Tracktion and the $399 free plug.

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I know it's frustrating to hear a fan of ANY particular piece of software rant too much, so I'm becoming gun-shy at responding in defence of software that I have a bias towards; however, it's hard to ignore comments like:
CypherOne wrote:clearly lots of people really like Tracktion. Personally I've downloaded the demo twice, said 'ooh that's pretty, but how does it work', arsed around for half an hour and then deleted it. but, to each their own etc.
Well, it's one thing to not like it, but it's a HUGE anomaly that CypherOne has posted the exact opposite of what many trial users say, which is "I don't like the UI, but what an easy program to learn!"

I'm not trying to convert CypherOne or anything, and there's no WAY I want to see this thread turn into yet another sequencer debate-- we can and DO accomplish that elsewhere. ;) But for any potential users, I wanted them to understand that CypherOne's experiences with 'ease of use' are the exception, not the rule, and most people have the exact opposite reaction. If anything, people are suspicious because it's TOO easy and they're afraid it's therefore not a serious piece of software.

The addition of a proper 'pro grade' (your personal preferences may vary, but that's at least how it's marketed) mastering plugin makes Tracktion even more of a contender for value-for-money, regardless of feature set. That's all I think that was meant by this thread....

Greg

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[quote][b]Quincy said:[/b]... one of them said that tracktion has a few pretty major flaws, ...[/quote]

What serious flows are you talking about? Real serious bugs or just lacking features? Could you elaborate, as I was just ready to buy tracktion within the next few days :(

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It does have some shitty bugs, but none have really caused me much grief. One I just noticed the other day: if you change tempo, automation data isn't correspondingly moved. Quite a biggy - could be a major pain in the arse.
Every day takes figuring out all over again how to f#ckin’ live.

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Hey,

sorry if i offended any tracktioneers, or planted seeds of doubt in peoples minds, but i just get the impression(based on others opinions) that its a great program to pick up and learn quick, with decent audio handling, but that when you go a little "deeper" the flaws start to show.

And besides which, i already own EnergyXT. For those who know it, i say with no exageration that it is shaping up to to be the most powerful and flexible audio app there is. So i might not bother with another host.

I love XT, so here's a free plug in the form of a list of things you can do with XT (39euro program remember - cheap!!) -

1. Plugin fx chainer.
2. VSTi drum machine/sampler/slicer (graphical editing, snap to grid etc)
3. VSTi midi sequencer
4. Live performance tool
5. Arpeggiator with MANY features

Other features:

1. Modular system
2. Split key ranges to different synths/plugins
3. Straight/Curved automation envelopes
4. nearly all components allow multi-out, for example you could easily design a multi-out drum machine, with many channels to different FX chains.
5. Its a VST/VSTi/Host

All this ranting about EnergyXT makes me wonder, why bother with tracktion?!

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eXT is looking good. What I don't like about it is that Jorgen seems to have gone a rather traditional route in terms of having audio, midi and automation tracks seperate, which I can't hack anymore after T's freedom in this area. Other than that I haven't got anything bad to say about it, and in fact having clip based automation is an advantage over T's method. Overall, for the time being I still feel most free in T's environment.
Every day takes figuring out all over again how to f#ckin’ live.

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And the most important part about ext... active development. Something we've missed greatly from tracktion...

v2 or not, there's not much that can make up for lack of updates :-\

ext is already much further head in terms of "completion" as a sequencer, host and audio editor....

It's just much harder to learn at first. Tracktion still rocks in my book, but all the reasons I loved it are gone... and seem to be very prevalent in EXT. Especially the part where mackie hasnt ruined ext's support presence.
Last edited by Robert Randolph on Fri Aug 13, 2004 5:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Lunch Money wrote:I know it's frustrating to hear a fan of ANY particular piece of software rant too much, so I'm becoming gun-shy at responding in defence of software that I have a bias towards; however, it's hard to ignore comments like:
CypherOne wrote:clearly lots of people really like Tracktion. Personally I've downloaded the demo twice, said 'ooh that's pretty, but how does it work', arsed around for half an hour and then deleted it. but, to each their own etc.
Well, it's one thing to not like it, but it's a HUGE anomaly that CypherOne has posted the exact opposite of what many trial users say, which is "I don't like the UI, but what an easy program to learn!"

