OK call me simple, but to me, a DAW is about making music without reading 800+ page manuals and getting on with the job.
Anyway .. after what I thought was "good" research I ended up buying Sonar 3 Producer Edition. The demo seemed ok and it was voted CM's best sequencer of 2003.
What I missed in the reader awards, was the 3rd place getter ... Tracktion.
Anyway, I installed Sonar 3 and tried making some music, started reading the 800 page manual and felt a bit lost, to be honest.
Then I read the latest issue of CM, and a reader writes a letter about Tracktion, raving about its design etc. I download the demo.
OMG! This is simply the most intuitive, easy to use, natural way for a non-pro like me to actually MAKE music. I cannot believe I just spent $500 on Sonar!!!!!
And it works. And I have low latency with my cheapo little Tascam US-122 USB module and my Dell laptop - try 10+ instances of rgc:audio sfz driving SF2's from 5MB to 128MB in size, plus Absynth, the internal sampler, Pentagon I - all running without crashes and the CPU only at about 75% And that is with reverb, compression, delay, and a few other plugs. WOW!
In 90 minutes I had made a reasonably complete song without reading anything more than the "Getting Started" guide.
Jules ... a work of art and I will be registering on payday!
Welcome
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- KVRian
- 725 posts since 30 Mar, 2004 from Melbourne, Australia
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- KVRAF
- 1682 posts since 13 Oct, 2003 from Oulu, Finland
I'm feeling good about Tracktion too 
I've been using Logic Audio for a very long time now (on PC) and now that there are more and more of those VSTi's popping up that don't work in Logic (VST 2.3 instead of 2.0) I had two choises:
1) Buy a Mac and a Logic for that (EXPENSIVE!!!)
2) Find another host software which runs on PC.
So I tried the second choise first and went through LOTS of the bigger and smaller hosts. Finally I bumbed into Tracktion and installed it. First I missed the screensets of Logic Audio, but in about 5 minutes I realised that they aren't that necessary in this kind of GUI and felt quite happy. Then I realized what the rack can do and had an instant flashback from the days I was using Pulsar II soundcard, which had a modular interface for effects & synths. At that moment I danced with joy
I tried the Tracktion for few days and was thinking: "I hope it doesn't cost much more than 350e, because that's about as much I'm willing to pay for it". After that thought, I went to see the price of it...
WHOOAAAA!!!! Now I have to buy it
Tracktion sure has many advantages over the old/big hosts. Those old mammoths have been designed in the old days and now it is impossible to add the whole new interface designs to them without rewriting & designing the whole software.
I really hope that the number of features will be kept few in Tracktion and only the necessary will be added. Who actually needs all the bells and whistles those "big" softwares have? I don't. Tracktion in my opinion is as professional software as any software can ever be. It is so flexible and streamlined and great to use.
That said, I'll paint my Logic Audio green and sink it in to the sea, so no-one can ever find it.
I've been using Logic Audio for a very long time now (on PC) and now that there are more and more of those VSTi's popping up that don't work in Logic (VST 2.3 instead of 2.0) I had two choises:
1) Buy a Mac and a Logic for that (EXPENSIVE!!!)
2) Find another host software which runs on PC.
So I tried the second choise first and went through LOTS of the bigger and smaller hosts. Finally I bumbed into Tracktion and installed it. First I missed the screensets of Logic Audio, but in about 5 minutes I realised that they aren't that necessary in this kind of GUI and felt quite happy. Then I realized what the rack can do and had an instant flashback from the days I was using Pulsar II soundcard, which had a modular interface for effects & synths. At that moment I danced with joy
I tried the Tracktion for few days and was thinking: "I hope it doesn't cost much more than 350e, because that's about as much I'm willing to pay for it". After that thought, I went to see the price of it...
WHOOAAAA!!!! Now I have to buy it Tracktion sure has many advantages over the old/big hosts. Those old mammoths have been designed in the old days and now it is impossible to add the whole new interface designs to them without rewriting & designing the whole software.
I really hope that the number of features will be kept few in Tracktion and only the necessary will be added. Who actually needs all the bells and whistles those "big" softwares have? I don't. Tracktion in my opinion is as professional software as any software can ever be. It is so flexible and streamlined and great to use.
