Subject:Note from a member of the ACID team...

Posted by: SonicJG

Date:8/22/2002 6:01:01 PM

Hello Everyone-

I think I'll start by thanking everyone for their feedback so far, both
positive and negative. I'd also like to say thanks to everyone who's
already trying out ACID 4.0.

Next, I'd like to acknowledge that we on the Sonic Foundry team have
been reading through the current threads, and it appears that when
people are having problems, many fall into two main categories: VSTi
with MIDI, and ASIO-support. As well, some people are reporting that they're
not having problems. Of course we want everyone's experience to be trouble-free, so we need to figure out the difference, whether it is caused by something system-specific, or user-style specific(not everybody uses ACID in the same way or for the same purposes--we want to make all methods work).

Regarding VSTi support, we knew going in that it would be a major
endeavor, because there are such a vast array of VSTi plug-ins
available, many of which interpret the VSTi specification differently,
which means that lots of special cases need to be made to accomodate
those differences. We also knew that including VSTi support would allow
users a LOT more latitude when creating projects, and that's why we
decided to include it, despite the uphill battle that trying to support
each and every plug-in would represent.

Regarding ASIO support, we included it mainly for the purpose of being
able to hear your soft synths when they're receiving controller messages
in real-time with low-latency. Also, because ASIO is the
only driver model available for the SB Audigy card with surround-sound
projects. ASIO is quite a different driver model--it's designed for
lower latency and is a much quicker path out to the hardware. But with
that speed advantage, there are a number of inherent risks, because the
drivers do less sanity checks. This requires a little extra care and
familiarity regarding what kind of scenarios ASIO drivers can handle.
ASIO drivers do not like to be called by more than one app, they don't
like to share with other drivers, and if the latencies are too low,
stuttering or crashes may occur. If an ASIO crash does occur, it may
often require a machine reboot to fix the problem. It also appears that
a few of the people with ASIO troubles are using M-Audio's ASIO driver,
which has known-issues and will hopefully have a fix soon.

For those who are reporting problems either here on the forum or to the
support email alias, please PLEASE include the following:
I. Which driver model are you using (MS Mapper, Classic Wave Drivers, or
ASIO)? Does the problem go away if you switch driver models?
II. What are you using for your playback latency (accessible either via
your sound card's configuration applet, or there's a link from ACID's
Prefs, at Options/Prefs/Audio/Advanced(/Configure )for ASIO)? Do higher
latencies cause the problems to go away (If yes, what is the threshold)?
III. For VSTi's, we have tested just about all of the major plug-ins
available (either in demo or retail), but certainly not with every
configuration, and not with every setting imaginable. Things that will
help determine the root of the problem are how they're being used, and
exactly when the problems exhibit themselves.
A. Are they in a project with a lot of other things going on, or
just alone?
B. Are they being used on MIDI from the Track View
timeline or from a real-time MIDI controller, or from one of the OPT
plug-ins?
C. Which operating system are you using?

I'm not asking anybody to cut us any slack(this is a public forum and
everyone has a right to weigh in with their opinions), but there are a
few things to factor in.
1. What are your opinions about the new surround, automated effects, bus
tracks, new regular MIDI features, and general Track View usability?
2. Have people who are successfully using the app putting in your
comments, and what settings/plug-ins are you using?
3. Of course, we will be coming out with updates. Those updates will
continue to make the app more and more robust.

In the interim, please do let us know about any problems you encounter (either through tech support or on the forums),
then try to avoid them ("doctor, it hurts when I do this..."), and know
that we're on your side and we know that ACID's purpose for existence is
to help you make better music, faster, and with less hassle. We'll just keep working to be the good doctor and make it so that you can just "do this".

Sincerely,
Joel

Subject:RE: Note from a member of the ACID team...

Reply by: sdavmor

Date:8/22/2002 6:17:11 PM

I'd have liked to have been offered the opportunity to be in on the beta for 4.0, having served in that capacity for 3.0. Was there even a "public beta" like the extensive banging that occured for 3.0 and SF 6.0? I've not tried the 4.0 demo yet, and won't even bother because it's irrelevent now. Even if it got out of the gate earlier than warranted, the product is in the field, so it's time to upgrade. My money's going where it _always_ has gone: I'll be ordering ACID 4.0 this weekend because I'm 100% committed to ACID as my primary desktop tool (and by default the rest of the Systems Theory project is committed to ACID <nods>).

I expect that there'll be teething troubles -- it's Windows software so that's par for the course. I also expect that the SF programming team will do what they've always done -- respond quickly with patches as replicatable bugs are identified. By Xmas this will all be water under the bridge, and we'll be whining at Joel & company about what we want added in 5.0 <laughs>.

Ciao,
SDM -- a 21st century schizoid man
http://systemstheory.net -- internet music project

Subject:RE: Note from a member of the ACID team...

Reply by: Luxo

Date:8/22/2002 6:18:46 PM

As a quick response to your call for opinions on the new 5.1 capabilities, I think it's stunning.

Last night I exported the audio from a Vegas project into Acid and applied a few pans to the vocals while the music track remained centered. I exported the .wavs (it's just the demo, so I had to deal with the buzzing -- but that's understandable), created an AC3, burned to DVD, and it worked flawlessly.

This was really exciting for me since half the fun of DVDs is the surround sound capability, and I've never been able to take advantage of that. Now I can and the possibilities are a lot of fun to think about. I create a lot of wedding videos, and there's no reason I can't offer 5.1 to the customers who request DVD only (and there are a few) since we essentially shoot in 5.1. (Two stereo on-camera mics and one lav mic.)

So, yes, thanks for adding that feature. I hope to see it ported to Vegas 4.0, but in the meantime I'm having a blast!

Luxo

Subject:RE: Note from a member of the ACID team...

Reply by: Jacose

Date:8/22/2002 6:22:21 PM

you guys are great!

thank you for your work!

Subject:RE: Note from a member of the ACID team...

Reply by: InformationSponge

Date:8/22/2002 6:43:26 PM

I haven't downloaded the new release yet (waiting for the $99 discount email), but this kind of post makes me happy to do business with SF. Unlike so many other companies, at least you admit that you have a few problems and you'll work through them! :)

Subject:RE: Note from a member of the ACID team...

Reply by: Maruuk

Date:8/22/2002 6:43:27 PM

It's guys like you, Joel, that keep the community together when the going gets tough--and it don't get no tougher than this! These are times that test mens' souls, and their audio card drivers.

Subject:RE: Note from a member of the ACID team...

Reply by: MacMoney

Date:8/22/2002 7:52:37 PM

Thanks Joel

George Ware