Windows vs. Macintosh - Samplitude 2496

[Randy Alberts]

It?s a tired subject, but the Windows vs. Macintosh debate comes up every time an audio or music program pushes either platform?s envelope with a significant upgrade. Each has its devotees (and its limitations), but whether you?re a Mac addict, PC purist or simply undecided, the souped-up engine and new paint job on SEK?D?s Samplitude 2496 speaks volumes for the Wintel side.
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Its name suggests a blissed-out software sampler, but Samplitude is a potent PC audio recording, editing and CD-mastering platform that has just integrated MIDI tools, GUI enhancements, expanded file support and more. With additional new features such as a 5.1 surround mixing interface, piano-roll MIDI editor, timbre-dependent color waveform displays, optimized Pentium III performance and .AIFF, MP3, QuickTime and full Windows NT support to its lengthy spec list, Samplitude is evolving into a one-stop, all-in-one PC power station.
In development since 1988, Samplitude?s latest multitrack variant integrates professional CD mastering tools into an easy-to-use, precise audio and MIDI recording/editing environment. Subcode editing, adjusting track gaps and placing pause markers are standard CD features in 2496, as is a handy burn-on-the-fly mode that captures real-time edits and live audio input without going to hard disk and further straining resources.

The VIP track window is Samplitude?s main editing screen.

SEK?D?s extra attention to harnessing CPU resources with Samplitude?s performance-enhancing utilities made for better-than-average throughput on my ?aging? 200MHz Pentium, lightning quick response on a 500MHz Pentium III, and zero-latent lightspeed on a dual-700MHz P-III system with multiple RAID drives. I installed Samplitude and two SEK?D I/O cards (Siena and Prodif 96 Pro) in each, and though my old Gateway required several install attempts before working, everything was eventually up and running smoothly. Installation was the epitome of plug and play on the other two systems, and Samplitude ran like a rock on all three, with impressive, great-sounding audio results all around.
SEK?D Samplitude 2496 V. 5.57
Multitrack Audio, MIDI and CD Mastering for the Desktop