Muse Research - Receptor Features - compare configurations

RECEPTOR TRIO/QU4TTRO: the Ultimate Synth / Sampler - 
	Play VST plug-ins LIVE with the RECEPTOR QU4TTRO <sup>tm</sup> Hardware plug-in Player.

The RECEPTOR VIP2, and the RECEPTOR TRIO/QU4TTRO are the smarter, faster, and better way to run your favorite virtual instruments and effects. They deliver the pure performance muscle you need whether you perform on stage, record in the studio, or compose for the screen.

PURE PERFORMANCE MUSCLE

RECEPTOR VIP2: good
more info

  • 1 TB drive
  • 8 GB memory
  • 3.3 Ghz Dual-Core Intel processor

RECEPTOR TRIO: better
  more info

  • 1 TB drive
  • 8 GB memory
  • 3.7 Ghz (Peak) Quad-Core Intel processor

RECEPTOR QU4TTRO: best
  more info

  • 2 TB drive
  • 16 GB memory
  • 3.9 Ghz (Peak) Quad-Core Intel processor

Run virtual instruments and effects using the innovative, dedicated performance muscle of the Muse Research RECEPTOR. The world’s greatest keyboardists, guitarists, drummers, producers, engineers, film and TV composers, and music theater companies rely on RECEPTOR as their #1 solution for running virtual instruments and effects with unrivalled, road-worthy stability, speed and performance.

Fuel-injected, brilliant performance

The RECEPTOR was designed to do just one thing: make music. Its purpose-built, mission critical custom system software and audio hardware is housed in a beer-bottle proof metal case. It’s the best possible solution for taking your virtual instruments and effects out of the studio and onto the stage. The RECEPTOR’s highly optimized, super-efficient and super-stable OS runs on state-of-the-art, customized intelligently design hardware with an easy-to-use, on-board control panel and a smartly configured graphic user interface.

RECEPTOR is perfect for live performance. It frees you from complex and messy setups, untimely crashes and over-heating, or the worry that your entire world will be destroyed if it gets dropped. And in the studio RECEPTOR will work hand-in-hand with your DAW, allowing you to run those massive plug-in libraries without clogging up your processor.

Serious muscle equals seriously fast

RECEPTOR comes in three highly optimized models that run faster and more efficient than anything you’ve ever tried before. Now you run more virtual instruments and effects with more polyphony and lower latency than comparable systems.

Beautifully better

Amplitube DUO

When you combine super-fast hardware with highly optimized software, the result is a solution that is more efficient, more stable, and simply better than anything else available. And you’ll be making music right out of the box since you get over 400 instruments with the included MusePlayer software – a $500 value – as well as IK Multimedia’s Amplitube DUO, a $99 value – for FREE, along with dozens of other virtual instruments and effects with hundreds of presets that will get you on you music-making way.

RECEPTOR is also great for the environment, with a new EnergyStar™ certified power supply. And weighing in at a svelte 18 pound shipping weight, it easily reduces your carbon footprint on tour when compared with the gear that would be required to do what the RECEPTOR can do in just two rack spaces.

RECEPTOR is also easy on the eyes, with a gorgeous blue-backlit LCD display, beautiful milled aluminum knobs, and a cool, black anodized aluminum front panel.

Sound quality is not optional…

It wouldn’t be a RECEPTOR without our legendary sound quality, and RECEPTOR packs that in spades. You’ll find balanced line-level inputs and outputs, S/PDIF digital input and output, high performance front panel instrument input, and an 8-channel ADAT optical output. Whether you run at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88kHz, or 96kHz, RECEPTOR gives you inspirational sonic performance with minimal latency… It’s as if your virtual instruments and effects suddenly became real!

Dedicated tools for dedicated musicians

RECEPTOR is a ‘ready to rack’ instrument for players who demand unshakeable stability and super-tight performance, whether you play live or in the studio. If you want to run large numbers of virtual instruments and effects with minimal latency and maximum polyphony, then you need RECEPTOR. Quite simply, RECEPTOR is the smarter, faster, better way to make music…your music.

