Samplitude Pro v8

[fishbowl.tucson.az]

Magix (and Sek'd) stuff can be quirky, I'll give you that. But I first found out about Samplitude from someone who used it in a production studio situation where he had gone with Samp over PT. There is a substantial number of pro engineers who totally swear by Samplitude (and Sequoia), but it appears that you must build your DAW around compatability with it, and not vice versa.

I really like using Magix Audio Studio for audio mixing, but I cannot stand the MIDI studio piece. And frankly, I'd expect more for the money, considering the high price of the full version of Sequoia. For that kind of bread, I want a very specific hardware compatability list, and, actually, I'd want the thing pre-configured and tested. And all that is totally incompatible with my lifestyle anyway.

Speaking of very expensive alternatives, who has used SAWStudio?

[Alcahest]

@ttoz.No problem at all mate.Just go to Project Options(best you create a key command)there's a field called partitions where you can type in numbers. e.g 2 is 8th,4 is 16th ......

Hope i could help you

Fred

[sascha]

IMO it sounds very good (even exluding the internal fx) BUT its GUI sucks and btw, the demo hasnt got the very talken about analog fx...
/ Lex

FWIW:
I'd just like to throw in here that we've decided to include the am suite & the robota synth the coming days. Maybe it's a completely new demo installer, can't tell yet.

Cheers,
Sascha

[tkay77]

here we go again. I did say it snapped to bars and beats. but there are no other subdivisions. don't you want to snap to 16th's sometimes, or 32nd's even?

..yep..how alcahest wrote...you can customize your grid...

tkay

[saint]

I am interested to find out information about Samplitude 8 also. For years, I have used Logic on the PC and still continuing to use v5.5.1. I am looking to switch to a new host platform, I am split between Cubase SX3 and Samplitude 8 Producer. Any feedback from people familiar with all these products would be helpful? I use a lot audio tracks, some VST instruments and effects and very little MIDI (except for VSTs). I have an RME audio card, Logic/Mackie controller, etc, so I need them to integrate with my hosts (which I know they will). Any input is welcome! Also, the music I produce is mostly deep house, drum 'n bass, breaks and downtempo.

Cheers,

:: chuck hasek
:: dj saint
:: boulder / denver co
:: www.mercury26.com

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[Kraznet]

it's still overly complicated. if someone from magix can explain to me what is so hard about adding a simple drop down snap menu with all the main subdivisions ready to choose from.........it seems EVERY other major host has this.

In the V8.01 demo there is a drop down list in the midi editor to set the grid/snap value up to 64th's . But in the arrange there isn't at the moment. I agree the current method is a bit crap - not exactly steamlined for fast use.I haven't found to be a problem for me so far - but then again I don't do dance music .

Kraznet

[dx-9]

i still use sam7 as midi seq., for wav. recording and cutting(!!!!) and replace and anda adna dnand...

great progr. and i've got no problems with my pc or something likr that

[sluggo]

For the Samp8 (or v7) owners,
Has there been any discussion on rewire issues in the support forum? I am still interested in v8 classic. I'll leave a message in the newcomers forum but it may not give me a suitable (well-informed) response.

thanks

[Andywanders]

I am interested to find out information about Samplitude 8 also. For years, I have used Logic on the PC and still continuing to use v5.5.1. I am looking to switch to a new host platform, I am split between Cubase SX3 and Samplitude 8 Producer. Any feedback from people familiar with all these products would be helpful? I use a lot audio tracks, some VST instruments and effects and very little MIDI (except for VSTs). I have an RME audio card, Logic/Mackie controller, etc, so I need them to integrate with my hosts (which I know they will). Any input is welcome! Also, the music I produce is mostly deep house, drum 'n bass, breaks and downtempo.

Cheers,

:: chuck hasek
:: dj saint
:: boulder / denver co
:: www.mercury26.com

Same here - Logic/PC user.

I've been playing with the demo for a few days now and I am now convinced that I won't be buying it.

Why..?

Well, apart from the gripes that have already been mentioned here, I find the whole program extremely cumbersome. For instance recording, click the record button and a dialogue box appears with many (too many) options to check. If you want to record a MIDI part it's even worse, because there are NO MIDI options at all - no program change or MIDI volume controls for instance.

Also, the demo I have only lets me record 1 bar as a loop and there doesn't seem to be any way around this. If this is a demo limitation it stinks.

The mixer is weird too. It seems that every strip must have an active input (audio/MIDI), even the aux returns. In other words, it doesn't seem possible to have a simple FX return bus without that bus receiving signal from another (external) source too.

Using plugins is also very confusing. It appears that you have to enable your plugs every time you start a new track/project. And that's another thing I hate about this program; it calls its files VIP and WAVE projects and other nonsensical names. Why can't it just refer to songs as erm... "songs"..? Or would that be too obvious..?

I tried Samplitude because someone here recommended it over Live, so I was interested to see how it handled tempo changes, stretching and transposing. My conclusion is it can't even compete with Logic in those areas, and Logic's Time & Pitch machine is well out-of-date now.

Another comparision to Logic, the plugins. Samplitude's plugs, though quite satisfactory, don't come close to the range and sheer quality of Emagic's, and Logic also has excellent synth plugs too.

My advice - from one Logic user to another - it 'aint worth wasting your time downloading it. But hey, don't take my word for it. See for yourself if you like.

