Tracktion Software

testingwithfire · Post by **testingwithfire** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:08 pm

Hi,

I'm running the Free version of Waveform, using a MIDI sequencer. And I'm a newb.

Is it just me or is the set of plugins provided with the free version really tiny? The YouTube videos for Waveform feature a full complement of plugins... I assume they used the paid version.

Because of the lack of plugins in the free version, I've had to search for a third party plugin just to get some sound out of the sequencer. And finding a free piano plugin with a well-designed user interface (text labels and text entry for controls, please) is taking hours.

I would be more than happy to use a trial version of Waveform, and pay for it if it proved useful if it came equipped with a small set of instrument plugins. Right now it's difficult for me just to get started with basic piano sound and recording functionality.

If anyone can link to a simple piano, guitar, or other single-instrument plugin with a user interface that has TEXT LABELS and TEXT INPUT CAPABILITY I would be very grateful.

spoontechnique · Post by **spoontechnique** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:26 pm

Use one of the simple synths that is included if you just want sound out of the sequencer.

If you want a piano, check out Spitfire Labs. Free and has a lot of great instrument sample libraries to download. Their Soft Piano is very popular. I have no idea what "text input capability" is.

Making sample libraries is its own time-consuming skill that requires specialized hardware. DAW development is hard enough as is.

telecharge · Post by **telecharge** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:44 pm

Sorry, but text entry/input is not a feature I've seen listed or noticed, and free plugins typically have less features. But here are a some lists of free piano instruments I found with a quick search. Good luck!

https://blog.landr.com/best-free-piano-vsts

https://www.loopmasters.com/articles/42 ... load-links

https://www.edmprod.com/free-piano-vst-plugins

Peter Widdicombe · Post by **Peter Widdicombe** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 11:58 pm

I was going to recommend Keyzone Classic, but briefly went through the list above. See the comparisons in the video bottom of the edmprod link above and listen for yourself. Listen with either GOOD headphones or even PC speaker sets with a separate subwoofer.

Keyzone is free and easy to use, no funky registrations to go through... Several nice pianos in there. There are more interesting Rhodes ones out there, but you have a great starting point with this one.

jabe · Post by **jabe** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 12:22 am

There's a ton of free plug-ins out there. KVR itself is home to many.

If you're in the UK, it would be worth your while getting hold of a copy of Computer Music monthly magazine. It comes with a load of plug-ins - something like 90 of them at the moment.

mikoatkvr · Post by **mikoatkvr** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 1:06 am

search for MDA Piano vst, afaik it is cross platform. It's quite light on CPU too.
It is maybe basic, but add a few effects like reverb, delay etc and you can make it sound good enough.

fde101 · Post by **fde101** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 3:43 am

What kind of text do you want to input? If you are trying to produce score sheets you want notation software rather than a DAW - check out MuseScore for example: https://musescore.org/en

Otherwise, ignoring that requirement:

Native Instruments offers a handful of freebies that aren't bad at all:

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... ete-start/

Acoustic Samples makes a few instruments for UVI Workstation (which is also free):

https://www.acousticsamples.net/bundles ... collection

In addition to LABS (which I agree is quite good), Spitfire Audio also has the "discover" edition of the BBC Symphony Orchestra available for free (look underneath the price they display - you can pay to get it immediately or sign up and receive it free after a delay):

https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/ ... -discover/
https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/

IK offers a free version of SampleTank with a limited set of sounds: https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/st4cs/

imstre · Post by **imstre** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 6:21 am

free Arturia Analog Lab 4, piano and etc.
free piano projectSAM

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:52 am

I'm intrigued by the Text label/input necessity, is it for screen reader purposes or you don't like sliders etc?

SonnyBoy · Post by **SonnyBoy** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:49 am

+1 for MDA Piano. All MDA plugins for that matter.
Also the Spitfire stuff - see above.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:13 am

Looks like OP made his demands then split so maybe not worth replying anymore.

Spitfire31 · Post by **Spitfire31** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:11 am

I was going to suggest www.soniccouture.com/en/products/p322-hammersmith-free/

Lovely piano. But I guess the OP at least needs to explain the strange "text labels" and "text input" requirement.

Peter Widdicombe · Post by **Peter Widdicombe** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:39 pm

Looks like hammersmith would be "impractical" from a "free" version included in waveform - it's huge; plus needs Kontakt...

Yeah, something tiny like the MDA piano is small and usable; and there are lots of choices in high-end pianos that can be installed independently on their own, if insufficient. Actually, can a "sufficient" piano patch for 4OSC be developed?

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:56 pm

^ I'm sure it works with the free player version..?

Edit: "Requires KONTAKT 6 or KONTAKT 6 PLAYER version 6.2 or later

"

Peter Widdicombe · Post by **Peter Widdicombe** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 1:51 pm

Hammersmith is a 5 Gig sample set alone, plus the "interesting experience" of getting Kontakt up and running, even on the free version. Definitely something I would not recommend for someone who just wants to try out Waveform (or any DAW ! ) for the first time.

Tracktion Software

KVR Audio

Free version has hardly any instrument plugins ... ? Need a SIMPLE, understandable piano plugin.