Tracktion 3 preview

[headquest]

It seems weird to me that on the rms forum some people are also speculating that T3 will NOT have dual core / multiprocessor support... surely they wouldn't consider releasing it without??!! If so then we'll have to wait another year or two for it, which is just odd considering that most PC and Mac computers sold these days are dual core (at least). Mackie already confirmed there will be an intel mac version, and aren't the Macbooks all Core Duo anyway? So surely multicore processors WILL be supported...

[Jim Roseberry]

[/quote]

hmmm they had this before the first release of samplitude 7? Because that, if not an earlier version, had clip based effects [/quote]

FWIW, Samplitude has had 'per-Object' based EFX processing since the original release of Samplitude 2496. Several years before any other app offered it...

[headquest]

From the company forum:

Tracktion 3 was previewed at AES last week. For those who didn't have a chance to attend the show, we demoed Tracktion 3 on an Intel iMac and on an XP PC. The response was great to the myriad of new features that will make this our most impressive release of Tracktion to date. There will also be major improvements to the bundle as well as new upgrade paths. These were not discussed at the show and will be announced at a later date. Below are just some of the new features we showed:

Enhanced Loop Support - Acid, Apple and REX loops with searchable Loop Browser, Auto-adjust loops to pitch, tempo, and time signature changes using new Global Track and new Pitch Shift/Time Stretch Algorithm, loopable MIDI clips, Create searchable loops directly from Tracktion, New File Browser to search drive contents from with Tracktion

Folder Tracks and Collection Clips - New Folder Tracks allow hiding and showing of groups of tracks in edit with support for nested folders, Edit all folder contents at once using new Collection Clips, New VCA filters to adjust volume of all tracks in the folder

Marker Enhancements - New Marker Track displays Marker Clips, New Marker List, New Marker Types, 999 Maximum Markers, Enhanced keyboard shortcuts for Marker Creation and Recall

Project Management Enhancements - New user Creatable Templates, New Automatic file system folder structure, New Project List and Item List folders for better organization.

Automation Curve Enhancements - New Smart Automation Node Entry correctly creates stepped automation curves for discrete value changes, New adjustable Bezier Curves between nodes, New editing of multiple nodes at once, New enhanced editing of line segments, New Automation Follows Clips Mode

Rack Enhancements - Wrap multiple consecutively selected filters in a rack, New Unwrap Rack onto track creates real unique instances of filters, New and improved rack preset handling, New create racks from preset directly on to a track, Import/Export rack presets for sharing between users

Control Surface Enhancements - Improved MCU Support, Improved C4 Support, Added support for up to 3 MCU-XTs, Added support for Novation Remote SL, Added Color Indication of Control Surface Support, Added Bi Directional Support for Custom Control Surfaces, Create Presets for a Particular Plug-in and Controller and Smart loading of preset for existing plug-ins

New Safe Record Mode - Prevent unwanted stopping of recording by locking Tracktion into record mode until a special key combo is pressed

Misc. - Universal Binary for Mac Intel Support, Windows Vista RC1 Support, VST 2.4 Support including complete *.vstxml support, New Hover Edit of Clips, Improved Meter Response with improved scaling and range, Improved Input Routing view and operation combining previous old and new views, New mute individual clips, New editable Clip Length field for all clips, Divider between Controllers and Notes in Midi Editor can now be resized, Bottom Panel can now be resized, Zoom controls from GUI, New First Run Wizard, Misc. GUI improvements, Lots of new key commands, Many More…

[img=http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7408 ... sg9.th.png]

Stay tuned for more information.

Ben

[koolkeys]

And just think. That's not even the full list.

Brent

[headquest]

It looks great koolkeys, and you were obviously right about it being a much bigger update than the video suggested

I was asked a while back to not share my opinions on the RMS forum (often they are taken the wrong way) which is a shame 'coz I'd love to say how brilliant I think this looks - really what I always hoped T would develop into.

There are just a few important things to know of course (mostly not the stuff that gets included in announcements):

* will the rewire issue and the first note bug be gone (both contingent on a new audio engine, I believe)
* will the GUI slowdown be fixed (implication is that it will )
* will it have Dual Core support (crucial)

Assuming poisitive answers to those nitty-gritty questions, I think there is a very strong chance I will be investing in this and properly enjoying Tracktion once more

[christianmusicmaker]

* will it have Dual Core support (crucial)

Crucial indeed. Perhaps it is listed somewhere under "Many more" I would be very surprised if it does not make it into T2.

Thanks for the list HQ. At least we know more about it. Pretty good!

[headquest]

* will it have Dual Core support (crucial)

Crucial indeed. Perhaps it is listed somewhere under "Many more" I would be very surprised if it does not make it into T2.

