Sun has been pushing the Java Plugin (TM) for a few years now.
When you embed Java applets with the tag, the parent browser is free to use its version of JVM to execute it. (i.e. Internet Explorer on Windows will almost always try to use the MS JVM to execute it., even if you have Sun's JVM installed also.)
The Java Plugin is a plugin to IE and Mozilla, and it requires developers to embed Java applets with and tags. This way, the applets will always use the JVM specified by the Java Plugin Control Panel (you can choose other venders' JVM in the Java Plugin Control Panel if you wish).
The cool thing is, the Java Plugin is an ActiveX control. So if a Windows user browsing with IE get to a page that has an applet that uses the Java Plugin, IE automatically downloads Sun's Java Plugin and installs it (just like what happens if you go to a Flash-enabled site and you have an older version of Flash plugin).
While I don't have any official figures that I can quote, I can safely assume that many average users have had Sun's JVM installed silently and transparently through this method.
The Java Plugin has been available since Java 1.1.8 I believe. It's the recommended method of embedding java applets.
You know I always wonder how well the nForce 2 MCP's audio circuity will suit for audio production needs.
I just recommended my landlord to pick up an nForce2 mobo (he was gonna go with a KT400 mobo). It's all setup but no audio stuff on it yet. Maybe we'll give the MCP a test drive this weekend.
Incorporating DAW and MIDI sequencing into the same application is certainly not the only way to achieve synchronization between them. MTC and SMPTE are well-established, widely supported standards for synchronizing separate programs or even separate hardware components.
MTC and SMPTE has rather low resolution and hard to work with in my experiences (which aren't very much BTW LOL), I don't know about you but I have very little luck syncing diiferent apps internally via MTC or SMPTE. That's why new protocols like Rewire and VST Link appeared in the first place. I'm still gonna try to figure out how to do internal MTC sync reliably in my scenario, but really I don't think MTC nor SMPTE are very reliable and I'll shoot myself if I have to depend on them solely for all my inter-app sync needs.
The reason for popluarity of integrated MIDI+audio sequencer is simple: intergration. MIDI and audio tracks are in the same program and same window (you don't have to switch apps to see what's going on), always in sync. It makes the workflow a lot simpler.
the unix analogy notwithstanding IMHO: all the little apps in unix works together, but you only interact with one or 2 of them at a time. In audio production you have to constantly monitor EVERY component and track and slider and knob begin-track to end-track. It's a very engaging process to the user, that's why having an integrated environment increases productivity multifold.
That said, I do agree UI is a personal preference. Furthermore, the audio production process is primary a creative process, which varies even more from person to person. This is the very nature of any creative task in software environment. Other creative medium like raster-painting (Photoshop, Painter), lineart (Ilustrator, Freehand), 3D graphics (Maya) traslate to the software environment relatively easily despite the creative process involved, because they are visual. They can be ported effortlessly to the CRT. It did take a few years for a lot of artists to draw beizer curves or 3D models using mice and tablets. But the transition isn't all that hard, just takes a few adjustments.
Audio production in a software enivronment, however, will always be less-than intuitive because we'll always have to attempt to interact with a visual (mis)representation of what we hear via keyboard and mouse. It seems simple but there really are many levels of translations between difference senses going on in our brains. Not only that, software has to impose a structure in order to maintain and process its data, but such structure may not be intuitive to the user and becomes an obstable to the creative process of the user. Such structure also limits the kind of music you can create (most sequencers didn't use to deal well with variable time signatures, for instance). The user's attempt to workaround these limitations makes the creative process even less intuitive.
That's why sometimes I use Reason, sometimes I use Ableton, sometimes I use Acid, and so on. Each app imposes a different structure, and hence each of them suits a different kind of creative process (or workflow). Whichever workflow I find productive, intuitive and inpiring entirely depends on the stuff I write at the moment and how I feel that day. This is probably the most unique aspect of computer music production.
I'm a little bit concern about the fragmentation of the many multichannel audio protocols out there for internal routing.... Rewire, VST Link, TDM, maybe Logic has it's own too.... none of them will interconnect with another directly, and if any kind of wrappers are to become available, it'll probably introduce massive latency issues (since all these protocols deals with many channels of real-time audio + MIDI too).
Like all those proprietary physical protocols (eg. ADAT LightPipe, Roland R-Bus, Tascam TDIF, etc.) aren't enough, now we have to deal with software protocols.
Rewire works like a charm though. Very low overhead. VST Link is unique that it works over network.
As we approach the pure virtual studio era (and I'm sure it won't be long), and audio software being able to process more and more channels of audio in real-time, interoperability of these protocols will play a huge role in our future.
Maybe everyone will standardize on mLAN, then maybe I can sleep at night. LOL
Just a thought. Probably a little offtopic. Sorry.:)
Yes I'm using Acid Pro 4.0. It still doesn't support VST/i natively. Which wrapper did you use?
