KVR Audio

bachmaninoff · Post by **bachmaninoff** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:29 pm

Hello there!

I need some advice. I have all these creative musical ideas coursing through my veins, but by the time I get a program up and running (to record the idea) with the proper sounds and such, I get so frustrated due to the following reasons:

I run into a "feature", meaning a limitation of the software.

The software, while perfectly mimicing the hardware equivalent, is a pain to use.

Worst case scenario, it crashes before I have a chance to save.

I want music creation to be fun. It usually starts out that way for me, but winds up being a chore that I give up on. Don't get me wrong, I like tinkering with software (synthesizer sounds and such), but it goes like this - I'm either going to devote what little free time I have to either creating sound banks for my favorite VSTis, creating new VSTis (via SynthEdit), or making some music. I think I'd rather make music. I also have limited bandwidth so downloading every single software demo out there is not something I have time for. Oh, and pardon me for not culling the vast KVR archives for suggestions, that would take forever. I'm looking for the following features:

Either a VSTi freeze feature, or bounce-to-audio track (my poor computer cant handle 20 VST/VSTis)

Good handling of audio tracks (audio should read from disk, not RAM)

ASIO (I use ASIO4ALL), or damn good DirectX capability

Automation of instrument parameters (over the length of the song, not just in a pattern)

Something that would integrate well with the Oxygen 8 MIDI controller

Something that would work OK on an Athlon XP 2500+ laptop (Windows XP, latest SP, 512 RAM)

Like most other working stiffs, I'm poor - so cheap is good!

Here's another problem, the software should be versatile - I write all different styles of music, and it seems like they all require a different approach. Like with dance, folk, and alternative music, it's nice to be able to start out with patterns and build them into a song. Kind of a bottom-up approach. With classical and experimental music, I want nothing to do with patterns! For me this is more of a top-down approach - I know what's going into the song before I start. Whew! If anyone has suggestions, I would be most appreciative!!!

Thanks!

fishbowl.tucson.az · Post by **fishbowl.tucson.az** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:32 pm

It sounds to me like you are looking for FLStudio, or Orion, and EnergyXT.

How is it you're on KVR and not finding those?

AD80 · Post by **AD80** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:35 pm

bachmaninoff,

What you're looking for is Tracktion.

bachmaninoff · Post by **bachmaninoff** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:38 pm

Hey Fish!

Thanks for responding!
Here are my issues with them:

FL Studio 4 & 5 (demo versions)
Pluses:
A. Supports just about everything!
B. Stable!

Drawbacks:
A. Maybe I'm being picky, but I hate the way it looks!
B. More than 5 audio tracks and my system chokes... So its really a no-go

Orion
Pluses:
A. Pretty close to hardware, interface-wise
B. Automation
C. Builds popular songs fairly quickly

Drawbacks:
A. Audio tracks are stored in RAM (I think), more than 5 and my computer starts to choke
B. Pattern only, though very large patterns are possible - I hate navigating them
C. Expensive (not worth $150 IMHO)

EnergyXT
Ok, you got me on this one... I haven't tried it, but the interface looks interesting... I will download the demo.

Thanks again!

[/list]

jtxx000 · Post by **jtxx000** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:40 pm

I second what AD80 said, get Tracktion.

bachmaninoff · Post by **bachmaninoff** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:41 pm

AD80 & jtxx000,

Thanks for responding. Tracktion... I will also check that out! Thanks!

fxe · Post by **fxe** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:10 pm

If your system chokes with audio tracks in Flstudio,You do know you have the choice to keep them on disk or load them into ram. That being said it means your system is the problem not the software.

stefancrs · Post by **stefancrs** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:13 pm

I'd really recommend Podium. The bounce system is great. The way you work with tracks is awesome. 90usd. Just download the demo and use the quick setup to try it out:
http://www.zynewave.com

bachmaninoff · Post by **bachmaninoff** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:49 pm

stefancrs,

Podium also looks very interesting... I'll give it a whirl! Thanks!

fxe,

Ok, I guess I have no complaints about the audio tracks, so the interface is now my only dislike. Thanks for pointing that out!

Joxer the Mighty · Post by **Joxer the Mighty** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:02 pm

I'd upgrade my ram before shelling out money for a new host. I'm willing to bet that's the source of some of your crashes.

bachmaninoff · Post by **bachmaninoff** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:26 pm

Joxor,

Hey, thanks for your response. What you're saying totally makes sense. I checked the HP website for memory modules for my laptop, but they're quite expensive at $238 for a mere 256MB card.

I think I'll upgrade the host before I delve into hardware. Keep those suggestions coming!

Joxer the Mighty · Post by **Joxer the Mighty** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:34 pm

Yikes, that's steep. Can you get your memory from a different source like crucial.com?

bachmaninoff · Post by **bachmaninoff** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:38 pm

Joxor,

Great website! Yeah, thats more like it. 512MB for $97. That's definitely a possibility...

hyperborea · Post by **hyperborea** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:02 pm

Like a few others already stated:

TRACTION

is the program you need

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:12 pm

Try as many demos as you can. What people think you need may not suit you. Tracktion, for example, is good, but if you dont get its mixerless approach, it wont necessarily be the best option.

The Host with the most ? Please help!