@Zynewave wrote:
Hrmpf, I found a bug in the new mixer code 🙁 . Podium will crash if you delete all tracks in the arrangement. I’ll release a bug fix version in a few days. Let me know quickly if you find other problems.
No problem, will do. 🙂
Ok Frits it was just a suggestion at the end of the day which I still think will refine certain aspects of Podium but I certainly do not want you to change any aspect of Podium beyond what you are comfortable with. 🙂
As for the questions raised by your earlier comments on the relative path…
The Podium Guide mentions Absolute and Relative paths. From what I have read it appears that an absolute path would mean Podium must have the exact path to find a particular VST if the VST folder or location is moved. Is that correct?
If the Relative option is selected then Podium can still find a plugin even if the VST folder is moved to another location and the “Search for missing plugins” option is used to find it for instance….correct?
Some other things I noticed about the device mapping properties relative option…I recently had to relink or search for missing VST plugs in certain projects and I noticed that some of my mappings had the relative option grayed out after they had been found. Why is this?
Does that mean if I have to move my VST location again in future that Podium will now treat those plugs as if they have absolute paths instead?
Also I noticed one of my plugins had the relative option unticked. I thought by default it was always ticked or selected. Any idea why the relative option for any plug would not be already selected if it is an option that should be switched on by default?
Alot of questions (sorry) but I just need a bit of clarification on the whole relative / absolute “thang” in Podium 🙂
Thanks.
@Zynewave wrote:
When you use the “Import file” command, Podium will log the last folder you browse to, and use that the next time you use the import command. The path is stored in the setup file.
Correct yes it does 🙂 FWIW the suggestion I put forward for sound files is not essential of course, but I still think having a new tab for Sounds and allowing for one Audio files path and another for Midi files to be set by a user would not clutter or bloat Podiums feature set but it would I think just offer a bit more flexibility.
Of course for now the Import File option can be used for both Midi and Audio files.
As for the two VST paths; I may add this later on. However I do think it’s less important for Podium than for other hosts, because of the way that you can import plugins from user specified folders.
Maybe less important, then again maybe not…something that is less important to one user can be important to another user 😉
This why I think it is significant… in ACID it allows for one to work quicker or manage plugins easier than in Podium which is why I made the suggestion for two paths. Getting the job done faster saves time and money. But why is it easier..?
a) In ACID Pro I can set up various VST paths and set it and forget it. In Podium this can be set but only for one path.
b) When ACID pro starts up any new plugins that have been added to those folders since the last time I used ACID will be automatically scanned and updated for use when ACID starts up (it takes seconds).
In Podium I would have to manually add new plugins each time.
The whole VST path idea is hardly a Major deal as such, but just a suggestion that I think might make things even easier and quicker in Podium. It is in no way a ‘problem’ as such in Podium right now, far from it, but just an area that I thought might benefit from a slight degree of further refinement.
I think Podium has matured to a point where Major requests are not really that many as it has matured very nicely indeed I would even say the mixers flexibility and the Group panel are ahead of many if not any host out there. 🙂
Setting up two paths for VST plugins also poses a problem with the “relative path” option for the plugin filename in the mapping properties. Podium would not know which of the two VST folders it should use to search for the plugins
.
Your comments here actually raised some questions for me…But first a possible solution to Podium not knowing which of two folders to search…
If Podium needs the relative path option to know which VST path to use would it not be possible to…
a) Add a second relative path option to the Device mapping properties area?
The fiirst relative path could default to VST fx while the second could default to VSTi plugins.
If you think that might cause a problem for the “Mapping type” also found in the Devices menu would it not be possible to split the current Software plugin Mapping Type option into two types…Software FX plugin and Software Instrument plugin?
Cheeerz! 🙂
Hi there,
Welcome to the club 8)
@guy wrote:
Conquistador, I wonder if the reason you do not experience this problem is because you dual boot and Podium can find the propper support for a Windows Record track in Vista in XP? (Did that make sense? I’m so easily confused! 😳 ) Vista is the only OS on my computer.
Well any way guys, thanks for the replies and the information. 😀
Sorry guy! Your question was sitting there for days LOL! I just did not see it.
To answer your question…it is an interesting theory but the Vista installation I have is totally separate from XP. Different partition. I can’t remember now but I think it is even on a different physical hard drive as well. I did not install Vista over XP. It is a clean full install not an upgrade install, even though it is an upgrade version.
Also…
and I read somewhere that Microsoft dropped all ASIO support in Vista
I have successfully used the Edirol UA25 and the Echo audioFire 4 in Vista with Vista specific ASIO drivers from Edirol and Echo Audio.
Hi there,
o.k. the light went on!! i believe i now have a handle on it.
thanks!
I’ll answer the questions anyway… 🙂
@sam c wrote:
i created an analysis track thinking that if i inserted a spectrum analyzer i would see the results of the master out thru the analyzer……but it did not work that way.
The Analysis track I use simply lets me analyse tracks when I solo them or the whole mix if all tracks are playing at the same time.