I'm not trying to convert CypherOne or anything, and there's no WAY I want to see this thread turn into yet another sequencer debate-- we can and DO accomplish that elsewhere. ;) But for any potential users, I wanted them to understand that CypherOne's experiences with 'ease of use' are the exception, not the rule, and most people have the exact opposite reaction. If anything, people are suspicious because it's TOO easy and they're afraid it's therefore not a serious piece of software.

The addition of a proper 'pro grade' (your personal preferences may vary, but that's at least how it's marketed) mastering plugin makes Tracktion even more of a contender for value-for-money, regardless of feature set. That's all I think that was meant by this thread....

Greg
Fair enough,but I must say that my own expeience with Tracktion is identical to CypherOne's.It was literally the most incomprehensible experience I have ever had in the latin alphabet.

I really don't care what software people use.I am however uncomfortable with the continued assertion that Tracktion is objectively superior to other production apps in ease of use,and that someone not "getting it" has had an illegitimate experience.Please do enjoy Tracktion,but the fact is that no one can tell what host a song was made with just by hearing the music,or should care.And subjective host preference is something that belongs to a zone of privacy that is unquestionable.By all means,we should discuss feature comparisons and bugs,etc.But what goes on in someone's head,and in their workflow is their's and their's alone.There's simply no right or wrong here,inferior or superior,just appropriate and inappropriate for the user.From what you've written,I'm sure you agree.

Lunch Money,you are quite right,and fair-minded,to accept that some folks might not like Tracktion.But don't say that there's something wrong with someone not finding it easy.The experience and perception of people such as CyberOne and myself may well be more common than you think.

Frankly,if I were to be skeptical about anything,it would be about why a $399 plug in is now free with an $80 program?It rings counterintuitive.But I suppose it's true,and if it is a native VST plug,and not in some proprietary format or its functionality somehow part of the program itself,I would certainly buy Tracktion just to get it.And maybe someday I'd figure it(Tracktion) out.

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I have to ask whether Tracktion still refers to all effects as "filters". I find this usage disconcerting - to me it shows a disregard both for precision in language, and for traditional usage established by engineers and musicians over decades.

This alone discouraged further exploration...

Bit of a rant, I know...

e.

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epiphanius wrote:I have to ask whether Tracktion still refers to all effects as "filters". I find this usage disconcerting - to me it shows a disregard both for precision in language, and for traditional usage established by engineers and musicians over decades.

This alone discouraged further exploration...

Bit of a rant, I know...

e.
did engineers and musicians decades ago ever use the term vst plugin? If you can't find a better reason then that... I dunno what to say. :roll: :lol:

and uhhh yeah.. they are still called filters... :troll:
ModuLR / Radio

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ModuLR wrote:did engineers and musicians decades ago ever use the term vst plugin? If you can't find a better reason then that... I dunno what to say. :roll: :lol:
Good point modulr... why the heck aint they called vst plugins then?! :D

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Robert Randolph wrote:
ModuLR wrote:did engineers and musicians decades ago ever use the term vst plugin? If you can't find a better reason then that... I dunno what to say. :roll: :lol:
Good point modulr... why the heck aint they called vst plugins then?! :D
Not all of them are VST plugs, the filters include Tracktions own bundled effects & sampler, plus the basic elements of a blank track (Vol/Pan & Metering)

Out of interest, those people that couldn't understand Tracktion.. could you be specific about what exactly you couldn't figure out? Not being funny, but I'm honestly baffled.. most of it just seemed obvious to me :?

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[edit: peace. ;) I was about to debate, but I realized that in text, tones aren't always as friendly as a nice discussion over a pint. No offence was intended.]

Greg

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