Thoughts on Reaktor 6?

loneboat · Unread post by **loneboat** » 12 Sep 2015, 00:22

Reaktor 6 was released a couple of days ago. When I bought Hollyhock II earlier this year, it was only because I couldn't afford Reaktor, and Hollyhock looked like a decent (but cheaper) alternative. I have since really fallen in love with Hollyhock. It has its quirks, but it's awesome and I love it. Now that Native Instruments has reduced the price of Reaktor, I'm wondering if I would have discovered Hollyhock if I were making the same choice today.

Any thoughts from the community on the relative strengths/weaknesses of Hollyhock II vs. Reaktor 6? I'm looking for honest feedback here - I own both of them now and am excited to learn about Reaktor as a suppliment to Hollyhock. Wondering how it can augment my workflow.

Thanks!

sephult · Unread post by **sephult** » 12 Sep 2015, 02:59

I used to dig deep into Reaktor 5, but always find myself patching with Hollyhock. As you had said, Reaktor is more of an instrument or supplement for me. I would love to get Reaktor 6 upgrade when I have some money, but to tell you the truth...I have always found hollyhock easier to patch and just can't compare the two.

-s

secretkillerofnames · Unread post by **secretkillerofnames** » 23 Sep 2015, 05:45

The new update makes it easier to use Reaktor as a modular synth therefore it makes sense to place it in a modular DAW. That said it isn't showing up for me on Mac... presumably because it is 64bit?

Clearscreen · Unread post by **Clearscreen** » 23 Sep 2015, 07:11

I've always found usine much quicker to patch in than reaktor - they each have their quirks, but I'm not rushing out to buy reaktor. I'm waiting to see what else is in the next update for komplete, I might dive in then...

The blocks stuff does look good though!!! Mind you, dragging patches into tracks in usine effectively does the same thing, maybe just not as prettily?

Thomas Helzle · Unread post by **Thomas Helzle** » 23 Sep 2015, 19:43

IMO they are very different. Usine is a DAW first, Reaktor is an instrument/effect first.

If you are into DSP coding your own instruments or effects or simply want to explore the extremely deep user library for Reaktor, I'd say go for it. I personally wouldn't have updated for the blocks alone, but they are interesting (but monophonic and CPU-heavy since running everything at audio rate).
I updated since R6 addresses some things I always hated. It has much better cables, a better GUI, freely scalable VST, supports drag-and-drop samples etc.
And it was the first paid update in 10 years...

I also like that I can use the result in any DAW that supports VSTs.

Usine is more friendly to use but I wouldn't go into deep DSP patching with it (or rather use the SDK for that).

Maybe wait until the Demo version comes out? Reaktor is not for everybody and if you want to dig deeper, it is very different from Usine user-land-patching. I recently recreated my "Toms Midi Mangler" with mostly Reaktor Core and it is much more abstract to work with.
May agree with you, may not. Depends 100% on if it clicks with you personally.

Cheers,

Tom

ceasless · Unread post by **ceasless** » 24 Sep 2015, 13:08

FWIW, being able to load some of these block filters alone (esp. that Monark! whoa!) was enough to drive me to upgrade. These fit very well into the Usine paradigm.

Clearscreen · Unread post by **Clearscreen** » 28 Sep 2015, 02:17

I have to admit, some of the blocks being put in the library make it awfully tempting! Hmmmm...

Clearscreen · Unread post by **Clearscreen** » 30 Sep 2015, 04:02

And..... I just folded - the interface improvements seemed worth it, and I kept seeing useful blocks put up in the library.

Clearscreen · Unread post by **Clearscreen** » 30 Sep 2015, 08:11

And I have to say my first impressions are good - MUCH more usable!! Of course, it's almost guaranteed that they'll announce an update for komplete at a ridiculously cheap price now that I shelled out for Reaktor, but I'm choosing to ignore that for now... :rolleyes:

Thomas Helzle · Unread post by **Thomas Helzle** » 30 Sep 2015, 12:03

Yeah, it's funny. On one hand the improvements are kind of subtle, but at the same time they make a lot of difference to me.
And the blocks templates are very well thought out. One can see that they invested a lot of thought into how to make blocks easy to create in a visually pleasing and compatible way.
I actually plan to start with my first block today

An advanced form of the modulator I once wrote for Usine.

Cheers,

Tom

Clearscreen · Unread post by **Clearscreen** » 01 Oct 2015, 02:21

Just being able to drag and expand the work area! OMG!!! The whole auto-optimise size thing NEVER worked right in R5!! Having the block interfaces inline in the edit area... They did some good things to reaktor!

ceasless · Unread post by **ceasless** » 06 Oct 2015, 16:48

Yeah, it's really a significant boost, especially the patching interface. Usine spoiled me rotten when it comes to a comfortable patching environment, so it's good that Reaktor has leveled up.

Of course, looks aren't everything. But the new core-based oscillators and filters are deeply inviting sound wise too

Clearscreen · Unread post by **Clearscreen** » 07 Oct 2015, 01:24

Usine has spoilt us - it's much more refined for doing in depth stuff.
Lots of interesting and useful logic blocks being released for R6 now too - the library had stagnated quite a bit I felt...

ceasless · Unread post by **ceasless** » 09 Oct 2015, 12:15

Yeah there is definitely a lot of renewed momentum in the user library. Blocks are cool but I really hope to see some crazy new synthesizers using all the new core macros that were added.

Even something simple like upgraded versions of the factory library that use the new filters / oscillators would be cool.

Anyway, it's a great time to be a patch head

el-bo · Unread post by **el-bo** » 31 Oct 2015, 13:44

I've had reaktor for ages, but never got past using pre-built modules. might have to upgrade at some point soon

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