Tracktion 2 - excuse me for being cynical

[Lunch Money]

I'm pretty curious about the Sampletank/Amplitube stuff. Just how crippled are they?

I dunno about Sampletank, but what's known about Amplitube LE can be readily found on IK or eSoundz sites. It's basically 3 amp, 3 EQ, and 3 cab models from Amplitube (the Marshall-type, the Vox AC30 type, and the clean model which I THINK was a Fender Blackface Twin, but I can't remember offhand). These can be combined with 4 basic effects or with whatever effects you have already.

It's a 'real' piece of software, available for ~$80-100 retail, but it IS less full-featured than Amplitube 'proper'. Does that answer the question?

NAS-- you are entitled to your opinion, of course, but you are dangerously close to acting like your opinion is the only correct one. I will say again (and it's NOT bullshit) that if your band members think that $199 is a waste for a fully-featured software sequencer, then they need to educate themselves. It's that simple. I have no doubt that you're right and that if they actually have to PAY something substantial for a new 'toy' then they might not bother with it. But if they are serious musicians with their own studios, they already know that $199 is reasonable. If it's not, they should check out Magix, which is exactly the same cost as the original Tracktion.

Greg

[Lunch Money]

For the record-- neither Mackie, RMS, nor Future publishing have ever said anything that even looked like a hint that T1 would become Tracktion CM. That is simply speculation and rumour put forth by forum members of CM/FM forums.

It seems to make sense, but in no way is it even remotely a thing discussed by the respective owners.

Greg

[NAS]

LM okay im wrong and your right.
Sorry for airing my opinion and stating facts i wont be silly enough to do that again.

[Lunch Money]

Sorry to counter your opinions, question some of your statements, and actually challenge you and make you back up some of your claims.

Won't expect you to have to think or justify your claims ever again.

Sheesh... it's not like I called you out, got adversarial or anything... seems to me I was pretty fair and diplomatic in anything I was questioning.

Greg

[NAS]

Sorry to counter your opinions, question some of your statements, and actually challenge you and make you back up some of your claims.

Won't expect you to have to think or justify your claims ever again.

Sheesh....

What exactly would you like me to back up ?

[Lunch Money]

Nothing, I guess, now that you ask. It just seems to me that your statement about your bandmates' studios and their inability or unwillingness to spend $199 on an app was a bit odd.

First you said $199 is too pricey, to which I suggested sharing the cost. Then you countered with what seemed to be a claim that all of them ARE serious musicians who have their own studios and gear with which to work. OK, fair enough-- so I went back to "Well then how can $199 be too expensive," which is still a fair question.

Not only that, but I also suggested a reasonable alternative within their budget, and maintain that they're probably not T2's target demographic if $199 is too rich for them.

I guess that's about it. No need to explain your side further, since it'd just be repeating the same thing, "Trust me, it's too expensive for them, you don't know them the way I do," which is absolutely true; however, that statement and that fact does nothing to change my two premises which are a) $199 is not too rich for a serious recording musician, and b) they're not T2's target demographic if that's the case.

Greg

[NAS]

I was trying to point out that these people found T1 easy to use but they wont pay $199 because they buy instruments like violins and so on which are a high cost investment ,The software they use at home is more of a notepad to record ideas but the thing i loved about T1 was that they where starting to learn some of the other stuff available in the package where as Cubasis or whatever its called now just wont get them to do that ,Im sure they will stick with T1 anyhow so its all mute ,I suppose i just find it a little gutting that im gonna have to carry on doing all the programming and so on because its just not enjoyable in any other package for casual users to do ,I hope i haven't offended you in any way by stating my point and i suppose i just always saw T aimed at a different user base ,I will say though that if T is trying to move up into the middle ground that here in the UK it will struggle against the likes of FL just on a features cost ratio.

One last thing i never said T2 was too expensive i said that there should be a no plugs economic version.

[Lunch Money]

That would be nice, but I don't imagine it would happen.

Hey, if you're doing all the programming yourself, you could always get them to chip in on T2 and leave them with their NFR T1s. Only fair to compensate you for your hard work.



(stirs discord within the band)

I DO see your point-- if that $199 gets them closer to a new amp or instrument, they'd rather not spend it on software. I just think that makes them a musician first, and a 'recording musician' second. Everyone's got their own priorities, but if all they need is a 'scratchpad', then T1 should still be up to the task.

Greg

[P.T.]

I use and like T1.

I never bought the idea that it was underpriced, not when you look at FL or Magix music studio and what you get for $150 or $80 (for magix).

T2 sounds like a $100 sequencer (hopefully with the bugs ironed out)with bundled plugs that you are forced to pay for whether you want them or not, that will cost you $199.

It's not an automatic purchase for me.

[koolkeys]

Just curious, but what do you think would make it more than a $100 sequencer? T2 hsa things that software going for almost $300 doesn't have. Like it's been said, T1 was underpriced, so maybe that's why so many people view $200 as alot. But for the features(which we don't even know all the features yet), $199 is a great price. Value is in the eye of each individual buyer. Not knocking your opinion, as to you it may be worth $100, but for me, it's worth way more than that. I guess it's all about what you need.

However, concerning the plugs included. I do believe Mackie want to make Tracktion2 a competitor. Well, to do that, you have to fight fire with fire. They have plugs, then Tracktion needs them too. You don't have to use them, but they are included if you do need them.

Also, it makes me happy to see the plugs included are mainly from more independent-esque developers. Which is good. It is supporting the smaller companies(not saying the products are smaller. I prefer them any day).

Just a few thoughts.

Koolkeys

[Lunch Money]

I also doubt that the plug-ins are what brought the price up. Sure, there are likely some sort of licensing fees to be paid, but I suspect they're minimal. In some cases, the companies in question probably value the exposure more than the licensing fees and may have even waived them for the chance to include their plug-ins in a package. Who knows?

I know what I'm upgrading for, and it's not the new plug-ins. It's the overhauled and still Tracktion-like interface, which includes Looped Audio and new MIDI functionality. That's going to be worth the price of admission, and the bundled plug-ins just make me happy on a "new toy!" level.

Greg

[koolkeys]

I'm with you LM. If no plugs were included, I'd still be sold. Tracktion has proved very good to me before. Jules is great at what he does. And with the new features added, Tracktion is still a steal. Throw in the plugs, and it makes the decision that much easier. And besides, we don't even know all the plugs included. It says over 70 plugs. Even if you add the ones that were included in version 1, then add the ones they announced today, you still have nowhere near 70. So there's more to come, and that's exciting.

Plus, it says over 100 new features. They've announced maybe 15 or so. I think it's going to be better than we imagine. Who knows what else will be added(even if they are small additions). Beno did say that "many, many" new features have been added JUST FROM THE KVR POSTERS. Say they added layers to the sampler, and stuff like that. T2 may potentially be HUGE!

So I'm eagerly awaiting. I've decided to put the money aside already so I don't accidentally waste it. This really could change everything.

Koolkeys

[Lunch Money]

Looped recording already changes everything for me. Yippeee!!

(I really, REALLY need to stop being ever second respondent in these threads)

[koolkeys]

Hehe, me too! It seems at night that you and I post back and forth alot on the same threads. Have you noticed? This is why I can't get to sleep sometimes, because I keep checking back to see what's been added, and I HAVE to respond also! But not all the time.

Koolkeys

[Lunch Money]

Yup, I'm very compulsive/obsessive that way. I have a hard time quitting the forums until my "My Latest Topics" is showing no new posts.

Greg