Orion??? POS/NEG opinions please... no trolls.

[Kriminal]

How short can you get the notes in the pattern editor? i've only used an interface like that one a couple times, i prefer hex notation

If played through an external keyboard, as short as the note that's played. Using the pianoroll, you can reduce right down to 128 subdivisions per bar.

I think if you increase the PPQ you can go higher than that, not sure

[Kriminal]

aMUSED, you can organise your VST instruments and effects however you like - just make folders inside your VST folder and put things in them.

I do - its the DX list I have the biggest problem with as I said. You can't do anything with that and it doesnt sort instruments from effects.

Who uses DX instruments? Im not aware of any good ones (that dont have a VST version)

[Glassback]

No, the DX list isn't configurable. Having said that, I find I don't really use DX anyway as I prefer vst. That could be because it's easier to find what I want, but also because the DX list tends to show all sorts of nonsense like the Tee sync-to-sync convertors, Nero resize, Logitech video/audio tee and other things that have nowt to do with music. So I just don't bother with that menu at all.



Regarding deleting instruments and losing patterns etc.
If I like the tune I've got but not the instrument, I "copy all patterns" into a new instrument, then copy the mixer controls into the new channel, then carry any insert effects to the new channel and do it that way. The only pain is that I have to physically rewrite all the patterns into the playlist editor before deleting the other instrument so that I know where they go. I'd like to be able to grab a whole channels playlist structure and drag/copy down into a new channel.
Also, there's the style saver for when I've deleted an instrument for whatever reason and then later decide I want to reintroduce it to the song. With this I can easily go back to an earlier save, save the patterns as styles and the settings as a preset, then just load it all up again in the later version. And away I go...


...but I'd STILL like to see the time display included in the traction bar. There's room for it and not having a constantly showing time display just makes no sense imo.

[aMUSEd]

No, the DX list isn't configurable. Having said that, I find I don't really use DX anyway as I prefer vst. That could be because it's easier to find what I want, but also because the DX list tends to show all sorts of nonsense like the Tee sync-to-sync convertors, Nero resize, Logitech video/audio tee and other things that have nowt to do with music. So I just don't bother with that menu at all.

Me too - maybe there should be an option to lose it completely if its not possible to filter out the crap and distinguish between instruments and effects.

However then I'd lose stuff like Dimension and Psyn 2.

[Glassback]

How short can you get the notes in the pattern editor? i've only used an interface like that one a couple times, i prefer hex notation

If played through an external keyboard, as short as the note that's played. Using the pianoroll, you can reduce right down to 128 subdivisions per bar.

I think if you increase the PPQ you can go higher than that, not sure

Good grief, yes, you're right.
Never knew that! Thanks!
I just tested that and indeed, by putting the ppq on the max setting of 768, the visual difference within the bar was amazing... although the config in the bottom right still showed as 128 subdivisions there were definitely a lot more than that.

[Rangtangtang]

I tried a demo once, once you open a VST and you change your mind you can't close it? And DS404 takes up a lot of channels. Thats not very good for a top quality sequencer? But besides that I thought it was quite good, but Fruityloops is probably better value though.

[Kriminal]

I tried a demo once, once you open a VST and you change your mind you can't close it? And DS404 takes up a lot of channels. Thats not very good for a top quality sequencer? But besides that I thought it was quite good, but Fruityloops is probably better value though.

both these issues are fixed in next version. Ane wway to deal with windows, and config mixer strips, so you can hide ones that are not used.

[Kriminal]

How short can you get the notes in the pattern editor? i've only used an interface like that one a couple times, i prefer hex notation

If played through an external keyboard, as short as the note that's played. Using the pianoroll, you can reduce right down to 128 subdivisions per bar.

I think if you increase the PPQ you can go higher than that, not sure

Good grief, yes, you're right.
Never knew that! Thanks!
I just tested that and indeed, by putting the ppq on the max setting of 768, the visual difference within the bar was amazing...

be aware this does increase CPU tho

[Kriminal]

If I like the tune I've got but not the instrument, I "copy all patterns" into a new instrument, then copy the mixer controls into the new channel, then carry any insert effects to the new channel and do it that way. The only pain is that I have to physically rewrite all the patterns into the playlist editor before deleting the other instrument so that I know where they go. I'd like to be able to grab a whole channels playlist structure and drag/copy down into a new channel.


.

you could just merge all patterns and save it as a Style, then reload. you can also save Mixer EQ settings (in next version) so that helps too. Rich has also been talking about simple using a 'replace synth' feature recently to make it even easier.

[original flipper]

HI

I REALLY liked Orion Platinum and think it is a bloody good host - I did sell my copy as I had accumilated too much software!

I think it best to always give a host a good test period before buying - to get a feel for it's s stability on your computer.

The only 2 downers for me were;

1) A few too many crashes
2) I really did not like the arrange page; it made putting together my compositions a chore, it was not giving me the visual feedback that made things easy to identify.

That is just MY experience, but I repeat; I really liked it.

Flipper.

[Kriminal]

oh, and you can give every pattern a name now too....

[M'Snah]

IF you like Orion's approach to making music, then Platinum is the only way to go. The price difference is much less than the worth of the additional generators and effects that you get (e.g. Toxic alone is almost worth the difference).

But you do have to like this way of working. If you're used to e.g. Tracktion, it will be a big step.

[Glassback]

you could just merge all patterns and save it as a Style, then reload.

Ye godz, I'm feeling like a frickin noob now!
'Merge all patterns and save as style'... sorry for being unobservant but I've just had a look and can't see the merge all patterns option. Does it keep all your patterns intact as one file instead of having to save and load A1, A2, A3 etc?

you can also save Mixer EQ settings (in next version) so that helps too. Rich has also been talking about simple using a 'replace synth' feature recently to make it even easier.

Now, that I'll look forward to!

[Kriminal]

Lasso all the patterns in playlist (or however many you want) and press CTRL+Z, this merges them all into one pattern (in the next available free pattern) You keep all originals too, so nothing is lost.

[Glassback]

How short can you get the notes in the pattern editor? i've only used an interface like that one a couple times, i prefer hex notation

If played through an external keyboard, as short as the note that's played. Using the pianoroll, you can reduce right down to 128 subdivisions per bar.

I think if you increase the PPQ you can go higher than that, not sure

Good grief, yes, you're right.
Never knew that! Thanks!
I just tested that and indeed, by putting the ppq on the max setting of 768, the visual difference within the bar was amazing...

be aware this does increase CPU tho

Yeah, I read that warning on the ppq screen.
I must admit there have been a few times (particularly when trying to get a sample to stutter more or trying to get more drumbeats to a bar without upping the tempo) that I could have used this feature if I knew what it did.