Scared off by potentially obsolete computer editing?

Jumbotron · #1 08-11-2010, 10:27 AM

OK, so I'm very intrigued by the Markbass Supersynth. The sounds I've heard from it would really work for me. But here's the issue. As I understand it, a lot of the editing is done through software. I don't have a problem with that technically, since I've got those skills. What I worry about is the long-term factor. Will Markbass stay in business as long as I have the pedal? Will technologies change to the point where I can't edit it any more? (Consider, for example, the possibility of USB going obsolete.)

With "classic" pedals, part of the charm is that they can't ever really go out of date technologically. As long as 1/4" cables stay in play, we'll be able to plug in stuff that's 50 years old. But when it's the computer running things, will the Supersynth even be useful in another 20 years?

Does anybody else worry about this issue, or is it just me? Has anybody else been scared away from a pedal or other technology because of it?

bongomania · #2 08-11-2010, 10:41 AM

I can see your point, comparing it against say a Roland Jet Phase that still has all of its functionality ~40 years after it was made. But OTOH you could look at it like any other computer peripheral to get a job done. We have to buy sound cards, wireless cards, scanners, printers, modems, tablets, and endless software, all with the knowledge that it may be obsolete in a couple of years. It sucks, but that's the nature of the computer beast.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #3 08-11-2010, 10:46 AM

I wouldn't worry about a $250 investment 20 years from now. An analog pedal probably has just as much chance breaking down (if not more) as software for a digitally-controlled pedal no longer being functional on current operating systems.

$250 isn't something I'd worry about in the long run- most people spend more than that on pizza a year

derrico1 · #4 08-11-2010, 10:54 AM

Although you can't get to all the available parameters w/o a computer, you can still tweak the Supersynth via its hardware controls.

There are a couple of pedals I've had for 20+ years. I can't edit them via USB either, but I still use 'em.

Deepak · #5 08-11-2010, 12:00 PM

The technology might become obsolete, but if you like the pedal enough to hang on to it for 20 years it probably won't be a problem to acquire the necessary hardware and software to run it.

You'd be surprised how much old hardware is still in production controlling multi-million dollar operations. Heck a ton of data acquisition tools are still being made with serial port interfaces.

bongomania · #6 08-11-2010, 12:05 PM

Actually that's a good point--There have been several times over the years where I have hung onto "obsolete" computers and components just because I needed something only they could provide. There are plenty of people who keep an old version of Windows or other PC OS on some partition of their machine, in order to use certain software.

Jumbotron · #7 08-11-2010, 12:31 PM

So if I get a Supersynth, that's a good excuse to keep my old laptop around somewhere. Hmm. Wish I'd thought of that before I ditched my Apple IIc.

Swift713 · #8 08-11-2010, 01:16 PM

Hey, they make little boxes that let you plug a turntable into a USB port. I'm sure that when the time comes they'll make a USB to whatever converter and Windows 2525 will have some sort of turn of the century operating system emulation.

Hoover · #9 08-11-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jumbotron

Does anybody else worry about this issue, or is it just me? Has anybody else been scared away from a pedal or other technology because of it?

I've just this week been knee-deep in a total headache-fest as a direct result of the sort of "planned obsolescence" that all computer/software issues invariably yield:

22 years ago I started using a music notation software package for the Mac. I started saving all my composition & arrangement work on the computer.

About 4 years later the manufacturer of that software introduced a totally new notation package...that, mercifully, was able to open, edit, and print the files created by its predecessor. So far, so good. Yes, I had to invest some money to upgrade to the new software, but I still had access to my entire repertoire. I continued to do all my composition & arrangement work on the computer.

~8 years after that, the manufacturer essentially orphaned their music notation software: They announced they would not create an OSX version, & they ceased all development work on that application. At the time I wasn't too bent out of shape by this announcement, because I still had an older Mac G3 running OS8.1 connected to an Apple StyleWriter II printer that worked just fine for entering, editing, & printing charts.

So fast forward about another decade. I've now got the last 22 years worth of my original compositions and arrangements stored in an anachronistic & proprietary file format on an antiquated computer platform.

...and sure enough, that computer platform dies. The G3 poops the bed, and every Mac expert in town says it's not worth fixing. Okay, no big deal (thinks I), because I've still got a more modern (but rapidly becoming antiquated) G4 that can run OS9.

Of course, since my original install disks are 3.5" floppy diskettes, I'm screwed: G4 doesn't have any floppy drives. I somehow manage convince the software manufacturer to send me an install disc on CD-ROM even though they haven't supported the product in ~10 years. Whew! So now I can still open & edit all those 22 years worth of files. And to print them, all I have to do is

...oh crap.

