Buying questions

Steve,

the rebate comes from Cake, I think. I tested a vs700 for a review, didn't buy it.

As far as the preamps/conversion, they are great. You get a very clean, detailed sound. I didnt' get a chance to listen side by side at an SSL/apogee facility like I'd hoped, but compared recordings of a band done there with those in my home studio (yes, unfair comparision w/ the rooms and outboard gear) and the vs700 held up just fine. In short, you can add your favorite outboard gear for tracking (digital and analog) for character, but you won't be disappointed with the native sound. The only real problem was no inserts.

The fantom is fine. I didn't play with it that much, but it worked with an external keyboard for controller and sounded like fine S&S. If you are using it in lieu of a sampler unit, it should work fine. Didn't notice any cpu drain, and I had to use an older, single core unit since I couldn't get the usb drivers to load in my main computer. Cake helped, but didn't get it solved. Of course, if I had bought the thing I would have re-installed Vista 32 - it was probably the ilok.

Don't know about the specs for computer etc. I'm sure Cake could help there, they seem to have amassed a bunch of info so far and have a couple of guys just making sure the VS line rollout gets fast help.

I think you'll be surprised how well the controller works - it blew me away. If time is money, it can save a bunch of both. There is something natural about working with you hands on the board for not just mixing, but editing and jumping through a project. I found the right hand scroll bar and button combos excellent for navagation while leaving the single buttons on the left hand for editing functions. Worked much better than I had thought it would.

It looks fairly impressive, too, if you bring in clients.

@

Steve,

Nothing against the VS-700 - I don't have the budget for it. I'm supposed to get a VS100 which I might buy (such is my budget). My review of the VS-700 should be out in the next Tape Op. Sadly, I review a bunch of hardware I can't buy.

But if you are making enough money w/ SONAR, the VS 700 is a high-class, all-in-one solution. The controller is top notch. The interface, too, although the Fantom adds a premium. Mix has a review out this month and the reviewer really liked the preamps/convertion, which mirrors my findings. If you go to

http://www.myspace.com/merrythemoodswings

you can hear it on "Witch Joanie" done at home . This is Love" to "Handsome Guy" at home but with a FirePod. "metrosexual" on down were done at a "real" studio w/ ssl/apogee etc. Ought to give you some idea of the sound.

BTW I should mention that my testing of Win 7 is personal and is thus not official. As it is still not yet officially released we are not officially supporting it at this time.