Samplitude 8 or Cubase SX3? Your opinions please...

[hello1234]

edit

I got protools.......it has a dongle....I'm embarrased. Although, at least it's included unlike steinborg products.

[SJ_Digriz]

But seriously, sx3 is an unfortunate product. I hate trying to work with it when someone I record for uses it........it's a joke!

Let's see..in the last 3 weeks we finished 3 commercials(one of which is a long commercial realestate thingy which had a lot of tracks). Recorded a 30ish track demo CD for a crappy local hippity hop group. Hauled the computer to a bar and recorded a jazz combo live 16 tracks with 3 hours of music. Started a score to a Indie film.......

Number of crashes 0. Number of problems 0. Number of WTFs 0. Number of $$$.....enough to buy this computer and the software about 10 times over.

I wish I had problems like this with all my software.

[SJ_Digriz]

fyi: rednecks doing hip hop is just plain scarey(not in the horror movie way). many times it was so hard to keep a straight face.

[backpage]

There is the Classic version of samp that is reasonably priced if you can live without the analog suite. I see people putting down the midi all the time. That has changed significantly. I find it easier and more fluid to compose with the samp piano roll than cubase. With little practice I can use it effortlessly now, so I can concentrate on the melody.

[cptgone]

Some people called the object automation "just a time-saver"..

I don't think that's right.

I can indeed edit audio parts with VSTs in SX2, but:
- it's kinda destructive (compared to VST automation),
- I don't get to tweak VST knobs while editing the part,
- I could use automation instead (have the VSTs bypass themselves where needed) but that's confusing and not very efficient.

So I'm hoping Steiny will get us this feature in SX4... OK that's prolly wishful thinking...

[popsych]

Some people called the object automation "just a time-saver"..

I don't think that's right.

I can indeed edit audio parts with VSTs in SX2, but:
- it's kinda destructive (compared to VST automation),
- I don't get to tweak VST knobs while editing the part,
- I could use automation instead (have the VSTs bypass themselves where needed) but that's confusing and not very efficient.

So I'm hoping Steiny will get us this feature in SX4... OK that's prolly wishful thinking...

Ditto . That's almost (well not quite) like saying I don't need insert or send effects on the mixer cause i can just render it in wavelab. Takes away the main benefit of digital - real time : Only commit something when you want - not when you are forced to.

[dlt123]

Another Samplitude V8 convert here. Hi Kraznet, I've seen you over at the Samplitude forum. Nice to see we have some KVR members using SAM. I have been using Tracktion for almost two years and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread and in many ways I still do. Nevertheless, as the complexity of my projects grew I found myself wanting to find easier ways to apply fx and do editing. Also I was using Audition for audio editing and decided I just wanted one package to do it all. Anyway, I tried Samplitude and fell in love. Now first disclaimer, it is no way near as easy to get going as it was with Tracktion. Tracktion remains the simplest most intuitive sequencer I have used to date. But having used Cubase, Sonar and most of the rest it didn't take me long to figure out how to get Samplitude going. Some of the more advanced features are amazing!!! As I read the manual and discover more features i am happy with my purchase.(I initially wished I had just waited for Tracktion2 ) After a solid weekend with Samplitude I am just about ready to use it in my studio. Most of the other producers I work with use Cubase and it was going to be my choice for compatibility, but hey, broadcast wave files took care of that. We will be mastering with Samplitude as soon as I figure out all the things I knew how to do in Audition. Anyway, I'm happy with Sam but I came from Tracktion which was in some ways easier and some ways more difficult to use. The midi editor is Sam V8 blows Tracktion's midi editor away. But of course I paid for it many times over . I felt that in the long run it would be worth it to learn Sams more advanced even if "cumbersome" features. So far I think I made the right choice.

Ok, I've been reading this thread and I'm also considering Samplitude Pro and SX3 and am leaning more towards Samplitude V8.

I've currently been using Live 4 for 6 months and have already run up against the CPU resource ceiling with my VST use. My biggest song has 6 tracks with an average of 2-3 VSTs per track. I don't count my UAD plugs since they use the DSP on the card.

I have a 3Gz Dell, 1 Meg memory, 180Gig HD, optimized for audio and only use this system for music creation.

I have a couple of questions if I may?

How easy does Samplitude V8 Pro use VSTis? I have tons of VSTs and I'm leary of how they work in Sam and whether it uses VSTs effeciently.

Does Sam V8 handle memory well and can I have more than 10 tracks with 2-4 VSTs per track without problems? My fear is that I will run into the same CPU ceiling with SAM.

I have a UAD card, can these be used in Samplitude V8?

I read on some other sites that others have found numerous bugs in Sam. Not sure if it's V8 or older.

Is the Midi functions in V8 error prone or work with few problems?

Thanks, I'm still trying to get a grasp on Sam V8 and have downloaded their Demo. It sure is a lot more involved than Live 4, but looks promising so far.

