KVR Audio

scam_artist · Post by **scam_artist** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:25 am

Podium, to me, is the best host I've ever used - and I've gone through Tracktion, eXT, Muzys, Cubase... all those hosts were just missing vital features IMO (or in the case of Cubase had a painful workflow, but that was a few years ago now)

It has
- support for 64bit and surround mixing
- support for ghosted/copied/cloned midi parts (something Tracktion didn't have when I was using it)
- hard disk recording (something Muzys never had!)
- user definable colour schemes, including the ability to colour code tracks (colour coding is reflected in the mixer)
- drum patterns for those who use samplers or drum synths
- an amazing bounce function (it's the best real-time freeze implementation I've ever seen, so quick to bounce parts and free CPU)
- a fantastic track/channel system where you can wrap tracks inside other tracks, for example on one track you might have a VSTi playing bass, then you wrap it in a new track and chuck a compressor plugin on the new track. these group tracks are also used for bouncing
- standards like automation curves, ability to record automation and fader movements
- VSTi and VST support

And
- it's cheap!
- it has great support (as good as eXT I reckon)
- I can use it NOW to make music (rather than relying on future updates, like I was doing with other hosts) - the developer has been at it since 1990 I think, and it shows as it's a very polished and fully functional product

I know people are put off by the lack of documentation (the dev is concentrating on development) but if you watch the videos on the Podium website you'll get a much better understanding of how it works

http://www.zynewave.com/

There aren't many Podium users compared to eXT and Tracktion which is why I thought I'd post - give Podium a go and see what you think. It's letting me get in there and make music without overcoming "I need this feature" hurdles

Cheers

nuisance sonore · Post by **nuisance sonore** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:40 am

How well can it manage outboard gear (instruments definiton, midi synch and such)? That's the thing I'm missing the most in Tracktion now.

I tried the demo a while back, but I couldn't get a sound out of it. Seems from browsing the official forum it had issues with M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 at the time, so I just gave up, maybe it's solved now? Everybody who uses it say that it's a very solid and polished application and that the dev is very responsive to user; so maybe I should give it another go.

Caleb · Post by **Caleb** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:45 am

I got the impression from the philosophy of Podium that Outboard gear is handled well except that they introduce a layer of abstraction between yourself and the relevant ports.

Instead of saying you want to route output to Port 1 for example you would say you want to route it to your Virus - something like that anyway.

Because I wasn't really looking for another host, my play with Podium was short and fruitless. So painful to get started I didn't bother going too far.

If I had to learn it I would I'm sure and then I'd see alot of these benefits that other people are seeing. At this stage - unless I'm pushed into a position where I want to find another host I'm unlikely to get past the first learning curve.

Caleb

stefancrs · Post by **stefancrs** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:53 am

External gear is handled exactly like "virtual gear (vsti, vst)" in Podium. You can you parameter automization on any defined parameter, be it a vst or midi cc or sysex parameter or whatever. You also have full pdc on all busses and devices.

The first times you use Podium, let the Project Wizard guide you, that way the initial set up won't be painful or anything (imo). Later on, when you've understood what the wizard actually does for you, you can handle without it.

I totally adore how it handles fx busses for instance. You can send from anywhere within the track hierarchy, and you also put the return anywhere you want (as long as you don't create a feedback loop ofcourse).

Ezy Ryder, I use it with a audiophile 24/96.

scam_artist · Post by **scam_artist** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:56 am

Ezy Ryder wrote:How well can it manage outboard gear (instruments definiton, midi synch and such)? That's the thing I'm missing the most in Tracktion now.

I tried the demo a while back, but I couldn't get a sound out of it. Seems from browsing the official forum it had issues with M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 at the time, so I just gave up, maybe it's solved now? Everybody who uses it say that it's a very solid and polished application and that the dev is very responsive to user; so maybe I should give it another go.

