Brian Walton

Spitfire Audio LABS https://www.spitfireaudio.com/labs/

Love Boz's stuff and the Sidewinder I think was my introduction. I used that all the time. However, when Izotope came out of the free Imager, I found that became my go-to and Sidewinder the backup. Both are excellent.

Exactly. Anything goes in this sub forum (within the rules), but I expect the other places to be on-topic.

I'd agree the MEqualizer is very feature rich for a free EQ. I didn't find the interface to be as welcoming but see value in using it for more surgical and unique tasks. The Pro-Channel is straight forward and easy to dial in without a lot of clutter and its place in the PC adds extra value. MEqualizer would be my suggestion though if I was using any other DAW, excellent addtion to the thread.

PC EQ beats any free EQ I've ever seen. Both ReMatrix and B-Reverb are top notch Tape, Channel Emulation good (but expensive alternatives sound better, IMO) The compressor is ok, but a number of Paid compressors I'd argue are a noticeable improvement (if for nothing else versatility). Pro-Channel as a whole is fantastic and can easily produce pro quality results in the right hands. I'd love to see more effects and options added as the format certainly beats VST windows.

Not related to the product itself, so I think not "Provide feedback on features, ideas and requests for future releases of Cakewalk by BandLab"

Have access to the real thing this is modeled/sampled. Demo sounds pretty good for those that don't have the access or need the editing functions that Midi can provide. For the demo songs, oddly enough the bass is a little low in the mix, IMO.

The amount of threads not related to "Discussion focused on all things related to Cakewalk by BandLab software, the DAW formerly known as SONAR Platinum" are getting out of hand. I've even posted within a few of them, but wondder at what point I should be posting the "this is the wrong forum" instead of providing advise and direction.

All 7 of mine say 2 activations and there does not appear to be an option to deactivate On-Line. Yes, you can deactivate on a working machine, but the point being if that machine does down, there is not option to then free up that seat via the portal (from what I see). Thus you lose a seat if your HD fails, unlike many other plugin providers. I do recall a long time ago that ilok would let you lose and replace your dongle liscence once a year at a max, but I'm not sure if that applies to the local authorization as well.

I think we disagree on what "effectively drive" means. Will you hear sound that comes out? Yes. Will that sound be as rich sounding as it would with something of the same fidelity but drives it better? Nope, it won't. Thus they are not a good match. 250 ohms is too high for the way that particular interface is designed.

I'd like to think there are far more than 1K users (the number in that poll) 😄 My point is I think many of those that voted don't even know what they are talking about. I'm a heavy "audio" user, but I also realize that Cakewalk doesn't have a whole lot they could develop there, so what would be the point voting for that? So few people use Standard Notation in an digital enviroment, I understand why it wouldn't get much attention. Both MIDI and Audio are at the forefront of modern prodcution and the tools to make composition easiser/better seems like low hanging fruit for a company that wants to make music production accessable to all. A great composition has universal appeal, "technical" improvements to audio editing - seems like things that are unnecesary considering the tools we have now. Is it concerning to me that the majority of users don't understand what is of value in music production? Maybe a little bit. 😂

I had not seen that. Good call. Though it seems interesting to me that the community that did vote put Audio Editing development as #1. Outside of something like Spectral Editing, note quite sure where I expect Cakewalk to go with that one. There just isn't that much more that is out there (considering effects such as noise reduction, is a seperate catergory). Glancing through a number of comments on the subject, I'm not sure all of the users understand the scope of what that audio editing catergory would encompas. I'll also note that the vast majority of music production doesn't need better technical mixing, it needs better music and composition. Most people don't seem to grasp that is the real improvement they need to make the music actually matter. The technical tools we have are so far beyond what was used to record long term impactful recordings. The challenge is far more a creative one than a technical one with what we have at our disposal.