Well I think you saw on the RMS thread that Beno has stated they will add proper multicore support as soon as they can... possibly for the initial T3 release, which would obviously be good. Once you add Multicore support to the list that is already stated, then it's really an irresistable upgrade for existing and even many ex-users I would think!

Still no reply on the first-note bug though... I saw a couple of people ask, but no answer is yet given. I'm sure they will have done this... it wold be a great pity if they didn't.

Thanks for the list HQ. At least we know more about it. Pretty good!

No worries. It's looking pretty good, huh? Are you tempted, and if so how do you think it will fit in alongside your SONAR 6...?

[headquest]

SCROLL BAR:

Something I notice in the two screenshots Beno has posted - there is now a horizontal scroll bar for the Arrangment. This appears to have replaced the existing navigation tool that was at the top left of the tracks.

I wonder whether this will mean that navigation and mouse scrolling behavior are particularly changed?

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7408 ... sg9.th.png

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/8181 ... us1.th.png

[ModuLR]

The old navigation that existed in the upper left was basically useless. I think the horizontal scrollbar is just an easy alternative for those who refuse to use wheely mice to navigate.

[headquest]

Thanks for the info on that, ModuLR. I agree that the horizontal toolbar looks like an easy option, which is obviously a good thing. Also, I guess the top left area now needs to be used for the loop browser button(s).

I think that with T3 I will also want to personally get more into customising the mouse wheel behavior

[christianmusicmaker]

Well I think you saw on the RMS thread that Beno has stated they will add proper multicore support as soon as they can... possibly for the initial T3 release, which would obviously be good. Once you add Multicore support to the list that is already stated, then it's really an irresist able upgrade for existing and even many ex-users I would think!

It would be great if Mackie can include Dual core support before it's release

Still no reply on the first-note bug though... I saw a couple of people ask, but no answer is yet given. I'm sure they will have done this... it wold be a great pity if they didn't.

That might suggest the audio engine did not get a major overhaul as such. Early days yet though, it may be fixed or they might be still trying to fix it.

No worries. It's looking pretty good, huh?

A superb release from Mackie.

They seemed to have covered most of the major features that people have been asking for. Not every but most. It looks great.

This is the release many have been waiting for. I really do not think Mackie see this as a rival to Sonar, Logic or Cubase but then why does it have to be?

T1 had more than enough in it to get the job done and have great fun doing it. That is why we were all making such a fuss on the Tracktion forum way back when (yes you as well ) it was great.

Now Mackie appeared to have really tried their best to give Tracktion users exactly what they wanted. A simple , easily accessible host that maintains the large buttons and text for clarity, left to right signal flow, single screen workspace, lovely graphics IMO, with handy pop ups and and info line (top right) that guarantee you never get lost using the package. Live has this great feature as well.

Tracktion in a word is *fun*. Many Tracktion users are more than happy to do without every other feature found elsewhere if it means they can enjoy what they do and get a professional result done quickly.

T1, T2 and much more so now T3 deliver that promise. Not perfect of course but fun!

One has to ask at some point how many features do you need to be happy? Or to not switch hosts? I think T3 has enough in it now to remove the need to consider another host for many.

I think many people who only use Trackion will not even think of going elsewhere now. All the doubts I had about Mackie listening to their user base have evaporated with T3's announcement as far as I am concerned. Fantastic.

T4 should be an equally exciting release now that I know exactly what direction Mackie are taking Trackion in. User driven. I really think Mackie cracked it with T3

However many of the things I do with clients require a host with a very wide feature set like Sonar so that will remain. I don't see anything on that level yet. Sonar will always be a feature heavy host that I need that for many things.

Even Sonar can be easy to use as well but requires a little more time I think to get into. But then again there is more feature wise in Sonar compared to Tracktion.

Are you tempted, and if so how do you think it will fit in alongside your SONAR 6...?

99.9% certain I will upgrade even if dual core support does not quite make it there. Despite the initial stark contrast between Jules relaxed and chilled out responsive style and Mackies complete silence for too long in the past....I think Mackie have demonstrated with Tracktion 3 that despite the silence (not all, but many other companies operate this way to be fair) they are clearly paying attention to the needs of their customers. Great to see!

I would use Tracktion 3 for collaborative work with a few friends who have had T2 for a good deal of time. They love it. It looks like my work with them will be massively enhanced by upgrading to T3.

Hopefully Mackie will not push the price up too far, if at all.

I am very interested to see what their upgrade prices are.

Rock's list here makes interesting reading now...

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=110052

[headquest]

It would be great if Mackie can include Dual core support before it's release

Yes. Beno has also said they will add aftertouch as soon as they can as well (possibly in T3, but not there yet).

