Sequoia Version 7.0 vers Pro Tools

[Styxx]

Simply put, what I had learned in one month on Pro Tools 6.1 002 Le, I mastered in one hour on Sequoia last night. I was really blown away how user friendly and logically laid out Sequoia is and the sound is awesome! Of course, my experience was in a full-blown studio that has been using Sequoia for years. I couldn't believe how easy it was to edit, master, and burn to CD just for starters all from one package. Anyone else have experience(s) with this Digital Audio Software?

[Joseph Burrell]

It's nice but good lord is it expensive. I was going to sell plasma for a copy, but I'm anemic. :p

[deadbeat]

Never heard of it. What is it? When you say it sounds good do you mean the plugins? All sequencers sound the same dry don't they?

[Styxx]

You can download a free trial of Sequoia Pro 7.0
www.atlasproaudio.com

[Jerry W.]

You can download a free trial of Sequoia Pro 7.1
www.atlasproaudio.com

Hey Styxx,
I can't seem to find the place on the above link where we can download the free trial.
The story of my life: I knew I put that midi cable here SOMEWHERE!......

Jerry. :)

[Styxx]

Sorry, should have been more clear. Click on the above link, and there you will see a batch of products in blue lettering. Click on "Samplitude Sennheiser Soundelux Speck" scroll down a bit and you should be there. Sequoia 7.0 Free trial for PC.
It worked for me and the down load so far is the same I experienced in the studio Tuesday evening. Its mostly audio bases but they have upgraded their midi as well to handle VST and more. Check out the specs for Auto latency and the audio engine is superb.
Good luck.

[Styxx]

What a joy. :)

[Shazbot]

Oh my, I wouldn't even dare try a demo for something that costs $2,500. It could be like test driving a brand new Corvette and then getting back into my beat-up old Buick. No thanks. I'm quite happy with finally getting Sonar 3! :p

[Styxx]

Oh my, I wouldn't even dare try a demo for something that costs $2,500. It could be like test driving a brand new Corvette and then getting back into my beat-up old Buick. No thanks. I'm quite happy with finally getting Sonar 3! :p
Yeah, we'll discuss this over a brew tonight later. See ya then after 8pm.

[Styxx]

Standby for an update on the download site. I am told this link has a corrupted file and if you try to download you will only receive 3 megs of 17.2. I will post the link if given permission by samplitude.
Actually, what it is is Samplitude not Sequoia. Sequoia designated as the Pro studio version. Hard to believe with the two being so similar.

[Styxx]

Here is the correct link if anyone is interested.

http://www.synthax.com/Samplitude72Demo.exe

[deadbeat]

But protools is an absolute dog for midi. What I want to know is, does sequoia beat Cubase, or for that matter Logic or Sonar? They all beat protools hands down for midi work, no? Cubase certainly does. So does Tracktion for fifty quid now you mention it.

[Styxx]

But protools is an absolute dog for midi. What I want to know is, does sequoia beat Cubase, or for that matter Logic or Sonar? They all beat protools hands down for midi work, no? Cubase certainly does. So does Tracktion for fifty quid now you mention it.

So far I've had no midi issues with Samplitude demo version. There is a "Freeze" function that from what I can surmise so far stabilizes your midi tracks so they never falter in time. I have to study this closer. I can tell you with Pro Tools Le if you want GPO in a midi track you have to route it to an auxiliary track and route it somewhere else and...I gave up on it. Samplitude set up 99 midi tracks for me. Next, I want to know just how many GPO instruments I can have. The features are enormous! You just have to download it yourself and make up your mind. The trial version has no time limit but the only downfall is your only allowed 1 minute of record time. However, I have imported wave files of some of my work and it played and saved the whole file.