I could easily (likely would at some stage) ) have an analysis track after the premaster so that I can analyse the premaster (if I solo that track).
So instead of the set up you see in the image I posted…
Example 1
Master Output track
>Pre Master
>>Analysis (Levels)
>>>Analysis (Frequency)
>>>>All other tracks in the arrangement
It would be …
Example 2
Master Output track
>Analysis (Pre Master)
>>Pre Master
>>>Analysis (Levels)
>>>>Analysis (Frequency)
>>>>>All other tracks in the arrangement
This way I can easily analyse the final mix before bouncing it…or as you were trying to do…”see the results of the master out thru the analyzer”.
Your Mix output or “results of the master out” (the output from the topmost track in your arrangement or Master out track) will be exactly the same as the Pre Master output if you do not add another track with an FX between them.
Of course an Analyzer will not touch the mix signal, it will simply let you know what is going on with the frequencies.
So you can easily use the Pre Master as a type of Master out which is how I use it. Many may not need to do this, it’s just my preference. IMO it does showcase just how flexible Podium can be.
it also did not work when i tried to insert an analyzer directly to the master out.
I use the Premaster also because you cannot have more than one mapping on any track…and in this case the Master out. It already has an audio out put mapping on it.
Replace that mapping and you have no output!
Perhaps the ZGrid will likely allow for one to have an audio output mapping on a track and then simply additionally whatever you want after that but on the same track.
So maybe then I would have a plugin chain like this on my Master out track…
Audio output (mapping) < Sonalksis Free G (for detailed level analysis),< SPAN or Inspector e.t.c (for Frequency analysis), Izotope Ozone (6 mastering plugs in one)...
or maybe I could replace Ozone with the Sonitus 5 band compressor, Voxengos tape bus and Crysonics Spectra Q which is also a very nice mastering chain.
So the ZGrid will likely open up some very interesting possibilities in addition to the already very flexible options Podium offers.
i think i understand the pre master bounce but the analysis track is confusing me?
I am guessing from your last post you now understand why I use the Analysis track but if not, see above. Let me know if you still need some assistance. 😉
oh yeah, which DAW, if any, did you use before Podium?
Long list… 🙂
I collaborate with other producers using Tracktion, and ACID Pro 6. Sonar had been my main host for a long time but now I tend to split my work between Podium and Sonar. Some things are simply better in Sonar while others are better in Podium.
@sam c wrote:
Conquistador, i was looking at your set up description above. are your pre master and analysis tracks child tracks of the master track?
thanks
Hi,
Well they are Child Tracks but I did not use the New Child Track command… let me explain…
If you have a project with say 10 tracks and you then go to the Master out track or the top most track in the tree and attempt to create a New Child track it will appear under the 10th track in your project.
Not what you might want. Of course you could drag it into place but I simply created a template.
First the master out…
Then 2 or 3 new tracks underneath feeding into the next. Have a look at the picture…
Click for a larger image…
I actually use two Analysis tracks in this project. I then renamed the tracks and placed my mappings on them for any new projects in future. Of course now any track I create under those tracks will feed through them up to the master bounce track. 😉
I can easily enable bouncing on the Pre master to get a Pre view or snapshot of my mix in real time with any mastering plug I choose to place on that track… swap out the mastering plug with another and create as many different versions of the mix as I want. Of course I could have a full mastering chain of plugs by having 3 – 5 pre master tracks with mappings and work with that. 😉
I can then easily place those (if I want to keep two or three Pre master bounced versions that I like) at the bottom of the arrangement in new tracks and rename them accordingly.
Of course I can also tap the tree from any point and bounce enable any of the pre master tracks for instance to get any type of pre master version I want…very flexible. 😉
That is just my workflow…there is likely a quicker or more preferable way to do it for you or anyone else. 😉 Podiums high level of flexiblity easily allows for the track arrangement I use. 😉
The Pre Master and Analysis tracks feed into the Master track right at the top of the tree, so yes they are child tracks, but the New Child track command (as far as I know) will not create child tracks directly under the master out if you already have for example a number of tracks under the master out.
But the tree level will correctly be “2” (two layers or levels down) feeding directly into the master out so it will be a child but not visibly directly under the master track unless you drag it there.
I hope that helps 😉
@Zynewave wrote:
So will my my Analysis track and Pre Master Track show up in the new dock master chain?
Yes.
Is it user configurable?
Yes.
Would we also be able to dock the new master chain on either side of the mixer?
Yes.
Cheers Frits and sorry about the timing of my questions, I read your “Out of office” post over on the Support forrum after I had already submitted this post here on the Future forum! 😆 Thanks for taking the time to respond while “Out of office”. Enjoy your time away! 🙂
@Zynewave wrote:
This gave me an idea for a mixer docking feature. I’ve added a “dock master chain” option to the mixer:
This has a couple of benefits: The master output section is always visible no matter what audio tracks are shown in the scrollable section.
