I ask this, because while I would really like to be able to use something like DropBox, or whatever cloud syncing app, is available for disparate systems, in relation to a previous question; I don’t believe something like fibre channel, is in the realm of my use case (I am a composer) but I really need something modern, not something that is old and archaic, e.g., the Audio Pool and its’ arguably limited functionality. and feature set.
I’m sorry but I couldn’t understand anything from what you wrote.
Cool, you wrote though, bounce my thread.
The Audio Pool would never be intended to exchange data over the Internet. We use the HiDrive from IONOS to exchange information with customers. You can mount this like a hard drive. But uploading the files has nothing to do with Nuendo or any DAW.
You should express more clearly what you actually want. then you will also get answers.
1 Like
Thanks for the reply.
I understand what the Audio Pool is for, and it does a great job at what it does, but I feel it does not do enough, and nor do the DAW programs themselves, in terms of file exchange, e.g., it is just for use on a single system.
What I think needs to exist, is a cloud synchronisation system that knows what the most up-to-date version of a particular file is and uses that, regardless of whether it is in sync across known systems so you can have your VST Connect or whatever SB is trying to do in a given year in relation to collaboration but you can also have adequate file synchronisation capability, regarding .wav and other binary file types.
What I don’t think Steinberg DAW users need is, to have to set up some expensive system just to be able to work in different locations using the same files because little else often changes, i.e., Tempo track and I am sure it isn’t a new paradigm but functionality such as DropBox or what else, really needs to be integrated in the DAW and not just have arcane network methods, such as what is available in Nuendo.
Regards
I would hate to have a file sync service (or any unnecessary service) for OneDrive, DropBox, etc. running on my production machine while I’m working. One could just do scheduled backups to something like Backblaze if one wanted to access the latest version of a project from another machine. Or if one wants to manage version history one could just use Git.
4 Likes
I still don’t fully understand what you’re looking for.
How about you just write out a hypothetical scenario where you are doing some work and spell out the steps of what you would like to see?
1 Like
Nuendo already has networking technology built in. You can collaborate and pretty much do what you want. Also nothing stops one from saving to a shared folder over network or dropbox.
Surely they may be more enhanced, like one set works on dialogue the other on Sound design and someone else on scoring and the director can review and approve.
I use Nugen Jotter along with Nuendo a lot.
Davinci Resolve also has a very advanced collaboration set of tools including its own cloud.
1 Like
Hi Rajiv,
I think SB need to move in this direction as fast as possible since while it is complex technology, it’s something that should be able to be taken for granted, at least in my view.
My use case is quite simple, I record stems from VSTi’s via a MOTU 8A, which, with the hardware, allows me to effect audio streams, without having to use any kind of plug-in, whether DSP based or native, and this for me will never change since it was actually a user of the Sonic Core system that once said, if you don’t intend to record something, and only plan to render; then it’s probably not worth mixing, and I find that to be utterly true (this person serviced the platform in America) so basically, I need to get these stems onto another computer and I do that via DropBox, and once they are on the mixing DAW, I replace them as necessary, when I find deficiencies in the MIDI performances, as recorded in stems.
The only thing that might change is tempo, but it isn’t an issue as I just delete the tempo map in the mixing system, and re-import, delete all audio parts and remove them from the project, without deleting any files so that Images are updated. I often delete the Images folder, to make sure everything is in order.
This workflow, works fine but consumes time when it would be so much simpler to be able to have minimised stems available everywhere at all times, and be up to date. SB could also allow for some kind of online DAW functionality if they so choose, or at least file management so that stems could be shared.
I don’t want Steinberg to miss the boat on this one, because of the archaic and arcane nature of the Audio Pool, coupled with relatively inaccessible networking technology that is built into Nuendo; for the average user it doesn’t help, and any efforts that SB have made in relation to collaboration, really have fallen flat.
2 Likes
Of course, that will make digital audio engineers (DAEs) like us redundant. However, I agree with you.
Why does the built-in networking functionality not work? You can have a master project and just update to/from that as needed. Files can remain on a central storage along with the master project no?
As for Steinberg having an “archaic” Audio Pool functionality; that may very well be true, but your workflow is also seemingly quite archaic. You’re basically insisting on printing effects in a system that is otherwise entirely virtual to begin with and you could just as well stay virtual rather than committing your effects by recording. I’m not entirely sure how much that would alleviate what you’re asking for (because I still have a hard time following what your different systems do and where they are, physically and on a network) but surely you would agree that by now that is quite archaic.
1 Like
What about steinberg, yamaha nas like synology & Qnap where multiple people can work on a project, and everyone can see the changes in real-time, like live sync edit i think when it comes to collaboration avid and resolve even premiere pro are way ahead.
I think it’s time Steinberg makes their own server nas.
1 Like
To the original poster, maybe you can spent some time to investigate your workflow and the current solutions available on the market already.
