T3 - AES New Feature Preview

[pHz]

entertaining though it is to watch the fireworks ... it finally DOESNT MATTER ONE LITTLE BIT when or why mackie decided to address the muticore issue ... beno has said they will look at it for T3 and i for one dont believe he would have said that publicly unless he was allowed to for a good reason ...

slainte rob

[koolkeys]

Work started on T3 before it was standard. And not all G4's were dual core. Mine isn't at least. But since the work was already so far along on T3 before things became standard, like dual core and Intel Macs, that it doesn't make sense to go BACK and make a version with it. So they are just working hard now to implement the dual core as soon as they can, and UB versions are already coming.

I personally think it makes perfect sense. But everyone sees it different.

Brent

The majority of Tower Macs sold were dual processor G5's well before T2 even shipped! Likewise the switch to Intel was announced before T2 shipped. The Intel roadmap was clear. The dual G4 was available in 2001 which easily predates the existence of Tracktion altogether!

Digital Performer supported dual processors in 2002
Cubase VST/32 supported dual processors in 2001 (Balancing VST's across processors)
Logic - quite some time now
Pro Tools - At least a year and it was not hurried because the high-end Pro-tools relies on hardware DSP.
Live - this year Live caught up.

Tracktion is the only significant host on the Mac that does not have solid dual processor/core support and will not have for some months if it gets it then. At this point, this is simply poor support for the Mac platform.

finally.

The only thing is, it's not totally correct. His timelines are not correct, as I showed in my post after that.

But yes, I agree with Rob. Why would Beno say something here if it wasn't being seriously worked on?

Brent

[pdxindy]

The only thing is, it's not totally correct. His timelines are not correct, as I showed in my post after that.


Brent

You are right. T2 demo shipped 2 months before, not 1 month after.

Every person I know who uses Macs professionally has been using dual processor machines for well over a year. A couple posts including yours make it sound like dual cpu machines are some unexpected new thing and not widely used and this is not true.

Mackie, like any developer, decides where to put their resources and from the T3 feature list so far, I would say they have listened to users common requests. For those with dual cpu machines, and anyone buying a new Mac today, Tracktion is severely handicapped as far as the number of plug-ins it can simultaneously run compared to other Mac hosts.

[Lunch Money]

It is what it is. Despite anyone's perceptions, I don't think anyone went out of their way to inconvenience anyone else.

It's confirmed as slated for T3. If it took a reminder from someone like ttoz to bump it up in priority (though I'm quite sure they're aware of dual-proc/core computers), cool. That's still in the realm of "fair".

Expecting a software like T to be as mature as DP, PT, or Cubase isn't getting anyone further ahead, though. Live didn't climb on board the dual-proc train until recently, and we have to allow T to even HAVE a "recent release" to get there.

T's foundation is in home studios. The idea that it has been adopted and will hopefully continue to be adopted by some commercial establishments is exciting. But it's pretty much indisputable that dual-proc/core computers is still a relatively new phenomenon in home computing. Certainly it's newer than T2.1 in terms of mainstream adoption. T is still pretty much on-track with its primary audience, even if it's lagging behind compared to pro apps and studios. I think if comparisons are going to be drawn, they need to be drawn in the right context.

Live is the closest analogy, but they're still not the same for some fairly basic and obvious reasons, including allotted development cycles, budget, and asking price. And even then, their adoption of dual core is still fresh, too.

Greg

[Raidenup]

I was wandering if we could see an Scoring tool in T3 soon... It'll be a big step toward profesionality.
And I'd like that Traktion were able to export Midi files compatible with ENCORE (the popular midi scoring program), because with actual midi files I get from Tracktion all I get in Encore is a only line with all the notes together... very anoying...
Any idea?
I Can't wait for T3!!

[guitar junkie]

I am happy to see my main application being worked over but... I think that all they are doing here is making a hot rod version of Garage Band.

will this thing have better presets?

and can we export right to a server for our podcasts?

WOOO HOOO iTunes Export!

YEAH THIS IS SO LIKE GONNA BE REALLY AWESOME!

AND I AM GONNA MAKE A HIT RECORD WITH THIS!

