But James uses an extreme example there, chas. GPO even runs in RAM, no need to stream, and definitely blows away ANY hardware keyboard's orchestral sounds. Ivory is amazing, but runs comfortably alongside many other VSTi's. Same with BFD, DFH2, etc., etc..

The answer has been these new Core Duo chips and computers. They are SO much faster than they used to be (and latency is down to 'better than hardware' with the right soundcard) that it might be worth a second look, chas. Things move pretty rapidly in the computer world (unlike the sluggish keyboard industry)...

I guess it boils down to whether you think your current hardware is 'good enough', or you would like to step up to the next level. Technically, it's a LOT easier than it used to be...

(BTW, can you install a WinXP drive on this MOBO setup, and use the non-Vista ready stuff until it is?)

Technically yes, but so far I've read the equivilent of several dissertations on the pros and cons of a dual booting XP and Vista. Then, do you run 32bit or 64; should you run just the one large disk or two in a raid array? Is the firewire fast enough for anything other than backup? Should I upgrade to a quad core? Which, if any, of the software packages can take advantage of (take your pick) Vista, XP64, 64bit vs 32bit, raid, etc. Any free copies of XP pro laying around? Pretty expensive proposition, really, for improvements in sound that may only be immediately apparent to other musicians. Don't forget, sounding like a real violin and playing like one are two different things. Even with great piano samples, very few controllers are going to give you the same kind of tactile feedback as a real piano. As I'm sure Capt. Russ (and other old time B3 players) will tell you, no matter how good the latest, greatest "clonewheel" SOUNDS, it still "ain't no B".

I didn't really buy this computer for this purpose, anyway. I was just trying to future-proof myself for a few months . BUT, since I have all this firepower, I'm sure I will be tempted to try some of the more inexpensive (and exotic) software offerings. I'll probably start with some kind of orchestral bundule once rave reviews and price point coincide on my street corner. Anyway, it downloads porn really fast.
.....kidding, kidding

chas

1- I would say 32 bit. Where are all those 64 bit applications?
2- With the raid configuration you can choose to:
a- use the second disk as an instant back-up of the first one (the system writes automatically all the data on the two disks at the same time) or
b- split the data between the two disks in order to gain speed (the system writes/reads a bit on one disk and the next bit on the second one, thus saving access time: cool, but is the gain in speed worth the while?) On my PC I have two 320 Gb disks running in parallel: this way I will never risk to loose all my data due to a HD crash, like happened in the past
3- Firewire is DAMN fast: try it and see yourself...
4- Upgrading to a Quad Core is not necessary, given your needs; your computer (like mine) will be obsolete in a couple of years, but for now enjoy the ride...

My MS customers can download for free the last Tyros 2 soundbank here: http://www.lionstracs.com/store/giga-t2-p-178.html
and there you can hear some demo mp3 sounds of each sound loaded.

Then maybe in future you can also resolved your all PC problems with this OS version: http://www.lionstracs.com/store/msiso-20-p-179.html

Enjoy what you play.

1. Run a separate disk for all your samples, leaving the main disk for Windows and programs.(Dual booting systems will have no effect on performance)
2. 32 bit will be fine for now
3. Interface speeds; Firewire = 400, USB 2 = 480, Firewire 2 = 800, (Unfortunately not properly supported by Windows, so you may as well stick with standard Firewire) Gigabit Ethernet = 1000
4. Motherboards are also available with an E-SATA socket (External SATA) which will give the same performance as an internal drive
5. Best value Orchestra; Garritan GPO
6. Best GM set; Colossus (But look out for the soon to be released Garritan GM set)
7. You will find that most people who have a Genuine B3 and a computer, use Native Instruments B4 VST (As close as you can get to the real thing, so close in fact that unless you are a aficionado of the B3, you will not be able to tell the difference)
8. As to VST being specialist, this has not been the case since 2000 (Wersi allows you to load and use them in a normal keyboard, with Lionstracs bringing out a new board that can also use them, a few years later)
Enjoy whatever you play

Bill

Hello Lionstracs
Not all your Tyros 2 demo links are working correctly at the moment.
As to the sounds themselves, while the Pianos are passable, I am not overly impressed with the rest. (Most TOTL Hardware boards produce better sounds)
As to Tyros 2 styles, the new ones that were added were special recordings of sounds, and therefore substituting them for other sounds wont work (No matter how good the quality of the sound)
Anyway keep up the good work, as Bohm are now fully back in the market, which means we will probably see something similar from them in the future.(The 70s and 80s produced intense competition between Wersi and Bohm, leaving other manufactures trailing in their wake)
Regards

Bill

Tyros 2 ?.
As you in Sampled the factory sounds off the Yamaha Tyros 2 ?

I hope not since this is highly ILLEGAL. !!!!

James

Hi Lionstracs.

