Yes, I am an openlabs fanboy, straight up to the core.  They are the one company that made me actually consider software music production, now I am in my migration over to software.  Of course I’m taking my mpc 4000 with me, but hey…I can’t front on the power of software.

With companies like Native Instruments putting out high quality software and sounds, one can have a huge workshop to create music in.

Enter the dbeat!

For a long time I’ve been watching Open Labs, and for a long time I’ve watched them continue to improve.  When they released the gen 5 miko lxd I was hooked, it looked like it was finally time for me to start saving up for one.

Then I found out about the dbeat.  It’s around the same size as my mpc, very portable, and has some high tech specs.

Comes with 4gb of ram, 320gb hard drive, built in audio i/0 with the presonus firebox, and it has the touch screen.

Not to mention the “bump mp” pad controller that open labs has come up with.

For a while, it was said the price was right at 4k, but the good peeps at openlabs love to listen to their customers.  I remember a chat a few of us had with Vic Wong, the owner/president or whatever you call him, about the price.

The target market they are going for, may already have ableton live, or whatever sequencer they like…so they may not want to pay for that again.  Especially targeting djs that are doing live shows and such.

Anyway, bottom line, the new prices are 2999 and 3799 for the dbeat pro. The only difference is the included software.

The pro version comes with a full copy of Ableton Live, plus some other goodies like Sylenth, digital sound factory emu sound banks, and custom sounds from Denaun Porter, or “Mr. Porter” .

Either way, it’s all good!

These prices are very close to high end keyboard workstations or even a macbook pro.  Yet, this is a dedicated virtual environment.

Which means you can constantly update your sounds.

Run any xp compatible software you wish.

For me, it’s a nice little package and I am now torn between this and the Miko. I have a midi controller, so I can just hook that up to this.

Bottom line is, they changed the game again, and this small package looks like it packs tons of power.

These are dual core instead of the quad core on the miko/nekos but it’s all good.

If you’re a hardware dude like me looking to get into software, forget the laptop and go with a dbeat.

If you’re already rocking a laptop but want something more stable or hands on, check it out.

Man, they should hire me as a salesman or something huh? lol

see ya

It’s true, I’ve been watching openlabs for a few years, when the first started with the neko.

Now, with the 5th gen of their equipment, it’s safe to say I’m ready to get one!

Don’t know what it is?

Imagine, being able to use and have all the flexibility that software provides, in something like a roland fantom or yamaha motif.

Yeah, it’s a keybard workstation, it’s hardware, but it runs any software that can run on a pc.

perfectly tweaked for audio heads, you don’t even have to look at windows because they have a sexy shell on which the system runs.

imagine having a hardware device that is runing reason 4, or ableton live, or flstudio.

no pieces and parts, just one solid unit ready to go.

This is the device that can move a hardware enthusiast into the software world, for good.

I love my mpc, I love my synths, but my eye is on the Miko, this blog is my story.

Roll with me up until the day I finally get it and beyond.

I’m not crazy…okay, maybe just a little.

I’ll be back at a later date with the specs and such, but just go to openlabs.com or look at the videos.

Thing is crazy!