Subject:Acid 6 thoughts

Posted by: jumbuk

Date:1/30/2006 4:55:42 PM

I have had a browse through the new Acid 6 brochure. A couple of interesting things I have noticed:

- The track info section in the LH pane now has separate level and pan sliders - no need to keep flicking the single "multi-purpose slider" from one to the other.

- Audio record tracks now have level meters built in to the track info

- there seems to be a little "automation" button to switch between touch, read etc like on other DAWs. Also suggests that the control surface integration will defintely record automation.

All this makes Acid closer to Sonar, Cubase etc. They are welcome changes, but it does seem like all the software is kind of converging on the same set of features, albeit from a different direction.

Sonar is probably the most like Acid at the moment, especially as it uses a standard Windows interface, instead of the proprietary interfaces of Cubase, logic etc. Even so, the different DAWs all seem to have their uses, depending on how you like to work. For me, Cubase is the ideal way to work if I am approaching a project as though I am in a multi-track recording studio - it still feels like a digital tape recorder. I never used Logic much, but it always seemed to be built for people who preferred to think in terms of western music notation. Acid is still the choice when I want to quickly knock up a backing track or a soundscape out of a bag of ready-made material. Sonar is nice, but the split tabs confuse me a bit.

Will all this take Acid ahead of the rest? Not really, but I don't think this is the point. Acid will be up with the rest of the DAWs in terms of the major features it is missing now, but it still should be ahead as the easiest way to build a song out of ready-made loops - plus, the groove stuff is much easier to use than anyone else's equivalent tools (IMHO).

Perhaps Acid could do something unique like bundling Melodyne's Uno product as a plug-in, like someone suggested in another post? Anway, I think the new features will be well worthwhile, and I will be happy to upgrade (assuming SF/Sony maintain their usual enlightened approach to upgrade pricing).

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: PeterWright

Date:1/31/2006 1:38:50 AM

Interesting thoughts jumbuk.

I've been using Logic 5.5 for midi/soft synths etc, then recording those as tracks into Vegas to mix with audio - never been comfortable with Logic's audio side.
I also hate the fact that Apple bought and discontinued Logic for PC, so Acid 6 is looking very appealing as a possible way to finally leave Logic behind - been a long time with eMagic, starting with Notator on the fantastic Atari 1040STe - and I'll have to get used to leaving score edit behind and using piano roll etc.

Another thing I'm having to come to terms with is all the soft samples I've bought for the EXS24, and will now need to buy again as vst .... ah well that's progress.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:1/31/2006 4:17:27 AM

Is there no way to convert EXS24 samplesinto something that can be read on the PC? Have you tried Chicken Translator?

What sampler do you plan to use with Acid? I use Gigastudio 3 with Cubase and (sometimes) Acid. It's a bit elaborate for most uses - VSampler is a good, cheap alternative.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: PeterWright

Date:1/31/2006 5:31:44 PM

I would be delighted if my EXS24 samples can be converted to something that Acid will be able to use - I asked about this before with no positive results, but I'll investigate Chicken Translator, thanks.

For sampling, I'm not sure what will be included as part of Acid 6 so I'll wait and see. If I can find a way to convert from EXS24 I can use that with Logic.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:1/31/2006 7:12:16 PM

CDextract:

http://www.cdxtract.com/formats.php

will do the job.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: PeterWright

Date:1/31/2006 8:32:31 PM

Thanks - I'll give it a try - is VSampler the same as vst? If not, which Destination Format?

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: Cheameup

Date:1/31/2006 8:55:42 PM

It all sounds like steps in the right direction .

Level meters for each track and not being able to record effect parameter changes in real time are my 2 biggest gripes with acid over Live (I use both )

One thing . I think the interface could use a cosmetic upgrade . It does look a little "Eastern Block" conmpared to other platforms

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: MacMoney

Date:1/31/2006 9:07:41 PM

>I think the interface could use a cosmetic upgrade . It does look a little "Eastern Block" conmpared to other platforms

I don't understand.......what programs are you comparing it to?

