XLN Audio XO - I'm not impressed, here's why.

[xtreme sounds]

I love XO, because how good the organization architecture is. It is incredibly fast to get something down that sounds very good. But, yeah there are quite few issues. I've emailed the team a very long list of requests, and then responded positively and said that XO is not done. 8 sequence lanes is not enough. A, AB, and AAAB is just laughable. Lack of individual sequence length (prohibiting polyrhythms) is nonsensical. And individual sequence lane MIDI export is completely broken. What I don't have a problem with is the effects or the routing. Those are both fine. It's nice to have effects, but you really should consider using your DAW effects anyway. I don't understand why anyone would go to the trouble of setting XO up to route each track lane out as individual MIDI channels, and still play the Master channel? I have Triaz and Playbeat as well.

I have sent similar requests for years they just take them down "good idea" and another year passes. At one point they reached out to me to try and reassure me but its 2025 already and still not even an update with one of the aforesaid features since 2 plus years of emailing them.

XO is good for making quick original drums grooves to get a song going without too much effort though. a better sequencer with more options should be high on their priority list these days. Nothing is worse than Bitwigs latest stepwise sequencer though. Its only half done. Bitwig is a great DAW but why do something halfway?

[oobesan]

I love XO, because how good the organization architecture is. It is incredibly fast to get something down that sounds very good. But, yeah there are quite few issues. I've emailed the team a very long list of requests, and then responded positively and said that XO is not done. 8 sequence lanes is not enough. A, AB, and AAAB is just laughable. Lack of individual sequence length (prohibiting polyrhythms) is nonsensical. And individual sequence lane MIDI export is completely broken. What I don't have a problem with is the effects or the routing. Those are both fine. It's nice to have effects, but you really should consider using your DAW effects anyway. I don't understand why anyone would go to the trouble of setting XO up to route each track lane out as individual MIDI channels, and still play the Master channel? I have Triaz and Playbeat as well.

I have sent similar requests for years they just take them down "good idea" and another year passes. At one point they reached out to me to try and reassure me but its 2025 already and still not even an update with one of the aforesaid features since 2 plus years of emailing them.

XO is good for making quick original drums grooves to get a song going without too much effort though. a better sequencer with more options should be high on their priority list these days. Nothing is worse than Bitwigs latest stepwise sequencer though. Its only half done. Bitwig is a great DAW but why do something halfway?

I hear you completely. I have little faith that they will take our suggestions seriously.

[seangm]

XO is my go to when I want to find a quick beat and be able to easily replace some of the samples if needed. I find it very useful.

[machinesworking]

XO handles a large database of samples significantly better than Atlas.
rsp

I've had no problems with Atlas and large databases. There are things to like about XO for sure, some of the way it works I liked slightly better, but the basic sequencer in Atlas is miles better, including being able to MIDI record into it, so I'll use it with Beatstep Pro for instance. The developer is super quick to respond, and interested in making the sequencer even more friendly to odd time signatures. Plus I hate the fact XO only has 8 tracks of drums. Seems like a one man and maybe his partner operation, so that also appeals to me.

[troxx]

All these apps do pretty much the same thing and have very similar features, what is missing in all these similar apps, personally thinking, is sample locking and parameter locking like what is found on Elektron Digitakt or the Polyend Play, there are no software instruments (that I can think of?) that has these features, especially the ability to swap or randomise samples on a per step basis in their sequencer, it would be an instant buy from me.

[oobesan]

All these apps do pretty much the same thing and have very similar features, what is missing in all these similar apps, personally thinking, is sample locking and parameter locking like what is found on Elektron Digitakt or the Polyend Play, there are no software instruments (that I can think of?) that has these features, especially the ability to swap or randomise samples on a per step basis in their sequencer, it would be an instant buy from me.

Playbeat 3 and 4 can parameter lock and randomize sample or sequence or both on a per-loo, but not per-step, basis. Still, pretty close to what you are asking for.

[troxx]

It is… but it’s still not per step, where you can make more glitchy, experimental loops.
It also doesn’t do effects to parameter lock, the Digitakt and Play are both awesome for this, just sometimes I’d like to be able to do this ITB.

I’ll send some feature requests, see how they respond.

[eecrumjr77]

All these apps do pretty much the same thing and have very similar features, what is missing in all these similar apps, personally thinking, is sample locking and parameter locking like what is found on Elektron Digitakt or the Polyend Play, there are no software instruments (that I can think of?) that has these features, especially the ability to swap or randomise samples on a per step basis in their sequencer, it would be an instant buy from me.

You can do this with Wave Alchemy's TRIAZ. Assign up to three different samples per drum slot, then use the motion sequencer to switch among samples on the X/Y pad.

[joshuaveldman]

All these apps do pretty much the same thing and have very similar features, what is missing in all these similar apps, personally thinking, is sample locking and parameter locking like what is found on Elektron Digitakt or the Polyend Play, there are no software instruments (that I can think of?) that has these features, especially the ability to swap or randomise samples on a per step basis in their sequencer, it would be an instant buy from me.

You can do this with Wave Alchemy's TRIAZ. Assign up to three different samples per drum slot, then use the motion sequencer to switch among samples on the X/Y pad.

Going to echo you on this. Not sure why people haven't mentioned Triaz. It's taken the role of Geist for me and the only thing that I see it can improve upon is the sample loading, in that having that sample map like XO would be great for searching for samples.

The three samples per lane switching is awesome. You can automate it and have the sample change ever so slightly to keep the listener engaged.

[troxx]

Sounds cool, but not entirely what I’m used to from the hardware I use, the Polyend Play can use up to 255 samples per project, but the device is limited to roughly 30mb per project, they recently updated to Play+ to allow stereo samples and didn’t think to increase the project memory, so your still limited to that 30mb for stereo samples.

I might try and learn NI Reaktor or Kontakt, see if I can create something in a similar capacity.

[CrystalWizard]

Reaktor

[xtreme sounds]

deleted

[Echoes in the Attic]

Sounds cool, but not entirely what I’m used to from the hardware I use, the Polyend Play can use up to 255 samples per project, but the device is limited to roughly 30mb per project, they recently updated to Play+ to allow stereo samples and didn’t think to increase the project memory, so your still limited to that 30mb for stereo samples.

I might try and learn NI Reaktor or Kontakt, see if I can create something in a similar capacity.

Or Maschine software?