The Reason + Acid sync problem is purely a sync issue. I made Acid send master MIDI clock to Reason using internal MIDI loopback (via MIDI Yoke) but it didn't work well (and I didn't think it was going to work anyways), it has nothing to do with sounda card or drivers. I upgraded the mobo since then so I'll try again.
I frequently hear this "use Win2K over XP" argument from the PC audio proudction community. Personally I find XP manages low-level device resources and handles PnP better. I tweak and optimize XP so far up my ass anyways so I really don't see a performance issue using XP over 2K.
Actually it's not that funny, Audigy/Live a serious package at its price.
Audigy 2 Platinum comes bundled with Cubasis VST and Acid Music I believe (both of which are lite versions of their big brothers but still very powerful for their class), plus loads of other software (I think MixMeister is also included).
The card itself has very low latency for a consumer product, relatively low noise floor too. ASIO driver for Audigy/Live is readily available and very stable.
My only problem with Audigy/Live is the notorious 48kHz sampling frequency lock.
groovemaneuver said...
I started with a MIDI-only Atari, moved to a PC with Logic Audio, and now have a Mac with Logic Audio.
He wanted squencers, that's what he used all along, not multitracking DAW.
As to the notion of hybrids, it's redundant IMHO. All audio production software are hybrids technically. Pure MIDI sequencers are virtually extinct nowadays, so it's sufficent to say sequencer since it implies that the software would be MIDI-oriented but still provide some level of linear audio tracks support.
ProTools is prohibitably expensive for a home studio steup, works with less audio interfaces, and use a more proprietary plugin architeture.
ProTools is really more of a post-production tool for mid- to large-size studios. For most home studio it's rather overkill IMHO.
Pick a major studio and they use ProTools
well yeah because their clients are vocalists and live musicians, so they need a multitracker. I think most of us music-making Slashdotters are more likely to be MIDI-oriented.
I started with a MIDI-only Atari, moved to a PC with Logic Audio, and now have a Mac with Logic Audio.
And you used Notator on Atari? That was Logic's ancestor. So in that case, you used the Logic family all along, and it's probably what you're comfortable with. Stick with it unless you have a compelling reason to switch to another software sequecer.
The problem is that I seem to spend more time trying to get the software and hardware working than I do actually making music.
MIDI problem? Audio interface? MIDI/audio latency? Dude you'll have to live with all these problems as long as you're gonna make music on computers!!! It really doesn't matter what software/hardware you use. Well, using an intergrated virtual studio software like Reason exclusively will help, since the package does everything, MIDI and audio routings are all within Reason itself, so MIDI/audio latency is almost nonexisitence if you use a good sound card. It does limit you to what synth+FX modules Reason has, but you just have to be a little more creative about how you used them.
As far as software goes, I use PC. Mostly because I need Acid. Other than that, I don't have a particular workflow yet.
I love Reason and use it a lot, but I tend to run into roadblocks halfway like not having the right FX (say, vocoder, or multiband EQ), then I really wish it supported VST plugins. The samplers in Reason are great, but a little less feature-rich as modern samplers like A4000's loop-remix. Chopping loops in Recycle can be a chore, and since I use a lot of loops so I'd have 10 Dr.Rex in my rack, and then 2 FXs for each of them... Then the synths... It gets out of control easily. The lack of linear audio tracks in Reason sequencer means I will have to export the project to CuBase eventually (at least I can still control Reason from Cubase via Rewire).
I love Cubase for its power, but it's a steep learning curve (just like any high-end sequencer on the market), a learning curve that I'm still struggling with. Latency is a real problem, even with just a few VSTi. Unfornately VST/i are why I need to use Cubase in the first place.
Acid is great for doing remixes and re-arrangements. Very intuitive to use. It's my favorite 2nd to Reason. Acid has a primitive MIDI squencer now, and support DXi instruments (though not VSTi).
In an attempt to get linear audio to run alongside with Reason, I tried to sync Reason with Acid using internal MIDI loopback but it just not practical, lots of stutters.
Then I tried syncing Reason with Ableton (via Rewire), that worked beautifully. However Ableton isn't as mature nor flexible as Acid in its loop handling.
So what I do is primary loop-oriented as you can see. Truthfully neither Acid, Dr.Rex and Ableton satisfies my needs, so I'm still seeking out other loop-based tools. I'm waiting for Native Instruments to release Intakt, a loop sampler. Hopefully it will save me from some tedious time-stretching and beat-slcing.
I can babble on for another 10 pages.... LOL Anyways, You know what I think you need? A paradigm shift. Put aside your tradtional MIDI/audio sequencers and racks of equipment, and start using something integrated like Reason, or something entirely different like Ableton. Maybe just play your kwyboard of a few hours record straight into AIFF, then cut-and-chop and feed the loops to Ableton.