StyleWriter II used the old-style Mac printer port (4-pin DIN plug) connection, so when the G3 died, that printer became useless. The recent HP DeskJet (USB) printer that I got to work with my laptop PC is too new for there to be an OS9 driver. And the notation software uses several different non-standard (bordering on exotic) Postscript fonts, so all the PrintToPDF applications that will run under OS9 won't translate these standard musical notation characters correctly.

You see where I'm going with this?

So yeah, the short answer is Anything That Requires A Computer And/Or Software Will Become Obsolete Eventually.

Question is, how much use will you get out of it before it becomes obsolete, and is that enough use for it to be of value to you?

bassbrad · #10 08-11-2010, 01:20 PM

Part of the charm, allure and constant source of frustration is keeping all that older stuff up to snuff. I use an Ensoniq Mirage to sample synth patches, keeping that 20 plus year old sampler up is quite a chore but worth it.

bongomania · #11 08-11-2010, 01:27 PM

Oh man, I had a Mirage. It became obsolete the same year it was released!

Darkglass · #12 08-11-2010, 01:59 PM

My pals here at the studio, just bought an SSL 4000G+ Special Edition... brand new it costs around 250,000 Euros... and the computer inside de consol runs it's software via... a floppy disk!
And the funny thing is that is probably one of the finest consoles ever made!

Deepak · #13 08-11-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

*Snipped*

Ouch, that sounds like a PITA!

In my opinion proprietary data is the devil because of the exact scenario you described.

I like stuff that's standardized because the data isn't coupled with company support. MusixTeX is something I've been messing around with recently and it works pretty well for sheet music. Not that I really compose anything, but I'm a Tex geek so I figured what the hell!

The other problem with proprietary data formats is that converting stuff you have into stuff the software can use is usually impossible

chicago_mike · #14 08-11-2010, 03:35 PM

Ensoniq?? FAH! I have a Casio FZ-10 in the garage!

Well, maybe...just maybe..they would release the source code..but not till after its discontinued or something. Or cats who are just crazy enough, could write their own source code for it..

I think some people tried to do this with the aardvark series of soundcards. Who??

And hey, theres still CoCo clubs out there.. ( Color Computer for those born after dirt was invented ).

Jake of Bass · #15 08-11-2010, 03:39 PM

Consider everything you currently owning being obsolete. If you have an iPhone, that costs more and will become obsolete in half to a quarter the time the Super Synth will be.

At the moment USB 2.0 is alive and well, and has been for some time.

Really though, everything changes and some things no longer cease to be. If you go through your life wondering if you should do or get something because one day it will end, you'll not end up doing much.

If you like it and want it, get it. Cross that bridge when you come to it and not a moment before.

dannybuoy · #16 08-11-2010, 03:50 PM

By the time USB ever becomes obsolete, synth pedals will be so pant wettingly awesome that you'll happily use the Markbass as a paperweight.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #17 08-11-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

By the time USB ever becomes obsolete, synth pedals will be so pant wettingly awesome that you'll happily use the Markbass as a paperweight.

I wouldn't necessarily say that. A lot of technology has advanced and become obsolete over the past 10-20 years (USB could easily go out within a decade), and lots of folks are still using their old Deep Impacts and Korg G5s.

Swift713 · #18 08-11-2010, 04:03 PM

I'll probably be obsolete in 50 years therefore I shouldn't waste money on groceries.

dannybuoy · #19 08-11-2010, 04:11 PM

I think USB will be around a lot longer than that. USB 3 is out now which is much faster yet still backwards compatible with old USB devices, so I imagine USB 4 etc will carry on the tradition. Stuff like floppy disks, serial, parallel, VGA is starting to die out because the newer alternatives bring huge benefits with them. USB is so widespread now for low bandwidth peripherals that the cost of everyone buying new equipment is not justified just for a fancy new connector type that brings no new features to the table.

I reckon that by the time USB dies out, we'll all be too busy having fun flying around in jetpacks to care about old pedals anyway.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #20 08-11-2010, 04:24 PM

I've seen enough change in the past 20 years to not trust anything to be time-proof, and the lifespan of products seems to be getting less and less. DVDs and, moreso, CDs are already on the way out due to digital media, and they rose to massive popularity just 15-20 years ago. I wouldn't doubt at all that a wireless alternative to USB will come to fruition in the next 10-20 years.