Right most permit 2-3 authorizaitons. However, iLok in theory you don't get that "lost authorization" back if the HD fails since there is no on-line deauthorizatoin available like other providers offer (XLN Audio is one example). I personally use 2-3 authorizations in my environment, thus losing an authorization outright equals a decision to either pay for more or switch to a provider without such problems. Thus why I tend to never use iLok applications unless I feel there is a real need to, and that is fairly rare.

+1 what Cakewalk offers is plenty for the future already. The only thing I'd really like to see is some simple arrangement "chord" type of tool built into the interface. Would be helpful to see, create chords and song structure in an easy to setup and with a sizable view. This kind of thing (Kind of Like EZ Keys) is harder to work with as an "external" tool. I think this would also help bridge the gap for newer composers. Not needed of course, but is one of the view things I could see as a real value add to the way the whole tool could be used.

True, but last I checked I was thinking the "local" ilok manager requires deactivation from the PC. So if that HD fails for some reason, you just lost hundreds, or thousands worth of virtual gear. And yes, I can't see any possible scenario where I'd pay for a Slate like system. You can't resale Slate either??

Word of warning my black official Senn headphone bag....black rubs off on the Cream headband of the 598s. I baby my headphones and they basically look abused b/c of that bag. I also imagine this might be the reason for the color change on the 599 headband.

I only have about 6-7 of the smaller Soundtoys plugs but the Bozbplugs I have get used on every single project. Soundtoys sound great but seem like the every now and then use for the ones I have. I also never use an ilok plug if I have an equal with a more liberal authorization process. Mongoose, Pan, T-bone, manic Comp Clipper, delay, Sasquatch, gate all are go tos when the effect is needed.

I'd look for a lower rating. You won't have the output the phones are capable of using 250 Ohms headphones with it. They would benefit from adding an amp to the stage. With a much lower rating an amp wouldn't be necessary at all.

A friend bought a pair and we did side by side testing with my 600 and 650s. All 3 were a little different. They are not made down to the "t" the same. Excellent headphones, no question about that. Not sure how well they do with resale haven't tracked that. The 600s or 650s are more relaxed, like sitting farther away. The 590s series are more upfront. While the drop phones are a good value compared to the 650s, they are still quite a bit more expensive than the 599s which I prefer and I've done a few listening sessions in a studio with friends and I'm not alone. I like 600s for classical recordings, but tend to prefer 590s for just about everything else.

Have owned the 580s, 600s, 650s. I prefer the sound (and comfort of the 595, 598, and 599s. plus side they are a lot cheaper and are more easily driven by different musical sources.

I'm under the impression it is a little mix of both depending on the product. Realistilly a lot of it is market driven. I never understood the model of $150+ for a single plugin effect for anything other than a full blown studio in terms of rationalization from a budget perspective and with DAWs now including real usable effects in the package, it makes even less sense. Unlike a piece of hardware, the software runs a chance of being "worthless" in a limited amount of time. Current state they have many advantages over hardware in the short term, but your average home producer has a budget that is more in line with where the market is heading than what the manufactures were trying to dictate 10 years ago. I'd much rather have a competive product from Boz than the "big name" due to things like authorization methods and install processes. In the case of the +10db, is has to be hard to compete with something like the Waves Omni Channel when it goes on sale for around $25, outside of those of us with multiple workstations that would need to buy are than one seat to seamlessly use across platforms.

Since when is the Abbey Road Bundle $1K? Don't get me wrong that is one to the best things Waves offers as a package but seems like a bit of an oversell. Hate to say it, but having to listen to that song for as long as it would take to mix it would not be worth the top prize, IMO.

Really like this pluign, but does anyone else have issues running this in 64bit VST in current Cakewalk version? VST2 works fine, but VST3 on my machine freezes the entire project for some reason. His other VST3s don't have this issue.

V1 gets more use from me because of the Pro-Channel module. And since not everyone knew about it, always good to get the word out about a solid freebie.

I have a similar issue with Boz Manic Compressior VST3, though his other VST3s work fine.