[deadbeat]

So far I've had no midi issues with Samplitude demo version. There is a "Freeze" function that from what I can surmise so far stabilizes your midi tracks so they never falter in time. I have to study this closer. I can tell you with Pro Tools Le if you want GPO in a midi track you have to route it to an auxiliary track and route it somewhere else and...I gave up on it. Samplitude set up 99 midi tracks for me. Next, I want to know just how many GPO instruments I can have. The features are enormous! You just have to download it yourself and make up your mind. The trial version has no time limit but the only downfall is your only allowed 1 minute of record time. However, I have imported wave files of some of my work and it played and saved the whole file.
The Freeze function in most sequencers just creates an 'undo-able' audio part so you can save processor power and ram. Unlimited midi tracks is standard. The number of GPOs you can load will be determined by your CPU speed and RAM?
I'm sorry if I'm being thick. Anyway, you've intrigued me enough to download the demo. I'll have a play.

[Styxx]

The Freeze function in most sequencers just creates an 'undo-able' audio part so you can save processor power and ram. Unlimited midi tracks is standard. The number of GPOs you can load will be determined by your CPU speed and RAM?
I'm sorry if I'm being thick. Anyway, you've intrigued me enough to download the demo. I'll have a play.

Explanation sent by Tom Sawyer of Synthax on Samplitude Freeze function:
http://www.samplitude.com/de/v7_feat17.htm

[deadbeat]

Same as Cubase, Tracktion etc then.

[Styxx]

Same as Cubase, Tracktion etc then.
Did you try the demo?
I thought you said Freeze was Undoable in the those sequencers once in audio form? In Samplitude you can undo. Unless I am reading it wrong. Anyway, Samplitude 6.0 is going for around $89.00 with upgrades at nominal pricing. I may go this route if it is the way to go. First, I will talk to Tom at Synthax.

[Joseph Burrell]

Styxx old buddy, I played with the Samplitude 7.2 demo last night and I have to say that it is an amazing program. However, I was completely and utterly lost. You can understand this thing? What, do you have a degree in astrophysics? Whew, I could hardly get it to make midi objects, I was completely fabergasted. I was looking at the Samplitude 6 deal though. It is the same price as Cubase SE without the limitations. I'm thinking I might as well go for it and if I like the program then I can upgrade to 7.2 or 8 for almost nothing.

[deadbeat]

Yeah, what I said.

Freeze is Undo-able.That's the point. Not Un-undo-able. :D If it wasn't undo-able it would just be normal bouncing.

I haven't had a good look yet. It looks complicated but good....

[Styxx]

Guys don't do "6" it is not XP compatible! A friend of mine bought it off ebay and called me late tonight screaming. I told him 'I told you so but you had to do it anyway.'
Joseph. Midi is actually easier than you think. If I had the know it all on how to do screen shots I would post them for you. There are a few things you have to do before setting up midi tracks. I will run through it myself again and write everything down. Bare with me this will be the first time I've attempted anything like this.
Please Standby....

[Styxx]

OK, here it is. It works great for me so it has to for you.
Open Samplitude demo.
Go to File and Select "New Virtual Project". A window should pop up "Setup for New Virtual Project (VIP) set sample rate to your sound card. For example mine is set at 48hz. Click OK. Tracks 1-4 should apear. Now go to Midi in the tool bar and select from the dropdown menu "midi options" Midi Options Window appears. In the window on the left you will see icons for "Playback Devices", "Record Devices", Midi and more. On the right look for "Driver System" select "ASIO". Next in "ASIO SETUP" - Make sure your soundcard shows in the ASIO "Device" pane and set the Clock Source to "Internal" use the dropdown arrow.
Next in the left menu go to "Record Devices" "Monitor Settings" monitor mode and select "Software FX Monitoring" in the dropdown. Click OK.
Next, Midi (piano icon) on the left menu. Check to see that your soundcard is in "Global Play Device" (audio) and "Global Record Device" (Midi Port). Click OK.
Next go to first track and click in the window where you see S:1 and left click. The Track Info - Mixer Track 1 Window appears. Look for "Midi Record Dev. Playback Dev and with the drop down arrow look for GPO and select it. You should get a pop up "The VST instrument has more than 1 stereo output..." just click "NO" Kontakt player should appear. Set up kontakt as usual and GPO should be in the tracks.

