Hey PT guys!

[Ruphus]

I want to make some propaganda for Samplitude, because that thing is killer.

Editing is definitly way more comfortable than in PT. It would take too long to mention all the whys, but just for instance the manouvring in the track ...

You scroll horizontally with the wheel of your mouse ( or of the keyboard for that matter ) with the cursor following. Intelligently however only the window / timeline moves without the cursor then when you scroll during play.

Together with the very comfortable zooming either through horizontal arrow keys of the keyboard or just a click in the timeline pulling up or down manouvring becomes a real breeze.

Yet, while Samplitudes midi isn´t mature enough ( Like you can´t consolidate midi regions / objects, nor have comfortable view inside piano roll with synchron sight on tracks below or above it. Also only one instance can be opened at a time.)
The piano window can give you such an easy and comfortable overview and navigation inside the track, fantastic! No comparance with PT.

Also you don´t need any switch of mode in the editor for whatever you want to do.


The piano roll window can give you such an easy and comfortable overview and navigation, fantastic! And you can chose whether you want to zoom horizontally from upper or lower side or both.

The highliting is steadier than in PT. The cursor can still be placed anywhere in the timeline ( also in the highlited space ) without losing the marked distance and when you want to play again within the marked section from beginning of it you just double click into it. You can further leave that section marked while playing somewhere else and highlite notes and process whatever functions while the marked section stays conserved. ( Lately I went through hours of all kind of actions and positioning when I discovered the marked distance still being there.) I know the comparable setting in PT, but that is different of what you have here. Until you want to highlite somewhere else the marked section in Samp will stay.

Or how about having midi and audio in one track and everything applicable to both, plugs and all, regions treated the same with crossfades among each other and thelike.

Or the freeze function. Think of your two track at mastering and you can have all individual components ( single tracks, plugs, everything ) back at a click of your mouse when you decide that you want to go back and change whatever you like.

Well, there are many things during work where I say to myself "uh, oh! you can this and that so easily". Especially in regard of its audio treatment.

Sure, it has some drawbacks too and a couple of functions seem easier at hand in PT ( and I´d say PT is still a bit more intuitively structured ), but all in all I´d say it clearly kicks ass.

And finally how would you like support like the following?
On their site there is a little app which you can download. That things checks the guts of your system, reports to Magix, and you get detailed information about what´s up and better be changed. They even enclose links for your individual drivers.
Crazy!

Here I have pasted my response from Magix for you to see how it looks like. It is in German, but you can halfways understand and gather how detailed and competent it is.

Cheers!


Ruphus

[Ruphus]

Analytical Response:

[ 1.]
Ihr installierter Grafiktreiber für "RADEON 7000 Series"
ist leider nicht die derzeit beste Version.

Ihr Treiber hat Version: 6.13.10.6118
Beste Version wäre aber: 6.14.10.6422

Bitte laden und installieren Sie den zertifizierten Treiber mit der
Bezeichnung [6.14.10.6422] von dieser Webseite:

<http://www.atitech.ca>



[ 2.]
Ihre Soundkarten-Treiber-Daten sind leider unvollständig. Das kann
passieren wenn eine wichtige Komponente fehlt. Sie müssen ihn dringend
erneuern.

Bitte laden und installieren Sie einen zertifizierten Soundkartentreiber
von dieser Webseite:

<http://www.google.de/search?q=LynxTW...river+download>

oder hier <http://www.windrivers.com>



[ 3.]
Magixprogramme sind z.T. mit Hilfe von DirectX9 entwickelt und funktionieren
damit perfekt; sofern die beteiligten Geräte-Treiber in Ihrem Computer
dazu in der Lage sind. Das ist jedoch nicht anzunehmen. DirectX9
wird bislang nicht empfohlen, da die meisten Treiber dazu nicht kompatibel
sind. Das führt dazu das die jeweilige Hardware, meist Sound und
Grafik im Kompatibilitätsmodus betrieben werden muss. Magixprogramme
werden aber im Kompatibilitätsmodus nicht korrekt funktionieren.
Es gibt bisher auch kaum Programme welche DirectX9 wirklich benötigen.
Nur wenige Grafikkarten unterstützen wirklich DirectX9, die haben
aber derzeit horrende Preise und sind deshalb noch sehr selten. DirectX9
ist auch immer noch nicht frei von Fehlern, besonders die frühen
Versionen. Entfernen Sie deshalb bitte DirectX9 von Ihrem Rechner.
Es ist für Ihren PC höchstwarscheinlich nicht geeignet. Verschiedene
Funktionen werden nicht unterstützt durch Ihre installierten Geräte
und deren Treiber. Falls Sie Probleme mit Ihrer TV-Karte haben, ist
das warscheinlich auch darauf zurückzuführen. (mehr dazu unter KB
825116 bei Microsoft)

