Tracktion 2 / EZDrummer / VSTi's / MIDI

Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:25 pm

I haven't posted in a while, but I finally got a studio built.. I must say I'm proud of myself.. it's small but it's just for me Very Happy

anyways, I'm running Tracktion 2, and a Mackie Onyx Satellite. It's firewire based, nice warm preamps.. two XLR phantom powered XLRs, but no MIDI.

I'm trying to get some Virtual Instruments (paticular example EZDrummer) to work.. but I have no other audio source besides my Onyx Satellite... So since EZdrummer isn't showing up in my list of filters (vst plugins) i'm assuming it's because I have no MIDI inputs perhaps?

If this is the case is there a sort of software emulated MIDI device I can use? I'm just doing manual entry for no.. i have no midi keyboard or the likes..

or perhaps i should use my tax refund to get sonar 6/7? Very Happy

thanks in advance!
john

Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:16 pm

EZdrummer is not a VST plugin but a VST instrument.
You will not find it where you are looking. Read up on VST Instruments in your help file as i dont know how SONAR works.

When you figure it out you add a MIDI-track. Route the track to output to EZdrummer and add some midi to the track.
You can drag from EZdrummer to the MIDI-track.

Good luck.

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:42 am

Actually, Tracktion treats VSTs and VSTis in exactly the same way. If EZdrummer doesn't show in the 'new filters' list it means its not installed properly: check the plugins tab of the settings page and make sure Tracktion is looking in the right directory. You can add further plug-in directories if needed. Don't forget to re-scan.

The MIDI input thing is a red herring: Tracktion is quite capable of using VST instruments with no MIDI devices attached, so long as you are happy to draw in notes manually in the piano roll rather than play them in from a keyboard.

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:19 am

I don't have alot of input for you, I'm sorry, but I just recently picked up an Onyx 400F, which is very similar to your Satellite. (Same pre-amps at least) I tried out the Tracktion software for about five minutes and couldn't get into the layout. I find it to be a bit like Fruityloops in how it takes over the screen like a video game or something. I am interested to see what you're able to do with MIDI on it, though.

As far as software goes, and I'm not trying to deter you from using Tracktion but have you ever worked with any other music production software. I'm currently using Nuendo 3, just cause I got a great deal on it, but I find it to be similar enough in its basic design to Cakewalk/Sonar, ProTools, etc. I felt like Tracktion departed from that basic design approach, which is why I'm asking. Advice I've gotten on software says, "It doesn't matter so much which one you use, but pick one and learn it well." So, my question is, do you want Tracktion to be that program?

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:15 am

Tracktion is more than capable of doing what you want.

Quote:

I tried out the Tracktion software for about five minutes

That says it all: give it a bit longer before you dismiss it!

I grew up with Cubase (actually earned my living from it for over 3 years) but now use Tracktion exclusively... it has many advantages over the traditional sequencers, and lacks only a few things like midi score editing (which would be hard to fit into the Tracktion in-line paradigm).

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