I wish I could do snap shots of the proceedures for you but alast I am an infant still. Let me know how you've made out. Remember, with this demo you only have 1 minute of record time. Oh, and by the way, you can use FX such as reverb while playing the dry samples of GPO.
Geezzz! I hope I didn't confuse you. Let me know ASAP and I will give you the man himself that can set it right for you.

[Styxx]

We are finding out that this is a demo. Thus, everything we expect is not going to be there. Now, I understand version 8 will be addressing midi in full and promises to cover every aspect and detail of midi for us users. Version 6 can be freely updated for computability with Windows XP. ;)

[Styxx]

I was informed there will be a demo of Samplitude Version 8 coming out soon. How soon was not clear but I am told you will be able to control midi fully and more so in so much as in the same manner as audio.
Am I making sense to you? What word didn't I understand? :)

[Styxx]

Yes, you can edit modulation in Samplitude but it is done numerically for now until version 8 is released in September. I will post how it is done as soon as I finish editing this scribbly mess I made. :D

[kbaccki]

Yes, you can edit modulation in Samplitude but it is done numerically for now until version 8 is released in September. I will post how it is done as soon as I finish editing this scribbly mess I made. :D

Actually,this isn't true. It turns out that you can create arbitrary envelope curves on the MIDI track itself that map to MIDI controllers in sam v7. Imagine the look of a volume or pan envelope on an audio track, except this is a mod envelope on a MIDI track -- no need for a seperate frame within a separate piano roll view -- much nicer way to work, IMO. Problem is: it's not immediately obvious that you can do that, because the v7 MIDI implementation is, shall we say, "messy". v8 looks like it has a totally overhauled MIDI implementation, with up to 4 controller panes embedded in the piano roll, etc.... You know, I'd rather draw the mod envelope right in the main track view like I'm doing in v7. ;)

There are a lot of things that are not immediately obvious in v7. FX inserts are extremely confusing at first because internal FX, DX, and VST are not treated consistently from a UI perspective. It's hard to get the big picture of FX routings. That's my biggest beef, really.

All in all, Sam v7 is a very powerful piece of software, and v8 loooks like a big leap forward. Can't wait for the international upgrades to start shipping... I got a decent price on v7 (Pro) through a crossgrade offer from SONAR. If that's not available anymore, then I'm sure they'll have an offer for v8 as well. I don't know where you guys are seeing cheap upgrade prices -- Sam v7 was ~$1000 new, the crossgrade was ~$450 for me, and the v8 upgrade's gonna cost me another $250. $700 is still a great price when I compare to, e.g., SX. Any cheap prices that you guys see must be for the non-Pro editions -- those do have limitations, so make sure you know what you're looking at when you're looking into pricing.

- Keith

[Styxx]

The version I am experimenting with is 7.2 demo. You seem very practiced on this software. It would be a pleasure if you can explain more on this subject for those of us who are considering the purchase of Samplitude v7.

[Joseph Burrell]

Kieth, Audiomidi.com has version 6 Studio for 99 dollars. From there you can upgrade to version 7 Studio for 200 dollars or version 7 Pro for 400 dollars. I thought this was an outstanding deal, so I went for it. Even if I never go to version 7 I get an outstanding deal on an excellent audio program.

[kbaccki]

The version I am experimenting with is 7.2 demo. You seem very practiced on this software. It would be a pleasure if you can explain more on this subject for those of us who are considering the purchase of Samplitude v7.

I'm by no means an expert user, and I haven't been able to spend nearly as much time as I'd like recording with samplitude since I got it a few months ago -- busy summer. I'd be glad to post the steps to get a mod envelope on a MIDI track, just didn't have time to last night. I'll do it tonight when I get home and I can step through it again...

