M-Audio Pro Tools M-Powered 8 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am running Pro Tools 8 with Windows 7 64-bit and it works great. Yes, there were a few MINOR bugs with the initial release, but Pro Tools has made it very clear that Windows 7 64-bit is not yet officially supported. Their latest update however works PERFECTLY with Win 7 64-bit. In fact, the application runs very smoothly with minimal stress on CPU and memory. I typically use a lot of tracks and plug-ins. To date, this is the best application I've used in terms of system stress and audio quality.
These bad reviews seems to come from rookies who aren't quite sure how to use Pro Tools. Newer audio production apps are geared toward home studio/rookie musicians. Because of this, these same rookies pick up Pro Tools because it's the "industry standard" and immediately go back to SONAR because it's too complex for them. Just give it some time - learn the application and you'll love it.

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Pro Tools M-Powered 8 software puts the industry standard in audio/MIDI production on the fast track, letting you enter the powerful world of Pro Tools on your own terms. Pro Tools M-Powered has the same user interface as Pro Tools|HD and Pro Tools LE, all while expanding your creative hardware options to dozens of M-Audio interfaces. Session compatibility with all current versions of Pro Tools software means that you can easily move your projects between pro, project and mobile personal studios. And at just $299.95 MSRP, anyone can become a member of the Pro Tools community. Pro Tools M-Powered 8 is the serious music production choice for power, compatibility, options and ease of use--without spending serious money.

