Dave Smith Instruments Tempest

[ttown23]

Well guys, still having MIDI sync issues with my Tempest. It got better for a period but I am on 1.2.07 and it will just stop sync'ing to MIDI 3/4 of the way into the project. Kinda annoying!

[MrTechno]

Originally Posted by ttown23

Well guys, still having MIDI sync issues with my Tempest. It got better for a period but I am on 1.2.07 and it will just stop sync'ing to MIDI 3/4 of the way into the project. Kinda annoying!

Yeah me to.

Even trying to sync with USB.
Tired of having to nudge audio around.
It has a lag with Logic 9.

[goldphinga]

I'm on the latest tempest beta os with logic 9. No sync issues and no lag! rock solid.

[MrTechno]

Originally Posted by goldphinga

I'm on the latest tempest beta os with logic 9. No sync issues and no lag! rock solid.

Weird, I hear this from other Logic users and I think how can it be.
How come I have sync issues?, makes no sense to me at all how one user does not have issues while the other clearly is finding that the Tempest has a lag.

I have heard lag issues from other Logic users also.

[10 ton splash]

Originally Posted by MrTechno

Weird, I hear this from other Logic users and I think how can it be.
How come I have sync issues?, makes no sense to me at all how one user does not have issues while the other clearly is finding that the Tempest has a lag.

I have heard lag issues from other Logic users also.

Everything else, the drivers the midi interface, the OS.

[goldphinga]

What mac os are you using?What os is your tempest on? What version of logic? What audio/buffer/process settings are you using? Software monitoring? What audio interface and settings? USB midi or cable midi? What midi interface? What sync settings on logic? Please list all these then we can troubleshoot and compare settings.

[Bart_Stasik]

I have had no issues running the tempest with the latest Logic - I think it's 9.13 or something like that. The tempest had the latest OS on it. I had a midi cable connected to the tempest from my midisport anniv edition to my IMac - the audio from the tempest was going thru a 4-710d into the Apollo and recording perfectly in time in logic. Logic settings are 128 buffer size - recording delay set to zero. Software monitoring off. Tempest set to slave. Also in midi preferences in logic on the bottom right corner, the sync settings, make sure you set a destination to whichever midi port your using with the tempest.

[skarekroh]

is there a vsti that uses the samples of the tempest? i REALLY want a tempest but i cant afford one. so id go the vst route

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

[Bart_Stasik]

Also for those of you who are tired of nudging audio in Logic. This might help you - it shows you how to calculate the recording delay within your system and then offset logic so Everytime you record it's perfect


Logic Pro Help • View topic - Audio not in sync

[maks]

Originally Posted by skarekroh

is there a vsti that uses the samples of the tempest? i REALLY want a tempest but i cant afford one. so id go the vst route

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

there are many vsti's that have analog simulating drums, try Rob Papens "Punch" for one


PS Tempest was not designed to be ripped to a vsti , i hope this does not happen except maybe an editor ...there's a reason for why it is what it is...If you REALLY need one, save up and GET ONE like i and many have.

[skarekroh]

Originally Posted by maks

there are many vsti's that have analog simulating drums, try Rob Papens "Punch" for one


PS Tempest was not designed to be ripped to a vsti , i hope this does not happen except maybe an editor ...there's a reason for why it is what it is...If you REALLY need one, save up and GET ONE like i and many have.

i dont NEED any synth cuz im not a pro. its my addiction to them that compells me. maybe if i get a better job after i move i can afford one.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

[MrTechno]

Originally Posted by goldphinga

What mac os are you using?What os is your tempest on? What version of logic? What audio/buffer/process settings are you using? Software monitoring? What audio interface and settings? USB midi or cable midi? What midi interface? What sync settings on logic? Please list all these then we can troubleshoot and compare settings.

Using an Apogee symphony, Tempest USB Going into a mac, their is however an SSL AWS in between all this, not sure how this could be causing any issues.

I have no latency issues anywhere else.
Will need to check what software I am running though with Logic 9 and get back to you on that one.
Tempest is on the latest OS.

[1960strat]

I am having trouble synching the clocks btw my tempest and the little phatty arp. Anyone have any knowledge they can drop on me?

[gruvsyco]

Originally Posted by 1960strat

I am having trouble synching the clocks btw my tempest and the little phatty arp. Anyone have any knowledge they can drop on me?

Do you have them MIDI'd directly together or running through a DAW?

[1960strat]

directly midi'd

Originally Posted by gruvsyco

Do you have them MIDI'd directly together or running through a DAW?

