Take lanes in X3 - any improvements?

neirbod
Also, is the vertical zoom limitation still there? Thanks.

I also want to know this.

>> is the vertical zoom limitation still there?
 
As far as I can tell, the vertical limit on take lane zoom is unchanged from X2.

brian brock
vertical limit on zoom of take lanes, and especially of automation lanes, is a big problem with no perceivable purpose

Agreed.  

I believe that the ability to show the comp track even when collapsed is coming in X3B

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
I believe that the ability to show the comp track even when collapsed is coming in X3B

 More talk of X3B

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
I believe that the ability to show the comp track even when collapsed is coming in X3B

I am confused by this. What does it currently show? From the video on comping I thought this was already how it works.

Since we have your attention, Noel, may I also request that the export audio function allow for exporting takes from take lanes (in addition to tracks, busses etc.)? This would be an enormous time saver when one wants to share files with another engineer. X2a does not allow this. If X3 does not, perhaps X3b could include it.

Nice to see Cakewalk so engaged in these forums the past few days. I hope it continues.

Keith Albright [Cakewalk]
 
When takes lanes are collapsed, the draw order was changed such that clips you hear draw OVER ones you don't.
So in a sense muted clips are no longer shown.  Same thing for take lanes that are muted.
...
 
I talk a bit about comping here:
http://blog.cakewalk.com/developer-notes-sonar-x3-comping/
 

 
Keith,
 
Thanks for this info and your comping blog.  I am excited to see some significant improvements to take lanes, especially for multi-miced instruments.  Looking forward to trying it myself once a demo version of X3 becomes available.
 
I will reiterate my two requests to Noel above.  I hope that these can be added to X3b.  First, that vertical zoom restrictions on take (and automation) lanes be removed. Second, that there is an option in "export audio" to export each take as a separate file.  The current system requires a tedious process of soloing one take, exporting, then soloing a different take, exporting again etc. This makes it difficult to share files with other engineers.  I sent this request to the "feature request" email but wanted to flag it for you.
 
Thanks.

Keith Albright [Cakewalk]
We hope to address the max size restriction on take lanes very soon.  
 
As for exporting takes, thanks for the additional explanation.  Makes sense.  
We'll consider it but can't guarantee when it would be implemented.  Hopefully it can be in the near future.

Great news about the size limitation!  And thanks for considering the export issue.  

stickman393
>> is the vertical zoom limitation still there? As far as I can tell, the vertical limit on take lane zoom is unchanged from X2.

First bad news yet...

I guess being unable to order has saved me a little anguish...

Keni

Not trying to bring up the lane/layers debate, but I never understood why anyone would want to get rid of the "extra" or "muted" info. HD space so cheap. Heck you may want that stuff one day!! But that's just me.

 
Obviously you've never heard some of my singing or guitar solos. They make me wonder why i might ever want to keep them.

Keith Albright [Cakewalk]
We hope to address the max size restriction on take lanes very soon.   As for exporting takes, thanks for the additional explanation.  Makes sense.  We'll consider it but can't guarantee when it would be implemented.  Hopefully it can be in the near future.

Thanks again Keith... My eyes now thank you as well! Hope it's soon! ;-)

Keni

Keith Albright [Cakewalk]
We hope to address the max size restriction on take lanes very soon.  

How about the minimum size restriction? Is it possible to make the lanes as slim as tracks? 

I still can't deal with the left-hand column layout of how Take Lanes are implemented, because I still get lost in the layout easily, but I do like the new comping abilities, and like the Flatten Comp feature. Pretty cool stuff.
 
Personally, I don't understand why a single Take Lane will leave the Track picture blank if you expand it vs. if you have two Take Lanes (one blank and the other with music). In other words, for a Track that has a single Take Lane, expand it to show the Lane. The track is blank. Now, click the "+" button on the Take Lane to add a new one. Now the Track picture is drawn. I don't see this as a problem, but something that could have been done with a little more attention.
 
I also don't understand why the Take Lane default color couldn't have been lighter or darker by default than the color of the Track. Just doesn't make sense to me.
 
How to insert split lines to begin comping isn't intuitive, so I had to go back and review the video to learn how to add them, but it's probably much better (after I get used to it) to comp with than X2's abilities.

stevec
+1    Both directions can be important depending on the situation.
 

 
+2 on no take lane limitations either direction.  That's what we already had with layers.