Real Pro Tools Pro Tools M-Powered is Pro Tools. There are actually three flavors of Pro Tools, all of which share the same user interface and file format. The primary distinction is the hardware they complement. Pro Tools|HD runs on elite DSP-powered Pro Tools|HD hardware. Pro Tools LE works with a variety of Digidesign hardware including the Mbox 2 family. And Pro Tools M-Powered delivers even more options via compatibility with dozens of M-Audio interfaces.
Produce with the Industry Standard--Anywhere, Anytime The combination of M-Audio gear and Pro Tools M-Powered 8 lets you work anywhere, anytime with the industry standard in music production software. Seamlessly collaborate with anybody running any version of a current Pro Tools system, including cross-platform between Windows and Mac OS X. Easily take your projects to just about any recording studio to have it mixed by a pro. Or take your pro studio projects home or on the road with you. With Pro Tools M-Powered, owners of most M-Audio interfaces instantly become members of the largest community of digital audio workstation users in the world.
Flexible and Portable--More Choices for You A wide variety of M-Audio PCI, FireWire and USB hardware interfaces are compatible with Pro Tools M-Powered software, giving you more options in where, when and how you work. Whether you need just a little I/O or a lot--or a desktop, mobile or hybrid system--you'll find the perfect solution with our PCI, USB/USB 2 and FireWire audio interfaces. Mix live and in the studio with the NRV10 interface/analog mixer. Experience compact productivity with an M-Audio audio interface keyboard. And DJs can enter the world of Pro Tools with our Torq products.
Easy to Use Elegance and power are the reasons why Pro Tools is used in the majority of professional recording studios around the world. At the same time, Pro Tools M-Powered 8 is very simple and intuitive. And once you know how to use one version of Pro Tools, you know how to work in any Pro Tools environment--from personal to pro studios. And if you want help, Pro Tools is supported by more educational materials and classes than all other DAW software put together.
Stunning New Look and Interactivity With a sleek new look, Pro Tools M-Powered 8 is as easy on the eyes as it is to use. All of the Pro Tools M-Powered functionality you know and love is still in place--now with double the inserts per channel, more customizability, easier access to editing options and more. Customize the toolbar to show only your favorite tools and rearrange them the way you want. Tile or cascade your window arrangement. Change the color of your channel strips, tracks, regions, groups, and markers to any hue. Navigate through sessions quickly using the Universe view. And with the QuickStart dialog, you can jump right into an existing session, quickly create a new session from scratch, or start from one of the new session templates.
A Well-Stocked Studio Pro Tools M-Powered 8 comes fully packed with a huge, comprehensive collection of music creation and sound processing plug-ins--giving you a well-stocked studio right out of the box. You get an incredible array of 70 DigiRack, A.I.R. and Bomb Factory plug-ins right out of the box, including EQ, dynamics, delay, reverb and many more. You can also create and play music with six groundbreaking virtual instruments from the renowned Digidesign Advanced Instrument Research (A.I.R.) group: the Mini Grand piano, Boom drum machine, DB-33 tone-wheel organ, Structure Free sample player, and Vacuum and Xpand!2 synths. See the complete list of bundled software.
As if that weren't enough, Pro Tools M-Powered 8 software also lets you take advantage of a variety of RTAS and AudioSuite plug-ins designed by the recording industry's largest professional third-party developer community. Track with powerful host-based vintage instruments from GForce and Way Out Ware. Polish your mixes with effects and mastering plug-ins from iZotope that surpass even expensive hardware. See more plug-ins from M-Audio, Digidesign and our partners.
Professional Recording, Editing and Mixing Pro Tools M-Powered 8 software enables M-Audio hardware enthusiasts to easily access the powerful recording, editing and mixing features of Pro Tools. Now with up to 48 simultaneous stereo tracks of 16- or 24-bit digital audio, and support for up to 96kHz sample rates, Pro Tools M-Powered 8 is an ideal companion for M-Audio interfaces and audio interface keyboards--whether you're recording solo or entire bands. And the optional Music Production Toolkit 2 expands Pro Tools M-Powered 8 to up to 64 mono or stereo tracks, and adds more effects and instruments, a multi-track version of Beat Detective and the Pro Tools MP3 Option.
Once you've finished your recording, you can fine-tune your performances with Pro Tools software's unmatched nondestructive editing tools. Shape sounds, compose parts, and add effects with RTAS instrument and effects plug-ins--then create polished mixes with professional mixing features and full mixer automation.
With Pro Tools M-Powered 8, your system has even more editing and mixing capabilities. Lock regions to the timeline to prevent them from being inadvertently moved or edited. Use the Automation and Controller lanes to view and edit track automation (such as volume, pan and plug-in automation) and MIDI CC data (such as velocity, pitch bend, and modulation) without changing track views. And with ten inserts to play with per track, you can now use more plug-ins than ever before.
Looping Tools Pro Tools M-Powered 8 features a variety of tools that make loop-based music creation faster and more imaginative than ever. In addition to importing REX and Acid files, the Loop Trim tool also makes it easy to turn audio or MIDI regions into loops. The Elastic Time and the new Elastic Pitch features make it a breeze to change tempo/time and pitch on the fly. As a result, you can integrate a wide variety of loops and audio files with your current session throughout the entire writing process. And DigiBase--the program's internal database--even has a Loop Preview feature that allows you to preview loops in sync, in real time, before bringing them into your session.
Transpose Audio with Elastic Pitch As a complement to Elastic Time, Pro Tools M-Powered 8 introduces Elastic Pitch, which allows you to you to effortlessly manipulate or correct the pitch of any audio region in real time, right inside the Edit window. Easily transpose an entire audio region in semitones--up to four octaves in either direction--without affecting its timing or tempo. Fix a less-than-perfect vocal performance by altering the pitch of individual notes in cent intervals. You can also create cool sound effects by linking pitch changes with time compression/expansion using the Varispeed algorithm.
