The State of DAW Technology

The State of DAW Technology

During the days of Microsoft Windows XP, things was moving along smoothly. There were no compatibility problems. However Bill Gates INC decided to advance PC technology to a 64 bit platform with the introduction of Vista. The Vista Operating system was a failure, as few music software developers made there programs operate properly in this platform.

Soon after Vista can Windows 7, which was billed as the solution to the defected Vista OP. With windows 7 professional you have a virtual XP environment and can run XP compatible programs for a moderate price tag. However, the main problem is yet to be solved.

Propellerheads Record 1.5/Reason 5 duo does not rewire in the 64 bit platform. When Cubase is in 64 bit platform it will not rewire with the newer version of Record/Reason. Propellerheads has yet figured out how to allow their programs to rewire to a 64 bit host. Which means when you operate Record/Reason duo, you cannot use VST and VSTi.

Do not get me wrong, Record/Reason Duo is a fine DAW. However, many people like myself invested in a Host and VST and VSTi which are very expensive, but in the new 64 bit platform for example Cubase is obsolete. Sony Acid is still behind in the technology race as they are still in the 32 bit platform, however, because of this Acid tends to crash too often. So even as you can rewire in Acid the program is unstable.

Then we have to take into consideration the state of the Japanese union. The third largest economy in the world has been devastated and Sony is from Japan. Will there be a timely upgrade to Acid Pro 8. Still regardless the problem is at Propellerheads, because they have not made the program rewire to a 64 bit host. Hopefully the software giants will come together and but together tighter compatibilities among music software programs.

As for me, my next project will be done with Record 1.5, Reason 5 and ReCycle 2.1. This gives me the feel of both worlds without the actual VST capability. I can loop both Wav and REX2 files, using ReCycle to covert Wav to Rex2 and play them on the Octo-Rex Player. I can process samples with ReCycle to play on my NNXT Advanced Sampler thru my MIDI Keyboard and use the many devices available on Propellerheads to include the revolutionary Neptune. When the 64 bit issues are resolved my studio configuration will probably change.