I've come to think ofTracktion as more of an OS really

[codec_spurt]

I've come to think ofTracktion as more of an OS really,
and when I plug FL4_5 into it, I see that as the true host. That is what I plug
all my plug-ins into, not Tracktion. In fact, FL is a pretty rock-solid VSTi wrapper.
Plug it into my Sonar 2.2 as a DXi so i can then use all mys VST instruments
with the program, which I obviously couldn't before, because Sonar 2.2 has
no native VSTi support. If i remember correctly, don't cakewalk do a wrapper,
or was that FXpansion. Information overload. My brain is clipping and my
stack is popped. Well, I don't need that anyway when I got good old FL4_5.
I've heard that FL5 has some issues dallying with Tracktion. FL4_5 has had
no problems so far!

I'm using Tracktion 1.6 btw. Is that the NFR release. I got it end of last year
on the promo. I thought it was exceptional when I started using it, but seeing
all the opinions here, I'm beginning to think I was right ;-) I've used Cubase
for about 20 years in one form or the other and it was it's constant crashing
with the DS8 Drum works module that prompted me to go on my little HostFest.
Over the last 72 hours. Boy, I sure learnt a lot from you fellas. I have begun to
use and abuse my software in whole new twisted ways since I found out
what the options were.

Yeah Drumworks ver. 1.1. It is a really fantastic plug-in. I'm using it under
old host behaviour in Cubase SX 2.2 and it kind of works, but not really.
To be fair to Scott who developed the plug-in it was meant to run on older
versions of Cubase, so the fact it works at all is a bonus. The problem is in
saving and loading kits. It does some shenanigans with paths in the
registry and it doesn't like getting confused. When it's up and running
it's very stable though. I've tried loads of 'em (Drum Samplers) and nothing
does what Drumworks does so quickly. When it detunes a drum sample
it kind of filters it as well. It took me a little while to clone the sounds
loaded into my SR202 - but i got there. But DS8 does it so instantly.
I'm using the new more legible skin and it looks nicer in it's brighter white,
but the gfx don't redraw properly though on my XP system. Yep, love that SR202
as well. Shame it don't love SX. Or don't SX love it? Crashes a bit. And that
DS404, boy - do I love the 24dB filters on that little baby by Muon. Shame
It don't wanna play. But it was free, so no complaints, in fact thanks. These
people threatening litigation coz their softs don't work properly aren't serious,
are they. Tell me they are not.

And getting back to DS8, I checked the yahoo forum that exists for it and the last post is a little old now, with people making demands for V2, AFTER Scott McCabe
had said that he wasn't very well. Sheesh. Scott, if you're reading this - I really
love your plug-in and thanks for it, but man get well if you can and all the rest of it.
If you ever need a beta tester for it, should you develop V2 - I'd be up for it.

So, getting back to Tracktion - it is so transparent - but as has been said, the
midi tricks in 1.6 could be better - so I plug in FL to host all my VSTi's and Tracktion gets on with all the saving and importing and organising of data the
way an OS would. Or another analogy: Tracktion is the mainframe and FL is
the OS. Depends how deep you wanna look at it. And i've gone pretty damn
deep the past few days, I don't need to tell you.


I think that's enough for now as far as first posts go.Sorry if i spurted a little
too hard. Yeah my Tracktion spurts like a good 'un, while my SX just splutters.

Got to say though it HAS taken about 56 restarts and crashes. Probably more.
Always re-calibrates to zero though if you know what I mean. It certainly is
a lot more stable than ver1 though. I won't have a bad word said about it.
We go back the furthest (Pro24) and it's just a little temperamental about it's
plug-ins that's all. But i'm researching and testing and I am confident of coming
up with a totally solid set of plug-ins (all free btw) that will run faultlessly on it.
Take Drumatic - superb - solid as you like. RMF - solid. (doesn't detune and
filter in one fell swoop as well as the DS8 though. DR005 -solid etc etc...
I'll let you know what Super Set I come up with. I will then be able to get back to
making some bloody music ;-)

Yeah:
Tracktion as the Host operating system.
Fruity Loops 4_5 as the Host.
My tested VSTi's as the plug-ins.
All exported via T to a bunch of wavs to get mixed down in SX or Sonar.
(with more VSTi's or FX if needed)
and then brought straight back into T for Final Mastering.

I like the elegance and circularity of that kind of system.
And remember - this is a rock solid implementation - no crashing,
pretty much, on my machine when I'm not using old VSTi's that I
just can't bear to be parted with.


Man alive! what must that version 2 be like. It's version 3 I'm holding out for.
It's all good stuff...More transparency and flexibility and NO feature bloat for
that time hopefully. Intelligent file saving and browsing. One click instancy.
And audio-engine quality and most of all STABILITY. Mine is very stable, though.



Tested on 2.7Ghz Celeron w/ 512Mb of RAM and XP and shared Gfx chipset.
Crystal sound chip.

[SJ_Digriz]

I want some of what he is smoking

[bluedad]

damn, and that's a first post, too!

[Watto]

I fell asleep about halfway through.

[Lunch Money]

damn, and that's a first post, too!

He did pretty well, eh? Too many first posts are, "Wutz da best VST for tarnce?"

