Hi. I'm completly new to computer recording. I've done a bit of research on the subject, I've downloaded the Tracktion 2 demo and I'm impressed. Even I can figure it out! I'm pretty much convinced that a Tracktion / Mac G5 combo will do the trick for my purposes. I do have a few questions and I'm hoping you can help me:
1) When using 3rd party plug ins in Tracktion, does the actual plug in interface pop up or are it's functions assigned to and controlled by the Tracktion properties panel?
2) I'm considering a Mackie 800R audio interface. Do any of you have experience with this? How does it sound? I don't think it's Firewire so how's the latency issue?
3) All else being equal do software DAW's in and of themselves have distinct overall sounds of their own? In other words, do Pro-Tools, Traction and Sonar, for example, generally sound different from one another?
4) It seems there's a whole lot of VST plug ins available. Some of the more expensive ones, like Universal Audio, aspire to sound like classic vintage hardware. I'm particularly interested in eq and compression. Do any of you have experience with the UA products or similar ones from Bomb Factory? How about those that claim to give the mix an overall analog tape vibe by mimicing classic tape recorders?
5) In Traction,is it possible to control a VSTi drum plug in like BFD with a midi hardware controller like the Roland pad boxes or the Yamaha DD-55 drum pads?
6) Let's say I've got to bring my mix into a studio to lay down live drum tracks. Will Tracktion export tracks or a mix that will convert to Pro-Tools or the Mackie HDR 24/96? recording system? What would I need to bring to the studio?
Thanks in advance for any help you can give a new Tracktioneer.
Eddie Van Burns
Newbie Tracktion Questions
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Eddie Van Burns Eddie Van Burns https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=64849
- KVRer
- 3 posts since 11 Apr, 2005
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- KVRAF
- 1615 posts since 28 Mar, 2005
1) When using 3rd party plug ins in Tracktion, does the actual plug in interface pop up or are it's functions assigned to and controlled by the Tracktion properties panel?
it pops up and can be kept up or hiddem
3) All else being equal do software DAW's in and of themselves have distinct overall sounds of their own? In other words, do Pro-Tools, Traction and Sonar, for example, generally sound different from one another?
IMHO no - with the exception of the native plugins, the pan implementation and the bit depth I don't believe they are different. Yopu may hear a lot of mystification on this subject....
4) It seems there's a whole lot of VST plug ins available. Some of the more expensive ones, like Universal Audio, aspire to sound like classic vintage hardware. I'm particularly interested in eq and compression. Do any of you have experience with the UA products or similar ones from Bomb Factory? How about those that claim to give the mix an overall analog tape vibe by mimicing classic tape recorders?
I like all the products you have mentioned except: I believe that proprietary hardware ala UA is not cost effective. There are a terrific profusion of professional (and even free) plugins many of which are very nice. It boils down to a matter of taste. I would reccomend esp: Sonalksis, Kjaerhaus, and PSP.
5) In Traction,is it possible to control a VSTi drum plug in like BFD with a midi hardware controller like the Roland pad boxes or the Yamaha DD-55 drum pads?
yes
6) Let's say I've got to bring my mix into a studio to lay down live drum tracks. Will Tracktion export tracks or a mix that will convert to Pro-Tools or the Mackie HDR 24/96? recording system? What would I need to bring to the studio?
Tracktion can export the mix as seperate files - no problem.
[/quote]
it pops up and can be kept up or hiddem
3) All else being equal do software DAW's in and of themselves have distinct overall sounds of their own? In other words, do Pro-Tools, Traction and Sonar, for example, generally sound different from one another?
IMHO no - with the exception of the native plugins, the pan implementation and the bit depth I don't believe they are different. Yopu may hear a lot of mystification on this subject....
4) It seems there's a whole lot of VST plug ins available. Some of the more expensive ones, like Universal Audio, aspire to sound like classic vintage hardware. I'm particularly interested in eq and compression. Do any of you have experience with the UA products or similar ones from Bomb Factory? How about those that claim to give the mix an overall analog tape vibe by mimicing classic tape recorders?
I like all the products you have mentioned except: I believe that proprietary hardware ala UA is not cost effective. There are a terrific profusion of professional (and even free) plugins many of which are very nice. It boils down to a matter of taste. I would reccomend esp: Sonalksis, Kjaerhaus, and PSP.
5) In Traction,is it possible to control a VSTi drum plug in like BFD with a midi hardware controller like the Roland pad boxes or the Yamaha DD-55 drum pads?
yes
6) Let's say I've got to bring my mix into a studio to lay down live drum tracks. Will Tracktion export tracks or a mix that will convert to Pro-Tools or the Mackie HDR 24/96? recording system? What would I need to bring to the studio?
Tracktion can export the mix as seperate files - no problem.
[/quote]
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- KVRAF
- 4644 posts since 28 Nov, 2002 from Chicago
If the plugin has its own interface, Tracktion will show it. Otherwise Tracktion will provide one where necessary.Eddie Van Burns wrote: 1) When using 3rd party plug ins in Tracktion, does the actual plug in interface pop up or are it's functions assigned to and controlled by the Tracktion properties panel?
DAWs should *not* have their own sound, and all should be pretty much comparable. In built fx and processes may vary in quality between hosts, but that's a different question.3) All else being equal do software DAW's in and of themselves have distinct overall sounds of their own? In other words, do Pro-Tools, Traction and Sonar, for example, generally sound different from one another?
