Keyboard/Synth/Softsynth advice, i.e. Should I sell my Triton?

[tedpenn]

So, I have a Triton Studio (76 key) that I only use occasionally and it recently occurred to me that with the softsynths available and the way I tend to work, it might be wise to sell the thing. Basically, I'm wanting someone to give me good reason not to immediately sell my Triton and buy a good quality MIDI controller (good action, plenty of assignable knobs, etc.) and exclusively use softsynths.

The reasons that I can think of TO sell are as follows:

1. The Triton is a giant piece of expensive hardware with certain sounds, using certain current sample rates (48kHz and 3 way vel. switched maybe?...but I digress). Even though it may be "upgradeable" to some extent, at the end of the day there is a lot of hardware there (computer processors, RAM, hard drive, CD drive..) which, like any other computer-type equipment will very quickly depreciate and become obsolete as newer better stuff comes along. I would like to keep the number of expensive computer-like-fast-depreciating items in my studio to a minimum. In other words, I have much less of a problem spending $2k on something like a nice mic or compressor than on something that may be considered "volatile".

2. It is almost exclusively used in the studio, where it's no big deal to be using softsynths which may be considered more unstable. And, if I had to use a keyboard in a live situation, I could always bring my laptop and the controller in a pinch.

3. The options for sounds available are much greater with softsynths. I already have one of the better samplers out there (Kontakt), and a few other softsynths that I like. Cheers to the great-sounding default patches in the triton (some nice pads in there), but I think (hope?) I could do just as well with softsynths.

4. Softsynths are instantly recallable with each song! I work mainly in pro tools, and this is a plus not to have to worry about maintaining and recalling a patch (even if it is triggered by a program change msg) on the Triton.

5. Plain old redundancy/efficiency- I already feel "doubled up" having the triton but mainly using it to control softsynths.

Now, here are the potential reasons to NOT sell it:

1. Latency. Even with my playback buffer set pretty low, it's still noticeable at times and kindof drives me nuts.
Can anyone advise as to how to fine tune that using Kontakt, Reason, and other synths in Pro Tools?

2. It's rathe plug-and-play....and

3. It's kindof a modern classic? (ok, that's a stretch, but ya know..)

I'd love to hear from some die-hard keyboard freaks on all of this. From playability (and latency) to sound quality.

Speaking of sound quality, are these soft-samplers and softsynths the best I can do short of having their real counterparts (i.e., a real B3, real Rhodes, real Worly, real analog Synth, real strings, etc.)??? I feel like the answer must almost certainly be yes, but I'd love some confirmation/opinions from keyboard players.

Thanks!!

Ted

[Red_venom]

Yeah it has some aight sounds and even some of its stock/basic synth sounds have a desireable quality to them("R&B Lead" for instance manages to cut through a mix for me better than most sine based leads I come up with in other synths). I dont know about the 76 key but I have an 88 and I like the action enough and I use it as my weighted controller. I went through a phase where I wanted to sell mine but the thought of selling it only to replace it with another controller that would have unfamiliar action seemed like a hassle.

But it is moderately funny to me that for the price of a new Triton you can get a Mac Mini with a few gigs of ram + Sound card with digital outs + controller Keyboard + a few TOP quality sample libaries. Maybe you would go a little over the cost but the end result is insanely better. Makes me wonder why anyone would invest in the big workstation keyboards anymore, but I guess user friendliness is a deal breaker for folks.

I don't think there is much reason to keep it at the bottom line though. But if you are like me and work mostly with software there is a certain charm to having something you can fire up and play quickly any time. And also for me I have a few disks with easily a hundred little jams/songs I put together with the Triton over the years so;]

[CustomDigi]

I don't think there is much reason to keep it at the bottom line though. But if you are like me and work mostly with software there is a certain charm to having something you can fire up and play quickly any time. And also for me I have a few disks with easily a hundred little jams/songs I put together with the Triton over the years so;][/QUOTE]


This is the key issue, I think...I have an original Triton pro-x 88....and a crapload of softsynth stuff....there are so many times though that when the inspiration strikes (or DOESNT strike as the case may be), you just dont want to mouse around and deal with auditioning a billion patches. I still love my triton after all these years and wouldn't sell it any time in the foreseeable future. Plenty of useable stuff on there, depending on what you are doing.

-Matt

[tedpenn]

So, as a follow-up, I have just discovered the Novation ReMOTE SL. It's one of (if not the only) the first MIDI keyboard controllers that actuall has an LCD display (i.e., "scribble strip" type thing) that displays the name/function of each knob/pad/slider. It will auto-map for all common plugins and DAWs and works with Pro Tools using the HUI protocol. So, It seems I'd be killing two birds, getting a keyboard controller for playing, but also geting a bunch of knobs and sliders to use with plugins while mixing in the box. Supposedly, all you have to do is click the plugin, making it active, and the keyboard focuses control there and automaps the functions. Pretty cool...I may be totally sold.

I'd still love to hear from folks on the latency thing...anyone?