First off; dropbox would work just fine next to steinberg. Just select a specific spot on your hard drive to render/record your files to.
Second : ‘latest’ file issue. You can easily find solutions (like carbon copy cloner) that have watchfolder functionality and have specific new files copied to specific directories. Just make sure the file has the same name everytime (project logical editor comes in handy) and basically then you are done.
You can ask chatgpt to help you out with a script if you are for that, but I don’t think your issue is a SB/Nuendo issue.
As for steinberg making a NAS… how would it help them enhance their product? I’m willing to think outside the box, but really? the NAS world is highly competitive, with clear market leaders (as you referred to already).
Help understand this idea.
I certainly think SB should think about where our industry is heading, with the advent of genAI, and rethink what music/sound making can be(come). Adding harddrive cases does not sound like a clear case for me though. I expect to sooner build a ‘musical robot companion’ than to start shipping harddrive enclosures.
I record stems in hardware, before I use a file synchronisation system, e.g., DropBox to perform the function of what a USB stick could reasonably achieve and then I physically transit between machines, so my mixing setup is nothing like my recording setup.
I could just as easily upload my stems from the Recording system to something like BandLab and mix there but I need UAD to mix with because those effects add polish to what are otherwise well recorded sample libraries that have had basic compression applied, and some low-end filtering for the bass.
Just to note, the volume of what I record to each stem is actually quite low and when mixing, the noise floor of the sample libraries is raised, since the circuit emulations often introduce noise because that is how the original hardware worked so not a big deal because I can fade out the ends of specific instruments.
The MOTU 8A’s effects are great, sure there is no leveling amplifier, on channels but light compression readies the stems, and I don’t need equalisation because it’s all sample libraries and software synthesisers.
The fact that I start out virtual means I am using MIDI to perform, and I subsequently record those performance to digital audio .wav files so if that is archaic, then I’d attest that it is a time-tested workflow, so I am only asking for network support in the Audio Pool, and for that to not be integrated with MediaBay but rather have a new suite of tools that encompass cloud functionality.
Cheers
Ok but why does the built-in networking feature not work for you?
If you don’t want to work ‘live’ off of shared networked storage then that feature should be fine, no?
I have not tried the networking features of Nuendo, just as I have not engaged with the VST System Link, however, while a necessary part of the discussion, I am not looking for project synchronisation, nor am I looking for dedicated file storage because, as I believe Rajiv has so eloquently pointed out; not needing these kinds of solutions and just having what would be, at the very least, insofar as the end user (maybe not “professionals”), is concerned, is a simple file synchronisation functionality, which is built-in to Steinberg DAW’s, this would really set the stage for collaboration that does not involve Engineers or IT people.
Of course, this would need some kind of login functionality, which would likely involve a fundamental redesign of the application, including for example the Hub, which I know some would oppose but as we now have the SAM, I don’t see why this can’t become a reality.
See I think that if you’re getting file sync without a safety feature in Nuendo then there’s always going to be the opportunity of someone destroying a file that’s used by someone else. Once you start placing restrictions on who gets to do what then you’re already complicating things.
Since you need to have access to those files anyway in order to “file sync” it seems to me that the Networking feature would provide you with the opportunity to easily update your tracks in your mix project. If you need to re-record something in your recording project you just do that to the same dedicated tracks as before and click the sync button.
This would as far as I can see actually add safety. You won’t accidentally overwrite files because you’re generating new ones, and your movement of files is I think really transparent to the user as long as they’re just logged in with the correct user credentials. Click the sync button and files will transfer transparently and the project will get updated.
What is it, practically that is missing from that workflow?
1 Like
People don’t take hard drive seriously until thay have a hard drive failure and the problem with cloud storage is if you can’t afford it something like Google Drive would delete your data until it’s 15gb after months so if u have 300tb in the cloud it would be time consuming to manually backup your data to a hard drive or ssd so some people end up going to a nas because it automate the process and thay don’t want to pay a subscription. Another thing as well i think it was last year people lost there data on Google Drive i think there account got hacked similar thing happened with sandisk ssd 4tb people were having hard drive failure.
I see both sides of the argument but one thing I will add here, is: I am not wanting SB or some 3rd Party platform to appear in the Hub, for example via login, to manage my files, it would have to be something offered by a web hosting company of some sort, so that the data is safe even if SB manage to create a front end for a cloud platform.
In general, I don’t think the platforms can really help here. I only mentioned DropBox because it is a well-known platform that is specifically made for file sharing and storage, but I am not actually using it to synchronise files between systems, just to transport them, in a way that is not unlike using a USB stick.
I’m not reading any arguments why Steinberg would need to jump into this .
Furthermore there are so many ways to safely backup your work nowadays that it is just a matter of doing some research and investing some money. If your work is important than that is worth the money.
2 Likes