Mackie Tracktion 3.03 (Mac/Win)

Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Mike Levine

           

Mackie Tracktion 3.03 includes a host of new features and comes in two different bundles featuring plug-ins, loop content, and more.

BONUS MATERIAL
Web Clip: watch a video showing some of the key functions of Tracktion 3's all-purpose Edit Screen.

FIG. 3: A new addition in version 3 is the Quick Find Panel, which provides a loop browser (shown here), a file browser, or a marker list.

On Your Mark

Tracktion’s handling of markers has been significantly upgraded. Previous versions allowed for only a handful of markers, but T3 can handle up to 999.

Markers, which can be relative or absolute from a time standpoint, are displayed near the top of the Edit Screen and, like most of the features in T3’s interface, can be shown or hidden with the click of a button. You can also open the Marker List in the Quick Find Panel, which displays the markers vertically in order. When you double-click on a particular marker, the playhead jumps to that location, which is very handy.

More and More

Also new in T3 is the Folder Tracks feature. As in other sequencers, Folder Tracks let you consolidate any number of individual tracks in a single container, making track organization a lot easier. Unlike in some sequencers, T3’s Folder Tracks can be cut, copied, and pasted, just like regular tracks. That means you can use Folder Tracks to rearrange song sections. Here’s how: select all the tracks, put them in a folder, then cut, copy, paste, or drag verses, choruses, bridges, or other song sections to move them around. Somewhat of a guerrilla method, for sure, but it works. Tracktion’s Folder Tracks also have a master volume filter, so you can adjust the cumulative volume of the tracks inside.

Space doesn’t allow me to list all of T3’s other enhancements, but here are a few more: improved automation curves, increased control surface support—including the Novation Remote SL—support for Intel Macs, and the ability to mute individual Clips.

All Bundled Up

Although the Tracktion 3 application is identical in the Ultimate and Project Bundles, you get a lot more loop content with the former, and a better set of plug-in instruments. The Ultimate Bundle (and the Ultimate Upgrade Bundle for Tracktion 2 owners) comes with four times as many Apple Loops, REX loops, and multitrack loops (from Sonic Reality) as the Project Bundle.

The Ultimate Bundle also comes with better versions of the included third-party plug-ins, such as Garritan Personal Orchestra T3 Lite Edition (with an 820 MB sound library), LinPlug Alpha Classic Synth (Alpha 3 version), a full version of LinPlug CronoX Sample Synth, a version of LinPlug’s RM IV drum machine with 250 kits, IK Multimedia’s SampleTank 2 SE (with 100 sounds) and AmpliTube LE, and Submersible Music’s DrumCore TK (with 2 GB of samples)—a pretty impressive collection. Although you get video tutorials with both bundles, the Ultimate Bundle offers a whopping 4-plus hours of such content, enough to really get you going.

Getting Tracktion

Tracktion 3 really surprised me. It did almost anything I asked of it, and I found it to be quite capable as a recording, sequencing, and mixing environment for music-production situations. I’d like to see a beefed-up MIDI-editing section, a smoother manual punch-in feature, and the ability to save video and audio to movie files added to the next version. Using Tracktion requires some adjustment if you’re accustomed to the typical multiwindow sequencer, but under its somewhat unconventional hood purrs a powerful program that offers a great deal of functionality at a very reasonable price.

EM executive editor and senior media producer Mike Levine hosts the twice-monthly Podcast “EM Cast” (www.emusician.com/podcasts).

PRODUCT SUMMARY

digital audio sequencer
Ultimate Bundle: $249.99
Ultimate Upgrade Bundle: $199.99
Project Bundle: $99.99

PROS: Good value. Excellent pitch-shifting and time-stretching. Imports Acid, Apple, and REX loops. Filter Racks offer customized routing. Thorough manual and video tutorials.

CONS: No MIDI event lists. MIDI editing a bit cumbersome. Occasional crashes while scanning loops. Audio hesitates during manual punching.

Mackie www.mackie.com

Additional Resources

Mackie’s main site

Tracktion 3 bundle comparison chart

BONUS MATERIAL
Web Clip: watch a video showing some of the key functions of Tracktion 3's all-purpose Edit Screen.