[RainbowStorm]

Originally Posted by tedpenn

So, I have a Triton Studio (76 key) that I only use occasionally and it recently occurred to me that with the softsynths available and the way I tend to work, it might be wise to sell the thing. Basically, I'm wanting someone to give me good reason not to immediately sell my Triton and buy a good quality MIDI controller (good action, plenty of assignable knobs, etc.) and exclusively use softsynths.

The reasons that I can think of TO sell are as follows:

1. The Triton is a giant piece of expensive hardware with certain sounds, using certain current sample rates (48kHz and 3 way vel. switched maybe?...but I digress). Even though it may be "upgradeable" to some extent, at the end of the day there is a lot of hardware there (computer processors, RAM, hard drive, CD drive..) which, like any other computer-type equipment will very quickly depreciate and become obsolete as newer better stuff comes along. I would like to keep the number of expensive computer-like-fast-depreciating items in my studio to a minimum. In other words, I have much less of a problem spending $2k on something like a nice mic or compressor than on something that may be considered "volatile".

2. It is almost exclusively used in the studio, where it's no big deal to be using softsynths which may be considered more unstable. And, if I had to use a keyboard in a live situation, I could always bring my laptop and the controller in a pinch.

3. The options for sounds available are much greater with softsynths. I already have one of the better samplers out there (Kontakt), and a few other softsynths that I like. Cheers to the great-sounding default patches in the triton (some nice pads in there), but I think (hope?) I could do just as well with softsynths.

4. Softsynths are instantly recallable with each song! I work mainly in pro tools, and this is a plus not to have to worry about maintaining and recalling a patch (even if it is triggered by a program change msg) on the Triton.

5. Plain old redundancy/efficiency- I already feel "doubled up" having the triton but mainly using it to control softsynths.

Now, here are the potential reasons to NOT sell it:

1. Latency. Even with my playback buffer set pretty low, it's still noticeable at times and kindof drives me nuts.
Can anyone advise as to how to fine tune that using Kontakt, Reason, and other synths in Pro Tools?

2. It's rathe plug-and-play....and

3. It's kindof a modern classic? (ok, that's a stretch, but ya know..)

I'd love to hear from some die-hard keyboard freaks on all of this. From playability (and latency) to sound quality.

Speaking of sound quality, are these soft-samplers and softsynths the best I can do short of having their real counterparts (i.e., a real B3, real Rhodes, real Worly, real analog Synth, real strings, etc.)??? I feel like the answer must almost certainly be yes, but I'd love some confirmation/opinions from keyboard players.

Thanks!!

Ted

Ted, sell your hardware, you won't regret it. Out with analog, in with digital.

[modistylee]

Originally Posted by RainbowStorm

Ted, sell your hardware, you won't regret it. Out with analog, in with digital.

tutt The Triton is a completely digital synth. The only aspect of it which could be considered analog would be the 1/4 outs, after the shiite Korg D/As. I would sell the Triton to buy and analog synth.

[Relevent Muzik]

me, (assuming that you have a program to track on) i would sell it and get a nice midi keyboard with a modular... of another keyboard that you dont have and have tested... like a motif rack or fantom rack

[soultrane]

another thing to look at would be a controller and the muse receptor... it will more or less eliminate latency problems, supposedly.

[tedpenn]

Just checked out the Muse Receptor. Interesting idea. They claim around 2ms of latency, which I think would be pretty decent. Seeing as how even with a pro tools playback buffer of only 256 samples I'm still getting around 6ms of latency (in a 44.1 session), this seems like a good idea. But, buying the receptor still gets me into my original problem- that is, buying a computer-like piece of dedicated gear.

However, it does raise an interesting point. Would there be a way for me to use my mac laptop as a dedicated "plugin machine" and still have the recall ability as if I were running the plugs in PT? As I see it, this would require a dedicated plugin engine running on the laptop, audio interface, and midi interface. And, I'd have to treat the plugs almost like external MIDI modules as far as recording MIDI and program/patch changes. Anyone out there doing something like that?

[ToneCre8]

Originally Posted by tedpenn

So, as a follow-up, I have just discovered the Novation ReMOTE SL. It's one of (if not the only) the first MIDI keyboard controllers that actuall has an LCD display (i.e., "scribble strip" type thing) that displays the name/function of each knob/pad/slider. It will auto-map for all common plugins and DAWs and works with Pro Tools using the HUI protocol. So, It seems I'd be killing two birds, getting a keyboard controller for playing, but also geting a bunch of knobs and sliders to use with plugins while mixing in the box. Supposedly, all you have to do is click the plugin, making it active, and the keyboard focuses control there and automaps the functions. Pretty cool...I may be totally sold.

I'd still love to hear from folks on the latency thing...anyone?

Please don't be misled into this route..While on paper it sounds like a dream, in reality it doesn't work as nicely as Novation would have you believe. It still has some issues, recognizing when you've switched plugins for example. Not all parameters are mapped either. Then theres the supported plugins, make certain the ones you are interested in using are fully supported. Even then you'll still be doing a lot of mousing around.

