ik-multimedia t-racks (feb 2000)

[supernova777]

IK Multimedia T-racks
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb00/articles/iktracks.htm

IK Multimedia T-racks
Mastering Software
Published in SOS February 2000

Hardware mastering boxes seem to have been the fashion recently, but it's also possible to do mastering using only software, and if you don't need every conceivable bell and whistle, this can be a very cost-effective alternative. The T-Racks mastering software under scrutiny here originates from a small company in Italy, and they've been considerate enough to make versions that will run on both Mac and PC platforms. The minimum Mac requirement is a 180MHz PPC603e or a 120MHz PPC 604e, though a G3 is ideal. Likewise, the PC user can get away with a 200MHz MMX (only) PC running Windows 95 or 98, though a Pentium II is recommended, in which case Windows NT 4.0 can be added to the list of supported operating systems. IK Multimedia are also reported to have a working BeOS version. In most cases, at least 32Mb of memory are needed, though Pentium II owners should have at least double this figure. A CPU activity monitor is provided as part of the program, so you can see how close you are to pushing your computer over.

The software comes on CD-ROM, and Mac users get a dongle similar to the ones used by Waves that connect in series with the keyboard. The manual mentions that USB dongles are also supported. You also have to enter the serial number of the software when installing it — I would have thought dongle protection was enough! Installing is simply a matter of clicking Install and entering the serial number when prompted.

Some means of getting digital audio into and out of your computer is needed as T-Racks works on existing files. It doesn't handle recording or the processing of an audio input in real time, so it's realistic to expect that you'll be using it with some other stereo editing or recording program. A means of monitoring the audio to a high quality is also recommended; in the case of the Mac, any Sound Manager-compatible audio output is usable and may be selected under Sound in Control Panels. Only 16-bit audio files are supported — WAV-format for PCs, and both AIFF and SDII files for Macs. Sample rates of 32 to 48kHz are supported, though 44.1kHz is recommended for CD mastering.

T-Racks isn't an editor — it is intended to process existing audio files using 32-bit, floating-point algorithms designed to emulate analogue compression, equalisation and multi-band limiting. It can also handle fade-ins/outs and apply soft or hard saturation, and it dithers the audio after processing to maintain optimum low-level resolution. The various processing blocks, which are represented on screen as bright yellow rack modules, use a form of analogue modelling which, the designers claim, can reproduce the audio quality and character of high-end analogue hardware processors.

The user interface is entirely graphical, with click-to-operate switches and drag-to-turn knobs; if you don't like the colour, you can open the preferences and opt for copper or chrome panel finishes instead! I must admit that when I first saw the choice of gold, copper or chrome interface material, I thought the designers had gone to the lengths of modelling the effects of the audio connector plating, but happily they're rather more rational than that! There's a limited amount of on-screen help that describes the functions of the controls as the mouse is used to point at them.

A row of virtual glowing valves pulsates along the top of the screen, purely for visual effect. However, the usual operating system menu bar is conspicuously absent (instead, the program has its own at the bottom of the screen), which can be frustrating when you want to leave the application to look for something else — the only way I could find to do this was to quit the program, but at least reloading it is very fast.

To open files for processing (which can be in mono or stereo), you use the Open button at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. There is only one main screen, which, as you can see, is presented as three virtual rack units with the addition of transport controls to play back the selected file as you're tweaking the controls. Audio files may be looped in playback, so you don't have to keep restarting short files as you set up the processors, and the usual fast wind buttons actually jump to the next or previous markers, if you've inserted any. Up to eight draggable markers can be inserted by pressing Mark at the appropriate time; to erase a marker, just drag it off the left-hand side of the file progress bar. A go-to-start button is included along with Start, Stop and Loop buttons, and the loop length may be changed by dragging the loop markers so as to play only a part of the file. A draggable slider follows the file's progress, so you can also use this to move around quickly if you need to. There is an audio buffer that can be adjusted via the Preferences section if playback becomes glitchy, but I had no problems using the default setting.

At the top of the virtual rack is a quasi-parametric equaliser featuring variable-frequency 24dB/octave high and low-cut filters (extremely useful), two more conventional high and low-pass shelving filters with variable frequency and gain, and two mid-range band-pass filters with variable frequency and gain plus switchable low or high Q. The manual wrongly claims that this constitutes a 6-band parametric EQ, but it's still plenty powerful enough for most jobs, and sounds very analogue. Each of the processing sections has its own bypass button as well as a Reset All switch to bring up the neutral settings. Patch buttons can switch the EQ before or after the compressor, which is a nice touch, and as you'd expect, the limiter always stays at the end of the chain.