RECEPTOR VIP2, RECEPTOR TRIO and RECEPTOR QU4TTRO
Designed to do just one thing: run your virtual instruments and effects

All models feature:

  • 8GB of high speed RAM (16G on QU4TTRO) so you can run massive sample libraries and tons of sounds.
  • Massive processing power: Run plug-ins with super-low latency.
  • State-of-the-art hard drives: For maximum polyphony.
  • Substantial networking bandwidth: Connect to your computer (laptop or desktop, PC or Mac) using a single Ethernet cable:
    • View RECEPTOR's interface on your computer over a network... including over a WiFi connection (Wireless router and wireless enabled computer necessary.)
    • Transfer files and back up your RECEPTOR in no time.
  • Versatile Muse software: Built on top of Linux for more efficient memory usage that prioritizes audio tasks over all others.
    • Easy sound selection: Select presets without having to open a plug-in interface. You control all aspects of a plug-in as well as the mixer itself using MIDI.
    • Versatility: Quickly create splits and layers, as well as re-channelizing and re-pitching your sounds instantly.
    • Universal Preset Access: Every instrument and effect presents its presets in a consistent and straightforward way on RECEPTOR's built-in interface so you spend more time making music.
    • Exclusive Z-Load feature: Once you instantiate a plug-in the first time, subsequent instantiations are almost instantaneous so you can make more music with less waiting.
    • Snapshot banks: Quickly switch from one sound to the next without waiting for samples to load. Perfect for live performance.
    • The MIDI filter's "patch bay" function: Re-channelize incoming MIDI to play other channels, as well as transpose incoming MIDI to play different pitches.
    • Ultra-flexible: Load up to 16 instruments in a bank, and selectively layer, split, and transpose any of the instruments with a simple program change. Add new plug-ins at any time.
    • Automatic recall: Remembers the last bank when you turn it on again – nothing to load or set up.
    • Enhanced USB peripheral compatibility: Improved USB driver allows hot plugging a large range of peripherals like MIDI and ASCII keyboards as well as mice.
    • Graphical interface: Easily browse through sounds using Muse's graphical interface – sounds load instantly.
  • Highly tweaked audio I/O drivers: Avoid the annoying conflicts and latency that plagues most computer systems.
  • Interface flexibility: Attach a monitor, mouse, and keyboard to the back panel to view our mixer-like software interface in action. You can also edit your virtual instruments and effects using their GUIs.
  • Bundled Virtual Instruments include the entire MusePlayer, a collection of over 400 instruments based on the UVI engine, as well as Amplitube Duo from IK Multimedia.
  • 100's of presets ready to go covering a wide variety of musical styles.
  • Starts fast, super stable: Eliminate time-consuming re-boots and other computer-freezing conflicts.
  • New Energy Star™ compliant, auto-ranging power supply: with over 80% efficiency at all voltages from 100 to 240V AC (it works anywhere in the world).
  • Looks amazing: New blue-backlit LCD display, beautiful new milled aluminum knobs, and a cool, anodized aluminum front panel.
  • Great sound, no headaches: Invest in a platform that will not only save you time, money and headaches, but will also make you sound better than you ever thought possible.

Five reasons why you should you buy a Receptor instead of a second computer, laptop, or sound module

1. Receptor has low latency and pristine sound

Because Receptor is a purpose-built device, Muse Research has been able to optimize it to do one thing — run great sounding VST synths and effects. Receptor doesn't check your email or double as a fax machine. It doesn't edit vacation photos or balance your checkbook. Receptor is a sound and effects module. And, as such, it is fully optimized to perform this function, with built-in 24-bit/96kHz fidelity and measured latency figures as low as 2ms from the time you touch a MIDI keyboard until you hear sound come out of Receptor. To put this in perspective, 2ms is about the amount of time it takes for sound to travel 2/3 of a meter (a little over 2 feet). In other words, there is as much audible latency between a pianist's left and right hands as there is in Receptor.

2. Receptor plays today's synths and effects... and tomorrow's, too

Unlike a sound module, which is limited to creating today's sounds with today's technology, Receptor is totally software based. This means that, not only can it play today's most popular synthesizers, samplers, drum modules, and effects—but it will be compatible with synths, samplers, and effects that haven't even been invented yet. That's a trick you'll never be able to teach your old workstation or sound module.

