Looking for simple multi track playback software for Windows

[motunewuser]

I have just bought an Ultra Lite mk 3 for the purposes of playing back audio files. But I cant find any simple multitrack playback software, Digital Performer is far too complicated for my simple needs. I want to playback either multi channel files or several mono or stereo files at the same time. I looked at Audacity which looks like it would suite my needs but I don't believe it can playback multiple tracks at the same time. Can any suggest suitable software for 8 channels of playback. Thanks

[daniel.sneed]

AFAICT, Audacity does multitrack playback. As any decent DAW will do.
IMHO, spending *some* learning time with DP is much rewarding in the long run.

Yes, DP is deep. And I mean very deep.
I use it for tracking, editing, mixing, pseudo-mastering, audio files tweaking, live gigs (music, dance, dramatic, ...). Could not do most of my paying jobs without DP...

And if you own an Ultralight, you're entitled to get Audiodesk free from Motu.
It is sort of audio only DP (without MIDI).

[stubbsonic]

Just posting to confirm everything Daniel just said.

Audacity is cool because it can import lots of formats and play them. It has good editing tools and some really useful audio processing plugins.

DP is a great program, but if you only need playback, then Audacity is the way to go.

There is a little trick with Quicktime Player where you can open a bunch of stereo files and tell it to "Play all movies" and it will start them all at once, but then you have to just listen from beginning to when you stop them all individually.

[ovinas]

What about https://www.waves.com/downloads/tracks-live ?

[stubbsonic]

That looks like a great option. It's free, and it has both Mac and Windows versions. Looks less cumbersome to use than Audacity, but still, Audacity has it's place!!

[bayswater]

That looks like a great option.

Sure does. I wonder where this has been hiding? And it has a "skip range" function, something DP 5 had, was dropped in V6, and should be brought back !

[stubbsonic]

What does "skip range" do? Why is that useful?

[bayswater]

You select a range on the timeline, and when the playback reaches the start of the range it skips to the end of the range. Useful for lining up spots to cut a piece of audio out, e.g the second of three repeats. You can nudge the points until it sounds right.

DP did this when you reversed the start and stop points of a loop. If you put the start after the stop, it skipped the range. In V6 they "corrected" this error so the two loop points automatically reverse their order if you position them backwards.

[mikehalloran]

If using a MOTU interface, AudioDesk is free and shares much of the functionality with DP. n addition, you have tech support because of your MOTU purchase.
http://motu.com/products/software/audiodesk

It does not work without a MOTU interface, however.

[kola]

Does anyone have version 1 of Audiodesk please. I have looked high and low.

Perhaps someone has it on their 424 original instal disc. I dont sadly.

If anyone could help me out Id be very grateful

[bayswater]

Does anyone have version 1 of Audiodesk please. I have looked high and low.

Perhaps someone has it on their 424 original instal disc. I dont sadly.

If anyone could help me out Id be very grateful

If you have registered the hardware needed to use Audiodesk, it can be downloaded from your account registration page on the MOTU site.

[kola]

Hi,

I have the hardware, 424 card. Bought it new a decade and a half ago. Fantastic purchase the 24 i/o. Still used daily.

I never registered the software though. Probs 15 years too late now.

I have scoured the site for V1 but no luck.

[CharlzS]

The AudioDesk 4 download is a full install and IIRC the only thing it's looking for is an installed MOTU audio device to run. Don't know what your OS version is, but anything in the last 5 or 6 years should be good.

[kola]

MacOS9. Only version 1 will work. I had the disk but have moved since and now cant find it.

Im not like the majority of people. I find less options makes me faaaaaar more creative. I would hate a fully fledged DAW. Hence I use an G4 power mac that by todays standards couldnt pull the skin of custard. Perfect.

I really wouldnt that you for a modern day DAW. I had ableton 8 for a while and it could do everything twice. Yet I finished not one song! As soon as I went back to my MPC sync'd to Audiodesk, and my hardware sampler, mixer, outboard all was well again.

Currently I amusing the fantastic Waves Tracks Live what is free. But sadly it wont run on my OS9/G4. So I am having to use a Win7 system. Way too much for my needs. Not Tracks Live just the computing power is so easy to get lost in.

I appreciate my methods are not for everyone.

[bayswater]

Hi,

I have the hardware, 424 card. Bought it new a decade and a half ago. Fantastic purchase the 24 i/o. Still used daily.

I never registered the software though. Probs 15 years too late now.

I have scoured the site for V1 but no luck.

It's the hardware that you register. Try sending a message to them. You won't find the SW on the site, just the V1 updates.