That said, I'll paint my Logic Audio green and sink it in to the sea, so no-one can ever find it.
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- KVRer
- 14 posts since 16 May, 2004
dear friend
is it possibele to convert a midi clip to groove templete in tracktion?
sorry to bother you
thanks
is it possibele to convert a midi clip to groove templete in tracktion?
sorry to bother you
thanks
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- KVRer
- 4 posts since 5 Jun, 2004
I know you have probably heard this to death Jules, but I just wanna say
"Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!"
Traktion is just what I've been looking for to accompany Reason, the simplicity of the design is fantastic, especially the racks, I only bought it yesterday (80 bucks bargain!), and although I havnae hammered away at it yet everything seems to be running smoothly all my VSTi's all seem to be working perfectly in unison with reason. I have it running on a IBM T23 with RME Hammerfall Cardbus, no complaints so far and I'll be tellin all me mates about it.
Again cheers, for taking it upon yourself to develop such a slick piece of kit.
"Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!"
Traktion is just what I've been looking for to accompany Reason, the simplicity of the design is fantastic, especially the racks, I only bought it yesterday (80 bucks bargain!), and although I havnae hammered away at it yet everything seems to be running smoothly all my VSTi's all seem to be working perfectly in unison with reason. I have it running on a IBM T23 with RME Hammerfall Cardbus, no complaints so far and I'll be tellin all me mates about it.
Again cheers, for taking it upon yourself to develop such a slick piece of kit.
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- KVRist
- 69 posts since 7 Jul, 2004
Greets,
Just bought the Tracktion for PC, switching from Muzys.
Why? Well, appart for being even easier and more ergonomical than the Muzys, adding the rack features has finally done it for me. Before, I missed the feasable multichannel VST support.
Plus, I got Phatmatic Pro for easy beat slicing to compensate Muzys inbuilt stuff.
I've worked with FL Studio (too step oriented), Logic Platinum (I would be forced to sell all my organs to licence the stuff in the package), Muzys (great, but automation drawing is irritating), Acid Pro (midi not so polished).
Tracktion may be easy to master, but the final results are limited only with the quality of your vst-s and your skill. Not professional? Please! PJ Harvey recorded her last piece on 4-track tape with no post-production. Is she a professional?
Great job! The background coluor is a little depressing, though. Try something metalic, even in pattern, it gives the pro-look...
And yeah, whats with that announcement of 2.0, Mackey already threatens us with some upgrade fee?! I hope that you don't turn too greeedy on us poor part-time musicians
.
Just bought the Tracktion for PC, switching from Muzys.
Why? Well, appart for being even easier and more ergonomical than the Muzys, adding the rack features has finally done it for me. Before, I missed the feasable multichannel VST support.
Plus, I got Phatmatic Pro for easy beat slicing to compensate Muzys inbuilt stuff.
I've worked with FL Studio (too step oriented), Logic Platinum (I would be forced to sell all my organs to licence the stuff in the package), Muzys (great, but automation drawing is irritating), Acid Pro (midi not so polished).
Tracktion may be easy to master, but the final results are limited only with the quality of your vst-s and your skill. Not professional? Please! PJ Harvey recorded her last piece on 4-track tape with no post-production. Is she a professional?
Great job! The background coluor is a little depressing, though. Try something metalic, even in pattern, it gives the pro-look...
And yeah, whats with that announcement of 2.0, Mackey already threatens us with some upgrade fee?! I hope that you don't turn too greeedy on us poor part-time musicians
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- The tallest of the gang
- 373 posts since 1 Jul, 2002 from Yon London
Finally getting to grips with Tracktion after buying it a while ago...
It complements my other host (Muzys) very well- been doing some very quick and dirty remixes on it that are great fun. And when decent midi conrtroller support is added, it'll be just peachy for what I want to do with it.
I like.
It complements my other host (Muzys) very well- been doing some very quick and dirty remixes on it that are great fun. And when decent midi conrtroller support is added, it'll be just peachy for what I want to do with it.
I like.
