XLN Audio - XO - Improvement, Pros, Cons

[zvenx]

I just did the same and considering coincidentally the other two expansions that he didn't seem to have in the video
rsp

[midi_transmission]

The sequencer is very well designed in XO. The one thing that is missing is the ability to do polyrhythms by having different step length.

Does anyone have a workaround for that?

[noiseboyuk]

What flaws? Can you give a brief overview?

Sequencer too limited - only 4/4 - no way to import midi - only 8 pads.

I'm sure I've missed a few. Anyway, none of these is too big a deal. I still think that we'll get X02 at some point, would explain why the feature-improvements have dried up even though it's stormingly popular.

[noiseboyuk]

Even at half price, the expansions aren't pulling me to buy them. How are the sounds in the packs, pretty much more of the same?

I mean - they're pretty good for the genres they cover I guess. Honestly I don't really use them in the way they were intended, the sounds go into the big pool and I search sounds by my own criteria.

[midi_transmission]

@noiseboyuk: Thanks. In general it's one of the best drum sequencers for the mouse I've used. A lot better than a normal key editor. I agree a lot on the 4/4 thing.

My main issue is the missing ability to do polyrhythms by having different step length.

I guess there is no workaround for that?

[JiggSaw]

I own both and it’s true their are pros and cons, the main difference seems to be that ATLAS is still being developed and is frequently updated (2.2 beta looks very nice) so AtLAS issues and missing features may get addressed at some point, whereas I have given up on XO being updated.

2.2 beta ? Not heard of that one

https://twitter.com/Matt_Algonaut

That 2.2 beta video will probably make me jump ship to Atlas 2 once the next sale comes around. The filtering option is one of my favorite XO features. Now that Atlas is implementing that plus having the better sequencer, active development, etc.... I will probably use XO less and less.

[gondii]

I don't want to get rid of my old workflow with drumracks in ableton though... but dude.. this thing is really something.

you know you can ctrl + drag any sample from the map or the pad straight into the drum rack and also simply just drag and drop the midi, right? So you can build your kit and/or groove in XO and quickly move on to other tools... I love XO mostly because it just works with pretty much any workflow

I know I know... but what if in the last minute want to change my drum samples to try a different vibe? All your work done preparing the drumracks get lost (layering, fx chains, etc..). So I have to commit beforehand. I love drumracks so I'll probably try hard choosing the kit in XO and then commit on drumracks and never look back....

The midi drag and drop is great too. Love it. You have to admit XO is one of the most fun machine drum right now on the market.

Maybe you could just duplicate the drum rack and then start switching the samples via drag and drop in one of them? Imo switching samples in the drum rack through drag and drop is nearly as quick as doing it directly in XO. And the fx chain you'd have to adjust no matter the tool, even if you only process in XO, right? Personally I always use XO as a starting point and drag everything where I need it to be. But I still use XO to swap samples or try out different combinations even later in the project.

[Buckster]

[/quote]

That 2.2 beta video will probably make me jump ship to Atlas 2 once the next sale comes around. The filtering option is one of my favorite XO features. Now that Atlas is implementing that plus having the better sequencer, active development, etc.... I will probably use XO less and less.
[/quote]

to SLiC - thanks for link to twitter had not seen that

ref Atlas and XO - presumably can use Atlas sequencer to trigger XO - and then have best of both worlds

[midi_transmission]

That 2.2 beta video will probably make me jump ship to Atlas 2 once the next sale comes around. The filtering option is one of my favorite XO features. Now that Atlas is implementing that plus having the better sequencer, active development, etc.... I will probably use XO less and less.

Interesting I'm just comparing both. I think the sequencer in XO is a lot better. You have all these great timing and groove function and can even export the result as midi via drag and drop directly to your daw. The only thing that is better in Atlas is the individual step length. Otherwise I see no advantage to a normal key editor in your daw.

I'm glad that I prefere XO, I don't like the cloud centric design of Atlas.

Does somebody know if there is a limit (number) of imported samples in Atlas and XO?

[Ou_Tis]

Can this scan for/use sample formats from other XLN Audio products like (most obviously) Addictive Drums? I'd assume not since it's not mentioned, but haven't found explicit confirmation yet. Seems like a significant and unnecessary limitation, especially since Addictive Drums includes Reel Machines. (I'd guess there are probably legal reasons preventing them from scanning other proprietary formats like those for Kontakt, Ujam, or Groove Agent, even just to determine similarity?)

Are the expansions NFR, or does XLN allow license transfers for all their products?

Is XO good for evaluating what would usually be considered "non-musical" sounds that could substitute for (or be layered into) the standard drum sounds? What about components of drum sounds? (For example, noise that might work well layered with other samples to create a snare? But since a snare has multiple components, it might be similar to some components but highly dissimilar to others... most notably lacking the attack, and maybe the lower frequencies. For percussion layering purposes, perhaps it would make sense to also analyze samples and display the space of similarities in terms of attack/sustain/tail or ADSR and high/mid/low frequencies?)

[Ou_Tis]

What flaws? Can you give a brief overview?

Sequencer too limited - only 4/4 - no way to import midi - only 8 pads.

I'm sure I've missed a few. Anyway, none of these is too big a deal. I still think that we'll get X02 at some point, would explain why the feature-improvements have dried up even though it's stormingly popular.

Wonder if that partly explains why it's being offered as a freebie with Bitwig update plan renewal. Hoping lots of people will pay to upgrade to XO 2....

[SLiC]

XO would probably still rule the roost even with it's limitations if it hadn't been for ATLAS '2' so its probably evolve or die (and end up as a freebee with any purchase on Plugin Boutique!)

[liquidsound]

If Atlas keeps on evolving, as we have already seen, XO's history shows that it can’t compete with the same update cycles as with Atlas.

I own both and you can “feel” which developer is “committed” to his creation and its users.

I’m talking about Atlas of course.

[SLiC]

Yeh, I also own both (I guess a lot of us do) but I am investing my time in ATLAS for that very reason....

[Biome_Digital]

XO would probably still rule the roost even with it's limitations if it hadn't been for ATLAS '2' so its probably evolve or die (and end up as a freebee with any purchase on Plugin Boutique!)

Ooh I don't know. I am still getting some good use out of XO (as well as Atlas). The random features and sound replacement is still very inspiring.