Level 1

37 points

Replacement for Sound Diver?

I am new to this forum in the last few weeks and I would like to say that I am really enjoying the supportive community!

Years ago I started out using Opcode MidiMac and Mark of the Unicorn sequencing programs. Being in high tech I found my opportunities for pursuing my hobby of arranging, writing and performing music coming in a few hours here and there with long breaks. I ended up spending more time trying to get all my instruments in my sound modules organized in the software than actually playing music and often had to redo everything each time I was able to get back to it.

During a year living in The Netherlands I discovered and purchased Logic Silver and Sound Diver. Sound Diver seemed the perfect solution to getting all my equipment recognized in the software and all the instruments organized so I could get down to playing and writing again. My move back to the US, daughters in high school and college, another house move, more high tech business, etc. delayed my getting my system set up again. I am finally putting a much higher priority on my music as I am not getting any younger! I found a good deal on Logic Pro 6 and a G5 dual 2Ghz. So here I am with OS X Tiger and wondering what others are using in place of Sound Diver?

PowerMac G5 Dual 2Mhz, Mac OS X (10.4.4), Logic Pro 6 | PreSonus FirePod | BCF2000 |

Posted on Mar 13, 2006 3:32 PM

11 replies

Mar 13, 2006 3:57 PM in response to worldwyn

Greetings Joseph,

You can still use SoundDiver, even though it seems to be a dead product. As long as you have an XSKey connected to the computer it will run. It hasn't been updated in years, and probably will remain in this "public beta" stage forever.

I use SD all the time, and it should work well for all of your older instruments. However, the AutoLink function between SD and Logic does not work.

You can download SoundDiver here.

Unfortunately, the choices for MIDI librarian and editor software are few. MOTU will still sell you Unisyn, but it seems that it is going the way of SoundDiver. Over at Unicornation , there was a recent thread about the status of Unisyn and one of the developers that worked on the latest update told everyone that he had finished with the update in December of 2004, and yet MOTU never released it. So I would think twice before considering a purchase of a product that is ignored.

The only other SoundDiver replacement that I'm aware of (that's still commercially available) is MIDIQuest. I have tried it and was not impressed, although it does seem to work (mostly). I found the interface to be rather clunky—not that SoundDiver is much better, but at least it looks "logical" (sorry) and I'm used to it.

Cheers!

MDD Dual 1.25 G4 | 2GB RAM | Mac OS X (10.4.5) | Logic Pro 7.2 | AMT8 | Unitor8 | Delta 44 | SoundDiver 3.1 PB2

worldwyn Author

Level 1

37 points

Mar 13, 2006 4:06 PM in response to Nathan Pangburn

Thanks! The version I bought in the Netherlands was supposed to be full functioning, but acted like a promotional version sold with some MIDI keyboard and would only work with that device. I'll give the beta a try.

MidiMan

Level 1

110 points

Mar 13, 2006 6:21 PM in response to worldwyn

I suggest you focus on logic 7. then, you won't necesserally need SD.
You can find Logic 7 on ebay for around $400-$500. I actually saw a few yesterday, (and no, I am not selling mine)

so, if you get the DP G5, and the logic 7 Pro, you are all set.

I am still learning the Logic 7, and it is great.

Mac OS X (10.4.5)

worldwyn Author

Level 1

37 points

Mar 13, 2006 6:44 PM in response to MidiMan

Thanks for the input!

I purchased Logic 6 Pro about a year ago and the G5 last week. I can upgrade to 7.2 Pro for about $350. Would that be your recommendation? How are audio devices recognized or loaded into 7? Although I recognize that there will need to be significant effort to really learn Logic I basically want to get up and running, i.e. doing music, as directly as possible. Will 7 be faster than 6 with SD? I guess the features of 7 over 6 are an important consideration as well. My time may be better spent learning 7 now rather than later. What do you think the pros and cons are?

