Apple iTraks?

[MacRumors]

OS X Audio (http://www.osxaudio.com/index.php?story=296&maddi=4909a85fa0e86872ca6f3cd9984a8ef6) reports that, according to some sources, Apple will be releasing an app called iTraks based on Apple's Emagic acquisition.

iTraks was first termed and rumored January 6th (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/01/20030106193859.shtml) prior to MacWorld SF at MacOS X Rumors.

While published today (Jan 21st, 2003), the news item refers to MWSF as an upcoming event.

[MrMacMan]

Sweet.
Another iApp
I think apple should lanch a iApp Campaign.
You know, 'With a computer so easy to use why make it better?
Because we can' (Apple Logo)

First post (maybe?)
Edit: Yes first post/

[MacKid]

Originally posted by MrMacman
Sweet.
Another iApp
I think apple should lanch a iApp Campaign.
You know, 'With a computer so easy to use why make it better?
Because we can' (Apple Logo)

First post (maybe?)
Edit: Yes first post/

I agree, this could be yet another product selling point, and I've been yearning for a Pro Tools-like application that is OS X native (and that I can afford). So, like many other Apple products, I'll wait as long as I need to before buying in.:D ;) :) :cool:

[Freg3000]

Originally posted by MrMacman
[BI I think apple should lanch a iApp Campaign.
You know, 'With a computer so easy to use why make it better?
Because we can' (Apple Logo) [/B]

Absolutely. This would be perfect. Apple needs to show the public what advantages specifically Mac OS X has, like the integrated iApps.

Back on topic, iTraks would probably be pretty cool, although I doubt I'd have any use for it.

[MARKUS]

I guess if this is true, Apple needs to have an audio app to go along with Final Cut Pro or, Express to integrate with either their iApps or, their pro Apps because there is a need to have audio for video and the ability to have multiple tracks of audio for soundtracks and sound effects for the budding filmmaker.
:D

[Chaszmyr]

Sounds great, I can't wait. Keep the iApps coming!

[Talon1138]

I just don't see this as being an iApp. I mean where is the brao-based CONSUMER demand. I see it more as a prosumer/professional product. I would like to see a good sound editor (much more powerful and more intuitive that Peak) come bundled with FCP.

I would like to see a Mixman-type iApp for making easy mixes and techno/rap stuff. Now that would really sell imacs to teens.

[scem0]

I would love more iApps, but I wish apple would spend more time
concentrating on hardware, because that is where they are lacking.

[dricci]

I don't see it happening, unless Apple adds a new piece to the iLife puzzle (and sells it for a $50 upgrade) every few months. I think the iLife package is pretty much complete. Next up at Apple will be Office replacement apps like Keynote.

[jholzner]

I don't think they will release it as an iApp. I figure it will be more along the lines of FinalCutPro vs. Final Cut Express. Logic and Logic Express...or something like that. But considering it'll be an Apple Branded program and not Emagaic I'm sure the naming scheme could differ.

[xelterran]

just a thought, how about if apple buys spectrasonicsSpectrasonics (http://www.spectrasonics.net) and somehow combines a lite version of their virtual instruments with itraks?:)

[Over Achiever]

As long as apple releases a program that is similar to Logic 6, but has a simpler, more intuitive interface, I don't care what they call it. Just release it!!!

[nickgold]

Originally posted by Over Achiever
As long as apple releases a program that is similar to Logic 6, but has a simpler, more intuitive interface, I don't care what they call it. Just release it!!!

Just learn Logic, ye wussie! v.6 is going to be the freaking ULTI-LOGIC, the version we have ALL been waiting for (I've been using it since the early v.4 days). The interface is quite easy, once you understand the LOGIC behind it. v.6 will have a setup assistant, and the program already has a good help program. I even like the manual, for the most part.

Logic is the bees knees, and I can't stand it when people say it's too tough to use. Bah! Logic is cake compared to many other "high end" apps.

[andrewlandry]

just wanted to second that Logic is really a great program. it's not especially easy for working with audio, but it's really great for midi. if you try it without using the manual or having someone show you the basics, it will seem impossible. once i got the basics down, i came to love it. big plusses are its stability and cpu efficiency. just thought i'd stick up for my app. :)

[G4scott]

a consumer app that lets people make their own little mixes and such would be nice, although I don't know how practical it would be...

