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Subject:Acid Pro 8 as a Plug-in
Posted by: Frank Paul Jones
Date:10/19/2013 12:32:47 AM

Acid Pro 8 as a Plug-in

Many people think that Acid is behind the other DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) out there, like Pro Tools, Reason, Logic, Live and Cubase. They say a lot of the features in even Acid Pro 7, which is the latest release in the Acid Pro line of products, are still somewhere in late 1990's or early 2000. In other words Acid Pro 7 is not much different than Acid Pro 5 as far as technological advancements. Yes it is a simple program and is simple to use. That is called user friendly and that is Sony Acid's trademark

For the last couple of years my DAW of choice was Reason, but now I am getting into Cubase 7, who is probably ahead of the game in DAW technology. They say even Pro Tools 11 could learn something for Cubase 7, with it new mixing console and a whole line of new features. While Pro Tools cost $200 more than Cubase 7 at $699, while Cubase cost $499, it seems like Cubase 7 is ahead of the game, though Pro Tools seems to be more popular within the Hip Hop Community.

I do not know what Sony plans on doing as far as the release of Acid Pro 8. Most people expect another release with minor changes, plus a 64 bit platform to allow ReWire with other DAW studios. So we can rest assured that if Sony releases an Acid Pro 8 DAW, it will be 64 bits, whereby Acid pro 7 is still 32 bits. But it would seem that if Sony did a total overhaul on Acid with Acid Pro 8, it wouldn't really be Acid, because simplicity has been a trademark for Sony's Acid Pro line of products.

What sets Acid apart from all DAW studios is its ability to Acidized Wav files seamlessly. Nobody to include Cubase 7 offers as easy an application for making loop based musical compositions as Acid Pro 7. With Acid Pro 7 and the right wav files and/or construction kits, with Acid user friendly applications, anyone with an imagination or the right taste for music can produce music that can be a hit. Acid is that easy to use!

For this reason though Acid isn't the best of DAW technology, it is the best loop based composition creator. And therefore Acid's trademark which is Acidized files has a place on all DAW platforms, to include Reason 7, who now has Expansion Racks, which is their version of VST. I think though Acid Pro 8 would be ReWire able, which means you can use it with other programs, I think it would be more marketable as a Plug-in. Sort of like the Halion player or Sample Tank of sorts.

As a VST it would require less power than a ReWire application I assume, but like Sample Tank or Halion Player you could run a bunch of tracks in our project but as loop based composition wav files in Acid Pro 8. By doing this Sony's trademark looping abilities could be used universally in the DAW of your choice. But it would be cheaper to buy than as a separate DAW, being it be marketed as a Plug-in, it wouldn't require a total overhaul and can remain simple to use or user friendly as an addition to you DAW of choice. Acid Pro 8 as a Plug-in would be a wonderful addition to DAW technology.

Frank Paul Jones

Subject:RE: Acid Pro 8 as a Plug-in
Reply by: Vocalpoint
Date:10/19/2013 11:49:12 AM

I do not know what Sony plans on doing as far as the release of Acid Pro 8. Most people expect another release with minor changes, plus a 64 bit platform to allow ReWire with other DAW studios.

Actually "most" expect that Acid Pro is now dead. There has been no movement, hints or anything whatsoever over 3 long years to suggest there will ever be a new release.

My take: Acid is done - unless Studio is your thing...

VP




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