Tracktion BioTek 3

[martiu]

good sound and pretty UI, bad workflow though, too many clicks

[bite_me]

Open a tab with the magnifying glass should close the tab on the same spot. Less hovering then.

[skyscape]

The UI does look like an improvement for sure, I like Tracktion's synths but they should take a leaf out of Arturia's book. I think I bought Pigments at v2 (now at v5), have had free updates since and each update has added major features to the instrument not just UI tweaks. I don't think I am quite tempted enough to pay for an update to this for basically a UI overhaul. It's a very capable synth for sure, so might be better for those buying in new.

[Gribs]

The new "easy" interface reminds me of Current; it is even purple. Sure it is not the same, but it is a similar idea with some simple controls, a virtual keyboard (different than Current's) and a morphing thing in the middle.

Isn't Tracktion more like an aggregator site with multiple exclusive developers? Sort of like a record label for plugins?

[FigBug]

Isn't Tracktion more like an aggregator site with multiple exclusive developers? Sort of like a record label for plugins?

Tracktion does both -- is a publisher and a developer. There are 3rd party plugins and plugins developing in house.

[MillerSam]

Developer of BioTek 3 is Wolfram Franke (ex Waldorf)

[twal]

can you upgrade from biotek 1 to this- 3, or is it like waveform where you can only upgrade from the immediate, recent version...

[mesamask]

After rethinking and reading the comments here I decided not to upgrade to version 3.
Seems there's almost nothing v3 could do that isn't already possible in v2. I surely wouldn't mind the more structured and sorted GUI, as well as the CPU improvements. But that's not enough for me to justify paying the upgrade price.
Which btw I think is rather hefty, 50 bucks for a few days, 100 bucks regularly! That's asking a lot for a reworked UI
For comparison (without looking it up though), I think when u-he released version 2 of Hive the upgrade from v1 was like 20 bucks or something. And that was a MAJOR update with tons of new stuff introduced.

Overall I'd say this is a quite perfect example for what a version x.5 update should be like.
As it fits so awfully well, XLN Audio released version 2.5 of Addictive Drums in October. Totally reworked GUI, improved performance, some new features. The changelog sounds almost identical to BioTek 3 lol

ad2.png

(Full release notes of AD v2.5 can be found here)

So, you folks at Tracktion, please have a look what XLN did there. That's exactly your ballpark and what you have to compete with.

[pekbro]

can you upgrade from biotek 1 to this- 3, or is it like waveform where you can only upgrade from the immediate, recent version...

You cannot...

[tq]

Actually, this is quite nice now. Never used 2, despite owning it, but 3 is much more inviting, Easy page is great for performing. Also, there seems to be much more content now - more than 3 Gigs, vs. less than one in 2. That’s from memory, as I am not sitting at my studio machine, but I was quite happy with the upgrade in my first 20 mins check.

[first ade]

There seems to be a lot of negative comments on this thread. I can understand being a bit put out to be asked to pay 50 for an upgrade, but for me a new buyer, this is an amazing synth.

Its overall sound is quite exceptional and it’s pretty easy to program, given its complexity. The filters sound really good. The FM is up there with the best I’ve heard in a softsynth. The fx sound really damn good too.

There’s a lot to love about this synth.

[Tj Shredder]

MPE pitch bend seems broken. Anybody has the same experience?

[BBFG#]

There seems to be a lot of negative comments on this thread. I can understand being a bit put out to be asked to pay 50 for an upgrade, but for me a new buyer, this is an amazing synth.

Its overall sound is quite exceptional and it’s pretty easy to program, given its complexity. The filters sound really good. The FM is up there with the best I’ve heard in a softsynth. The fx sound really damn good too.

There’s a lot to love about this synth.

I bought an unregistered serial of the first one for $9 and when I registered it it was automatically up'd to version 2. So $50 for this doesn't feel bad. The few dislikes I've had with v2 was mainly the FM engine and overall sound not always having enough "presence" and this version is nicely improved with CPU usage hardly registering. (Which is helpful since the last Windows update has turned off virtual cores and shoves as much as it can on the first core.) Pitch bend is crunching the audio engine, but I'm fairly certain that is because Windows suddenly doesn't want to multi thread since it's also started happening on other plugins as well. e.g. AAS

Add/edit: pitch bend only spikes the CPU/audio engine in stand alone. No problems in Bitwig 4 (Bitwig 5 is still its own special sh*t show though.)

[WasteLand]

MPE pitch bend seems broken. Anybody has the same experience?

yep! MPE pitch bend/Glide non-existent. and sometimes notes jump over all the place (although you can't hear it strangely).

in Bitwig it works, without GLide...

in Reaper, MPE won't work. very strange because you don't have do anything in Reaper for MPE....

stuff for support.

still bought the update, although it is strange, strange update...

i like Biotek 2/3 so.... why not...

but something very strange with MPE, or it is Reaper, because some things else seem not to work.

while writing this, i loaded Biotek 3 in Reaper again, complete new session in Reaper, MPE works, and browser works (only my own presets from Biotek 2, i do load, through the screen that screams for the Content, i don't need it, but....).

it had to be jump started?

i am writing this while testing it. MPE Glide is better in Reaper than in Bitwig....
it does now exist.... but broken......

very strange...

[Examigan]

Developer of BioTek 3 is Wolfram Franke (ex Waldorf)

He is also the main developer of F.'em. and Collective.

Anyway, I like the UI of this new version much better.