Ive about talked myself into X2

Kinda waiting on X2a and having my computer in the shop has given me time to research/talk myself into it.

Ive tried to locate exaclty what is in X2 but cant find a complete list of what is included in Producer.

Does it have a Limiter included in it?

Im liking what I see with Breverb, Rmix, TH2, and some of the improved features from X1 but kinda leary seeing most of the stuff Im interested in having probs for others, not that it might not be a prob on my system once I get it back LOL.

Are you guys using stuff from X1 in X2 for any reason that would require you to install X1 with X2 or is it all there?

Just looking for additional thoughts or recommendations if ya have any to throw at me before I waste a mess of time once I do get my system back and start loading.

I plan on getting it from Sweetwater so I get the DVDs at no extra charge and there shipping and support is FAST  

Thanks  

no probs with X2 here Mike - enjoying it. Nothing limiter-wise except same old stuff. Console emulation is nice. Just feels more solid than previous versions.

Having had a look at the download it's pretty much everything that's been included since 8, Beatscape is no longer part of it but the loops and one shots that came with it are there.
 
It's much the same as installing X1 Expanded as far as content goes but you get the DSF strings, Rapture, and the limited versions of RMix, TH2 and Breverb have been thrown in as well. 
 
You are getting the functional improvements to what was in X1 in X2 as well so I don't see any need to have or keep X1 on your system.  If you're coming from a pre-X series version then it might be worth keeping that there for backward compatibility purposes but only if it is already there. 

digi2ns


Kinda waiting on X2a and having my computer in the shop has given me time to research/talk myself into it.

Ive tried to locate exaclty what is in X2 but cant find a complete list of what is included in Producer.

Does it have a Limiter included in it?

Im liking what I see with Breverb, Rmix, TH2, and some of the improved features from X1 but kinda leary seeing most of the stuff Im interested in having probs for others, not that it might not be a prob on my system once I get it back LOL.

Are you guys using stuff from X1 in X2 for any reason that would require you to install X1 with X2 or is it all there?

Just looking for additional thoughts or recommendations if ya have any to throw at me before I waste a mess of time once I do get my system back and start loading.

I plan on getting it from Sweetwater so I get the DVDs at no extra charge and there shipping and support is FAST  

Thanks  

I think it's an awesome addition, Mike. I'd have to TOTALLY agree with Jonbuoy on this. (and read more carefully before disagreeing with him, sorry Jon!) There are lots of improvements that X1 doesn't have. The list is actually quite long, but I'll give you a few of my favorites which have been game changers for me.
 
*More screen sets visible/allowed
 
*New take lanes with way more control instead of those old comp lanes we had for various takes on a track.
 
*Custom effects racks that can be implemented into Pro Channel. This is huge for me. I don't even really need the FX bins any longer.
 
*Piano roll is improved, looks better the way the notes are laid out graphically and is easier to work in.
 
*New snap to with landmarks and additional options are a plus.
 
*Smart tool is improved and makes more sense than the old one in X1
 
*Improved, near gapless audio engine. This one never shuts down for me and makes X2 so much smoother than X1.
 
*Editing clips is easier and more intuitive.
 
*Things that didn't work too well in X1 are fixed in X2. Like the constantly changing snap-to-grid notes. No matter what I'd set it to, it would revert back to 1/4 in X1. Now, whatever I change it to, it stays.
 
The above may not seem like a lot to most people, but to me, they have been game changers. There is a whole list of changes but those are the ones that stand out to me that I was able to use instantly without any additional learning curves.
 
Breverb didn't impress me as I have others that blow it into the dust. Not bad that it's been included though as you can never have enough tools in your tool box. TH2 is impressive. So much so, I may purchase the full version...but the one they give us is really good enough. I was able to come up with various sounds in seconds and it's VERY healthy sounding. I'd not trade in my signature tone for it, but it's one of the best guitar sims I've ever tried to be quite honest. Great for dirty, clean and spacey type tones as well.
 
As for a limiter, you best bet is to buy one. If you are going to buy a limiter, the Concrete Limiter is awesome for the money. If you want something serious, go with the Waves L series or buy the Rolls Royce of them all, the PSP Xenon. Hope this helps....good luck.
 
-Danny

Thanks a bunch for all the comments and suggestions. JUST WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR  

Yeh I was worried that Boost11 was all that it gave us. As Im trying to stay with just Cake, I guess Ill go outside of my box and go 3rd party on the Limiter.

Breverb=Meh to me.

Jonbouy

Mike. I'd have to disagree with Jonbuoy on this as to me, there are lots of improvements that X1 doesn't have. The list is actually quite long, but I'll give you a few of my favorites which have been game changers for me.

 
You'll have missed the bit where I said that you'll get the functional improvements X2 has over X1 then?
 
I was basically saying there is no need to have X1 installed as there is nothing missing in the installed content from the last few versions indeed there are a few extras on that score too.
 
Pay attention man!!!...

You are correct...I totally mis-read your post. Sincerest apologies brother....fixed my post above. :)
 
-Danny

Beepster


Yeah, Breverb is all "whatevs" for me too but it's convenient to have right on the PC. I'm not much of a reverb dude anyway. I gotta learn how to get some subtle presets happening with it so if things are just sounding way too dry I can toss them on and forget about it.

