Quite a big disadvantage in Cubase SX3 !!!!!

[IIRs]

IIRs, might be - but seriously, there's apparently enough T2 users using eXT in addition as well. Probably for good reasons.

Because it inspires them? thats the only good reason IMO.

I keep demoing eXT every so often, but (while I agree its very impressive) I find it doesn't add anything to my setup that I can't already do with Tracktion plus a few home-brew synthedit plugs (I can make my own MIDI FX in SE!)

I will probably buy an eXT license one day anyway, but meanwhile Tracktion does everything I need it to quickly, and with a minimum of fuss.

[jens]

I especially like the things like folder tracks, ghost-clips, mutable notes and clips, automatic beat-slicing and stuff like that in Tracktion...

[IIRs]

I wonder if eXT is yet capable of complex tasks such as tempo maps..?

[jens]

I wonder if eXT is yet capable of complex tasks such as tempo maps..?

sure it is - but I wonder if you can draw smooth tempo-envelopes with editable curves in Tracktion like you can in eXT...?

[jens]

now can you? (I've no idea )

[IIRs]

Smooth tempo ramps were possible way back when you were still a Tracktion fanboy

See, knowing how to use your host is what really matters..

[jens]

Smooth tempo ramps were possible way back when you were still a Tracktion fanboy

with freely editable curves?

How exactly do you do it then?


(please provide a step by step guide as I'm a bit stupid and do not know Tracktion very well yet )

[IIRs]

with freely editable curves?

No.. I hate dealing with graphs for tempo, it feels totally wrong to me and always did in Cubase.

How exactly do you do it then?

You press the "ramped tempo" button

[bduffy]

bduffy - as a Cubase user you NEED eXT. And yes, you needed it yesterday already!
Of yourse you don't need the sequencer portion of it (which I am not using either), but it's just freaking marvelleous as a subhost.

See, Cubase users are complaining about the lack of FX not being exchangeable (without completely unloading them that is). A no brainer with eXT!

In addition, you can even run FX parallely (without some wicked group routing scenarios, you just do it).

Then, you can layer synths, yay! Sure, you can record on multiple tracks simultaneously as well in Cubase - but it's something entirely different!

And finally (and that's where the true fun starts), you can control EACH VST(i) parameter with whatever MIDI controller you like. Just imagine, you'd setup a chain of a synth, a distortion unit and some delay, and by simply turning your ModWheel up, the cutoff would be slightly lowered (you can scale it how much effect the CC movements have), resonance would go up, drive of the distortion unit would raise as well and probably the delay's feedback too!
And, as if that wasn't good enough to make you wet your pants allready, you just save the complete shebang as one single preset to have it available once and forever.

So, what you are saying is basically "Cubase plus eXT is nearly as good as Tracktion"..?

Does Tracktion do all that stuff?

[IIRs]

bduffy - as a Cubase user you NEED eXT. And yes, you needed it yesterday already!
Of yourse you don't need the sequencer portion of it (which I am not using either), but it's just freaking marvelleous as a subhost.

See, Cubase users are complaining about the lack of FX not being exchangeable (without completely unloading them that is). A no brainer with eXT!

In addition, you can even run FX parallely (without some wicked group routing scenarios, you just do it).

Then, you can layer synths, yay! Sure, you can record on multiple tracks simultaneously as well in Cubase - but it's something entirely different!

And finally (and that's where the true fun starts), you can control EACH VST(i) parameter with whatever MIDI controller you like. Just imagine, you'd setup a chain of a synth, a distortion unit and some delay, and by simply turning your ModWheel up, the cutoff would be slightly lowered (you can scale it how much effect the CC movements have), resonance would go up, drive of the distortion unit would raise as well and probably the delay's feedback too!
And, as if that wasn't good enough to make you wet your pants allready, you just save the complete shebang as one single preset to have it available once and forever.

So, what you are saying is basically "Cubase plus eXT is nearly as good as Tracktion"..?

Does Tracktion do all that stuff?

Yes, without breaking a sweat.

[jens]

with freely editable curves?

No.. I hate dealing with graphs for tempo, it feels totally wrong to me and always did in Cubase.

'yes' or 'no'? You already said yes so what's right then - can you draw smooth tempo-envelopes with editable curves in Tracktion like you can in eXT or can you not? Yes or no? There's only one answer possible me thinks...

How exactly do you do it then?

You press the "ramped tempo" button [/quote]


thanks for this highly valuable info - but I already know this function for about two and a half years now (since the day it has found its way into a beta-version of Tracktion V1) - and I thought I could learn a cool new trick from you - bugger...

[jens]

Does Tracktion do all that stuff?

Yes, without breaking a sweat.

just like eXT - but eXT does a shitload more cool stuff Tracktion can't...

[IIRs]

'yes' or 'no'? You already said yes so what's right then - can you draw smooth tempo-envelopes with editable curves in Tracktion like you can in eXT or can you not? Yes or no? There's only one answer possible me thinks...

The answer is no: why do you want to? I used to hate dealing with tempo changes via a graph in cubase, it was akward and unintuitive and the curves that "looked right" rarely sounded it.. in Tracktion you press one button to get a smooth ramp from one tempo to another, what could be simpler and more effective?

[IIRs]

Does Tracktion do all that stuff?

Yes, without breaking a sweat.

just like eXT - but eXT does a shitload more cool stuff Tracktion can't...

Except the single most important thing: inspire me to make music

[bduffy]

ooh! eXT vs Tracktion! Fight! Fight! *runs to get popcorn...*