T2 and eXT: why?

[Scooner]

Morning all,
I've read on this forum several times that T2 and eXT work really well together, they make good partners.
I don't use eXT, so can you please fill me in on what I'm missing? As far as I can see, eXT is useful in letting you link VSTi and effects in complex ways, but you can do this in Racks in T2
Given that it's such good value, I'm tempted by eXT, but not really convinced I need it.
So why are they such a good combo? Would my money be better spent down the pub?

[jens]

what is eXT?

- eXT is a powerful sampler

- eXT is a step-sequencer

- eXT is a live-instrument (similar to a groove-box)

- eXT is a modular enviroment

- eXT is an arpeggiator

- eXT is a very powerful midi/audio-sequencer



all these functions are available as a standalone application and as a vst-plugin

- if you have any use for this you have to decide on your own.

[.jon]

Well I could't work with the MIDI editor in T1, so I bought eXT.

The result - I haven't even seriously touched the MIDI editor in T2.

[Hovmod]

And unlike the rack filters in Tracktion, a reusable filter setup can be opened in standalone eXT or any other host as well as in T.

[Lunch Money]

In T2 you can do this, but it's nested in projects, which is a weird way of going about it. eXT's way of making reusable filter (ie. plug-in, to the rest of the world) setups is much easier.

Greg

[Hovmod]

An often used setup in Tracktion for me is like this:

Midi keyboard in -> Ext arpeggiator -> Reason combinator rewired -> eXT filterweirdness.

Lots of fun...

[Scooner]

How do you use eXT within T2, for example as an arpeggiator?
Insert it as a filter before a synth.

And the MIDI editor?

[ceenda]

Yep, just stick eXT before the first synth in the chain, open eXT, add an arpeggiator comp, link it up and you're set.

Personally, I think the eXT arpeggiator comp needs a bit of an overhaul. At the moment you can't do triplets, or notes that are slightly off without some form of extra humanization plugin thrown in. Also, I'd like to see a merging of the Chords comp into the Arpeggiator, as I think the Arp should really have that functionality.

About the MIDI editor, it's great to stick eXT before a synth, just add a MIDI Part. Inside the MIDI part, you can use the performer to create lots of different patterns and trigger them with different notes. In some ways I've found this useful as a means of getting around Tracktion's lack of Ghost Clips.



Instead of dragging copies of a complex pattern repeatedly around, you just assign, say, C1 to that pattern in eXT and then play C1 whenever you want that pattern played. D1 for the next variation, etc. etc.

Would rather do it in Tracktion, but eXT is great for so many things. The 'portable racks' suggestion is a good one too.

[djsubject]

ok i had a go on the demo of eXT & liked what i saw (witch i now know from using racks in tracktion) was a modular inviroement

all seemed to make sense in till i got in to the piano roll & couldent find any tools a tall

couldent find a pen, rubber, or line tool in fact i dident get to draw a single note (any tips for when i next have a play with the demo?)

allso dose anybody know the current state of PDC in eXT?

dose it have PDC support? & if yes it has dose it pass this info on when being used in vst mode inside of T2?

Subz

[ceenda]

Heya. About the Piano Roll.

Alt-Click :- Place a note
Right-Click :- Erase a note
Alt-Click-Drag :- Place a note and increase the length as you hold and drag. Drag up and down to increase and decrease velocity. (you can do this on existing and group-selected notes)
Alt-Right-Click :- Split a note at the point you click. (turn off snap for arbitrary slicing)
Shift-Click-Drag :- Drag out duplicates of selected notes. (same as Ctrl-Click-Drag in Tracktion)

Also, look in the Options menu of the piano roll for options which make the editor remember the Length and Velocity of the last note you selected. Good for placing lots of similar notes etc. Similar to Tracktion.

Personally, I hate toolbars and buttons, but horses for courses et al...

No PDC in eXT yet.

[djsubject]

No PDC in eXT yet.

i got a uad-1 & a powercore

but thay do have there own delay plugs you can use

Thanx for the info on the paino roll data entry (i should have thought to have tryed that realy )

even with out PDC it is a good bit of kit even if you only use it as a wrapper for a plugin that is giving you problems in T2

Thanx again ceenda

Subz

[rpc9943]

cant i do this stuff in dr008 too?

RonC

[laiben]

Is there any drum editor like Cubase in eXT? If yes it would be great. I really want one in Tracktion!

[DarkStar]

Is there any drum editor like Cubase in eXT? If yes it would be great.

not yet in eXT, but it is "on the FR list".