Try some new approaches as to how to make music on the computer, get creative with your methology. Maybe go to your local dealer and go to some free classes just to get familiar with the new software and see what sparks ya.
It supports MIDI input. Sequencer can record external MIDI messages, and the whole virtual rack can by controlled by external MIDI messages just like a real rack.
The sequencer can't send MIDI to real physical MIDI outputs however, it only controls the rack.
So what's so good about Reason? Great synths, low CPU load, high integration (the sequencer and control EVERY knob of EVERY module), intuitive UI.
What's bad? Sequencer primitive compared to Cubase/Logic, no support for linear audio tracks, lacks VST/VSTi, needs better and more FX modules, needs an arpeggiator.
The price is right though, and it keeps getting better. It's a much-have.
For midi I hear Cakewalk is still numero uno.
On the PC you mean? Even then I think Cubase has the lead on both platforms since Cubast VST ever released. Cakewalk has become Sonar (which adds Acid-sytle loop-based editing and DXi instruments). Neither Cakewalk nor Sonar supports VST/VSTi (while both Cubase and Logic do).
It'd be reasonably easy to have a DNS gateway over cellphone networks
How did you come up with this crap? How can it be reasonably easy? DNS replies on TCP/IP, typically runs over a packet-switeched network, current PCS phones can use anything from CDMA, TDMA to GSM (and that's just in the US, variants of CDMA and TDMA are used around the planet, along with the global GSM900/1800 standard), and voice networks are typically circuit-switched.
Do you have any idea how complicated it is for a WAP phone to access the internet? (In fact it's more complicated than it had to be.) Or how complicated it is to relay SMS messages between mobile phones and email servers and/or web servers?
No offense, but this DNS over PCS is just simply non-sense. DNS itself, as transparent as it seems to the end-user, is pretty low-tech by today's standard and has a relatively high administrative overhead. What does DNS has anything to do with phone # lookup anyways? This is like using a pair of chopsticks to push buttons on your TV remote.
If you want seemless internet/phone integration, just use a directory service over WAP/iMode/mMode/whatever. Any wireless operator that provides wireless internet has its own portal or directory service I'm sure. Look up "IBM support" and it'll give you both the URL and phone #, even possibly with embedded Dublin Core tags that your nextgen GRPS/CDMA2000 phone can extract and save the entry in your ohonebook.
1. Reversed Cost: It costs them very little to send one email which has hundreds of recipients. The bandwidth it consumes is a huge cost factor for the ISPs, which in turn, has to compensate for it by charging the customers more.
Indeed, spam is most like junk FAXes, which are sent at the convenience of the sender and the expense of the recipient. With third class mail, if you don't want it, you throw it out, and it takes very little time. If you are interested, you open it. Spam email costs you and your provider money to receive whether you ever read it or not.
[src="FAQ #4 @ Spam.abuse.net"]
2. Disruption: Spam brutally disrupt your every-day routine. I can waste an hour a day going through your personal or work mailbox to delete spam. Email is such a personal, direct form of communication, having so many unsolicited messages in your mailbox is intrusive and disruptive.
Paul Graham (the guy who wrote POPFile, probably the first bayesian spam filter) has a great eassy about why spam is bad. I couldn't say it better myself.
Local Number Portability has been required by the FCC quite some time ago (like 2 years...?) The landline portion of the deal is complete and working. You can switch from your local Baby Bell to AT&T Broadband's digital phone service or Verizon and still keep your own home number.
Cell companies were required by law to provide the same service too, but they'll been making FCC postponding the deadline time and again using various excuses.
This is the law. It's been passed, signed, and the landline companies already complied to it. This is our right.
The deadline has already been extended 3 times (over a period of close to 2 years I believe). Despite previous efforts to fight this mandate and extending the deadlines, Cingular and AT&T WS already stated publicly that they have been prepared and ready to comply by the current deadline.
Consider the support from other rival wireless and landline providers for the provision, I doubt Verizon stands a chance in court.
Much like how you purchased your own domain name for email redirection, you can get One-Number service (or whatever it's called by AT&T) and have a toll-free number and have it redirected to whatever number you want.
I simply cannot believe my eyes. I don't care if some moderators see this post as flames but I find this kind of facist comments simply can't be tolerated. This is deniably some of the most racist, offensive things I've seen on here.
This Chinese behavior with regards to government control of the Internet is consistent with previous Chinese behavior.
Does it make it right? No. Does it means the Chinese people wanted it? No. Don't make the assumption that the Chinese government represents its people's opinions and values faithfully. Not even the American government could represent its people faithfully.
1. Most Chinese in Hong Kong support the return of Hong Kong to mainland China. A CNN/Time survey showed, in fact, that 60% of the Chinese in Hong Kong support the return of Hong Kong to mainland China.
What about the other 40%? Are they irrelevant? Not to mentioned that they have to be optimisitic since they have no choice. Considering the circumstances, 60% is an underwhleming majority and a misleading representation of what they really think.