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- KVRist
- 65 posts since 17 Dec, 2004 from IRELAND
Hi Jules,
You are my last hope. I am new to Tracktion and I just love it. But no matter what reverb plug in I try to download it keeps going into the ignored files. On the rare occassion when it doesn't it still does not appear in the filter drop down menu. I can see no third party folder or anything. Have contacted Mackie Tech Support 100 times. Very nice people, lots of suggestions but still no reverb or plug ins. Have tried alll the procedures step by step, have repaired my Mac permissions, have downloaded reverbs that other Tracktion users apparently have no problem with eg. Sliver spike, Ambience, Reverb it, Room verb, Altoverb, have stood on my head and held my breath for 2 minutes and blacked out but no reverb. I need a high quality reverb urgently for classical recording mixdowns and mastering. For a nano second I thought of Apple Logic but the temptation passed quickly. Can you rescue me? Is there something simple that I am missing? Can I uninstall and reinstall Tracktion on my Mac? Not even sure how to do that as I am relatively new to computers. Forgive diatribe. I am desperate.
You are my last hope. I am new to Tracktion and I just love it. But no matter what reverb plug in I try to download it keeps going into the ignored files. On the rare occassion when it doesn't it still does not appear in the filter drop down menu. I can see no third party folder or anything. Have contacted Mackie Tech Support 100 times. Very nice people, lots of suggestions but still no reverb or plug ins. Have tried alll the procedures step by step, have repaired my Mac permissions, have downloaded reverbs that other Tracktion users apparently have no problem with eg. Sliver spike, Ambience, Reverb it, Room verb, Altoverb, have stood on my head and held my breath for 2 minutes and blacked out but no reverb. I need a high quality reverb urgently for classical recording mixdowns and mastering. For a nano second I thought of Apple Logic but the temptation passed quickly. Can you rescue me? Is there something simple that I am missing? Can I uninstall and reinstall Tracktion on my Mac? Not even sure how to do that as I am relatively new to computers. Forgive diatribe. I am desperate.
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- KVRist
- 201 posts since 11 Jul, 2004
Hi there,
All I have to say is - stunning. I've never really got my head around the other sequencers out there, but when I saw it for free download I thought at first, 'we, I'll give it a go, but it can't be that good if they're just giving it away', and how wrong I was. Tracktion was like a breath of fresh air, in that I'm actually making music instead of pissing about with bloody screens. Sure, there are little niggles here and there if version 2 is as good as it sounds then March can't come soon enough!</suckup>
So, cheers!
All I have to say is - stunning. I've never really got my head around the other sequencers out there, but when I saw it for free download I thought at first, 'we, I'll give it a go, but it can't be that good if they're just giving it away', and how wrong I was. Tracktion was like a breath of fresh air, in that I'm actually making music instead of pissing about with bloody screens. Sure, there are little niggles here and there if version 2 is as good as it sounds then March can't come soon enough!</suckup>
So, cheers!
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- KVRer
- 11 posts since 10 Feb, 2005 from Queen Creek, AZ
Jules,
Just downloaded Tracktion 2 days ago and I love it! I am a soon to be former Cubase VST user, I will be listing it on Ebay tonight. Thank you for a program that doesn't get in the way of making music.
Just downloaded Tracktion 2 days ago and I love it! I am a soon to be former Cubase VST user, I will be listing it on Ebay tonight. Thank you for a program that doesn't get in the way of making music.
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- KVRAF
- 1600 posts since 1 Apr, 2003 from Seattle, WA
Where exactly did you download tracktion 2? It hasn't been released yet.
Ben
Ben
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- KVRAF
- 5851 posts since 9 Jul, 2002 from Helsinki
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- KVRAF
- 4644 posts since 28 Nov, 2002 from Chicago
<snigger>
Someone shot the food. Remember: don't shoot food!
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- KVRAF
- 1600 posts since 1 Apr, 2003 from Seattle, WA
OH.
So it was ...Tracktion, 2 days ago...
Not, ...Tracktion 2, days ago...
Ok, he's off the hook.
Ben
So it was ...Tracktion, 2 days ago...
Not, ...Tracktion 2, days ago...
Ok, he's off the hook.
Ben
