After 5 month using Usine:

[moody33]

-Usine is especially design for live
-Usine is great for building special effects
-Usine is perfect to build and play loops
-Usine is perfect for performance and "installation"
-Usine is inspiring
-Usine replace a lot of my VST plugins.
-Usine sound good!


BUT:

-Usine is not design to "compose" music , it's not a multi-track sequencer. It's hard to compose a song when you want to record long tracks that are not "loops". Usine is a LIVE looper. If you want to make a long song with your bass , voice and guitar, it's not really easy. Build your drums loops, and import them to your favorite sequencer.

So:

-Usine as a live software means that we really need Usine "patch as VST " if we want to use our favorite patches in a multi-track recorder like cubase, tracktion, pro-tools...avoiding to export/import, open/closing and become crazy.


So, I've found a solution using the energyXT2 built'in sequencer inside usine. But , XT 2 haven't got multiple output....and I want to use some Usine patches for each tracks. This is a problem for me. Do you think that's could be possible to build a "wave sequencer module" like XT2 's one?

I know there is a built in sequencer inside Usine but it confused me, especially because we can't records track at a given time without having to build specific patches...and it's sometimes boring. Sometimes I have great music ideas, and I 'm always clash myself with routing and technical problems. Each time I want to use non-looping tracks in Usine, I want to kill myself.

" Yeah , I have a great loop! I hear a bitchy part of bass here for two bars, and then a groove for eight bars , then a silence of three bars, and then the first groove and after a totally new groove ! Let's records this song now ! But...how to do? " So i search for two hours how to do... and forget my bass line...SHIT ! Where is my multi-track recorder? Fuck, I need this patch, and not as a loop! Fuck fuck fuck! I go to bed.

So Usine, is absolutely without limitation. But it's also his bad point.


However, I've used Usine two times for live performance, and it was a real pleasure to play my guitar using my FCB1010 to control sounds , loops, and real time looping. Thanks.

Last notes:

the ramp module doesn't seems to receive tempo change information until we change the sync button.

Synchro in usine is full of possibilities, but it's also very boring sometimes...Why not adding more options to the sync input of the sampler and piano roll modules ( cycle bar , beat , one bar, two bars, 3, 4 ...16 bars ?) It could sometimes help us .

Regards.

La technologie est au service de l'inspiration...mais j'aime bien les casse têtes aussi.

[senso]

thanks for feedback.
I really need It.

-Usine is not design to "compose" music , it's not a multi-track sequencer. It's hard to compose a song when you want to record long tracks that are not "loops". Usine is a LIVE looper. If you want to make a long song with your bass , voice and guitar, it's not really easy. Build your drums loops, and import them to your favorite sequencer.

Until now, the priority to make Usine the most powerful for live situations.
Now, as Usine starts to be complete, I'll try to improve other aspects of "music creation".

-Usine as a live software means that we really need Usine "patch as VST " if we want to use our favorite patches in a multi-track recorder like cubase, tracktion, pro-tools...avoiding to export/import, open/closing and become crazy.

I plan to create the vst version during the Christmas break... if it's enough...

I know there is a built in sequencer inside Usine but it confused me, especially because we can't records track at a given time without having to build specific patches...and it's sometimes boring. Sometimes I have great music ideas, and I 'm always clash myself with routing and technical problems. Each time I want to use non-looping tracks in Usine, I want to kill myself.

The recording capabilities on the sequencer will arrive soon. I found a way to do that.
But Usine will not be a real sequencer like cubase until a certain time; it's not the main goal.
It's easier for me to create a rewire version, or a vst.

the ramp module doesn't seems to receive tempo change information until we change the sync button.

I'll check it.

Synchro in usine is full of possibilities, but it's also very boring sometimes...Why not adding more options to the sync input of the sampler and piano roll modules ( cycle bar , beat , one bar, two bars, 3, 4 ...16 bars ?) It could sometimes help us .

I'm working on a set of new "live pack" witch simplify a lot this kind of synchronization.

[runagate]

Nice review and thanks, moody.

I'm surprised that Usine has come all this way and is even entering the realm of music composition.

It's especially odd for me being that I am making 1/2 compositions in FL which I've had forever and half trying to guess how things will work in Usine (the sound design, the automation) once my band starts trying to play a VSTi synth live on my VX5 or "scratching" live captured audio with a VR glove, or using insertpizhere's midi-sending VST plug-in GUIs via touchscreen to make Kaoss Pad like X-Y fx or whatnot.

I'm so used to the world of in-the-box composition/recording that I'm having to re-adapt back to the days of live instruments and it's very strange.

[nofish]

So, I've found a solution using the energyXT2 built'in sequencer inside usine. But , XT 2 haven't got multiple output....and I want to use some Usine patches for each tracks. This is a problem for me. Do you think that's could be possible to build a "wave sequencer module" like XT2 's one?

If I remember correctly, you can modify the vst version of energyXT1 to have multiple outputs, maybe that will do it for you?

[moody33]

Thanks Senso for answering.

Happy to know that the VST version is on it's own way!
Also happy to know that the sequencer will have recording capabilities.

You will improve the live kit and it' s great. i'm thinking about people that only wants to play and jam without having to create patches.

Just another suggestion: Mixer Tracks needs an "invert" switch. I know that we can easily build one, but it's more easier for us having it on the mixer track panel. I often have troubles with phases with my configurations.


NOFISH--> about energy XT

Yes, I think it's possible. I will try later. But I wish that usine will be the job one day !

Best.

[cmodica]

OK but becarefull. I like Usine and i work with it beacause it is simple and do his job very well. I'm afraid about a soft witch can do anything and it is not safe or very difficult to use.

There is a lot of music software and Usine is a very good one for live music and accousmatic improvisation. I like it.