New Issue of CM (88)

[mcnelson]

Please forgive my blatant speculation, and bear with me:

Letters page of the new issue has someone complaining about the lack of a Mac OS X update for Computer Muzys - they reply:

"A Next Gen CM Studio centrepiece for Mac and PC is in the pipeline. I can't give you any details just yet, but big things are planned."

Made me wonder if they're planning on using T1 as the new 'supported' sequencer package? Tracktion and CM have always enjoyed a positive relationship, and this seems a good move to make now T2 is out - to garner a new userbase?

Like I said, blatant speculation. Any takers on the grassy knoll?

[xylyx]

More likely to be a cutdown 8 track version of T2 with restricted numbers of instruments or effects, in order to try and get people to buy the full version...

I can't think of many other hosts that would be likely candidates that are dual platform...

[AD80]

Ableton Live and Cubase SE are other options. But ofcourse I think Tracktion would be great as the CM freebie.

[Lunch Money]

Hard to imagine they'd make a cutdown T2 when the original T1 is already a perfect intro and doesn't require additional man hours.

On the other hand, it's SO good that without cutbacks some people might never make the leap to T2.

It would be cool. I've certainly not heard anything about it, but it would be cool.

[koolkeys]

I remember, I first suggested this months ago when they started the NFR version. Who knows, maybe I was right.

Koolkeys

[SaviorNeeded]

I was at a Borders bookstore today and saw a CM Special: "Guitar Studio" (these things come very late to Hawaii). Every how-to article throughout the mag featured T1. Dozens and dozens of screen shots. If they haven't decided to use T as their new sequencer, they certainly took a long look at it.

Tom

[valley]

I guess the problem will be bug fixes. Will Mackie want to carry on developing T1 alongside T2?

A cut down T2 (perhaps masquerading as T1) would seems to make more sense to me.

That said, as AD80 states, Tracktion isn't the only cross platform game in town. Hell, for all we know, Musys is back from the dead.

[ceenda]

That thought crossed my mind too.

I'm wondering whether it's a cut-down version of the new sequencer that Jo from Muzys is (apparently) working on.

[Lunch Money]

I don't think there would be much in terms of bugfixes. If it works the way their Muon software was commissioned, they buy a product with reasonable expectations of functionality, which T1 already has. A service update would be welcome for things like the dropped note bug, but I doubt they'd comission ongoing service for a fairly stable product.

That said, all speculation at this point in time, but interesting speculation.

[headquest]

This was first hinted around 6 months ago, in fact:

Reader letter: "Reading between the lines it looks like y'all are looking for a replacement for Computer Muzys..."
CM reply: "We are in fact looking to update or replace Computer Muzys some time this year. Can;t tell you more that that yet..."

That was published December 04 (so "this year" presumably meant 05) and I naturally thought Tracktion NFR at the time... but if it were T1 the coding was done and there is no reason that it would not be on the cover disk by now. So I think a knock down T2 is more likely, as others have said here. That would also fit in with the delay in finding out more

Ableton Live Lite is a key selling point with various Korg, E-MU and Digidesign hardware products, and giving it away on the CM cover disk would devalue it's currency considerably, so I think that idea can be ruled out. Also the Ableton marketing strategy has very much been aimed towards establishing that Live has "professional credibility", i.e. ringing endorsements from celebrity users, etc.

I doubt Cubase LE as well, although that is not impossible I guess. (but without a dongle on every cover ).

ALso of interest in CM88 is the interview with Stephan Schmitt, Native Instruments founder:

CM: "NI produce lots of great plug-ins, but no host software. Would you ever consider a sequencer of any other kind of music creation program?"
S Schmitt: "...we definitely plan to offer the complete range of music software sometime in the future"

Wow Now that DID make me think of the Muzys guy... (and Podium and eXT)

[Mr. Tingle]

I don't think the freebie tag will do Tracktion any good in the long term.

I hope they always charge a fair price. People give more respect when they pay for things. CM has a very cheap feel and is not really a great thing to be associated with.

A better move would be to get a regular slot on the 'notes' pages at the back of sound-on-sound. In fact, a review of T2 in sos is overdue.

[Klemperer]

CM has a very cheap feel and is not really a great thing to be associated with.

I strongly disagree. They were by far the first, for example, to praise Tracktion. Months, even years before magazines like Keyboards and Keys in Germany had their first look. Well there are different ways to see the world .

[jalapeno]

I don't think the freebie tag will do Tracktion any good in the long term.

I hope they always charge a fair price. People give more respect when they pay for things. CM has a very cheap feel and is not really a great thing to be associated with.

A better move would be to get a regular slot on the 'notes' pages at the back of sound-on-sound. In fact, a review of T2 in sos is overdue.

I thought there was (albeit perfunctory) a review a couple of months ago.

[Mr. Tingle]

There was, just not a full one of the finished product.

[AD80]

CM might have a "cheap feel" in the UK but it definitely has an "expensive feel" where I live. Shit costs 15bux! 4 times the price of other mags I buy. Nothing cheap about CM.