SCOPE 5, I do waiting for you

[garyb]

Thanks Tom, that's helpful information.

About the old boxes, they are the blue ones am I right with "Creamware" written on the front.

If so what are the 8 lights on the front for and there seems two dials or something on the right?

One more question if I may, does the Wordclock only work when Z-link is being used?

Thanking you

i'll butt in and attempt an answer....the 8 lights are actually 16 i believe, and they are input indicators. the "dials" are indicators for sync selections. wordclock works with all of the boxes functions as an alternative clock source/send.

[oldspeak]

Thanks Gary for replying.

So are you saying then that WC, will operate even if the A-16 is plugged into a HDSP 9652 for example?

I can understand if it were to output wordclock on the BNC but not accepting it and somehow allowing sync to occur no matter the interface unto which it is being used.

This is a technical question I know but I have an interest so must ask.

Thank you once again.

[garyb]

yes, wordclock WILL work connected to ADAT, but it likely won't matter if you clock via wordclock or ADAT, if the clock is coming from the RME card or the A-16. unless you have a number of digital devices to clock and a master clock/distributor, ADAT sync is fine between the RME and A-16. wordclock via bnc IS an option, though.

[oldspeak]

That's really interesting, quite amazing really for something made so long ago.

Now I acknowledge a bit of a diversion in this thread but I'm looking at the software page for Scope Systems and is it right that I can use up to version 4 software on any card no matter its' vintage?

Also, will version 5 be another paid upgrade or will it be cheaper or free than 4.5.

Thank you very much for your replies.

[astroman]

...About the old boxes, they are the blue ones am I right with "Creamware" written on the front. ...

i'll butt in and attempt an answer....the 8 lights are actually 16 i believe, and they are input indicators. the "dials" are indicators for sync selections. wordclock works with all of the boxes functions as an alternative clock source/send.

almost there Gary
there are indeed 8 LEDs on the blue boxes, which indicate overload.
2 channels share 1 LED (1st 1+8, 2nd 2+9 ...)
the 'dials' are buttons - left one for samplerate 44.1/48, right for sync: master, slave to Adat, slave to wordclock
if the unit is set to master it's supposed to emit a high quality wordclock signal (according to the doc, but no details given)
dunno if it replicates the sync frequency when slaved to Adat

anyway, if you have an RME card wordclock would probably be the last thing you'd want to use.
They claim to have a far superior method to re-clock any digital system way beyond the precision of wordclock. It's explained on their tech pages and reads convincing.

cheers, Tom

ps: version 4 software works with any card indeed
if you have the 4.5 update, version 5 will be free of charge
the difference between 4 and 4.5 is really(!) only some device licenses
there's no(!) driver, techie or dunno-what stuff under the hood that's different

[oldspeak]

Thanks astroman for the information.

I don't actually have an RME but I studied hard their technology, as you say it is "convincing" but can wait as I am more interested in vintage computer hardware at this time such as Scope.

Although I cannot find anything that would suggest PCIe other than via breakout box I am assuming that PCI is still being made and that the first generation cards may have used older DSP's and have less memory maybe.

Anyway, about the software, is version 5 intended to run on a Pulsar 1 for example and will everything work? It's not quite clear what the included plug ins are in terms of synthesisers or even effects, this information seems ridiculously hard to find.

Thanks

[astroman]

version 5 isn't released yet... but I pass any details on that over to Gary.
He's been talking with SonicCore on Namm show this year.

if you're serious about synths I'd rather discourage to get a Pulsar 1 ( I have 3 of them...)
4 DSPs are almost nothing for the quality synths, even a Scope Pro with 14 chips isn't exaggerated at all.
These cards have a slower IO system with 13ms Asio latency at 44.1k, while the 6 and 14 chip versions can go down to 3ms.
The 4 DSP Pulsar 1 performs worse on the PCI bus (due to the slower IO), which significantly(!) restricts the use of delays and reverbs.

Of course Pulsar Ones are ridiculously cheap, but a 6 or 14 DSP version usually has the better software bundle, so it's a better buy.

cheers, Tom

[oldspeak]

Thanks Tom for being so helpful.

I do not intend to play these things in real time but rather program via mouse which I have been doing for the last 6 years of my life.

Anyway, I have a novation X-station for when I need realtime use in order to get down the notes.

As for reverbs I will probably use a TC Electronic thing and wait for a PCI-e of Sonic Core.

Also, I will have soon a UAD-1e which should help and I already own a Duende MINI so options are many and varied.

As for using the Pulsar 1 in XTC mode, is this possible in order so I can use it like UAD but for synths and at 44.1Khz, how many instances would I get do you think for a typical synth.

Thanks again for responding.

[garyb]

Thanks astroman for the information.

I don't actually have an RME but I studied hard their technology, as you say it is "convincing" but can wait as I am more interested in vintage computer hardware at this time such as Scope.

Although I cannot find anything that would suggest PCIe other than via breakout box I am assuming that PCI is still being made and that the first generation cards may have used older DSP's and have less memory maybe.

Anyway, about the software, is version 5 intended to run on a Pulsar 1 for example and will everything work? It's not quite clear what the included plug ins are in terms of synthesisers or even effects, this information seems ridiculously hard to find.

Thanks

Scope may be "old" as far as computers are concerned, but it's still "current" as there is nothing that is competitive or better, still.

yes, v5 will work. what is included depends on what was registered to the card by the last owner. astro gave good info, try a newer, bigger card. it is a can't lose investment.

PCI is still being made as Scope cards. PCI-e is about to be released as XITE, which, is really an internal card in an external chassis. you DON'T need another soundcard with a Scope card.

