Tracktion vs. Cubase SX Pros ---- Cons ?

[kuniklo]

What I'd really like is a sequencer that allows me to put together a track more structurally. I'd like to be able to mark an entire section of clips, automation, etc. as a "verse", for instance and drag it around as a unit. All the sequencers I've tried only understand horizontal structure, not vertical structure.

[Improv]

The question is...

Do you want to spend the next 6 months making music or learning how to use a program?

And I could easily say that the real question is:

Do you want to spend the next 6 months making music or waiting for the long anticipated Tracktion 2?

It's all a matter of how you frame the question to jsutify your personal prefernces. I have both SX2 and T1. T1 is a nice little sketch pad, but still has some growing to do.

Use whatever fits your needs. Both have their uses,
none of which is as fodder for a flame war.

[valley]

Do you want to spend the next 6 months making music or waiting for the long anticipated Tracktion 2?

I don't believe Tracktion2 is going to be as much as 6 months away. I'd guess perhaps more like 3-4.

Certainly for people who want to be working today though, choices should be made on what works for them today.

[lowkey]

What I'd really like is a sequencer that allows me to put together a track more structurally. I'd like to be able to mark an entire section of clips, automation, etc. as a "verse", for instance and drag it around as a unit. All the sequencers I've tried only understand horizontal structure, not vertical structure.

Like this?

http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=52447

[DevonB]

Tracktion's dual monitor issue I think works if you have a driver for your video card that treats both screens as one big screen like the Matrox G450/G550 cards do. I swear I had Tracktion up on both monitors before when I did d/l and did a quick test with it for someone.


But really, it's always going to come down to what *YOU* like. I can't stand Tracktions fugly interface. Personal preference. Could I be up and writing with it? I'm sure.

6 months to learn a program? That's a gross exageration, or absolutely no effort on your part. While there is a learning curve for anything, some steeper than others, it's all in familiarity. Get in and start playing and reading. The only thing stopping you from learning a new program is you, not the program.

Devon

[Improv]

Do you want to spend the next 6 months making music or waiting for the long anticipated Tracktion 2?

I don't believe Tracktion2 is going to be as much as 6 months away. I'd guess perhaps more like 3-4.

Nice guess. How long has T2 been promised so far? !

Real Soon Now!

[Improv]

Tracktion's dual monitor issue I think works if you have a driver for your video card that treats both screens as one big screen like the Matrox G450/G550 cards do. I swear I had Tracktion up on both monitors before when I did d/l and did a quick test with it for someone.

Never used a Matrox, but on my Radeon 9000 Pro, Tracktion has never resized to two screens in the release version. I even have Debian Linux setup as one big screen (Xinerama).

The first demo of tracktion that I tried out was back last November. Never seen any mention that T1 could do dual screen. You must have had a day dream!

But really, it's always going to come down to what *YOU* like. I can't stand Tracktions fugly interface. Personal preference. Could I be up and writing with it? I'm sure.

Ya, I fought with T's appearance at first too. Looks like a damn DOS program! Again, personal prefs. However now, I just use Tracktion and don't think about it. The gui look in SX2 gives more depth perception as oppossed to the flat look of T1. They are just different, that's all.

6 months to learn a program? That's a gross exageration, or absolutely no effort on your part. While there is a learning curve for anything, some steeper than others, it's all in familiarity. Get in and start playing and reading. The only thing stopping you from learning a new program is you, not the program.

I think it's the cult of 'instant gratification' at work. The more you put into learning any software, the more you get out of it.

[DevonB]

Tracktion's dual monitor issue I think works if you have a driver for your video card that treats both screens as one big screen like the Matrox G450/G550 cards do. I swear I had Tracktion up on both monitors before when I did d/l and did a quick test with it for someone.

Never used a Matrox, but on my Radeon 9000 Pro, Tracktion has never resized to two screens in the release version. I even have Debian Linux setup as one big screen (Xinerama).

The first demo of tracktion that I tried out was back last November. Never seen any mention that T1 could do dual screen. You must have had a day dream!

Dammit! Now you got my curiosity up. I remember thinking "hmm.. I thought people said it didn't do dual monitors..." but I could. Go download the demo... take a look... Maybe I'll get around to in in the next couple of days, if I remember and have some time. Doubtful, but we'll see.