Einen bequemen Uninstaller finden Sie hier:

Für Windows von 95 bis 2000: <http://www.dxbuster.de/>

oder für Windows XP: <http://www.3dcenter.org/downloads/di...ninstaller.php>



[ 4.]
Es wurde ein ungültiger Takt des FrontSideBus von 136 MHz auf diesem
System gefunden.

Fehlerbehebung:
Stellen Sie den korrekten FrontSideBus Takt im BIOS ein.



[ 5.]
Der Prozessor AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1800+ (Family:7 Model:6 Step:2)
wird ausserhalb seiner Spezifikation betrieben:
Normaler Takt wäre 1533 MHz.
Gemessener Takt ist aber 1567 MHz.

Fehlerbehebung:
Installieren Sie einen passenden Prozessor oder lassen Sie diese
Einstellungen prüfen.



[ 6.]
Ihre installierten MAGIX Brennroutinen sind leider inkonsistent.
Mindestens ein Treiber gehört nicht zur aktuellen Installation!
Das kann eventuell Fehler beim CD/DVD Brennen verursachen.

Liste der fehlenden oder falschen Dateien:
STRING32.dll 3.0.0.008 <--> 3.0.0.009
DLLRES32.dll 3.0.0.106 <--> 3.0.0.115
DLLPNT32.dll 3.0.0.033 <--> 3.0.0.036
DLLIO32.dll 3.0.0.066 <--> 3.0.0.068
DLLDRV32.dll 3.2.0.195 <--> 3.4.0.216
DLLDEV32.dll 3.2.0.159 <--> 3.4.0.179
DLLAV32.dll 2.0.0.051 <--> 2.1.0.057

Bitte installieren Sie das neuesten MAGIX Brennroutinen Patch (13.10.2003)
von der MAGIX Webseite

http://support.magix.net

Sie finden es in Download / Hilfsprogramme


[ 7.]
Folgende Programme mit negativer Auswirkung auf Ihr System sind geladen:

C:\Programme\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
- MUSICMATCH JUKEBOX (MUSICMATCH, Inc. - V.8.0.0.89)

C:\Programme\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mmtask.exe
- TODO: <File description> (TODO: <Company name> - V.1.0.0.1)


Sie sind definitiv bekannt als Leistungsschwächer, dass sie CD brennen
verhindern oder sogar die Stabilität reduzieren! Es ist keine gute
Idee diese Programme automatisch zu starten oder zusammen mit anderen
Programmen zu verwenden. Wenn Sie trotzdem nicht darauf verzichten
können - keine Bange, Sie wissen jetzt die Ursache und können es
jederzeit unterbinden.

Diese Programme starten vermutlich auch ohne Ihren Wunsch automatisch.
Beheben Sie das Problem mit dem Hilfsprogramm "WinOptimizer" (WinOpti).
Sie finden es auf der MAGIX Supportseite:

http://support.magix.net - unter Download / Hilfsprogramme

Der MAGIX WinOptimizer deaktiviert / aktiviert Autostarteinträge
Ihres Windows Systems. Dadurch können auch Probleme wie Abstürze,
Speichermangel, langsame Arbeitsgeschwindigkeit u.ä. behoben werden.
Der enthaltene Expertenmodus lässt Sie einzelne Einträge auch manuell
bearbeiten. Deaktivierte Einträge können auch später noch reaktiviert
werden. Sie werden staunen, nach dem deaktivieren der meisten Autostartprogramme
ist Ihr Rechner endlich so schnell wie eigentlich zu erwarten sein
sollte.

Behalten sollten Sie unbedingt folgende Einträge unter Win9x/ME:

ScanRegistry Das ist die Fehlerprüfung der Registrierungsdatei
TaskMonitor Damit wird der Status von Programmen überwacht
SystemTray Das ist nicht nur die Uhr
PCHealth Systemwiderherstellung(bei Millenium)
LoadPowerProfile Kann mehrfach vorhanden sein und gehört zum
Powermanagement, wichtig bei Laptops

Alles Andere kann entfernt werden, auch wenn es noch so sinnvoll
erscheint, z.B. Druckermonitore, Scannerprogramme, Officestart, Indexer,
USB-Geräte Soundkartenzubehör, Realtray...
Da ist wirklich nichts wichtig von, es belastet nur das System.



