Groove X-R – A Hardware Host For Virtual Instruments

Groove X-R

 

Lionstracs has introduced Groove X-R – a hardware host that runs ten VSTi and ASIO host engines simultaneously.

In a nutshell, the Groove X-R is a Linux-based virtual instrument host that can be used as both a workstation, for heavy editing, or as a rack module.

You can have up to ten MIDI-USB keyboards or controllers connected and each can play a different VSTi / ASIO synthesizer loaded into memory and with its own virtual desktop page.

It’s priced at € 1.660,00. Details below. 

Groove X-R Hardware Specs:

  • CPU AM3- X2-dual core,2X3000 Mhz
  • Mainboard Asrock 880, mATX.
  • 4Gb Memory Dual Channel DDR3 RAM. Expandable Up to 16Gb.
  • 1000Gb Hard Disk Drive SATA2-3Gb/s, 32Mb chace/7200 rpm.
  • 180W Green power FLEX ATX, ONLY 10db! Total NO NOISE.
  • 6 External USB 2.0/3.0, Eth. GIGA LAN, PS2 Keyboard.
  • 2 Jack MAIN OUTPUTS, stereo out
  • 2 MONO Jack MIX OUT 2 function
  • 1 STEREO Phones Out Jack.
  • 2 MIDI Inputs and 2 MIDI Outputs.
  • 4 Programmable foot pedal, can be as switch or Volumes pedals.

Front Panel:

  • 240X64 Pixel graphics LCD display, multi color backlight based on R-G-B LED backlight.
  • Touchscreen LCD
  • 3 Main Volumes controls Encoders with Mute/Unmute switch.
  • 4 editing data encoders with switch function.
  • 18 programmable silicon Pad button, with double LED color: Green+RED
  • 4 X 20Segment BARmeter LED for realtime data status.

38 thoughts on “Groove X-R – A Hardware Host For Virtual Instruments

  1. Uh, really don't see the point in these computers that pretend to be something else than just computers. Could be used for live performance though, if one doesn't want to carry his/her laptop.

  2. looks great for those who want to sequence with an MPC and people devoted to using hardware… It would also free up CPU power for those using a DAW (kind of like a UAD-1 for synths)… probably more stable in a live environment as well…

  3. this looks like a great idea that could have been and still could be done much better… it would be awesome to have an ultra stable environment like this to use all your favorite vsts with live. I'd like to know if you just load in pre-configured sounds from your favorite vsts or how exactly that's handled because having all your favorite virtual instruments on an ultra-stable, ultra-fast environment is great but if you can't mess with all the many parameters pretty much every vst usually has then what's the point?

  4. good idea, but looks fiddly to operate? how is adjusting parameters? especially in something like Absynth with it’s millions of controls. also automation? but yeah, could be handy for live situations where you have loaded your own presets and just want to switch between them.

  5. I'd like to see this done as an iPad app.

    The iPad wouldn't have as much power, but it could be insanely easier to operate.

  6. I'd like one of these alongside my acoustic drum kit, running Kontakt, and hooked up to about four or five Synesthesia Mandala drum pads. Also my bassist could run her samplers and synths on there, played via here trusty Behringer FCB1010. Oh, how good it could be!!

  7. You will find much more information at http://corcyraglobal.com where there are some videos and you can register for a user account and join the Groove XR forum and get your questions answered by the engineers and support team who have designed this.

  8. You will find much more information at http://corcyraglobal.com where there are some videos and you can register for a user account and join the Groove XR forum and get your questions answered by the engineers and support team who have designed this.

  9. You will find much more information at http://corcyraglobal.com where there are some videos and you can register for a user account and join the Groove XR forum and get your questions answered by the engineers and support team who have designed this.

  10. You will find much more information at http://corcyraglobal.com where there are some videos and you can register for a user account and join the Groove XR forum and get your questions answered by the engineers and support team who have designed this.

  11. You will find much more information at http://corcyraglobal.com where there are some videos and you can register for a user account and join the Groove XR forum and get your questions answered by the engineers and support team who have designed this.

  12. You will find much more information at http://corcyraglobal.com where there are some videos and you can register for a user account and join the Groove XR forum and get your questions answered by the engineers and support team who have designed this.

  13. Full on board editing environment is provided, you use an external touch screen or monitor with mouse. No need for a PC or MAC, the touch screen or monitor attached directly. See the demos of the provided OP-X Pro 2 plug-in at http://corcyraglobal.com Tweaking VST and plug-in parameters in real-time is supported by mapping all those parameters to e.g an external control surface such as the Akai MPD32 that is featured on the videos taken at MusikMesse.

  14. Full on board editing environment is provided, you use an external touch screen or monitor with mouse. No need for a PC or MAC, the touch screen or monitor attached directly. See the demos of the provided OP-X Pro 2 plug-in at http://corcyraglobal.com Tweaking VST and plug-in parameters in real-time is supported by mapping all those parameters to e.g an external control surface such as the Akai MPD32 that is featured on the videos taken at MusikMesse.