In general, the EQ range is impressive with up to 15dB of cut or boost. I was a little disappointed that the shelving EQs couldn't be switched to band-pass mode and that the Hi frequency could only go up to 8.5kHz, but the upper mid can be swept all the way up to 18kHz — which is useful if you need to add a wide-band gloss in the 15kHz range. A graphic display of the EQ response curve is shown as part of the filter module.

[supernova777]

http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/t-racks-24

[supernova777]

we really should have this posted with our other downloads

[supernova777]

trying to install t-racks now and i dont see a vst plugin anywhere?
is this a standalone app with no VST plugin??
this cant be

is there not a VST version of this for mac os 9?

ok wait i see now:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb00/articles/iktracks.htm

cons
   Can't be used as a plug-in — T-Racks is strictly a stand-alone application.

wow that sucks!

so in order to use T-racks u have to dedicate a whole laptop or pc to just sitting there.. and using its IO to pass in + out a live signal..??
thats crazy and i saw cricco castelli (an italian dj) using this even still just the other day earlier this summer on facebook!!!
so despite its lacking of plugin it must sound pretty good !

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/cat-view.php?C=family-t-racks
i think ik multimedia has remade this product since perhaps it has a plugin version for new macs

[supernova777]

it looks cool - shame its standalone only

[mrhappy]

Sooo... Since I'm putting this OS9 TDM rig together I dug through my garage and found my T-racks box... inside was the disc/ manual etc. I had written my user name/ password kinda stuff on the card with the serial #... T-Racks uses some kind of copy protection where they generate an Authorizer code for your computer's unique ID (or something like that)... anyway I was surprised  that I could log in with my old ID and AMAZED that they generated a new authorization code for my 'NEW' G4 within seconds!!! Once I was able to type in the 700(or so ) character auth code I was back in business... Hello 1999!!! Haha!

The thing sounds pretty good! WAY easy to abuse/overuse but certainly useful!

[supernova777]

i dont understand how its usefull..
when its not even a plugin..
u have to have a dedicated audio interface input + putput with its own asio drievr to use it..
as an effects processor..
and have the standalone app running

[mrhappy]

It's not as complicated as that... 2.0 is NOT a plugin but you open the TRacks program... import a stereo (or mono if you'd like) file... manipulate using a combination of EQ, compression, limiter... then process the file. I use it through my PT hardware.

[supernova777]

good to know i didnt know u could import a file?
it kind of confused me when i was looking at it

[MacTron]

There is a RTAS pluging format version: 

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=2340.0

and works with Pro Tools Free...

[Protools5LEGuy]

There is a RTAS pluging format version: 

                      

MacTron, you are my favorite Protools/Logic user. Even them not been your 1st choice, you are a truly supporter!

[MacTron]

                      

MacTron, you are my favorite Protools/Logic user. Even them not been your 1st choice, you are a truly supporter!

LOL
Despite my opinions and preferences I always have tried to help ...

[mrhappy]

That's great!!!!

xxxooo

[supernova777]

mactron is slowly being turned to pro tools 
lol

it would be cool to have one of those sonnorus adat cards to link to a digi 001..
8 channels back + forth from another daw system.. like cubase or llive or dp.. into pro tools

[supernova777]

its a great addition to have this one as a rtas.. thats great..
i still would really like to get this one as a VST...

[mrhappy]

its a great addition to have this one as a rtas.. thats great..

Yes it is!!! There's a rumor going around that MacTron is changing his handle to 'MacTools'!!!

[supernova777]

is there a vst of this t-racks?
or was the vst version for X only
because i hvae seen people use this in youtube videos
friend of mine from italy uses this... as a plugin on X

[MacTron]

or was the vst version for X only

I think so ...
but we have to make further investigations ...


In fact I always fell with pain that there wasn't a plugin versions of T-Racks, and one day I found a RTAS version, lost in to my backup files ...

[Protools5LEGuy]

it would be cool to have one of those sonnorus adat cards to link to a digi 001..

I just bought that cheap Sonorus. 

First april should come to my house. D/A converters is very low bits (18 bit if IIRC), but It would make a fine ADAT server. For a Logic 6 DAW as sample-server in my 866 Dual MDD with 2 Gig RAM and a Audiomedia3. Previously I used to connect that MDD  with SPDIF.

I will test in OS9 Logic Vs Cubase Vs Digital Performer.

[supernova777]

smart buy.. 
i plan on getting one or two of them aswell