Kyma Paca or Pacarana? real world difference

[synthoid]

I can't answer all your questions, but concerning this one:

Is this single stream information wrong? and you are able to run multiple live streams at one time? And would the pacarana allow me to have multiple "sounds" kym files (i don't know the exact terminology here sorry) running at one time from multiple inputs?

It is not true that a Kyma system can only process one stream at a time. A single "sound" in Kyma can have as many input and output channels as the Kyma system has access to, and those channels can be processed separately from one another. There are several ways to do this; one way is to literally use a single 'sound' but with effectively several unrelated paths through the sound. This is pretty easy to wire up. Another way -- the usual way when working with separate sources I think -- is to use the timeline and to load separate sounds onto separate tracks. From one point of view that is "multiple sound files" running at the same time, but from another point of view the timeline is just one big sound, and you can even view it that way in the editor if you like.

hth,

-synthoid

[JSt0rm]

Sounds like fun. Thank you for the detailed response. Do you have any comments on the paca vs pacarana from a dsp usage scenario?

[robkramble]

Also interested in Kyma so I'm gonna post here as a self-reminder. Definitely sympathize with the lack of information available, it's as mysterious as it is powerful I guess.

[tilman]

Hey JSt0rm,

I got me a paca this year. You should consider to buy a dedicated audio interface to be able to use it.

Until now I did not have a lot of time and only browsed through the "presets".

I hope to spend more time soon!

[JSt0rm]

Hey Tilman!

Im looking at the weiss afi1 (into my 192) and that leans me more toward the paca as the price evens out with the pacarana.

Please keep us up to date if you feel the power is lacking in any way!

[synthoid]

Originally Posted by JSt0rm

Sounds like fun. Thank you for the detailed response. Do you have any comments on the paca vs pacarana from a dsp usage scenario?

Hi,

I have a fully-loaded Capybara, that I'm very fond of, so I haven't yet updated to the newer models. I like having physical inputs/outputs on the device, and I have also used the LTC input on it to sync with other gear. I'm sure the newer models are great, and sometimes it would be nice to have more DSP power.

As a general remark, the DSP usage of patches on Kyma varies wildly from patch to patch. If you do real-time spectral analysis and resynthesis using oscillator banks for example, it can be quite expensive. If a patch has lots of polyphony (MIDI voices), it will eat up the DSP. On the other hand a lot of very nice-sounding patches are quite light on the machine. It's hard to make a general rule, you just have to dig into it and discover what kinds of patches float your boat.

Concerning the "mystery" of it: when I bought mine some years ago, SSC would sell you a copy of the Kyma book and then discount it from the price of the machine if you subsequently bought a system. The book removes the mystery altogether IMO. It's not the kind of system you can learn about by browsing the internet, you have to get into the specifics with a manual. It's similar to Max/MSP in this regard. You can read blogs and anecdotes about Max but if you want to actually use it you need to spend some time with the documentation.

hth,

-synthoid

[getabocken]

I have a Paca and sometimes when I do complex patches on the timeline I run out of processing power fairly quickly. If you can afford it you really should consider buying the Pacarana. I´m thinking of buying one to connect to my Paca - if I can find the money...

[JSt0rm]

Originally Posted by getabocken

I have a Paca and sometimes when I do complex patches on the timeline I run out of processing power fairly quickly. If you can afford it you really should consider buying the Pacarana. I´m thinking of buying one to connect to my Paca - if I can find the money...

Great. That's unfortunate but good info to have. I will need to think about the interface for the system.

What sound card are you running and do you run the kyma from your main computer or a side comp?

[getabocken]

Originally Posted by JSt0rm

Great. That's unfortunate but good info to have. I will need to think about the interface for the system.

What sound card are you running and do you run the kyma from your main computer or a side comp?

Like the guy above said: buy the Kyma book first and see if this really is for you (I did). Remember that the learning curve, once you get past the initial stages, is very steep and the "instant gratification factor" is very low compared to traditional softsynths.
I suppose you have read this: Symbolic Sound Kyma: Products PacaranaSpecifications

[PapiBlack]

How viable is the capybara 320 in 2012 in terms of DSP power?

[JSt0rm]

Originally Posted by getabocken

Like the guy above said: buy the Kyma book first and see if this really is for you (I did). Remember that the learning curve, once you get past the initial stages, is very steep and the "instant gratification factor" is very low compared to traditional softsynths.
I suppose you have read this: Symbolic Sound Kyma: Products PacaranaSpecifications

Yup I read that. I sure I will be able to work with the system. Learning curves don't bother me at all.

