DAW with a "human" workflow?

[fluffy_little_something]

TBH, i couldn't work with MuLab either. Took a look at it, didn't get the workflow, didn't like the toyish look, and stopped looking at it again. IMO, there is a reason that it's more of a "secret tip of DAW's".

It is powerful, but the focus is more on the included modular stuff than on the DAW.
It doesn't make me want to open it and start to record.
Others love it judging from the MuTools forum.

[ghettosynth]

Not saying that's the case here, but I'm of the opinion that, for some hobbyists, the tools they use are not even remotely the main problem, but more an excuse to justify or explain away the poor or unsatisfying end results.

Instead of reaching for a new implement, are you sure practice, dedication and application won't ultimately give you long term satisfaction?

Definitely. And I am aware of it.
But when I don't even feel like opening the DAW anymore, how can I practice?

Practice what?

I use one of these quite a bit.



I also like to play one of these on the couch.



And I like to use this in Studio - A (A is for analog) with an old school mixer. I just set it to record and play around. It records four tracks at once.

[aMUSEd]

Another one I keep trying to get into, I like the modularity but the automation recording/editing is very weird and the draw tool only seems to work in lines

[fluffy_little_something]

I still have Mixcraft as a second DAW, but I don't like all the 32-bit junk it installs. The fonts in the browser are so small I can't read stuff.

You can always delete those plugins, it has full support for 64-bit, VST2 and VST3 now so providing alternatives shouldn't be a problem.

As regards the browser, do you mean this?

Untitled.png

No, I mean the instrument browser, where one can pick VST's and sampled instruments.

I think they are working on v8

[fluffy_little_something]

Practice what?

I use one of these quite a bit.

That is indeed an option, I opened a thread on those a year ago, but nobody replied...
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 2&t=455711

[Michael L]

Wow a lot of posts. Two thoughts:

1. Technology is not your problem, and it cannot be your source of inspiration. You need to get out and open yourself to entirely new musical ideas in the world that you want to express in your DAW. The Pulitizer prize-winning composer Steve Reich, who turned 80 last October, uses only the Reason sampler NN-XT to mockup compositions for his performers. You can do what he does, in the DAW you already know.

2. Have you kept up with all the MuLab updates? The custom grid editor lets you divide bars or groups of bars any way you want including unevenly; you can divide a beat into as many notes as you want; and Modulys is free? You said in other posts that you don't use the modular side of MuLab, but there is a huge world in there including random modules and a performance sequencer.

[swatwork]

No, I mean the instrument browser, where one can pick VST's and sampled instruments.

I think they are working on v8

Oh, you mean this:

Untitled.png

This is from version 8 which has just come out. I'm only just getting into it but so far I like what I see; not too complicated but all the features I actually need.

[fluffy_little_something]

Oh, v8 of Mixcraft is already out?
That new browser looks a lot better than before.

[Beazlebug]

Never got into Renoise, have tried to get it several times but I just don't know where to even start with it - to me trackers seem the least human - sort of like overcomplicated spreadsheets meet the matrix.

I never understand why Renoise is offered as a solution unless your an "Old Nerd" it is no way intuitive. There is always someone who throws that into these threads thinking it's the "Cat's meow" oh no I'm NOT trying to bring on the pic's but you really have to admire these people and their unending devotion to vertical trackers.

'Old nerd' seriously? you think I run it in DOS or something? Have you ever tried it? No, it's not immediately intuitive, if you're used to working with linear DAW's; but, it is (when the concept hits home) a far more immediate way to work altogether when the penny drops, as it takes away the reliance on little coloured blocks and endless menu's. The reason I offered it up is because if you take the trouble to dig in for a few days at least you see it's a very interesting alternative.

[ghettosynth]

Practice what?

I use one of these quite a bit.

That is indeed an option, I opened a thread on those a year ago, but nobody replied...
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 2&t=455711

I don't think that many people here use them. I wasn't on KVR for a lot of last year. May check out again this year as well.

I specifically wanted the small keyboard. If I had more room and a larger budget for it when I got it, I would have got something a bit newer and with full size keys. Still, I really like it for when I just want to sit down and play/practice keyboard in a particular style.

You can use an external keyboard with the micro-arranger and you can set it up in most of the ways that you would probably want to with an arranger. That is, it can control the whole performance, or, the external keyboard can just play the solo instrument.

[dzilizzi]

For "human-ness" I would also recommend Reason. It doesn't take a lot of space, runs well and you can even plug stuff in if you want. Just like real hardware. It also comes with everything you need to make music.

On the con side, it doesn't allow any outside instruments/effects.

Personally, I would try the updated FL Studio. I have not used it, but I know people who love it. It looks fairly easy to work with. And if it is free to you, it is where I would start.

I also would not recommend Cubase. Don't get me wrong, it is a great piece of software. But the workflow can be confusing as heck.

[CTStump]

Never got into Renoise, have tried to get it several times but I just don't know where to even start with it - to me trackers seem the least human - sort of like overcomplicated spreadsheets meet the matrix.

I never understand why Renoise is offered as a solution unless your an "Old Nerd" it is no way intuitive. There is always someone who throws that into these threads thinking it's the "Cat's meow" oh no I'm NOT trying to bring on the pic's but you really have to admire these people and their unending devotion to vertical trackers.

'Old nerd' seriously? you think I run it in DOS or something? Have you ever tried it? No, it's not immediately intuitive, if you're used to working with linear DAW's; but, it is (when the concept hits home) a far more immediate way to work altogether when the penny drops, as it takes away the reliance on little coloured blocks and endless menu's. The reason I offered it up is because if you take the trouble to dig in for a few days at least you see it's a very interesting alternative.

I guess i inadvertently created the impression that you or those who use Renoise as "Old Nerd's" oops, sorry. When I first started tracking it was a while back with linux, can't remember the name but i couldn't get my head around the vertical flow so i gave up. Renoise is light years ahead that I"m sure.

What I should have wrote is that I admire those of you who are dedicated to their tool enough to recommend it in any thread they chose to post.

I hope that explains it.

[Beazlebug]

It does explain it, thanks. Sorry if I got a bit stroppy, I know trackers are niche and a bit esoteric, but having switched from 'normal' daws/sequencers I find them better personally.

[ghettosynth]

It does explain it, thanks. Sorry if I got a bit stroppy, I know trackers are niche and a bit esoteric, but having switched from 'normal' daws/sequencers I find them better personally.

You may find them better, but I really don't think that you can make the argument for a "human workflow" in the sense that most people mean it.

I also prefer some things that are somewhat esoteric, not trackers mind you, but I don't recommend them to most other people in general because they are "nerdy", and I have no problem with that.

[incubus]

Hi, Cynical Sally here,

Though I'm not a musical genius by any stretch of the imagination, I agree with the sentiment that tech has absolutely nothing with music (unless it's defective......sona.... )

That said, "human" workflow is far too much of challenge to describe on the interwebzes w/o much more knowledge. Gives kvr something to do though for the weekend