Good luck

[Kraznet]

For instance recording, click the record button and a dialogue box appears with many (too many) options to check

This can be disabled .Click on the small square on the record button or key command [R]. A Record Parameter box will open then click on Extended options.

If you want to record a MIDI part it's even worse, because there are NO MIDI options at all - no program change or MIDI volume controls for instance.

When you've recorded a midi part right click on the part and select Object editor or key command CTRL + O .

Also, the demo I have only lets me record 1 bar as a loop and there doesn't seem to be any way around this. If this is a demo limitation it stinks.

This isn't true .Click on Grid/Snap next to the Click button on transport bar then draw a cycle in the arrange page like you would in Logic .Or in Universal Mouse mouse you can draw in the cycle region in the top half of the track lane.

The mixer is weird too. It seems that every strip must have an active input (audio/MIDI), even the aux returns. In other words, it doesn't seem possible to have a simple FX return bus without that bus receiving signal from another (external) source too.

I'll look into that when I have more time .

Using plugins is also very confusing. It appears that you have to enable your plugs every time you start a new track/project. And that's another thing I hate about this program

On the channel strip on the left if you expand it downwards there's a drop down menu when you can select your plug ins Vsti's etc - a bit like Logic . I think you must be talking about the Effects/Routing box . I don't bother with that.Also you can just select Effects from the inserts in the mixer .

it calls its files VIP and WAVE projects and other nonsensical names. Why can't it just refer to songs as erm... "songs"..? Or would that be too obvious..?

Yes that confused me at first but it dosn't worry me now.

I tried Samplitude because someone here recommended it over Live, so I was interested to see how it handled tempo changes, stretching and transposing. My conclusion is it can't even compete with Logic in those areas, and Logic's Time & Pitch machine is well out-of-date now.

I think you need to look again particularly Timestretching . There are some very good tools . Record an audio part and hit CTRL + O then select Pitchshifting Timestretching or Elastic Audio .Or you can select the Pitchshift/Timestretch tool next to the scissors at the top left of the arrange page.

Another comparision to Logic, the plugins. Samplitude's plugs, though quite satisfactory, don't come close to the range and sheer quality of Emagic's, and Logic also has excellent synth plugs too.

Yes there are plug-ins that I miss but the Samp plugs are very good just not so many . The compressors are cool .Logic wins with the synth plugs yes.

I've been trying out the 7.2 and now the 8.01 demo for abour a year on and off and after MUCH deliberation and A/B'ing I am ordering it today . I will still use Logic for some things but Samp is the closest to what I want for future proof development .


Kraznet

[sascha]

And that's another thing I hate about this program; it calls its files VIP and WAVE projects and other nonsensical names. Why can't it just refer to songs as erm... "songs"..? Or would that be too obvious..?

This isn't obvious at all. Using Sam doesn't necessarily mean making 'music'. Talking about origins, Sam is the smaller version of Sequoia which is a DAW software used mainly in the broadcast scene (radio edits). Another market - for many years now - is cutting and editing classical music. Okay, it's 'music' of course, but those people used to come up with demands and ideas a typical midi-orientated-sequencer-with-audio-attached couldn't handle.
The ability to have RAM and disk projects was because of the fact that Sam was brought to the market at a time when PCs were dramatically slow and memory was hugely expensive (in the beginning of the 90s). But even today it is good at times to have such options at hand, though it might look confusing at first sight, I admit. But once you get a hang on it, it's no hassle at all and everything's getting logical.

This project housekeeping structure won't change either. A popular demand by long-term customers is backwards compatibility. If you buy a software for $1000..3000 you most probably want to exchange projects from different versions, maybe simply because of your clients. Not only does that mean 'technical compatibility', but also the assurance that things won't change along the way. The app is definitely a workhorse, but once you learned how to operate it, you can come back years later and still expect thing working the same.

Cheers,
Sascha

[_niko_]

Does anybody know if the 64-tracks limit of the classic version is including midi/vsti/rewire-tracks?
I could live with its other limitations (though I'd obviously like the AM suite) but if multi-out vsti-tracks count, that would decrease the available audio tracks significantly. I can't really justify the cost of the producer edition given that I already have Sonar 4PE.
Taking into account that the new features like fx-monitoring and rewire don't seem to work too well, I currently wonder if I might be better off, just getting a blowout version of samplitude 6 producer and use it for audio only...

Niko

[sluggo]

Using plugins is also very confusing. It appears that you have to enable your plugs every time you start a new track/project. And that's another thing I hate about this program; it calls its files VIP and WAVE projects and other nonsensical names. Why can't it just refer to songs as erm... "songs"..? Or would that be too obvious..?

Part of the beauty of having VIPs, wavs, etc, is the power of samp's non-destructive editing. But I would agree that the bookkeeping aspect of this is confusing.

Kraznet, maybe you can provide more info on how other Samp users are getting on with rewire?

thx

[Forever Sun]

Taking into account that the new features like fx-monitoring and rewire don't seem to work too well, I currently wonder if I might be better off, just getting a blowout version of samplitude 6 producer and use it for audio only...

Niko

No, don't get Samplitude 6 but try Samplitude that's part of Magix Music Studio Deluxe 2005 ( The Samplitude part of this app is called Audio Studio- it's got a lot of features from the current V.8 flagship albeit in a cut down version). It's even 24 bit compatibile now. There's everything there you need for editing and mastering really. Just forget the Logic based Music Studio (the midi side of things) don't even look at it.