Hi, I'm thinking of expanding my software library to include energyXT, which seems like a VERY cool product. However, at this stage, I can't really afford to buy anything that I'll regret; I'll be sure to check the demo either way, but for now I just want opinions from experienced users.

I hear about energyXT being used all the time as a supplement to a software set-up, but not alone; why is this? I currently use FL Studio 4, and it suits me, but energyXT seems like a very slick, light-weight (CPU-wise) sequencer/host with a multitude of features. So what does it not have that something like Cubase or Sonar has? I am looking at the feature-list, but to tell you the truth, I'm not getting much out of it, partially due to my lack of knowledge =(. This is why I am asking for the opinions and experiences of XT users, because they know best not only what features it has, but also what the quality of these features are.

Anyway, I'm sure this question must get asked alot, but thanks for humoring me =).

I have about 6 or 7 songs on the go in energyXT standalone! There are a few things that it lacks, IMO, but none of them are killers.

1 - No automatic latency compensation (yet)

2 - Audio is in its infancy (actually, haven't tried it in a few versions! )

3 - No master FX (yet)

4 - No automation (yet)

Most, if not all, will be coming soon.

Latency is an issue only for those plugins that make it an issue. I don't really care so much, to be honest. Most of the plugins I use that have latency are either master FX (and so the latency is no issue, really) or delay/reverb (and so the latency can be forgiven, perhaps.)

Audio might be working as well as it needs to be. I should really check on that!

Master FX aren't needed if you do the mastering as a separate step, which I often do.

That's my list. It may not be everyone else's. It may also be wrong! But it's my list.

to expand on what Pough wrote:

you can of course insert master-fx, (only not in the sequencer) just put them between the sequencers
output(s) and the master-out - you then need something
like tape-it or channel-grabber to render it as a wave

audio is allready rather advanced in some aspects
- for me it outperforms Tracktion in that concern:

Since I registered Tracktion (july 2003 - I would never have registered it in the first place if I knew at that time that I hasn't got it tbh) I am longing for audio-loop-recording - Tracktion still hasn't got this feature at all.

But with eXT it's basically already there in the best bossible way - you can record forever while a loop is playing. When forever is over you then can slice your recording just as you like and then put the different slices on different seperate channels in the audio-editor - these seperate channels all can be independently be muted/soloed faded/it/out etc.


- that makes it incredibly easy to achieve several important tasks:

vocal comping is a breeze

- record several takes of the same part while simply looping it, then slice the takes (I guess there will be an option to slice it automatically lateron) and put those seperated takes on different channels - now you can solo them for finding out the best take(s) and maybe cut out the best parts of several takes

guitar-recording is a breeze likewise

- you maybe want to recording the same part several-times for making it fatter - with eXT just record it as often as you like and then you can find out the best parts by soloing them(after you sliced them and put them on seperate channels)

Now you can solo all the good takes you want to keep and pan them independetly if you like.

But you still have only one track in the sequencer - when you want to access the different channels
of that part of an audio-track you're working on simply double-click on it

Arranging audio-recordings is a breeze

Say you don't want your song to be too static, so you want different takes of the same audio-recording at different places in your arrangement, then you can simply copy that part with the multiple takes and the solo one good take here and another good take there.

another thing is that you don't have to delete the takes of which you aren't sure if you want to keep them - simply mute them - so you can access them easily later on without them getting in your way while sequencing.

This is the best solution I can think of for these tasks . afaik only CubaseSX2 comes close to it, but still isn't that simple and easy to handle.

Jorgen, you are indeed THE man

oh, just for the record:

for using eXT as a standalone (linear) midi/audio sequencer what missing most (besides automation) is a count-in and a metronome

edit: and eXT knows knows no other time-signatures than
4/4

jens wrote:

oh, just for the record: for using eXT as a standalone (linear) midi/audio sequencer what missing most (besides automation) is a count-in and a metronome edit: and eXT knows knows no other time-signatures than 4/4

I'll second the count-in & metronome and the choice of other time signatures Would really like them both pretty please!

Shif.

Thanks for your replies! That was a lot of really good information; seems like its audio is much more comprehensive than FL's. But it has no automation? At all?

I'll definitely consider picking eXT up from your comments =) it seems like a really easy way to work with audio. I'll probably wait until it's more mature, though (assuming it doesn't go up in price ) since I don't think I could live without automation or time signatures other than 4/4.

