Reaktor 6

[windspace]

It's a wonder we can even move a soft-synth patch without using a traktor!

FTFY

:thumbsup:

[Ahornberg]

It's a wonder we can even move a soft-synth patch without using a traktor!

FTFY

:thumbsup:

or even a Maschine :cool:

[Ahornberg]

"I prefer to have all elements of my musical constructions available for perfect recall, transferable by Internet (preset/patch files) and literally weightless.

Each time you sit at the hardware modular it is a different experience. It is the lack of sameness that makes the hardware special. It is a modern folk instrument. Just like a guitar, saxophone, violin, human voice ... on and on.

When someone sits at a piano and plays a piece, there is no perfect recall. It is the experience of creating a unique artistic experience for both the artist and the listener. I would never want to go to a concert where the artist demonstrates "perfect recall".

Uniqueness can also be achieved with Reaktor (I do own it), but only when it stops trying to achieve an existing sound.

Just the opinion of someone who fights against sameness and "analogueness".

We can have different goals without pretending to be something else.

the more modular soft synths I run on my system, the more I want to dive into the analouge counterpart ... didn't I got some money left? :daydream:

[aoVI]

I have Reaktor but to be honest, it hasn't ever seen action other than when I first got it and explored a bit.

I did spend a day downloading many free things from the user's area, then organizing all my goodies.

I found little or no fault with it, but tend to get where I need to be using other tools. It's more forgotten about than avoided.

[seismic1]

I have Reaktor5, but have never got around to using it in a serious song/track. I should spend more time with it.

[noise_construct]

aoVI and seismic1, what do you think it is about Reaktor that doesn't invite you to use it?

And those who use Reaktor, how much does it integrate to your setup- do you use it's sequencers, do you build your own things that combine both sequencing and sound sources, do you also use it for effects?

Reaktor will most likely be the only softsynth I'll ever buy, I've demoed it and read reviews, but would be interested in your experiences. After returning to music I've realised that software is a pretty bad thing to invest in, but Reaktor seems like an exception.

[betadecay]

(We all know about the pros and cons of soft- and hardware. Hardware occupies space on the table, software not. Broken hardware can be fixed even if it is 30 years old, sofware support may be discontinued. Etc. etc. Don't want to discuss this here.)

A longer time ago, I watched some YouTube videos about REAKTOR 5 an then tried to build a synth in REAKTOR 5 - even a simple thing with 2 oscillators and a filter and one ADSR is a little pain there. So I stopped that. Everything in the factory library, not to mention RAZOR, is 1000 times better, as what I could do.

But recently I watched these REAKTOR 6 videos here:

And I must confess: It was never so easy to build ones own synth. In a one hour or so I had a modular synth with two oscillators FM-modulating each other and with sync and each oscillator had its own LFO and ADSR. Finally a filter and a delay and some reverb. After watching the videos, this a a task for a lazy afternoon, not for some busy weeks. And once you know, how it works, it becomes easier. So then I build a synth with 4 oscillators in a chain, each one FM modulation the next one in the chain. Yes, FM8 should be capable to do the same, but I do not want to learn FM8 and I also enjoyed building my own machine. The only disadvantage: my monitor is way to small, a 48'' monitor would be much better... But REAKTOR 6 blocks are really fun!

I did not explore the step sequencers so far (but according to the videos, this is also quite simple). I don't know, what I'll try next with it, this is also a question of time (even if it is basically easy, very much easier than REAKTOR 5, building a more sophisticated machine will of course require some time). So far, I used only a hand full of the blocks that come with REAKTOR 6, and there are so many blocks in the NI user library too... However, I find it really impressive, how quick I came to a good result even with only these few blocks (OSC, ASDR, LFO, AMP, mixer / cross fader, delay, reverb).

What could be interesting for us: did anyone create a drone machine with it? There is one in the user library, but I did not try it yet.

Anyway: I use REAKTOR for several years (I like RAZOR very much), and I think, that I will use my own REAKTOR 6 ensembles in the near future for some new works. Their FM sounds are somehow unpredictable and noisy - I find them great!