As for the iApps campaign, I think Apple might be heading there with iLife. They might be waiting until the 25th to release any commercials and stuff...

[Buggy]

I see this app having great potential.

I remeber making my own audio tapes with little sound bites and other oddities, or creating projects for highschool. It was cumbersome full of errors but alot of fun.

An iAudio app would be great. Just think of burning a CD with your and your loved ones voices recorded and then mailing that out as a christmas card.

I see this as a large untapped area for personal computing.

Audio apps are not just for pros. It is just that nobody really considers the less than average users. (not enough money in it I guess). I lo ed my old "sound edit 16", I have been unable to find anything so easy, simple and powerfull since. Everything is complicated and bloated ready for full studio production. Sort of like vidoe apps before iMovie. OK premeire isn't that professional, but it also is not that easy for the computer illiterate.

Go Apple GO!!!

[Capt. Obvious]

I'd dearly love to see something on the order of SoundStudio or Amadeus - something small, smart, elegant, to record, filter, edit & convert (but not compress) system sounds and general audio, up to & including LP/tape dubs.

And I'm not slamming Logic, OK, but would I pay $199 for the audio equivalent of Final Cut Express? Oh, baby, you KNOW I would!!!

That would be a breakthrough app IMO - there's a HUGE gap between SoundStudio-level apps and the Nuendos, Logics & other DAWs, both in price & capability. I'm sure I'm not the only trapped in this desert, needing much more than SoundStudio, but w/considerably less cash than the DAWs require.

Remember - there was no desktop publishing market before Appple decided to make one, and no perceived DTVideo need until iMovie,

[Sol]

Everyone who is serious about audio on Macs is using a ProTools system. ProTools 6 was demonstrated at MacWorld but unfortunately no other information came out about it.

I do not think iTracks is something the Mac software catalogue needs right now. It might be useful for the 1% of people who make videos (the other 99% who make videos are too visuals-focused to care). Frankly we would be better served if Apple included a simple sound recording application with the next revision of OS X. Maybe iTunes could have a recording function.

[NJANJA]

The OSX Audio report is a shameless cut-and-paste job from macosXrumors.com's report of Jan 6th - that's why it refers to MWSF as an upcoming event.

Must've been a slow audio news day.

[Scab Cake]

I just finished an internship in the music industry and I can tell you that I heard about this program months ago. I even submitted the rumor to arn after hearing it, but it must have been dismissed. My friend knows a few of the people who test the equipment we've all been waiting for, like G5's and all the cool concept hardware that they design at Apple. Now, I don't know how real this iTraks program is or its capabilities, but what I heard was that Apple wanted a simple audio editing suite to be used hand in hand with iMovie. This way, people could create music for their movies with crossfades and using only parts of songs, etc. Take it for what it's worth, just like anything else, I suppose.

[JohnStrass]

Originally posted by Buggy
I see this app having great potential.

I remeber making my own audio tapes with little sound bites and other oddities, or creating projects for highschool. It was cumbersome full of errors but alot of fun.

An iAudio app would be great. Just think of burning a CD with your and your loved ones voices recorded and then mailing that out as a christmas card.

I see this as a large untapped area for personal computing.

Audio apps are not just for pros.

Great point. I remember mixing tapes too, being able to really mix and modify tracks, throw in some voice, would be a killer app for the high school group. I have no interest in such an app, though Apple has a way of creating a desire I never know I needed filling (iPod, for example). Dont teens have lots of cash, and getting them as future Apple buyers like carmakers do would ensure long term brand loyalty.
john
waiting for for the ability to display keynote presentations on an iPod type device...

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by scem0
I would love more iApps, but I wish apple would spend more time
concentrating on hardware, because that is where they are lacking.

the problem is, they cannot really do anything at the moment...

but come 3Q.

[ajkandy]

OK - lest we forget, Apple licensed the Roland Sound Canvas sound set years ago for QuickTime Musical Instruments (MIDI)...but they have never offered a UI for it!

That being said, I see this as a beginner's music-production toolkit, oriented towards dance music production. As a user of Propellerheads Reason, I have to say I love that program's intuitive "analog" approach to virtual instruments (just wish it had slightly more sophisticated MIDI track editing) - you can get started really quickly, and gradually 'discover' the more advanced features when you need them.

