I thought NI were the future but now they look like the past

Origin of Reaktor, bugs, features, and macs

Reaktor is the descendent of the program Generator. Generator was a program that was supported on the PC platform. It originally came on floppies which I still own. With the next version, NI created three products: Generator 2.0, Transformator 2.0, and Reaktor 2.0. Reaktor was for the most part a combination of the other two. I believe it was also with Reaktor where the Mac platform began to be supported.

Reaktor on the Mac has had problems for a while, however, it has improved greatly. (Note: I make that comment through observation and communicating with friends/colleagues not direct experience.) If one looks at updates that are available and product release cycle -- NI has brought the Mac platform closer to its PC brothers. Heck, there hasn't been a PC update since the beginning of the year.

This is not to say that the concerns of the Mac users are not valid, but I think it should be kept in context with how things have progressed. If there is anything that NI needs to work on is not to oversell their products or what they can accomplish feature/performance-wise for each release. It tends to make too many people bitch and whine much more than is necessary. In the end, NI does listen. Anyone who has been using NI's products since the 1.0 days will know how much the products have been effected by user suggestions. What do you think was a contributing factor for a Mac port in the first place?

In hindsight, I've found that what NI has accomplished and supplied to music/audio creators is incredible with their limited resources. They're far from perfect. NI can be viewed as a young company gradually making its right of passage into "adulthood". Along the way they've made mistakes or failed to live up to expectations, but they've learned from each one of the experiences.

Be patient, keep making music.

 

dude, just shut up -- your program works... why don't you go enjoy it instead of taking timeout to lecture others about how we ought to be responding. I think capt. obvious pc users telling me how I ought to feel must be about twice as annoying as mac users "whining way too much." Get a clue. I bought the mac version of Reaktor the day it came out after using Generator extensively before that. It worked _better_ in the first 2.x release than it does now. Did you even read my previous message detailing the current problems? No MIDI, no multiple VST instances and more! Are you incapable of putting yourself in our place? Many of us simply cannot use the program in anything but standalone mode. We cannot make more music with Reaktor because the features that were promised to work "any day now" in the spring of 2000 are still not here.

 

1. Does mine work? Mostly. Am I lecturing you or others? No.

Most of the Mac users I've seen posting here don't have the same length of background using NI's tools as I or you do. I was addressing the issues relating to the history of Reaktor and some of the problems. Having various issues with the program is nothing new.

If you've been around as long as you have said, you would also know that us PC users have gone through our share of problems with Generator/Reaktor. DirectX ring a bell? Logic VST support/sequencing? Frequent crashes. Promised features that never materialize?

2. Reaktor 2.x for Mac works better? Maybe for you, but not for my mac buddies. So, I've based my judgements on their experiences while drawing on my own -- i.e. dealing with the past PC problems. They also may not work the same way you do which doesn't mean one is right or the other.

3. I was in the midst of writing up my post when yours must have gone through, so, no, I did not see/read it. Having read it... Here's my opinion. Are there significant issues? Yes. Will they be corrected? In time. Its simply your choice whether you wait it out or give up.

4. Can I put myself in your shoes? As a PC user, I can. I've gone through my own headaches with Reaktor. See point 1.

5. I've been through the "any day now" features myself. The core reason I upgraded to 3.0 for the PC was simply to get DirectX support that was promised (on the box and everything) for Reaktor 2.0. Not to mention decent VST support.

Summary:

Problems with the software has not always been a Mac and only Mac situation. There is no bias or lack of consideration to Mac users vs. PC users by NI. As I said in my other post, NI has a tendency for these sort of problems. It's all a matter of how you handle it. If you want to bitch 'til you're blue in the face, go ahead. NI has seen the posts in the forum and addressed them. Further bitching probably won't make a difference. It will definitely not bring updates out any quicker.

All of you have the same options we had when we had issues. You either wait it out patiently and see if your issues are handled satisfactory or you move on. No one is telling you one way or the other.

Personally, I had initially chosen not to get another NI product after the 2.x series. Until 2002 I hadn't. I changed my mind simply because the tradeoff was worth it -- money & time -- in my opinion to upgrade to get what I needed from the program. Other PC users decided to leave and never return.

I'm still hesitant about future releases, but I'll cross that bridge when I reach it.

 

i see your points and we seem to be in agreement mostly. You are a more patient person than I am after all this time and I can respect that. Sorry if I kneejerked a little too hard. I just want to be able to use this software, desperately. I am saving cash to buy a PC laptop and another MOTU 828, but given my modest CPU needs this seems a waste -- I have plenty of CPU to do what I want all on the same system... I am just unable to do this because, in my mind NI has spent more time writing Kontakt than finishing the job on Reaktor. Peace.

 

Logic 5 OSX is on beta

I just tried Logic 5 OSX today at special Emagic show and it runs wonderfully!!
..Nice to see Emagic is with the times..
Hopefully NI will make Reaktor OSX soon..

 

noumena9:

"2.) the newest 3.07 eats OMS, when Reaktor is running I cannot use MIDI. Even in VST remote mode. "

how do you experience this?

I'm having huge troubles using reaktor stand-alone as sequencer for other soft-synths. Midi is getting through but extremely delayed and irregular.

thanks - vaks

 

Mac users: We're aware of your concerns, we do read all the forum posts online here. We're aware of the problems with Reaktor on the Mac: only one VST instance and poor tempo sync are no fun at all.

