I'm not surprised to see how well Linux performs in real time audio tasks. Linux is a PC version of the "old" Unix OS, born in scientific/academic communities (physicians, for example, use it, almost exclusively). Unix/Linux is, originally, a command language, like MS-DOS, and the huge Linux community has developed other software layers that have been making it a very user friendly OS, and prefered by many people, even not very computer literate. For example, recently, Munich (Germany) decided to equip the public administration with the free/open OS Linux (check the story here: http://www.linuxworld.com/story/32690_p.htm ). Consequence: a considerable Microsoft crisis, not only because of the direct and obvious economic consequence but specialy because of the "bad example"...

I've been using Linux for more than 10 years, in my scientific work, doing heavy math and physics simulations, that sometimes take days to complete (my first PC with Linux was an old 486/DX2!!). It has brought me a lot of independance in my work, and I perfectly know that it has a huge potencial in terms of suitability to perform demanding CPU and RAM tasks. The reason is simple. The core of the OS is extremely compact and well thought out, leaving plenty of CPU and RAM memory for tasks from applications. This, the fact that is free, open and that it's already conceived for 64-bit CPUs make me think about this project as a very promising one.

My only concern remains reliability, enough support. enough community size... But I'll be following the progress with interest!

-- José.

Hi DonM...
Finally slow slow I see that here the people starting to know what really is Linux, what for the possibility can give and what now Mediastation can really do.
About the available....monday we get the first 5 complete Mediastation X-76 and the next month start the full production, just the time to testing some software and then are AVAILABLE for a lot of people.

Sure when is available we capture the high-end market, the fist one are the DJ with the double audio player, X-fade, scratching, Groove sampler..
Have fun guys....
Domenik

HI SBENNO,wellcome, this is the other BENNO,must say nice stuff you do,i am just a plain amateur player ,but allways interested in new stuff like keyboards and things,best regards,the other BENNO

domenic,

What an interesting product. I wonder if the user is able to load the systems by himself. Will there be an option of buying it without an os and then load it themselves? I don't know if you heard Lindows which is linux base system that they claim it will run many of Windows applications. If so, then it might be possible to load all applications that we already have like Cubase, B4, FM7, Reason. Thanks for sharing us all the info of your creations. We salute all the innovators like yourselve and the rest of your collegues for making our life a little easier.

Are planning to make a lite version or maybe a module with all same controller minus the bulky keyboard. Many of the musicians like myself don't want to spend $6000 for the keyboard. The only thing that I can afford to buy now is the Motif8 which If I did my wife will not talk to me for life. Hey thanks again for giving another cool toy. I can't wait till I put my hand in the X-76.

Dan

domenic,
1) what about possibility to start open source project for developing another "arranger module" for your keyboard? I mean project to develop this specification: http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/007317.html -- I did post it at this forum several days ago. May be several of this features already implemented by you?

2) How (and when) I can obtain your Mediastation X-76 here in Moscow, Russia?

Hi Ailev...saw your old Post...
I really think that we do a little more than your request in the arranger module. Look again in our webpage/software... then you see the all standard features...
About the song database like performance with a lot of function, we use MySql system, it mean NO LIMITS for all what you want.
I don't know when we delivery Mediastation in Russia,we think that the big quantity fly to USA, to our distributor MusicIndustries, NY...
Anyway we stay in contact
Domenik

Hello

It certainly sounds like an interesting project that you are working on. I must point out that $6000 for a keyboard is very expensive for many of us. And, while your ideas of lifetime support and upgrades are very admirable, I've been told this same thing by every PC maker and keyboard maker I have ever bought from. Practically every computer and musical keyboard I've owned in the last 10 years came with the promises of "it'll never become obsolete" and "it's fully upgradeable". Well, this really isn't the case. I'm sure we all realize this. So although your workstation may be a killer now, in a few years technology will have turned it into a quaint old-fashioned machine.

Still, I will be very interested to see the Megastation when it debuts and I wish you the best of luck!

Tom G.

[This message has been edited by TomTomSF (edited 10-03-2003).]

Dominik,
1) I can't to find many of new generation arranger's features in your screenshots (the only available materials on your site). E.g. "music database" -- this is music first, database second. Style manager -- this is first "what is style in music terms", second style picking. I understand that you have 2 styles present in your style manager but even if you have style morphing, it can be done in music terms or in tracks terms? It seems to me that all your Mediastation user interface is in "music programming ontology" (that is "track, event, midi-channel, audiostream etc.") but not "music performance ontology" (that is often style specific -- e.g. "descarga" in latin styles or "riffs" in swing styles).