- Keith

[kbaccki]

Kieth, Audiomidi.com has version 6 Studio for 99 dollars. From there you can upgrade to version 7 Studio for 200 dollars or version 7 Pro for 400 dollars. I thought this was an outstanding deal, so I went for it. Even if I never go to version 7 I get an outstanding deal on an excellent audio program.

Yes, the $99 is a good price for what you're getting, especially if you're considering the upgrade at those prices. I don't own v6, but from what I hear if you want to do anything with MIDI you need to go with v7. I was just trying to point out that there are differences between the Studio and Pro editions: http://www.samplitude.com/de/versions7.htm
so just be aware of what you're buying. Sounds like you're already aware of all that... $500 to get to v7 Pro is a good value compared to what you can get from Steinberg or Cakewalk for a similar price. In my humble opinion, of course. And v8 looks like a real killer.

EDIT: that's right... it's not "Studio" anymore, it's "Classic"; I think they used to have a "Studio" product.

- Keith

[Styxx]

Here is what was sent to me from synthax:
Upgrade Pricing**

Products

MAP

SAMP. 6 Master up to 7 Classic

$199.00

SAMP. 6 Master up to 7 Pro

$599.00

SAMP. 6 Studio up to 7 Classic

$199.00


SAMP. 6 Studio up to 7 Pro

$399.00


SAMP. 6 Prod. up to 7 Classic

$199.00

SAMP. 6 Prod. up to 7 Pro

$249.00

And for V8 it will be as follows.

Upgrade prices for: Master Classic Pro

- Red Roaster owners,
- Samplitude owners up to & incl. ver. 6.0 (except Samplitude Producer 6.0)

- platform-independent crossgrades of comparable audio and sequencer
programs **

199,- USD

299,- USD

599,- USD

Upgrade price for owners of
Samplitude Producer version 6.0

149,- USD

249,- USD

399,- USD

[kbaccki]

Styxx/all, here's a quick how-to on adding a modulation curve to a MIDI track. First, note that there three ways to add, e.g., mod wheel data to a MIDI track in Sam 7:

=> arm the track for record, and just record the mod wheel -- you can do this while playing, or after the fact, and the data will be merged; this is a little silly because the data shows up as little dots on the MIDI track, and the only way to edit the data is...

=> ...in the piano roll you can edit mod wheel data numerically, as mentioned previously by styxx; I haven't done that sort of thing since playing with a tracker program on my Amiga 500 in 1985. No thanks.

=> Do this:

1.) arm a track for MIDI record, record some MIDI; this will add a MIDI "object" to the track; if you're outputting to a VSTi then you're going to need to be set up for "Software Monitoring" to hear wht you're playing (this is important later)

2.) make sure you're in "Object and Curve Mode" -- a mode button on the right side of the top toolbar (mouse over to see the titles)

3.) In the track properties section of the MIDI track (the part on the left with the volume and pan sliders), right-click and select "MIDI Controllers/VST Automation"

4.) In "Automation/Controller" tab:

a.) "VST Plugin" dropdown should be "None" (if you select a VST you'll be configuring VST automation)

b.) select "General MIDI Names"

c.) select a controller, select a color if you want

5.) When you hit OK the controller dialog will go away and you'll see a horizontal line across the MIDI track; the line will be the same color as was specified in the controller dialog; that line is your "curve"

6.) as long as you're in "Object and Curve Mode" a little hand and crosshair will allow you to create and move curve nodes; mousing over a curve node will give you info on that node; you can also "draw" a series of nodes by dragging

7.) BEFORE YOU TRY TO PLAYBACK YOU NEED TO DISABLE MONITORING ON THE TRACK -- in the track properties you should see what looks like a little speaker icon; if it's blue click it to turn it off; for some reason the controller data isn't sent when the track is being monitored (at least my experience with VSTi).

It's not great, but it's better than typing in numbers. Enjoy.