[ 8.]
Es wurden fremde Treiber mit möglichen Konflikten zu anderen Programmen
auf Ihrem Rechner gefunden:

MXLW2K.SYS
- MusicMatch Access Layer KMD (MusicMatch, Inc. - V.1.1.0.114)


Diese Treiber starten immer automatisch und behindern bekanntermaßen
den CD/DVD Brennvorgang in vielen Brennprogrammen.
Beheben Sie das Problem mit dem Hilfsprogramm "CDBurnProfiler".
Sie finden es auf der MAGIX Supportseite:

http://support.magix.net - unter Download / Hilfsprogramme

Die Software "NERO" ist z.B. bestens geeignet und harmoniert mit
allen anderen Programmen hervorragend. Der Programmteil InCD sollte
jedoch aus gleichem Grund nicht geladen werden.



[ 9.]
Folgende wichtige Dienstprogramme werden auf Ihrem System vermisst
oder sind angehalten worden:

ENUM1394 - Enumeration FireWire (MISSING)
ERSVC - Fehlerberichterstattungsdienst (STOPPED)
IMAPISERVICE - IMAPI-CD-Brenn-COM-Dienste (MISSING)
IMAPI - Imapi (STOPPED)
IP6FW - IPv6-Firewalltreiber (MISSING)
IP6FWHLP - IPv6-Internetverbindungsfirewall (MISSING)
MSTEE - Microsoft Streaming Tee/Sink-to-Sink-Konvertierung (MISSING)
PCIIDE - PCIIde (MISSING)
SLIP - BDA Slip De-Framer (MISSING)
STREAMIP - BDA-IPSink (MISSING)
USBSTOR - USB-Massenspeichertreiber (MISSING)
W32TIME - Windows-Zeitgeber (STOPPED)
WDMAUD - Treiber für Microsoft WINMM-WDM-Audiokompatibilität (STOPPED)

Diese Dienstprogramme sind Bestandteil Ihres Betriebssystems. Ohne
ihre erneute Aktivierung in der Systemsteuerung kann es zu unvorhergesehenen
Fehlern kommen. Stellen Sie diese Dienstprogramme in der Computerverwaltung
bitte wieder an oder lassen Sie Ihren Techniker diese Einstellungen
überprüfen.



[10.]
ASPI Fehler! Ihr ASPI ist nicht korrekt installiert.
ASPI wird zum Beispiel zum Audio-CD lesen oder zum CD-Brennen benötigt.
Zur Fehlerbehebung laden und installieren Sie bitte den ASPI Treiber
von der Adaptec Webseite.

<http://download.adaptec.com/software...aspi_471a2.exe>

I hope I could help you.
Ich hoffe wir konnten helfen.

kind regards,
mit freundlichen Grüßen
ed myer edmyer@magix.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
!! Please always include the previous conversation when you reply to this e-mail !!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAGIX
Postfach 20 09 14
01194 Dresden

[fifthcircle]

Editing is definitly way more comfortable than in PT. It would take too long to mention all the whys, but just for instance the manouvring in the track ...

Glad that you are having good luck with Samp... If you think the editing is good there, you should check out Sequoia

--Ben

[Ruphus]

Hi Ben,

Sure would I like to try that one, but ( was it; 3000 bucks?) ... for a sequencer is overkill. Even for the best.

And while I´m at drawbacks: Either I have a bug in the system or I absolutely do not catch that routing.
I´d prefer it obvious. Tracks, busses and linking those, finito.

They way I have it now with internal routing, which means either I see the signal in the assigned track, but only until I hit record and then it ceases ( g_rrrr ), or signal coming from an externally feeded aux can be recorded in an assigned submix track, but in the same time a signal from an audio track refuses to arrive there too although ist is being routed to send to the same bus as the aux is.

And in other cases it collected tremendous noise floor in a submix recording although the sources had no noise.

Well, it is driving me crazy and I´m back to fiddling with the computer, but I think the probs must come from disturbed system.

A while back I loaded DirectX9 in order to watch a clip posted here, which I suspect messed my system, respectively some drivers yet to be not ready for it, like the Lynx mabe.

And the MS uninstaller for that DX thingy doesn´t work, so tomorrow I know already what I will have to waste the time with.

