Your opinions on Cakewalk Dimension Pro
-
- KVRian
- 1394 posts since 28 Mar, 2002 from Austria
Isn't there a demo to download from the Cakewalk site ?
-
- KVRist
- 227 posts since 26 Aug, 2010
I can't find audio demos and I can't find trial versions.
Which strings are the best? The strings from Cakewalk's STudio Instruments, from E-MU Proteus Pack Virtuoso or from DImension Pro? They all cost the same but I don't know which I should take.
Which strings are the best? The strings from Cakewalk's STudio Instruments, from E-MU Proteus Pack Virtuoso or from DImension Pro? They all cost the same but I don't know which I should take.
-
- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 514 posts since 6 Mar, 2012
Thanks a lot for this comprehensive and professional answer. It gives me quite a good idea of what those organs sound like. According to what you're saying, they shouldn't sound "cheap", anyway.coincidental wrote:Just dug out Dimension Pro and played with the organs. Bright, clear and a perhaps little lifeless. But then, that's sampling for you - and most of the patches don't have much in the way of expression built in.
Tweaking them is slightly more complicated than it would be tweaking the parameters for a dedicated organ VST with drawbars etc in plain view (or a Kontakt library that's been scripted to give similar functionality). However, Dim Pro is not hard to tweak once you get into it - adding a slight delay to the LFO, or mapping it to aftertouch, takes a second or two, no more. And the samples are good, but leave you the freedom to make them sit in the mix. Kontakt's organs (I don't have my sample drive on this computer as I write) are more colourful and perhaps 'warmer'. Not necessarily better. Sometimes having the right samples is more important that having gigabytes of them.
-
- KVRian
- 1051 posts since 31 Mar, 2012
The patches rely heavily on the built in reverb which is not very good. So they all sound a bit muddy to me. Turning that off in every patch is kind of a PITA.
Some of the string samples are okay but a lot of them sound kind of "synthy" to me.
Some of the string samples are okay but a lot of them sound kind of "synthy" to me.
-
- KVRist
- 279 posts since 13 Feb, 2007
Studio Instruments is a collection four smaller dedicated synths with very limited programming and expansion capability. The E-MU Proteus Pack Virtuoso is not a synth, it is a Dimension Pro expansion pack. Dimension Pro is a synth. It comes with strings (including Garritan Pocket Orchestra) and much more.Melodyshine wrote:I can't find audio demos and I can't find trial versions.
Which strings are the best? The strings from Cakewalk's STudio Instruments, from E-MU Proteus Pack Virtuoso or from DImension Pro? They all cost the same but I don't know which I should take.
-
- KVRist
- 227 posts since 26 Aug, 2010
Yes, I know but do the strings of the expansion pack sound better than the Garritan Pocket Orchestra strings?scook wrote:Studio Instruments is a collection four smaller dedicated synths with very limited programming and expansion capability. The E-MU Proteus Pack Virtuoso is not a synth, it is a Dimension Pro expansion pack. Dimension Pro is a synth. It comes with strings (including Garritan Pocket Orchestra) and much more.Melodyshine wrote:I can't find audio demos and I can't find trial versions.
Which strings are the best? The strings from Cakewalk's STudio Instruments, from E-MU Proteus Pack Virtuoso or from DImension Pro? They all cost the same but I don't know which I should take.
I have downloaded the Sonar X2 trial and could try some presets of Dimension Pro via the Cakewalk Sound Center vst. I just found out that I can use the Cakewalk Sound Center vst with another DAW and it works beyond the trial period. So now I don't know whether I really should buy it.
-
- KVRAF
- 25849 posts since 20 Jan, 2008 from a star near where you are
I find these useful tools, they ship with many presets and lots and lots of motifs/phrases, so those in need to throw in an elpiano or bass lick or do a quick drum break in a mix got their back coveredscook wrote:Studio Instruments is a collection four smaller dedicated synths with very limited programming and expansion capability.
I most def have spent €20 worse that this
-
- KVRAF
- 1769 posts since 30 Jul, 2007
I think everything Dimension sound kind of synths and fake because it lacks the multi-layered sampling, like you find in Kontakt libraries. I see it as a basic 1990's ROMpler with PC flexibility, but it lacks a lot of the expression and detail found in multi-layered/round robin synths.
-
- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 514 posts since 6 Mar, 2012
Even if Dimension Pro is a little outdated, as some of you think, and even if its sounds are of a slightly lower quality than Kontakt libraries etc.: At the current price of 19,99 $, it's definitely a no-brainer. I bought it an hour ago and can't wait to check the integrated sounds and the free expansion packs with the B3 emulation.
-
- Banned
- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
I think for sound designers Dimension Pro is a great thing. As a sampler it may be outdated, but as "hybrid synth" it's great. For people who want to have their whole hard disc filled up with instantly-to-use great sounds, Kontakt is obviously better (and much bigger), but -- it costs a bit more than $20... 
-
- KVRian
- 652 posts since 28 Dec, 2011 from Seattle,WA, USA
My only beef with Dimension Pro is the floating patch window. That thing is very annoying. I want to be able to just pick a patch without the extra windows or even better embed the browser Cakewalk. Other than that the Cakewalk instruments are very good. Is it better than Kontakt? f**k no! But for the money its on sale for right now its hard to beat.
-
- KVRist
- 279 posts since 13 Feb, 2007
Hard to say, what other Cakewalk products do you own?ScottZ wrote:in my cakewalk account there is already a serial for dimension pro even though I definitely don't remember buying it is this just a fluke?