View other reviews for this product:
songboy « Look Ma, No Hands!!! »
Published on 05/03/11 at 10:56I have had no compatibility issues running Effectix on a Macbook Pro i7 with a Fireface 800 in Ableton 8. The configuration is fairly simple and once you get going, its like second nature. It really a grid based effects plugin that lets you watch realtime as your effects are triggered according to the grid. Yet another plugin that I have never needed the manual. Yes, the typical functions are easily accessible. You click on an effect, and its parameters pop up. The grid is every present so you have no issues finding that.
SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE
I run this in Ableton 8 on my master channel. It has never crashed or caused any errors. It doesn't use too much cpu either which is a serious plus in todays computer music world. I have to give this a 9 out of 10 for performance. Everything about this plugin rocks. It like having another pair of hands to perform dj style effects on your tracks. Basically you end up automating all that stuff and assigning it to a keyboard or other midi trigger and let it ride. It loses a point only because of the limitations with the grid. I'll explain below.
OVERALL OPINION
What I like most about this unit is its creative aspects. There is a lot to be said about using timing grids when doing electronic music. It helps keep your ideas streamlined and very easy to accomplish when you now what your after, but it also allows you to just click random squares in the grid to create entirely new ideas that can blossom in a matter of seconds. There is even a "randomizer" built in that can be fun, but for me personally, I like the human touch. What I don't like is two things actually. First has to do with the randomizer I mentioned above. I didn't notice an undo button, but if there is one, then this is a moot point. If you are crafting some really cool effects grid, and then, out of nowhere, as you are moving around the effect your hand twitches (which mine seems to do sometimes) and you click on the "randomizer" button, say goodbye to all your hard work. It's happen to me twice so far. The other thing I don't like is when you change the grid resolution, say from 1/16 to 1/32, it doesn't just give you more resolution, but decreases the length of the whole grid. For example, you have a 4 bar "effectrix" grid going. Say you want to have a phase effect blip in every other 1/16 note but your grid is set to 1/8 notes. Well, if you change the resolution, your grid is now only 2 bars long. Its as if the screen is only allowed to represent what you can see so increasing the resolution decreases the length of the effect. Very strange to me, and it really inhibits the amazing potential of this plugin.
I notice no sound degradation from this unit whatsoever. This is the only plugin I know of that achieves this grid-type effect so I haven't used any other like it. Yes, despite the grid issue, I still love it. It's great for live performance if you want some craziness on a your mix but you need your hands free to do other things. I love dropping it to buy me time when switching instruments or anything that pulls me away from my computer.
SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE
I run this in Ableton 8 on my master channel. It has never crashed or caused any errors. It doesn't use too much cpu either which is a serious plus in todays computer music world. I have to give this a 9 out of 10 for performance. Everything about this plugin rocks. It like having another pair of hands to perform dj style effects on your tracks. Basically you end up automating all that stuff and assigning it to a keyboard or other midi trigger and let it ride. It loses a point only because of the limitations with the grid. I'll explain below.
OVERALL OPINION
What I like most about this unit is its creative aspects. There is a lot to be said about using timing grids when doing electronic music. It helps keep your ideas streamlined and very easy to accomplish when you now what your after, but it also allows you to just click random squares in the grid to create entirely new ideas that can blossom in a matter of seconds. There is even a "randomizer" built in that can be fun, but for me personally, I like the human touch. What I don't like is two things actually. First has to do with the randomizer I mentioned above. I didn't notice an undo button, but if there is one, then this is a moot point. If you are crafting some really cool effects grid, and then, out of nowhere, as you are moving around the effect your hand twitches (which mine seems to do sometimes) and you click on the "randomizer" button, say goodbye to all your hard work. It's happen to me twice so far. The other thing I don't like is when you change the grid resolution, say from 1/16 to 1/32, it doesn't just give you more resolution, but decreases the length of the whole grid. For example, you have a 4 bar "effectrix" grid going. Say you want to have a phase effect blip in every other 1/16 note but your grid is set to 1/8 notes. Well, if you change the resolution, your grid is now only 2 bars long. Its as if the screen is only allowed to represent what you can see so increasing the resolution decreases the length of the effect. Very strange to me, and it really inhibits the amazing potential of this plugin.
I notice no sound degradation from this unit whatsoever. This is the only plugin I know of that achieves this grid-type effect so I haven't used any other like it. Yes, despite the grid issue, I still love it. It's great for live performance if you want some craziness on a your mix but you need your hands free to do other things. I love dropping it to buy me time when switching instruments or anything that pulls me away from my computer.