Post by Hollow Sun on Nov 27, 2006 1:34:05 GMT
If you are seriously thinking of buying a Fusion, it is - like everything - best to try one out first. The following are suggestions to help you with that process.
At the end of the day, it's your choice of course and it's not the job of The Fusion Club to dictate your decision. And good luck! Just choose what you think is appropriate to your requirements. There are some great products out there to suit a variety of needs - just don't dismiss Fusion on a few presets and the opinions of the shopfloor sales guy who may have a vested interest and/or some other agenda in steering you away from it.
I'll also say this in conclusion - Fusion is not for everyone! If all you want/need is a good range of stock 'bread and butter' sounds, there are many good and maybe more appropriate alternatives and maybe Fusion is not for you.
However, if you want to immerse yourself in an exciting adventure of creative exploration combining and exploiting different synthesis and sampling techniques in an innovative hardware product, Fusion might be just what you've been looking/waiting for!
(*) Some dealers/franchises can be, shall we say, less than pro-active about Fusion because of bad experiences when Fusion was originally released in 2005 with V1.00. Unfortunately, the mud stuck and some people can't get over that and will paint a gloomy picture of Fusion based on their experiences of that time (compounded by some of the crap that floats around the net ). Fusion has moved on a lot since then with several significant OS updates so don't necessarily take any one dealer's dismissive attitude at face value.
(**) Even if you find a place that claims to have a Fusion on demo, take some headphones with you anyway just in case. Fusion has a pretty 'hot' headphone output so may help you evaluate things better if, whatever reason, the demo environment on the shop floor is less than ideal.
Steve
- Firstly, ring round dealers in your area not just to check they have one in stock and available on the shopfloor for a hands-on demo but also to gauge their opinion of Fusion. Tell them you want to try/buy and see what their reaction is - maybe even ask them what their opinion is.
If they don't show a great deal of enthusiasm for the thing (*), then they might not have one set up in ideal circumstances for a good demo (or set up at all!). They might not know much about it either and so might not be able to answer any questions you might have. Also, when you're at the shop, they may try and steer you towards some other product (for any number of reasons: They know - and like - the other product, the other product/manufacturer might have better sales incentives, the sales guy could actually work for the manufacturer of the other product, etc.).
If the reaction is more favourable, the chances are you'll have a better experience. Try and set a date and time (an appointment) if you can to try it out, preferably a week day when the shop is maybe less crowded (**). Having established that.... - Make sure the demo unit has the latest OS installed (currently V1.24 but V1.23 would be ok for casual demo-ing)
- Ensure it has the Hollow Sun banks installed (current models ship with HS#1-5 pre-installed at the factory)
Assuming you find a place you're happy to go and try it at..... - Set aside a good bit of time so that you can really check it out.
You see, if you try out a Fusion for a few minutes in a store, it is possible that you might be unimpressed as you flick through the first few presets. Try one of 'the competition', however, and you're quite likely to have your wallet out after the first few (well chosen) presets! However, when you get your purchase home, you might find that - in the long term - the obvious choice was maybe not the best one... whatever you do on it, it all sounds a bit 'the same' as you rely on the fixed sample set provided.
With Fusion, however, the opposite is the case. You might dismiss it on a quick first listening as you flick through a few of the factory presets but when you get it home, you might find yourself growing with the thing as you discover new and different delights in the various synth engines and the sampler, etc.. That's *my* experience anyway - when I first got mine, I was thinking ... like ... "Ermmmmm???" but as I explored and dabbled further, I found some GREAT sounds. The more I explored it and started making up my own sounds in the various synth engines and also importing my own samples it was ... like .... "Wow!!!".
The converse is true of other products in my experience - when I first tried them, it was ... like ... "Wow!!" but as I delved further, it was more of an "Ermmmmm???"!! The more I explored it and started making up my own sounds, I found I was at the mercy of the factory supplied sample set that stamped that product's character and identity on almost everything I did.
That's not to diss other similar products because they are all great in their own way but in the long-term (i.e. the year that I have had mine), I am still finding out things about Fusion that surprise me and that's not always something I can say for other products I have owned. As I see it.....
Fusion is a bit of a sonic motorway whilst others are (arguably) cul-de-sacs!! The cul-de-sac might be nice and quiet and safe but at least on the motorway, you can pull into the outside lane and put your foot to the floor (and maybe break a few speed limits )
At the end of the day, it's your choice of course and it's not the job of The Fusion Club to dictate your decision. And good luck! Just choose what you think is appropriate to your requirements. There are some great products out there to suit a variety of needs - just don't dismiss Fusion on a few presets and the opinions of the shopfloor sales guy who may have a vested interest and/or some other agenda in steering you away from it.
I'll also say this in conclusion - Fusion is not for everyone! If all you want/need is a good range of stock 'bread and butter' sounds, there are many good and maybe more appropriate alternatives and maybe Fusion is not for you.
However, if you want to immerse yourself in an exciting adventure of creative exploration combining and exploiting different synthesis and sampling techniques in an innovative hardware product, Fusion might be just what you've been looking/waiting for!
(*) Some dealers/franchises can be, shall we say, less than pro-active about Fusion because of bad experiences when Fusion was originally released in 2005 with V1.00. Unfortunately, the mud stuck and some people can't get over that and will paint a gloomy picture of Fusion based on their experiences of that time (compounded by some of the crap that floats around the net ). Fusion has moved on a lot since then with several significant OS updates so don't necessarily take any one dealer's dismissive attitude at face value.
(**) Even if you find a place that claims to have a Fusion on demo, take some headphones with you anyway just in case. Fusion has a pretty 'hot' headphone output so may help you evaluate things better if, whatever reason, the demo environment on the shop floor is less than ideal.
Steve