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Subject:Acid Pro Trial - Lots of Questions
Posted by: Cunhambebe
Date:3/19/2005 6:41:07 AM

I do have a lot of questions about Acid and its installation process. After installing the application, another screen pops up asking to install Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (SONY_MEDIAMGR). I have installed both. Questions:
Can I uninstall this SQL applc? I guess it's for saving presets or something like that....
Do you know what it is for?
Can I install Acid withou that SQL?
Well on more thing: I have downloaded and installed Sony's Sound Series Loops and Samples reference Library v.2. Nothing happend...I opened Windows Explorer and saw a folder with some installers and files. What do I do???? Hope you excuse my ignorance with Acid. Help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Message last edited on3/19/2005 6:43:02 AM byCunhambebe.
Subject:RE: Acid Pro Trial - Lots of Questions
Reply by: billybk
Date:3/19/2005 8:00:36 AM

The SQL server is required to run the ACID Pro 5 Media Manager. If you have no intention of using this feature, don't install the SQL and in the ACID General Preferences make sure the "Enable Media Manager" is deselected. It is selected by default. The Sony Sound Series and Samples Reference Library works in conjunction with the Media Manager, so if you are not using the MM, no need to worry about the Reference Library either. If you do not have an extensive loop library ( I am talking about tens of GB's worth), the MM probably won't be that useful to you anyway. The Sony Reference Library does not contain any actual samples. It is a reference database of all the pre-existing loops in the vast Sony/Sonic Foundry loop libraries. You use it to automatically "tag" all of Sony loops in your personal collection. This "tagging" contains all the info about a loop (beats, BPM, root note, key, sample rate, bit rate, music style, type of instrument, the library it belongs to and so much more) I have over 30GB's of loops that I have bought, from the Sony/Sonic Foundry loops libraries over the years. Using the A5 Media Manager and the Sony Reference Library, I was able to auto tag more than 30,000 loops, in less than an hour, while I went to lunch. Imagine trying to do that maually! Now I can easily search my vast loop collection and find the loops I need, and start previewing them, in a matter of seconds. No more spending endless hours searching through hundreds of loop folders trying to find the right loops, for a project. Let's see, I need an 8 beat, 4/4, reggae bass loop, in the key of D, tempo between 80-100 bpm. In a matter of seconds, I have over 60 loops, that fit my search criteria, all ready to be previewed, for my project. Wow, what a time saver!

Unless you have a lot of loops (like tens of GB's) you can probably do without the MM (just continue to use the Loop Explorer, to preview, as before) and unless you have a lot of Sony/Sonic Foundry specific loops to tag, you may not need the Sony Reference Library either.

Best regards,

Billy Buck

Message last edited on3/19/2005 8:17:28 AM bybillybk.
Subject:RE: Acid Pro Trial - Lots of Questions
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:3/19/2005 9:10:47 AM

Just to add to what Billy said: You might even find that the Media Manager is a great productivity tool even if you have only two loop collections. Chances are, those two collections will have similar loops (drums, bass, pads, etc.). Instead of navigating the file system to find the loops in each library, the Media Manager allows instant access to all of them with one click. Add a third or forth library and it becomes even more valuable. While I agree it’s a enormous timesaver when you have 30,000+ loops, it is still very valuable for anyone with more than one library CD.

I would also recommend that you DON’T uninstall it. Just disable it as Billy said and it will never get loaded again (it doesn’t take up any memory or anything if its turned off). You never know when you might need it. It’s must easier to switch it on than have to re-install.

~jr

Subject:RE: Acid Pro Trial - Lots of Questions
Reply by: Cunhambebe
Date:3/19/2005 10:31:42 AM

Thanks to both of u who took time to respond. Thank you very much for helpping. I guess I'm just going to disable Media Manager. As Johnny said, you never nknow when you might need it. ;) Congratulations to Sony for this incredible piece of software.
C you......

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