MESSE08: VST and VSTi Without A Computer

In a bit of a departure from SM Pro Audio's usual range of extremely useful studio widgets their three new V-products are hardware units - a box and a pedal (seen here on video) and a rack for utilising VSTs and VSTis. Here’s how SM Pro Audio describe the three new V-products...

V-Box
The V-Box is a compact VST/VSTi hardware playback module built for performance keyboard players and DJ's. It is one little beast that can't be underestimated once loaded up with your favorite VST instrument and effect plugins. Take your plug-ins on the road or into the studio and access them live without a computer. Multiple plug-ins can be pre-loaded into bank/preset memories for immediate access. Combine VST and VSTi plug-ins into chains, splits, and layers to create extremely rich and unique sounds. Full external MIDI controller support allows users access to available loaded plug-in parameter controls such as virtual dials, switches, and faders. Infinitely adaptable and powerful, the V-Box is set to become a truly indispensable tool.

V-Pedal
The V-Pedal has been specifically designed for guitarists wanting to take the best guitar plug-ins (and more) out on the road in a rock-solid 'all in one' hardware unit. With mic/line inputs, programmable stomp switches and rotary encoders, TFT display, expression pedal, and a host of other features, the V-Pedal gives guitarists something they have never had before. The freedom to develop unique sounds from the thousands of available VST plug-ins. It's no secret that some of the very best guitar tones and effects are now being created from within computer software plug-ins. The V-Pedal gives guitarists access to these and many more sound options in a dedicated floor stomp box. Built like a tank, simple to use, and with unheard of sonic flexibility, the V-Pedal rocks like no other.

V-Rack
The V-Rack features the same functionality as the V-Box, with the addition to a pair of balanced stereo audio inputs and multiple balanced output pairs. Perfect for studio or live use, the V-Rack is well suited for use as an outboard effects unit, multiple output synthesizer module, or even a mastering unit. The V-Rack features high-end AD/DA converters and offers a level of performance suitable for all professional environments. A true chameleon, the V-Rack can be configured to operate as just about any outboard audio device on demand.

Pricing and Availability:
V- Products release - Q4 2008. Pricing TBA.

More information:

• www.smproaudio.com
     14 Comments...  Post a comment    original story

  ---

  m-clis    Said...

  And the reason is... What?

  13-Mar-08 07:25 AM

  ---

  lotus-eater    Said...

  The reason? I thought it was pretty obvious: not having to bring a laptop to a gig. Looks pretty smart to me, and a lot more affordable than some other live VST solutions I've seen.

  13-Mar-08 08:41 AM

  ---

  GuruOne    Said...

  .... Goodbye Receptor

  Cheers

  Rich (Guru #1)

  13-Mar-08 08:41 AM

  ---

  imaginaryday    Said...

  guruone, i was thinking the same thing "goodbye receptor". Receptor price is insane. out of reach for most of us. hopefully these units are more accessible money wise.

  13-Mar-08 03:37 PM

  ---

  JasonS    Said...

  Was excited- but then realized you have to load it via an external USB drive- there must be a performance hit I would think. Looks like a Roland Sonic Cell without internal sounds but can host vsti's- should be interesting to see how the price point is- could cost as much as a laptop.

  13-Mar-08 04:45 PM

  ---

  Beken One    Said...

  looks very ASIC based so hacking it wouldn't be any fun or nessesary, the Chips should do the job well. Ill still use my receptor. but this is looking very interesting.....very interesting. and there price range is quite nice

  :)

  14-Mar-08 09:55 PM

  ---

  finleysound    Said...

  The V-Pedal looks promising. I wonder if it allows you to route/mix multiple VST effects together.

  15-Mar-08 08:21 PM

  ---

  wondewanker    Said...

  The latency of the pedal would be probably the most crucial spec for me.

  Is it posted anywhere.

  16-Mar-08 09:17 PM

  ---

  wonderwanker    Said...

  Woops I see in the video he says under 1 ms.

  Woo Hooo!!!!!

  I want it!!!

  16-Mar-08 10:21 PM

  ---

  ezza61    Said...

  yeah my cousin made this pedal in his company.. he brought it over and I was able to give it a go with my guitar. Its a great piece of machinery.. way better than my multi effects pedal I got. Its because changing the effects and settings is so easy.

  18-Mar-08 12:01 AM

  ---

  The Guvnor    Said...

  I guess this is built for relatively small, non sample-based plug-ins as it has the memory restriction.

  No loading my M-Tron or VSM into this thing :(

  19-Mar-08 08:59 PM

  ---

  Anomoly    Said...

  If you could get one of these for under $300 U.S. then they might have a shot... anything over $500 i might as well build my own seperate PC to run my VST's and VSTI's.

  I would be interested to see how it handles larger libraries such as Giga, EWQL, and NI stuff if it could handle that stuff 16 atleast channels out and not choke... i would consider it but again under $300

  20-Mar-08 11:57 PM

  ---

  vinylistics    Said...

  well the price of the v-box is 399,- euros! wow, that's cool! the pedal will be around 1259,- euros and that is still a nice shot to me. the cool thing is: you can stream samples from your usb stick or harddisk - i've seen it live at messe. and it will also be available for mac and linux! so you can now play all your pc plugs on mac on linux and e.g. route them with soundflower to any sequencer!

  the v-box will be mine!!!

  26-Mar-08 02:31 AM

  ---

  eddie    Said...

  C'mon the v-box is so interesting why this dick head keep on asking about the dam pedal, for fuck sake a more detailed video on each would help.

  23-May-08 09:23 AM

  ---

  tartracks    Said...

  i wanna know if it's multi channel.

  11-Jul-08 11:57 AM

  ---

  Post a comment   
  
  Show me more news in this category

  
  
  More SM Pro Audio news  All SM Pro Audio news
  

• MESSE08: Free Your VSTs -12-Mar-08
• WNAMM08: Personal Monitoring Kit -24-Jan-08
• WNAMM08: Also Available In White... -22-Jan-08
•  WNAMM08: SM Pro Audio Gear Round-Up -20-Jan-08
• WNAMM08: Single Small Knob Turns It Down -18-Jan-08