Attack of the 60-Dollar DAW!
- KVRian
- 1007 posts since 12 Sep, 2005
Tracktion 4 is free. I've found that it has a CPU spike when I run Kazrog Thermionik guitar effects, so I stopped using it. It's awkward to get used to as compared to Reaper, but it's fast once you get the hang of it.
- KVRian
- 782 posts since 21 Apr, 2016
Personally, I'd pick Reaper. Tracktion always felt a bit awkward and unfinished to me, though it may have improved with the recent "Blue Steel" interface update.
Nobody, Ever wrote:I have enough plugins.
- KVRist
- 285 posts since 9 Aug, 2013 from The Hague, The Netherlands
Renoise
Why?
- Very fast workflow by computer keyboard entry
- It has a learning curve (so you can get better?)
- It features a internal plugin bridge (so the 64 bit version can host 32 bit plugins)
- Excellent manual and
- Very stable software
- Not expensive
- The demo version is very versatile for free
- Works on MacOS/Win/Linux
For overnight succeeding.
I have been making music with Renoise since v1.5
Why?
- Very fast workflow by computer keyboard entry
- It has a learning curve (so you can get better?)
- It features a internal plugin bridge (so the 64 bit version can host 32 bit plugins)
- Excellent manual and
- Very stable software
- Not expensive
- The demo version is very versatile for free
- Works on MacOS/Win/Linux
For overnight succeeding.
I have been making music with Renoise since v1.5
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- KVRAF
- 4054 posts since 8 Jan, 2005 from Hamilton, New Zealand
I'd say the opposite - Reaper is unintuitive as hell, but Tracktion is buggy.spacekid wrote:Tracktion 4 is free. I've found that it has a CPU spike when I run Kazrog Thermionik guitar effects, so I stopped using it. It's awkward to get used to as compared to Reaper, but it's fast once you get the hang of it.
T5 also free now.
I make music: progressive-acoustic | electronica/game-soundtrack work | progressive alt-metal
Win 10/11 Simplifier | Also, Specialized C++ containers
Win 10/11 Simplifier | Also, Specialized C++ containers
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- KVRAF
- 5144 posts since 3 Oct, 2013
don't forget to mention the vertical piano roll pluginEatMe wrote:Renoise

it helps me lot ... I've never used tracker before just bought Renoise
tools ... I've installed these ones

sync all notes is must have for layering, these are the current limitation of automation http://forum.renoise.com/index.php/topi ... /?p=346222 before u demo it ...
"Where we're workarounding, we don't NEED features." - powermat
- KVRist
- 285 posts since 9 Aug, 2013 from The Hague, The Netherlands
sync all notes?xbitz wrote:don't forget to mention the vertical piano roll pluginEatMe wrote:Renoise
(image in original post above)
it helps me lot ... I've never used tracker before just bought Renoise... I've fixed the keyboard stealing problem of it (route them back to the main app) http://forum.renoise.com/index.php/topi ... ntry351415 visual demo is here > http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rszsn my only problem with it is the multi-pattern automation, ok automation tool and automasher can help a bit but still PITA after the traditionally DAWs (it also can't support in-track parallel fx routing, only cross track ones with sends...),
tools ... I've installed these ones
(image in original post above)
sync all notes is must have for layering, these are the current limitation of automation http://forum.renoise.com/index.php/topi ... /?p=346222 before u demo it ...
- copy only note values from one track to the other
in the Advanced Editor, select Content Mask: Note
use shift+F4 and shift+F5 to copy and paste notes from the current track
use ctrl+shift+F4 and ctrl+shift+F5 to copy and pase notes from the current note channel
many more keyboard shortcuts can be found in the manual and defined in the options.
- copy only note delay values from one track to the other
in the Advanced Editor, select Content Mask: Delay
and copy the data
- duplicate track and replace instrument
right-click a track, in the submenu Track, choose "Duplicate Track (incl. patterns)" (Ctrl+Alt+D)
put the cursor on the new track
in the Advanced Editor, select Track in Song
in the Advanced Editor, section Instruments, use the Remap button to change the instrument from X to Y.
also, a tool you don't have:
gova.tools.insert_native_dsp to add any old Renoise internal DSP effect
and there are some overall song editing options that can be added, as you suggested, like pattern-unbound automation curves.
I personally want a section "Selection in Matrix" in the Advanced Editor myself.
These are feature requests, Renoise is very stable, and may have these features added in the future.
Below is some recent work Coconut made in Renoise by EatMe. Download here or here
download Renoise - - Manual
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- KVRAF
- 5144 posts since 3 Oct, 2013
"sync all notes?
- copy only note values from one track to the other"
normally there are 5-6 layers (per bass, 3-4 per leads etc ...)
with it the other tracks can be closed just the first one has to be opened (so I can u the Mouse Warrior tool at the other side) THX for helping
"pattern-unbound automation curves" what is it exactly
- copy only note values from one track to the other"
normally there are 5-6 layers (per bass, 3-4 per leads etc ...)
"pattern-unbound automation curves" what is it exactly
"Where we're workarounding, we don't NEED features." - powermat
- KVRist
- 285 posts since 9 Aug, 2013 from The Hague, The Netherlands
as you said, multi-pattern automationxbitz wrote:
"pattern-unbound automation curves" what is it exactly
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- KVRist
- 154 posts since 24 Aug, 2012
Plug! Radium is a tracker with pianoroll, hard drive recording, waveforms, automation, midi sequencing, modular mixer, etc. Octamed was mentioned above. I worked on extending Octamed in the 90ties before starting working on Radium around 1999-2000.
