Tracktion/EnergyXT

[AlanB]

There have been quite a few posts suggesting that Tracktion and EnergyXT make perfect partners.

I've had a play with the EnergyXT demo, and used it as an arpegiator and chord generator.

I want to be able to justify the expense of buying EnergyXT. Can anybody suggest how else it can be used within Tracktion.

[NAS]

EXTs new sampler

[headquest]

You can use it to have more than one VST window open at once (i.e. add eXT as filter and then the VST plugs within eXT and double click on each to open up their GUIs).

Tracktion avoids making this possible, and personally I'm happy with that, but I can see that if you have three effects on a track you may wish to be editing all simultaneously...?

OK then I admit it... I can;t think of many good reasons for having eXT . Tracktion's rack filters have sorted out the more complex routing that Tracktion users previously employed eXT for.

[NAS]

If you need more than one filters GUI open in T at a time you can just click the lock button and it will stay open until you press hide ,This allows as many filters to be edited at the same time as you want

[chagzuki]

With Tracktion there's still the timing issue with Racks. When rendering there's a delay that f**ks everything up. I've moved back to eXT for modular routing.

[IIRs]

With Tracktion there's still the timing issue with Racks. When rendering there's a delay that f**ks everything up. I've moved back to eXT for modular routing.

Not happened to me.. Does it alays happen with racks, or is it related to PDC for a particulat filter?

[chagzuki]

I fairly sure it always happens on rendering. I doubt anyone would notice for a reverb bus - it'd function like a predelay. Try this: import a long audio clip into Tracktion. Split it into two parts. Put the parts on separate tracks. Put a rack with ins and outs connected on one track and render. See if there is a gap in the rendered file where the clip was spit.

[headquest]

If you need more than one filters GUI open in T at a time you can just click the lock button and it will stay open until you press hide ,This allows as many filters to be edited at the same time as you want

Thanks for the tip - I didn;t know that . I like the Tracktion principal of one GUI at a time so as not to clutter things up, but it's useful to know that there is a simpler way - as you explain - of looking at multiple GUI windows if I wish to Thanks.

But yet one less reason to use eXT though

[headquest]

With Tracktion there's still the timing issue with Racks. When rendering there's a delay that f**ks everything up. I've moved back to eXT for modular routing.

I've not had that either (but I'll take your word for it - sounds like you've had a legitimate problem with racks.)

[haydxn]

i was super into racks when i first discovered them, but ultimately i ended up getting eXT because it is simply just super!

the fact that you can save your modular environments as eXT presets is great (better than the Rackfilters being stored in the main Tracktion config file), and makes them more shareable.

i think the MAIN reason you'd want to buy energyXT in addition to tracktion is the additional control you get over your VST plugins.

using eXT and some MIDI modules (like the built in envelope or my CCLFOv2 plugin) you can modulate any parameter of nearly any synth/effect you like, thanks to its fantastic CCMapping system.

although i prefer the fact that RackFilters have pin names pop up when you connect/hover, i do prefer energyXT's screen space and small icons. but dammit you can't DUPLICATE anything in either!!!!! i want to right-click -> duplicate my modules so i have an identical copy to add to the mix. psh one day!

at the end of the day tho, i do have more fun playing around with modular routings and things within energyXT than i do within Tracktion's rackfilters. that's nothing against Tracktion tho... i can't live without that program. T and eXT really do go hand in hand well.

[AlanB]

Thanks for all the advice.

Is it possible to use EnergyXT so that I can control a VSTi parameter using pitch bend or mod wheel on my midi keyboard? (Evolution MK149).

It would be nice to be able to alter attack or decay (for example) as I'm playing.

[.jon]

Is it possible to use EnergyXT so that I can control a VSTi parameter using pitch bend or mod wheel on my midi keyboard? (Evolution MK149).

Yes, very easily. eXT allows you to map VST parameters to MIDI continous controllers, it even sports a MIDI learn function.

And FWIW, I'm now using eXT for step-sequencing type of work "inside" Tracktion. eXT has a very clear & stylish and generally reliable-feeling piano roll with great functionality (you can nudge, transpose and alter note lenghts with the mousewheel)... and it has splendid envelopes.

You can also combine instruments and fx plugins and save them eXT presets, to make your own prefab-instruments.

T & eXT combined offer me more possibilities and usability than a certain bloatberg.

[Lunch Money]

eXT is much more than an alternative to Rack Filters. In addition to its many other features, the main ones to look out for are the additional "comps" that come included... like the arp, chorder, and (very very soon, if not already, I haven't checked today) sampler. With the sampler improving upon current beatslicing capabilities, you're looking at basically adding not just a 'modular routing environment' but a large helping of additional "plug-ins" to the mix, some of which justify the low $39 cost all by themselves.

That 'sales pitch' out of the way (heh, I'm not a shill, honest!), I have to confess that I DO still mostly use eXT as a modular routing plug-in. I like it better than Rack Filters for the reasons already mentioned.

Wait, this is a Tracktion thread. Tracktion rules!!

Greg

[rokkon]

Is it possible to use eXT's multiple inputs/ outputs with tracktion?
already tried with making the eXT.ini in windows dir, but didn't work

I'll buy eXT as soon as i regained from my momentary finacial fiasco (so probably never..), and tracktion + eXT seems like a perfect team to me... only that i can't get multi I/O to work with the demo.

[Lunch Money]

I don't know about the demo, but have you looked at the racks or at the patchbay (one of the native Tracktion plug-ins) to sort out multi-outs?

Greg