KVR Audio

Magpel · Post by **Magpel** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 4:35 pm

I find myself looking for a new app to host and sequence VSTis on. I run my VSTis on a dedicated softsynth machine that, so far is triggered by Cakewalk on a separate machine. Chainer has served me beautifully as a host--love it. But now, circumstances require that I look into sequecning on the same machine.*

I have EnergyXT and am simply fascinated by the program. The Sequencer component, however, isn't singing to me. I know this app changes virtually daily, so I'll keep watching.

All I want is a sequencer that can be slaved to an external sequencer, that does a good, CPU-efficient job of hosting VSTis and that has a fairly standard assortment of MIDI editing capabilities. The simpler the better. Any suggestions?

O geez, did I mention cheap? Don't go suggesting Logic.

FL and Orion aren't exactly my cup of tea either, though I suppose I'll consider anything

declassified · Post by **declassified** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 5:36 pm

What did you miss on the eXT sequencer?

I'm asking because energyXT would be the logical consequence of phrases like "CPU-efficience" or "The simpler, the better"...

Rabid · Post by **Rabid** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 7:39 pm

And why is it that you do not want to install Cakewalk on that machine? Is it an older version that does not handle VSTi's?

Robert

LoRez · Post by **LoRez** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 7:59 pm

Rabid wrote:And why is it that you do not want to install Cakewalk on that machine? Is it an older version that does not handle VSTi's?

Robert

Yeah, unless I'm missing something, I would put Sonar on the ONE machine so you can open your Cakewalk projects and you have integrated support for VSTi, DXi, etc. Is there a reason you need to sync to an external sequencer? Not trying to say you're dumb or anything...I'm just trying to get a better picture of your setup.

Magpel · Post by **Magpel** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 8:28 pm

Well, yes, pre-Sonar Cakewalk never supported VSTis or DXis for that matter. I run PA 9.

As to the whys of my rig, happenstance more than anything. My main DAW is a crusty old PIII 600 on which I also run Gigasampler with reasonable stability. My softsynth machine a Celereon 1200. Neither exactly a powerhouse, and neither really up to the challenge of the DAW + synths setup. So I treat the Celeron Machine as essentially a multi-synth, multi-timbral sound module triggereed from the Cakewalk machine. Chainer was my ideal host for this--no sequencer, no digital audio, stable, low CPU use, and some cool features on the side, like .Wav export.

Now, however, I'm getting SampleTank 2LE through the Sonic Synth Group buy. LE only allows one instance, and I won't be able to with my current setup. Tried. No way to take mutiple MIDI channels and route them to ST2's 16 instrument slots on one Chainer channel. So I have a few solutions: a) upgrade to full SampleTank so I can use multiple instances (inefficient and expensive) or, b) Get a modest new host/sequencer on the softsynth machine so I can use SampleTank LE multitimbrally. And, obviously, I want to sync the sequences to the Cakewalk machine.

Phew. lengthy explannation, but that's why I'm looking to learn a new sequencer.

Anyone tried Cubasis?

smart · Post by **smart** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 8:41 pm

You could try out Podium which is pretty cool. I think FL has the best pianoroll around, and Orion is easy to get things going in too. They all work a little different, but each one of these is worth trying for a couple days to learn.

LoRez · Post by **LoRez** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 8:46 pm

smart wrote:You could try out Podium which is pretty cool. I think FL has the best pianoroll around, and Orion is easy to get things going in too. They all work a little different, but each one of these is worth trying for a couple days to learn.

Do podium and FL sync to external time code?

Mirabebe · Post by **Mirabebe** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 8:55 pm

FL sync to external time code

FL5 will. Currently, no.

Newbie Brad · Post by **Newbie Brad** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 9:29 pm

VSTSeq
http://pquenin.free.fr/pqnaudio

christianmusicmaker · Post by **christianmusicmaker** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 9:55 pm

Newbie Brad wrote:VSTSeq
http://pquenin.free.fr/pqnaudio

Does this work with other VST hosts like Tracktion?
It seems hard wired into Tuareg, as in it does not appear to work on anything else.

Robert Randolph · Post by **Robert Randolph** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 9:57 pm

What is your budget?

Newbie Brad · Post by **Newbie Brad** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 11:54 pm

christianmusicmaker wrote:
Newbie Brad wrote:VSTSeq
http://pquenin.free.fr/pqnaudio
Does this work with other VST hosts like Tracktion?
It seems hard wired into Tuareg, as in it does not appear to work on anything else.

Either Taureg or standalone. Seems to have midi in, seq, 4 VSTi slots. Developer has posted in forum, seems cool.

Rellik · Post by **Rellik** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 1:27 am

Magpel wrote:I find myself looking for a new app to host and sequence VSTis on. I run my VSTis on a dedicated softsynth machine that, so far is triggered by Cakewalk on a separate machine. Chainer has served me beautifully as a host--love it. But now, circumstances require that I look into sequecning on the same machine.*

I have EnergyXT and am simply fascinated by the program. The Sequencer component, however, isn't singing to me. I know this app changes virtually daily, so I'll keep watching.

All I want is a sequencer that can be slaved to an external sequencer, that does a good, CPU-efficient job of hosting VSTis and that has a fairly standard assortment of MIDI editing capabilities. The simpler the better. Any suggestions?

O geez, did I mention cheap? Don't go suggesting Logic. FL and Orion aren't exactly my cup of tea either, though I suppose I'll consider anything

I agree about the actual sequencer part of the program. Everything else is ideal, but I feel like the sequencer doesn't have to be so idealistically modular, like the rest of the program. To me, the sequencer should be focused on making actual music making as painless as possible, so it's a little complicated going through all these editors and nameless widgets in eXT's sequencer. Piano roll (last version I checked) wasn't all that intuitive either. eXT is such a cool program in every other way, though =D

As for your problem, I'm sorry to say that I have no better ideas than the others in the thread.

Magpel · Post by **Magpel** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 9:44 pm

Well, I've spent ther last two days really trying to get to know EnergyXt's sequencer, and, by gum, I think it might work for me. I'm still searching after a bunch of what I consider "mst have" features, but they always seem to be there. Plus, its exciting to get in on a program that is growing so fast and that is documented as much by the user base as by the developer.

Now, unfortunately, as of v. 1.28, it doesn't seem that I can start/stop the sequencer via MIDI from the Cakewalk machine. Better go check in at the XT support forum.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

jorgen · Post by **jorgen** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:42 pm

Magpel, do you know what midi events cakewalk sends? MIDI clock? with start/stop etc..?

external sync is one of the most wanted features. See http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51047

jorgen

Need new host + sequencer