[Lunch Money]

A hot rod version of Garage Band? Garageband wishes it was like Tracktion... or that it came first...

Better presets in terms of--> Template projects, or FX chains, or ?
iTunes export... that would suck.

Greg

[guitar junkie]

loops a library of them!

auto tempo!

built in effects!

does it have pictures yet?

hmmmm GB was here first I thought....

[Lunch Money]

Tracktion was around long before Garageband. Loops, auto tempo, and proprietary included plug-ins have been around in general in sequencers for as long as anyone can remember. Tracktion (along with every other host I can think of except eXT) has ALWAYS had built-in effects. I don't see a single thing aligning Tracktion with Garageband. All audio sequencers are going to have a bit of SOMETHING in common. It's the way each package approaches those features that sets it apart.

In any event, I'm just being pedantic. If you think Tracktion is moving toward being like Garageband, you're entitled to your incorrect perception. <sly grin>

[koolkeys]

Yeah, comparing T with Garageband is an insult to T. It was around LONG before GB was here.

And pdxindy, dual core support has been around forever, yes. But NOT in the mainstream. Also remember that when T2 came out, Mackie had just taken on the new app. It's very likely that the changeover put them behind in a few things.

But dual processors and dual core machines weren't mainstream when T2 came out. Many studios(more then you would think) STILL don't have dual core.

They may be a bit behind, but they are not years behind by any stretch. And now that they are getting to it, the argument almost becomes useless.

As for Intel Macs, it wasn't even announced until AFTER T2 was already out, evidenced by the Apple announcement date. Your timing was off on that, as I said before.

But really, as I said, does it really matter now? I mean, it IS coming, I'm sure we can agree on. Beno wouldn't say something unless it was at least possible. So if/when it is added, it won't matter to dispute it all.

I think T3 is going to be a killer release. And nothing at ALL like Garageband in any sense whatsoever, except that they both include loops. But as Greg said, GB was not the first there either.

Brent

[guitar junkie]

man oh man don't you tracktion people get mad when someone throws paw paws at your club house... sheesh

I have been using both softwares now for a couple years now....

The way I see it is that they are both good, I happen to use T more than GB but still I like the instruments better in GB than anything that comes free with Tracktion!

[Lunch Money]

I didn't see anyone getting mad.

Just setting the facts straight.

[NotDeafYet]

Yeah but still, Mackie should address the issue of people wanting to buy T2 now. What is the problem with announcing that as of . . .(whenever T3 info became avail, or maybe 11-1-06) purchases of T2 are grandfathered in for a major discount on T3? Maybe not free, but definitely discounted, considering that those folks only got a few months use of T2.

[Lunch Money]

"Should" is a loaded word, implying obligation or withheld capacity. I guarantee that Beno would LOVE to be able to give pricing details, and that he wouldn't withhold unless it was the right business decision for the time being. The fact that he hasn't provided more details must simply mean: those details are unavailable. Which means that T3 might not be shippable yet. I mean, it's only been a few weeks since he confirmed the addition of certain features (ie. dual-core support), so it's reasonable to conclude that it's still in the heavy stages of being worked on. By extension, not spouting off random dates means that unlike many other big players, Mackie are NOT dropping a date just to stir up some buzz they can't deliver on. We all want a working product, and the estimate of Q1 is still a ways off. A few more months' respite before getting all anxious and expectant over here, no?

You can only play the game the way it's laid out in front of you, and right now the game isn't telling me that purchases will be grandfathered. But that doesn't mean you won't get upgrade pricing. I mean, if you need or simply "really want" a new app, you can't hold back. Get it if you want/need, and don't get it if you have patience.

Greg

[semiquaver]

Lunch - you're missing Notdeafyet's point. His point is that 1 - he wants to buy T2 BUT until he hears about the cost of the upgrade he can't make a rational calculation about buying now or waiting and buying T3. So he will wait.

This is why Ableton for example has a free upgrade period before each new release - so that sales are not defered and possibly lost.
Mackie don't have to commit to a date in order to let folks know that there will be a discounted upgrade price for folks buying after a certain date etc etc. Note to Mackie's marketing department - you might want to do a quick study of software marketing practices now that Mackie has a software portfolio.