Should the system be fixed again and the routing still appear a mess however then I´d say it to appear the most incomprehensive routing layout I have seen so far.
And the manual doesn´t explain too much anyway.

But I guess I have a bug ... Right?


Ruphus

[fifthcircle]

Yeah, Sequoia is a bit pricey, but it is worth every cent for the mastering work it can do... If you are just using the sequencer, stick with Samplitude as it is the same as Sequoia's.

Anyways, routing...

Tracks route to busses which route to the stereo/surround buss or directly out of the machine. Add a buss and you'll see it appear in the bottom of your mixer. You can send a track out of the system directly or into the buss that you select.

If you are doing effects on an aux, insert a plugin on the aux channel and that acts as both send and return- fader controls level. If you want to send out of the DAW, make a new channel and return it there (input is in the VIP or top of the mixer). It is pretty straight-forward, actually... If you are having problems with noises, either you have a problem in the system (a bug of some sort) or you have something routed incorrectly.

I always think about signal routing from left to right in the mixer. Sometimes I'll insert a buss after a group of tracks that goes to the stereo (ie drum tracks to submix buss to stereo). With auxes that go outside of the box, returns are usually the next track and those go to stereo.

I've got a Lynx card on one system and RME on my other system... Both work without a hitch, but I don't know offhand what version of DX is installed. It is whatever came with the basic version of Windows w/ SP1. The windows install was so stripped of extra bloat that many of the updates aren't needed because they don't apply to an isolated audio machine. I also don't do any MIDI work on my computers here... Only audio mixing and mastering. MIDI tracks that come through here are already finalized.

--Ben

[Ruphus]

Thanks, Ben, for explaining.
I´m always waiting to hear something unexpected, but it must be something in the system.

Tell me one more thing please: Could there be a common situation where the signal from an internal buss would arrive at an armed track but cease as soon as you hit record?

Thanks,

Ruphus

[fifthcircle]

That doesn't make sense... Perhaps if the force monitoring is toggled somewhere?

I recently had a strange occurence where I was capturing reverb off of my Lexicon. I could hear the return, I saw it on the digiface totalmix, the fader was working controlling levels, and I saw nothing on the meters. When I went to record, everything was there as it should be.... Strange and I don't know how to explain it.

A thought I just had...

Why are you recording when something is ariving internally? A bounce or freezing of a track would realize it. If you have a buss record armed, it will record what is coming in from the physical input selected (see the top of the mixer channel)... Samp doesn't route like Pro Tools in this regard. If nothing is coming in that input, it would make sense that nothing is being recorded or monitored... Does this reflect what you are doing perhaps?


--Ben

[Ruphus]

The force monitoring was not enabled.

The procedure was only meant temporary on the fly. The drums were coming in from the brain and I wanted to capture them together with already recorded percussions as a guide track which I wanted to bounce together planning to take it into PT for to add a synth track through rewired Kontakt sampler. Thinking to then bring the synth track back into Samp and start recording guitars and vocals.

I roughly knew that I could do it in another way, but typically for me ( or silly maybe ) in such cases I want to find out directly why is that, or what I might be doing wrong in order to clear the case and prevent trouble in future work.

Same with the appearing white noise. The only cases I could think of such happenning was that when maybe a bunch of empty channels were accidentally routed in the recording track ( and in fact not even so much with todays gear and the low noise it would have ), but this wasn´t the case as I had muted all unused channels in the Lynx mixer.
The second idea coming to my mind would have been a software compressor being engaged and cranked that much that it raised the noise floor, but there was no plugin opened.

What signal without metering is concerned I had that a couple of times here.

... But as I said I am convinced now that something is wrong with my system. As you confirmed I am wittnessing unusual things and if they were occuring normally like this users would have mentioned it on the Magix board I guess.

So far I think to have understood that there are several points in my PC that could cause trouble.

I like to mention them in case anybody else would come to troubleshooting in a similar configuration.

1. Digi ASIO driver is a known bad guy.
2. MusicMatch obviously too, as Magix pointed out to me.
3. DirectX9 seems also to be a threat. First because of earlier versions being weak on their own, secondly because many HW manufacturers have not yet made their drivers compatible with it, so that conflicts are almost programmed.
Better to not load that thing for sure. Its uninstaller didn´t work in my case and a trial could lead to large scaled fiddling unless one´s last backup was a fresh one.

Greets,

Ruphus