- Keith

[Styxx]

Thanks Keith.
I have stumbled upon and experience most of what you describe here save for a few steps that make it clearer as to why it wasn't working. By the way, that colored band as you say is now the mod curve. When I encountered it the whole band moved up and down. I must be missing something here or it may have been a step you described that I missed. Anyway, I shall definitely try it tonight.

Thanks again.

[kbaccki]

Thanks Keith.
I have stumbled upon and experience most of what you describe here save for a few steps that make it clearer as to why it wasn't working. By the way, that colored band as you say is now the mod curve. When I encountered it the whole band moved up and down. I must be missing something here or it may have been a step you described that I missed. Anyway, I shall definitely try it tonight.

Thanks again.

Are you talking about moving the whole line up and down? Yes, it does that if you click-drag the very first node that you create on the line (I think). Subsequent clicks will create new nodes, and subsequent drags on nodes will only change that node.

- Keith

[Styxx]

Ha! What do you mean "node"? I assume a node is those squares on the lines at different pionts? I'm soooo confuuuuusseed! :confused:

[kbaccki]

Ha! What do you mean "node"? I assume a node is those squares on the lines at different pionts? I'm soooo confuuuuusseed! :confused:

Yes, the "node" is the little square attached to the line. Click on the line and you get a new node, click on a node and you can drag it around. I don't remember, but I think you can right-click a node and delete it. The height of the node relative to the bottom of the MIDI track defines the controller's value at the point on the curve. The controller value ramps accordingly up and down between nodes, but you can also have "on-or-off" curves that look like this just by lining up the nodes appropriately:


o---o
| | o-o
| | | |
o---o o--o o----


Etc.

- Keith

[Styxx]

Yes Yes I remember and really didn't know what to do with them. Thanks for the up and up!

[Styxx]

Keith,
I noticed there is Batch Conversion in Sam 7.2 demo. Have any experience with it? I wonder if it works somewhat like full kontakt batch conversion?

[Joseph Burrell]

My version 6 arrived at my work today!!! I'm almost ready to drive there to get it, but I just got home from a 6 hour drive from Richmond VA, and I don't think I want to hit the road any more today. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow to check out this program. I can't wait to play!

[Styxx]

Joseph,
I was converting waves yesterday (like the one I sent you last night) quite easy with Sam 7. PM me.

[kbaccki]

Keith,
I noticed there is Batch Conversion in Sam 7.2 demo. Have any experience with it? I wonder if it works somewhat like full kontakt batch conversion?

Haven't done any destructive wave editing, format conversions, etc., but it sounds like you're off to the races. Tip: you're given the option of recording waves in variety of formats -- 16-bit, 24-bit int, 32 bit float etc. It's under the Playback/Record => Record Options and is sticky across projects.

- Keith

[Styxx]

Cool. I am ordering Sam 7 pro soon. Next step will me v8. Had the privilege to work with Sequoia at the studio last evening and was astounded with the ease of editing. Of course, the engineer was doing most of the work but is a darn good teacher. This is turning out better than I thought.
I did get a chance to work with some wave files last night. This is and interesting tip, Thanks.
(The demo is getting old fast.)

[Styxx]

Version 8 can be ordered now. Good that I waited. :)

[Joseph Burrell]

Hey buddy, have they given upgrade pricing yet? I'm just curious.

[Styxx]

I believe so but you can get a hold of Tom Sailor. Have you checked the Synthax forum yet? There's talk about Sam 8 and Sequoia 8. Jim at Loft Studio has Sequoia 8 upgrade installed already and he says he can't wait to show me the midi editing. I will see him for a session tomorrow night. He wants me to bring a midi file of something I've worked on using GPO only. This should prove very interesting. He's seems quite excited. Now, I can't wait for tomorrow night.
Keep you posted as to what we discover! :cool:
Jim at Loft Studio has Sequoia 8 upgrade installed already Nope! Not true. Sadly mistaken. I thought he said he was beta testing but he clarified. He is on the list for V8 not that he has it.
Sorry, meant to clearify this a while ago but never got around to it.