Groove Agent 4 - Problem

cubi · August 11, 2014, 8:19am

Rumdrum:

I have watched the videos 5 times each already. I have read the so called “manual” 3 times, page for page. Perhaps there are still some things I have missed out on in both videos and “manual”, but in my book that is “patience”. For almost a week now I have sat down with GA4 spending approx 3 hrs every day with it. It is still “all questions” to me. I have never experienced that with any of my more than 200 plugins. In fact in most cases I have never had the need to consult the manual at all, as most plugs are self explanatory. I have put up GA4 questions on this forum. Most unanswered by the Moderator (or anybody else). My conclusion is:
The manual is the worst ever
The GUI is over complicated
The workflow is not up to modern standards
Sound ranges from quite good to excellent

I fail to see that this products will stand up against Toontracks Ez/Superior Drummer or Native Instruments Drummer packs or most drummer software out there. (Although GA4 might have some advantage as stand alone in Live sessions. It is cheaper than Machine anyway). The beauty of GA2 and 3 is gone and replaced with something quite un comprehendible. GA4 tries to be a “little bit of everything” without making it to the top anywhere. It raises the question: “What was the strategy behind this product?”.

I am currently working on a written tutorial “how to use 3. party MIDI grooves in GA4”. It will be approximately 12 pages long! If I had written the same thing for EzDrummer it would be 3 pages tops. I will post it when it is finished in approx a week. (Still some questions to be answered first).

I agree 100%.
The simplicity of GA 2 and GA 3 is gone. I also spent a long time to get used to the new GA 4. I read the manual, I watched the videos. In my opinion it is overloaded and confusing. There are simple features, that for me where essential in the older versions, that are gone (start your GA via the DAW…). Sure, there are workarounds, but I decided to refund GA 4. Unfortunately I read in another post, that this won´t be possible, as the product is already authorized. But how should one get to know a product, if it is not installed and working? I´m curious how Steinberg reacts as I already objected my payment (btw. they didn´t react in any way to my question in the german forum).
A frustrated user, who used to love GA2 and GA3 a long time ago .