DSI Tempest users: How many of you kept the Tempest?

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Sun Aug 17, 2014 2:10 pm

Been freeing myself from the sequencer and playing everything freeform.. practices my pad skills and gets me spontaneously responding to what I play.. each takes recorded via midi to my mpc so I can fine tune timing and velocity on key moments.. copying beats and then tweaking the kit parameters the sounds and therefore the performance change each time.. record instrument by instrument adding fx slider takes..

Tempest is so damn expressive as a real time drum instrument..

Phollop Willing PA · Post by **Phollop Willing PA** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:19 am

Thank-you for this thread. I was thinking of trading a KRONOS 73 for a TEMPEST even as both instruments in 'completed items' on eBay are selling in a similar ball park, but I hesitated due to the fact the KRONOS, for lack of anything else, is a good 'parlour piano' and new, these two instruments are miles apart price wise. I also have a Korg M3 w/ Radias option, which I probably won't sell or trade thinking that the M3 is probably more dependable in the long run or should I? Hmmmm.... Checking options.

berfmurret · Post by **berfmurret** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 11:59 am

VERY curious question to all you folks who have had hands on with the tempest. I am wondering about the Tempest's polysynth sounds versus something like a p08.

Are the sound engines of the Tempest and other DSI synths relatively similar?

I realize there are some differences like envelopes and feedback stuffs but are they the same filters, amps, oscillators, or other things that might alter the general sound?

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 1:32 pm

I have both the tempest and p08..

Tempest is great at being a synth.. it doesn't always work in a traditional manner though.. its more difficult to rig it for midi control (say via a keyboard).. the p08 wins in terms of splits and layers.. I rely on the 4 lfo's on the prophet.. it defines many of the possibilities.. tempest has 5 envelopes.. this has consequences on the style of synth you get..

There are ways the tempest s better: hpf, distortion, sub osc, and of coursethe onboard sequencer is much more powerful..

Yes they both have the dsi sound..

If you wanted a traditional polysynth, there are a few hang ups that stop the tempest being what your after..

pownie · Post by **pownie** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 3:07 pm

berfmurret wrote:Are the sound engines of the Tempest and other DSI synths relatively similar?

For the analog part; yes they are. There are of course differences between e.g. numbers of envelopes, LFOs, and sub-oscs, but overall, yes they consist of very similar components, esp. oscillators and filters.

DSI gear is pretty good at brassy sounds, and this video shows just how great, warm, and organic they actually can sound. And all that from the Tempest alone - which shows why it's so cool and versatile. Despite still not allowing for user samples

[video][/video]

Mefistophelees · Post by **Mefistophelees** » Wed Aug 27, 2014 5:54 pm

I've had a Tempest from when they first came out and still have it today. People gripe about the software problems but most of the big bugs were fixed a long time ago. It is also still under active development.

berfmurret wrote:Are the sound engines of the Tempest and other DSI synths relatively similar?

I realize there are some differences like envelopes and feedback stuffs but are they the same filters, amps, oscillators, or other things that might alter the general sound?

Yes and no. I guess the analogue end is similar to the Prophet'08 but it's not identical. I find it's slightly different tone wise and there are differences in the architecture that make it sound different (e.g. the highpass filter and feedback). The LFOs don't reset and this can also make a difference. That said you can feed a signal into the pedal-in if you really need a free running LFO.

The biggest difference is when you use the digital oscillators. Then it becomes a completely different synth (one of the major reasons I bought it in the first place). There's a whole load of original 12 bit Prophet VS waves included and they give you a good variety of sounds. At low octaves they give you some very nice 80s crunch.

If you *just* wanted an analogue synth the Prophet'08 is probably a better bet. If you also want a drum machine and the digital options the Tempest is better.

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Wed Aug 27, 2014 6:41 pm

I'd agree with mephistopheles..

If I spent my time on the dsi tempest forum I'd turn all bitter and twisted.. when its just me and the tempest.. I don't really have any issues..

Is like to use the vs oscillators more.. they sound very similar to each other to me..

I got the prophet when it first came out.. I think if you connect with playing keys it offers a very different experience than the tempest as a poly synth..

BrianAndren · Post by **BrianAndren** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 5:30 am

Well I had just convinced myself I would keep the Tempest and was getting excited to do more with it. However, I kept my Tempest up for sale. The listed price was $65 less than what I paid for it and $200 more than what I've been seeing used units go for on ebay. It ended up selling. I'm sad to see it go but I know I can always pick another one up later.

