Tracktion
Encyclopedia
Tracktion is a digital audio workstation
for recording and editing audio
and MIDI. The software is cross-platform, running on Mac OS X
and Microsoft Windows
.
, a division of LOUD Technologies
specializing in studio recording and live sound products, took over distribution of Tracktion in 2003 and continues to develop and market it. The software is sold in standalone, boxed retail versions as well as bundled with Mackie, Tapco
and Echo Audio computer-audio interfaces and digital-capable mixing boards. Mackie began shipping the latest version, Tracktion 3.0, in April 2007.
Although no official word has come from Mackie officials, user understanding is that the project has been discontinued, as no updates, communication or announcements have been forthcoming from the company since January 2008.
system of filters. Complex chains of filters can be created, stored and recalled for later use as rack effects, which can be thought of as analogous to a saved channel strip
setting in a traditional DAW/sequencer.
Together with Ableton Live
, Tracktion represents a move away from the modal dialog boxes, multiple menus and cluttered windows common to most legacy MIDI sequencers and Digital Audio Workstation
s, in favour of a streamlined, single-screen approach that presents the user only with the options they need for the task they are currently doing, such as editing audio, adjusting MIDI automation parameters, effects settings, etc. Both also are notable for the use of a more abstract visual style that does not attempt to visually replicate "real world" recording equipment or effects boxes.
and ASIO support including multi-channel playback and recording at low latencies; WAV
, AIFF
and Ogg-Vorbis audio file format support; Punch-in and input-level-triggered recording; looped MIDI recording; real-time monitoring; full parameter automation for panning, levels, and effects; support for the
plugin and VST
virtual instrument standards. QuickTime
video support is included to aid in soundtrack creation.
virtual instrument; optional support for 64-bit math, to create greater digital headroom in the mix summing bus and thus avoid distortion; External MIDI sync, MIDI clock and MIDI Machine Control send and receive; per-track input auto-assignment; optional fullscreen input metering; a newly scalable window; and the ability to import files from Mackie hard disk recorders. Mackie has been drawing criticism in the support forums for its continued supply of version 2.0 with Tapco (a Mackie company) hardware, even though it is not supported with the Windows Vista operating system.
, Propellerhead Software REX2 and Apple Inc. Apple Loops file formats, and an improved timestretching algorithm useful for beat-matching and creating mashups
. Core technical enhancements include support for multiple CPUs and multi-core processors; and support for control surfaces including the Mackie Control Universal, Frontier AlphaTrack, Mackie C4, and Novation Digital Music Systems
ReMOTE SL series.
code that was developed to create Tracktion's graphic and audio capabilities was later split-out into an open-source library, Juce
, which is still maintained and developed by Julian Storer / Raw Material Software.
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
for recording and editing audio
Sound
Sound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations.-Propagation of...
and MIDI. The software is cross-platform, running on Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.
History
Tracktion was originally developed by a single UK designer/programmer, Julian Storer. It was first released in 2002 by UK-based Raw Material Software; US-based MackieMackie
Mackie is a brand of the United States-based company LOUD Technologies. The Mackie brand is used on professional music and recording equipment, such as mixing consoles, loudspeakers, and DAW control surfaces....
, a division of LOUD Technologies
LOUD Technologies
LOUD Technologies, Inc. is an American professional audio company. It operates in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Japan. Originally known as Mackie Designs, Inc., the name was changed to Loud Technologies, Inc. in 2003.-St. Louis Music:...
specializing in studio recording and live sound products, took over distribution of Tracktion in 2003 and continues to develop and market it. The software is sold in standalone, boxed retail versions as well as bundled with Mackie, Tapco
TAPCO
Tapco is a brand name for sound reinforcement products including audio mixers, speakers, and amplifiers.The original Tapco, which stood for "Technical Audio Products COmpany", was founded in 1969 by Greg Mackie and Martin Schneider. Their original product line were guitar amps and PA speakers...
and Echo Audio computer-audio interfaces and digital-capable mixing boards. Mackie began shipping the latest version, Tracktion 3.0, in April 2007.
Although no official word has come from Mackie officials, user understanding is that the project has been discontinued, as no updates, communication or announcements have been forthcoming from the company since January 2008.
User interface and unique features
Tracktion was designed to be as transparent and intuitive to the user as possible. Track object controls and parameters are context-sensitive; effects, MIDI instruments and other software objects can be added to tracks or even applied directly to individual audio and MIDI clips using a drag-and-dropDrag-and-drop
In computer graphical user interfaces, drag-and-drop is the action of selecting a virtual object by "grabbing" it and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object...
system of filters. Complex chains of filters can be created, stored and recalled for later use as rack effects, which can be thought of as analogous to a saved channel strip
Channel strip
A channel strip is a device that allows the output of an audio device to be amplified to a line level and integrated into some other system. An audio channel strip may be a stand alone unit or one of many units built into a mixing desk. It usually includes a microphone preamp with a switchable...
setting in a traditional DAW/sequencer.
Together with Ableton Live
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
, Tracktion represents a move away from the modal dialog boxes, multiple menus and cluttered windows common to most legacy MIDI sequencers and Digital Audio Workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
s, in favour of a streamlined, single-screen approach that presents the user only with the options they need for the task they are currently doing, such as editing audio, adjusting MIDI automation parameters, effects settings, etc. Both also are notable for the use of a more abstract visual style that does not attempt to visually replicate "real world" recording equipment or effects boxes.
