KVR Audio

hvaring · Post by **hvaring** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:30 am

I'm getting slightly fed up with various Cubase quirks (read: bugs) and have started looking for alternatives. As I have an Audiophile 2496 I could get the M-Audio ProTools host, but I'm not sure if it would be a step up or down

I don't do much audio, mostly MIDI and VST/VSTi's.
Opinions? Experiences?

Omnivox · Post by **Omnivox** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:34 am

hvaring wrote:I'm getting slightly fed up with various Cubase quirks (read: bugs) and have started looking for alternatives. As I have an Audiophile 2496 I could get the M-Audio ProTools host, but I'm not sure if it would be a step up or down
I don't do much audio, mostly MIDI and VST/VSTi's.
Opinions? Experiences?

Even the strongest ProTools rig has less MIDI functionality than Cubase, so it would definitely be a step down. If you were more into audio, it would be a completely different story. I do not know much about VST support in ProTools though ..... maybe you could consider Sonar?

lavoll · Post by **lavoll** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:39 am

for midi i would also agree that it is a step down ti switch to protools.

try the new sonar 5 demo when it comes and see if the workflow fits you better.

is the problem crashes and bugs, or that you can't get into the.. uhm.. flow of cubase?

tonymead · Post by **tonymead** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:40 am

Have you looked at Energy XT?

tonymead

hvaring · Post by **hvaring** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:02 am

The thing I like about SX is the MIDI handling, which is outstanding. I've been using it since version 1, so the workflow is not a problem. The problem is rather related to the overall stability ... I don't quite trust the program while working, after experiencing a number of random crashes and other little annoyances. And there's the dongle, of course.

energyXT is superb, but I tend to use it as a modular VST/VSTi environment and plug it into my host. The learning curve one has to deal with to use it as a full host seems rather steep, mainly because it lacks proper documentation. I can't be bothered to wade through dozens of web pages and obsolete bits and pieces of random documentation.

I notice that Sonar5 is competitively priced compared to M-Audio ProTools, so that might be an option. But I've regularly tried the Sonar demos as they've become available and have put them away quickly.
Maybe 5 agrees better with me, I'll check it out.

If only Reason had VST support ...

tonymead · Post by **tonymead** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:35 am

Yeah, I have Sonar 4 and to me, it's sort of similar to cubase sx (which I moved away from). I am currently using Project 5 V2 a lot, it's great for getting songs going, sort of works like Ableton Live but for me it has a couple of audio shortcomings (can only record 1 stereo/2 mono tracks at a time - no audio editing to speak of).

Tony Mead

btw I am seriously considering going pro-tools but I'm really not sure, trying the M-Powered demo at the moment but can't make my mind up wether I like it or not..

Fabriciom · Post by **Fabriciom** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 11:20 am

hmmm...
VW or Honda

thunderkyss · Post by **thunderkyss** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:11 pm

I like Project5 V2 also, but since it doesn't support midi out it kinda comes short on the midi end of things.

slasi · Post by **slasi** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:15 pm

Since ProTools doesn't host VSTs natively you will have to give up a lot of your favorite plugins or resort to using the fairly buggy FXpansion VST/RTAS wrapper.

pavvel · Post by **pavvel** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:41 pm

I moved a away from Cubase too, far too much crap there for me, could have been a great program as it certainly has the potential but has been lost in company politics and protection code.

I am now using Sonar 4 and I must say the program is fantastic all the featurs of cubase but much more logic like and sonar 5 is looking like a welcome addition.

As for protools I have never used so I can't say but like stated here the midi isn't up to speed with the other programs.

hvaring · Post by **hvaring** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:25 pm

slasi wrote:Since ProTools doesn't host VSTs natively you will have to give up a lot of your favorite plugins or resort to using the fairly buggy FXpansion VST/RTAS wrapper.

Good point. Many of my commercial plugs come in RTAS flavours as well as VST(i)/DX(i), but for those who don't ... is the FXpansion adapter really that bad?

Breakpete · Post by **Breakpete** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:24 am

M-Powered has a dongle also.

hello1234 · Post by **hello1234** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:42 am

LOVE mpowered protools

.....but I don't think it's the host for what you are looking for......midi is too tidius inandofitself.......it will be improved for pt7

Live 5 might work out for ya........it's a cinch to use........

I think I'm getting sonar5 soon (ducks as everyone knows I hate sonar) but I don't know about the midi. EXT seems to be the real shit for that....and for 50 bucks.......it just rocks!

dramsenik · Post by **dramsenik** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:44 am

Many of my commercial plugs come in RTAS flavours as well as VST(i)/DX(i), but for those who don't ... is the FXpansion adapter really that bad?

not at all...

here's an old list of what's working or not with the wrapper

http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.php? ... PHPSESSID=

and scroll in the middle of the thread

hvaring · Post by **hvaring** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:56 am

Breakpete wrote:M-Powered has a dongle also.

Ah ... that does it for me, then.
Thanks for all comments and suggestions

M-Audio ProTools vs. Cubase SX