Very good, this will make things even clearer when working in the mixer.
Having the master chain separated also saves the space for the master group headers above the regular audio tracks.
I tend to have two tracks under the default Master output track.
A Pre master track with a mastering plug used from time to time as the project builds up and an Analysis track which is useful for either running Span or FreeG to monitor levels in more detail and monitor frequencies used in individual tracks that have the solo button enabled, a subgroup of tracks or even the whole project.
Both of these tracks are above all my other tracks so all other tracks feed into the Anaysis track > Pre Master track and finally > Master output track.
Or another way…
Master Output track
>Pre Master
>>Analysis
>>>All other tracks in the arrangement
So will my my Analysis track and Pre Master Track show up in the new dock master chain?
Is it user configurable?
I’m going to experiment with a “dock bus returns” option, which similarly separates any bus return track chains from the scrollable section and docks them at either right or left side.
That would be very helpful especially being able to dock the area on the right or left side. That sort of functionality may likely elevate Podiums mixer to a higher level of configurability than many hosts out there.
Would we also be able to dock the new master chain on either side of the mixer?
The mixer currently does not autoscroll to always keep the current track in view, but I could add an option for this.
Please do add this option Frits! Thanks!
The docked bus returns would always show all bus return groups, so no scrolling needed for this section.
Excellent.
@acousmod wrote:
Apart from personal preferences and habits, I am sure that this is one of the major features than could help people to be more familiarized with Podium and help them to switch from other DAWs, or at least to use them together with more efficiency.
It is of course natural that Frits proposes the ones he likes, but it is also necessary that users can set them as they like… 😉
Interesting. I think you and Nordsee have a point there. Many people do indeed have their own preferences and while I do not personally use them much (if at all) I think a very large number of people certainly do.
Some way to customize Keyboard shortcuts would very likely help people settle in quicker with Podium as they would be able to set it up in a very similar way to their existing host. 😉
@guy wrote:
Hey y’all,
Just a few questions that I didn’t see anywhere on this forum (a search option would have been nice). It would be nice to know if Podium will work on my new computer (when it gets out of the repair shop!). I have a Dell E520 with Pentium D Processors (dual) and running Vista OS. I also have a 24 inch wide screen and a 19 inch monitor.
I think the user Frits spoke of is most likely me 😉
Once the image has loaded click on it again for a full sized image
As far as I can tell the performance, reliability and operation of Podium is identical in Vista (Premium 32 bit here) to usage in XP.
It opens up fine, imports files, plays back e.t.c. in exactly the same way it does in XP. So if you want real world user feedback from someone else on a Pentium D, with Windows Vista then based on my experience it will work. I use a large widescreen with Podium on Vista.
Of course I cannot guarantee Podium will work on Vista for you but I see no reason at all why it should not work.
Projects are saved and re called correctly e.t.c everything seems 100% OK. Certainly my XP Podium usage mirrored on Vista has not produced any problems apart from a strange exit delay…Podium will take about 7 -10 seconds to close on Vista. It is almost instant on XP.
I cannot find anything else that is problematic on Vista with Podium.
A side issue not Zynewaves fault of course… Kjearhus plugs don’t appear to work on Vista yet (GAC, GMO GEQ) without throwing up some error messages and some other plugs have problems but as they are not officially Vista compatible yet problems with some plugs on Vista is to be expected I guess.
I think some Voxengo plugs are a bit erratic as well on Vista. YMMV.
@Frits…
Vista Home basic (upgrade) should not be more than £50 – £100
I currently dual boot and switch between Vista and XP.
I am 99.9% certain that any testing you do with Vista Home basic should be able to cover users of Premium, Business and Ulitmate (32 bit)versions of Vista. Podium already works on Vista Premium. Ultimate costs around £300 – £400, no need to spend that!
I have quoted these prices in pounds but it may even be cheaper than my £50 -£100 estimate to upgrade from your version of XP to Vista Home basic (upgrade version) from a local store near you in Denmark.
I think starting with a 32bit version of Vista would be a good idea as the 64 bit version is I think more expensive. Most users will likely start out with the 32 bit version of Vista I would have thought anyway.
It looks like there is only one bug on Vista to address as well 🙂 Not bad for an OS you have not even tested Podium with yet! 🙂
@Zynewave wrote:
I’ll try with a larger font for the clock times IF the timeline region height is increased slightly. I chose the small font to make it fit the current default. I’ll probably increase the default ruler height a couple of pixels to make the bigger font default.
Cheers Frits, I also think a silght increase in font size would still help, even though I use a large screen. Thanks, it is a very useful new feature.
I think personally Podium is even more of a powerhouse now. Yes there are more features to add and some I would still like to see but it is a really impressive product.
1.83 shifts things into an even higher gear, a massive release! 🙂
Thanks Frits!
@Zynewave wrote:
i agree about collapsing the tracks but wanting to see a full mixer view!
I have now added an “Expand all groups” option to the mixer view menu.
Cheeeerz!!!! 🙂