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| peterdines |
 Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:03 pm |
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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 16
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Hello all!
Reaktor doesn't get mentioned very much around here. Are there users lurking hereabouts?
Are you using Reaktor primarily as a synth plugin or are you building infernal machines - generative apps, oddball sequencers - with it?
I find that while it lacks the programming facilities and extensibility of Max or pd, it lends itself well to creating Rube Goldberg-ish audio contraptions.
Something about its limitations makes me feel my way through building in it. It creates a different dynamic between intent and serendipity than richer programming environments.
Know what I mean? |
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| thesimplicity |
| Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:58 pm |
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Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 122
Location: Tucson, AZ
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I do use Reaktor, but primarily for smaller tasks... nothing too crazy. It's great to be able to drop a custom sequencer into a track in Live without having to deal with routing Max.
I've always been amazed by the people who use only Reaktor to get their signature sound. I went to a kid606 show a few years back and all he had was a Powerbook running Reaktor standalone. |
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| peterdines |
| Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:29 pm |
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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 16
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I like mine standalone too (not that I'm any kid606 of course). That way I can route events between different instruments which can be troublesome in a host using different plugin instances.
edit - when you say custom sequencer, do you mean something from the user library or something you've built? And what does it do that Ableton doesn't? |
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| PeterKirn |
| Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 8:49 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 03 Feb 2006
Posts: 822
Location: New York, NY
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I'm using Reaktor! Unfortunately, I keep getting distracted by other things and haven't built any really deep patches in it yet. I hope to get a chance, but unfortunately I'm teaching Max/MSP at Brooklyn and not Reaktor; as much as I love Max, I'd really like the opportunity to use Reaktor to teach synthesis and processing as it has all the basic building blocks.
I'm most excited because of a physical modeling library I'm using now, so I hope to build something around that.
I would definitely not use it entirely standalone, just because it's easy enough to use in conjunction with Live. I think there are a lot of people doing that now. But I definitely respect the all-Reaktor setups people are using. |
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| proem |
| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:46 am |
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Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Posts: 15
Location: austin, tx
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reaktor likes to crash on me
especially as a vst
but i own it
or it owns me
one or the other
i just use it to shuffle/twist midi data mostly
and the occasional resynth
but
kontakt and absynth get way more love from me |
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| tyson |
| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:01 pm |
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Joined: 08 Jul 2006
Posts: 13
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Peter,
Why do you suppose that max does not come with all the basic building blocks?
It seems like that would help them acquire new users... |
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| peterdines |
| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:09 pm |
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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 16
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PeterKirn wrote: I'm using Reaktor! Unfortunately, I keep getting distracted by other things and haven't built any really deep patches in it yet. I hope to get a chance, but unfortunately I'm teaching Max/MSP at Brooklyn and not Reaktor; as much as I love Max, I'd really like the opportunity to use Reaktor to teach synthesis and processing as it has all the basic building blocks.
One of the big advantages Max has in an academic context is the wonderful documentation. For an introductory class, your textbook and curriculum are ready to go.
Reaktor has good reference material but almost non-existent tutorials except for the new Core (not Kore) tutorial, and a handful on basic subtractive synthesis.
I'm trying to bridge one of the gaps in Reaktor's learning curve with a tutorial on building sequenced instruments in the next issue of Virtual Instruments magazine. It should be out towards the end of August. Sequencing and generating / manipulating events seems to be the stumbling block that keeps Reaktor beginners from advancing.
The ensemble for the tutorial is already uploaded here . If you're a seasoned Max user you should have no trouble picking it apart. This particular version doesn't sync properly to host environments for reasons noted in the comments... works great standalone though.
Quote: I'm most excited because of a physical modeling library I'm using now, so I hope to build something around that.
Ah yes, is that the Harm Visser toolbox? Sounds interesting.
Quote: I would definitely not use it entirely standalone, just because it's easy enough to use in conjunction with Live. I think there are a lot of people doing that now. But I definitely respect the all-Reaktor setups people are using.
Live of course is the gold standard for anyone who wants to perform live and do remixing and improv on the fly, but still retain some structure. Have you tried some of the more modular hosts, like Usine and Bidule? |
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| PeterKirn |
| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:25 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 03 Feb 2006
Posts: 822
Location: New York, NY
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Hi Peter,
Wow, I'd love to see that VI story on sequenced instruments. Keep us posted, won't you?
I've been meaning to subscribe to VI; I should just go ahead and do it.
And yes, I agree: Max documentation = wonderful. Reaktor documentation = awful (even for me, and I'm a long-time Max user). I do think they're different products; I gravitate toward each for very different things -- especially since Reaktor has no equivalent of the visual/matrix/3D end of Jitter. But I would like better docs from NI.
Core looks really incredible, if daunting.
More on the Harm Visser toolbox soon.
I've stayed away from the modular hosts versus Live, just because, well, I don't need yet another program!
Peter |
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| richardl |
| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:01 pm |
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Joined: 22 Apr 2006
Posts: 9
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I use Reaktor. Mostly within Live.
I've been looking for more tutorials and am surprised by the lack of them given the size of the user base and the depth and quality of the program. |
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| dropthedyle |
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:19 am |
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Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 8
Location: Belgium
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| i'm also user of reaktor, since v5, mainly within logic. i'm using it more and more as a synth but mostly as an effect. my own library is growing with experimental stuff i try to build. i'ts a lot of fun ;o) |
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| peterdines |
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:12 pm |
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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 16
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PeterKirn wrote: I've stayed away from the modular hosts versus Live, just because, well, I don't need yet another program!
I know what you mean. I feel overwhelmed by the embarrassment of riches in the audio software market these days.
Simplify, simplify.  |
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| PeterKirn |
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:14 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 03 Feb 2006
Posts: 822
Location: New York, NY
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Well, if not simplify, at least keep working. 
I have to say, because it works so well as an interactive scratchpad, Live is the one app I always fall back on. It's cliche, but it really does make a difference. You can always stretch yourself to do interesting sound designs with a simple synth that has enough controls (all of the Live instruments qualify) or even just working with samples directly; you don't necessarily need every conceivable thing in your arsenal just to make music.
On the other hand, it can be tremendously liberating, then, to go back to Max or Reaktor and build something from scratch that exactly fits what you imagine. |
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| peterdines |
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:19 pm |
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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 16
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richardl wrote: I use Reaktor. Mostly within Live.
I've been looking for more tutorials and am surprised by the lack of them given the size of the user base and the depth and quality of the program.
It's been mostly an oral tradition so far. People dissect the instruments of the masters, ask questions on the forums and gradually figure things out.
I'll keep writing if I can manage to sell it somewhere... I think I'll do an article on either granular sampling, generative machines or automation next. Maybe all three. Or I could put up a poll and ask people what they want to learn. |
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| subbasshead |
| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:59 am |
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Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 23
Location: wellington, new zealand
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I use Reaktor standalone mainly to generate samples which i then later process/slice in LIVE....
its partly cos I like to seperate the processes (free form jamming versus sample mining vs composition)
but also cos I am runnign a G4 dp and it eats my CPU when i stream into LIVE...
Havent built much yet... but have plans.... |
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| peterdines |
| Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:51 am |
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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 16
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The tutorial should be on the newsstands now if anyone's interested. Cover looks like this:
If you happen to read it, please let me know what you think - did you learn something from it, was it clear, was the subject matter of interest, etc etc.
edit: The website has a download page for subscribers. 1 year of download-only issues is $12.96 |
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