Mmm... d'ya think this is actually referring to the new audio features in iMovie rather than a separate application?
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Apple iTraks?
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Mmm... d'ya think this is actually referring to the new audio features in iMovie rather than a separate application?
Way too technical...
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.
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.
Re: Way too technical...
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
Oh God please, yes!
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.
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.
Bias Deck...again
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.
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.
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
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
Re: Bias Deck...again
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bias Deck
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.
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.
cubase sl
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.
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.
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
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
Cubase SL
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 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.
Re: Cubase SL
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
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
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.
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.
hope it comes
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.
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.