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I don't think it's very fair to be complaining about the lack of information on a product that isn't released yet. NAMM is a trade only event, not for the public. Yes lots of manufacturers use it to announce new products and that information reaches the public but the point of these trade shows is to get stock purchasers interested in stocking them in their stores. Off the top of my head, both akai and moog announced products that they didn't give full details about too.
These are often prototypes being displayed, quite possibly the hardware is final but the software is beta. Manufacturers need to protect themselves from misinformation. What if a feature had been announced at NAMM that they had to remove by the time the product was available to the consumer? You would be pissed off if you had chosen that product over an alternative only to find that feature that is now missing.
I think the ftp as it is right now is a great product. I have absolutely no problems using it over usb as a midi controller for all my synths, both hardware and software. Choosing to go usb first makes the most business sense because the majority of the market is based around the computer being at the centre of both composition and recording. But the new product seems likely to cater more to people like you who want to go pc free. To add those features to all models of the product at day 1 would have increased the cost for all, while adding features a lot of people would not have used. Be patient, I'm pretty sure what is coming will fix the issues you want fixed
On 16 Mar 2015, at 10:04, richard brown [email protected] [midiguitar] <[email protected]> wrote:
"Specifically, a floor unit with MIDI out was my priority, but I had to admit that if we would start to sell a unit with a MIDI OUT only, I cannot name a single rack synth today that would be a good match for the Triple Play, except as second hand :( "
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Thanks Andras for your posts and for sharing your expertise.
Firstly I would say that as Fishman doesn't make hardware synths per-se (so no competition there) then IMO there is nothing at all wrong with the above. Personally I am not interested in the FTP soundfont/samples at all, and think the voices that I have heard are not impressive at all.
They may be impressive of course to the 'USB and laptop-owner target client' who has not much understanding of synthesis.
My Kurzweil and Trident and Emu racks and others, do it all so much better IMO (mostly all romplers admittedly, and some phase distortion, and nothing analogue)
USB may be a cheap and quick 'fix' for some midi applications, but I think it's mostly a huge mistake, and at least most midi racks and gear are 'class compliant' and all are chain-able, and all midi hubs work.
I spent the most of this morning looking for details of the FTP floor board, but either the product doesn't exist, or marketing or review budget or review availability for Fishman is sadly lacking, or I am going blind.. (probably the latter)
Possibly such a thing is in limited production, and only a few demo models exist 'to test the water' . I don't know.. I may be wrong of course.
One of my points is that this group is an important (and very neglected) venue for getting info about available gear and options, which in turn translates (we hope) into selling product and allowing musicians enhanced and expressive options..
However, in my experience, it's like getting blood out of a stone to get any serious FTP details at all from anywhere, and Fishman advertising or promo or marketing resources (apart from some very good playing by some people demoing it) seems to be very lacking, and very little describing the system exists, except in a silly 'oh this is what it can do fashion'.
Of course, if I went to NAAM and could stand the endless noise for days and pestered people, then I might be better informed.
Personally, all I want to do is to hook 2 x FTP systems to my Kurzweil, Trident and Technics WSA racks (and possibly my other Emu racks as I chose) and tap on two necks...
I sort of understand that I must buy two Kenton Midi USB hosts to do so..and that I don't need two 'presently very difficult to locate anywhere, impossible to read the specs of, and not possible at all to price floorboards'? (or do I ) and how do I program the system for midi only use? (or can I?)
And I sort of understand that I can run 2 x iterations of all of the software on one Win-based laptop... (or can I, or can I only partially?) and if I want to record directly to Nuendo or Sonar, will I need Win eight, or seven and what memory and processor speeds will be adequate for multiple iterations of the software, if I am sending to the sequencer progs from two FTP's.? Or am I probably better to go the Mac route, as a more stable (but more expensive) platform??
Gosh! this is quickly becoming something of a nightmare.!!
Conversely, all I have to do with my Ztars is connect a midi merge from my midi floorboards or my Beringer 1010 to my synths, and from my Ztar to midi-merge.. So three midi cables, and voila! off I go..live, or sequenced or anything.. and I can assign foot-actuated patch changes, and with the Behringer, sweep filters and control attack, and select reverb models and feedback and change volumes of all my zones, and very much more..
I already have all the zone mapping I could ever need on my Ztars (32 assignable zones anywhere on the fingerboard, and even zones scale-able down to one key ) and detuning of individual strings all day long, as well as six string bass presets and editable and saveable tunings) so I think that is not going to be surpassed anytime soon. (I may be wrong of course)
But as far as personal ongoing investment goes, a few simple diagrams of the presently available / and future FTP options / as well as hook-up possibilities, would be extremely (no, a lot more than extremely) helpful.
Similarly, where I can find (and how much do they cost?) extra little magnetic harnesses for the unit and the 'sliding in- plastic clip things for the string sensor) Or at very least the little pickup /sensor clips, and I have screwdrivers to attach the magnetic part to my geetars.
I have very many guitars, but presumably Fishman doesn't recognise my market sector, and only thinks about 'one person, one single geetar' customers.
Such good design and technology, and so much enthusiasm and interest in what seems a great product, and yet so little catering for serious customer need.
Design marks.. 10/ or 12 out of 10.
Marketing ... minus 3.
richard
riverside music co.
bg (Bulgaria)