In 'previous episode we talked about some working environments that the web makes available to us for free and at low cost, such as Audiotool, Reaper, Podium, Ardor and LMMS. Also in this second part I will show you other free and low-cost sequencers that are no less than those discussed last time.
ENERGYXT
Energy XT it is a product that, even if it shows itself as a fairly simple and basic multitrack, hides some very particular features and its working environment is very light, so much so that starting the program is almost instantaneous. A software that I would personally recommend mainly for those who want to start looking at electronic music and have a base (and not a limitation for the number of tracks and effects) of instruments for their compositions.
Available for Windows, osX e Linux, updates and news are not long in coming, in fact a version for iOS.
One of the main features of this product is its working environment that presents itself semi-modular, where the sequencer itself, the instruments, the effects and all In e Out midi e audio, are placed as "modules" linkable to each other to make them interact and therefore have quite complex routings. There are no limits on tracks, midi or audio, as well as for effects that can be added to disproportionate numbers until the CPU starts asking for help.
Speaking instead of the editing aspect, Energy XT allows midi changes to the affected clips itself on the view of the arranger without opening other windows. Furthermore, as regards the automations, the latter are recorded and edited in the clips of the track we are working on, while for the audio, the program has a fairly basic and simple editing to work with, including a time stretching with a type calculation Elastic.
Also present in the product of ImageLine FL Studio, Energy XT can be used, as well as in mode ReWire, even as an instrument or effect, and then integrate it into any other sequencer that supports the VST protocol. However, both rewire and adaptation via VST to the other sequencers are available for purchase separately.
Another peculiarity of this product is also the possibility of installing this product in a USB key, thus having the possibility to take your sequencer wherever you want (you can also buy a key from the site with the product already inside).
Pro:
● Simple and straightforward interface
● Fairly straightforward editing and good drag & drop system with its side browser
Against:
● It has no 64bit support
● The mixer features a graphic only db meter with no values and not even a clipping signal
● The rewire system is a module to be purchased separately as well as the vst protocol and use energy XT as a tool within other products
FURTHER DETAILS
Platform: Windows - OsX - Linux - iOS
Architecture: 32bit
Multicore: si
Price: €59
N. Tracks: unlimited
Supported protocols: VST
Audio Driver: ALSA - ASIO
website: www.energy-xt.com
ROSEGARDEN
Rosegarden is one of the most popular open source audio / midi multitracks in Linux environment.
This product, even if its graphics appear sparse and oldschool, the program itself is really interesting. Oriented in my opinion to composers who purely use midi and who aim their work at compositions other than that club-oriented (trance, house, techno, etc.), Rosegarden presents an excellent Score Editor (the only one to present it among the products mentioned here) where we can write and print our scores and put them in play with the internal and external dssi plugins and ladspas that the linux world offers us.
The midi editing system is very complete, in fact we will have panels where we could adjust midi parameters, while for the audio we also have a simpler and more standard aspect for recording and editing.
One of the advantageous sides of the linux world is that every program concerning the audio environment can be used integrated with the others through a modular system such as Jack servers, thanks to which we will be able to use plugins such as zynaddsubfx, qsynth, rackarrack, VSThost, linux sampler and many others through the midi interfaces of rosegarden or make an audio recording in real time with our midi controller.
Pro:
● Good midi editing system
● Great Score Editor feature
● Good integration of program-independent audio software via jack
Against:
● No VST protocol
● Slightly cumbersome environment
FURTHER DETAILS
Platform: Linux
Architecture: 32bit
Multicore: Si
Price: Free
N. Tracks: Unlimited
Supported protocols: LADSPA - DSSI
Audio Driver: ALSA - JACK
website: www.rosegardenmusic.com
RENOISE 2.8
Although not a sequencer, this product is called the TRACKER environment, a completely alternative environment from the ones I am mentioning here.
Although completely different environment, this product is worth mentioning, also because it is considered THE tracker par excellence, the third generation tracker. In fact, this software has all the necessary supports to be a valid alternative to other products that make the wallet cry, also having the VST, AU, LADSPA and DSSI protocol on its side.
