Which Version of Samplitude do you use and why?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:52 am

I just downloaded the DEMO version of Samplitude 8 and was very impressed. My question is which version should I be looking at? I want to use if for remote recording (max 8 tracks) and mastering. Can it be used on two machines? My laptop for remotes and my desktop for mastering? Thanks for any and all advice

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 10:03 am

8 channels mean you need the Classic version I believe. The difference in the Pro version is stated clearly on the comparison sheet on the home page, but I guess that for many users it will not be quite worth the added money.

You should be able to use version 8 on any amount of computers, but only one at a time. The license in stored on a dongle which has to be connected.

Im currently on the 7.23 Classic version myself, awaiting delivery of 8 Pro. Promised to mid march. I´m on the SAM for rent scheme which works quite OK for me. I do not own the program, but as I rent it three years for half price the retail price in Sweden and also get updates on the way, it makes a lot of sense.

Gunnar.

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 2:33 pm

Tom, wash your mouth out, you are dumping Wavelab for Samplitude? Wink

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:00 pm

It is WASHED.

But I still need Samplitude for some of things we do like remote recording and some of the mastering we are doing with stems. One thing Wavelab cannot do is do only part of song with automation of the effects which Samplitude can do. It seems like a win win situation for us. Use Wavelab as our primary mastering software and Samplitude for other uses. I am NOT giving up on Wavelab and will continue to use it everyday.

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:06 pm

Phew, I was beginning to think I would be the only remaining WL user on this forum.

Better end there, before the topic police book me. Twisted Evil

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 5:00 pm

7.23a on the main system, 6.05 on the remote systems....

Here's why:

1. I'm just not motivated enough to shell out more money for features I may not ever use (VSTi enhancements, etc) of not motivated to invest in Sequioa yet. (translation: cheap-ass)

2. I am very familiar with both systems, and they work flawlessly for what I need them for. Object oriented mixing does what I need for automations, on the few times I actually NEED automation.

3. I (and more importantly, the clients) are extremely happy with the results I get now.

4. Bought and paid for already (ties to #1)

5. Sorry to sound snobbish, but when the majority of 'upgrades,' 'enhancements,' and so on seem to be geared to people relying on synths, MIDI, various flavor of the month plug ins, etc, I become very leery...

And by the way, I am happily and eternally wavelab free...

Very Happy

with things the way they are...

Confused

as to why everything has to change in ways not necessarily for the better

Evil or Very Mad

as to why the business seems to attempt to reinvent the wheel every few years, instead of taking the one they already invented and making it perfectly round.

Hey...you asked.

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 5:18 pm

I use Samplitude Pro 7.23. The 8.1 update just arrived and I haven't installed it yet. The main avdvantage for me with the Pro version is the realtime roomsim (IR reverb), and now the elastic audio feature in the new 8.1 version. Otherwise I suppose I could be using the less expensive Classic version, since I never need more than the number of tracks, plugin inserts, submixes or AUX busses you get in Classic.

I'm also looking forward to a few things in the new Analog Suite (which only comes in Pro and Sequoia versions) like the Transient designer, but I haven't had a chance to play with it yet.

I still use Wavelab too (the older 4.0), mainly for the whole-file analysis routine for showing average RMS, flagging clip points, etc. For some reason, the Samplitude developers never got around to adding whole-file analysis features, so I still need Wavelab... if only for that one thing.

Mike Barrs

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:53 am

Classic isn't massively crippled, but just enough to be anoying when trying to do pro work... The audio engine is the same for all of them, though. Similar thing between Samplitude Pro and Sequoia... There aren't a huge number of differences (although that is changing), but the differences really warrant the difference in price.

If you like doing your mastering in Wavelab, than do it... You may or may not use Samp as well (if you need DDP, you'd need Sequoia anyways).

If you need any tips, Tom, feel free to drop me a note.

--Ben

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 2:44 pm

Use Wavelab as our primary mastering software and Samplitude for other uses. I am NOT giving up on Wavelab and will continue to use it everyday.

