The new - Studio PC w/TOTL I7, 500g SSD (OS), Hi-speed graphics card, internal 2T HHD for storage, 29" HD monitor, and zero bloatware. Goes online ONLY for program updates. This baby is faaaassst. Running REAPER which is pretty efficient to begin with. Everything, especially VSTI's, even with multiple VST's attached, is instantaneous. I love it. I don't have any software to really push it so I'm thinking, maybe I'll give VARRANGER a shot. Hate to see all that horsepower go to waste.

The old - While moving files from my old studio machine, I ran across a lot of old stuff I was playing around with a few years ago. Some of the instruments (not me) still sound pretty good, especially the Korg stuff. I'm posting a sample below which is mostly piano, drums, and sax from my old PA1x pro along with el. piano from old triton classic, and organ from my old Nord C1. All are mostly retired now as I play my organ(s) (Keyb Mark 111 and Nord C2D) 98% of the time, even when I'm just home alone noodling. Never got around to mixing this since I was mostly just fooling around but I DO love this song by Anthony Newly - 'Feelin' Good'. These days I do it on organ (up-tempo) in my best Jimmy Smith impersonation.

https://app.box.com/s/nsntigq40mmq8el6botyjrf5dv1wxosn

chas

Lovely music... as allways its the player not the gear that makes great music.. however, with better gear that same great player can sound formidable...

I think with all that VST power, V-arranger combined with real VST power and the C2D, that sounds like a winner to me.... only requires a good GM2 source...

I was once on the verge of buying a C2D, but midi controll and no aftertouch kept me away from it. But i have seen someone using it live on top of a Nord stage 2 which was a hell of a setup, sparkling like nothing else..

Very nice music..

Cool, as are the specs on that new Studio PC. Curious what brand and OS? Win 8.1 or were you able to get Win7 Pro?

Steve,
Came loaded with Win7 Pro and a OEM dvd with 8.1. In the process of adding the SSD and trying to clone the factory (Win 7) drive, I totally screwed up the original (OS)drive and decided the easiest course was to do a fresh install of 8.1 on the SSD. Hint, make sure you create a 'repair' (system backup) disk before you start this type of operation (I knew that - just lazy). All the drivers for my (3) audio/midi interfaces (Alesis I/O 26 is my primary) worked just fine although they only specified up to Win 7. After all the hoopla here about band-in-a-box, I purchased a copy of BIAB 2015 (audiophile ver.). It's an amazing little program (well actually not so little) and a great instructional tool for someone wanting to learn different genre's, especially jazz.

chas

Oops, screwed up the 'render' and cut off the ending. Here's the full version.

https://app.box.com/s/8l3hyzxksuj93mar9wjfmu3rhv5a9cyx

chas

Chas, Great you got Win 7 and I hear you on a fresh install, sometimes that's the best way to proceed. Nothing like an SSD, I just installed one in my MacBook Pro, love the shorter booting time.

I had BIAB in 2008 I upgraded to 2009, but never continued the updates it is a good instructional tool. Randy aka Saxxman just upgraded to BIAB 2015 and has been raving about it. Enjoy!

GREAT stuff, chas ... would love to hear the upbeat version ...
Thank you for posting ...

PS ... what style is that ? ...

Keep in mind that windows 8 works best with either a touchscreen or a multi touch pad... And not with a mouse anymore... However you can get 3rd party programs that change your desktop and startmenu and windows back to the windows 7 and earlier look, which makes mouse operating more fluent again...

If you want a link, just ask and i will provide..