2. The constitution of the Chinese living in Taiwan supports the integration of both Tibet and Mongolia into mainland China.....
That's some serious oversimplification. I'm not gonna speculate on the Tibetan situtation, but I can tell you why Taiwan kisses Mainland's ass once in a while: Mainland has a huge army and can take over Taiwan overnight, it hasn't yet only because the international community isn't gonna tolerate that. Just that Taiwan kisses Mainland's butt once in a while doesn't mean they really agree with them, they do what they have to in order to maintain a volatile relationship.
Taiwaneses also have many relatives in Mainland and are forbiddened to travel to Mainland to visit them (and vice versa). Maybe you should talk to some Cuban Americans in Miami and learn about this kind of sentiments.
3. The Chinese son of the chairman of a powerful conglomerate in Taiwan has joined with the son of Jiang Zemin, the butcher of Tibet, to build an advanced silicon-wafer factory in Shanghai....
4. Senior Chinese military officials retired from the Taiwanese military have gone to mainland China and given military secrets....
What kind of facist crap is this? Like this kind of thing isn't happening in U.S. everyday? Enron? Hello? Anyone in any culture who gained a substantial amount of power is likely to abuse it for their greed. It's universal.
8. These observations are not an exaggeration of any kind. At your university, attend your local meeting of Amnesty International. The engineering and business schools will have plenty of Chinese people, but there will be virtually _NO_ Chinese faces in a meeting of Amnesty International. Chinese (and other Orientals) are over-represented in engineering and business schools, but they are under-represented in meetings of Amnesty International. Why?
Because Chinese people are a buncha unethical, indifferent, selfish, greedy people? What kind of a facist implication are you trying to draw? Ever occur to you that Chinese foreign students have to go home eventually? What kind of consequences are they gonna face if the government finds out the kind of western, libertarian actitivites they engaged in overseas? As to Chinese Americans, they are only as indifferent as other American. Plenty of Chinese people fight for human rights and civil liberties and volunteer for their communities. What have YOU done for your community lately?
I really can't comment on the rest of your points, most of them can be easily seen as misleading, facist statements fueled by anti-Chinese sentiments. They are so ridiculous that I really don't know what I can say about them.
Those of us who are old enough to remember when the Berlin Wall crumbled in 1990 know to credit Ronald Reagan with killing Communism.
A little offtopic I know, but I do want to add that Mikhail Gorbachev was every bit as responsible as Ronald Reagan to end to Cold War. It's funny that neither of them are very well-respected by the general public of their respective country even today.
Google brought us good results, minimal pages that weren't influenced by bribery or (in most cases) manipulation, and quick easy searches. Is that something that China's 200 competing portals will be able to bring to the customer's desktop? I think not.
From the press release:
Late last month, China Search Alliance launched its first fee-based search service, the Search Ranking service, in China. If customers buy a keyword or search catalog, their names will be ranked higher on the list of search results. Some additional fee-based search services will also be introduced shortly afterwards. The search service, for instance, will put names of customers that have bought a keyword or search catalog, among "Highly Recommended Sites" along with the search results, said Zheng.
The very same fee-influenced ranking that just about every other search engine used when Google landed, the kinda ranking that we all hated, and one of the very reasons why millions of users flocked to Google and brought onto it massive popularity.
And did the Chinese Search Alliance announced any breakthrough technology that rival Google's? No, didn't think so.
But they are still backed by the government and probably can monopolize its market just simply by exploitation of their relationship with the Chinese government , which literally controls everything in the country.
As massive as the Internet is, there are very limited number of data pipes that cross the Chinese borders. It's not that hard for them to block out sites that they don't like their people see.
Aside from a real threat of bloody revolution, or invasion, there's no way to change a damn thing about any government in the world. Grow up and realize this.
True that it took a bloody revolution for America to gain independence, or China to liberate itself from its imperial system, but we do live in different times now. If I recall correctly, the fall of the Berlin Wall and Soviet Union were both results of relatively peaceful uprisings.
I don't understand what the big deal is.
If the Chinese want to use Google, they will. If they want to use the new Government organized search engine, they will.
The one that acquires most users wins. Open competition at its best. You should cheer competition in the marketplace.
Well, because this isn't fair competition. On one hand, you have a search engine backed my a totalitarian gorvernment which likes to control what its people can read and what they think, and one which considers western values a dillution of their traditions; on the other hand you have a privately-owned search engine originated from a western democratic society that is very unlikely to respond to diplomatic control, entering the juridiction of the aforementioned government.
The ending to that is as predictable as any Hollywood movie.
Unless, of course, the Chinese governments artificially changes the odds by blocking Google or Google's Chinese partner. That may or may not happen. To my knowledge they are not blocking Google at the moment.
I googled the topic and found out it happened once in 9/2002. See here, here, here and here.