The reason I ask is because I'm getting my first piece of hardware soon =) a ROMpler, so I am going to need a host that is not only good with MIDI and FX and all, like FL, but is also good with audio, and with integrating MIDI and audio (I think I've heard the term 'bounce' used? After checking out the Podium example video, I thought it did this really neatly and (although the process wasn't necessarily simple) very slickly. As much as I love FL, to tell you the truth, it offers me no clear advantage over any other sequencer, besides excellent workflow and (compared to what was available at the time) price. So I'll be checking out the eXT demo sometime soon! Hopefully I can understand it =P the Sonar 3 and Cubase SX demos both completely frustrated me when I tried to do anything other than straight MIDI, even with the tutorial.

Jens - good critique.

You have summarized very well the thoughts burbling around in my head.

- cheers, Simon

b.t.w.: I guess the implementation of automation
will happen very soon (with the next beta) -
the current 'what's next'-list is already relatively
long (several small enhancements), but hasn't been
updated for two days now, which usually means that the next beta includes a major new feature

besides the other time-signatures, what's missing most to me are more ways to edit CCs. a way to enter an exact number as cc (or velocity), seeing a value displayed while drawing a cc, dragging the cc window bigger, editable eventlist, change controller # of events, selecting cc events, move/copy/paste them, humanize/limit/expand... though some things can be done with midi fx i guess.

yup, automation is very close

jens, impproved audio loop recording is on the list

rokkon, better cc support is in the list, too



jorgen

cool

I'm glad to hear that these updates will soon be made =D. Anyway, checked out the demo, it's REALLY cool, but I find the actual sequencing of Audio/MIDI (as well as a few other points) to be very confusing. Would it be ok if I asked some questions here?

Also, I see that minor upgrades are free... when is a major upgrade being planned for? And how much would it cost? And would the price of eXT go up? I really like the way this works, and once I really understand how to make the actual sequencing work, I'll probably be able to make a decision, but I prefer to know the answers to these questions before I make the purchase. Anyway, thanks for providing all the help, everyone =).

jorgen wrote:

yup, automation is very close jens, impproved audio loop recording is on the list jorgen

For me Energy XT is the best sequencer around, POINT - and i know them all.
Its much more rational designed than ANY other sequencer.In Orion, SX and Sonar you just spent too much time switching between the several layers of the program. In XT the workflow is much faster ( just compare the time SX need to start and XT - its about 20:1), and you get addionally (soon) a sampler, an VST Modular Synth system with unlimited posibilities, an extremly good support with weekly and often surprising updates and even the audio section seems already quite good at the moment - its da biz !
As i know Jorgen, update pricing will probably happen not too soon and perhaps not at all for users who buy now - all Massiva Users got XT freely.
For getting into it, you best download the Tutorials from the XT site, they are very good, but feel free to ask.

Cheers, Richard

VanLichten wrote:

For getting into it, you best download the Tutorials from the XT site, they are very good, but feel free to ask. Cheers, Richard

But don't forget to look at NicFit's site, for much valuable stuff
At www.xt-geek.com (he's probably asleep now, and modesty would prevent him plugging his own work)

I've had a lot of short, after work "quick drinks" where the price of one round has been more than the price of this software! Buy into it now and help the guy develop it furthur. This is how good software should be, reasonably priced and innovative. I think this is the most promising and flexible audio prog I've seen since Atari days, sure it's got a few bugs which is why paying for it now is a good idea, the more money Jorgen gets, the more incentive there is to build upon it. Personally I didn't hesitate, I bought it immediately and I'm a skinflint!

Simon I wrote:

VanLichten wrote: For getting into it, you best download the Tutorials from the XT site, they are very good, but feel free to ask. Cheers, Richard But don't forget to look at NicFit's site, for much valuable stuff At www.xt-geek.com (he's probably asleep now, and modesty would prevent him plugging his own work)

Wow, thanks! I read all the stuff on xt-hq, but these tutorials will really help to get me started.

Anyway, XT is more and more seeming to be quite an amazing environment; I'll just have to adjust to the workflow. VanLichten, I don't really care about start time; as long as it eventually gets up there and works speedily =P.

pinkwasp, I agree with you, but unfortunately that's not an option. I consider any purchase that I make over, say, $20.00 a major purchase, and it is necessary for me to research it extremely thoroughly. Anyway, time to check out the tutorials!