3. Receptor is rugged, robust, and built for the rigors of the road

Receptor is housed in a road-worthy, metal, rack-mount enclosure with a robust power supply, ultra-quiet fans and enough internal air space to keep components running cool. All this, obviously makes Receptor physically more rugged than a laptop.

But robustness is not just a mechanical function — Receptor's software is robust, as well. Receptor, unlike a PC, runs a dedicated operating system and purpose-built software. This means Receptor is less likely to crash and, if for some reason it does crash (like when your roadie kicks out the power cable), Receptor will reboot itself within 5 seconds and it will reboot into the configuration it was in before it crashed. And, while we're talking startup times, a totally shut down Receptor turns on and loads its most recent state within 1 minute. Most PC's take longer just to turn on — and that doesn't even take into account the amount of time it takes to boot a VST hosting application or return to the state you were in when you shut down the computer.

4. Receptor integrates seamlessly with your computer-based studio

Receptor, thanks to its revolutionary new UniWire™ technology, can connect to a computer-based digital audio workstation using only Ethernet cables—no audio or midi cables are needed. In addition, UniWire instrument and effects plug-ins are installed on your host computer, which allow your digital audio workstation to communicate with Receptor as if it were both a virtual instrument and a virtual effect plug-ins. This means that, unlike 'old school' external sound and effects modules or computers saddled with additional MIDI and audio interfaces, Receptor integrates with your digital audio workstation exactly like a locally hosted plug-in—but without using your host computer's precious CPU cycles.

5. Receptor is ridiculously simple

It's actually complicated to describe just how simple Receptor is to use. That's because, in order to understand the brilliance of Receptor, you need to discuss all the barriers that your traditional or computer-based sound modules place between you and your music—none of which are required by Receptor.

For example, if you want to integrate a traditional sound module into a computer environment, you need to connect a bunch of MIDI and audio cables to your computer, then configure two tracks in your sequencer: a MIDI track to send MIDI data to your sound module, and an audio track to record audio coming from the sound module. And you need to do all this while trying to align MIDI delays and latencies with your sequencer's own latency. With Receptor you just plug in one Ethernet cable and communicate with it using a plug-in—just like you'd do with a software synth or effect running natively on your computer. Latency compensation is handled by your host sequencer and Receptor flows into your standard workflow, enhancing your creativity rather than hindering it.

And pity the poor people who try to configure an off-the-shelf PC as a sound module. Not only are they running an operating system that isn't geared for audio, but they're having to buy all sorts of third-party add-ons: like a MIDI interface; an audio interface; and another copy of their plug-in host application. Then, when they get it all wired up, they realize that the MIDI instruments on their custom built "sound module" PC can't sync to MIDI beat clock, nor can they change patches via standard MIDI program change messages. And, to top it all off, they need a mouse, monitor, and keyboard to configure it all. Compare that with Receptor—which can be programmed using it's own front panel; which has MIDI and impeccable audio capabilities built-in; and which features a complete and thorough MIDI implementation—including the elusive MIDI Beat Clock and Patch Change features you need.

So you're that hard to convince, eh? Here are even more reasons why you should buy a Receptor instead of a second computer, laptop, or sound module

» Receptor is ready to play, out of the box [+]
» Receptorized plug-ins install consistently [+]
» Access Windows plug-ins without running Windows [+]
» Receptor's software updates don't break your plug-ins [+]
» You own the plug-ins, not your computer [+]
» Receptor is the artist's choice [+]
» Receptor can be used without a monitor [+]
» Receptor can be remotely controlled from your computer or iPad [+]
» Receptor responds to MIDI Program Changes [+]
» Receptor syncs to MIDI Beat Clock [+]
» Receptor is fashionable [+]

Plug-ins that come pre-installed on Receptor.

Plugorama This page contains a list of plug-ins that currently ship on every Receptor that leaves Muse Research HQ plus additional "User Installable" premium plug-ins that can be downloaded from Plugorama. Additional plug-ins are added regularly and these are announced and made available for download via www.plugorama.com.

