Giving up from PT´s Midi. So which ..?

[Alécio Costa]

HI, friends,

I am a PT TDM user and would like to use a nice sequencer wiythin MAC/PT environment.

I am tired of the buggy behavior between my MTP AV USB and PT 5.1.3, Mix system udner OS 9.2.

I have lots of problems, the midi thru function needing to be turned on/off all the time, needing to change the midi out from MT AV USB to a single sound module name just to have things going fine.

I have tried the DUC, and here at GS a few times but all the help I could find was that it was an issue with the MTP AV USB or the USB port thing being a PITA.

I have been using hardware sequencers for a long time, I am not a pianist/keyboard player, but do pretty nice sequenced arrangements.

I have been the point to choose a nice sequencer environment to go with my PT rig, which shall be updated to PT HD Accel/OS X next year.
so, my questions:
a) which is the easiest, nice, friendlgy GUI sequencer within MAC OS 9.2/PT 5.x nowadays: Logic, DP, Traction? Reason..

b) as future is close, which one relates better with PT on OS X?Accel systems?

c) I have seem people claiming that Logic is the logical wy to go, but at a first look DP seems to be more familiar to my brain -lol

Thanks for any info, tips and nice week to all

[cdog]

Logic

[Alécio Costa]

thanks, but.... what else? why?

[karl]

Hi Alecio, I tried Logic a few times, but for straight forward MIDI and some virtual instruments, nothing is as easy as Cubase. You could run the 5.1 version on OS9. If you are trying to put audio on Cubase though, forget it. It is needlessly complicated and erratic. Cubase was originally designed for MIDI on the Atari and does a fine job. When the audio was added it never really integrated well. Either get a second Mac or PC and sync to MTC or you can load on the same machine and connect the MTC via the iac bus internally. It's simple top setup.

[Alécio Costa]

Many thanks, bud. I will bore you a little bit more soon
Nice week

[Waylon]

Another vote for Cubase for MIDI. It rocks and is super intuitive...

On a side note, I have never in my life had more problems with 2 pieces of gear interfacing than MOTU and Digidesign. Total nightmare, I had 6 months o dsheer hell till I went out and got a midiman ( Maudio now I think) interface, then Midi was rock solid on PT for me. Still very limited, but rock solid nonetheless.

Generally on projects that require serious MIDI work, we will program in Cubase, then transfer the MIDI files over to PT when done, that aviods havign to lock the two together and keeps the midi files in th PT session for archiving.

[Alécio Costa]

I´m really surprised! I thought everybody was into DP and Logic!
If you guys have any info about Logic 7, please..
Funny, nobody mentions Traction or Cakewalk/Sonar.
!!!
thanks

[ttauri]

Originally posted by Alécio Costa
Funny, nobody mentions Traction

Tracktion's MIDI, in particular, is still real raw. I can't even use it with my external stuff (just softsynths)--makes my keyboards crash (that's a new one for me) and need to be restarted.

Also: no OS 9 version for you.

The user interface is super swealthy, so I look forward to seeing how it develops, but lots of things are still missing in the MIDI implementation (you never know how much you miss the little things--like holding shift while extending a note to keep it on the same key--until you don't have them), and especially if you're driving a hardware rig.

Peece,
T. Tauri

[7rojo7]

PT6 has better midi functions than 5.1, even the semblance of a conductor track, I believe 6.4 has even more improvements but I don't know what they are, I'll know when I get it.
Instead of a super huge learning curve, possible IAC sync issues and switching between platforms you could put that dough towards a PT upgrade, especially if you're going there anyway.
I had Logic 3.5 running with PT 4.2 on OS 8.6 on a 300MHz 9600 and I found it annoying to switch back and forth and if I had to change tempos or do accelerandos PT never chased well so I would have to copy over the midi files anyway. I was using logic first to generate demos and make partitions and scores for musicians, Dump files to pro tool bounce midi sounds and record over this to complete the demo, complicated.
Now I miss my part making and score printing abilityand I might go to Sybelius instead of an up to Logic Pro, but if I only had to do midi PT6 has about 80% of the capacity as the Logic I had, enough for me. You might want to consider using Logic as the Front End for your new hardware, for some projects it could be real. I could never get the hang of editing audio and I could never figure out where i was in Logic for Audio

[Alécio Costa]

Thanks rojo, I hope the OS X drivers for the MTP Av USB shall help too. Also, some people say that the old serial ports days are nostalgy nowadays.

