hello, once again

this time I gotta ask why is there such difference in the results of songs, including their depth sound and creativity when used by Tracker DAWs compared to other used Daws today, such as FL, ableton, etc.

For the background, I know it's some sort of a personal taste thing and also the experience of the artist, but after years of using MadTracker2 compared to FL, I realized there are tones of things such as the fact that the command/programming of sound in Trackers is WAY more powerful than DAWs today. For example, the gate thing and also automation of cutoff.

Why is it this way?

thanks

 

The tools you use become part of your art in a way. Using dumbed-down tools can in turn dumb down your songs, especially if you're not careful and often do whatever comes easiest.

There's a lot to be said for using outdated, quirky old tools instead of the latest and greatest. At the very least you will definitely not sound like everyone else, and from there it's up to you to make a big enough splash for it to matter to people's hearts & minds.

The weaknesses and quirks of some tools have spawned entire new genres of music. The incredible power of Ableton warp markers to snap to grid has destroyed quite a few genres in my opinion. Just because time is going forward doesn't mean we're progressing anywhere, we might even be going backwards as tech improves. Up to you to figure out where you stand.

 

Last edited: Jun 3, 2019

The answer is purely subjective. I feel more comfortable using trackers, even old ones, than any modern DAW. Others dont even know what a tracker is. Am I more creative? Am I able to produce better music than those who use DAWs? Clearly not. A tracker or a DAW is simply a tool to channel our creativity. Without our input they can't create. For that, none is better than the other. The better you know your tracker or DAW the easier it becomes to translate your ideas into a song. As a result, the finished product would be better.

 

Last edited: Jun 3, 2019

And DAWs are hard as f*ck to master compared to trackers... not to mention plugins...

 

Can anyone explai what a tracker is?

 

where it all started for me

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_tracker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ProTracker

so many memories !

rofl at this one tho

bonus link, for those that feel adventures
https://livet.se/mahoney/index_download.php[/MEDIA]

 

Last edited: Jun 6, 2019

Is it really?



No.

But I get what you are saying. I started with FastTracker. Makes very little sense that it took an extra click to get editable cutoff automation curve right into the piano roll. It may seem like a small thing BUT IT SHOULD BE THERE BY DEFAULT. NO EXCUSES.

It's the goddamn standards. Midi, VST. Most daws are slaves to their general purpose existence (and in FL's case, lazy designers/programmers since they have their own plugin format they have full control over).

 

@reliefsan Thank you for answering my question. Much appreciated.

 

Thank You for asking the question in the first place. made me revisit the past and it made me feel all good inside to go back to where it all began

 

I completely agree about the standard thing. I'm not a pro-producer/musician but I do like the stuff I'm using to be simple to navigate and effective in sound. programing has a big part of it, or at least some

 

Kimosabe.

 

I think that every producer or musician today should try a tracker today. it's a basic thing, start from the simple, then move on

 

FL is not so bad

 

A .wav file is a .wav file. Same sound if you play it through VLC, Ableton or Cubase. If there is a difference in sound some plugin is added without your knowledge.

 

It is though. The automation is a fucking joke. Sure you can do things, but it's not easy or intuitive.

 

A tracker is a form of sequencer where instead of using a piano roll you enter note information using numbers on a grid.

Neither are any different as all depend on instrumentation for the noise they eventually make.

Most DAWs offer a MIDI event grid. Try writing a song with it.



Tracker



MIDI Grid



Perfection At Last

 

Actually, the only song I've ever finished was using Fasttracker II on a PC lol... those were the days...
Damn, I feel old... wait, I am old!!