Also, is there a tutorial for Sam V8 that will help me grasp things faster?

I hope I haven't asked too many questions. As you can see, I'm just starting my research.

DennisT

[popsych]

Ok, I've been reading this thread and I'm also considering Samplitude Pro and SX3 and am leaning more towards Samplitude V8.

I've currently been using Live 4 for 6 months and have already run up against the CPU resource ceiling with my VST use. My biggest song has 6 tracks with an average of 2-3 VSTs per track. I don't count my UAD plugs since they use the DSP on the card.

I have a 3Gz Dell, 1 Meg memory, 180Gig HD, optimized for audio and only use this system for music creation.

I have a couple of questions if I may?

How easy does Samplitude V8 Pro use VSTis? I have tons of VSTs and I'm leary of how they work in Sam and whether it uses VSTs effeciently.

Does Sam V8 handle memory well and can I have more than 10 tracks with 2-4 VSTs per track without problems? My fear is that I will run into the same CPU ceiling with SAM.

I have a UAD card, can these be used in Samplitude V8?

I read on some other sites that others have found numerous bugs in Sam. Not sure if it's V8 or older.

Is the Midi functions in V8 error prone or work with few problems?

Thanks, I'm still trying to get a grasp on Sam V8 and have downloaded their Demo. It sure is a lot more involved than Live 4, but looks promising so far.

Also, is there a tutorial for Sam V8 that will help me grasp things faster?

I hope I haven't asked too many questions. As you can see, I'm just starting my research.

DennisT

Sam's way of working with VSTis is not very different to any other host.

CPU effiency is unmatched - an effect/plugin only uses CPU if it's active. Also it's freeze feature is one of the best.

UAD should work just fine as Sam was the first to offer full PDC in the whole of the signal path.

Finally i haven't run into any bugs myself so maybe these are just "leftover rumours"

[porpoise]

HI

I waited for Sam V8 in the hope it would be my 'Logic' replacement - unfortunately I found it a frustrating program to use that had one to many foibles to persevere with - I never thought I would say it but I think if you take a step back and consider the PC 'POWER' host options SXV3 really is the only program IMO and believe me I have tried practically every host out there.

One thing though - it doesn't matter what host you use or end up with, if you stick with it, it will become fun - I mean back in the day I had no choice I HAD TO USE MUSICX on my AMIGA, there was nothing else - so you get used to it!

Porpoise.

[popsych]

HI

I waited for Sam V8 in the hope it would be my 'Logic' replacement - unfortunately I found it a frustrating program to use that had one to many foibles to persevere with - I never thought I would say it but I think if you take a step back and consider the PC 'POWER' host options SXV3 really is the only program IMO and believe me I have tried practically every host out there.

One thing though - it doesn't matter what host you use or end up with, if you stick with it, it will become fun - I mean back in the day I had no choice I HAD TO USE MUSICX on my AMIGA, there was nothing else - so you get used to it!

Porpoise.

Personally i don't use it instead of logic. I use it to complement Logic and i can say that i have the best of both MIDI and AUDIO and none of the frustrations Cubase causes me.

As for it becoming fun, i think workflow is mainly that which matches the way of thinking you've developed.

[dlt123]

Sam's way of working with VSTis is not very different to any other host.

Thanks for responding. I still hear that VSTis are cluncky with Sam.

I suspect I have to create a Midi Object in order to use a VST, right? I just downloaded the V8 Demo and haven't done any Midi testing yet.

How do you select and use a VST in Sam. Could you humor me and give me a step by step of how to use a VST? I.E. Click this, open this... etc.

Thanks for being patient with a newbe of Sam.

DennisT

[_niko_]

There is actually more than one way, but too keep it easy I just describe one
In a multitrack project, click on the arrow next to "No Effect", choose vsti, than you'll be asked if you want a separate midi track and if you want multiple Outputs.
Important: For this to work it's mandatory to first set the path to your vst plugins under the menu Options->System/audio->paths/skins.

hth,

Niko

[dlt123]

There is actually more than one way, but too keep it easy I just describe one
In a multitrack project, click on the arrow next to "No Effect", choose vsti, than you'll be asked if you want a separate midi track and if you want multiple Outputs.
Important: For this to work it's mandatory to first set the path to your vst plugins under the menu Options->System/audio->paths/skins.

hth,

Niko

Thank you, I'll give it a try.

DennisT

[bduffy]

...sx3 is an unfortunate product. I hate trying to work with it when someone I record for uses it........it's a joke!...

Been using Nuendo(SX) 3 here with no problems for half a year, nothing odd going on. The donlge is a dream compared to the old LPT ones; no problems at all.

[bugs]

I love Cubase. I have Tracktion, Reason, Acid Pro and FL Studio and like them all, but I love Cubase--very powerful and very musical. The effects bundle isn't all that great, but the sequencer itself is about good as it gets.