KVR Audio

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:18 pm

Sell it to me - what's it's good points?

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:20 pm

Seconded. Inquiring minds wish to know!

kippertoffee · Post by **kippertoffee** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:22 pm

Once an hour has been spent learning the interface it is the quickest, most functional and professional feeling DAW/host i have ever used. It seems to me that ergonomics are the key to a great sequencer, and stability. This thing, apart from the occasional small error due to continuous development, is rock solid.

oh, i mentioned ergonmics didn't I. er.. it's very ergonomic, things are where i want them to be. It takes the best of the traditional mixer paradigm, and without ditching it completely like Traktion, brings it up to date.

Proper bo in my opinion.

pete

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:28 pm

Once an hour has been spent learning the interface it is the quickest, most functional and professional feeling DAW/host i have ever used

You might want to share what other hosts you are familiar with..

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:31 pm

one nice thing is, you can pronounce it as "pee odium".

darcyb62 · Post by **darcyb62** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:48 pm

I've recently moved to Podium from Tracktion and there is absolutely no looking back. I was getting frustrated with a lack of progress in a number of areas with Tracktion and started to look around. I took a look at ProTools, Cubase, Cakewalk and decided to try Cubase, Sonar along with Podium and at the end of the day went with Podium. Once you understand the concepts within Podium, like keppertoffee says, it's extremely functional. Eveything is right there and the integration between the various components is exceptional. The only things I miss from the tracktion space are some of the included plugins (the big one being the native eq) but native plugins are coming and the recent introduction of zpeq lets me move on on from Tracktion completely. (haven't quite deleted it yet, but that's only cause I don't lose some of older projects).

Support is excellent and is right on par with the exceptional support of seen from Jamstix crew. Only weakness might ne in the area of documentation but that is coming along as well.

Darcy

fandango · Post by **fandango** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:50 pm

Despite having demo'd Podium extensively, I just don't 'get' the heirarchical approach. I get it scientifically... but not ergonomically.

i r teh stupid...

I also found multi-timbral, multi-output plugins hard to use. But I'll put that down to user error.

I keep demoing it every couple of months or so as it does many things well. It's also pretty stable.

xylyx · Post by **xylyx** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:06 pm

Podium still remains the only host that I have tried out of most of the others that I still haven't managed to get to grips with. I have followed the tutorials on the basics of using plugins etc and managed to get a synth playing, but when I tried Microtonic (the multi-out version) I couldn't get it to work. I have spent at least 3 hours trying to get settled with it, but the entire plugin handling just seems convoluted and unnecessarily strange.

I do like it's overall look though...

once_twice · Post by **once_twice** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:13 pm

xylyx wrote:Podium still remains the only host that I have tried out of most of the others that I still haven't managed to get to grips with. I have followed the tutorials on the basics of using plugins etc and managed to get a synth playing, but when I tried Microtonic (the multi-out version) I couldn't get it to work. I have spent at least 3 hours trying to get settled with it, but the entire plugin handling just seems convoluted and unnecessarily strange.

I do like it's overall look though...

Yes, that was my impression too. For any host to be successful today, the vst implementation is the most important component and needs to developed with ease of use. For me, it is the first thing that I look for when I try out a new host. If the implementation is not intuitive enough, I don't bother much more with it.

spaceman · Post by **spaceman** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:29 pm

xylyx wrote:Podium still remains the only host that I have tried out of most of the others that I still haven't managed to get to grips with. I have followed the tutorials on the basics of using plugins etc and managed to get a synth playing, but when I tried Microtonic (the multi-out version) I couldn't get it to work. I have spent at least 3 hours trying to get settled with it, but the entire plugin handling just seems convoluted and unnecessarily strange.

I do like it's overall look though...

that's how I felt the first few times.. I put the demo aside at least two times and then all of a sudden it just hit me and I understood the program. After that I could kick myself for being so stupid not to get it the first time.

It's a wonderful host, a nice concept in my opinion.. I'm on Mac now but if I ever get an other (PC) machine I'm sure I'd use Podium again

Joseph Burrell · Post by **Joseph Burrell** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:42 pm

once_twice wrote:
xylyx wrote:Podium still remains the only host that I have tried out of most of the others that I still haven't managed to get to grips with. I have followed the tutorials on the basics of using plugins etc and managed to get a synth playing, but when I tried Microtonic (the multi-out version) I couldn't get it to work. I have spent at least 3 hours trying to get settled with it, but the entire plugin handling just seems convoluted and unnecessarily strange.