Features in version 1.0
No preset sample rate limits (limited only by hardware); on-the-fly sample rate conversion; internal 32-bit floating point math; DirectSoundDirectSound
DirectSound is a software component of the Microsoft DirectX library for the Windows operating system. DirectSound provides a low-latency interface to the sound card driver and can handle the mixing and recording of multiple audio streams....
and ASIO support including multi-channel playback and recording at low latencies; WAV
WAV
Waveform Audio File Format , is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs...
, AIFF
AIFF
Audio Interchange File Format is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic audio devices...
and Ogg-Vorbis audio file format support; Punch-in and input-level-triggered recording; looped MIDI recording; real-time monitoring; full parameter automation for panning, levels, and effects; support for the
plugin and VST
Virtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
virtual instrument standards. QuickTime
QuickTime
QuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...
video support is included to aid in soundtrack creation.
Enhancements in version 2.0
Version 2.0 greatly enhanced stability; this version gained an improved MIDI editor with step entry; a software samplerSampler (musical instrument)
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
virtual instrument; optional support for 64-bit math, to create greater digital headroom in the mix summing bus and thus avoid distortion; External MIDI sync, MIDI clock and MIDI Machine Control send and receive; per-track input auto-assignment; optional fullscreen input metering; a newly scalable window; and the ability to import files from Mackie hard disk recorders. Mackie has been drawing criticism in the support forums for its continued supply of version 2.0 with Tapco (a Mackie company) hardware, even though it is not supported with the Windows Vista operating system.
Enhancements in version 3.0
Major additions include more tools for loop-based composition, including a keyword-based loop browser, support for the popular Sony ACID ProACID Pro
Sony ACID Pro is a professional digital audio workstation software program. It was originally called "ACID pH1" and published by Sonic Foundry, but is now developed and sold by Sony Creative Software....
, Propellerhead Software REX2 and Apple Inc. Apple Loops file formats, and an improved timestretching algorithm useful for beat-matching and creating mashups
Mashup (music)
A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
. Core technical enhancements include support for multiple CPUs and multi-core processors; and support for control surfaces including the Mackie Control Universal, Frontier AlphaTrack, Mackie C4, and Novation Digital Music Systems
Novation Digital Music Systems
Novation Digital Music Systems Ltd. is a UK musical equipment manufacturer. Founded in 1992 as Novation Electronic Music Systems, the company specialises in MIDI controllers and analog modeling synthesizers, which they have manufactured in China....
ReMOTE SL series.
Bundles and Upgrade Versions
As of version 3, Tracktion is available in two upgrade and two full retail versions. All have Mackie's Mastering Tools plugins included.- Basic Upgrade (updates the core application to T3, provides 'lite' training video; available only online from Mackie)
- Project Studio (T3 core application, IK SampleTank SE lite sound set, Amplitube Uno, TK DrumCoreDrumCoreDrumCore is software by Sonoma Wire Works that lets songwriters and composers create drum tracks using audio loops and/or MIDI beats, fills and variations by world-class drummers across a multitude of styles. It also includes a virtual drum instrument loaded with the drummer's drumkit sounds. It...
Diet Edition, Garritan Personal Orchestra Lite Starter Edition, LinPlug FreeAlpha synth, LinPlug RMIV Lite drum machine, LinPlug Cronox3 Lite synth, Lite T3 SonicReality loops library, Quickstart training video) - Ultimate Bundle (T3 core application, IK SampleTank SE, Amplitube Duo, TK DrumCoreDrumCoreDrumCore is software by Sonoma Wire Works that lets songwriters and composers create drum tracks using audio loops and/or MIDI beats, fills and variations by world-class drummers across a multitude of styles. It also includes a virtual drum instrument loaded with the drummer's drumkit sounds. It...
2GB Edition, Garritan Personal Orchestra Lite Full Edition, LinPlug Alpha3 synth, LinPlug RMIV Drum Addiction version, LinPlug Cronox3 full version, full T3 SonicReality loops library, 4hr Mastering Tracktion training video) - Ultimate Bundle Upgrade from any previous or lower version
Open source libraries
The underlying C++C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
code that was developed to create Tracktion's graphic and audio capabilities was later split-out into an open-source library, Juce
Juce
JUCE is a free software, cross-platform C++ application framework, used for the development of GUI applications and plug-ins.The aim of JUCE is to allow software to be written such that the same source code will compile and run identically on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux platforms...
, which is still maintained and developed by Julian Storer / Raw Material Software.
External links
- Tracktion product page at Mackie.com
- Tracktion discussion forum at KVRAudio.com
- Boot Camp - Creating Mashups for Beginners using Tracktion
- Tracktion 3 Review by Craig Anderton at Keyboard Magazine
- Tracktion 3 Review by Jonathan Wilson at MacUser UK
- Tracktion 3 Review by Peter Wetherbee at Remix Magazine
- Tracktion 3 Review by Mike Levine at Electronic Musician Magazine
- Tracktion 3 Field Test by Jim Aiken, Mix Magazine Online
- Tracktion 1 and 2 Review by David Viner
- Tracktion 3 promotional video (YouTube)
- Juce Open-Source C++ Libraries