Cool analogy, codec. I'm at a loss for what function Tracktion is serving, though. Can't FL run standalone?

Greg

[soma]

I heard the cystal method thinks of FL4 as an OS

[androidlove]

i don't understand why ya need fl. tracktion does everything.

those ppl who don't read manuals (for whatever reason ) should get tracktion. it's that easy

[Maniah]

those ppl who don't read manuals (for whatever reason ) should get tracktion. it's that easy

Well then i must be a dinglebutt cause i had to RTFM for a few things within Traktion.
...And i have used Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Reason, Live, Bidule , Energy XT, Aodix, Renoise, Opcode Vision, Acid, Vegas, Pro Tools, Chainer, Tunafish, One Ping Only, blah blah blah blah blah

[Lunch Money]

I haven't actually read the Tracktion manual... but it's hard to say how much of the same information is simply repeated in threads on the RMS forum, where I'm active on a daily basis. P'raps I'd have been better served to have read the manual.

Greg

[codec_spurt]

I want some of what he is smoking

Laughing out loud. eh eh. Caught me there! In fact you are right, i was stoned
out my head. Sorry, were you talking about the content of my post or the
formatting? Let's hope i get it right this time. I wouldn't take me seriously
either with such a shit formatting error. I could make excuses, but i won't.
Some how, though, i believe you ARE talking about my content. Takes one
to know one. eh, eh No offence taken. Sorry, if it was meant. Try harder
next time if that was the case. It was 3am in the morning and i had been
up for three days with minimal sleep. (that was an explanation, not an excuse
btw).
"Never apologise, never explain" - Oscar Wilde. oops

Since it's too late i will just say this: sorry, sorry, sorry for the unreadable
post - i would usually get my coat after such a gross faux pas, but i feel this
forum is too important to my future musical development, so i will be a cheap
whore. Can i say sorry?


Now, back to my original point:

----------------------------------
I'm at a loss for what function Tracktion is serving, though. Can't FL run standalone?
----------------------------------

Lunch Money:
Can it kick it? Yes it can! And I use it that way sometimes, but why use
FL all alone when you get all those extra workflow enhancements -
file management for one major thing - and not to mention the extra
FX per channel that Tracktion gives. Best of both worlds kind of thing.
The reason I eulogized it as an OS was because it takes care of things
that are usually associated with an OS - file management and browsing,
loading, saving, importing and exporting...also making something possible -
You can't run programs without an OS - yes you can run FL without it on windows
XP but it is so much easier with Tracktion - hence my calling it a Host OS.
Shit, even I am confused now. Can i get back to ya on this one?
Research in progress and all that. Jeez, it was just a thought, a muse,
a whimsy!


And now to the diametrically opposed viewpoint:
-------------------------
i don't understand why ya need fl. tracktion does everything.
------------------

androidlove:
You are pretty much correct as i am finding out. (hey i'm a host newbie -
i only even heard the term taken so seriously on this very forum - f***
man, we're on the cutting edge of reality - (c)Jimmy Cauty - KLF)

As i am using T1.6 - i use FL for it's nicer midi implementation - before
i just used tracktion as the last stop in the production chain for
mastering. Now, i'm getting into using it for EVERYTHING.

I just wanted to make a very subtle but important point.
Some people get it some people don't.
I'm not even sure anymore whether i do or not
WE WILL FORGIVE MANY THINGS IN OUR MUSIC MAKING SOFTWARE
AT THE LOWER LEVEL IF THE HIGHER LEVEL IS SO CONVENIENT
THAT IT SPEEDS UP OUR WORKFLOW.

So yeah, i could just use FL or i could just use T, but i like the way they
play so well together, there's a kind of synergy there that i am not
explaining very well - eh it's 12 in the afternoon where i am and i am
pissed not stoned - whaddya want d00d?


One thing (or rather 2 things) is becoming abundantly and profoundly
clear to me and it is this: Fruity Loops and Tracktion are probably
THE two most under-rated and misunderstood "programs" on the
market today. There's an in road here, for those clever enough to understand.
Sorry i was not so clever enough to explain.

Now, how's THAT for a second post?

[codec_spurt]

Obviously i am no formatting ec_spurt.
KVR we have a problem! Apologies once more.

[ezeeboogie]

i don't understand why ya need fl. tracktion does everything.

No it does not! There's at least one major omission that FL features: A quality timestretch/pitchshifting algo! The Tracktion timestretching/pitchshifting really, really, really sucks. a lot. a whole lot.

[Lunch Money]

Unless you want a clip full of delicious aliasing artifacts. And then it ROCKS!!!

[hillbillysteve]

i don't understand why ya need fl. tracktion does everything.

No it does not! There's at least one major omission that FL features: A quality timestretch/pitchshifting algo! The Tracktion timestretching/pitchshifting really, really, really sucks. a lot. a whole lot. :wink:

That is the truth! ist time anything public with Tra2.104(?) still doesn't do what it should regarding timestreching and its converse. It sucks. But I love it.
Who's stoned? really....

[Shane Sanders]

damn, and that's a first post, too!

Often, I think of large uber-mammals as an OS. It improves my sense of self actualization as I meander through the groves of daring...