Devon

[Sascha Franck]

Hm, lack of loop/cycle recording you say? That's bad... I'm used to it since Cubase/Atari 1.0. Or is that only true for audio cycle recording?
Anyways, still would be bad enough in many situations.
These days I even have had studio players (especially singers, I actually wonder...) asking me to record them on a part in cycle mode so we could sort out the best takes afterwards.
So, for me cycle recording is somewhat mandatory.

[kuniklo]

What I'd really like is a sequencer that allows me to put together a track more structurally. I'd like to be able to mark an entire section of clips, automation, etc. as a "verse", for instance and drag it around as a unit. All the sequencers I've tried only understand horizontal structure, not vertical structure.

Like this?

http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=52447

I don't really get exactly what that feature's supposed to do, but it looks interesting. The rate at which EXT is improving is pretty incredible. As a programmer myself my hat is off to Jorgen for achieving such superhuman productivity.

[valley]

Nice guess. How long has T2 been promised so far? !

Find a quote from me where I ever said I thought it would be out before July of this year at the earliest.

Maybe a lot of people did get a little carried away with themselves predicting the imminent release of T2, but as far as I was concerned development, beta-testing and getting a boxed version ready was going to take a large chunk of a year. Right now I suspect T2's development is getting to the point where a beta version is probably little more than a few months away. Give it another month for Mackie to ramp up distribution and you're probably looking at 3-4 months (the emphasis on four).

[Armadillo]

Hm, lack of loop/cycle recording you say? That's bad... I'm used to it since Cubase/Atari 1.0. Or is that only true for audio cycle recording?
Anyways, still would be bad enough in many situations.
These days I even have had studio players (especially singers, I actually wonder...) asking me to record them on a part in cycle mode so we could sort out the best takes afterwards.
So, for me cycle recording is somewhat mandatory.

I must admit that this is also my biggest issue with Tracktion, although as I understand, it's only for audio recording. But considering the pace Tracktion is developing in it won't take long before it's implemented. With Cubase on the other hand features could take years to be implemented.

[lowkey]

From what I can understand its the option of assigning song sections like intro, verse etc to midi keys. Each one of these sections will have their own zoom levels. So navigation and compsition of songs will be super speedy.

I think it will be like lives "Scenes" (triggering multiple loops) only alot more flexible and for £30

And it works very well with Tracton.

[Sascha Franck]

With Cubase on the other hand features could take years to be implemented.

Not at all. They develop features all the time. At the cost of anything I'd call ergonomic. Regarding that Cubase is bloatware. Couldn't get any worse. That's why I'm looking for some alternative on Windows. On the Mac I will buy soon I'll use Logic anyways as it can't be beaten in terms of ergonomics (once you know it a bit that is).

[Lunch Money]

-Interface: I guess I'll never win this one because it's purely subjective. *I* personally find the 'wannabe 3D hardware' look to be condescending. As if putting a coat of varnish on a turd will make it better. OK, Cubase isn't a turd, exactly, but you catch my meaning.

-I would love cycled recording. It's rapidly becoming a must-have for me.

-Dual monitors are less of an issue because of T's ergonomics... you don't NEED dual monitors as much as in other programs. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see my tracks stretched across 2 screens (for example), but it's still not quite as necessary as with other apps. I have a 2nd monitor installed right now and I never even use it.

-That new bundled software mentioned doesn't seem available. (I haven't checked the rest of the forum yet... maybe this is already addressed)

-Why would anyone have to wait for T2 to start making music?? Make it with T1! Sheesh!

-For the people who are getting impatient-- there has NEVER been a "promised" release date for T2. Promises make it sound like someone's gone back on his word, which as far as I know, nobody has. Last time I checked (which was a LONG time ago), Jules said something like, "I hope it'll be sometime around __________" (don't remember the date). That's hardly a promise, and it's getting frustrating that people are acting ripped off for a product that a) hasn't been promised to them, and b) they haven't paid for yet!!! Nothing personal, and I can't even remember who those people were, but despite our love of this program, we're not OWED anything other than what we already get.

Greg