Supported for Windows, Linux and OsX (with availability for 64bit architectures), Renoise is certainly the valid alternative for those coming from the famous trackers such as Fast Tracker II e Impulse Tracker, without forcing the artist to migrate to sequencers and therefore face a completely different environment. Unlike its predecessors, this tracker has its polyphonic channels, also allowing the insertion of multiple notes in the same column, it also has its own internal plugins with which we can process our instruments. Having a “pattern-based” philosophy, Renoise has in addition to the classic tracker view also a matrix where each column-pattern can be managed independently from the pattern they belong to. Another interesting feature is the presence of the Lua API, an engine capable of giving us the possibility to build tools capable of interacting with the software and therefore "extend" the product.
Pro:
● Valid alternative especially for those who come from a tracker environment
● Ability to extend the product via the Lua API
Against:
● Being a completely different environment, many things can be cumbersome
FURTHER DETAILS
Platform: Windows - OsX - Linux
Architecture: 32bit - 64bit
Multicore: si
Price: 58 € + vat
N. Tracks: unlimited
Supported protocols: VST - AU - DSSI - LADSPA
Audio Driver: ASIO - CoreAudio - ALSA - Jack
website: www.renoise.com
CRYSTAL AUDIO ENGINE
Kristal is a very simple and intuitive audio multitrack without being too heavy during its use, but certainly the most restrictive environment compared to the products here and in the first
part I mentioned. Its environment has a very classic interface and features standard audio editing systems. Very interesting element is for example the LiveIN, that is the interface from which we can connect our instruments (such as the guitar) and apply plugins to these inputs to then process them and use them in real time while we are recording our performance. Perhaps a substantial flaw that this program has, is not so much the limitation in the number of available tracks (maximum 16 audio tracks) but the quite heavy limit concerning the number of slots available for the effects to be applied on the tracks (2 per track) and for the master itself (3 slots available). Although the team has moved on to developing the Studio One together with the Steinberg developers, Kristal always proposes itself as a valid multitrack environment that can be used for educational purposes and recommended for those who want to start the path of home recording with very simple and not demanding tools. I recommend adding third party effect plugins because kristal's internal ones are not the best.
Pro:
● Fast and stable
● The classic interface does not offer cumbersome functions, very intuitive
Against:
● The slots available for effect plugins are 2 per track and 3 for the master
● Plugins that in terms of quality hardly reach enough
FURTHER DETAILS
Platform: Windows
Architecture: 32bit
Multicore: si
Price: free - you can purchase a license for a commercial purpose
N. Tracks: 16 audio tracks - does not support MIDI
Supported protocols: VST
Audio Driver: ASIO
website: www.creative.org
MU.LAB 4
Mutools presents its product in its fourth version: Mu.Lab. This sequencer comes in three versions: Free, XT e UL.
The Free version has no limitations other than a sudden message asking to register the product and a limitation up to 4 tracks for the composition.
Although it might seem toy at first, this product is underestimated in its potential, in fact in its plugin package it also presents the possibility of creating your own instruments and effects via modular, with even articulated and fairly complex routings. Like the previous sequencers discussed, it presents quite simple midi and audio editing operations, thus focusing the product a lot on intuitiveness and ease of use, also showing good care its internal plugins which I mentioned earlier.
A product that therefore gives us the possibility of having infinite possibilities, therefore capable of merging products such as Reaktor and Max / msp in a simple multitrack such as MuLab, recommended mainly tends to use MIDI and above all modular systems. An excellent alternative therefore for those who come from modular environments and who like to have their own compositions made with instruments, effects and much more created by their own hand.
The software also has limitations in the XT always in the number of usable tracks and others that are still quite high compared to UL. For a better comparison of the three versions I recommend you visit this link.
Pro:
● Intuitive
● Ability to create your own plugins with a good modular system
Against:
● The Free and XT versions have very significant limitations compared to the UL version
FURTHER DETAILS
Platform: Windows - OsX
Architecture: 32bit
Multicore: Si
Price: Free - XT 25 € - UL 75 €
N. Tracks: Free 4 - XT 8 - UL unlimited
Supported protocols: VST
Audio Driver: ASIO: CoreAudio
website: www.mutools.com
