Buy in the box or online?

[Rusty K]

Hey,

I'm twelve days into my demo of CEP and I believe it has most every feature I would ever need as a songwriter/player.

I would like advice on which way to buy. Are there any advantages to buying CEP in a box instead of downloading?

Another consideration is that I've actually done some good work with the demo and I don't want to lose it. Would there be any install issues with either method of purchase that might cause me to lose this work?

Rusty K

 

[laptoppop]

I agree, CEP2 is a solid program. The demo is a great way for you to find out if it meets your needs! I demo'd it, then bought it.

The advantages to the download version:
"immediate" delivery

The advantages for the boxed version:
CDROM delivery - no download
Printed manual

Other than that, they are the same. For me, I used the download version and printed the manual myself. Be warned, however - its 380 pages long. I also burned a CD with the download as backup, and copied the authentication codes onto the same CD for convenience.

You should have no problems continuing to use your current files with the download version. You can authorize your demo and it becomes a full version without a new download if you want.

Good luck!
-lee-

 

[Rusty K]

Great!

That's what I'll do then....download.

So you burned a data CD of the program and copied the email with the authentication codes as well?

My mental state has improved so much since working with CEP. It's such a relief from the trouble I have been having.

I had thought that if I purchased CEP that I would print the manual as well but since working with it a while I don't think I'll need to. I've been able to get around the help file, with some exceptions, ...we'll see. I might lean on those here at the forum from time to time.

A couple of little things/problems I've had though..


1. Two or three times I've had to Ctrl/Alt/delete CEP closed because it was not responding. Does the temp file and or clipboard get so full that it would cause this? My computer should be beefy enough to handle most anything unless my 1gig Thunderbird could be a little faster? I was skimming the help file and I saw something about purging the temp file but I haven't been able to find that particular section since.

2. The play button has frozen "on" several times. I can force out of it by clicking the back button but this causes a white noise/audio spike. It usually happens when I'm mixing and click back to the first of the file. I must be causing it somehow but I haven't figured it out.


3. Most of the other glitches I've encountered I believe were caused by my forgetting about the machine and just working too fast.

Thanks Lee,

Rusty K

 

[laptoppop]

So you burned a data CD of the program and copied the email with the authentication codes as well?

Yup, that's what I did -- it worked well for my peace of mind. :>)

Cool edit pro isn't perfect - I've had little glitches now and then, but nothing compared to N-Track (I too am an N-Track refugee!).

Some of the things I particularly like about CEP --
Locking effects on tracks - what a great way to free up CPU!
The sound of the compressor -- very smooth and nice, imho
Premixing -- again, it really helps CEP to work well on lower end hardware, or even if you have bigger iron, it helps with letting you run cpu hungry effects and lots of tracks
Included effects - wow, what a package
Recovery file -- when CEP has had a problem, its always been able to recover for me when I loaded the file next time. Granted, that's been rare, but its nice to know it tries if things DO get dicey. For example, if I use an directx plugin from someone else that crashes (hardly CEP's fault) -- it is typically able to recover my work.
Superb editing

Some of the things I don't like as well --
Automation is clunky -- it works, but I prefer real-time recording of automated events
Directx effects only -- unless you use a wrapper
Having to "refresh" the effects for new ones to show up (no big thing once you know it, but frustrated me big time figuring it out)

For me, I've ended up with a three-program attack on the music -- Sonar2.1, CEP2, and Ozone2. I use Sonar for its multitrack mixing down and automation. (I'd rather use CEP2 for the reasons above, but drawing the automation just got too clunky for me) I use CEP2 for editing any files, and for mastering the final stereo mixdown. I use Ozone2 to help me with the final mastering, and occasionally as a killer plug on particular tracks. The combination of these three is working very well for me - they complement each other nicely.

Good luck - and good tracking!
-lee-