Free vs. Demo versions

[bfloyd6969]

Hi, I just DL'd MULAB to give a whirl and I noticed that this comes in a Free version (6 tracks) and a purchased version with extras. After download and opening, it is showing as 'Demo' on the main page. Is this the same as the Free version? Thanks.

[MuTools]

Yes it is the Free version.

In fact the "Demo" in the title bar is just the name of the session, it's a Demo session which is an example of what you can do with MU.LAB.

I agree it may be a bit confusing, sorry for that.

You can always check the effective MU.LAB version via the Help menu -> About MU.LAB.

[bfloyd6969]

Thanks, I'll do that.

Another thing please, I notice that MULAB is ASIO driver only. My home computer is ASIO driven but I also like to do music work on my work computers (from a usb stick) which are not ASIO driven, nor can I download ASIO to them. Is there a work around to this? Is there a way I can download ASIO4all to my usb stick in which MULAB will recognize that? Thanks for the help.

[Musical Gym]

When you do music from the usb stick, do you have application, etc. all on just the usb stick and nothing installed on work computer? If so, how does that work (how do you do it)?

[bpblog]

if you have the unpacked MULAB folder on your usb stick, you can run the application from the stick without problems.

anyway, about the asio4all, i'm not sure if there's a portable version of it, but i seriously doubt there is one since it's an audio driver and those need to be installed on the system.

[Musical Gym]

if you have the unpacked MULAB folder on your usb stick, you can run the application from the stick without problems.

What do you mean by "unpacked" MULAB folder?

[pljones]

On Windows, MULAB comes as a ZIP file. A ZIP file is a single file which can be unpacked to its original form - a folder containing multiple files. You have to unpack MULAB to install it, wherever you install it. And MULAB doesn't care where you unpack it to -- it can be anywhere at all.

[robenestobenz]

And don't forget to try out MUX and MuSynth in your racks. Awesome modular effect/instrument workbenches. What makes them even more powerful is that you can host VSTs / the built-in sampler instruments etc in them.

[Musical Gym]

On Windows, MULAB comes as a ZIP file. A ZIP file is a single file which can be unpacked to its original form - a folder containing multiple files. You have to unpack MULAB to install it, wherever you install it. And MULAB doesn't care where you unpack it to -- it can be anywhere at all.

Thanks for reply. I didn't understand concept of using an unpacked file from a usb stick. Never heard of it.
I've been using zips for years.

[pljones]

Your OS doesn't really care where programs are installed, that's all.

However, many programs scatter their installation files all over the place: Program Files, Application Data, Local Data, Windows\System32. MULAB (itself) only uses files in the folder you install to. If you want it to use files outside that folder, you have to tell it explicitly (e.g. VSTs).

Of course, if you're working with VSTs, you'll need to make sure they're "portable", too. And, naturally, put your project files on the stick, too.

[Musical Gym]

Your OS doesn't really care where programs are installed, that's all.

However, many programs scatter their installation files all over the place: Program Files, Application Data, Local Data, Windows\System32. MULAB (itself) only uses files in the folder you install to. If you want it to use files outside that folder, you have to tell it explicitly (e.g. VSTs).

Of course, if you're working with VSTs, you'll need to make sure they're "portable", too. And, naturally, put your project files on the stick, too.

Thanks for explanation. Will need to give it a try.
Can I basically do the same thing with an external hard drive?
I'm using an Iomega for storage/backup. Do you know if performance would suffer running stuff from external HD? Or is there any reason I might want to do it? Do you think it would over-tax the Iomega and shorten its life span?

[bpblog]

external hard drive is ok too. will probably work as fast as a flash drive. i believe the speed will depend on your usb connection characteristics.

[pljones]

There are a couple of reasons to do it -- if you change location regularly or if you want a way to keep various projects separate.

Having everything on a portable storage device (generic term ) means you can just plug in to any ASIO-enabled PC and start making music, saving carting a laptop around, say, between home and office environments.

Using external drives can help with organisation -- if you're working with really, really big projects, you could put each on its own drive and plug it in when you're working on it.

I don't remember what Jo's licensing terms say on the number of copies you're allowed to install or on how many computers you're allowed to use your licensed copy, so you might want to read up on that.

[MuTools]

The MU.LAB User License Agreement is here:

http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/licen ... ement.html

In short:

You're allowed to install MU.LAB Free on as many computers/external drives as you want.

If you have a MU.LAB Unlimited User License, you're allowed to install MU.LAB Unlimited on maximum 5 computers/external drives of your own.

[Musical Gym]

Thanks for the advice and help, everyone.
Jim