I don't think the bomb factory ones are VST are they? Tracktion only supports VST plugs (which is the main block of them). Before buyiong any commercial plugs, demo them thoroughly. A) you need to know whether they work well with Tracktion, and B) price is not always a good indicator of quality. You have a huge choice. use it.4) It seems there's a whole lot of VST plug ins available. Some of the more expensive ones, like Universal Audio, aspire to sound like classic vintage hardware. I'm particularly interested in eq and compression. Do any of you have experience with the UA products or similar ones from Bomb Factory? How about those that claim to give the mix an overall analog tape vibe by mimicing classic tape recorders?
Should be. Depends on the controller.5) In Traction,is it possible to control a VSTi drum plug in like BFD with a midi hardware controller like the Roland pad boxes or the Yamaha DD-55 drum pads?
Export raw audio tracks. Tracktion can export your project as a collection of wav or aiff files, one for each track.6) Let's say I've got to bring my mix into a studio to lay down live drum tracks. Will Tracktion export tracks or a mix that will convert to Pro-Tools or the Mackie HDR 24/96? recording system? What would I need to bring to the studio?
Someone shot the food. Remember: don't shoot food!
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Eddie Van Burns Eddie Van Burns https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=64849
- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 3 posts since 11 Apr, 2005
Thank you Semiquaver and Valley.
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- KVRist
- 76 posts since 7 Mar, 2005 from Moscow
I can assure you that there is no difference (when no effects added) between 10k HD Pro Tools and Tracktion in respect of digital mixing sound.
I had impression that only Samplitude has slightly more silky and analogue feeling sound, but who know why (and actually it does not mean it is better).
The biggest difference will be made by what you'll use for processing tracks (VST effects).
I tried almost all available and despite various opinions I would suggest to follow route to buy what is proven the best:
-TC Powercore (either Firewire or all new PCI with equal power as Firewire - I use 2 in same time)
-Sony Dynamics (Oxford)
-Sony or TC Electronics Equalizers
-TC Electronics VSS3 Reverb (absolutely amazing and best of all available)
-Waves dynamics
Important point is that with Powercore you can save a lot of PC processing power for VST instruments as synths and samplers that can simply eat all the capability of the Pentium 4 3.5 GHz leaving you without possibility to add native processing.
IMO free softaware can do the job, but difference is huge and when you hear it you'll never go back.
I sold all my outboards, after switched to high quality plug ins.
All above might require budget of 3000 $ what is still 5 or more times less that if equal quality processing is in outboard gears.
UA card is OK, it has amazing compressors, but is much less capable than Powercore.
GYang
I had impression that only Samplitude has slightly more silky and analogue feeling sound, but who know why (and actually it does not mean it is better).
The biggest difference will be made by what you'll use for processing tracks (VST effects).
I tried almost all available and despite various opinions I would suggest to follow route to buy what is proven the best:
-TC Powercore (either Firewire or all new PCI with equal power as Firewire - I use 2 in same time)
-Sony Dynamics (Oxford)
-Sony or TC Electronics Equalizers
-TC Electronics VSS3 Reverb (absolutely amazing and best of all available)
-Waves dynamics
Important point is that with Powercore you can save a lot of PC processing power for VST instruments as synths and samplers that can simply eat all the capability of the Pentium 4 3.5 GHz leaving you without possibility to add native processing.
IMO free softaware can do the job, but difference is huge and when you hear it you'll never go back.
I sold all my outboards, after switched to high quality plug ins.
All above might require budget of 3000 $ what is still 5 or more times less that if equal quality processing is in outboard gears.
UA card is OK, it has amazing compressors, but is much less capable than Powercore.
GYang
Don't forget that your music might eventually outlive you.
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- KVRAF
- 1615 posts since 28 Mar, 2005
I neglected one developer above: if you are on PC some *great* sounding plugs are made by Voxengo - and very fairly priced.
I agree w/ Mr Yang that the Oxford EQ is terrific. (expensive though!)
I belive that with Moore's law and all - CPUs will render cards like Powercore and UAD obsolete - I can run 20 sonalksis eqs and compressors + a couple of Altiverbs and who knows what else on my dual 2ghz G5 - I think your money is better spent on a fast CPU + hard drives than on processing cards like powercore.
I agree w/ Mr Yang that the Oxford EQ is terrific. (expensive though!)
I belive that with Moore's law and all - CPUs will render cards like Powercore and UAD obsolete - I can run 20 sonalksis eqs and compressors + a couple of Altiverbs and who knows what else on my dual 2ghz G5 - I think your money is better spent on a fast CPU + hard drives than on processing cards like powercore.
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- KVRAF
- 4644 posts since 28 Nov, 2002 from Chicago
Probably not. CPUs are usually pretty poor at DSP in real terms. Compare and contrast the price/performance of a dedicated video card, and even the fastest of desktop CPUs for doing 3d graphics.semiquaver wrote: I belive that with Moore's law and all - CPUs will render cards like Powercore and UAD obsolete
It's only the relative smallness of the market that has stopped similar things happening in audio land.
Next gen video cards capable of running c-like code, coupled with multiple high bandwidth PCI express ports *could* potentially bring huge gains in plugin power.
The current DSP card purveyors may die out, but it probably wont be a dual core Pentium that sees them off.
Someone shot the food. Remember: don't shoot food!
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Eddie Van Burns Eddie Van Burns https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=64849
- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 3 posts since 11 Apr, 2005
Very intersting and something I was not considering but will now think about.Thank you GYang.