As much as I like Google, it has a monopoly on non-suckiness of search engines. If China's search can compete, unfairly or fairly, it won't be a mere arms race - only good can come of this.
Please don't abuse the word monopoly, it has a strong meaning. It doesn't just mean the lack of competition, it implies the exploitation of its position to prevent and nulltify competition.
And comptetions it has many. Inktomi, FAST, Teoma, Direct Hit, to name a few general crawler-based search engines.
See this for all the search engines there are out there.
Google has no monopoly whatsoever, it's just plain popular. it's popular because it's good at what it does, and the competitions just simply aren't as good at it.
Ironically, monopoly is what the Chinese government trying to achieve. The whole move is obviously politically motivated, the Chinese Search Alliance is government-backed, and undoubtfully the Chinese gorvernment will exploit its power to ensure the Chinese Search Alliance popularity and undermind Google's.
Why are all these people here dilluting the move into some technological arguement? Did the Chinese Search Alliance present any brillant search algorithm? No. So how do they intend to compete with Google? Market manipulation via their Government backing, duh!
I suppose you have no idea how arrogant, ignorant and indifferent your statement was.
It is their country. They can do what they want really. If they want to disallow the usage of google even, that IS their right.
It is their country, the can censor all they want. However, the Internet is a global medium. Their attempt to monopolize their domestic search market, and hence controlling what the Chinese people can read, is directly underminding the global nature of the Internet. We make the assumption that whatever that's on the Internet is available to everyone on the planet. How would you like to realize that millions of people will be blocked from certain information even if they actively try to seek out for it?
We also have the right never to use their search engines.
If they suceed, millions of Chinese people won't have that choice. What you're essentially saying is, "It's their problem, doesn't affect me." Well guess what pal? It does and will affect you. The Cultural Revolution, in a nutshell, what a direct result of hundreds of thousands of misinformed children who bought into Mao agenda. You think they would have made the same choices if they had other sources for the world views? You think the average German people really knew millions of Jews were murdered in concentration camps when the holocaust began? And how did these events affect the rest of the world eventually?
Aren't rights wonderful?
Sure they are. Lucky yours are protected, theirs aren't. How ignorant of you to assume that human rights are equally protected across the world, and arrogant of you to wave your consitutional rights in the faces of millions of Chinese people. You're like that little rich kid bragging his gigmongous Pokemon collections to his working-class family classmates. It makes me sick to my stomach dude.
Eventually they'll become more capitalistic.
Capitalism they may embrace, the Chinese will remain totalitarian for a very long time. Whatever economical system they adopt isn't gonna change their dictationship. Capitalism isn't democracy. Hell, capitalism doesn't even always mean free enterprises.
By allowing them to create their own technologies to do so we allow them to create superior products theoretically.
You really believed that their move is entirely technologically or economically motivated? Com'on?
So when you say you have no right, how do you mean?
Did you mean, "We have no right to criticize what the Chinese gorvernment tries to do"? Well, for as long as you live in America, and you believe in what this country stands for, I think you have a natural duty as a human being to speak out for your brothers and sisters when you see their natural rights are about to be jepardized.
Or did you mean, "We have no right to prevent what the Chinese government from monopolizing their domestic search market"? Well, we probably don't, and we probably can't do much. Even if they put out a crappy search engine, and Google China takes off, they can still use strong-arm tactics to force Google China to censor their search results. It's just easier for them to censor if they actual ly own the more popular search engine.
What we need are treaties for freedom of global information exchange. But that's a whole other conversation.
In the mean time, hold on to your rights. Cherish them, value them, don't take them for granted.
And there's a Mozilla sidebar for Backflip too.
http://dmoz.org/Netscape/Sidebar/Computers/
The Backflip Buddy sidebar is at the very top of the list.
I use Backflip exclusively for all my bookmarks for over a year and a half. Occasional downtime aside, it's a godsend.
Slashdot Mirror
Sun has been pushing the Java Plugin (TM) for a few years now.
When you embed Java applets with the tag, the parent browser is free to use its version of JVM to execute it. (i.e. Internet Explorer on Windows will almost always try to use the MS JVM to execute it., even if you have Sun's JVM installed also.)
The Java Plugin is a plugin to IE and Mozilla, and it requires developers to embed Java applets with and tags. This way, the applets will always use the JVM specified by the Java Plugin Control Panel (you can choose other venders' JVM in the Java Plugin Control Panel if you wish).
The cool thing is, the Java Plugin is an ActiveX control. So if a Windows user browsing with IE get to a page that has an applet that uses the Java Plugin, IE automatically downloads Sun's Java Plugin and installs it (just like what happens if you go to a Flash-enabled site and you have an older version of Flash plugin).
While I don't have any official figures that I can quote, I can safely assume that many average users have had Sun's JVM installed silently and transparently through this method.
The Java Plugin has been available since Java 1.1.8 I believe. It's the recommended method of embedding java applets.
