more than confident”? Can you cite a source? In any case, you’re judging products you’ve never used on basis of a completely different product that you have.

Re: QC, this is another crossed wire. NDSP is porting content from their VSTs to QC blocks. They’re not really running VSTs on QC per se.

As for preferring to be able to hand pick your PC components etc, I get it. But if you use the same PC for the same set of tasks, it can be effective for many years. My main DAW machine is over 15 years old.

As for all of the failed attempts to build PC-based guitar products, I think this has more to do with the challenge of designing something that can turn a profit, than designing something that can work well.

I’m hearing a lot of legitimate reasons why you wouldn’t want one of these. But no reason why the product itself couldn’t succeed.

 

[the swede]

This is better, imo, if a computer is the thing

And yeah… if it were me, I’d use Overloud with this.

 

[Sedaxel]

a lot of legitimate reasons why you wouldn’t want one of these. But no reason why the product itself couldn’t succeed.

Hey, OK.

As I said, time will tell.

MY PERSONAL OPINION is that that device is going to be an absolute fail, for the PERSONAL REASONING I've made above (and as you point out not being demonstrative at all, just as yours isn't either).

And since were both making assumptions, let's see how this product works, if it ever gets launched.

 

[Sedaxel]

This is better, imo, if a computer is the thing
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And yeah… if it were me, I’d use Overloud with this.

That's the one I was referring to. Never heard of it again.

Is it in the market?

 

[mbenigni]

This is better, imo, if a computer is the thing
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And yeah… if it were me, I’d use Overloud with this.

At a glance I agree. I’d just as soon use external footswitches (ironically, MIDI Captain LOL) than step on my PC all night.

My concern with this one is that the audio I/O is very sparse (and I’m not sure there’s MIDI I/O at all.) That risks defeating the purpose pretty quickly.

 

[laxu]

This is better, imo, if a computer is the thing
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And yeah… if it were me, I’d use Overloud with this.

I's say this is just as bad because of the lack of any physical controls other than for settings volumes and whatnot.

 

[mbenigni]

I's say this is just as bad because of the lack of any physical controls other than for settings volumes and whatnot.

Yeah, I think the “concept” is that you’d use the touchscreen, but windows and windows apps are very poorly suited to this approach. You’ll definitely need a mouse and keyboard, maybe even an external monitor, for some of your configuration/ programming work.

I’ll never forget buying a Microsoft Surface years ago and slowly realizing how unusable it was on its own. You’d think the very existence of that product would have pushed MS to make the entire Windows desktop scale and scroll with pinch/drag gestures, respectively… but it did not.

 

[Deadpan]

Octave Technologies Ltd.

octavetech.eu

 

[Sedaxel]

I remember people asking about the interface specs, SNR, and all that things. But never had an answer.

And, on some Facebook groups (related to NAM, I guess), the guy said that the price would be higher than that.

 

[the swede]

I's say this is just as bad because of the lack of any physical controls other than for settings volumes and whatnot.

Idk… i just feel, a feeling… that a computer is a computer and it’s still not optimized like a true hardware modeler is. So there’s no point having switches on it, better if there was a modular system of switch boxes that integrated into a box. The computer part could always be changed/upgraded or whatever. Idk… these are just thoughts

 

[mbenigni]

I remember people asking about the interface specs, SNR, and all that things. But never had an answer.

Yeah, this is all they say: "24-bit 192 kHz studio-quality recording". Cool that it has phantom power.

I don't think this is the sort of thing you'd try to cut a platinum record with. It's for throwing together interesting performance solutions, maybe doing field recordings... the kinds of applications where integration/ portability are attractive. Obviously, anything it does can be done better with a bigger/ more conventional/ perhaps more expensive rig. Isn't that always the way...

And, on some Facebook groups (related to NAM, I guess), the guy said that the price would be higher than that.

They probably settled on some components which have since become less current, and therefore less costly to source. (Eventually they'll become impossible to source altogether, and then it's back to the drawing board for the new and improved v2... if they last that long.)

~$770, available in November. It's actually somewhat compelling. Lack of 5-pin DIN MIDI I/O might be a hassle eventually (I don't see any photos of the back panel?), but there are always workarounds for that.

I do not need it I do not need it I do not need it...

 

[the swede]

I would love to get nerdy about wich mouse pad to bring to a gig… and also a pro gaming trackball mouse extra large

 

[mbenigni]

I would love to get nerdy about wich mouse pad to bring to a gig… and also a pro gaming trackball mouse extra large

I used to use a WiiMote as an expression pedal.

 

[the swede]

I used to use a WiiMote as an expression pedal.

That’s actually quite…. Magnificent!

 

[banned]

Sorry if stupid question...but don't OSs like Windows crash? Or is this made to be much more robust somehow because it only runs the single program?

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I haven't had a windows machine crash on me in over a decade.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Sorry if stupid question...but don't OSs like Windows crash? Or is this made to be much more robust somehow because it only runs the single program?

All computers will crash if the operator is a moron. Windows can be adjusted to be incredibly stable and consistent.

 

[seve]

Yes Midi in Midi out

 

[the swede]

All computers will crash if the operator is a moron. Windows can be adjusted to be incredibly stable and consistent.

Why does it need to bee adjusted im a proud moron though that use things made for morons

 

[ian_dissonance]

Why does it need to bee adjusted im a proud moron though that use things made for morons

Because it’s highly configurable for a variety of uses and a wide range of hardware. look, if you like your Linux Skin that’s going to temporarily lose compatibility with a bunch of shut every third update, good for you.