  15. Full on board editing environment is provided, you use an external touch screen or monitor with mouse. No need for a PC or MAC, the touch screen or monitor attached directly. See the demos of the provided OP-X Pro 2 plug-in at http://corcyraglobal.com Tweaking VST and plug-in parameters in real-time is supported by mapping all those parameters to e.g an external control surface such as the Akai MPD32 that is featured on the videos taken at MusikMesse.

  16. Full on board editing environment is provided, you use an external touch screen or monitor with mouse. No need for a PC or MAC, the touch screen or monitor attached directly. See the demos of the provided OP-X Pro 2 plug-in at http://corcyraglobal.com Tweaking VST and plug-in parameters in real-time is supported by mapping all those parameters to e.g an external control surface such as the Akai MPD32 that is featured on the videos taken at MusikMesse.

  17. Full on board editing environment is provided, you use an external touch screen or monitor with mouse. No need for a PC or MAC, the touch screen or monitor attached directly. See the demos of the provided OP-X Pro 2 plug-in at http://corcyraglobal.com Tweaking VST and plug-in parameters in real-time is supported by mapping all those parameters to e.g an external control surface such as the Akai MPD32 that is featured on the videos taken at MusikMesse.

  18. Full on board editing environment is provided, you use an external touch screen or monitor with mouse. No need for a PC or MAC, the touch screen or monitor attached directly. See the demos of the provided OP-X Pro 2 plug-in at http://corcyraglobal.com Tweaking VST and plug-in parameters in real-time is supported by mapping all those parameters to e.g an external control surface such as the Akai MPD32 that is featured on the videos taken at MusikMesse.

  19. Full on board editing environment and full GUI desktop support is provided when you plug in either any external monitor and USB mouse, or a touch-screen monitor. The small display is for live performance use, where most musicians want everything immediately accessible that they programmed up back in their studios. To use a monitor and touch screen when you are on stage is a bit distracting to the audience. So the Groove XR provides the best of both worlds. All you need on the small screen for playing live, all you need on a 40 inch external screen when you are in the studio.

  20. A laptop is an alternative in the studio but not for playing live with a MIDi keyboard. I have used a Windoze laptop until now for my own plug-ins, assigned during live performances to input from my MIDI keyboard. The problems I encounter are high MIDI note-on latency (delay) of between 100 and 200 ms that meant I just couldn't play in sync with what I was hearing. The Groove XR was designed for live use with almost zero MIDI latency (less than 5 ms) when you play plug-ins or sampled sounds or Combis live. I speak here about MIDI note on latency for live performance using a MIDI keyboard, not audio latency which I accept is good enough on a laptop PC for studio use.

  21. oh sweet! Guess I should have done some research before opening my big mouth lol… Time for me to check out those demos 🙂

    If everything is as tight as it would seem after these revelations then this would be a great viable alternative to having to plunk down $3k on a tight Mac system. I guess it depends on ones own needs as always but people slamming this seems pretty short sighted. I know lot's of people who would love something like this, especially for live performances since bringing ones own personal home studio on tour wouldn't be too logical just to use their favorite VSTs.

  22. Fair comment, thanks. I look forward to seeing some comparative reviews from the press in due course. Of course the Groove X-R will not ship until later this year whereas the Receptor has been available several years, so those with an immediate need should definitely go get a Receptor. If you want to compare functionality and specs, then there is a full product spec for the Groove X-R available for download on the home page at http://corcyraglobal.com

  23. Fair comment, thanks. I look forward to seeing some comparative reviews from the press in due course. Of course the Groove X-R will not ship until later this year whereas the Receptor has been available several years, so those with an immediate need should definitely go get a Receptor. If you want to compare functionality and specs, then there is a full product spec for the Groove X-R available for download on the home page at http://corcyraglobal.com

  24. Fair comment, thanks. I look forward to seeing some comparative reviews from the press in due course. Of course the Groove X-R will not ship until later this year whereas the Receptor has been available several years, so those with an immediate need should definitely go get a Receptor. If you want to compare functionality and specs, then there is a full product spec for the Groove X-R available for download on the home page at http://corcyraglobal.com

  25. Fair comment, thanks. I look forward to seeing some comparative reviews from the press in due course. Of course the Groove X-R will not ship until later this year whereas the Receptor has been available several years, so those with an immediate need should definitely go get a Receptor. If you want to compare functionality and specs, then there is a full product spec for the Groove X-R available for download on the home page at http://corcyraglobal.com

  26. Fair comment, thanks. I look forward to seeing some comparative reviews from the press in due course. Of course the Groove X-R will not ship until later this year whereas the Receptor has been available several years, so those with an immediate need should definitely go get a Receptor. If you want to compare functionality and specs, then there is a full product spec for the Groove X-R available for download on the home page at http://corcyraglobal.com

  27. Fair comment, thanks. I look forward to seeing some comparative reviews from the press in due course. Of course the Groove X-R will not ship until later this year whereas the Receptor has been available several years, so those with an immediate need should definitely go get a Receptor. If you want to compare functionality and specs, then there is a full product spec for the Groove X-R available for download on the home page at http://corcyraglobal.com

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