Sad thing is, the entry-level audio market suffers on the Mac. Sure, we have all the biggies: Cubase SX, Logic, etc - but sometimes you want something small, fast, and resource-light, esp. in portable-studio setups.

If iTraks is what I think it is, it might take the core of MicroLogic AV, add ReWire, REX file, CoreAudio and Audio Units support and wrap it in a shiny new iApp interface with a more task-centric set of menus / toolbars - one interface for multitrack recording (# tracks dependent on your hardware), one for sample looping, one for waveform editing etc.

I imagine an iMovie-like "audio clip drawer" where bundled, prerecorded drum loops, samples, REX files etc can be browsed, as well as user-recorded clips; of course there would be integration with iTunes to browse tracks from your Library and import/edit them - maybe even to import only selected segments (for looping?)

Of course there would be integrated CD burning from this, or export to MP3 (back into the iTunes Library for use in iDVD, etc...)

With ReWire compatibility it would be easy to pipe the output of Reason or Rebirth (slaved to iTraks' transport control) through the mixer, import the stereo mix, or even multiple discrete tracks as audio.

Um, and if it was available for $49.... that wouldn't hurt :)

[julzmon]

I hope they do come out with something similar to MicroLogic. Or have Emagic come out with MicroLogic. I've been waiting for something for OS X. They came out with Audiowerk drivers just a few weeks ago now I would think they would have the app out that came with the audio card.

[JupiterZen]

Originally posted by MacKid


I agree, this could be yet another product selling point, and I've been yearning for a Pro Tools-like application that is OS X native (and that I can afford).

Bias Inc. (http://www.bias-inc.com/) have an app called Deck and it's a full featured harddisk recording suite.

It only costs about 399. And the the entry level Deck LE only costs 99 dollars.

So the options are there already.

;)

[artistry]

Originally posted by Scab Cake
Now, I don't know how real this iTraks program is or its capabilities, but what I heard was that Apple wanted a simple audio editing suite to be used hand in hand with iMovie. This way, people could create music for their movies with crossfades and using only parts of songs, etc. Take it for what it's worth, just like anything else, I suppose.

Mmm... d'ya think this is actually referring to the new audio features in iMovie rather than a separate application? :confused:

[Timothy]

Most Audio Apps I've delved into are way too complicated. Sure, they are very powerful, but learning them is not an easy task. Primarily for those who aren't computer-savy.

I've produced several albums at studios using Pro Tools and love it in that setting. My wife is a musician; we've attempted several times in the past to set up a midi/recording system to allow her to do simple composition on the computer. Midi set-up was always a nightmare, and all of it went over her head. She's not dense, but midi is not that intuitive, and none of the high-end programs cater to the less computer savvy.

Apple could really do something in this market. I need a program that I can load on her computer, and that she will understand inside of 1 hour. Her productivity would sky-rocket were that the case. All she needs is basic midi capabilities, basic multi-track recording, and perhaps some simple effects.

For those of you "Logic is great and Easy" types...I assume you tend to be computer geeks like me. My wife would never get into a program the likes of Logic.

I hope this is what Apple has planned.

[artistry]

Originally posted by Timothy
My wife is a musician; we've attempted several times in the past to set up a midi/recording system to allow her to do simple composition on the computer. Midi set-up was always a nightmare, and all of it went over her head. She's not dense, but midi is not that intuitive, and none of the high-end programs cater to the less computer savvy.

I swear by three apps: Xx (for midi), Metasynth (for sound generation and synthesising midi tracks using samples) and Metatracks (for piecing it all together). Xx is so simple, and has some great tools for experimentation such as pattern generation, canons, key changing and so on. Metasynth has to be used to be believed. If you don't 'get it' at first, do the tutorials. It's more fun than the Sims...

All from U&I software, and from the guy who brought you Bryce (not Kai, Eric Wenger). OSX versions in the works, and on my 'to buy' list.

You can hear samples of what people have produced at the U&I website (try http://www.metasynth.com) - from amateurs (like me!) to pros, these tools are as easy or complex as you make them.

[Bytore]

Originally posted by Sol
(the other 99% who make videos are too visuals-focused to care).