Quick jump: Premium (FREE) | Premium (Demo) | Freeware | User Installable | Unsupported

Premium Plug-ins included for FREE with every Receptor! [top]
Applied Acoustics Systems Applied Acoustics AAS Player
IK Multimedia IK Multimedia Amplitube Uno
TruePianos TruePianos AMBER
Studio Devil Studio Devil BVC
Ultimate Sound Bank/Universons MusePlayer
Wave Arts MasterVerb 4*, TrackPlug 4*
These free premium plugins are only provided when you register your RECEPTOR. Free premium plugins provided when you register your RECEPTOR product can only be run on your RECEPTOR and are not eligible for crossgrading to a Mac or PC. When you activate the licenses for the FREE premium plugins, you may become eligible for additional discounts, upgrades and promotions direct from the developers. Contact the developers for more information.

 

Premium Plug-ins (in demo mode) [top]
Developer Plug-in(s)
Applied Acoustics Systems Lounge Lizard 3, String Studio, Ultra Analog
Cakewalk z3ta+
Genuine Soundware and Instruments VB3
General Vibe VectorSector
GForce impOSCar, M-Tron, M-Tron Pro, Minimonsta:Melohman, Oddity, Virtual String Machine (VSM)
IK Multimedia Total Workstation Bundle, CSR Reverb
LinPlug Albino 3, RMIV
Native Instruments Komplete 9, Komplete 9 Ultimate
Nomad Factory Blue Tubes Bundle, Essential Studio Suite and Rock Amp Legends
Ohm Force Hematohm, Mobilohm, OhmBoyz, Predatohm, QuadFrohmage
PSPaudioware Lexicon PSP42, Lexicon PSP84, MixPack**, PSP MixSaturator from the PSP MixPack, StereoPack, Nitro, Vintage Warmer
Rob Papen Albino 3 (LinPlug), BLUE (RPCX), Predator (RPCX), RG, SubBoomBass, RP Verb
Sonalksis CQ1 Multi-Band Compander, DQ1 Dynamic Equaliser, SV-315 Compressor, SV-517 Equaliser
SonicProjects OP-X, OP-X PRO, Stringer
The Sound Guy SFX Machine PRO
Wave Arts MasterVerb 5, TrackPlug 5, FinalPlug 5, Panorama 5, MultiDynamics 5
**  PSP MixSaturator from the PSP MixPack can be unlocked for FREE by registering it at Plugorama. (The rest of the MixPack is not included for free.)

 

"User" or "Direct" Installable Premium Plug-ins (Not shipped with Receptor) [top]
Art Vista Virtual Grand Piano
Best Service Artist Drums, Chris Hein Horns Vol.1, Galaxy Steinway 5.1
Big Fish Audio First Call Horns
East West NOTE: Kontakt, Kompakt or Intakt versions only (NOT PLAY Version) of: Colossus, Bösendorfer 290, EWQL Symphonic Orchestra Silver, Gold and Platinum Editions, Ra, Symphonic Choirs, StormDrum
FXpansion BFD, BFD2
Garritan Personal Orchestra, Jazz & Big Band
GSi VB3
Heavyocity Evolve
IK Multimedia Ampeg SVX, Amplitube 2, Amplitube Jimi Hendrix, Amplitube Metal, Amplitube Fender, CSR: Classik Studio Reverb, Miroslav Philharmonik, SampleMoog, SampleTank 2, SampleTron, Sonik Synth 2, T-RackS, Total Workstation 2 Instruments Bundle
Native Instruments Absynth 3 & 4, Akoustik Piano, B4 II, Bandstand, Battery 2 & 3, Elektrik Piano, FM8, Guitar Combos, Guitar Rig 1, 2 & 3 (The Guitar Rig pedal is not supported), Kompakt, Komplete 8, Kontakt 2, 3, 3.5, 4 & 5, Massive, Reaktor 5.6
ProjectSAM Orchestral Brass Classic, Symphobia
Sample Modeling The Trumpet
Spectrasonics Omnisphere, Atmosphere, Stylus Classic, Trilogy, Stylus RMX
Synthogy Ivory
Tapspace Virtual Drumline 2
Toontrack dfh Superior
Wusik Wusikstation
XLN Audio Addictive Drums
Zero-G Nostalgia, Sounds of Polynesia

Muse Research has developed a method that will allow you to install and authorize these additional premium plug-ins. Downloads and installation instructions are available at Plugorama.