[5down1up]

hi BRAZIL

never had a single problem using the motu av serial with protools or logic ( on a g3 OS9 ) .
now i am running a g4 OSX with an emagic unitor usb and again ... no problem at all !

picking the best sequencer for midi out of cubase , pt & logic ...

my vote goes 101% for logic

[Alécio Costa]

Thanks German brother!

[tobymusic]

...i know both Logic and Cubase quite well.

In my opinion Logic is still the best choice for ProTools TDM or HD users because of its ability to use both TDM and native audio tracks at the same time. Logic Pro even includes the ESB and HD support for free, that is a true bargain IMHO.
But for me Logic is still a love-and-hate-relationship, you need to adapt your working style to get fast and happy in Logic. You need to invest a bit more time in setting up your autoload song and your Logic-environment. That will probably take more time than getting along with Cubase SX.

I agree that Cubase SX is a very powerful and intuitive sequencer and especially SX is quite similar to ProTools, at least much more than Cubase VST was. Only SX is for MacOS X only. And it has no TDM support at all, not many VST-instruments included and on the mac may be a little too buggy for professional use. But who knows, maybe there are mac users out there that use SX2 on the mac without major problems...

I also tried DP a couple of years ago, i liked it very much, but midi-editing just took me to long and i didn´t know anybody using DP. So i got stuck with Logic, be it good or bad.

[Alécio Costa]

I´d better investigate PT6.x and if it does not do for me, wait for Logic7.
Thanks to all
However, I tend to like DP better.

[ROBB007]

My 2 Cents worth !I have been a computer in house studio for over 8 years{5] ADATS now ever since I left the mdm 's behind I have used pro tools [Which I love for Audio]and cubase/and Sonar /and Logic .Let me tell you . For one overall great program for midi/audio/soft synths and stable compliable performance with a UAD set-up LOGIC LOGIC LOGIC LOGIC***********Alecia look no further LOGIC will be your most faithful friend trust me a proud WESTERN CANADIAN*************

[Alécio Costa]

Thanks for the comments but.. Alecia?
Hey, sounds like a Drag Queen name
hahahahahhahahahahahaah
dfegad

[ROBB007]

My apology Alecio!
What can I say I did not mean to associate you with that sort of person or persons .Being from the north west of Canada it is very unlikely that we run into names of your currnent type or dialect{It is a nice name although} I must say any time I have been to Brazil and associated areas the people have been very very kind to us.If you worked here{CANADA} long enough I think they would start calling you Al anyway .So have a good day and pick up a copy of Logic for your Midi and soft synth's.Till then Rock on and sorry again.

[Alécio Costa]

No problem bud!
It was funny
In the USA they used to call me ALESIS, yes the very same brand of our old MDMs
Nice tuesday

[jobi7]

I have 2 internal drives in my computer, one with OS 9.2 and one with OS X.2.8. I also use the MTP AV with PT 5.1.3 and with PT 6. I've found with OS 9, I can't plug the MTP into my USB hub but must plug it directly into the first USB slot on the computer for it to work. It works fine in the hub with OS X. By the way, the reason I keep an OS 9 drive is for one reason. I still use Opcode's Vision to sequence. I own DP which is cool, but I can work so much faster in Vision that I've been too stubborn to switch. It will be a sad day if I have to give it up.

[Alécio Costa]

Hi job
You the Man
I´m soon to do that since I have important plugs on OS 9 only ( Lexiverb, TC MAster X 5 band) and new ones for OS X ( PSP MAster Q, new Vintage Warmer, soon URS).
I will ask for your help!
BTW.. I use the MTP AV USB directly to the rear USB port. I also have that bug of not being allowed to turn off the interface ´cos the computer re-starts -lol
Nice wednesday

[Sharp11]

Hi,

I've been running PT HD Accel successfully with the same midi interface you have for several months without a problem.