I think you'd be surprised by the number of visual artists that are also musicians.

I am just one of many.

[lazyrighteye]

I'm a Pro Tools user, and a long-time Machead.

I can't say that this "iTraks" (I actually like the name "iMix" better) will actually see the light of day as a standalone iApp, but could see some basic stereo record/edit features showing up in iTunes 4. This way, Apple's not introducing another audio portion of the iLife tree, but you still get these nice audio features that would intigrate smoothly with iMovie, Final Cut Express, and even FCP. I imagine iTunes 4 will compress audio to .mp3, .aac, .ogg, .shn, etc. This could segwey to a recordable iPod, using iTunes 4 record features to capture uncompressed .aif files. Dump those uncompressed .aif files into your Mac, edit in iTunes 4, compress to whatever standard you like, and burn a disc or rip files to your new iPod. Neat-o.

I have also bee expecting/hoping for a multitrack recording/editing app, much in the vein of a Pro Tools (IMHO, the best DAW alive), snuggling up nicely with FCP... maybe called Mix Master Pro (MMP). Thi sapp could handle multi track audio and MIDI, having all the expected features of a $999 app.
Again, while I am a PT user, you just can't' match Apple's intuitive design (hard or software). And I support and would be interested in an Apple branded multitrack app.

And with recent announcements of FCE, I could also see an "lite" version of MMP, something in the $299 range. Mix Master Express (MME)?

With all that said (written), Pro Tools offers a free, stereo record/edit app, Pro Tools Free. This is an excellent marketing tool, as it gives one access to the Pro Tools environment - for free. Thus growing and solidifying it's market base. So maybe an iTraks will show up. What do I know?

Stay tuned.

[lazyrighteye]

Count me as well Bytore. Ther are many, many of us out there.

[jettredmont]

Originally posted by dricci
I don't see it happening, unless Apple adds a new piece to the iLife puzzle (and sells it for a $50 upgrade) every few months. I think the iLife package is pretty much complete. Next up at Apple will be Office replacement apps like Keynote.

"Next up"? You do realize that Apple has more than enough software developers for multiple products in the pipeline, right? Seems to me I've read from reliable sources that iTunes has just a handful of developers on it, and honestly that's all I'd expect. You don't need a development team of a hundred souls to put together the iApps, and that leaves a lot of developers and a lot of related talent free to work on Office apps as well.

Related note: macosxrumors is claiming confirmation that Apple is coming out with Word and Excel replacements soon, binary compatible, with a name like "iOffice" or "SuperOffice" (ick!) ...

Really, though, I see a consumer need for a basic audio editing app, something to clean up pops and jitters and chop long lead-ins from songs, something to fade a song in/out so that it will fit with your iMovie ... Maybe not of the sophistication of iTraks' rumored feature set, but just something basic.

IMHO, of course.

[MacSlut]

There is a huge gap in easy to use, entry-level, yet powerful audio software for the Mac.

What I'm talking about is the ability to take various tracks from a CD, custom mix them so they blend together, or create extended versions of songs, perhaps add sound clips from movies, etc...

The best shareware right now for audio is SoundStudio. It works great for recording, but not mixing or mastering.

As a result, I find myself using SoundStudio for recording and destructive editing, and then importing to Premiere for non-destructive editing, mixing and mastering.

I do this because these apps are really easy to use for these purposes, plus SoundStudio is cheap, and both of these are really "low-impact". Of course Premiere because it's intended for video is less "low-impact" more expensive and a bit more difficult to use...plus the timeline is hard to work with.

But these apps are a lot less ovewhelming than the other apps out there that violate all sorts of guidelines, take over the system, crash like crazy, and are thoroughly un-intuitive.

If Apple were to release an application that was a combination of SoundStudio (only multi-track) and had an integrated non-destructive timeline editor, they would have a hit product that consumers would use.

Most importantly, there is nothing on the Windows side which would come close to what Apple could do with this.

Time and time again, with the new Apple software, people are asking how something is created. The answer is that it was done on my computer. They want to do it so they ask for what software I used. I'll tell them I just whipped it up on my Mac. Windows users will think they can do the same because they have a CD burner, or USB port, or whatever, and then they try and just can't do it. My neighbor bought a Dell because "it cost lest" and has "so much more software". But her Dell doesn't have a CD burner that she can use. Yes, it technically has a CD burner, but she can't *use* it. So much of the software sucks for it. She's seen my Mac and understands that the Mac has way more software that she can use.

