Paintaudio Computer Effects CE-1: Play VSTs on your Pedal Board
Bluescreen included?
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Paintaudio Computer Effects CE-1: Play your VSTs on your Pedal Board · Source: Paintaudio
With the Paintaudio Computer Effects CE-1, the Chinese manufacturer is tackling many guitarists’ dreams: using VSTs such as Amplitube, Guitar Rig, NAM or Neural DSP’s popular plugins as pedals. This multi-effects unit houses a Windows computer with a touchscreen that sets out to fulfill this dream. Does it succeed?
Paintaudio Computer Effects CE-1: A Windows Multi-Effect
The Paintoaudio Computer Effects CE-1 is a fully-fledged Windows computer with a touchscreen. The idea is to load plugins like the ones mentioned on the CE-1 and then use them as pedals via the buil-in controls. Judging by the videos on the manufacturer’s YouTube channel, this initially requires a fairly elaborate setup for each of the plugins.
This is because you control a plug-in’s elements through the CE-1’s MIDI controls. In other words, you load the guitar effect as a standalone, set up the CE-1 audio interface and MIDI interface, and start the MIDI mapping process. This is how you connect operating elements on the pedal with functions in the VST in order to then control them remotely.
Laptop CPU vs. Low Latency
But once everything is set up, any guitar plug-in (or other VST) can be controlled from the CE-1. What I couldn’t quite figure out from the videos is the topic of latency. There seem to be dedicated ASIO drivers for the Paintaudio Computer Effects CE-1 that ensure quite low latencies.
However, the CE-1 contains an Intel N200 CPU, a laptop processor that is not necessarily one of the most powerful. Anyone who has worked with Neural DSP plugins, for example, will know how power-hungry they are. Imagine there is crackling and stuttering in your guitar sound on stage.
With 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD, the pedal’s components are perfectly adequate, especially if it’s only for guitar software. And the operating system? Windows 11. You can operate it either via the 8-inch touchscreen or via a mouse and keyboard.
Look at all that I/O!
I don’t just want to complain. Maybe the idea behind the Paintaudio Computer Effects CE-1 is just too good for me not to see the obvious stumbling blocks right away. But on the other hand, in terms of connectivity alone, this is a real jack of all trades.
Two XLR/line combo inputs (the system automatically detects when a guitar or microphone is plugged in) with optional phantom power, two additional jack inputs, MIDI input and output (5-pin), a stereo output and a stereo XLR output pair, USB-C for connecting to the computer, USB-A for connecting an additional SSD, two headphone outputs, two connections for expression pedals and three different mains connections – the only thing missing is a telephone connection.
You can even connect an external monitor using the included HDMI-to-USB-C adapter. The idea behind the pedal is incredibly good. However, it remains to be seen whether a genuine Windows computer is permanently live-compatible on stage. Imagine automatic restarts for updates during your set.
How much does Paintaudio Computer Effects CE-1 cost?
The Paintaudio Computer Effects CE-1 can be purchased on the manufacturer’s website for 8,073.00 CNY, which is about 1,050 euros at today’s exchange rate. Delivery costs an additional 735.00 CNY (about 95 euros). A license for Windows 11 is not included.
Infos über das neue Pedal
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