This would be PT 6.2 on OS10.2.8

You might find this a better alternative to try before going to an all new sequencer.

I've also got DP4.1 for more serious sequencing, but the PT midi engine is pretty simple and direct if a bit underwhelming in terms of features.

[Alécio Costa]

Thanks Ed,
so:
a) is AMS/OS X a big leap from the old OMS?
b) I´m still confused if I´d better go 6.2/Jaguar or 6.2.3/Panther 10.3.2

Anyone else?
Nice wekeend

[TJ Rizing]

Been through Cubase and still... Logic logic Logic.
timing is good, very stable and flex. Never Ever gave a prob.
Now with V. 7 is as good as Protools as it shares all the pro tools plug-ins.
and as we all know the midi in pro tools is poop...

[Chrisac]

You could try running Ableton Live (4) with your pro tools rig. PT's 6 rewired to Ableton Live is a very powerful combo which is 100% stable and is totally hassle free. The midi in Ableton Live is quite basic, but fast and intuitive. The learning curve is about ten minutes + you get audio warp capabilities. Very important also is that the both of them together are fun to use. I always found the Logic/PT's setup just to tedious, and its not bug free.

isnt it about time you went OSX anyway. Why you still on OS9?

[Alécio Costa]

I am soon to enter OS X. I have not entered yet because I was working at 4 albums at the same time, doing pretty fine and stable at 9.2/5.1.3
Somewhat worried about the upgrade fees to the plugs again..

[pounce]

i recently made the switch to osx. i was waiting for that most recent round of g5's. and also that got me to switch when enough of my plug ins were ported over. knowing i would make this switch, i wanted to reconsider what software was out there. i was buying a lot of stuff for the transition, so i decided to let myself look at anything.

i just bought the logic pro 7 as i anticipate that will be my main go to midi app. it had been cubase, but i am not sure that i can work the same way in the sx series as i previously had. and now my midi rig is more monstrous, so the features in logic may make the best match for me. i also just got the DP upgrade, and it looks excellent. i've been using it for the audio projects for the past few years, and i love it for audio. logic may be a better program for me with midi.

as far as the mtp av usb, i have to firstly say that i never had trouble with the serial versions of my midi interfaces. never. but, i've had the usb versions "go offline" on me. than i had to unplug and replug the usb cable to get it to recognize in os9. now, osx seems better behaved. i upgraded the roms, and have been particular about usb cables. i've found swapping usb cables has made a difference for me, so they are apparently have varying usb cable quality. or the mtpav's are "sensitive". funny, the keyboard and mouse always work. i do use a few usb hubs at the studio, and haven't traced any problems back to them.

[aussie_techie]

if all you want is MIDI go for Cubase - used it for many years from Cubasis AV through to Cubase VST 5
however i think a new version of PT would do you just as well and that way you can keep everything with in one app
PT 6.1 and 6.4 have much better MIDI functions than 5.x and the new 6.7 (due out in very soon) should improve MIDI alot more - it still along was off cubase - however if you dont want to work with a score and just want simple MIDI sequencing a PT upgrade would be my first port of call
from what i hear digi is very keen to advance MIDI functions alot in the next few version to compete with cubase - time will tell exacly how far they take it

[Alécio Costa]

Many thanks guys. In fact PT is really my first choice. Got 6.0.3/6.2 and 6.4.1 here already.
Hope 6.7 does fine.
Nice weekend

[The MPCist]

I'm still using PT for MIDI. I used to be a diehard DP user until about 1 year ago when DP was ported over to OS X. It was too buggy, had tons of timing problems... So I just forced myself to use PT's MIDI and now I'm pretty good at it.

Of course, it's missing some stuff but I get by.

[Ben F]

If you have used Logic 7 in the past and become frustrated compared to Protools, then Logic 8 is a much better program in terms of work flow and ease of use.

A couple of people I know used DP and switched to Logic 8 and they are loving it.