Subject:Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Posted by: Djipy

Date:4/12/2006 11:26:12 AM

Reading this forum every day, I notice that there are several bugs pending in Acid Pro 6.
In my opinion, most bugs could have been detected before the official release, with basic (and careful) testing.
I'm just wondering if the beta testers have just "played a bit" with Acid Pro 6 like a new toy, instead of testing it in a professional way, hunting for bugs...

Just an opinion, a thought.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: randygo

Date:4/12/2006 12:36:01 PM

>In my opinion, most bugs could have been detected before the official release

I think *most* bugs have been detected and fixed before release.
This release is pretty stable. A few users are having startup issues,
but I think once running things are functioning quite well.

Cheers,

Randy

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: billybk

Date:4/12/2006 12:52:31 PM

From my perspective, this release has been the most stable and relatively bug-free, of any previous ACID Pro version, in recent memory. Considering this was a major update, (everything from re-engineered low latency audio engine with dual core/CPU support to totally revamped MIDI, multi-tracking, surface controllers, Vegas style audio editing/recording, etc.), I'm actually kinda surprised there aren't even more issues.

BTW, I have not encountered any show-stopping bugs and I anticipate the ACID 6a update will tighten, any loose ends up, in short order. In the meantime, I will happily continue to use ACID Pro 6, for my projects.

Cheers,

Billy Buck

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:4/12/2006 4:21:32 PM

I agree with everything that has been said by others, plus ... would you have rather waited for another 2 months for Sony to release Acid 6? I am happy to have it and be using it. I know they will address the minor issues with a new update in due course.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: SHTUNOT

Date:4/12/2006 4:54:09 PM

Hey...

Trust me AP 6 was broken many times over. Sure it still has its gripes but NO release is without it.

IMHO no it couldn't be. Internally the method of how a beta is run always can be improved to be more efficient/affective in catching bugs...But still your at the mercy of the all mighty dollar and when its time to release its "ready or not".

Everyone says public beta test. I do too. But in thinking about it what happens when the "public" gets to test it. You get posts of "It doesn't work" "crashs all the time" etc...and never a step by step repro like beta testers put together. How many even fill out their system specs?

Beta testers are not paid a hourly rate. Who is to say that some put 10hrs a week and some 40hr. Everyone has lives to live. Plus testers test obviously the features that are most important to them...to their workflow and needs. The rest is gravy.

Why can't we call a initial release a beta test? It's been beaten to death privately and there is no more features being added. Now it's the publics time to test it out with the demo. If it works great ;)...and if not write a repro. How often is that done again?

Besides the $99 upgrade price is a godsend for most if you think of how much you get in return.

By a show of hands how many of you think that the bugs "won't" be fixed in a timely manner? Is this what is holding you off from purchasing the $99 upgrade?

The way I always did things is "play" with a initial release and "work" with a letter update[ie:6.0 a/b/c]. Remember the more feedback you give to the app developer of your individual problem/gripe the better chance of it getting fixed. Don't wait in the side lines and "hope" it gets done.

Ed.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: jcoplin

Date:4/12/2006 8:33:19 PM

well, considering Acid 6.0 won't even launch for some users, myself included, I'd say yes, I would have waited another couple of months for an app that worked. Now I'm just out $129.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: Laurence

Date:4/12/2006 9:37:08 PM

Are you using the Waves waveshell from an older version of Waves by chance?

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: alltheseworlds

Date:4/12/2006 10:40:36 PM

My two "bugs" were audio sync and a crackling GUI. Well audio sync was fixed by adjusting parameters inside Acid :-) The crackling GUI was caused by me thinking I had the latest drivers when in fact I didn't. Problem now solved by the classic old "update your drivers" solution.

Most of the threads I've seen in this forum seem to have had a happy ending.

This is by far the best release I've seen of Acid and is already withstanding some pretty severe "torture testing".

To me it already feels like a more robust release than Sonar 5 PE which I own and love.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: snicholshms

Date:4/12/2006 11:07:44 PM

I bought Sonar SE a few years ago just because ACID didn't have what it has now! Now it's so convenient to work with one common interface with several tools..Vegas, DVDA, Sound Forge, ACID, CD Architect..Looks like SONY is getting this tool set right!

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: Djipy

Date:4/17/2006 9:13:51 AM

I haven't changed my mind : in my opinion, Acid Pro 6 has too many bugs so far. Beta testing has been botched up, I guess.
Imagine a big problem during a recording session with customers : recording lost, time lost, ideas gone, customers angry... It should NEVER happen !
Every user can expect to meet other bugs at any time. It's frightening !
According to me, Acid 6 does not deserve its "pro" label. Or in a couple of updates, maybe...
Sony should pay attention to do more quality controls before releasing a software. Users ARE NOT beta testers, they have better things to do...

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: thenoizzbox

Date:4/17/2006 9:57:07 AM

Well, while Acid Pro 6 is certainly not bug free, it's working extremely well for me so far. It installed without a hitch, found all my VST synths and effects and never crashed on startup (although it seems to do that for several people). I can use more tracks and synths in a project than I could with Sonar or Acid Pro 4.

All in all, IMO it not only deserves its Pro label it's one of the best software upgrade I have seen in a very long time.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: Davetheonemendez

Date:4/17/2006 10:26:11 AM

Feels more like acid pro 5.1, which I still like very much.

I really want to see a vertical mix window; until then it just doesn't feel like a DAW.

I'd like to see full rex file support like Digidesign did with Pro Tools. You can import the rex file loop in it's entirety and use it as is or you can seperate the attack points and re-quantize, regroup, re-order slices if necessary.