Oh and for the record the current nForce driver bundle comes with ASIO driver.
That's the equivalent of ISDN!!
Wow, 80s flashback....
Amiga, Debbie Gibson, Super Mario's theme song.... It's all coming back to me all at once!! Make it stop!!!
You know I always wonder how well the nForce 2 MCP's audio circuity will suit for audio production needs.
I just recommended my landlord to pick up an nForce2 mobo (he was gonna go with a KT400 mobo). It's all setup but no audio stuff on it yet. Maybe we'll give the MCP a test drive this weekend.
The reason for popluarity of integrated MIDI+audio sequencer is simple: intergration. MIDI and audio tracks are in the same program and same window (you don't have to switch apps to see what's going on), always in sync. It makes the workflow a lot simpler.
the unix analogy notwithstanding IMHO: all the little apps in unix works together, but you only interact with one or 2 of them at a time. In audio production you have to constantly monitor EVERY component and track and slider and knob begin-track to end-track. It's a very engaging process to the user, that's why having an integrated environment increases productivity multifold.
That said, I do agree UI is a personal preference. Furthermore, the audio production process is primary a creative process, which varies even more from person to person. This is the very nature of any creative task in software environment. Other creative medium like raster-painting (Photoshop, Painter), lineart (Ilustrator, Freehand), 3D graphics (Maya) traslate to the software environment relatively easily despite the creative process involved, because they are visual. They can be ported effortlessly to the CRT. It did take a few years for a lot of artists to draw beizer curves or 3D models using mice and tablets. But the transition isn't all that hard, just takes a few adjustments.
Audio production in a software enivronment, however, will always be less-than intuitive because we'll always have to attempt to interact with a visual (mis)representation of what we hear via keyboard and mouse. It seems simple but there really are many levels of translations between difference senses going on in our brains. Not only that, software has to impose a structure in order to maintain and process its data, but such structure may not be intuitive to the user and becomes an obstable to the creative process of the user. Such structure also limits the kind of music you can create (most sequencers didn't use to deal well with variable time signatures, for instance). The user's attempt to workaround these limitations makes the creative process even less intuitive.
That's why sometimes I use Reason, sometimes I use Ableton, sometimes I use Acid, and so on. Each app imposes a different structure, and hence each of them suits a different kind of creative process (or workflow). Whichever workflow I find productive, intuitive and inpiring entirely depends on the stuff I write at the moment and how I feel that day. This is probably the most unique aspect of computer music production.
On another note:
:)
I'm a little bit concern about the fragmentation of the many multichannel audio protocols out there for internal routing.... Rewire, VST Link, TDM, maybe Logic has it's own too.... none of them will interconnect with another directly, and if any kind of wrappers are to become available, it'll probably introduce massive latency issues (since all these protocols deals with many channels of real-time audio + MIDI too).
Like all those proprietary physical protocols (eg. ADAT LightPipe, Roland R-Bus, Tascam TDIF, etc.) aren't enough, now we have to deal with software protocols.
Rewire works like a charm though. Very low overhead. VST Link is unique that it works over network.
As we approach the pure virtual studio era (and I'm sure it won't be long), and audio software being able to process more and more channels of audio in real-time, interoperability of these protocols will play a huge role in our future.
Maybe everyone will standardize on mLAN, then maybe I can sleep at night. LOL
Just a thought. Probably a little offtopic. Sorry.
Yes I'm using Acid Pro 4.0. It still doesn't support VST/i natively. Which wrapper did you use?
The Reason + Acid sync problem is purely a sync issue. I made Acid send master MIDI clock to Reason using internal MIDI loopback (via MIDI Yoke) but it didn't work well (and I didn't think it was going to work anyways), it has nothing to do with sounda card or drivers. I upgraded the mobo since then so I'll try again.
I frequently hear this "use Win2K over XP" argument from the PC audio proudction community. Personally I find XP manages low-level device resources and handles PnP better. I tweak and optimize XP so far up my ass anyways so I really don't see a performance issue using XP over 2K.
He wanted squencers, that's what he used all along, not multitracking DAW.
As to the notion of hybrids, it's redundant IMHO. All audio production software are hybrids technically. Pure MIDI sequencers are virtually extinct nowadays, so it's sufficent to say sequencer since it implies that the software would be MIDI-oriented but still provide some level of linear audio tracks support.
ProTools is prohibitably expensive for a home studio steup, works with less audio interfaces, and use a more proprietary plugin architeture.
ProTools is really more of a post-production tool for mid- to large-size studios. For most home studio it's rather overkill IMHO.
well yeah because their clients are vocalists and live musicians, so they need a multitracker. I think most of us music-making Slashdotters are more likely to be MIDI-oriented.
And you used Notator on Atari? That was Logic's ancestor. So in that case, you used the Logic family all along, and it's probably what you're comfortable with. Stick with it unless you have a compelling reason to switch to another software sequecer.
