New plug in the bundle ppl!!

[bugs]

http://www.mackie.com/products/tracktion2/

OK, they did say this:

Tracktion is a revolutionary, easy-to-use music production application that contains everything most people will ever need to professionally record and mix music on a Mac or PC

So I can see that may be a bit of a stretch (though want and need are different)

But they also said this:

The goal was to give T2 users all the basic music-making and mixing tools, right out of the box. So we partnered with every developer who would return our calls to bring you a full suite of high-quality "name-brand" effects plug-ins, virtual instruments, and loops. Here's just a partial list of all the goodies that come bundled with T2. *

I don't think they are over-blowing the bundle here. Anyway, if they bundled $1500 in pro gear with a $150 sequencer I'd be astounded. As it is I'm pleased if not blown away.

I like Tracktion (simpe and clear), but its targeted at newbees, not professionals. I use it as a gateway for students into sequencing. It has significant shortcomings when compared to SX3, Sonar and Logic. Less for less is not revolutionary. More for less or the same for less would be revoltuionary.

[sonicsmurf]

I find drum samples always sound better through a nice distortion pedal like audio damage's free fuzz...

It's a great trick to make stuff come alive! After many tests (on different styles from Blues to Bar-Jazz) I am now using 'Blockfish' by http://www.digitalfishphones.com on the drums (a bit), on the guitars (a lot), and even on the piano (a lot). Everything comes to life when I put the Blockfish in the tracks (careful not to overdo it though).

All in all, this seems to do the magic trick: Find the most realistic sounding drumkit / bass / piano / guitar soundfonts, EQ the tracks so the instruments sound well together, insert 'Blockfish' on the instrument tracks that need more "life", and add 'VintageWarmer' in the final mix. -- Voilà, it sounds like a band... as long as the "instruments" are played like real ones

I am going to sleep now... *tired*

PS- Mackie is really being generous with the plugin bundle, but since everyone has different taste and different reasons for making music, I'm sure that people will still do whatever they want, use them or not, add new ones, delete some. By the way, I could not find a Noise Gate anywhere in the bundle or the mixing functions?

[braj]

I like Tracktion (simpe and clear), but its targeted at newbees, not professionals. I use it as a gateway for students into sequencing. It has significant shortcomings when compared to SX3, Sonar and Logic. Less for less is not revolutionary. More for less or the same for less would be revoltuionary.

I don't think you're quite right there, it is simple and clear but I would say it is targeted more to the musician as opposed to the engineer. I think that's the real difference. If that weren't the case, you wouldn't be seeing Cubase, Sonar, and Logic users migrating to Tracktion I'll be the first one to agree that it is missing some features those DAWs have, but I don't see why that means newbees are the target.

[Lunch Money]

Bang on, Braj. The fact that musicians aren't always master engineers and tweakmasters doesn't make them newbies. It makes them a wide range of people (INCLUDING newbies, but also including some people on this very board who are professionals) who make music.

Regardless, if the question is, "Who is the target audience?" you need look no further than the ads. "It won't help you write better songs" (or whatever it said, I didn't actually look for the ad) is clearly a statement aimed squarely at a musician. It's so cut and dry and obvious that it barely bears debate.

Greg

[bugs]

I like Tracktion (simpe and clear), but its targeted at newbees, not professionals. I use it as a gateway for students into sequencing. It has significant shortcomings when compared to SX3, Sonar and Logic. Less for less is not revolutionary. More for less or the same for less would be revoltuionary.

I don't think you're quite right there, it is simple and clear but I would say it is targeted more to the musician as opposed to the engineer. I think that's the real difference. If that weren't the case, you wouldn't be seeing Cubase, Sonar, and Logic users migrating to Tracktion I'll be the first one to agree that it is missing some features those DAWs have, but I don't see why that means newbees are the target.

Point well taken. I would consider myself a composer who has absorbed the recording aspect into the overall composition process as is necessary especially in electronic music production. Maybe the target is performers/song writers rather than composers.

[Lunch Money]

Possibly. I think composers would do very well with it, too, since it's arranged in a very linear way. Instead of being able to put a repeat symbol, though, you'd have to 'literally' copy and paste the part again.

Or, in other words-- I think you're on the right track, but I know we have composers in our midst, too.

Greg

[braj]

Isn't 'composer' and 'songwriter' essentially the same thing?

[pdxindy]

I like Tracktion (simpe and clear), but its targeted at newbees, not professionals. I use it as a gateway for students into sequencing. It has significant shortcomings when compared to SX3, Sonar and Logic. Less for less is not revolutionary. More for less or the same for less would be revoltuionary.

I don't think you're quite right there, it is simple and clear but I would say it is targeted more to the musician as opposed to the engineer. I think that's the real difference. If that weren't the case, you wouldn't be seeing Cubase, Sonar, and Logic users migrating to Tracktion I'll be the first one to agree that it is missing some features those DAWs have, but I don't see why that means newbees are the target.

I've migrated from Cubase to Tracktion. Cubase does more... theoretically... in practice, I found that I do more in Tracktion than in Cubase. What I get done, my sense of ease and flow AND my enjoyment of it, are more valuable to me than all the features and specs in the world.

I have made my living from animation/graphics/video work for many years and in the past year I have started doing my own audio. I know numerous people who work in high-end hollywood effects houses. The 'pro' uses whatever software works, regardless of price, whether it is simple or complex, or whether it is aimed at the 'pro' or not. I would define the pro as someone who takes the tools at hand, and makes something excellent with them and who thus does not get caught up in feature-itis.

It is good to remember that we have better tools right here in Tracktion than many a successful professional did 10 years ago. 20 years ago people only dreamed about the sort of audio and video tools we almost take for granted. Didn't stop people from doing great work.

3cents...

[braj]

I like to think of Cold Mountain when people say an app isn't 'pro'.

[bugs]

Isn't 'composer' and 'songwriter' essentially the same thing?

No.

[Lunch Money]

Care to elaborate?

[SaviorNeeded]

My guess is, a composer is an elitist...

JOKING!!!

Tom

[Lunch Money]

Actually, I had written something similar and just not posted it.

[SaviorNeeded]

Just trying to lighten the mood a little. I suppose a songwriter writes a melody and a lyric as opposed to a composer who scores an orchestra or some such thing. Me, I pound on a piano and call it "composting."

Tom

[braj]

Just trying to lighten the mood a little. I suppose a songwriter writes a melody and a lyric as opposed to a composer who scores an orchestra or some such thing. Me, I pound on a piano and call it "composting."

Tom

So, where does 'tunesmith' fit in on the snob-o-meter then? And just how far does the stick need to be up your ass before you are a 'composer'? Oh wait, did I say that? That's pretty harsh

I'd say most people that are editing midi are probably 'composers' by the definition of someone writing a score for others to play. Just the others are all virtual.

But how about this: Bob Dylan would likely be called a songwriter because he writes lyrics with chord progressions and fairly simple instrumental melodies. So he's a songwriter, right? But someone composing for solo classical guitar, are they much different? But they'd be a composer. And what about jazz and improv, what is writing a chart? Songwriting or composing?

It seems like it has to be tied to ego to have any distinction, otherwise you are just writing more or less complex music IMO.