Unannounced features in X1 Expanded

So I've been spending some time recently with X1 Expanded and have discovered a few new and long-requested features that seem to have been snuck in without any announcement or fanfare.

1. The ability to deselect a playing loop in the media browser now stops just the deselected loop without needing to stop all playing loops. This is how the old Loop Explorer used to work before it became the Media Browser. I can now audition loop construction kits again without wanting to hurt someone.  
2. You are now given the option to delete the tracks associated with a VSTI instrument when you delete the synth. Now they just need to take it one more step and delete empty track folders that are left as a result. 
3. [Note: This one may have been added before Expanded, but I'm just discovering it] When you audition multi-channel MIDI files using the Media Browser into a General MIDI VSTI (eg. Cakewalk's TTS-1) all patch changes and instrument volume/pan levels are sent automatically. 
4. Finally, I must comment on the stability of X1 Expanded. I'm not exactly sure what they've done but it definitely feels more stable. I've had several sessions where I was constantly loading in various combinations of plugins (64-bit, bit-bridged & J-bridged), just messing around, basically trying to make it crash and it's surprised me every time. 

Contrast this with yesterday's Pro Tools 10 announcement, which is actually nothing more than a few performance enhancements that should have shipped in PT9. For the PT10 upgrade, AVID is demanding $300, even though PT9 has been out for barely a year. What really sucks is that the performance enhancements are SERIOUSLY needed. It took me at least 2 weeks to make PT9 barely usable. They also had the nerve to announce ANOTHER plugin format (AAX), as if RTAS & TDM weren't already enough of a pain-in-the ass. To those folks wondering if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence...it's not...it just costs more.

Thanks to those folks out there in Beantown that are thinking about the small things. Its things like those that I mentioned above that keep me in the SONAR camp.

-e.B

PT 10's crossgrade prices aren't anything worth announcing either! I really love the option in Expanded to delete tracks when deleting synths......been waiting a long time for that.

emwhy


PT 10's crossgrade prices aren't anything worth announcing either! I really love the option in Expanded to delete tracks when deleting synths......been waiting a long time for that.

Amen to that. Also the synth substitution is nice to have.

yes. i am liking the xpanded as well. "replace synth" with checking that box is sweet. not having to undock the Pro Channel and stretch it as far as it can go vertically in order to load a preset is ****in too

I have the feeling some people are confusing updates with upgrades.

As far as I can see an update is something you get for free and fixes bugs in your present software version. At the other hand, an upgrade adds extra functionality to your software and thet is something you have to pay for.

Yes - I have seen the remarks of people saying the added functionality of expanded should have been in X1 when it was released and thus should been given to buyers of the "original" X1 for free, but I think that is nonsense. If you take that line of reasoning a "old" user of Sonar 2 sould get X1+Expanded+Gate+Z3ta+2 for free, because X1 is was Sonar 2 should have been..

Anyway - It is nice to learn Expanded had some improvements I did not know about. And I was already pleased with the Expanded/Gate/Z3ta+2 bundle, so it is nice to hear it is even more value for money than I thought it was..

I am confused.

We were told that no fixes were included in the expanded thang, only new features.

I figger there are now four versions of Sonar, with EX being the new top of the line, at about the same price that Producer used to be. At least for upgrades.

"Same as it ever was, same as it ever was,..."

j

Finally, I must comment on the stability of X1 Expanded. I'm not exactly sure what they've done but it definitely feels more stable. I've had several sessions where I was constantly loading in various combinations of plugins (64-bit, bit-bridged & J-bridged), just messing around, basically trying to make it crash and it's surprised me every time.

This also is a strong benefit that seems to be due to my having installed "E"xpanded.

Though stability should not be something anyone who purchased X1 should have to pay *more* for.

Grem


Cakewalk Reps have said that "fixes" are in "Expanded" that are related to the new features in "Expanded".

Yes, but the 'facts' say otherwise.