[oldspeak]

This might all be true but the history of the "company" suggests conflict and dislocation.

So, I know that there is some debate about this so-called XTC mode but simply because it has i/o doesn't mean it needs to be used this way especially since as stated previously the mixer is not a replacement for any mixer in any software, other than that which is in the OS.

Anyway, another question if I may, what is Fusion all about?

Thank you once again.

[garyb]

*sigh*

in the history of Creamware and Sonic/Core(two DIFFERENT companies) there have been marketing issues for sure, and financial blunders(not with S/C), but neither the quality of the i/o and the sound of the platform, NOR the function have EVER been issues(i've been a user since v1.2).

most people who use this stuff know NOTHING of how a real studio works, or what real gear sounds like. many just want a nifty toy, that's not too complicated. SOME, however want a REAL studio, but can't afford all that gear. for the latter, Scope is a godsend. i'd be happy to speak with you on the phone or via skype about the history and what it is and how and why it works, suffice it to say that as far as integrating ALL of your HARD and SOFTware and making it ALL talk to eachother in REAL time, there is ONLY Scope. the best Scope devices ARE exactly like using real hardware. the Scope environment works exactly like the real world. the mixer inside the sequencer is NOT the same. the sequencer is like a vs880 or similar all-in-one harddisk recorder with built-in effects and mixer, pretty cool, but limited unto itself. if you want to do anything other than demos however, you must take individual outs into your real desk and use real rack gear for effects. Scope is that whole room of gear, plus it can be used with your rack gear or other hardware in real time.

i can't type much more, it's too painful, this is the weakness of the platform, explaining what it is.

btw-fusion is the name used when the Pulsar, Scope(15dsp card), and Luna cards which at one time all had different software, were all integrated together. since then(quite a while ago), the name stuck, but fusion is still appropriate, because Scope makes everything connect and work together. a Scope system will always be useful, even when the computer it's in becomes obsolete, it will still be a valuable production machine.

[oldspeak]

i can't type much more, it's too painful, this is the weakness of the platform, explaining what it is.

I understand and painful it is but this is the problem when such bad marketing is employed, ie not your fault but the parent company.

Anyway, I found this on the website:

http://www.sonic-core.net/shop/product_ ... Mixer.html

It would seem that these mixer plug-in's can be used inside host software such as Cubase.

Interesting.

P.S. Take this for example:

http://www.sonic-core.net/shop/index.ph ... 11235724b2

It doesn't even say what each thing is

[siriusbliss]

Yes, in XTC mode you can use Scope plugins inserted in your host.
(I personally don't use it).

Scope IS a studio rather than just DSP cards with JUST effect plugins, or JUST a mixer - it's a full blown studio WITH synths, effects, mixers, etc. all included.

I still have a 11-year old Pulsar I running alongside a newer Scope Pro, and they love each other - plus I get all that extra ADAT/SPDIF/MIDI I/O

I agree that Soniccore needs to get a REAL web-designer, and get some REAL information up on the site soon - especially with Xite landing soon (did I say SOON?).

Greg

[oldspeak]

Hi siriusbliss,

This is how I intend to use the pulsar actually, so long as its supported in the long run but to begin with naturally I plan to use it in DSP only mode because as it would appear there are many more synthesiser plug ins available on the Scope platform than any other and if I can simply say for example use a drum synth only with one card then so be it, it really doesn't bother me as there are so many options available today not to mention native synths and samplers but I do believe that Sonic Core have a crisis of information since most of the details I am finding are from completely different places, eg:

http://www.lnlrecording.com/Scope.htm

[siriusbliss]

Well, I think you'll be blow away by what-all Scope can do.

Greg

[oldspeak]

Hi siriusbliss,

I'm sure I will be even using older hardware.

I'm looking at different pictures of old and new hardware and I see that the Pulsar 1 for example, has 1x TDM but the Pulsar 2 has 2x TDM.

Could you tell me what the difference is and why?

Thank you very much for your time.

[garyb]

the pulsar1 is inferior in every way(though i have one and still use it), to the later cards. more s/tdm busses=more possible connections between cards. 1 works very well, however.

[garyb]

i can't type much more, it's too painful, this is the weakness of the platform, explaining what it is.

I understand and painful it is but this is the problem when such bad marketing is employed, ie not your fault but the parent company.

Anyway, I found this on the website:

http://www.sonic-core.net/shop/product_ ... Mixer.html

It would seem that these mixer plug-in's can be used inside host software such as Cubase.

Interesting.

P.S. Take this for example:

http://www.sonic-core.net/shop/index.ph ... 11235724b2

It doesn't even say what each thing is

Scope is for people who dig a little deeper into things. if you click on the device shown, a detailed description follows.

the info is available, unfortunately it really takes a good demo to get a real idea of what id possible. S/C's biggest marketing obstacle is the amount of money that really good marketing takes. i'd rather they put the effort into the product, if the choice needs to be made.

btw-XTC mode is not really supported. it was a feature that was dropped, but because there were those who really liked it, has been maintained. now that v5 is coming out, S/C has said they will continue it. for those who really like it(and there are plenty here on planetz), it's a bonus(and for some the only reason that they want a card). myself, i run a more traditional studio and i have no use for it.

[siriusbliss]

the pulsar1 is inferior in every way(though i have one and still use it), to the later cards. more s/tdm busses=more possible connections between cards. 1 works very well, however.

agreed.

Scope Pro's ROCK though!

Hey, do you think routing to/from current DAW to Xite via ADAT will be best? A really long s/tdm cable might be awesome though.

Greg

[garyb]

yes, right now it's almost the only way....