KVR Audio

Squish · Post by **Squish** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:40 pm

Different twist on a beaten subject.

I'm looking for a host that provides the best tools and workflow for mixing audio. MIDI is about 10% important to me. I need #1 Stability. #2 Great support. #3 BWF import and #4 hardware contol. Those are my main concerns. Following after those closely are mixing tools provided by the host and automation. Again, MIDI and Sequencing is a minor issue if any.

So, in your opinion, what is the best audio Mixing app?

Thanks!!

kenn · Post by **kenn** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:01 pm

I hope there's no disagreement on this: the absolute best mixing experience is a real automated console with several motorized 100 mm faders. That's about as close as you can get to mixing with your ears, since you can move faders without having to look at them or at a screen.

So from that I would say the best mixing app is the one that works best with the big multi-fader control surfaces (...$$$!)

Failing that, I don't really know. Some users have said that SAWSTUDIO comes closest to replacing the typical recording console. Before the bun-throwing starts - I am only reporting what I've read on some forums; I haven't done enough mixing on DAWs myself to form an opinion on this. So I'm as interested as the OP on what others have to suggest here.

Squish · Post by **Squish** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:51 pm

Yeah Kenn, I wish I could afford a big ol' desk right now. But maybe in the future.
I'm familiar with Sawstudio, it does give a lot of tools for mixing but, no BWF import, except through a third party app.
I'm not looking for bells and whistles, just good tools to help mix audio. I guess what I need is an application that is not only stable but has a great automation package.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:23 pm

*throws a bun at kenn*

headquest · Post by **headquest** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:53 pm

I guess it really depends on what you are looking for in terms of mixing features - do you want to do "Stem Mixing", use folder tracks, use certain plugin formats, have particular routing preferences, use a Mackie controller, etc.

For me though I would say that I rather enjoy bouncing down tracks and then importing and mixing them in Adobe Audition. Here's why that process works well for me personally -

1) It only handles audio files and is not a MIDI sequencer. That removes a big variable from the process as well as preventing distractions. All the tracks are audio files competing on a level playing field!

2) Detailed audio editing is great. If I want to I can dstructively apply effects to avoid CPU overhead. Or I can use Audition's noise reduction right there in the same package.

3) The mixer itself is laid out exactly as I would want it, and is easy on the eye for long mixing sessions. Routing and mixer ergonomics are simple, which suits me fine as I'm a bit simple myself!

4) Sound quality. No idea why, but I do find my projects mix cleaner and better in Audition (than in Sonar, Reason, Live, Tracktion). Enough said. Let the buns fly!!

5) Great to be able to bounce the mix down and open the results up in edit view for mastering, then burn to CD - all in one program.

Having said that, I also love mixing in Ableton Live, Sonar, etc... all good fun!

kenn · Post by **kenn** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:36 pm

koolkeys wrote:*throws a bun at kenn*

Pass the gravy, too, please.

headquest · Post by **headquest** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:38 pm

One lump or two?

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:00 am

I prefer Nuendo and Cubase for audio + MIDI, but for stability and ease of use Vegas is just amazingly fast and intuitive, and supports BWF. It's an exceptional tool for a post-production mixer as well as composer as it supports more video formats than anything else, you can freely switch from musical timing to timecode and it's got wonderful realtime "switches", like pitching and reversing that make sound design faster and easier than any other multitrack editor. No MIDI though.

Audition definitely looks cool too, but I haven't really used it since CoolEdit days.

Squish · Post by **Squish** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:22 am

Hey thanks for the tips...and buns!

Lagrange · Post by **Lagrange** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:01 am

I'd have to agree with bduffy (which I rarely do ever in public) and add that Cubase really sounds good when mixing audio recorded to disk at a high bitrate... I also use Adobe Audition for some crazy stuff like mixing in specific selected frequency domain..

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:11 am

What the hell is a BWF file? Anyway, I would have thought ProTools was the obvious answer, given the intiial parameters.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:23 am

BWF=Broadcast Wave File, pretty much the standard for compatibility between hosts. The wave file holds time information and other stuff so when inserted, it automatically goes back to where it should be.

Sorry if you already knew what that was, but just wanted to know what the letters meant. But yeah, that's it.

Brent

Squish · Post by **Squish** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:46 am

BONES wrote:What the hell is a BWF file? Anyway, I would have thought ProTools was the obvious answer, given the intiial parameters.

What Koolkeys said. I'm trying to avoid Protools because I don't want to use LE and can't buy a TDM system. I'd rather stay native.

sboullion · Post by **sboullion** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:51 pm

Try Reaper, it's pretty nice to mix in. It's great for editing.

http://www.reaper.fm/

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:13 pm

sboullion wrote:Try Reaper, it's pretty nice to mix in. It's great for editing.

http://www.reaper.fm/

Does it import BWF?

Best host for mixing