Product Reviews by KVR Members

Why does it mention nowhere on this page that this is a *32-bit only* product?

I've owned Sequel 3 for a few years now, and while I actually like the fast workflow, VST3 only support, and limited effects processing per track that helps me focus, it's 32-bit only support is incredibly frustrating, and users deserve to know this information up front - Steinberg does not make this clear up front, and after engaging with support multiple times, there is strong indication from Steinberg themselves that they will not ever make a 64-bit version of this product.

This meant I was not able to use some of my highly desired 64-bit only VST3 plugins at all.

Please update this information.

(Update)

I've just discovered DDFM Metaplugin, which provides stable VST3 and side-chain functionality that can be used within Renoise. Awesome.

(/Update)

I've been using Renoise for 14 years (since v1.28), and regard it as my primary DAW for composition. I primarily write EDM, Ambient or Glitch in a home studio using plugins (monitors or headphones on a laptop). I also sing, but don't use Renoise for vocals/recording (currently using Reaper for that).

One liner: It's an amazing composition tool with a highly functional workflow geared for getting ideas down quickly and working to completion (sans raw audio).

Pros:

• Incredibly efficient and streamlined workflow for modern sequencer-based composition using plugins and short audio files.
• Very responsive and consistent support/engagement with customers, including vote-driven feature requests.
• Solid VST support (I've seen a crash now and then, but Renoise has been one of the most reliable VST hosts I've ever used by far).
• Great price with several fantastic out-of-the-box effects processors (and a few fun sample-based instruments to get you started).
• Includes many very powerful automation tools, including a LUA-based formula modulator that can be linked to *any* available control.
• Huge and helpful customer base (if you ever need help figuring something out, there are lots of active users who've figured a lot of things out).
• Includes Rewire support.

Cons:

• It can sample/edit audio, but not ideal for working with vocals or long audio files (waveforms are not displayed in the tracks, not enough visual cue).
• Have seen cases where Renoise has mishandled plugin behavior on 'Stop', or after note cutoff on a track, that causes high CPU until stopped.
• Does not work as a plugin for other Hosts/DAWs (there are others that do to enable this composition style - yes, this is totally a con).

I've looked into a few other trackers, but nothing has been as polished and complete as Renoise.

Trackers aren't great for every music workflow, but I've found Renoise to be an unparalleled sequencer for modern composition. Workflow subtleties, like the fact that notes are assumed to keep playing on a track until hitting a cutoff, make them ideal for sound design and construction using external plugins. In almost every major DAW on a Mac or PC, composition like this commonly requires drawing every unique note and it's duration using a mouse, and the sheer pain of that experience has not been taken seriously enough for DAW-makers to incorporate this style of composition (nor really take the time understand why accommodations to their own workflow are both ineffectual and unsavory).

In my time using Renoise, I've used many versions/tiers of other DAWs or hardware sequencers:

• Software:
  • Reaper (current).
  • Ableton (current).
  • Reason (v3-6).
  • Pro Tools (v9).
  • Cubase (v3-7).
  • Various others (Sonar/Cakewalk, Studio One, ACID, etc.).
• Hardware:
  • An Akai MPC-1000 (current).
  • An old Alesis MMT-8 (loved that thing...).

Most have unique merits, but none have been as near to a complete and reliable solution for me as Renoise for composition. For vocal work, I'm currently using Reaper. Don't want to start off poking at the DAWs other people use and love, but if you ask, I'll respond with my personal experiences in some cases.

Thanks,
Mickey.

I've been digging into Geist for a few months now, and it's become hands down my primary tool for adding rhythm to my productions.

One liner: It's a kick-@$$ tool with intuitive control for several different rhythm creation workflows, a top 10 plugin to have in your studio.

Pros:

• Cross-DAW rhythm sequencer (get comfortable, you've got a common playground that works with almost any DAW).
• Easily layer your drums (quickly add and mix loops or combine them with your own sample creations with multiple engines).
• Customize almost any existing loop to fit your needs (love that loop but want to mix it up? Top of the list on Geist's resume).
• Automatic & flexible transients detection (let Geist do most of the work, easily adjust transient points and categories).
• Save your creations to reuse (save your kits & layers, patterns, the whole engine, even export as MIDI).
• Relatively small instance CPU/Memory footprint (need more pads for that loop and all 8 engines busy? Add an instance and load your current work).

Cons:

• Takes some time and reading the manual to figure out how Geist implements some functionality.
• Not supported in Reason, or any DAW that doesn't support a common plugin format (VST [32|64], AU[32|64], RTAS[32], AAX[64]).
• Transient detection and categorization limitations with complex loops, though nothing preventative.
• Not all DAWs support (or can easily use) Geist's multi-channel audio routing capabilities.
• Not all DAWs support (or can easily use) Geist's multi-trigger MIDI control for an instance loaded into a single track.

I'll add that Geist's multi-level FX processing is another great feature if you want consistent behavior across DAWs, though I often use familiar plugins for that work instead so didn't add it as a pro in my case.

I use Renoise as my primary DAW, and have certainly had to learn how to do a few things - like take advantage of instrument aliasing to simultaneously trigger multiple patterns across multiple engines using MIDI for a single instance of Geist, or figure out how to use Renoise's instrument Audio Routing feature to route different Geist outputs to individual tracks for individual processing by external plugins. I've had to do similar things in Reaper or other DAWs. These aren't complaints, just mentioning them - most of the default behavior in Geist is relatively simple, but capable of much more on demand.