If you like your software to use dozens of overlapping windows, Tracktion is not for you. It won't pretend to be a mixing desk or show you panels with pictures of screws that are accurately copied from a real piece of hardware. There is no Windows clutter, nor obscure menus full of commands that you'll never use. In short, Tracktion is a little bit different. It's a continuously evolving product with new features and updates regularly released. Most people who've used a sequencer before can get to grips with Tracktion in about 10 minutes, and once you've grasped a handful of basic concepts (which aren't exactly rocket-science), the learning curve practically disappears.
Tracktion is easy-to-use Mac- and PC-compatible music production software that contains everything most people will ever need for creating and mixing music. Its hallmark is a clean, single-screen interface and very simple operation - whether you're recording tracks, MIDI programming, or mixing down. It offers rock-solid operation and very low CPU usage with operating systems ranging from Mac OSX to Windows 2000 and XP. And it contains a whole host of professional features you can actually use.
Audio Playback and Recording featuresUnlike other recording and sequencing software, Tracktion imposes no limits on the number of tracks or effects utilized in your project. The host computer's available horsepower can only be stretched so far, but with Tracktion, you can extend your computer's playback and processing power indefinitely. Thanks to Tracktion's "Freeze Tracks" function, your Mac or PC can secretly render (Freeze) groups of audio tracks and effects, thereby freeing up those valuable processing resources for additional tracks or effects. But wait, there's more! Frozen tracks' edits and effects can be "thawed", tweaked and then re-frozen at any time.
Additionally, it gives you:
• No defined limits on sample rates -- any rate the hardware can handle is supported, and sample-rate conversion is done on the fly to enable playback of files at any sample rate on any hardware.
• All audio data is handled internally at 32-bit floating point precision.
• Support for DirectSound and ASIO audio devices on the PC and Core Audio devices on the Mac, including simultaneous multi-channel playback and recording.
• Support for playback latencies below 3ms (hardware and CPU permitting).
• Supports standard Windows and Mac MIDI input and output devices.
• WAV, AIFF and Ogg-Vorbis Audio file format support.
• Record from audio devices by simply pointing them at the track of your choice and hitting the record button.
• Punch-in recording and input-level-triggered recording, with optional 1 or 2-bar pre-count. MIDI recording also features looped recording, merging with existing clips, quantization and incoming channel selection.
• Full support for real-time monitoring of incoming live MIDI or audio data through plug-ins, soft-synths, samplers, etc.
• Full parameter automation for panning, levels, effects with live recording of parameter movements and direct editing of the automation curves.
Drag-and-Drop EditingTracktion's flexible architecture lets you explore complex permutations of digital audio clips, MIDI sequences and plug-in effects just by dragging-and-dropping them around the screen. More importantly, it allows you to assemble your ideas almost as quickly as you can dream them. That's the key - Tracktion will keep up with the fast pace of the creative process.
All the editing is done on one screen, avoiding dozens of floating windows and pop-up panels that other applications present but that really just get in your way.
Real-time EditingEditing controls on each clip allow the audio to be trimmed, slipped, and stretched (with or without pitch-shifting) in real-time, giving you full graphical feedback of all editing operations. Fades can be applied to the beginning or end of each clip simply by dragging the fade handles on the clip itself, or by manually entering fade type and duration. There are several fade shapes to choose from, and shortcuts for creating overlapped cross-fades between clips.
Plug-in Support (including VST & VSTi)
In addition to its impressive array of bundled proprietary plug-ins (which include reverb, EQ, delay, chorus, phaser, compressor, and pitch-shifter), Tracktion also supports VST plug-ins - the most widely used and readily available plug-in format on the planet. An overwhelming variety of VST plug-ins can be obtained in stores for hundreds of dollars, as well as online at the cost of a few mere mouse clicks and perhaps an email address. Search online for "free vst plug in" and be overwhelmed. Tracktion comes with some really cool ones from maxim digital audio (MDA).
Tracktion also supports VSTi software synths. Download some MIDI clips or record your own - "plug-in" to the virtual synth and enjoy. New virtual instruments are popping up everyday all over the web, and we've included a few of those to sample so you're ready to start composing immediately after installation.
Built-in Sampler
That's right. There's a powerful yet simple to use sampler waiting for you inside Tracktion. Just like any other filter or plug-in - simply drop it onto a track, select the clips you want to trigger, click & drag to map the sample to a key or range of keys, then let the butt-kickin' begin.
In addition to its impressive array of bundled proprietary plug-ins (which include reverb, EQ, delay, chorus, phaser, compressor, and pitch-shifter), Tracktion also supports VST plug-ins - the most widely used and readily available plug-in format on the planet. An overwhelming variety of VST plug-ins can be obtained in stores for hundreds of dollars, as well as online at the cost of a few mere mouse clicks and perhaps an email address. Search online for "free vst plug in" and be overwhelmed. Tracktion comes with some really cool ones from maxim digital audio (MDA).
Tracktion also supports VSTi software synths. Download some MIDI clips or record your own - "plug-in" to the virtual synth and enjoy. New virtual instruments are popping up everyday all over the web, and we've included a few of those to sample so you're ready to start composing immediately after installation.
Rack Filters With all of these plug-in options at your disposal, wouldn't it be great if you could organize your frequently used combinations into one simple recallable package? And wouldn't it be great if you weren't limited to the basic stereo input to stereo output patching? And what if you could build complex and creative effect routings that are impossible with most other music software? And one time at band camp... Introducing Tracktion's Rack Filters.
ReWire 2.0 Support Tracktion includes ReWire 2.0 support for integration with applications like Propellerheads' Reason, Ableton Live, and other ReWire supporting software. ReWire is described as an "invisible cable" that allows you to connect one application to another so you can stream audio and MIDI to and from the linked programs. Tracktion acts as a master (or "mixer") application to which other ReWire "synth applications" can be linked - simply enable ReWire in Tracktion, setup a track to receive the output of the "synth application", launch the "synth application" and crank out that next big hit.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:PC:Microsoft Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP
Intel Pentium 3 or 4, or AMD Athlon (750MHz or better is recommended)
At least 128MB RAM; 256MB or more is recommended for heavy-duty work
DirectSound or ASIO compatible audio interface
Windows-co
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