Note that Muse Research does not distribute nor sell these plug-ins on Plugorama.com. Rather, the free downloads configure your Receptor to allow your previously purchased plug-ins to be authorized using the developer's own authorization methodology.

 

Freeware Plug-ins [top]
Developer Plug-in(s)
4Front Technologies Bass, E-Piano, Piano, Rhode
AudioNerdz Delay Lama
Big Tick Cheeze Machine, Dual Delay, Hexaline, Nasty Shaper, Ticky Clav
DestroyFX Buffer Override, EQ Sync, MIDI Gater, Geometer, Monomaker, RMS Buddy, Scrubby, Skidder
Elogoxa Cosmo Girl, The Devil Inside, JG-3
EVM Synths Microsynth
FXpansion Enigmatron, Mysteron
Gallo Engineering Studio Devil BVC (British Valve Custom)
Green Oak Crystal
GTG Synths Drum Kid 4, Drawbar, E-Flex, Express 3, GTG 7, GTG Micro, Log Synth, MP5.1, PD Poly, Tranzister, Wave 2.1, Yuno
Image-Line DX10, E-Piano, Piano
Kjaerhus Audio Classic Chorus, Classic EQ, Classic Flanger, Classic Master Limiter, Classic Reverb, Classic Phaser
Klang Labs WNM-1 FX, WoW!, WoW ST
LinPLug Free Alpha
mda Bandisto, Combo, De-ess, Delay, Dither, DubDelay, Dynamics, Envelope, Image, Leslie, Limiter, Loudness, Multi-band, Overdrive, RePsycho!, RezFilter, RingMod, RoundPan, Splitter, Stereo, SubSynth, TestTone, ThruZero
Nomad Factory Nomad Free Bundle (Phaser, Sweeper, Tremolo)
Odo Synths A-Sine
Ohm Force Frohmage
PQN Audio Cooly, Mopar
PSP Audioware PianoVerb
Psychic Modulation Pandemonium
reFX Claw
rgc:audio Sfz, Triangle 1, Triangle II
Rumpelrausch Täips ZR3
Smart Electronix Bouncy, H20, MadShifta, s(M)exoscope, SupaPhaser, OnePingOnly
Sonic Implants SoundFont Bank for sfz
Sound Burst SoundFont Bank for sfz
Steinberg Karlette
TobyBear Cow Delay, Decimator, Morphone, RoboBear, SilverBox
Ultimate Sound Bank Plugsound Free
Virtual Creations UltraPhazer
Wurr Audio Little Green Amp , Little booster, Green Gate, Green Wah
xoxos Synger
 
Unsupported Plug-ins [top]

Although we certainly can't individually test every freeware and commercial plug-in for complete compatibility with Receptor, our experience thus far has been that most freeware works with Receptor automatically, as long as the developer of the freeware plug-in has strictly followed the Windows VST 2.0 plug-in specification. Plus, many commercial plug-ins work with Receptor automatically if they use simple (i.e. serial number) or no copy protection. Having said that, there will inevitably be some Windows VST 2.0 plug-ins that may not be fully functional for whatever reason, and Muse Research makes no claims or warranties regarding compatibility, or functionality.

Which RECEPTOR is right for me?

The question often comes up, "which receptor is right for me?" While it isn't always possible to give an exact answer, the following guidelines should help you make a decision.

  • If you are a guitar or bass player and you use effects and amp models, the RECEPTOR VIP2 will work quite well for you.


  • If you are a keyboard player, the choice is more complicated:
    • If you need a device that can play or layer 2 to 3 plugins in an ultra stable low latency environment then VIP2 is a great choice. For example, RECEPTOR VIP2 runs Ivory II well with 48-sample buffers - the lowest latency you will experience for Ivory anywhere, short of a RECEPTOR 2+ CLASSIC, which both run Ivory with 32-sample buffers.
    • If your gig requires complex setups, changing between lots of plugins, loading sampled instruments and layering lots of sounds together then the Receptor TRIO is for you.
    • If you are looking for the ultimate device for plugin performance or need to store large sample libraries and run the most power hungry plugins then the Receptor 2+ QU4TTRO is the best choice.
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