authorization with Metro

[dmpcphx]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum. And at the moment, I am still a Logic Platinum 6 user. I am seriously considering moving to Metro. I am hoping to get some info. & tips in regard to Metro. Mainly, I would like to know how the MIDI & virtual instrument implementaion in Metro compares to Logic Plat. 6.

My other and perhaps even more important question is about authorizing Metro. With Logic, I am stuck with this XSKey, and at this point I can either pay Apple to upgrade, or lose the only remaining support I have for Logic, which is the upgrade.

I am interested in moving to a company that will take its long term support more seriously. Thanks in advance for any info.

dmpcphx

[Jerm]

Mainly, I would like to know how the MIDI & virtual instrument implementaion in Metro compares to Logic Plat.

The best way to see this would be to download the demo and take it for a spin.

My other and perhaps even more important question is about authorizing Metro.

Info on authorization can be found here.

[dmpcphx]

Hi Jerm,

Thanks for the initial info. One other question that I forgot to ask, that I think qualifies as general is about plug in compatibility. I am finding it a bit difficult to obtain compatibility information about plug ins for Metro.

Specifically, I use several Waves version 4 plug in bundles. Can you tell me if I can expect Waves version 4 plugs to be compatible with Metro 6.3?
In addition, another important plug for me would be Ozone 3. I did see that listed on your links page, so I assume it is compatible?? Thanks again for your time.

dmpcphx

[Scoot]

The picture may look a mess but I am trying to get a lot of information across in one go.......so see if you can match it in the metro demo.
(I assume you have some VSTi's already available from using logic).

When metro launches go into the graphic editor window (Command J) and you may see a pretty much standard looking audio type track.

If so, click on the popup at "A" and set it to a 'Internal' output so it sets itself as a midi track (should bring up a piano roll on the left hand side). You can then place VSTi's on the track with the Synth popup at "B".

You could also add VSTi's by opening up the plugins and effects/synths windows (Command 9 and Command Zero).
Drag a plugin from "C" to area "D". The EDIT button above "D" will bring up the graphical window of the particular plugin. This is also accessible from the Windows Menu at the bottom.


How to set a effect/instrument on an AUX.

Go to the SPECIAL menu and select Modify Outputs and Busses
Allocate some AUX Busses at the bottom of the dialog box.



You can now go into the effects/synths window and at the popup at "E" you can choose one of the AUX's. (This can also be done from the graphic editor window's track name (left of the red record button)).

Then drag or select a VSTi.

AUX levels can be set in the mixer window from the popup at "F".

[Scoot]

I think I had a Waves 3 demo. If I remember rightly, it installed in it's own folder and installed an alias in the Lib/Audio/Plugins/VST so metro and other apps could locate the plugins once launched/wanted. Took a wee while to 'search' the drive for the waves folder but then worked OK. It was probably loading into RAM?


If you have the waves installed you should be able to run them inside the metro demo.........and maybe even get them working by following my quick intense learning piccy.

[dmpcphx]

Hi Scoot

Thanks for the info. I will go ahead and download the demo, and check it all out. As I mentioned in my initial inquiry, compatibility and a reasonable authorization policy are both very important to me. I have until now been on the Logic XSKey hardware authorization "dongle", which I do not care for because I am have no back up if it goes down, now that Apple only supports my version of Logic for upgrade purposes.

I am much happier with a challenge/response type auth. method. From what Jerm indicated, that appears to be what Metro uses. Can you tell me how Sagan Tech. handles a request for a new authorization in the event of a HD crash or new computer purchase?

As far as the compatible plugs & insruments, I have only been using AU format, because Logic in OS X only supports AU, not VST/VSTi. So, that would be a welcome advantage in Metro for me to have both formats.

Thanks for your time and info.

dmpcphx

[Scoot]

Hi Scoot

Thanks for the info. I will go ahead and download the demo, and check it all out. As I mentioned in my initial inquiry, compatibility and a reasonable authorization policy are both very important to me. I have until now been on the Logic XSKey hardware authorization "dongle", which I do not care for because I am have no back up if it goes down, now that Apple only supports my version of Logic for upgrade purposes.

I am much happier with a challenge/response type auth. method. From what Jerm indicated, that appears to be what Metro uses. Can you tell me how Sagan Tech. handles a request for a new authorization in the event of a HD crash or new computer purchase?

As far as the compatible plugs & insruments, I have only been using AU format, because Logic in OS X only supports AU, not VST/VSTi. So, that would be a welcome advantage in Metro for me to have both formats.

Thanks for your time and info.

dmpcphx

The challenge response..........once purchased and you install you type in your personal details and reg number with email address. It asks for a name and you qualify by clicking a button which sends a request to sagantech for the current name that registers it for you.


Sagantech monitors the numbers of attempts at doing this for each serial number.

If you need it to work and you don't happened to be near the net say at a gig, just read the temporary registration method at the link Jerm gave you.


If you're 'switching' based on support and registration method, you won't be disappointed. Support is second to none! And you could potentially get features you want included in the next update by requesting them (and if not terribly involved or demanding done within a week (but I didn't say that lol))

[MP]

Hi dmpcphx,

I would like to chime in with some thoughts on Metro and Logic. I have been using Metro since July and I haven't looked back.

Whereas many DAWs (including Logic Pro) seem to have added features at the expense of system resources and stability, Metro remains an efficient and stable application. There are several projects I run on my lowly 1 Ghz Powerbook that I cannot duplicate using other DAWs.

An important thing to consider; Although some consider Logic Pro a good value (many great sounding instruments and plugins included), most of the included plugins will not operate outside of the Logic environment. A good value? Maybe, but only as long as you stay with Logic.

When it comes to support, I'll echo what Scoot has said already said - It's second to none. They have always been there when I need them. No software can escape the occasional bug, but Sagan Technology acknowledges the bugs and fixes them faster than any other software company I know of.

One more thing . . . Metro is the only current DAW I know of that supports "less than current" OS specs. In fact, many recent bug fixes were for problems occurring only in Jaguar (hey Apple, remember Jaguar?)!

You've got lots of options. But if you want great instrument-plugin compatibility, performance, stability, and real tech support, give Metro a try. Best of all, you can download the demo and see if it works for you . . . something you can't do with Logic Pro, Digital Performer, etc.

Good luck.

MP

[dmpcphx]

Hi MP,

Wow. I am pleased to see so much support for Metro. I agree with the things you are saying. It has been tough to sort through the number of choices I have in DAW software upgrades/crossgrades & purchases.

I know that if I stay with Apple, they will basically expect me to upgrade whatever I have to and not compain about it since they indeed offer no backward compatibility or VST/VSTi support either at this point.

And the Logic Pro package is really nice, but as you say, you use the tools in Logic and nothing else! And I don't know about anyone else, but the XSKey thing seems like a real pain for us who pay for a legal license, and if the thing goes down, then we get to deal with the return and the replacement, when even the rest of the Apple line of Pro apps. does not use this anti-piracy hardware!!

I am going to load Metro tonight and give it a shot. It looks very cool. And again, I am most pleased to see real endorsements form real users who dig the app. Thanks again MP, and all for the helpful info.

Cheers,

dmpcphx

[Scoot]

Recently Sagan charged for an upgrade........the first time in 3 years and it was the installation of rewire and around the same time the freezing/thawing of tracks to save CPU. The upgrade price wasn't even 10% of the app! I get sick of upgrades that are almost half the price of the app or happen so regularly that they are always taking money off you.


Metro 6.0 and 6.3 look very similar in menus and layout and a lot of the added bits may be hidden to you at first - like a click vs a control click in the tracks window output.