Magic Formula is?

[kevmove02]

I need a little advice please. I currently use:

Windows XP on a 2 ghz P4 Compaq laptop with 1 gig Ram
Sequel 2 and Cubase LE4
Toneport UX2
Axiom 25 controller
Xenyx 502 Mixer
Zoom MRS 802 CD

after working through all the latency and usb issues, I am down to one last step: moving all of the Sequel soundframe files from a 5400 rpm hard drive to an external 7800 rpm hard drive. I have no reason to think this won't work. However, if it should not work, is it worth the effort to:

Compose using Sequel 2
Import into Cubase LE 4
MIdi Sync Cubase 4 to the MRS 802 for recording.

My logic is I have yet to be able to play the demo songs that come with the Sequel content sets without experiencing glitches. My logic is if I can record the tracks to a standalone unit, then I could have as many tracks as I want, without the glitches.
Any advice would be appreciated

[brandondrury]

I think when you combine tools you increase headaches. I do all my recording with Cubase SX3 and I'm done. I don't have to sync with anything. I don't have to import anything. I think this is the simplest method.

So why not just use Cubase LE4?

Brandon

[kevmove02]

I don't have any soft synths outside of Sequel 2. Therefore, at a minimum, I would have to compose with Sequel, then import to Cubase. My experience so far, with the laptop that I am using, more tracks = more glitches. Now if Cubase 4 LE can use Sequels soundframe files, that is news to me. That would greatly simplify my life. My perfect solution would be to replace the laptop, but that isn't going to happen. See my dilemma? To recap:

Sequel 2 has all of my loops and instruments, but can't midi sync
Cubase 4 can midi sync, but can't use sequel sound frame, so I have to import recorded tracks
Laptop chokes on more than 12 tracks in Sequel. Don't know how many tracks I can run in Cubase 4

[kevmove02]

Okay Brandon, after reading a bunch of threads, I finally decided to RTFM and discovered that Cubase LE uses Halion One VST, which is exactly what Sequel 2 uses. What the manual doesn't talk about is how to use of Soundframe (sequel) files in Cubase. Other than upgrading to the full version of Cubase, are there any known work arounds. This would allow me to do what you suggest, which is to work solely with Cubase!

[brandondrury]

Out of curiosity, what functionality does Sequel 2 offer that Cubase doesn't?

I haven't heard anything about importing Sequel files. You may want to create a new thread for that one.

Brandon

[P.P.T.]

Maybe you could export the existing Sequel composed midi tracks as audio and import that into Cubase.

In the future you could just do everything in Cubase.

If you have Cubase do you need to use the Zoom MRS 802 CD.
Is the Zoom a cd recording system?
Can you load the Zoom wave files into Cubase instead of doing syncing.

[Phlipper]

I'm with Brandon on this... the simpler you can keep it, the less headaches you'll have down the line. My laptop is actually lower spec'd than yours but I have no real problems (even if i load some big sample libraries such as symphonic choirs). I think you just need to bare in mind the limitations of your spec as you use it e.g. finish with your samples/midi files asap and convert them to audio, then you can unload all of the now unneccessary VSTs

[kevmove02]

Well long story short, I'm scrapping Cubase 4 LE and using Sequel 2 for sequencing and recording. The primary reason is I cannot get Cubase 4 LE to run without glitches, pops and crackles. I have been able to run Sequel 2 flawlessly. I setup this system and attempted to run each program:

Windows XP sp3 on 2ghz P4 Laptop with 1 gig RAM
7200 rpm Hard Drive with nothing but VST files
Axiom 25 Controller
Toneport UX2 (without gearbox running)
Xenyx 502 Mixer

This setup worked flawlessly when running Sequel 2. When I run Cubase, any input from the Axiom 25 controller causes the pops and crackles. I have moved the Axiom to every port available with no changes in the outcome. At this point, I am spending more time troubleshooting and no time making music. I may revist this later. Thanks for the help

[Phlipper]

Well.... I guess that's the best answer, just do what works
I'm sure that there is a drive in all of us that we should be using Cubase, or Pro Tools etc. but 'One man's meat...' and all that.

[kevmove02]

I would like to use Cubase 4 LE, but the challenges to get it to work properly have been daunting. At what point do I say, enough is enough? For example, I spent the entire weekend installing and uninstalling various components, seaching websites for answers, and other tasks involved in trying to get Cubase to work without popping and crackling everytime I touched the keyboard (and sometimes for no reason at all). I spent about 10 minutes actually making music. Is that reasonable?

With Sequel 2, Steinberg gave it alot of functionality similar to Cubase 4 LE. The only feature missing is MIDI TIME. You cannot use Sequel as a master or slave. Steinberg announced that they have no intention of adding this feature to Sequel. On the plus side, Halion One VST instruments are now usable by Sequel 2, Cubase 4, and Nuendo. Sequel 2 content is usable by Cubase 4.5 and up.

Currently, I have Sequel 2 with Rock, Funky, Industrial and Hip Hop content packs, which gives me just over 6500 instruments, tracks and loops. I have more than enough to work with, and should the day come when I am restricted by Sequels feature set, I will look into upgrade options.

The one thing i have learned is how a really fast hard drive makes a huge difference