George Ware

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: Cheameup

Date:1/31/2006 9:44:33 PM

Mainly Live I guess, cause thats the other program I use it a fair bit. I think Acid looks bland /ugly compared .

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: Illogical

Date:2/1/2006 6:19:33 AM

I like Acid's blandness...much more concerned with functionality than pretty pictures.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: merlyn

Date:2/1/2006 6:59:12 AM

For me, Live (and all the other programs out there) give me a headache to look at. Too much nonsense going on for me. Acid is streamlined and simple which translates to getting things done quickly and more efficiently (at least for me). Just my two cents, but I hope Sony doesn't change a thing more than they absolutely have to with the interface.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:2/1/2006 8:37:22 AM

Definitely keep the layout clean and simple like it is now. I find it very annoying when a software company creates their own style interface that has no functionality improvement over the standard Windows GUI. I end up wasting time trying to figure out how the buttons work (in some cases, where the buttons even are) instead of using the program.

The first time i used ACID i was dropping loops on the timeline and cutting them up and arranging them within the first minute. Since it uses the standard Windows interface most everything was immediately obvious. This let me concentrate on using the program rather than wasting time learning it.

ACID is not performance software. It's a tool. And while i have no objection to my tools looking nice, i want my table saw to look like a table saw, not a Van Gogh.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: Spectralis

Date:2/1/2006 10:17:58 AM

Yes, please don't let Sony change the interface. It's one of the reasons I keep going back to ACID. I think it looks very nice and is distinctive enough not to seem outdated.

I really dislike the interface of Live and Sonar so any change in that direction would be a step back IMO. The blocky interface of ACID really suits working with loops. More features please but leave our precious GUI alone!

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: Spectralis

Date:2/1/2006 10:20:38 AM

'The first time i used ACID i was dropping loops on the timeline and cutting them up and arranging them within the first minute. Since it uses the standard Windows interface most everything was immediately obvious. This let me concentrate on using the program rather than wasting time learning it.'

You are so right Chienworks. That's exactly how I felt the first time I used ACID and that's why I'm passionate about keeping the current GUI.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:2/1/2006 1:59:42 PM

Totally agree re the interface. When I fisrt started using Cubase (VST 5), it was a right pain to get used to the non-standard way everything worked. Cubase, Logic ... they all have a history that dates back to Atari or Mac, so they have their own way of working. I am sure Live is pretty streamlined, but like others, I want to be able to use my music software just like I use Excel or Word.

One thing I would change though is the window that holds plug-ins. It doesn't automatically size to the plug-in, which can be ugly.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: bgc

Date:2/1/2006 5:39:50 PM

The Live interface looks like a toy to me. I never could get past that.
I like the clean and simple interfaces of Sony products.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: barleycorn

Date:2/2/2006 6:43:30 AM

> window... doesn't automatically size to the plug-in, which can be ugly

Double-click the title bar.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: Illogical

Date:2/2/2006 9:15:24 AM

^ really?? I never tried that, can't wait to get home now, hehe...

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: merlyn

Date:2/2/2006 11:18:46 AM

^ I didn't know that one either! Just tried it an it works!

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: Pindal

Date:2/2/2006 12:31:11 PM

Don´t change the interface. It´s cristal clear. I love Acid for this.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:2/2/2006 2:43:16 PM

Hey, thanks Barleycorn! That's cool - but it doesn't work perfectly all the time.

Subject:RE: Acid 6 thoughts

Reply by: cseanor

Date:2/2/2006 5:59:00 PM

Amen. The reason I keep using SoFo/Sony products is because they act like Windows programs are supposed to act.

I have Sonar (started with CW Pro Audio back in the day) mainly for advanced MIDI stuff. The UI is... well, a bit of an odd beast at times. And loop manipulation is still not as smooth and intuitive as even ACID 1.

If ACID's new MIDI capabilities are as good as they look, I'll be done with Sonar, and no regrets.

Looking forward to being an all SoFo/Sony shop here. Keep the UI as it is.