Radium Music Editor, a tracker-like DAW: https://users.notam02.no/~kjetism/radium/
Radium Compressor: https://users.notam02.no/~kjetism/radiu ... plugin.php
Radium Compressor: https://users.notam02.no/~kjetism/radiu ... plugin.php
- KVRian
- 977 posts since 16 Jan, 2012 from UK
my tuppence.
Tracktion ( recent versions quite stable for me), one window interface which is great once you know the shortcuts etc. The file manager aspect is really good to ( probs best among the 'budget daws') it looks ok now and it has some nice simple approaches to things that are not so simple in other daws.
Reaper on the other hand , it really is a no-brainer, for 60 bucks you get a very powerful feature rich daw as good as more expensive competitors and about as deep as you want to take it. updates are very frequent and a good online community. For me it's actually to much stuff to mess with ( the ability to customize everything is great). i rate it highly though.
previous post mentions ENergyXT and that is a fine app. great for getting ideas down in a simple and quick environment. i like it a lot.
zynewave i also rate although i had some problems with it when i was using it, but it has a lovely interface and , again, good project managment stuff ( only for me, i tend to get a bit messy with files all over the shop.
i suppose if i go for 'bang for buck' it has to be reaper overall..
Tracktion ( recent versions quite stable for me), one window interface which is great once you know the shortcuts etc. The file manager aspect is really good to ( probs best among the 'budget daws') it looks ok now and it has some nice simple approaches to things that are not so simple in other daws.
Reaper on the other hand , it really is a no-brainer, for 60 bucks you get a very powerful feature rich daw as good as more expensive competitors and about as deep as you want to take it. updates are very frequent and a good online community. For me it's actually to much stuff to mess with ( the ability to customize everything is great). i rate it highly though.
previous post mentions ENergyXT and that is a fine app. great for getting ideas down in a simple and quick environment. i like it a lot.
zynewave i also rate although i had some problems with it when i was using it, but it has a lovely interface and , again, good project managment stuff ( only for me, i tend to get a bit messy with files all over the shop.
i suppose if i go for 'bang for buck' it has to be reaper overall..
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do_androids_dream do_androids_dream https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=164034
- KVRAF
- 2908 posts since 26 Oct, 2007 from Kent, UK
I find Audacity completely unintuitive but Reaper made perfect sense to me from day one.. go figure lolmetamorphosis wrote:Reaper is unintuitive as hell..
- KVRian
- 629 posts since 11 Jul, 2006 from Fayetteville, GA
I've almost never experienced a DAW that was totally 'intuitive' except for energyXT. I love Reaper and Caustic (because I spent so much time with Reason 2.5 on my latter-day G3 iMac with it), and I've tried/am trying to expand my mind with trackers (mainly for the fun of being limited to some degree).
Podium was oddly semi-intuitive. MU.LAB totally ruled for someone like me as to seeming as though a shortcut from ideas to realization.
I wish I could make Reaper be Reaper but look and behave like MuLab and energyXT and be as quick and easy as Caustic. I'm actually spending more time with Caustic but I miss the likes of Synth1 and Dexed, etc...
Podium was oddly semi-intuitive. MU.LAB totally ruled for someone like me as to seeming as though a shortcut from ideas to realization.
I wish I could make Reaper be Reaper but look and behave like MuLab and energyXT and be as quick and easy as Caustic. I'm actually spending more time with Caustic but I miss the likes of Synth1 and Dexed, etc...
"The last man on earth doesn't miss anyone at all." - Haujobb, Faith In Chaos
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- KVRian
- 673 posts since 6 Dec, 2015
For live music, Sensormusic's Usine Hollyhock should be included here, at $69 for non profit price (with 1 year of update).
Not your standard DAW, it could be described as a mix of Ableton Live and Reaktor, with support for DMX and ArtNet for lights management. This software is a lot of fun.
Reviews:
http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/ ... -ii-625808
http://en.audiofanzine.com/modular-sequ ... bloom.html
https://andrulianblog.wordpress.com/201 ... n-2-0-81b/
Not your standard DAW, it could be described as a mix of Ableton Live and Reaktor, with support for DMX and ArtNet for lights management. This software is a lot of fun.
Reviews:
http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/ ... -ii-625808
http://en.audiofanzine.com/modular-sequ ... bloom.html
https://andrulianblog.wordpress.com/201 ... n-2-0-81b/
- KVRAF
- 8444 posts since 29 Sep, 2010 from Maui
I own and use nearly every DAW, while I'll agree about the instruments.
I own multiple multi-thousand dollar instruments. I'd have to say, they pretty much
sound the same on my $60 DAWs as they do on my $700 ones.
I would also say that in many cases, the expensive ones could learn allot from the cheaper ones.
In the end its about whatever works for you. IME experience, what the "Pros" use might
surprise you.
My friend Dave, is fairly successful. To date, hes released 40 ish albums or so.
They have their own 757, he uses an Iphone to make music, almost exclusively.
-Cheers
I own multiple multi-thousand dollar instruments. I'd have to say, they pretty much
sound the same on my $60 DAWs as they do on my $700 ones.
I would also say that in many cases, the expensive ones could learn allot from the cheaper ones.
In the end its about whatever works for you. IME experience, what the "Pros" use might
surprise you.
My friend Dave, is fairly successful. To date, hes released 40 ish albums or so.
They have their own 757, he uses an Iphone to make music, almost exclusively.
-Cheers
- KVRAF
- 11162 posts since 16 Mar, 2003 from Porto - Portugal
Wow, he did more than 40 albums in about nine years?pekbro wrote: My friend Dave, is fairly successful. To date, hes released 40 ish albums or so.
They have their own 757, he uses an Iphone to make music, almost exclusively.
Fernando (FMR)