I do like it's overall look though...
Yes, that was my impression too. For any host to be successful today, the vst implementation is the most important component and needs to developed with ease of use. For me, it is the first thing that I look for when I try out a new host. If the implementation is not intuitive enough, I don't bother much more with it.

My feelings exactly. I too wasn't able to come to grips with the program in what I felt was sufficient time, so I removed the demo and moved on to other things and back to Orion. The plugin implementation left a lot to be desired. Again, DAW developers need to realize that there's some things that need to be immediately accessible to the user. Loading VST's is among them.

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:43 pm

I must just like the 'independent' (or formerly-independent) devs. Tracktion is my sequencer, with XT as well. But I like the way Podium approaches things differently, too. My impression from demoing is that it could stand to tidy up the number of steps to get "up and going", but that like many other hosts, once you've got some project and workspace templates set up, it could be a rewarding environment.

Pretty much goes without saying-- the best way to find out if it's for you is to demo it.

darcyb62 · Post by **darcyb62** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:09 pm

Once you understand it, the VST implemention is actually very good. I struggled on my own a bit but and when I got really stuck I asked a questions and got some very quick responses. The learning curve might be steep, but once you get past this it really is better (my opinion only). By the way, this was my 2nd kick at the kick with Podium. I quickly got frustrated with trying to do anything with it and stayed with Tracktion, but this time was different.
The functionality I like best is its ability to group tracks and the flexibility it has in bouncing tracks. With Tracktion you do route tracks to a group track but with Podium you can visually see this and it really lest you see what you're doing.
The mixer incorporates this visual view of grouping as well and whether or not you want to see or use the mixer is up to you.
I liked Tracktion... But I like Podium much better.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:51 pm

once_twice wrote:
xylyx wrote:Podium still remains the only host that I have tried out of most of the others that I still haven't managed to get to grips with. I have followed the tutorials on the basics of using plugins etc and managed to get a synth playing, but when I tried Microtonic (the multi-out version) I couldn't get it to work. I have spent at least 3 hours trying to get settled with it, but the entire plugin handling just seems convoluted and unnecessarily strange.

I do like it's overall look though...
Yes, that was my impression too. For any host to be successful today, the vst implementation is the most important component and needs to developed with ease of use. For me, it is the first thing that I look for when I try out a new host. If the implementation is not intuitive enough, I don't bother much more with it.

That might be a problem for me - I feel the same way (had the same problems with Sonar and its 2 track approach)

christianmusicmaker · Post by **christianmusicmaker** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:13 pm

aMUSEd wrote:Sell it to me - what's it's good points?

Since you asked...

1.Real time engine, as in Live 5 real time. Really. A true real time host. Insert FX, Instruments, even import plug ins into projects, you name it all without stopping or gapping the engine. Smooth as silk.

2.I have used a fair few VST's and VSTi with it and so far so good. Excellent plug in support considering many developers will likely test their plugs with Cubase SX first (maybe even only) and may not even have heard of Podium yet!

3.Frits (the developer) makes the host and develops his own plugs, there appear to be more "z" plugs on the way.

Tight integration.

4.64 bit file support.

5.32bit or 64bit engine.

6.Many of the features you see in Podium are the results of user requests.

7.Almost ridiculously fast support.

8.VST 2.4 support already.

9.Stability? Rock solid.

10.Oh, lest I forget he releases updates on a 2 - 4 week basis sometimes sooner.

11. Dual core / multicore support (even up to 32 processors).

Any minus? Not really as such, but there is no rewire yet...but it is on Frits future road map list on the Zynewave forum. I guess it depends how important that is to you.

Podium is not what I would call a super host like Sonar5 IMHO. But I guess Frits is not really trying to compete with S5 Producers incredible feature set for instance. Cakewalk also have masses of products and about 20 forums

so no contest there. However...I think he might just want people to try Podium for what it is now. Workflow, look and feel, plugs e.t.c not for what people might think it is trying to be.

Podium definitely requires you to approach it with an open mind. It's a very tidy host. As with any other host though, for some it will offer too little, for others the price and features may be all they need.

Also as with other hosts time spent reading up a little on the features and workflow will reap benefits later.

I think even if you do not know how to use this host bear this in mind...there are at least a few users who have posted on the Podium forum as demo users, asking for help and assistance. They got the same red carpet as existing customers. So if you try the demo and still have questions just ask Frits the developer.

I know Cakewalk have a similar approach to their user base and are also deservedly widely known for their excellent customer support especially on a very busy forum. Good support does make a big difference. Just to mention a few...I think Cakewalk, Zynewave (Podium) and the makers of Jamstix have got that aspect sorted.