Frankly I don't really like any of the reverbs in Sonar but I probably just don't know how to use them yet. Seems all the presets are just way too heavy handed. I just want it to make my stuff not sound like it was recorded in a box.

That's the problem with presets Beeps...they are supposed to over-accentuate the plug to show you what it can do. You have to edit and back them down 98% of the time. Your best bet when working with them, is to create a bus. Then drop a Sonitus verb in the FX bin. Then, make sure all the dry effect is out of the verb. Make it 100% wet. Add sends to your instrument track(s) and experiment with the send level. You should start hearing some verb as soon as you start moving the send slider. If the tails are too long, open the plug and lower some of the decay time. Mess with pre-delay and the high pass/low pass in the verb to further tweak it to your needs. Sonitus is a really good all-purpose verb that can work on just about anything with a little tweaking. Hope this helps a bit.
 
-Danny

digi2ns

Danny Danzi

Beepster


Yeah, Breverb is all "whatevs" for me too but it's convenient to have right on the PC. I'm not much of a reverb dude anyway. I gotta learn how to get some subtle presets happening with it so if things are just sounding way too dry I can toss them on and forget about it.

Frankly I don't really like any of the reverbs in Sonar but I probably just don't know how to use them yet. Seems all the presets are just way too heavy handed. I just want it to make my stuff not sound like it was recorded in a box.

That's the problem with presets Beeps...they are supposed to over-accentuate the plug to show you what it can do. You have to edit and back them down 98% of the time. Your best bet when working with them, is to create a bus. Then drop a Sonitus verb in the FX bin. Then, make sure all the dry effect is out of the verb. Make it 100% wet. Add sends to your instrument track(s) and experiment with the send level. You should start hearing some verb as soon as you start moving the send slider. If the tails are too long, open the plug and lower some of the decay time. Mess with pre-delay and the high pass/low pass in the verb to further tweak it to your needs. Sonitus is a really good all-purpose verb that can work on just about anything with a little tweaking. Hope this helps a bit.

-Danny

Thats exactly the way I like to use it Danny.


I find it works and sounds much better on the send to a bus than in an FX bin in X1.
Pull the Dry signal all the way down to where its just the Wet Signal, I crank it and get the tails set to where I like for the song, then back the slider all the way down and ease it up to satisfy what I like which most of the time will be barely noticeable but the overall makes a world of difference.


Thats kinda what caught my attention with the BReverb is it appears to be a good reverb and Channel tools combined.

Yeah that's really the best way for verbs to be used in my opinion. However, I do put them on tracks once in a blue moon too. Breverb is pretty cool...but like I say, from what I heard while messing around with it, it just didn't blow my doors off, Mike. It's cool to have and I'm sure I'll use it for something at some point. It just didn't do anything more than what I already use. It has its place though. :)
 
-Danny

You will find it easier once you get used to it Beepster.

I know in X1 its just matter of Right Clicking the Send and it will chunk in the Bus for you, go to the Bus and insert your FX and then every track requiring the same effect, just right click in the tracks send and the bus is there to assign it to.

Like Danny stated there are times when like say you might want to add a different tail to a seperate track for the same effect which in that case, put it on the track FX bin or whatever X2 has going.  This way does cut alot of time off and you dont have to worry about adjusting a number of tracks FX the same when they are all on one bus.  

OK get back to unpackin' Beep  

AMEN!!! Danny

Thats the key to it all  and its what separates artists and makes them their own thing and sound IMO   LOL

Yep, well said Mike. I think that most artists just do what they do...and over time, they evolve into this "thing" while not even realizing they are re-defining the face of music. LOL! I think if you try too hard, or try to be different for the sake of being different, you've already lost. I made up my mind years ago that if what I do makes me tri-pod on 3 legs at the end of it all, I've done my job. LOL! :) Can't ask for much more because at my age, well, let's just say you don't see much tri-podding anymore. Hahahaha! ;)

-Danny

Man... I totally jacked this thread. Sorry, Mike. :-/

When I was checking out OS's for my DAW I was originally gonna snag Win 7 Ultimate (because hey... Ultimate! It's gotta be the shiz, right?) but after some research it turned out Ultimate will only be supported until 2015 whereas Win 7 Home and Pro will be supported until 2018. At least that was the scoop last time I checked. You should be able to find that on MS's website.

I bought Pro... and it's great. Personally I would trust 8 just yet. I think it might go the way of Vista which is having MS support dropped rather quickly... and more importantly the manufacturers and software makers are dropping support already.

But I'm just a hack so I'd go with whatever Jim is saying. 

Cheers.... oh and you're gonna love X2. It's spiffy.

I went with Pro because of the XP mode so if I really need to I can open up older programs or whatever. Apparently Pro doesn't have some of the multimedia stuff Home does though. Not sure how that'll effect me as I go along but Media Player seems to be doing what I need. 

I was kind of just flying by the seat of my pants when I built the thing though. Fortunately I had a friend helping and everything all worked out.

Cheers, dude.