[gruvsyco]

Originally Posted by 1960strat

directly midi'd

OK, just hooked mine up to try it out:

1 MIDI cable: Tempest out, Phatty in.
Phatty: Master > Arp Setup > Clock Source: MIDI
Tempest: System > MIDI Clock OUT Cable: MIDI Port

Press play on Tempest, Trigger Arp on Phatty. Adjusting tempo on Tempest does in fact change the tempo of the Arp on the Phatty.

Most recent OS on both (Latest Beta on Tempest).

I hope this helps and is what you were looking for.

*edit* it would appear you don't actually have to press play on the Tempest in order for clock to sync.

also, Tempest and Phatty are a nice combo

[efflux]

I haven't read through all this thread but I noticed early on some people were complaining about the demos being all glitchy beats stuff and no demonstration of Tempest's ability to do simpler straighter analog beats. I understand this completely and Tempest if off my list of possible buys. I'm not saying that Tempest is not good but I already have a Tetra. Tetra can do glitchy stuff quite well but is also a good synth for pad sounds. Although you can also pick up an Oberheim Matrix 1000 which is much better for that.

The ultimate drum machine is still the tr 808. Only alternative I can see is the Acidlabs Miami. This is the only modern analog drum machine that can compete. The kicks on these two machines flat out kills other machines. I don't have either machine but it's clear from demos I've heard that this is the case. If you can't hear this then there's something wrong with your playback system. It's even obvious from youtube videos.

Music has three basic components. Rhythm, harmony and melody. Lose any of those and the music becomes weaker. Nearly all the Tempest demonstrations are about using the Tempest to create all the music in a rhythm concentric way. That's why they are bad. Some people have gone further and there is some idea of melody. However, I want a drum machine to be simple and have just a few but great sounds. This is why the tr 808 is still king and costs so much.

I'm not saying the Tempest isn't good, I'm just saying we still don't seem to have anything that can kick like those old Rolands.

[BM0]

Originally Posted by efflux

I haven't read through all this thread but I noticed early on some people were complaining about the demos being all glitchy beats stuff and no demonstration of Tempest's ability to do simpler straighter analog beats. I understand this completely and Tempest if off my list of possible buys. I'm not saying that Tempest is not good but I already have a Tetra. Tetra can do glitchy stuff quite well but is also a good synth for pad sounds. Although you can also pick up an Oberheim Matrix 1000 which is much better for that.

The ultimate drum machine is still the tr 808. Only alternative I can see is the Acidlabs Miami. This is the only modern analog drum machine that can compete. The kicks on these two machines flat out kills other machines. I don't have either machine but it's clear from demos I've heard that this is the case. If you can't hear this then there's something wrong with your playback system. It's even obvious from youtube videos.

Music has three basic components. Rhythm, harmony and melody. Lose any of those and the music becomes weaker. Nearly all the Tempest demonstrations are about using the Tempest to create all the music in a rhythm concentric way. That's why they are bad. Some people have gone further and there is some idea of melody. However, I want a drum machine to be simple and have just a few but great sounds. This is why the tr 808 is still king and costs so much.

I'm not saying the Tempest isn't good, I'm just saying we still don't seem to have anything that can kick like those old Rolands.

Not sure if you like techno, but here is a rough demo I did for the forums recently:

Tempest Techno

[_seph]

Originally Posted by efflux

...I'm not saying the Tempest isn't good, I'm just saying we still don't seem to have anything that can kick like those old Rolands.

I take it that you've not played with one of Jomox's XBases.

As for the Tempest, you're missing the point. The old Roland's are just a starting point but the Tempest eclipses them with it's sequencer and far more capable synth engine. The demos that are being referred to aren't necessarily about composition and emulation, they're mostly showing the capabilities and realtime flexibility of the Tempest beyond what has previously been available. The last thing I would want to hear is a simple classic four on the floor beat on rhythmic synthesizer like the Tempest. Obviously it is more than capable of handling x0x style sequences but if I was wanting x0x drums, I wouldn't buy a Tempest, it would be such a waste. BUT, I would buy any XBase over any TR regardless of the price.

[efflux]

Thanks for that link to the demo. This is more what I want to hear. Way too muck glitchy stuff in most of the demos. This is more interesting.

Just two points about the sound though (not the content). I don't think the kick is anywhere near as rich or deep in comparison to tr 808 or what I've heard from the Miami. Another point, I don't like the distortion on the Tempest but I've got a Culture Vulture here so I'm used to fantastic valve distortion. Comparisons with that wouldn't be fair. However, it highlights that I think the Tempest tries to be too much in one unit. This is useful if you need to get the most for the cost. The Tempest actually seems not that expensive given what you get but sound is my prime consideration.