[crazytom]

I'll have to second the post about Bias, Inc.'s Deck program. I only do audio (no midi), and have found it to be a great program that's easy to use. Sure I'd love a Pro Tools system, but I don't excrete money. Plus Deck's been working on OS X for almost a year now, I think they're ahead of the game in the X world.

[JeffHendr]

I think a basic audio editing app would be a nice feature for Macs. I've recently switched over from the PC world, and losing the ability to easily edit audio is one of the shortfalls I've seen with my new Powerbook.

The standard PC sound cards that make up the "SoundBlaster" series always come with a free program called Wave Studio which I've used for various projects since the sixth grade. When I saw that the only way to really get an equivalent on the Mac was to spend around $500, I was rather disappointed. Sure you can do minor audio editing with QuickTime, but nothing that really lets you get creative.

I don't think iTracks would be a big advantage over PC's like some people are predicting on this thread; I simply think it would allow Apple to catch up in an area that they're a little behind in. (It'd also be nice if Apple's iMovie and iDVD programs were compatible with more video formats and if QuickTime didn't cut out all the audio when you convert .mpg's. I have to compensate for all that with shareware programs run on Virtual PC. --Just a thought)

--1 GHz Powerbook, 1 Gig RAM, 60 GB HD, Superdrive

[JupiterZen]

Originally posted by crazytom
I'll have to second the post about Bias, Inc.'s Deck program. I only do audio (no midi), and have found it to be a great program that's easy to use. Sure I'd love a Pro Tools system, but I don't excrete money. Plus Deck's been working on OS X for almost a year now, I think they're ahead of the game in the X world.

Yes, Deck has been a very nice product from the early beginning years ago. I don't use it myself that much, because I came from the MIDI side of computermusic. Using Cubase 1.8 back in the days to power my little studio.

It surpises me that everybody seems to compare apps like Logic and Cubase with apps like Pro Tools and Nuendo. While in my opinion they are apples and oranges aimed at very different people and have an even different background. Logic and Cubase are mainly MIDI sequencers that have developed audio functionality over time. While Pro Tools and Nuendo are primarily multitrack harddiskrecorders with some basic MIDI inplementation.

[Buggy]

re: Bias Deck LE

I have found it a mess of a program.

First it didn't work with the current OS when it shipped, it had to have an immediate patch to make it workwith 10.2

Next they have turned off many of the features (in LE) needed to set it up with some systems, thus making it next to useless. Not to mention their whole way of keeping track of files and starting new ones... I hate the program. I should never have wasted my money on it. It feels like I bought a demo product.

I had already owned Peak, and was generally pleased. But now I am waiting for something else. I spent way more in my time trying to get it to work then I spent on it.

I am now saving up for protools.

[trebblekicked]

i heard that 3rd party FW/USB breakout box support is iffy w/deck. but the only other cost-effective solution/alternative seems to be ProTools LE, and i can't say thats a perfect program, either...
apple's prosumer/pro level programs (shake, FCP, DVDSP) have excelled at supporting 3rd party periphs, plugins, software and hardware...it'd be nice to have an audio app that bridges the gaps ProTools LE and Deck create.

[daveg5]

i will be trying cubase sl over the week end ($99 upgrade for me $199 list) and deck 3.5 demo.
checking cubase.net forums they seem to say sl is less buggy then sx has most of the features and less complicted to use.
I have been using music apps since hybrid arts and logic and notator on atari and midi tracks on the yamaha cx5m.
they have gotten so bloated and abstract because they are simply adding features to a dated foundation base. i.e. 9.2.2 is really a bloated 7.6. osx is a new start. we need a new from scratch simplified base daw available in easy easier and easiest levels of comprehentions. just pick a track and record just like tapego over to the midi portion pick a track and tempo and record. simple cut and patse editingand easy initial setup.
and a new simplified GUI that replicates a modern studio, tape, mixer,fx,instruments and a extremely easy and flexible song saving and export function.
The problem is now one is willing to invest the time and money into starting from scratch so we all suffer from the same ol thing.
Hopefully dp4 this summer will shock us with somthing really cool in beginner, novice and pro levels.