Stretch Your Sound with Elastic Time Pro Tools M-Powered features Elastic Time, a powerful real-time tempo manipulation feature that makes it easy to change tempo or time on the fly. For musicians, composers and music producers, Elastic Time puts loop-based music creation in the fast lane, giving you the freedom to explore different tempos and experiment with loops and audio files that sync with your current session throughout the entire writing process. For post-production editors and engineers, Elastic Time makes it easy to stretch or squeeze audio tracks to fit video time frames, using high-quality algorithms that make your time manipulation virtually undetectable.
With Pro Tools M-Powered software, you can change the tempo and timing of loops, music, dialogue and other sound files without cutting up audio. Easily create loops from any audio file--even entire compositions--with the help of powerful tempo and transient analysis. Want to hear how a certain audio bit will sound in your song? The new Context Preview lets you quickly audition loops and audio files in sync with the tempo of your session. Even imported audio files and loops automatically conform to match your session's tempo.
Pro Tools M-Powered also makes it easy to perfect the timing of performances. You can improve errant beats by quantizing audio to your session's Bar|Beat grid--or to grooves extracted from other audio or MIDI performances using the Beat Detective feature, which offers better peak detection accuracy than ever before. You can also fine-tune "Elasticized" regions, with precision control over each individual beat, using the new warp track view and warp markers. You can even make the same precise changes across multiple grouped tracks while preserving timing offsets in multitrack recordings, such as with drums.
To ensure that you get the highest quality results, Elastic Time delivers some of the best-sounding processing in the industry. You can choose from several premium time-stretching algorithms on a per-track basis. You can even adjust the decay and processing window length to tailor the audio processing for each track, rather than settling for a one-size-fits-all algorithm.
Comp Tracks to Perfection Creating flawless performances is easier than ever with Pro Tools M-Powered 8. New track compositing features let you quickly and easily piece together the best possible version of a performance from multiple recording passes. Simply loop-record multiple takes on an Audio track, view and audition the takes in Playlist view, select the best parts from the track's alternate playlists, and copy them to the main playlist with a single click. You can also rate regions on a scale of one to five to help identify which takes you like the most when compositing playlists.
Advanced MIDI Production Pro Tools M-Powered software's fully integrated MIDI sequencer and editor allow you to record, edit, and mix up to 256 MIDI tracks alongside your audio tracks. Dedicated Instrument tracks combine the audio and MIDI elements of a given virtual instrument into a single channel strip to streamline your workspace. Launch your favorite instrument plug-in to get the sound you want. Engage loop recording to quickly develop a multi-layered drum pattern, then use Groove Quantize or Groove Templates to give it the right feel. Switch to MIDI Step Input to lay down a difficult passage. Turn on real-time MIDI processing to quantize your performance as it goes down.
Pro Tools M-Powered 8 also features a comprehensive array of new MIDI tools to streamline production with both virtual and traditional instruments. Gain extensive MIDI editing power through MIDI Editor windows, which can display MIDI and automation data for Instrument, MIDI and Auxiliary Input tracks. Work with new features that let you separate, consolidate and mute MIDI notes; scrub and shuttle through parts; view superimposed MIDI and Instrument tracks for easier arrangement editing; color code MIDI notes by track, type or velocity; audition velocity changes; and play MIDI notes when tabbing. Edit MIDI automation and continuous controller (CC) data through multiple Automation and Controller lanes. You can even watch your musical handiwork scroll by in real time during playback.
Score Your Music Based on the Sibelius notation engine, the new Pro Tools M-Powered 8 Score Editor window lets you view, edit, arrange and print MIDI data as music notation. Whether you want to compose music using the notation tools--or transcribe recorded, imported, drawn (with the Pencil tool) or step-entered MIDI data into notation--the Score Editor features everything you need and nothing you don't. Write parts on a single staff--treble, bass, alto or tenor clef--or grand staff. Place and edit notes, and edit the meter and key signature on a whim. Add chord symbols such as Dm7 and guitar chord diagrams to sessions. Transcribe MIDI parts in real time. Print out a score in its entirety or print only certain instrumental parts. You can even export sessions as Sibelius (.sib) files for further finessing in Sibelius.
ReWire Torq and More Fans of M-Audio Torq DJ software and other standalone applications can utilize ReWire within Pro Tools M-Powered for the best of both worlds. Simply send Torq software's output streams into Pro Tools M-Powered via ReWire for further mixing and processing. Pro Tools M-Powered also accepts MIDI directly from ReWire applications for recording controller data to a Pro Tools MIDI or Instrument track. With Pro Tools M-Powered and ReWire, the creative possibilities are endless.
Control Surfaces If you want the tactile feel of a pro console while enjoying the benefits of a personal or project studio, Pro Tools M-Powered supports both the M-Audio ProjectMix I/O and Digidesign Command|8. Both give you control over the software's mixing and transport functionality. ProjectMix I/O even incorporates a built-in 18 x 14 FireWire audio interface complete with eight preamps so you don't need any extra gear. If you're a DJ, Torq Xponent gives you a familiar DJ mixer surface combined with an audio interface and RCA outputs. And now with Pro Tools M-Powered 8, you can map plug-in parameter controls to almost any encoder on your controller, and access each track's ten inserts.