MIDI problem? Audio interface? MIDI/audio latency? Dude you'll have to live with all these problems as long as you're gonna make music on computers!!! It really doesn't matter what software/hardware you use. Well, using an intergrated virtual studio software like Reason exclusively will help, since the package does everything, MIDI and audio routings are all within Reason itself, so MIDI/audio latency is almost nonexisitence if you use a good sound card. It does limit you to what synth+FX modules Reason has, but you just have to be a little more creative about how you used them.
As far as software goes, I use PC. Mostly because I need Acid. Other than that, I don't have a particular workflow yet.
I love Reason and use it a lot, but I tend to run into roadblocks halfway like not having the right FX (say, vocoder, or multiband EQ), then I really wish it supported VST plugins. The samplers in Reason are great, but a little less feature-rich as modern samplers like A4000's loop-remix. Chopping loops in Recycle can be a chore, and since I use a lot of loops so I'd have 10 Dr.Rex in my rack, and then 2 FXs for each of them... Then the synths... It gets out of control easily. The lack of linear audio tracks in Reason sequencer means I will have to export the project to CuBase eventually (at least I can still control Reason from Cubase via Rewire).
I love Cubase for its power, but it's a steep learning curve (just like any high-end sequencer on the market), a learning curve that I'm still struggling with. Latency is a real problem, even with just a few VSTi. Unfornately VST/i are why I need to use Cubase in the first place.
Acid is great for doing remixes and re-arrangements. Very intuitive to use. It's my favorite 2nd to Reason. Acid has a primitive MIDI squencer now, and support DXi instruments (though not VSTi).
In an attempt to get linear audio to run alongside with Reason, I tried to sync Reason with Acid using internal MIDI loopback but it just not practical, lots of stutters.
Then I tried syncing Reason with Ableton (via Rewire), that worked beautifully. However Ableton isn't as mature nor flexible as Acid in its loop handling.
So what I do is primary loop-oriented as you can see. Truthfully neither Acid, Dr.Rex and Ableton satisfies my needs, so I'm still seeking out other loop-based tools. I'm waiting for Native Instruments to release Intakt, a loop sampler. Hopefully it will save me from some tedious time-stretching and beat-slcing.
I can babble on for another 10 pages.... LOL Anyways, You know what I think you need? A paradigm shift. Put aside your tradtional MIDI/audio sequencers and racks of equipment, and start using something integrated like Reason, or something entirely different like Ableton. Maybe just play your kwyboard of a few hours record straight into AIFF, then cut-and-chop and feed the loops to Ableton.
Try some new approaches as to how to make music on the computer, get creative with your methology. Maybe go to your local dealer and go to some free classes just to get familiar with the new software and see what sparks ya.
Good luck man!!
Wow and where are you moving there? I'm there dude. :)
:)
Can you keep us posted about your VoIP service? I personally would love to know how well it works.
I just checked Vonage's site and see that they have service available in many states. I wonder if I can get it...
How did you come up with this crap? How can it be reasonably easy? DNS replies on TCP/IP, typically runs over a packet-switeched network, current PCS phones can use anything from CDMA, TDMA to GSM (and that's just in the US, variants of CDMA and TDMA are used around the planet, along with the global GSM900/1800 standard), and voice networks are typically circuit-switched.
Do you have any idea how complicated it is for a WAP phone to access the internet? (In fact it's more complicated than it had to be.) Or how complicated it is to relay SMS messages between mobile phones and email servers and/or web servers?
No offense, but this DNS over PCS is just simply non-sense. DNS itself, as transparent as it seems to the end-user, is pretty low-tech by today's standard and has a relatively high administrative overhead. What does DNS has anything to do with phone # lookup anyways? This is like using a pair of chopsticks to push buttons on your TV remote.
If you want seemless internet/phone integration, just use a directory service over WAP/iMode/mMode/whatever. Any wireless operator that provides wireless internet has its own portal or directory service I'm sure. Look up "IBM support" and it'll give you both the URL and phone #, even possibly with embedded Dublin Core tags that your nextgen GRPS/CDMA2000 phone can extract and save the entry in your ohonebook.
2. Disruption: Spam brutally disrupt your every-day routine. I can waste an hour a day going through your personal or work mailbox to delete spam. Email is such a personal, direct form of communication, having so many unsolicited messages in your mailbox is intrusive and disruptive.
Paul Graham (the guy who wrote POPFile, probably the first bayesian spam filter) has a great eassy about why spam is bad. I couldn't say it better myself.
Local Number Portability has been required by the FCC quite some time ago (like 2 years...?) The landline portion of the deal is complete and working. You can switch from your local Baby Bell to AT&T Broadband's digital phone service or Verizon and still keep your own home number.
Cell companies were required by law to provide the same service too, but they'll been making FCC postponding the deadline time and again using various excuses.
This is the law. It's been passed, signed, and the landline companies already complied to it. This is our right.