That might suggest the audio engine did not get a major overhaul as such. Early days yet though, it may be fixed or they might be still trying to fix it.

For me this one is more important because I use Reason heavily, including its pattern devices, which is where that particular problem is really annoying. But assuming they really are listening to users then I am sure it will be fixed - there has been so much feedback and argument about it over the last 2 - 3 years.

A superb release from Mackie... This is the release many have been waiting for.

Absoltely!

T1 had more than enough in it to get the job done and have great fun doing it. That is why we were all making such a fuss on the Tracktion forum way back when (yes you as well ) it was great.

Loads of people were really negative about T2 and Mackie, but I seemed to get singled out for particular blame... anyway, one of the moderators asked to stop sharing my opinions on the RMS forum, so I no longer post there.

The irony is that both the threads about T3 there (yours and Benos) have contained LOTS of negativity - the latest one almost *went nuclear*. All without my input at all . I actually felt like posting and suggesting that the moaners just look at how brilliant an update T3 is, and be more grateful! But it's probably healthier for me not to post there, given the hostility. I know from your emails that you witnessed a lot of that and support where I am coming from anyway... you've been a good influence there too .

All the doubts I had about Mackie listening to their user base have evaporated with T3's announcement as far as I am concerned. Fantastic. T4 should be an equally exciting release now that I know exactly what direction Mackie are taking Trackion in. User driven. I really think Mackie cracked it with T3

Yeah - I totally agree

However many of the things I do with clients require a host with a very wide feature set like Sonar so that will remain. I don't see anything on that level yet. Sonar will always be a feature heavy host that I need that for many things.

What things, out of interest? As you know, I am presently very happy using the combination of Audition + Live... but I think that with the release of version 3, Tracktion will very likely also take a central part in my setup once again. Two reasons: 1) as you say, it's such fun! and 2) I think it was and will again be a great teaching tool.

99.9% certain I will upgrade even if dual core support does not quite make it there.

Same here. And I say that in spite of the fact that I have not yet upgraded to EITHER Sonar 6 OR Live 6 . I guess the only doubt for me with T3 is over the first-note... assuming that is fixed, I think it will probably be the most exciting of the *three* updates!

Hopefully Mackie will not push the price up too far, if at all. I am very interested to see what their upgrade prices are.

Yes - very important at this point.

Cheers mate

[christianmusicmaker]

What things, out of interest? As you know, I am presently very happy using the combination of Audition + Live... but I think that with the release of version 3, Tracktion will very likely also take a central part in my setup once again. Two reasons: 1) as you say, it's such fun! and 2) I think it was and will again be a great teaching tool.

Vvocal, is just one example. Having built in pitch correction in Sonar allows me to do more in one place.

Same here. And I say that in spite of the fact that I have not yet upgraded to EITHER Sonar 6 OR Live 6 . I guess the only doubt for me with T3 is over the first-note... assuming that is fixed, I think it will probably be the most exciting of the *three* updates!

I think I need to read that again very slowly...

[headquest]

I say that in spite of the fact that I have not yet upgraded to EITHER Sonar 6 OR Live 6 . I guess the only doubt for me with T3 is over the first-note... assuming that is fixed, I think it will probably be the most exciting of the *three* updates!

I think I need to read that again very slowly...

Well I mean the *most exciting* in terms of how the *update* enhances the program. In the case of Live and Sonar, they are great programs that just got even better. Tracktion 2 was quite a disappointment to me (for various reasons) but T3 really looks as though it will be a stunning improvement...

Beyond that, I do find Sonar is more powerful and Live is more creatively inspiring than Tracktion. But with this update from Mackie, I think Tracktion could well reestablish itself as a fantastic alternative that combines real power and fun in a quite fresh way

[headquest]

Christianmusicmaker - like you I have felt very positive about this update, and got the impression that Mackie are really listening to users. However... the first note bug may have been ignored yet again...

I sent a PM to Beno last week with questions that he came back quickly with an answer. I sent a second PM in which I asked about the first note bug, and he ignored it. Several people have also asked on the RMS thread lots of questions that he answered, but the question about the first note bug has also been repeatedly asked there, and again has been ignored...

I'm kinda concerned that they would have still ignored that after all this time, and if they have I think it would be a deal-breaker for me, both because of the problem itself, and because of what that indicates about the whole issue of "developer support"... it would strongly suggest that they are keen to implement FR for which they can charge, but not deal with BR for which they possibly can't as such.

1st note bug.. why am i being ignored?

Well, I doubt it's because they discovered an easy fix for it and therefore forgot all about mentioning it.

Neil, is it possible you're the 1st one to note that bug and therefore you're being...