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KRK RP8G2 Rokit G2 8In Powered Studio Monitor Ea Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Don't expect these to be a smaller version of PA speakers. Studio monitors are quality over quantity. Yes, these are plenty loud for their intended use. The important part is their sound quality. As with any speaker of this quality, proper break-in really does make them sound better. The RP8G2 is a great value choice. Yes, there are better speakers on the market. You will pay a real premium for them, though. It is hard to evaluate speakers just on the published specs. Sound quality is so much more than technical spectral analysis.
These are solidly built, great sounding monitors that are a good value. I can really recommend them.

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The KRK RokitG2 Series takes value-priced monitors to a new performance level. All of the great stuff that Rokit's have been known for (front-firing bass port, soft-domed tweeter, glass aramid composite yellow cone) are still there, but the G2 Rokit's feature refined voicing and a new curved baffle that looks great, reduces diffraction and provides even better monitoring accuracy.

No Pain With Gain Why compromise gain structure to achieve a comfortable listening level? As musicians and recording people ourselves, we've asked that question too. So each Generation 2 Rokit comes with an Input Volume Control that provides an adjustable gain range from +6dB to -30dB. Just another way the Rokit lets you focus on your mix, and not on compatibility concerns.
Catch a Wave, for a 3D Mix Recessed tweeters may look the same, but they don't perform the same. KRK has designed a superior tweeter wave guide for the Rokit that provides optimal high frequency pattern control and focuses the sound outward, away from the cabinet. More conventional designs direct sound along the plane of the cabinet where waveform interaction can cause phase problems and increased diffraction. KRK knows a properly engineered high frequency wave guide is a critical component to great sound, and one key to our award winning performance.
You've Got Connections At KRK our focus is your mix. But it doesn't stop at creating accurate monitors. We live this stuff and appreciate the need for monitors that not only sound great but work easily into your particular set up. That's why you'll find plenty of input options with your Rokit, sure to accommodate any studio environment. So if it's RCA, Quarter-Inch (balanced/unbalanced) or XLR inputs you require, Rokit has got you covered.
Even More Accurate Than Before We took a great monitor series and made it better. Our engineers and listening panel took the Generation 2 Rokits' speaker voicing to even more accurate levels. What you hear is what you are intended to hear, coloration is not part of the spec. This performance is brought to you by drivers that are custom-designed by our world-class studio monitor engineering team, for clear, low-distortion performance.
Take Control While your Generation 2 Rokit leaves the factory voiced to our demanding specs, KRK also knows that no two rooms "sound" the same. As such, each Rokit comes equipped with a High Frequency Level Control. This feature provides specific adjustment of high frequency output most commonly affected by room acoustics. It's just one extra level of control that KRK gives you to ensure the most accurate mix for your particular room's acoustics.
Don't Be Square, Curves Ahead Our new Rokit looks different, so it can sound better, and in a wider "sweet spot." Traditional rectangular speakers suffer from diffraction as sounds leaving the edge of the cabinet are reflected back into the original sound field, and at different time intervals. This phase distortion creates a "narrow" or boxy" sound. The Generation 2 Rokit series eliminates this issue with radically engineered curved surfaces, so diffraction is virtually eliminated. Simply put, you'll get better sound in a wider area.
Let's Be Up Front Take a look at competitive monitors and you'll find ports on the back of the cabinet. These rear-firing ports tend create bass coupling with walls and corners amplifying low frequency information which will color your mix. The superior design of the KRK Generation 2 Rokit's include front-firing ports, which are just the right shape and taper to reduce port turbulence. You'll appreciate the clean and accurate bass performance, this approach delivers, even at high SPL's.
Power Up! A great sounding monitor doesn't stop with a great cabinet and custom drivers. Our true bi-amplified amplifier system provides discrete low-distortion power for each driver. While our active crossover systems provide smooth and accurate frequency response, and again, accurate diffraction control.
KRK Rokit 8 Specs
Drivers: 8-inch Glass Aramid Composite Woofer; 1-inch Neodymium Soft Dome Tweeter with Ferro Fluid
Input: XLR (3-pin), RCA & 1/4-inch TRS--10k Ohm, Balanced / Unbalanced
Amplification: HF: 20 Watts/LF: 70 Watts
Freq Response: 45Hz - 20kHz (+/- 1.5 db)
Video Shielding: Yes
Dimensions (H x W x D): 15 x 10 7/16 x 12 inches (38.1 x 26.5 x 30.4 cm)
Weight:26.1 lbs (11.8 Kg)