I have some serious bug issues opening my old Acid pro projects and also have problems with my vst fx. They crash in Acid Pro 6.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:4/17/2006 11:57:53 AM

Ain't no way, no how you're going to make software work 110% for every system imaginable. It's just not possible. That being said, you can make software stable and workable for most systems.

If I remember correctly, the then-Sonic Foundry did do a public beta for one of the versions of ACID Pro (ACID Pro 3, I believe). It didn't turn out so well. I believe there was more confusion than anything.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: Davetheonemendez

Date:4/17/2006 12:02:22 PM

This is true. I think people get upset when they upgrade and then experience problems they didn't have in the prior versions of the software.

At the very least; all version upgrades should be able to open project files made with the older versions.

I'm confident sony will fix these issues rapidly.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: SHTUNOT

Date:4/17/2006 12:41:12 PM

"Imagine a big problem during a recording session with customers : recording lost, time lost, ideas gone, customers angry... It should NEVER happen !"---

I agree with you...to a point. Why would anyone use a "initial release" for clients paying a hourly rate? No one...Not even protools users do this. And how much do you have to shell out for a PT system again????

Noone put a gun to anyones head and said "buy the product now without testing it first".

Can we all agree on this..."Play" with the initial release and "work" with the updated versions?

Untill globally every audio app user holds off on their purchase till the demo runs "rock solid" on their systems would we see any change in this behavior. One or two just doesn't cut it. Sorry but true.

Ed.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: billybk

Date:4/17/2006 3:10:04 PM

Imagine a big problem during a recording session with customers : recording lost, time lost, ideas gone, customers angry... It should NEVER happen !


Who in their right mind would use the first point version, of a major new release, in front, of clients, without throughly tested it out, or at the very least, waiting until the first inevitable, bug fix release anyway.
THAT, is not very professional or smart. No one, does that, for paying clients, with any software (Pro Tools, Nuendo, SONAR, Logic, LIve, whatever), and still stay in business! They ALL have issues and bugs (I am not naming names, but some initial bugs lists, for the aforementioned PRO apps are many pages long) that need to addressed, after a major new release. What makes ACID Pro 6 any different? FWIW, I do feel that this intitial release, is more stable and less bug ridden than recent prior ACID releases (ACID 4 & 5).

Oh BTW Djipy,
If you did not pay the full $199 upgrade price, consider the $71 you saved, part of being on the bleeding edge. You could have spent the additional $71 bucks, waited another 30-60 days, for the first 6.0a update and probably had less problems. Which is what some users do. With the $129 bucks early upgrade fee and the free Kompact ($200 value), Sony is practically giving it away, as it is. I think you get a free "ProZone" 12 month subscription($49 value), as well, if you upgrade early. So yes, you are helping beta test the software (like every other software company does, when a new app, is first released), and getting a lot of freebies and price breaks, for your trouble.

In the end, it is going to be us, the dedicated users, through feedback to tech support & this forum that is going to make ACID Pro 6 a better and more solid program, for all. It really was not until the 5b (the second update), that I really felt, ACID Pro 5 had been thoroughly tested out. ACID Pro 4, it was more like e or f. I feel ACID Pro 6 will be in pretty good shape after the first official update has been released.

Cheers,

Billy Buck

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: West Wing Audio

Date:4/17/2006 6:34:06 PM

"Imagine a big problem during a recording session with customers : recording lost, time lost, ideas gone, customers angry... It should NEVER happen ! "

I can and did happen even in the days when analog tape machines were the primary recording/mixing medium. Even in big league studios. With big league artists. It still happens today in pro studios all over the planet - especially with those "big league" DAW apps with the word 'Pro' in their name. And those apps cost far more than the entirely reasonable cost of the AP6 upgrade. That's life in the technology age.

Obviously, one should do one's utmost to ensure that such incidents are the exception rather than the rule, but I seriously doubt you'll ever arrive at a situation where these things NEVER happen. That just ain't the universe we live in. I've been running Acid since version 3 and I've been generally satisfied with its performance. I've used it on local film and stage projects up through version 5 and it's never once let me down due to a 'bug' (crashed it a couple of times due to pilot error, my fault).

If you want the ultimate in recording/mixing stability, buy a Radar. Had mine up and running in 20 minutes and it's never crashed once. Many, many projects (and three years) later, it's still rock solid. I'm looking forward to using AP6 with the Radar rig. Kinda the best of both worlds in a way - killer A/D conversion and use with a nice analog console for clients who want that; or flying tracks out of the Radar into Acid for clients who want/need DAW-like editing at a very affordable price. I've already done some of that in AP5 and it's worked quite well.

As with all things recording and audio, YMMV of course. IMO, this version will integrate nicely into my studio and give the business and my clients more flexibility.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: Weevil

Date:4/18/2006 3:14:38 AM

I think the basis of this thread is pretty misguided. But I do think it points out some of the real benefits of a public beta.

They may not have a great signal to noise ratio, but what they lose in depth they gain in width.

They also help build the perception that the company cares about their users. And they stop threads like these before they can even begin.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: kbruff

Date:4/18/2006 8:59:38 AM

I upgradeed -- just because I want to have an updated Sony family.
I have not yet considered -- ACID to my be my DAW, it just another development tool -- hopefully it will be.

I work with FLSTUDIO + ACID and ProTools, my goal is to have

ACID+FLSTUDI+VEGAS as my DAW system...

I dont care about bugs and stuff because I have set up my daw such that I can work entirely in one app and still complete my work, it is sometimes more painful - but it can be done.

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 6 bugs : could it be avoided ?

Reply by: alltheseworlds

Date:4/18/2006 9:12:44 AM

While I've been busily trying to finish a very complex soundtrack using AP6, I've neglected Sonar. And maybe just as well, since it seems like the 5.2 update is causing lots of angst.

Using AP6 just reminds me how much I like simple apps.