MidiMan

Level 1

110 points

Mar 13, 2006 8:05 PM in response to worldwyn

It will be too much to go over the pros of logic 7. I suggest you go here:
http://www.apple.com/logicpro/

Also, I have the two Apple books about Logic pro. And there are MANY books about logic, but i suggest you stick to Apple's (although other vendors might offer other explanations and methods)

go here:
http://www.bookpool.com/sm/032125614X

and here:
http://www.bookpool.com/sm/0321256077

Bookpool is the best for tech books, and the cheapest!

if you buy Logic new, you will get the 7.2, which adds teh compatibility to the intel-Macs (not teh plugins)
but as i said, there are Logic on ebay for cheap, so try there.

Hope this was helpful

Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Mar 13, 2006 9:02 PM in response to worldwyn

I PURCHASED A FIRE WIERE M-AUDIO 1814 TO USE AS MY INTERFACE. I INSTALLED THE DRIVERS WITH THE SOFTWARE THAT CAME WITH IT AND LOGIC DOES NOT SEE IF. I COULD SEE THE DEVICE UNDER SYSTEM PROFILE BUT NOT UNDER AUDIO AND MIDI SETUP. DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS AND TALKED TO EVERYONE FROM APPLE SUPPORT , TO M-AUDIO SUPPORT AND LOGIC SUPPORT TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO PAY $400 FOR THEM TO HELP ME. SO ANY SUGGESTIONS?I HAVE THE NEW IMAC DUO CORE INTEL PROCES.

Mar 13, 2006 9:08 PM in response to MidiMan

I suggest you focus on logic 7. then, you won't
necesserally need SD.

How so?

Mar 13, 2006 9:18 PM in response to C-LOS PRODUCTIONS

I PURCHASED A FIRE WIERE M-AUDIO 1814 TO USE AS MY
INTERFACE. I INSTALLED THE DRIVERS WITH THE SOFTWARE
THAT CAME WITH IT AND LOGIC DOES NOT SEE IF. I COULD
SEE THE DEVICE UNDER SYSTEM PROFILE BUT NOT UNDER
AUDIO AND MIDI SETUP. DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS
AND TALKED TO EVERYONE FROM APPLE SUPPORT , TO
M-AUDIO SUPPORT AND LOGIC SUPPORT TOLD ME THAT I
NEEDED TO PAY $400 FOR THEM TO HELP ME. SO ANY
SUGGESTIONS?I HAVE THE NEW IMAC DUO CORE INTEL PROCES.

In the future you should probably start your own thread and you will get better responses. Also, it's considered yelling to type in all caps, and it's hard on the eyes. 🙂

Anyway, did you install the driver on the CD? It's very likely that the included driver is for PPC and not Intel. In fact, the Intel driver listed on M-Audio's site is still in beta. Did you try this driver?

FireWire Series - Mac-Intel Beta Driver

Version: 1.7 - Beta (BETA)

Release Date: January 18, 2006

Applies to:
FireWire 410, FireWire Audiophile, Firewire 1814, FireWire Solo, Ozonic, ProjectMix I/O

Operating System(s):
Mac OS 10.4.4 - Intel Core Duo

Release Notes:
THIS DRIVER IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE WITH POWER PC.

This driver is only for use with MAC-INTEL CORE hardware. 10.4.3

worldwyn Author

Level 1

37 points

Mar 14, 2006 11:04 AM in response to MidiMan

MidiMan,

Thanks for the references. I will check them out.

Going back to your original response........

I suggest you focus on logic 7. then, you won't
necesserally need SD.

What features in logic 7 take the place of SD and how do they work?

Thanks,

Joe

Mar 14, 2006 11:27 AM in response to worldwyn

Joe,

I'm not quite sure what MidiMan is talking about. Logic 7 doesn't have features that can substitute for SoundDiver's extensive editing functions for external MIDI hardware. I have 7.2 and I still need SD for sound programming on my older synths.

worldwyn Author

Level 1

37 points

Mar 14, 2006 7:31 PM in response to Nathan Pangburn

Nathan,

Thanks. I think I will upgrade to 7 and download the SD beta, and just play around with it.

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Replacement for Sound Diver?