Help me Decide - Soundminer or HD Plus

[lexaudio]

Trying to figure out which is the best way to go.

The new version looks like it has some great things, but wondering if I go HD Plus am I going to end up missing something I really need.

Thanks

LEX

[Frank Kruse]

Well, what DO you need? More than stereo monitoring? VST plugins?
What you might be missing depends on what you need.

[lexaudio]

I don't need VST plugins. I do my processing in PT.

Don't need 5.1 monitoring either.

I already have miniminer.

I need to have as many DB's as I want.
Create and export "pull bins"
Select and spot to PT.

I was wondering more what advantage SM has over the new HD Plus, or is there really any major difference.

I just don't want to go one way and find I've shorted myself.

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by lexaudio

I was wondering more what advantage SM has over the new HD Plus, or is there really any major difference.

I just don't want to go one way and find I've shorted myself.

Main advantage of SMpro:

-VST plugs while you spot
-Multichannel (LCR, 5.0 etc.) audio monitoring via rewire.
Not sure if it has the admin-window to batch-manipulate meta-data and also the field-builder.
Not if it reads/writes iXML.

From what you write HDplus will do. HD only does 2 databases.

[lexaudio]

Not looking for Pro at this time.

WB has it, but I need to extend my database at home.

SO, here is what the difference in HD Plus, not HD and V4 SM is.

V4 has the following things over HDPlus:

support for 2 channel rewire
batch metadata editing
ability to embed to BWAV BEXT and AIFF Itunes
ability to batch mirror out in alternative formats
more advanced project system allowing you to rebuild new folder structures on export and assign different folders for different project as targets for transfer.
10,000 word sound effects optimized thesaurus for searching.
support for higher sample rate conversion - up to 10 channels wide 192khz/24bit
loop playback

HDPlus being a brand new platform does have a few developments that have not made it into the pro product line like:

NEW Launch Pad - graphical search interface.
NEW LIVE FILTER - ability to use up to three fields to browse down to where you want to go without a keyword search.
support for AVID export of files.

"more advanced project system allowing you to rebuild new folder structures on export and assign different folders for different project as targets for transfer."

Can you explain this?

"support for 2 channel rewire
batch metadata editing"
Batch metadata editing would probably be very handy, though alot of the library I have already have.

Not sure why I'd need rewire support unless SM doesn't allow or PT won't allow multiple apps to use the same device.

HD Plus adds this to basic:

Support for Pro Tools 8/9 Spot to Timeline support.
Support for AVID Media Composer. Transfers dragged into the current Avid Bin get auto enriched with critical metadata. Another Soundminer first!
Support for Final Cut Pro - drag to the timeline or batch transfer right into your Project complete with metadata. Another Soundminer first!
Support for Logic 9, Soundtrack Pro, and Pyramix for Spot to Timeline.
Advanced Transfer Settings with user definable handles, sum to mono, remove illegal characters, Spot as Region and more.
Advanced Support for Cubase/Nuendo 5 for spot to timeline.
Multiple Database support - make as many as you want and have them instantly available.
Project Pane with unlimited folder hierarchy. Organize your files just the way you want!
Supports Batch Transfers from Transfer history pane as well as Browser and Project windows
Powerful Copy and Convert engine incorporates the industry's best 64-bit sample rate converter...iZotope's SRC™ - transfer speeds more than double in HD Plus.
Modify and Embed metadata to your files for all available fields!
Metadata field assign feature - quickly assign metadata from existing content to new or other files in your database.
Pitch Control on playback and transfers with on screen Music Keyboard control
Advanced File re-naming included.


So I have the multiple DB feature.

I guess what is confusing to me is why have 2 versions, v4 and HD/HD Plus.

Other than connecting to a SM server, rewire, batch and sample rate, what benefit over HD Plus does SMv4 (not Pro) have.

Thanks

LEX

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by lexaudio

Other than connecting to a SM server, rewire, batch and sample rate, what benefit over HD Plus does SMv4 (not Pro) have.

Thanks

LEX

Good question. Out of the pocket: I don´t know, I never was on 4 (non-pro).

Maybe inquire at soundminer.com. Justin is usually really fast responding.

[xbook]

Originally Posted by lexaudio

Other than connecting to a SM server, rewire, batch and sample rate, what benefit over HD Plus does SMv4 (not Pro) have.

Thanks

LEX

Probably 7 times the number of bugs.

[lexaudio]

Originally Posted by xbook

Probably 7 times the number of bugs.

Are you speculating or know this for sure?

[minister]

Originally Posted by xbook

Probably 7 times the number of bugs.

As someone who was one of the testers on a MAC for SMHD, and now a user of SMHD Plus, as well as SM and SM Pro, I am interested in what you mean. Is this simply a wisecrack, or based on something?

We have had no problems with SMHD here on a MAC. PC, is possibly a different story and we have no first-hand experience with it.

[minister]

Originally Posted by lexaudio

I guess what is confusing to me is why have 2 versions, v4 and HD/HD Plus.

Other than connecting to a SM server, rewire, batch and sample rate, what benefit over HD Plus does SMv4 (not Pro) have.

Thanks

LEX

You answered your question in your post.

Basically, I would say, that if you do your own library work with your own custom sounds, you want SMv4. The differences and features needed are listed in your post above. If you simply need multiple databases and are using already created libraries (with Metadata) that you spot into PT, then SMHD Plus would be the way to go.