and which do you guys prefer and why?
the interface on Forte looks cooler
any thoughts/ suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Cantabile vs. Forte
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- KVRist
- 196 posts since 11 Sep, 2004 from Germany
Hi,
I purchased both and to begin with the end: I cannot really find a looser - both are very good pieces of software and each of them has it's specialities but also problems. One main difference is the different philosophy behind: whereas cantabile has a more "open" structure (you can send signals from nearly anywhere to anywhere) forte uses racks with a fixed number of plugs - means you have to decide what you use for a whole show.
What at first glance seems to be a big plus for cantabile is also a different at a closer look: the flexibiliy in routing makes midi routings more complex, as a newbe you probably don't find a way to send a simple MIDI program change.
The static structure of forte forinstance offers the possibity to "fix" sampler VSTis like Kontakt oder Halion - means you load all the sounds you need at the start of forte which leads to dramatical fast program changes (feels like a hardware solution).
On the other hand cantabile gives you much more possibilities: f.e. you have lots of MIDI transformer functions like velocity curve compression and the like as a part of cantabile (forte only has the possibility to import MIDI plugs which doesn't work flawlessly in all cases). There are some other extras forte doesn't provide:
1) 64Bit version inclusive
2) Possibility to start more than one instance of cantabile (so you could have 2 identical workstations by using 2 MIDI - keyboards on one PC)
3) Integrated limiter
4) Integrated MIDI & Audio File Player and Recorder (incl. synchronisation - useful for synchronisation of arpeggiators, clicktracks,...)
5) Surface provides PAN and 2 Effect Channels which is near to an audio mixer
....
Of course there is mostly a solution to add some functionality the competitor has available by adding a plug or special way of implementation. There are only a handful of storied I only can realise on one of both hosts!
Stability: I would call both hosts stable. Of course you have to lay stress on the platform:
- is the mobo stable? Don't overclock the machine.
- soundcard: has much influence on latency and performance, probably even more important: drivers - get the most stable product you can (many probs are driver initiated!)
- plugins: if drivers are o.k. 90% of crashes are caused by incompatible plugs (this is lots of testing)
- tweaking: not a religion, just use the standard tools like DPC latency checker to find out if any components do interrupts on audio streams (f.e. Wifi Adapter,...), don't surf on Websides your mum didn't allow
After done so I can say that both hosts are very stable.
Support: well, Brad (cantabile) really cares if you have any problems with cantabile or when using it in combination with plugs. There is also TiUser who cares a lot for the needs of us users (thanks mate). The main problem: there doesn't seem to be any development at the moment (to be fair: Brad informed he has to be busy in other developments to fill his refrigerator. I accept this.
Mike (Forte) also cares for user problems but additionally he is working on version 3 at the moment which includes 64Bit support and many other new functions. There are also updates availabel frequently. There is also a very good forum and also a "TiUser" (his name there is Dirk). Due to the fact Brad is on forte I would say: one plus for forte support.
Finally again: "And the winner is .... both". My hint for you: get both demos and do extensive testing to find out what is the best solution for you (or purchase both like me). If you have any questions be free to post.
Kind regards and good luck, humphrey
I purchased both and to begin with the end: I cannot really find a looser - both are very good pieces of software and each of them has it's specialities but also problems. One main difference is the different philosophy behind: whereas cantabile has a more "open" structure (you can send signals from nearly anywhere to anywhere) forte uses racks with a fixed number of plugs - means you have to decide what you use for a whole show.
What at first glance seems to be a big plus for cantabile is also a different at a closer look: the flexibiliy in routing makes midi routings more complex, as a newbe you probably don't find a way to send a simple MIDI program change.
The static structure of forte forinstance offers the possibity to "fix" sampler VSTis like Kontakt oder Halion - means you load all the sounds you need at the start of forte which leads to dramatical fast program changes (feels like a hardware solution).
On the other hand cantabile gives you much more possibilities: f.e. you have lots of MIDI transformer functions like velocity curve compression and the like as a part of cantabile (forte only has the possibility to import MIDI plugs which doesn't work flawlessly in all cases). There are some other extras forte doesn't provide:
1) 64Bit version inclusive
2) Possibility to start more than one instance of cantabile (so you could have 2 identical workstations by using 2 MIDI - keyboards on one PC)
3) Integrated limiter
4) Integrated MIDI & Audio File Player and Recorder (incl. synchronisation - useful for synchronisation of arpeggiators, clicktracks,...)
5) Surface provides PAN and 2 Effect Channels which is near to an audio mixer
....
Of course there is mostly a solution to add some functionality the competitor has available by adding a plug or special way of implementation. There are only a handful of storied I only can realise on one of both hosts!
Stability: I would call both hosts stable. Of course you have to lay stress on the platform:
- is the mobo stable? Don't overclock the machine.
- soundcard: has much influence on latency and performance, probably even more important: drivers - get the most stable product you can (many probs are driver initiated!)
- plugins: if drivers are o.k. 90% of crashes are caused by incompatible plugs (this is lots of testing)
- tweaking: not a religion, just use the standard tools like DPC latency checker to find out if any components do interrupts on audio streams (f.e. Wifi Adapter,...), don't surf on Websides your mum didn't allow
After done so I can say that both hosts are very stable.
Support: well, Brad (cantabile) really cares if you have any problems with cantabile or when using it in combination with plugs. There is also TiUser who cares a lot for the needs of us users (thanks mate). The main problem: there doesn't seem to be any development at the moment (to be fair: Brad informed he has to be busy in other developments to fill his refrigerator
. I accept this.Mike (Forte) also cares for user problems but additionally he is working on version 3 at the moment which includes 64Bit support and many other new functions. There are also updates availabel frequently. There is also a very good forum and also a "TiUser" (his name there is Dirk). Due to the fact Brad is on forte I would say: one plus for forte support.
Finally again: "And the winner is .... both". My hint for you: get both demos and do extensive testing to find out what is the best solution for you (or purchase both like me). If you have any questions be free to post.
Kind regards and good luck, humphrey
hosts: c8.5, cantabile3.0, forte4.0, live 9, trakor
hardware: i7 4770k, i7 4702qm, all audio converters RME, KH120A
vsts / vstis: u-he, voxengo, fabfilter, izotope, lexicon, waves, spectrasonics, ni, steinberg, gsi, uvi, xfer & others
hardware: i7 4770k, i7 4702qm, all audio converters RME, KH120A
vsts / vstis: u-he, voxengo, fabfilter, izotope, lexicon, waves, spectrasonics, ni, steinberg, gsi, uvi, xfer & others
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 108 posts since 18 Oct, 2005
humphrey
THANK YOU SO MUCH
for this detailed explanation
what i really like about Forte is the simple interface
and the fact that Mike is working on version 3, so it's a product that keeps getting better and better.
when version 3 comes out, i may buy it
i would buy now, as there is a free 6 month upgrade to v3, but i have a feeling version 3 may take longer
THANK YOU SO MUCH
for this detailed explanation
what i really like about Forte is the simple interface
and the fact that Mike is working on version 3, so it's a product that keeps getting better and better.
when version 3 comes out, i may buy it
i would buy now, as there is a free 6 month upgrade to v3, but i have a feeling version 3 may take longer