[JSt0rm]

Originally Posted by PapiBlack

How viable is the capybara 320 in 2012 in terms of DSP power?

From what I've read a fully loaded one isn't bad at all but the development of algos is moving forward and some will not work on this older dsp.

[PapiBlack]

I've been wondering, do the new algorithms make the Paca and Pacarana really sound better than the Capy even thought Capy supposedly has legendary D/A and the newer models allow for the usage of average conversion?

[JSt0rm]

You can use good converters with it. That's why I'm looking at the Weiss FireWire card. I wish they had more aes options though.

[kpsiegel]

Originally Posted by PapiBlack

How viable is the capybara 320 in 2012 in terms of DSP power?

That probably depends on what you are planning to do with it.

I just picked up a 320 with 10 processors a few weeks ago. I have only had a couple of days to play with it because I got married and was on my honeymoon :-) I had not been shopping for one but in the course of a separate Craigslist transaction I noticed it and the guy sold it to me for $750. My feeling was for what I paid for it, if it could act as a 4 input programmable high end effects unit and nothing more it would be worth it.

I found quite a number of cool "sounds" that worked just fine with the system. There were others where I just didn't have enough DSP processing power. I think if you are doing very complicated soundscapes on the timeline involving multiple input streams you may want to get one of the newer units or, at the very least, a 320 with a lot of processors. My opinion is that of a real newbie so take it for what it is worth.

Their intention is to support the 320 but all the newest algorithms are only guaranteed to work on the newest hardware. I am just dipping my feet in the water on this and have the Kyma X book to read and work with. For me, the 320 should be plenty for some time. If I decide that this is something I really want to expand my use of I will look to getting the latest hardware then.

[PapiBlack]

Originally Posted by kpsiegel

That probably depends on what you are planning to do with it.

I just picked up a 320 with 10 processors a few weeks ago. I have only had a couple of days to play with it because I got married and was on my honeymoon :-) I had not been shopping for one but in the course of a separate Craigslist transaction I noticed it and the guy sold it to me for $750. My feeling was for what I paid for it, if it could act as a 4 input programmable high end effects unit and nothing more it would be worth it.

I found quite a number of cool "sounds" that worked just fine with the system. There were others where I just didn't have enough DSP processing power. I think if you are doing very complicated soundscapes on the timeline involving multiple input streams you may want to get one of the newer units or, at the very least, a 320 with a lot of processors. My opinion is that of a real newbie so take it for what it is worth.

Their intention is to support the 320 but all the newest algorithms are only guaranteed to work on the newest hardware. I am just dipping my feet in the water on this and have the Kyma X book to read and work with. For me, the 320 should be plenty for some time. If I decide that this is something I really want to expand my use of I will look to getting the latest hardware then.

Worst synth you could ever possibly get shortly after getting married

[kpsiegel]

Originally Posted by PapiBlack

Worst synth you could ever possibly get shortly after getting married

Fortunately my wife is great about all my music stuff but you have a point. It gets worse though. I have Diametro's Jupiter 8 showing up here on Wednesday and my Devilfish Quicksilver mods are supposed to be done within the week. This could be tough :-)

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by kpsiegel

I have Diametro's Jupiter 8 showing up here on Wednesday

So you were the lucky bastard. Congratulations! (and congratulations with your wedding, of course)

[droolmaster0]

Originally Posted by kpsiegel

That probably depends on what you are planning to do with it.

I just picked up a 320 with 10 processors a few weeks ago. I have only had a couple of days to play with it because I got married and was on my honeymoon :-) I had not been shopping for one but in the course of a separate Craigslist transaction I noticed it and the guy sold it to me for $750. My feeling was for what I paid for it, if it could act as a 4 input programmable high end effects unit and nothing more it would be worth it.

I found quite a number of cool "sounds" that worked just fine with the system. There were others where I just didn't have enough DSP processing power. I think if you are doing very complicated soundscapes on the timeline involving multiple input streams you may want to get one of the newer units or, at the very least, a 320 with a lot of processors. My opinion is that of a real newbie so take it for what it is worth.

Their intention is to support the 320 but all the newest algorithms are only guaranteed to work on the newest hardware. I am just dipping my feet in the water on this and have the Kyma X book to read and work with. For me, the 320 should be plenty for some time. If I decide that this is something I really want to expand my use of I will look to getting the latest hardware then.

Note that you can use the 320 as the audio interface for the paca/pacarana, should you decide in the future that you need more processing power. My vague recollection is that you can even use the processors in the capybara, but that memory might be faulty.