The deadline has already been extended 3 times (over a period of close to 2 years I believe). Despite previous efforts to fight this mandate and extending the deadlines, Cingular and AT&T WS already stated publicly that they have been prepared and ready to comply by the current deadline.
Consider the support from other rival wireless and landline providers for the provision, I doubt Verizon stands a chance in court.
Much like how you purchased your own domain name for email redirection, you can get One-Number service (or whatever it's called by AT&T) and have a toll-free number and have it redirected to whatever number you want.
It's not cheap, but the service exists.
I simply cannot believe my eyes. I don't care if some moderators see this post as flames but I find this kind of facist comments simply can't be tolerated. This is deniably some of the most racist, offensive things I've seen on here.
Does it make it right? No. Does it means the Chinese people wanted it? No. Don't make the assumption that the Chinese government represents its people's opinions and values faithfully. Not even the American government could represent its people faithfully.
What about the other 40%? Are they irrelevant? Not to mentioned that they have to be optimisitic since they have no choice. Considering the circumstances, 60% is an underwhleming majority and a misleading representation of what they really think.
That's some serious oversimplification. I'm not gonna speculate on the Tibetan situtation, but I can tell you why Taiwan kisses Mainland's ass once in a while: Mainland has a huge army and can take over Taiwan overnight, it hasn't yet only because the international community isn't gonna tolerate that. Just that Taiwan kisses Mainland's butt once in a while doesn't mean they really agree with them, they do what they have to in order to maintain a volatile relationship.
Taiwaneses also have many relatives in Mainland and are forbiddened to travel to Mainland to visit them (and vice versa). Maybe you should talk to some Cuban Americans in Miami and learn about this kind of sentiments.
What kind of facist crap is this? Like this kind of thing isn't happening in U.S. everyday? Enron? Hello? Anyone in any culture who gained a substantial amount of power is likely to abuse it for their greed. It's universal.
Because Chinese people are a buncha unethical, indifferent, selfish, greedy people? What kind of a facist implication are you trying to draw? Ever occur to you that Chinese foreign students have to go home eventually? What kind of consequences are they gonna face if the government finds out the kind of western, libertarian actitivites they engaged in overseas? As to Chinese Americans, they are only as indifferent as other American. Plenty of Chinese people fight for human rights and civil liberties and volunteer for their communities. What have YOU done for your community lately?
I really can't comment on the rest of your points, most of them can be easily seen as misleading, facist statements fueled by anti-Chinese sentiments. They are so ridiculous that I really don't know what I can say about them.
A little offtopic I know, but I do want to add that Mikhail Gorbachev was every bit as responsible as Ronald Reagan to end to Cold War. It's funny that neither of them are very well-respected by the general public of their respective country even today.
Google brought us good results, minimal pages that weren't influenced by bribery or (in most cases) manipulation, and quick easy searches. Is that something that China's 200 competing portals will be able to bring to the customer's desktop? I think not.From the press release:
The very same fee-influenced ranking that just about every other search engine used when Google landed, the kinda ranking that we all hated, and one of the very reasons why millions of users flocked to Google and brought onto it massive popularity.
And did the Chinese Search Alliance announced any breakthrough technology that rival Google's? No, didn't think so.
But they are still backed by the government and probably can monopolize its market just simply by exploitation of their relationship with the Chinese government , which literally controls everything in the country.
As massive as the Internet is, there are very limited number of data pipes that cross the Chinese borders. It's not that hard for them to block out sites that they don't like their people see.
Please don't abuse the word monopoly, it has a strong meaning. It doesn't just mean the lack of competition, it implies the exploitation of its position to prevent and nulltify competition.
See this for a definition.
And comptetions it has many. Inktomi, FAST, Teoma, Direct Hit, to name a few general crawler-based search engines.
See this for all the search engines there are out there.
Google has no monopoly whatsoever, it's just plain popular. it's popular because it's good at what it does, and the competitions just simply aren't as good at it.
Ironically, monopoly is what the Chinese government trying to achieve. The whole move is obviously politically motivated, the Chinese Search Alliance is government-backed, and undoubtfully the Chinese gorvernment will exploit its power to ensure the Chinese Search Alliance popularity and undermind Google's.
Why are all these people here dilluting the move into some technological arguement? Did the Chinese Search Alliance present any brillant search algorithm? No. So how do they intend to compete with Google? Market manipulation via their Government backing, duh!
And there's a Mozilla sidebar for Backflip too. http://dmoz.org/Netscape/Sidebar/Computers/ The Backflip Buddy sidebar is at the very top of the list. I use Backflip exclusively for all my bookmarks for over a year and a half. Occasional downtime aside, it's a godsend.
Well, on a portable CD/MP3 player at least.
This Panasonic protable CD/MP3 player comes with a magnetic induction charger.
(Click on the "enlarge image" and you'll see a tiny pic of the power adapter connection.)