I owned a Fantom XR and Motif ES rack for a while and recently found that I'm much more creative (with devoloping sounds) on the full keyboards than using the computer editors for the racks. Its just something about twisting and pressing actual buttons that can't be overstated. So I'm replacing all my racks with the full keyboards. Like the above poster mentioned, being able to just sit down and create is a very motivating part of the whole music making process. I for one found that my music suffered from too much computer integration and I guess in this regard technology can sometimes get in the way! I applaud those that can do both.

One things for certain I would never be satisfied with just one keyboard (for long). Maybe its time you added some analog to your arsenal?

[primeminister]

if you do wanna sell it give me a shout (cohnjesse@gmail.com or myspace.com/soundsyndicatemedia), i wont hold you over the coals.

[Stevil]

theres alot of subtle & not so subtle differences between outboard synths & plugins. the interface, the way the keys react, ad/da, tone, bitrates, ect.
as far as synth pads & that kind of stuff goes you probably wont miss the difference unless yer a real knob twiddler. none of the emulations come close to the sound & feel of a real rhodes. theres some good organ sounds out there but theres some grit missing. going from a digital synth emulation to plugin emulation you probably wont see that big of a change unless you really love the way that particular unit works. every brand of synthesis has it's own unique texture. also it's nice to have writing tools that dont involve staring @ a monitor, since i have to do that all day @ work.

[gsilbers]

Originally Posted by tedpenn

So, I have a Triton Studio (76 key) that I only use occasionally and it recently occurred to me that with the softsynths available and the way I tend to work, it might be wise to sell the thing. Basically, I'm wanting someone to give me good reason not to immediately sell my Triton and buy a good quality MIDI controller (good action, plenty of assignable knobs, etc.) and exclusively use softsynths.

The reasons that I can think of TO sell are as follows:

1. The Triton is a giant piece of expensive hardware with certain sounds, using certain current sample rates (48kHz and 3 way vel. switched maybe?...but I digress). Even though it may be "upgradeable" to some extent, at the end of the day there is a lot of hardware there (computer processors, RAM, hard drive, CD drive..) which, like any other computer-type equipment will very quickly depreciate and become obsolete as newer better stuff comes along. I would like to keep the number of expensive computer-like-fast-depreciating items in my studio to a minimum. In other words, I have much less of a problem spending $2k on something like a nice mic or compressor than on something that may be considered "volatile".

2. It is almost exclusively used in the studio, where it's no big deal to be using softsynths which may be considered more unstable. And, if I had to use a keyboard in a live situation, I could always bring my laptop and the controller in a pinch.

3. The options for sounds available are much greater with softsynths. I already have one of the better samplers out there (Kontakt), and a few other softsynths that I like. Cheers to the great-sounding default patches in the triton (some nice pads in there), but I think (hope?) I could do just as well with softsynths.

4. Softsynths are instantly recallable with each song! I work mainly in pro tools, and this is a plus not to have to worry about maintaining and recalling a patch (even if it is triggered by a program change msg) on the Triton.

5. Plain old redundancy/efficiency- I already feel "doubled up" having the triton but mainly using it to control softsynths.

Now, here are the potential reasons to NOT sell it:

1. Latency. Even with my playback buffer set pretty low, it's still noticeable at times and kindof drives me nuts.
Can anyone advise as to how to fine tune that using Kontakt, Reason, and other synths in Pro Tools?

2. It's rathe plug-and-play....and

3. It's kindof a modern classic? (ok, that's a stretch, but ya know..)

I'd love to hear from some die-hard keyboard freaks on all of this. From playability (and latency) to sound quality.

Speaking of sound quality, are these soft-samplers and softsynths the best I can do short of having their real counterparts (i.e., a real B3, real Rhodes, real Worly, real analog Synth, real strings, etc.)??? I feel like the answer must almost certainly be yes, but I'd love some confirmation/opinions from keyboard players.

Thanks!!

Ted

oh no, by all means, sell it. i can see it maybe in hiphop but thats been over used in that genre as well.


synths like Z3ta and almost anything that lets u use waves/audiofiles/grain witthin the Oscilator sounds great.

as for playablity u should a get a good midi controller with hard keys, lots of knobs and faders.



so he are some good vst that sound as good as keyboards.

Rapture
Nexus
Vanguard
Z3ta
Virus indigo (needs pt hardware or TC electronic card)
atmosphere
trilogy
phosycon d16

i personally use my Virus TI which is a great keyboard and its control and sound comes up in a cool plugin interface. and plenty of presets for any type of music.


as for your question about softsynths that mimitate the clasics:

herbie hancock says he loves the rodes that comes with logic pro.
and most producers use that hamond from native instruments which is lots cheaper than renting and payign for a new one and most of the time the hamoond will never be wayy upfront.

the other side of it is that u wil have to learn how to program the B4II so it sounds like a real hamon with a leslie speaker.

recalling presets for songs... priceless

[robd]

IMHO, pretty much anything else you could get with the money would be better than a triton. You might not want to listen to me, though, cause I am pretty biased against romplers in general, and really hate tritons in particular.

[rids]

Yeah, I would sell it for sure. Only because this is coming out in a couple months:



Has USB and can act as a AU or VST. The screen doubles as a Kaoss pad, I could just go on and on about this. It's based off the Oasys. Nuff said.