[lazyrighteye]

Hey Buggy,
Not knowing what you are doing with your audio - but go now and download Pro Tools Free (digidesign.com). It's a pretty mean app to be giving away (again, great marketing tool for Digidesign).
While you can only record 2 audio tracks at a time, I do believe you can go up to 8 audio tracks, and 48 midi tracks. This way, you could become familiar with the PT environment, and decide if you want to drop $500 on PTLE. The only different I see between PT Free and PTLE is the ability , in LE, to run higher track counts. That's it.
For the record, I do not use any MIDI, ever. My experience is solely based on audio tracks.

lazyrighteye

[Big Red]

I was under the impression that Cubase SL had not yet been released for the Mac??? I haven't been paying a lot of attention, but if it is available, I think I'll be giving it a try. I messed around with SX on a friend's G4 the other day, syncing up with Reason 2.0 and I thought it pretty much kicked ass. I may have to upgrade my 350 G3 to run either, but after a couple hours, I'm pretty much hooked. I have no need for the extra features of SX (well, not that I know of), and the upgrade price to SL is much more manageable.

Logic gives me fits, I just don't understand that app one bit.

[Big Red]

Apparently it is out, but is back-ordered to mid March or something crazy like that. I want it!

[daveg5]

Originally posted by Big Red
I was under the impression that Cubase SL had not yet been released for the Mac??? I haven't been paying a lot of attention, but if it is available, I think I'll be giving it a try. I messed around with SX on a friend's G4 the other day, syncing up with Reason 2.0 and I thought it pretty much kicked ass. I may have to upgrade my 350 G3 to run either, but after a couple hours, I'm pretty much hooked. I have no need for the extra features of SX (well, not that I know of), and the upgrade price to SL is much more manageable.

Logic gives me fits, I just don't understand that app one bit.

I ordered tues. ups should deliver friday. i cant wait as i am very fluent in 5.1 and love it is very stable for me in 9.2.2 3 midi related crashes in 3 mo. aint bad and with autosave i never lost anything and i have a large vst library. the only bad part is my 5 dspfactory card from yamaha still has no drivers for OSX so i will have to use my audiowerk2 card that i use to use with logic and there is freeware stelth midi driver that lets me use my old OMS serial and usb midi interfaces in OSX. since its in OSX they recomend a g4 at least or a later g3 like in the ibook. i will post screen shots and give a short review as soon as possible. not sure how long the $99 special is are if they will let logic users crossgrade. i use a g4 upgraded biege G3 running at 625/1MB/768pc100/80GBwdJB and scsi drives vodoo 5500

at $99 you cant go too wrong
peace out

[Big Red]

I'm a big fan of 5.1, but honestly it has been a big buggy for me. The program just seems very intuitive to me, but I've been using it since 3.0, so whatever. I need a paycheck before I can buy the upgrade.

I heard that they had originally put the hardware requirements as a 350 G3, but didn't want to hear too many complaints so they upped it to the G4. I'm wondering if it would be better for me to get a 450 G4 or one of those new 800 G3's.

[daveg5]

Originally posted by Big Red
I'm a big fan of 5.1, but honestly it has been a big buggy for me. The program just seems very intuitive to me, but I've been using it since 3.0, so whatever. I need a paycheck before I can buy the upgrade.

I heard that they had originally put the hardware requirements as a 350 G3, but didn't want to hear too many complaints so they upped it to the G4. I'm wondering if it would be better for me to get a 450 G4 or one of those new 800 G3's.

Oh no i hope they dont delay my shipment he said it was too go out wed. ill call back tomorrow.
just been to thier site they are backordered until march so you got plenty of time. hrad to say that new g3 has a larger L2 cache and is twice as fast on non altivec things, however cubase and osx really take advantage of osx i think the 550 G4(everyone overclocks it to about 600 or so www.xlr8.com) which i have would probably be the best but i have not seen any test on the 800 g3 except ibooks on www.barefeat.com and most people think those are plenty fast and it will definately beat my g4 at all things not altivec. if you have quartz extreme the g3 might be better no big load on the processor otherwise i would try to get the fastest g4 but with no benchmarks who knows, how fast is your friends g4 that would be a good reference point.