Our goals for Reaktor 3.3 are to give the Mac users multiple VST instances, perfect sync, and more stability. Additionally, we are creating an entirely new library with dozens of professionally-designed new synths, live-machines, drum-machines, effects, and more. All registered Reaktor 3.0 users will receive both Reaktor 3.3 and the new library for free. Reaktor 3.3 will be available in September.

 

WHAT???
I thought Reaktor3.3 was planned for july/august?
So it has been postponed right?
Just hope it ll be worth the wait...

 

As a result of this discussion alone, are you really surprised that there is a delay in the release of Reaktor 3.3? NI programmers would probably rather sleep in a cave for the next 10 years than release another faulty MAC version of Reaktor. Maybe they decided to put some "bugs" into the PC version of Reaktor 3.3 to even things out.

I sincerely hope Reaktor 3.3 is bug-free for all of us. Reaktor 3 offers me, by far, the best bang for the buck of any program I own, or possibly will ever own. Although I am new to Reaktor, I know one thing for sure -- the programmers at DashSynthesis are very glad that I purchased Reaktor 3. I also really appreciate the outstanding free ensembles and instruments provided by users in the user library.

Regards,

Larry W.

 

Actually, NI didn't write Absynth for Mac. They purchased it from someone else...

Thats why it was released for the Mac first...

 

...

I think the same....
specially about reaktor.. they should do something to make a really changes
in reaktor to be more effective !

but their last product really good !! {the best synth I EVER seen } which
is ABsynth !
----- Original Message -----
From: "Native Instruments forum"
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To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2002 4:23 PM
Subject: [NI] REAKTOR - I thought NI were the future b... -

else...

use the "unsubscribe from this forum" option in your profile settings.

 

Tea?

I think you need a cup of tea,


hear me now!!

 

Apple computers just aqquired Emagic

Apple Acquires Emagic
July 1st 2002

CUPERTINO, California and HAMBURG, Germany -- July 1, 2002 --
Apple today announced it has acquired Emagic, a leading provider of professional software solutions for computer based music production. Emagic's most popular product, Logic, is actively used by over 200,000 musicians around the world. Emagic will operate as a wholly owned division of Apple.

"Emagic has set the industry standard for professional music creation and production," said Sina Tamaddon, Apple's senior vice president of Applications. "We're very excited to have the Emagic team join Apple and create more amazing products for musicians."

Macintosh-based products account for over 65 percent of Emagic's current revenues. Emagic's Windows-based product offerings will be discontinued on September 30, 2002.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.

 

Robx, your right

Not even a mention of OS-X development on this site. I dropped quite alot of money on Reactor last year. It's software--a license on ideas. You pay for innovation and support. They should have been pushing betas by 10.1.

 

IS NI For Sale?

Maybe Apple can buy Reaktor/NI too while it is on it's shopping spree..Then maybe we can get a version like PC users have had over the year..
I think this purcase will change the audio world allot..
Emagic was the most popular sequencer on the market in 2001 according to polls on Computer Music.

 

i agree that the emagic-takeover will change
the music world, but i don't think about good changes.
it will be a big drawback in my opinion.

i hope that ni will stay independent,
because that is why they develop software
other companies dream of.

 

...

****

I can`t believe they did this !!!
I wish for apple and for emagic to suffer a big loss !

I won`t trust emagic never again !
I payed for Logic , lots of money... and they didn`t say anything about
moving to apple !

Emagic screw up !!!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Native Instruments forum"
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To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2002 12:57 PM
Subject: [NI] REAKTOR - I thought NI were the future b... -

use the "unsubscribe from this forum" option in your profile settings.

 

those concerned about logic's future probably have no clue about the excellent software that resulted from apple's former acquisitions, like final cut pro, dvd studio pro and most of the iapps.

regarding what companies dream of - emagic now doesn't have to be concerned about short term profitability. they can let go of the windows sandbags, cut down to a fraction of their former support efforts and fully concentrate on making tightly integrated products that truly exploit the benefits of a superior os to leapfrog ahead of the competition ... i guess thats what quite a few dream of.

this deal makes the future look brighter than ever for the majority of the current logic users and even for the pc users willing to switch who will possibly get a generous offer.

 

Future reality is Mac!!REALITY CHECK

The reality in the audio world is this:
PC audio market is dying..5 years ago PC was the major leader in audine could not go into a audio store and see a Mac unless it was an old one in the back office..Now all I see at major audio chains is Mac's..Imac's G4's etc..
The Worlds largest audio sequencer Emagic Logic( # 1 choice for Electronic Musician,Computer Music,Future Music 2001) just admits it's sales have dropped to 35% of it's share..Thus forcing the end of PC Logic.(http://www.emagic.de):
"Macintosh-based products account for over 65 percent of Emagic's current revenues. Emagic's Windows-based product offerings will be discontinued on September 30, 2002."
ProTools the biggest audio hardware company is Mac based.
The point I am making is the reality is Mac is the musicians choice on the planet today and tomorrow..The facts are here..Just open your eyes..What is great is Apple wants to make a great system for audio..OSX 10.2 Jaguar will rock..
I hope NI wake up before it is too late..See REALITY..

 

monoculture can't be the future.

i don't want pc-only apps and of course i don't want
mac-only apps.
in my opinion all systems should benefit from each other
and this is what happened in the past (mostly).

all this stupid mac/pc war is getting too silly,
i don't want to contribute to this useless junk.

i just want good software for all of us and i don't
think that emagic goes into the right direction
to archive this. they will do good software for
few users, thats all.
logic is that good because of their competition
with cubase and i mean it for both versions, mac AND pc.

best wishes

self oscillate