All VST plugins and outboard gear are called Devices and are handled in the same way. I'm not too familiar with syncing to external devices, but these threads may enlighten you in the Podium forum

http://www.zynewave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=165
http://www.zynewave.com/guide/guide20_devices.htm

and you can also post in the Forum or email the developer if you have other questions

scam_artist · Post by **scam_artist** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:57 am

stefancrs wrote:External gear is handled exactly like "virtual gear (vsti, vst)" in Podium. You can you parameter automization on any defined parameter, be it a vst or midi cc or sysex parameter or whatever. You also have full pdc on all busses and devices.

The first times you use Podium, let the Project Wizard guide you, that way the initial set up won't be painful or anything (imo). Later on, when you've understood what the wizard actually does for you, you can handle without it.

I totally adore how it handles fx busses for instance. You can send from anywhere within the track hierarchy, and you also put the return anywhere you want (as long as you don't create a feedback loop ofcourse).

Ezy Ryder, I use it with a audiophile 24/96.

or what he said

gruberman · Post by **gruberman** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 8:24 am

I played around with the demo and I really like it. I use FLS5 which I'm really happy with, but I'd like to have a "spread sheet" sequencer too.

I guess I'm spoiled using FLS's piano roll because neither Podium or Tracktion has an easy way to edit batches of notes (length, velocity and so on). If it wasn't for that I'd probably been an happy owner of a Podium license, because the way podium works really suits me.

scam_artist · Post by **scam_artist** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 8:32 am

Banjostar wrote:I played around with the demo and I really like it. I use FLS5 which I'm really happy with, but I'd like to have a "spread sheet" sequencer too.

I guess I'm spoiled using FLS's piano roll because neither Podium or Tracktion has an easy way to edit batches of notes (length, velocity and so on). If it wasn't for that I'd probably been an happy owner of a Podium license, because the way podium works really suits me.

You can resize selected notes using CTRL and + or - keys
http://www.zynewave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=265
I asked about velocity to. If there are another other features missing you can request them in the Podium forum
http://www.zynewave.com/forum/
The more people that request a feature, the higher up it is put on the "to do" list

gruberman · Post by **gruberman** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 8:46 am

I tried that, but I want all the notes to be of the same length.

nuisance sonore · Post by **nuisance sonore** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 8:59 am

It's so hard to find a host that has everything one wants. I would have to give up this:

MIDI file export.
Dithering.
Sample rate conversion.
Count in options for the metronome.
Rewire technology.
Key-shortcut configuration.

If I were to move over from Tracktion for better midi hardware support.

One thing I see as hurting Podium a lot is the lack of complete indepth documentation for it; I haven't looked at the video, they might be very good but not very practical for using at the same time as the sequencer. Tracktion has the same problem in my view, but Tracktion is very simple.

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:09 am

You can make changes on batches of Tracktion MIDI notes, too.

Podium DOES look pretty deep, and if I went back in time, I might have taken it on. I think there's a bit of bad timing with Podium. It didn't come out at a time when people were looking for alternatives, and so it didn't gain a bunch of start-up momentum.

I'd like to see it catch on, though. The developer seems a dedicated dude.

Crackbaby · Post by **Crackbaby** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:14 am

When i tried the demo 200 years ago i could only use one midi input

I created a track to play a vsti.. created a new, but in order to play the new, i had to remove the midi input from the first

(!?)

Maybe i should give it a go a second time

gruberman · Post by **gruberman** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:15 am

Lunch Money wrote:You can make changes on batches of Tracktion MIDI notes, too.

Well, I haven't figured out how to get all the notes at the same length yet, but I'm working on it

stefancrs · Post by **stefancrs** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:20 am

Crackbaby wrote:When i tried the demo 200 years ago i could only use one midi input

I created a track to play a vsti.. created a new, but in order to play the new, i had to remove the midi input from the first (!?)

Maybe i should give it a go a second time

You mean in Podium? You drag the midi input device to the track you want it to act upon. Kinda like in tracktion.

nuisance sonore · Post by **nuisance sonore** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:21 am

Banjostar wrote:
Lunch Money wrote:You can make changes on batches of Tracktion MIDI notes, too.

Well, I haven't figured out how to get all the notes at the same length yet, but I'm working on it

You should really post this in the T forum, but since it's here:
select all the midi notes
click on equalise=>make all lenght equal

Podium - I reckon it's the most under-rated host over