As for Jomox. That's still a consideration. I'm not necessarily after something that be a clone of an 808. Possibly the Jomox stuff can do it's own things but top of my lists at the moment are a real 808 or the Miami. This is not because of any hype associated with the 808. In fact the 808 is physically cumbersome which I'm not so keen on. I'm simply using my ears from what demos I can find or music made with this. Sticking points on this are very high cost even for the Miami considering it's essentially a clone of the 808.

[BM0]

Yeah, I wasn't aiming for an 808 kick when I programmed it. I was trying more for a compressed 909-like kick with a reverb effect, which I created using noise and an envelope, if I recall correctly. Maybe next time I mess around with it, I will try to create an 808-like kick.

[efflux]

Maybe it's the fact that Tempest isn't pure analog in the sense that it uses DCOs? I know the sound is still analog but DCOs effect how that sound comes out. I have both full analog and DCO synths here. The full analog are very organic sounding. With drums though, I think tighter isn't necessarily better.

If someone could just try something like this. Maybe I can find something more suitable but from quick search I found this video which is OK:

acidlab miami pure sound with adjusted trimpots - YouTube

In particular most importantly the bass kick. To me, this simply grooves in an organic way even although it's old school sounds.

If the Tempest can create beats with real basic groove and feel and do the glitchy stuff then that would make it a no brainer.

Maybe the sequencer has some impact. I don't know exactly what it is but I've not seen any Tempest demos that have blown me away. I've seen good ones but not anything that has totally convinced me.

Another factor which is a problem is the A/D recording. If you use a high quality convertor then things sound better. This even translates to a youtube video.

[BM0]

Yes it has DCOs, but it does have an "analog slop" parameter that allows the oscillators to slightly drift. I think I may have used it on that kick, but I can't remember for sure. If I did, it probably doesn't matter too much being that I added some noise to it. The noise masks the tuning of the sawtooth oscillator.

Best thing you can do is try one out for yourself, if possible.

[efflux]

Two extremes. First this video demoing the Vermona DRM. This is very dirty analog sounding and you can tweak some weird stuff but no sequencer or even any memory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xetl...1&feature=plcp

Unfortunately most of the Tempest demos fall short of the quality of this Vermona demo. Someone spent some time making this sound really good. Or maybe Tempest just doesn't sound in this league anyway?

Then we have the Tempest with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in. I don't think it sounds anywhere near as alive as the Vermona.

Options in-between these two extremes seem to be difficult to find and still get something that can compete with an 808 which has this nice compromise of simple features and great sound. This is where the hole in the market is and why 808s are so expensive.

[BM0]

Tempest not only has two analog oscillators but also has two digital oscillators with a nice selection of percussion samples. That is huge to me because I like to combine analog with digital waveforms to come up with unique sounds. It is in a league of its own in my opinion. Plus the sequencer and FX ribbons are incredible. If you only want TR-808 like analog percussions, I'd say get the Miami or the Vermona. I don't feel there is any hole in the market. Those are the solutions.

[cresshead]

i'd agree that near all youtube vids of the tempest are glitchy stuttery dirge beats...but that doesn't mean that's "the tempest"..that just those people's videosand stuff they make.

dsi tempest can 'be' a straight drum machine that would sit perfect back in the 80's if you want it to....not many who have bought it have demo'd that in videos..thats all really!

[xanax]

i also agree there aren't many tempest videos showcasing it's raw analog sound, but the truth is users are only starting to tap into it's sonic potential...unlike the 808/909's & vermona/jomox, creating analog drum sounds in tempest isn't instant gratification due to the classic analog synth approach. i've already expressed my frustrations about the fact i'd sometimes wish a more "drum synth" approach was used but it is what it is... also as an owner of the og 808&909, all i can say is straight out the box it isn't going to be easy to emulate those machines using the analog section (it does contain great samples of them in the digital section though). that being said, as discussed here previously, the recent patches released from the analog contest are definitely impressive and have the potential of going into the big league x0x arena imo. overall though, i try and not compare tempest too hard to the others.. it does have it's own sound, which is a good thing i find..

[Mefistophelees]

Originally Posted by ttown23

Well guys, still having MIDI sync issues with my Tempest. It got better for a period but I am on 1.2.07 and it will just stop sync'ing to MIDI 3/4 of the way into the project. Kinda annoying!

Try 1.2.0.8. IIRC there were some issues like this and that release fixed them.

[isham]

Sorry for the non super technical geek post : how is the official dsi gig bag ? Tough enough even it is kind of soft bag ? (I need to move abroad with it, it is only for the travel tough, car&plane)

Thanks for your experience.
Isham

[isham]

Thanks for feedback Billy,
All the best,