I've just placed a link to this thread from KORG Forums as there are some hardcore sampling gurus there that will be very interested in hearing what you have to say on the copyrights of Yamaha sounds.

This is a subject that we have discussed a million times, and we would be very interested in knowing about any Laws that you believe are on your side in this matter.

From what we have been officially told by KORG and Roland, you would be breaking two copyrights here.

1: The sampling of the actual recorded PCM data.
2: The sampling of the sound designers programming that shaped the sounds.

If you believe otherwise and have found some information surrounding the laws in this area. We would really like to hear about this, as we are split down the middle on this subject too.

Some believe it's legal, and some believe it's illegal. Even though KORG and Roland have officially said it is illegal.

It's just that nobody has been crazy enough to take them on.
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=30

Regards.
James.

Hello James
are you maybe scared that the MS is able to play the all sounds and from other brands too?

Before you continue, is better that I explain some points:

1) read WELL again what mean GPL license: http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

2) LIONSTRACS do NOT sell officially ANY software and ALL the software developed from our developers and 3th paty developers is ALWAYS offered again BACK under GPL license. Of couse, NOT MS customers if will download this software/library, they have to pay some for support our developers. who will buy our hardware products will receive ALWAYS for FREE any software/library from us developed.

3) read again well in our webpage who have developed this sounds and you can see there too that the all sounds are offered from 3th paty developers and if they like to clone and give us the sounds for FREE, we dont care because is not our falut or legally problems.

3) The new Europen law now allow people to download any type of data, including copyright software and media IF they will use ONLY for personal use without resell it.
If you remember well, you had already fight with another people that had try to resell your developed tyros sounds too, but there was much different, because you already had asking a lot of money for one single sounds and you will have the copyright.

4) Untill LIONSTRACS do NOT resell comercially ANY software like the others company, we can NOT have any legally problems because is NOT our interest to make money with the software BUT ONLY with the hardware.
IF anyone can probe that LIONSTRACS made 1 milion dollars profit with the FREE software offered, MAYBE they can proceed legally, BUT in the reality we DO NOT have any profit with this software and then IF they try to proceed legally, they will lose all before starting.

5) another probe is the EMC style converter: now this software have about 10 years and still the company EMC do NOT get any legally problems. EMC can clone/copy any type of styles from brands to brands.
Why company like GEM, Korg...offer in they web pages the EMC style converter to download too? Is not legally copy/edit the styles??
So.. if they allow to download it and all the others offer the same possibility, it mean that this is legally and personal customers are able to do what all they want, nobody in his privat life/home can do nothing.

6) other web site, like this: http://worrasplace.com/
offer FREE GIGA sounds from many years and why they still do NOT have any legally problems?

7) Wersi with the new OAS7 made about the same, they can play the tyros styles and the sounds too, why they dont have any legally problems?

8) ABACUS wrote that Bhom will return back in the market with about the same features, why they can make this and do not get legally problems??

I can continue for hours in this way but at the end you can do really nothing, because the world now is more open and end user people can do what all they want.
The BIG problems is ONLY that you there are SCARED of the new and BIG Features that only the Mediastation can do, all the other keyboards ( including Korg Oasys ) can ONLY dreaming of this features.

You all there guys can continue fight with the USB 1.0, 2.0.. T3, T4... you know well that all this features and power is possible ONLY by PC system and developing so many open features is possible ONLY by Linux.
Maybe you can do some under Windows OS, like the Openlabs, but just for open VST, still use the finger pad/mouse and Never integrating the application under your hardware.
IF you can do and shown me that you get 2.9ms latency like the MS, then I can belive you there..
Look the new reaper SEQ: http://www.cockos.com/reaper/feat-ss.php
you can see the windows latency..from 10 to 191ms latency...lol

Enjoy what you like to play
cheers

Do you honestly think Roland, Yamaha, Korg or ANY legitimate keyboard manufacturer are going to sit around while Lionstracs condone blatant piracy because they are incapable of developing their own sounds?

The price of development of these sounds is included in the price of the hardware keyboard they reside in, which makes them VERY expensive sounds...! And Lionstracs think they are going to get to use them for free?

I am afraid their attitude (well, WE didn't sample them, we just give them away on our site!) is typical of the fly-by-night practices of much of the pirate industry. And the potential for litigation tying up this small company's capital, and bringing a halt to further R&D (and the absurd promise of free updates forever!) seems high. This is NOT a path any company that expect confidence from it's customers really ought to walk down.

The big three probably spend more on just sound development per year than Lionstracs' entire budget. And apparently Lionstracs think that unless they pirate these sounds (or condone and facilitate it), they cannot do business (or else, why are they going here?)...

This is not the business model to inspire confidence (one good lawsuit will shut them down), and if is the ethics of this company, well, 'free updates forever' sounds more and more like hype, doesn't it?

If you can't compete, STEAL your competition's work? For shame...