The truth is I've been really busy lately and the Tempest has been just sitting there. I figure I'm better off getting good money for it while I can. Given the talk on the DSI forum I'm sure there will be more used ones on the market in the future. Unless the forum users are all talk.

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:12 pm

Been linking up my octatrack to control Mutes..

Can get sound bank A to respond no problems.. sound bank B doesn't work.. :-(

Octatrack notes are 1 octave lower than tempest so that's not the issue..

Anyone else using external mute control with bank B offer any guidance?

Vootman · Post by **Vootman** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 2:19 am

I just installed the OS update, and it's like a new machine for me...totally love it. For those that say you can't get a good kick out of this machine...go back to school, you need to take some programming lessons...this machine thumps hard and it's sound is more upfront and dirty (versus a Elektron AR for comparison). I've made some really great sounding bass on it as well. It serves as the bread and butter of my industrial style of music I make. The tempest is NOT a workstation or sampler, if you use it like a synth/drum machine, there's really nothing that can touch its sound.

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 4:25 pm

Suddenly had a brainwave using playlist mode..
Always seemed pretty harmless, but...

Having the song playing, switching to time step mode you can alter the pattern structure in realtime.. adding fills, making variations.. switch to mute mode to control your sequencer tracks.. switch to sound mode to use realtime tx slider..

The workflow becomes fluid inside the architecture..

There is a new os out yeh?
Can anybody confirm you can still load old projects problem free?

libcrypt · Post by **libcrypt** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:12 am

My Tempest is my most-used hardware. I discover new ways to use it constantly.

deltaphoenix · Post by **deltaphoenix** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 1:08 pm

How is the Arpeggiator in the Beta OS? Does it work controlling other gear through Midi?

BrianAndren · Post by **BrianAndren** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 1:37 pm

Got my RYTM this week. 15 minutes with the RYTM and I can tell you the RYTM can't replace the Tempest. Although the Tempest isn't the RYTM. I say keep the Tempest for what it can do and buy the RYTM for what the Tempest can't. I'll most likely replace mine, someday. Until then I'll be rockin' the RYTM full time.

Vootman · Post by **Vootman** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 1:54 am

I have a little Mopho midi sync'ed to the tempest, and sequences it...it works great...Mopho is a little beastie! But, I don't think it can send midi CC messages yet, like filter changes of that kind of info...next update I guess

but overall I'm loving the new OS.

deltaphoenix · Post by **deltaphoenix** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:14 am

THat is good to hear Vootman

Looks like I am going to be back on board with the Tempest soon.

deltaphoenix · Post by **deltaphoenix** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:05 pm

So, Tempest is here and I am having a blast with it. The OS updates have been helpful. I am digging the Tempest a lot. I have missed it more than I thought.

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 7:08 am

Good to have you back in the fold delta..

Im finding the FX sliders the business on my beats right now.. its a real skill to use.. which I find much more satisfying than random craziness.

I haven't installed the new OS cos im working on something.. Do old projects still load without hick ups on the new OS?

pownie · Post by **pownie** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 7:18 am

Have they released the new OS update yet? I haven't paid much attention to it, just thought they were still running beta tests. Which, in that case, has been going on for fuckin ever.

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:12 am

Im on 1.3.1.12

which was the "beta" OS a while back..

Last time I looked they added free running LFOs, compression envelopes and quite a few other tasty morsels.

deltaphoenix · Post by **deltaphoenix** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 11:53 am

When I get home I will let you know which beta I am on.

kisielk · Post by **kisielk** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:44 pm

The brand new beta still has some problems with LFOs in sounds, so I wouldn't suggest updating if you're in the middle of something.

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 2:00 pm

I thought if you switched the LFOs to free running, you always use an individual out.. or else different sounds would voice steal and you'd get unpredictable results..

Is that what you mean?

kisielk · Post by **kisielk** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 2:01 pm

No, there's some other problems such as pre-existing sounds created before the update being loaded with the wrong LFO settings and otherwise being completely messed up.

SubliminalSandwich · Post by **SubliminalSandwich** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 2:05 pm

don't f**k with the LFOs!

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DSI Tempest users: How many of you kept the Tempest?