Topic: when will it be possible

@Zynewave wrote:

Hi Peter,

Currently I have no plans of supporting more than one plugin per track.

Hi Frits,

Do you still really have “no plans” of supporting more than one plugin per track? I think it is a major feature. I like the current set up for instance as it has it’s strengths, (having FX on separate tracks) but it can all too easily become very tedious managing up to five times as many (or even more) tracks in Podium than a user would in just about any other host! 🙁

Have you really closed the door on this completely?

This is one of the key features I had been waiting for, since I bought Podium over a year ago. 🙁

I suspect many people who do not ‘get’ the way Podium does things at the demo stage, will be very unlikely to take the time to post here and discuss it. They will likely just move on to the next option.

I cannot remember where, but I think you said something about some sort of plugin chainer or rack that would do away with the need to have each FX on it’s own track. Is this still under consideration? Sorry if it was someone else who said it. 😉

I just did a search on the forum for “Chainer” and this was one of the threads that popped up.

I could potentially use Phrazor or Energy XT but I think using either of them as an FX rack in Podium might stop Podium from delay compensating for FX hosted within them while used as an insert in Podium. Do you know if that is correct?

I would always prefer your own creations anyway as the integration of the zplugs into Podium is first class. Multiple FX on a single track along with basic notation, track numbers, meter db values on track meters and faders on mixer strips are pretty much all I am waiting for now. 😉 There are others but if I had to choose I would gladly let them all go for these five FR’s.

Rewire is not really important to me at all but for new users absolutely…I am certain many potential new users stopped at the door when they realised thier copy of Reason, Live, ACID or P5 would not work with Podium despite the existing workarounds.

Now that the superb fades and crossfades are in place (a very advanced implementation, I must say with the graphical clip changes on the way), FX usage with track levels that are as low as other hosts is easily my top request for Podium now.

After using Podium heavily this really has risen to the top of my list. Even with the options in place to hide a track lane. Even that has to be done for each and every track as there is no hide all track lanes option to hide track lanes for several FX tracks in one click.

Sometimes only extended usage of a product over months can uncover workflow issues.

If you are still open to suggestions in this area…hopefully! :)…

…then here are some ideas….

1. I think some sort of track insert, (module/holder/container/chainer) that can host FX would immediately bring track levels to the same number as other hosts when using FX.

2. Chainer Panel. Perhaps this could be a new panel in the inspector that allows a user to fully manage, (add, remove rearrange the order of…) FX from the track Inspector.

A graphical representation of the chain of FX could appear on the track being processed, giving the number of FX being used. So if any FX are in use then the FX icon will be visible with the number of FX in use shown in brackets next to it, so if 5 are being used FX(5)will be visible on a track….3 in use FX(3)

Clicking on the name of the FX you want to edit (from the Chainer panel) immediately updates the inspector with all the information for that plug (parameters, presets, mapping) just as it does now when clicking on an FX on a track or an Instrument.

3. Well I was going to suggest expanding the current limit of FX available on a track but I am not sure where you stand on that at the moment base on your comments in your response to Peter although that was some time ago.

Allowing FX to be used on the same track (not only hiding tracks on the same level) is the way I would prefer to work. I would still like the options for FX tracks we have now but I certainly would not want to *only* work this way as it is definitely not my first choice.

It’s just too many tracks to manage which slows down mixing considerably. 🙁

FX (1,3 or 6 for instance) used on one track instead of the current one per track option along with some form of basic notation, track numbers, meter db values on track meters and faders on mixer strips would pretty much eliminate the need for me to use any other Audio + Midi host out there for music production.

I cannot remember where, but I think you said something about some sort of plugin chainer or rack that would do away with the need to have each FX on it’s own track. Is this still under consideration?

That is indeed the way I intend to go. Working title for the plugin is zMatrix. I have not started implementing it yet, but I have a good idea of how it is going to work. There is going to be a couple of novel features in that plugin. I would have started it a long time ago, but there have been so many requests for other “standard” features that I felt I needed to get them out of the way before starting on some of the “unexpected” features.

I could potentially use Phrazor or Energy XT but I think using either of them as an FX rack in Podium might stop Podium from delay compensating for FX hosted within them while used as an insert in Podium. Do you know if that is correct?

If the host plugin calculates the latency of its plugin processing chain and reports it back to Podium, then PDC should be ok.

@Zynewave wrote:

I would have started it a long time ago, but there have been so many requests for other “standard” features that I felt I needed to get them out of the way before starting on some of the “unexpected” features.

I could be wrong but I think being able to add an effect plugin (or two) on an existing track is an expected feature these days.

If “zMatrix” is really cool it may offset some of the (IMHO) missing basic functionality.

peace,
pj

like the sound of zmatrix… sounds like it will help make the arrangement window a lot tidier

@Improv wrote:

I have to agree, 110%. Why be different and awkward just for the sake of being different and awkward? This should have been done ages ago as a priority.

Fritz, do a poll, the results may surprise you!
😉

You know it’s kind of funny. The first DAW I really got into was Tracktion. Tracktion stepped beyond the concept of having to use an insert for effects. I bought in to it right away. After spending some time with Tracktion I took a look at some other products, Cubase, Cakewalk and even Reaper and their approach to handling effects just seems alien and archaic.

Why take a step backwards and implement a feature that really comes from a h/w historical perspective. The current implementation of Podium is so much more powerful than provided with these other DAW’s and I very much prefer Podium’s approach than Tracktion’s although when you get right down to it’s not really all that much different.

The addition of zMatrix will take this app to a completely new level I and I can’t wait.

A poll might be interesting but it might surprise you as well.

@darcyb62 wrote:

@Improv wrote:

I have to agree, 110%. Why be different and awkward just for the sake of being different and awkward? This should have been done ages ago as a priority.

Fritz, do a poll, the results may surprise you!
😉

You know it’s kind of funny. The first DAW I really got into was Tracktion. Tracktion stepped beyond the concept of having to use an insert for effects. I bought in to it right away. After spending some time with Tracktion I took a look at some other products, Cubase, Cakewalk and even Reaper and their approach to handling effects just seems alien and archaic.

Why take a step backwards and implement a feature that really comes from a h/w historical perspective. The current implementation of Podium is so much more powerful than provided with these other DAW’s and I very much prefer Podium’s approach than Tracktion’s although when you get right down to it’s not really all that much different.

The addition of zMatrix will take this app to a completely new level I and I can’t wait.

A poll might be interesting but it might surprise you as well.

Whatever. 🙄

What would zMatrix look like? I’m imagining a window with about 8 – 16 boxes, and a clear signal path going from the first box to the last. You can load a VST effect in each box. And then drag the boxes around to rearrange the order of the effects.

That’s a good guess. It will be a user configurable X*Y grid where signal flows from the left edge of the grid to the right. Placing effects on a row creates a serial routing, and placing effects in a column creates a parallel routing. There won’t be any wires to drag. The placement in the grid decides the routing.

I’m also considering naming it zGrid (pronounced Siegried 😉 )