I stepped away from Kinetic for sequencing about a year and a half ago and started using Motu BPM (standalone) and though I like it I've grown tired of its limitations which are mainly:

- Not being able to sequence in 3/4 time
- Only limited to UVI sounds
(though they are excellent and I have several of their libraries I still missed using my other sounds) 
- Midi editing is way too limiting
- No automation
- Midi patterns can't extend into next loop (groove/scene)
- Can't song arrange down to half bars

So I fired up Kinetic to work on a couple songs for a couple of projects and whipped right through them quickly. I loved using the keyboard shorts and all the deep midi editing I was able to easily do. This all reminded why I started using Kinetic versus Sonar (5 when I got kinetic) for sequencing and song arranging.  
I'm posting this because I want to say that Kinetic is truly a deep midi workstation. It's a shame it has never really caught on nor been updated since version 2. The ability to use any VST Synths and FX you wish makes your creative options limitless. Even in its current state I find more powerful and fun than any I've tried on the software side of things.
 
Sure there is Fruityloops, Live and Maschine (1.6) but Kinetic is still a strong contender. Cakewalk if you have the resources put some focus on Kinetic 3. Don't market as a simple beat making toy. In fact you won't have to do much marketing at all if you do right. Just don't make it look like a toy anymore (doesn't bother me but others just over looked because of how it looked). Although it looks like its a toy on the surface you and I both know it is much more deeper and powerful that what it looks. It is a VST Host, Midi Sequencer, Song Arranger.  Just add input quantise, an arpeggiator, update the gui (skylight all day baby), multicore support, optional global volume, pan mute linking, bundle Beatscape, add multitrack export and call it a day.   
 
Cakewalk,
 
Since Kinetic has not been publically discontinued whats up? Whatever you do keep Kinetic simple and intuitive. Don't add the matrix or any other major features. It's tight the way it is. Just needs a little modern love.
 
I'll be around...
 
T.
 
 
 
 

I am sad to hear you leave MOTU BPM.. I love it to death.. I understand the limitations.. But I have step outside the boundaries of UVI... I have loaded Battery effects, .wav and .mp3s within BPM... You probably have seen my videos on youtube.. www.youtube.com/orecordings... But you are right with Kinetic its a very slept on beast in my opinion.. especially with Roland Sp606.. Keep me posted with some songs you have done using kinetic

Whats up Twitch...yeah I've seen your videos before and its kinda weird because I feel like we've actually talked before....

Anyway, nah I'm not leaving Motu BPM (I'm in too deep...LOL!) but Kinetic will once again get its fair amount of production time especially on more complex stuff.  I do use BPM within Sonar (when I have to and to bounce down multi-tracks) so I can sequence or replace other sounds but it becomes a different kind of workflow and more cumbersome. I like to move fast with ideas and thats one the things I like about both Kinetic and BPM. But when things get complex, key changes, working in 3/4 time, editing midi, and some of the things I mentioned before BPM just kills my creativity. Plus I haven't upgraded to 1.5 yet (I still plan to) so with not having undo it's like I still can't believe it wasn't there in the beginning. As far as programming beats is concerned BPM's step sequencer is tight but again the 3/4 thing is killing me! I do Urban Gospel...gotta have 3/4 or 6/8. It can be done but in BPM but you gotta select 48 steps and 12 bars and the metronome is all weird and uhhh!!!! I don't feel like working on the song anymore LOL! 

BPM is a good product and delivers what was promised plus it has way more than paid for itself and all the UVI libraries I have along with it.  But Kinetic's midi editing and just a lot more mature. I would think so coming from Cakewalk and Roland...

I'll post some new beats Kinetic Beats here soon.

T. 

Kinetic is the fastest way to get 4-8 groovy bars of music that you don't know what to do with.

I have had one or two weird things with the plugin manager since moving to Win7 64.   Other than that it is still pretty fun.

Four years on and no updates might sound bad, but there really is not that much they can put into it without getting in the way of what it does.  Multicore, 64 bit, multiple project templates, and skylight.  Import midi patterns, not just PTN.  Export to MIDI and Sonar.

Hey mumpcake! Whats up man! 

I agree there isn't a whole lot that needs to really be done with it. Just bringing up to today's basic standards and giving it a face lift would be all it needs. It's already a very usable and stable. If Cakewalk does a version 3 and keeps it try to form and at the same price point it will be classic. Seems like it was ahead of its time and the song arranger and midi editing is timeless in and of themselves. Getting it 64bit ready would lock it in for long time. Look how long XP has been around and Windows 7 will probably follow suit. Some major opportunity for Cakewalk and Roland. They could even bundle it with a cakewalk keyboard or pad controller. 

yea, we talked back in the day on some Kinetic stuff.. I do wish Cake would extend the Kinetic line.. But I don't think they will.. I loved using it back in the day... And I find myself using is with my Roland SP606.. The midi implementation such as editing, recordings, automation for this small footprint of a software its simple amazing!! There is still no other like this to date.. Maybe if I do some videos and start talking about htis more hopefully others will take a look and make some noise so Cake can notice.. (wishful thinking)... Anyways, can you still get K2 anywhere, anymore? I notice P5 is gone too..

Ok. I wasn't trippin...so we have spoken LOL!  You nailed it! The small footprint compared to the depth of the midi implementation and automation is nuts. There is nothing like. I mean you can master it in a day. It's crazy. Don't you hate wishful thinking...just seems to always end up a waste of time. But I don't know...if enough buzz is created and Cakewalk sees it would good business sense to invest the resources needed to update Kinetic I'm sure the would do it. They are business and a good one at that. I'm sure they would love to deliver a great product and make a ton of money. It would be a win win situation.  Actually, being that its not a new product its got a greater chance of living on than not. As long as it still works in XP (looks its fine in Windows 7 as well) I'm good. That being said it does really need multicore support for the newer VSTi.
 
Now you got me thinking about doing a tutorial....LOL!

The weird thing is that Kinetic was originally conceived to work with the 606.  After buying Cakewalk, Roland went pretty heavy on the whole hardware/software integration thing with Sonar and the new controller/interfaces.  You'd think they might be doing more Kinetic like things for their groove boxes.

I've heard it over and over again...Cakewalk just doesn't have the resources to do it all. I still think they might have plans for Kinetic because they haven't "officially" discontinued it like they did with Project5. But who really knows except them. Maybe now that the next generation of their flagship software (SONAR X1) it about done they will be able to give Kinetic a little love.  

Twitch


I am sad to hear you leave MOTU BPM.. I love it to death.. I understand the limitations.. But I have step outside the boundaries of UVI... I have loaded Battery effects, .wav and .mp3s within BPM... You probably have seen my videos on youtube.. www.youtube.com/orecordings... But you are right with Kinetic its a very slept on beast in my opinion.. especially with Roland Sp606.. Keep me posted with some songs you have done using kinetic

Twitch,

Its beens so much fun editing midi and automation in Kinetic . You can just pull off some amazing stuff so easily with Kinetic. I think I will be grabbing me a Akai MPK61 for it's MPC input quantize, swing and note repreat.  I can pretty much map everything I need to via midi to control Kinetic. 

Here's the latest creation I have made using Kinetic for sequencing and song arrangement.

http://www.urbanmultitrac...trumental-rnb-beat-63/ 

It was composed, arranged and mixed in Kinetic but mastered in Sonar. 

Let me know what you think.