Can I still play in your garden, friends?

[Neil B]

Well,
If you remember, I had a nasty system crash before Christmas and got stressed, confused and more.
My XP PC with Pulsar II card died in the most horrific, violent circumstances (at least it felt that way)

Anyway, I've bitten the bullet & bought one of these:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =FS-192-OP
Changes to the spec shown include:
2 X 1Tb drives
16Gb memory
Additional USB card
Very quiet power supply (650 I think or perhaps 700)

Of course, this threw up other problems & opportunities while the sales were on over Christmas & the New Year:
Upgraded Cubase 4.5 to 7.5 (what a big difference, but I've hardly gone into it yet)
Kontakt 3 to Kontakt 5
Latest updates to Omnisphere, Trilian & Stylus RMX (although I was pretty up to date)
Updated Recycle
Updated Garritan Orchestra to version 4 Play
Updated EWQLS Choirs to latest Play version, although of course it's the only thing that refuses to install - should have it sorted by the weekend though
Ditched ATmosphere & Trilogy, as much as I loved them so I could work with a reduced set of gear. They didn't want to play in 64 bit or even 32 bit in Cubase 7.5 anyway, & I couldn't be bothered.
Updated to the latest 1.8.0 Vanguard
Treated myself to Nexus 2 & quite a few banks.
Plus quite a bit more.
The installation & transfer of backup data, legacy stuff etc should be finished in about a week (I'm tidying up & getting rid as I go along)
Then I can play it all instead of just testing that the installs & restores have worked.

I also bought a Focusrite Scarletti 2i4 Soundcard for the time being (don't shout at me until I've finished)!!!

I still don't know if my Pulsar Card is dead.
If I'm right, to prove it I would need 5.1 software under Win 7 - which would cost money.
I'm aiming at the moment for a stable rig for a while so I can actually play, write & record.

I am right in saying, aren't I, that going to WIn 7, even if the Pulsar card was okay, would not help my DPS polyphony problems with only 6 DSP's.????
All in all I've spent 2500 pounds UK and cannot afford anything else for a while.

So, and now we get to the point -
I am Scopeless while I save up for an Xite for at least 12 months. Latest technology & software instead of fighting to get 2 note polyphony with Mod II & Flexor.
I read with dismay and dread about the problems Stevil has had: http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=32327 and he's lucky enough to be close to Gary B
I will miss the Scope gear, but only until I get an Xite.

My questions then:
Am I now banned from Planet Z ?? or
Can I still play in your garden and make contributions until my dear wife says "You should get an x-ite now" ??
(mind you, she does say something like that to me a few times per week anyway )

I await the wrath of Gary & others (please be gentle - it's been a harrowing few weeks)
Don't banish me to the Steinberg forum, or worse - KVR

[dante]

Great looking rig - hope you can get your Pulsar working on it. Updating OS wont give you more DSP but definately go for Scope 5.1. - I would have prioritized that over updating Garritan and Omnisphere but that aint quite a banning criteria - comes close though

[garyb]

wrath?

if you want to test the card in win7, install v5.1 and when it opens, send the request string to support and ask for a temporary keyfile. not everything will work, but there will be enough to tell if the card is ok and if you want to go further. i can work out a discount for you. yes, only for you. there's no need to hurry, finish your project.

[Neil B]

Thanks for that Gary -
So can I download the 5.1 software before buying it, so I can test?

Rebuilding/installing all the software & sorting out all my backed up libraries etc is going well. There is light at the end of the tunnel. What a nightmare job though.
I'm so pleased that I've always been obsessive about backups

I'm still thinking about just saving up for an Xite as opposed to reinstalling the Pulsar 2 card to be fair, and being Scopeless for a while.

Pondering.....

[garyb]

yes, you can. just send the request string(from the registration window that opens when Scope starts) to support and ask for a temporary keyfile. i'll generate it and return it to you via email.

[dante]

I'm still thinking about just saving up for an Xite as opposed to reinstalling the Pulsar 2 card to be fair, and being Scopeless for a while. Pondering.....

You could go for the D and not have to save up for as long. Then either still use the Pulsar 2 as well or sell it.

[Neil B]

I'm still thinking about just saving up for an Xite as opposed to reinstalling the Pulsar 2 card to be fair, and being Scopeless for a while. Pondering.....

You could go for the D and not have to save up for as long. Then either still use the Pulsar 2 as well or sell it.

I'd only thought about the "D" version - anything else would incur a large object being dropped on my head by my dear wife, followed by something sharp penetrating my chest cavity (and she's a damn good shot with a gun too)

Current costs at todays exchange rates with 5.1 included:
Xite-1 3890 Euros = $5265 US = £3205 UK
Xite-D 2390 Euros = $3235 US = £1969 UK

I simply daren't spend this amount of money at the moment. The boss is expecting a big holiday for our 40th wedding anniversary (yeah, I know, but it was easier than training a younger replacement) and to turn around and say - hey, look at this 19" rack thingy I've bought instead - I think not.

Still pondering, but I think saving up & going down the Xite-D route is probably the best option.
Out of interest, how much "bigger" is the "D" compared to a 6 DSP Pulsar II? An extra 10 synths with polyphony? Lots more effects before DSP limit warnings? I ask this because, as brilliant as my Pulsar II card has been, it's also been a source of frustration with DPS limits at times.

Thanks for the replies folks
Will think about all of this while we're in the mountains

[dante]

The D has about 5 x the DSP of the pulsar 2 - the equivalent of 2 Scope Pro.

I was more fortunate re the funding of my 'D' because it was released not long before wifey got her superannuation payout so she threw the dog a bone and paid for over half of it !!

I couldn't quite stretch the deal to get an SSL desk - she blew the rest on a new kitchen

[Neil B]

That would suit me down to the ground - the DSP limits I meant - wasn't suggesting a generous wife swap
Thanks

[w_ellis]

You might want to keep an eye out for second hand Xite-1s. I know they don't come up very often, but I bought mine for £2k, which is what you're looking at spending on a new Xite-1D and with 3 times as many new Sharcs.