Then rendering with style morphing. I expect to see something comparable with at list Onix 2.0 (http://www.jasminemusic.net/onyx20.htm) -- but in real time (in performance mode, not sequencer work mode).

More: can I apply some kind (not exactly from KarmaLab www.karma-lab.com) of karma-function to style tracks in real-time? I think -- no yet.

You are now more about quantity (e.g. if any databases mentioned then -- "unlimited, i.e. MySQL or PostgreSQL"), but I try to ask you about new features (e.g. if music database mentioned I will speak about metadata, ontology of this database, database schemata -- I mean not computer database schemata language but music terms supported in your database structure).

2) If this keyboard will be available only in USA -- it not that bad. I have friends in USA. They simply will send it to me in Moscow. Money is not so important to me in this case

danb wrote: "What an interesting product. I wonder if the user is able to load the systems by himself. Will there be an option of buying it without an os and then load it themselves? I don't know if you heard Lindows which is linux base system that they claim it will run many of Windows applications. If so, then it might be possible to load all applications that we already have like Cubase, B4, FM7, Reason."

Dan, it is not that easy as you might think:
a few problems:

- using Linux in the audio domain is that it requires careful setup and tuning to achieve dedicated-hardware-like latencies and performance.
- integration: lindows does not provide you with the applications that provide perfect integration of the Mediastations hardware buttons/audio/midi/mixer hardware with the operating system and graphical user interfaces.
- Lindows let you run some Windows applications on Linux thanks to Wine emulation technology. But the problem is that real time audio software is much harder to run than standard office software. So for now forget about taking Cubase SX and run it on Linux through Wine with the same performance / low latencies as on native Windows.
On the other hand it is easier to run VST plugins (see my previous posts) through this emulation layer since they often are really only a DLL that contains the DSP algorithms and an additional module that contains the GUI part.
But I do not like emulation too much, better to have native, recompiled applications, although as you know this takes some efforts thus does not come for free for the firms that want to port audio software to Linux.
Native Instruments produces indeed really cool audio software and perhaps could be persuaded to port some of their apps (eg the B4) to the Mediastation. This will only happen if they see a viable market in this field, eg first many mediastations are sold, second a chunk of these users want to buy their B4 plugin. Plus of course the easier it is for them to port the software to Linux the more probable that they will do it. As said the VST market is simply too big not to tap into, this means we certainly will try to make an easy to use porting layer available to make the Mediastation as flexible as possible. Just give us some time.

As for the price, I think if the mediastation is successful, Lionstracs will certainly build additional models with more affordable entry-level models.

TomTomSF wrote "Well, this really isn't the case. I'm sure we all realize this. So although your workstation may be a killer now, in a few years technology will have turned it into a quaint old-fashioned machine."

I don't think so, PC hardware's performance is increasing much faster than any other kind of electronic/DSP devices. Thanks of the modular concept of the mediastation, a combination of "off the shelf" PC components, additional audio/midi/mixer boards (which can in future replaced with more powerful ones) combined with ever evolving open source software the Mediastation will always remain on the bleeding edge.
You will be able to upgrade a few year old mediastation to a brand new one by simply swapping out a couple of boards (as said I'm only a software developer but I guess the authorized dealers/service centers could do that and the price would be much lower than buying a new model from scratch).

ailev wrote: "(e.g. if music database mentioned I will speak about metadata, ontology ..."
I'm not a arranger expert, but what do you mean with ontology, metadata etc ?
As for the arranger, it is a module implemented completely in software so it means that based on user feedback developers can improve it to suit all user's needs.
And being the Mediastation an open source platform, the style player/managing system/database can be improved even by skilled (software developers) users themselves. The result will be shared if it meets the required quality standards, the improvements can make it into the official mediastation software.
This is how the Linux development works. It is really a powerful model and has produced an OS that causes sleepless nights to directors and officials of the world's richest software company (aka Microsoft).
No one has applied that model in the keyboard market yet, but looking at history you can guess what kind of shockwaves it will send though the industry ;-)

ailev, Lionstracs is an italian company so I guess it would not make much sense to order one from the USA, there will be several european distributors where you can buy it without your mediastation travelling around the world a couple of times ;-)

cheers,
Benno

Hi Ailev
dont worry to try to find mediastation in the USA, when we have available some keyboards, you can contact me and we can shipping there in Moscow one Mediastation.
Benno had replyed your question
Ciao
Domenik