SAWStudio?

[gruberman]

You will find numerous posts like these. There is a definitely a difference in sound quality between some of the DAWs. SAW uses integer vs floating based calculations internally, thereby minimizing calculation errors caused by floating point rounding. To my ears, the only other daw that can compete is Samplitude. However, SAW is still more effecient.

Here we go again

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[HanafiH]

Joking aside...

Sawstudio: sounds great, really great. Looks stupid, costs too much and its future support is too dependent a single individual for personal investment in a product in that price range.

[nexuscreative]

Unless I have never used any hosts before I wouldn't mind going through learning how Saw works. But the problem is, most of us here are used to the "standard" windows environment, or at least familiar with Cubase, Live, etc.

For example, there are certain standardized keys and shortcuts and ways of using the mouse to click and drag things.

Anything that deviates from the standard protocol, we would have problem operating the software efficiently. Moreover, some of us here have tight deadlines and many things to do - we don't have the time to learn.

Coupled to the fact that the GUI is badly designed, it would really take a tough time converting people.

There is a real good reason for an efficient interface design. There are books on design theories, psychology, interactive/information design, experience design and etc. All these were written because there is an understanding that designing an interface relates to our everyday experience and how we, would react to colours and graphics when something pops up in the monitor screen. Not just only that - but also how information will pass on to us when we click a button, and how to get the right information we want if we need it urgently.

Creating or designing an interface is not designing something that you like, unless you are doing it for yourself. If you are designing it to the massess, you need to pay attention to the user's feedbacks.

There is a reason to this of why Windows or Mac works in a particular way and why it looks that way. Like why so many people love Cubase?

It was designed in such a way so that users could easily comprehend and learn the workflow fast and efficiently. Anything that goes against this learning process will hinder productivity. This is so important to us especially when we are making music.

Did many know how many vigorous tests, revisions and re-designing of an interface before it actually can go public? I've made case studies before for websites closing down in business because of a badly designed interface.

Sawstudio broke the very first fundamental in design - a bad GUI and unconventional workflow. That alone regardless how good is the sound engine, will not able to win the hearts of many. Unless there is at least 100-200% of difference in terms of features, efficiency that many people can see, hear and compare with other existing hosts, people will just put off by it... and the price.

I've been using Cubase since day one but I've heard the great sound engine of Sam and Saw. So one day I've decided to choose one for my new setup specially for mixing. Guess which one I turned to?

[Radek]

You will find numerous posts like these. There is a definitely a difference in sound quality between some of the DAWs.

Could you name some of them that differ in the basic sound quality please? Because last time we did a nulling test, all of them passed to my knowledge.

Or were you talking about specific components like the EQ or compressor? I'd expect each single one to be slightly different in usability, but "sound quality" in general is not often messed up.

SAW uses integer vs floating based calculations internally, thereby minimizing calculation errors caused by floating point rounding.

Moot!! Rounding errors between floating point and integer arithmetics are at around -160dB if I'm not mistaken, buried deep below the noise floor. Nobody can hear that. Period.

Well... integers have a constat quantization step where floats' quantization step will increase with bigger numbers. I can imagine a someone might see a point using fixed point instead of floats. But with doublefloats being affordable now there is hardly need for such made mixers. But SAW isn't a new in a market - perhaps at the beginning its way of mixing was best available?

I checked SAW demo and found it intriguing. Thought I couldn't understand it much I got a feeling it has some distinct qualities.

[dhise]

I don't understand all the SAW bashing here. It's not perfect, and there are features I wish it had. The bottom line for me is that my mixes consistantly sound better in SAW than the other apps that I have worked with. The fact that the midi doesn't drift from the audio and that I can get the work done faster is a bonus. Another big bonus is that if I have a problem, I can have a nice friendly discussion with the guy who wrote it and come up with some kind of solution! Try that with Steinberg....

peace,
Doug

http://www.myspace.com/hisesoundlabs

[Jason Brian Merrill]

I don't understand all the SAW bashing here. It's not perfect, and there are features I wish it had. The bottom line for me is that my mixes consistantly sound better in SAW than the other apps that I have worked with. The fact that the midi doesn't drift from the audio and that I can get the work done faster is a bonus. Another big bonus is that if I have a problem, I can have a nice friendly discussion with the guy who wrote it and come up with some kind of solution! Try that with Steinberg....

peace,
Doug

http://www.myspace.com/hisesoundlabs

that is indeed nice that you can have interaction with the writer of the software

however, i dont remember the last time audio and midi were NOT synchronized in a host

And I understand about mixes sounding better -- Im not sure what it is, but samplitude just *seems* to sound better mixing wise. Im sure if you took a single wave file in a program and put it in another, then it would null, but there must be something in the pan law, or some other massaging that samp does to the audio.....

I think it to be possible.

However, as stated earlier, i dotn like a host messing with my sound, even if its for the better...

[Jason Brian Merrill]

I would like to see some screenshots of SAW skins... from what i saw, it wasnt just REAPER ugly (simple and utilitarian*), it was beyond that, where the ugliness got in the way of decent workflow, IMO. I remember some sort of weird wood or brick detail that was VERY distracting to the eye hehe...

*although with increased skinnability, REAPER is looking much better these days

[fandango]

It's not just that. The crazy font on the mixer looks like one of Roger Dean's designs... looks great on a YES, ASIA or Pink Floyd album cover, bad on a mixing console.

[Jason Brian Merrill]

omg, i wouldnt even know where to begin with that!!!!!

Also, I dont see midi on the same timeline as the audio....

[fandango]

File->Close would be a good start...

[LijEyasu]

You've obviously never used Cubase SX2/3.

I don't understand all the SAW bashing here. It's not perfect, and there are features I wish it had. The bottom line for me is that my mixes consistantly sound better in SAW than the other apps that I have worked with. The fact that the midi doesn't drift from the audio and that I can get the work done faster is a bonus. Another big bonus is that if I have a problem, I can have a nice friendly discussion with the guy who wrote it and come up with some kind of solution! Try that with Steinberg....

peace,
Doug

http://www.myspace.com/hisesoundlabs

that is indeed nice that you can have interaction with the writer of the software

however, i dont remember the last time audio and midi were NOT synchronized in a host

And I understand about mixes sounding better -- Im not sure what it is, but samplitude just *seems* to sound better mixing wise. Im sure if you took a single wave file in a program and put it in another, then it would null, but there must be something in the pan law, or some other massaging that samp does to the audio.....

I think it to be possible.

However, as stated earlier, i dotn like a host messing with my sound, even if its for the better...

[Jason Brian Merrill]

You've obviously never used Cubase SX2/3.

ooooh, how WRONG you are
---EDIT

listen, because of recent posts, i think people can ascertain that i do NOT like cubase. But i would rather try to find my own prostate with my pinky toe than to navigate SAW from that screenshot... are there any other skins???

Dang. at least i can work in Cubase... I do it at my friends house all the time. EVen tho i dont like it, at least I can see what the heck im doing.

[LijEyasu]

That's the default skin, change it. There are actually some nice skins on the SAW site, I believe.

It's not just that. The crazy font on the mixer looks like one of Roger Dean's designs... looks great on a YES, ASIA or Pink Floyd album cover, bad on a mixing console.

[Jason Brian Merrill]

That's the default skin, change it. There are actually some nice skins on the SAW site, I believe.

well lets see em then!!!

(see edit on my post above)