That my change once you get deep into the program and see/hear what it does. (I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin'...... Wink

As for reasons for upgrading; MAGIX - like all the other developers - has to be responsive to all of their end-users requests and demands for new or missing features. In addition, there's always a new process or advancement in the workflow that needs to be implemented.

MAGIX has actually been fairly slow with upgrades (witness the nearly 10 month delay between the promised and actual delivery date of Samp/Seq. 8.0 in the English version. Hardly banging it out at a dizzying pace, IMO, so I'm not feeling all that pressured to keep up. Version 7 was a good one, and V8 seems to be the next logical step until they do a full redesign or something. (which I would NOT look forward to, anyway...)

This particular upgrade is a good one, with a lot of features that regular users have been asking for. The addition of Elastic audio, AM modeling, room sims and DVD-A mastering is a big step forward as well. There are lots of MIDI users that will still be very unhappy with Samplitude/Sequoia, but in many other respects, the program is well on its way to being a world class contender, if it isn't already.

The addition and updates of the rooms sims is alone worth the time & $$ to upgrade, IMHO. They are nothing short of astounding compared to the older stuff, and the cost of the upgrade will save you a bundle on third-party Roomsims and reverbs. You probably wont need them once you hear what you get in Samp/Seq.

IMHO of course.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:22 pm

I ordered Samplitude Pro 8.0 today and it should be here tomorrow from the national distributor who is here in Ohio. I can't wait to get into it. Will keep you advised.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE SUGGESTIONS AND HELP! THIS IS A GREAT FORUM.

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 9:22 am

Samplitude arrived on Friday and I am going to install it this morning. I just upgraded my computer to a P4 3 gHz processor, an Intel motherboard, 1 gig of memory, two twenty gig drives and 1 80 gig drive all Ultra 100. I can't wait to try it out.

More to come!

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 12:07 pm

Tom, by now you're probably up and running with it, but you may find a few hitches and glitches in a few places as you get it going on your own system.

Hopefully, it's working great right out of the box, but I found I had to tweak the system performance settings: buffer #s, and ram usage, esp if you're doing a lot of tracks. (Make SURE you test this out before doing live gigs; make sure it all works under fire before you get into a tight situation with no backup.) You probably know that already, but it's worth mentioning. Laughing

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:57 am

JoeH wrote:

Tom, by now you're probably up and running with it, but you may find a few hitches and glitches in a few places as you get it going on your own system.

Hopefully, it's working great right out of the box, but I found I had to tweak the system performance settings: buffer #s, and ram usage, esp if you're doing a lot of tracks. (Make SURE you test this out before doing live gigs; make sure it all works under fire before you get into a tight situation with no backup.) You probably know that already, but it's worth mentioning. :lol:

So far so good. I started reading the manual last night after installing and authorizing the program and the USB dongle which all went very smoothly. It is a very easy program to get into but there is a lot "under the hood" that will take some time feel comfortable with.

What tweaks did you have to do if you don't mind sharing them?

Thanks in advance and thanks for all the help and support from everyone.....

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:47 pm

I use Samplitude 7 Pro and I love it. It sounds better than many other daws, particularly when you have a lot of tracks running together. Performance can be a bit sluggish compared to Sonar, and the room simulator is wonderful, but it has lots of other interesting features.

You can get the same audio engine (I think!) in Magix Music Studio, which retails in the US for $79, but without the frills.
John

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 7:23 am

I got though most of the manual and it is very well written and very easy to follow.

I am having some problems with my computer. I am getting some noise bursts when I import from an external USB2 CD and I am getting some noise bursts when playing back. I checked and the USB and the Audio Card (RME) are both on the same IRQ in my new computer. I will have to do some experimenting and changing things around.

So far I love what Samplitude can do but I think Sequoia is somewhere in my future since the one thing that Sequoia offers is the editing panel and I think it would be extremely useful. The last really good editing panel that I owned was on Sound Designer II and I was very impressed with the SADiE edit window but I don't own a SADiE I just had it for a trial spin.

More to come....

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