What's in the Box KRK Rokit 8 Powered Monitor, AC power cord, Owner's manual

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NCH Software Sound Studio (includes WavePad audio editing software, MixPad, Switch sound file conversion software, RecordPad and Zulu DJ software) Review

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(More customer reviews)For the novice or professional audio engineer needing multi-track recording...the combination of WavePad Audio Editing Software, Switch Audio File Converter, MixPad Multi-track Recording Software (Record and mix multiple audio channels), RecordPad Sound Recording Software, and Zulu DJ Software (audio mixing) adds up to over 200 dollars if you were to purchase each software program separately. I would spend more than 60 dollars just for MixPad. It has more functionality than a 64 channel recording console I used many years ago without the hassle of figuring out the `rats nest' of patches. MixPad is the digital replacement of using a multitrack recorder and mixing console.
MixPad will accept clips previously recorded or accept live recording through a sound card. The number of channels you can use is only limited by your imagination. Each track can be muted, soloed, paned left or right, have individual volume adjustments, set audio options, clips placed at different times, and my favorite...applying effects like amplify, chorus, compressor, distortion, echo, flanging, high-pass filter, or reverb. You can apply effects live before you commit them to your tracks for quicker and greater ease of use. You can also transfer a tracks to WavePad and back to MixPad for additional audio editing and functionality. MixPad also comes with a built in CD ripper and burner that makes it easy to create remixes and give them to your friends.
MixPad Features from MixPad's Help File:
* Driver support for ASIO, DirectSound, MME.
* Unlimited tracks.
* Pan and volume envelope automation.
* Intuitive, simple graphical interface.
* Independent volume, pan and effects for each track.
* Independent audio input and output routing for each track.
* Supports a large number of file formats including wav (multiple codecs), mp3, ogg, flac, vox, gsm and many more.
* High accuracy for precise mixing.
* Drag and drop existing files straight into the work area.
* Includes a CD ripper to load audio directly from an audio CD.
* Includes a high quality sound recorder which supports autotrim and voice activated recording.
* Integrated with Wavepad sound editor so you can conduct advanced editing on your files without having to save your files in between.
* Solo and mute feature on each track.
* Add multiple chained effects to each track.
System Requirements from NCH Software's website:
* Works on Windows Vista 2000/XP/2003/2008/7
* For earlier Windows versions (98, ME) please click here
* Mac OS X 10.2 or later
* Sound support on your computer
* CD burner [optional]
For the easy to use interface, features, price, and overall huge value, I give NCH Software Sound Studio Suite by NCH Software the highest marks.

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PreSonus Central Station Studio Control Center Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Prior to buying this box, I had my DAW's analog output directly connected to my studio monitors and used an old stereo receiver as a headphone amp. I would not have expected the Central Station to make such a huge difference to my way of working but it's been incredibly convenient to be able to control the system volume with a real knob, switch between studio monitors and a cheap boombox and to have the built-in headphone amp with plenty of volume. I can't explain why but being able to run my sound card (Digital Audio Labs CardDeluxe) at full output has made my mixes come out better in the form of crisper sound and better separation of instruments. Next step is to hook up the DAW's digital output to the CS so that I can have a custom headphone mix and leave it up during the tracking process without disrupting whatever mix decisions I've made. This box did exactly what I needed and helped me streamline my workflow without degrading my audio quality.

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The Central Station is the ultimate studio-monitoring interface for the modern digital studio. The Central Station features three sets of stereo analog inputs to switch between input sources such as: DAW, mixer, CD/DAT/Tape player, or keyboards/samplers. Two stereo analog inputs feature TRS balanced and the third stereo input features RCA inputs with trim control for level matching of input signals. In addition, the Central Station will accommodate two digital inputs via S/PDIF or ADAT lightpipe providing D/A conversion up to 24Bit/192kHz. This allows you to monitor DAW and CD/DAT outputs through the same professional quality converter for the most accurate A/B comparison and highest quality monitoring environment. The digital to analog converter offers the highest possible audio quality with over 117dB dynamic range and ultra high quality analog circuitry. The Central Station features three sets of monitor outputs, each with their own set of passive trim controls. The monitoring section also provides MUTE, DIM and MONO switches. In addition, the Central Station includes a set of CUE outputs that can feed headphone amplifiers and a separate stereo MAIN line level output.

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