[S1gnsOfL1fe]

Anyway: I use REAKTOR for several years (I like RAZOR very much), and I think, that I will use my own REAKTOR 6 ensembles in the near future for some new works. Their FM sounds are somehow unpredictable and noisy - I find them great!

Fantastic analysis Betadecay. :tu: As a K9U user, I've been very anxious to try it out. A Reaktor update was very long overdue. I'm going to wait until they include it in the Komplete series to upgrade, hopefully this year with the inevitable K11.

Cheers,
-S1gns

[interface_type_seven]

And those who use Reaktor, how much does it integrate to your setup- do you use it's sequencers, do you build your own things that combine both sequencing and sound sources, do you also use it for effects?

I sometimes use the sequencers and noise generators. I regularly build my own things--usually simple synthesizers-- just for fun, and occasionally use them in tracks. Getting into building is very rewarding, but also a bit of a learning curve, as even very simple instruments can get complicated quickly. ADSR Sounds has a bunch of great free (and paid) video courses in their Reaktor Tutorials series. Check out YouTube or reaktortutorials.com for some great starting points.

Effects are probably the aspect I use the most in Reaktor. There are some decent effects included in the core, but the user library (http://www.native-instruments.com/en...-user-library/) provides a bunch of great free stuff created by the community. Some of my favorite effects used during composition, mixing, and mastering come straight out of the user library.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I think that the Reaktor 6 update was really worth the upgrade price...the blocks framework is fun and simple to build with, and the UI and workflow changes make creating instruments from scratch much more intuitive. For those new to Reaktor/holding out to upgrade, go grab the free Reaktor 6 player (separate install/run from the 5 player) and download the free Blocks Wired update that came out a few weeks ago to get at some pretty cool hardwired blocks West Coast modular goodness.

[seismic1]

aoVI and seismic1, what do you think it is about Reaktor that doesn't invite you to use it?

Lack of time, mainly. My day-job is quite time-consuming, and other commitments don't leave a great deal of time for making music. When I'm putting a track together, I usually have a fairly good idea of the sounds (or type of sounds) I want to use. I can achieve those sounds with the tools I'm more familiar with. Reaktor is something I occasionally play with for its own sake. I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I can get results quicker elsewhere.

[aoVI]

aoVI and seismic1, what do you think it is about Reaktor that doesn't invite you to use it?

And those who use Reaktor, how much does it integrate to your setup- do you use it's sequencers, do you build your own things that combine both sequencing and sound sources, do you also use it for effects?

Reaktor will most likely be the only softsynth I'll ever buy, I've demoed it and read reviews, but would be interested in your experiences. After returning to music I've realised that software is a pretty bad thing to invest in, but Reaktor seems like an exception.

I used it on several things back in my ProTools days, factory things which were great. I even went download shopping on the user submitted things too--picked up some great things. In ProTools, I often had cpu issues with some instruments and Reaktor was one of them. Once I had moved on to another DAW I had developed several processes I liked using and Reaktor being benched during my early ITB days kind of made me forget about it. The same thing happened to Iris. I just ended up feeling more comfortable with the tools I had been using the longest. I should fire it up again.

[noise_construct]

Thanks for the replies and insights, I think its the right one for me.

[KrisM]

Anyone else notice they lowered the price? It's now $200 new vs what, wasn't it $400 outside of Komplete? I got 5 when NI was offering it for $99 one Black Friday myself and seem to remember it being an insane deal.

[S1gnsOfL1fe]

Anyone else notice they lowered the price? It's now $200 new vs what, wasn't it $400 outside of Komplete? I got 5 when NI was offering it for $99 one Black Friday myself and seem to remember it being an insane deal.

Wow, you're right. It's only $99 for me to update it.

Stop...this thread is giving me GAS! :

[windspace]

Anyone else notice they lowered the price? It's now $200 new vs what, wasn't it $400 outside of Komplete? I got 5 when NI was offering it for $99 one Black Friday myself and seem to remember it being an insane deal.

I did the same thing, and was really happy to have gotten that deal on something I wanted badly. I kinda felt the same way about the upgrade...not having noticed the price reduction for the full version...
It's OK though, I really love Reaktor and find I'm using it more as I become more familiar with it.