HN2 improvements?

Yes i agree with you and especially for me a melody track as note roll editor i asked for this earlier to the staff of Cognitone

With a melody track you can work within HN2 self ..ideal !  

What's really sad right now is that HN2 is only one step ahead of being the definitive tool for songwriting. In its present form you cannot work with  melody and harmony in real time, you just toy with harmonic progressions, and that's not songwriting. The option of harmonizing a fixed melody alone is not a good option for a decent composer. The addition of song structure was an immense leap forward. I love that, but it only makes me wish more and more for the step that is still missing.

It needs at least an editable midi track or an audio track or, the best option by far, integration with any DAW. Everytime that HN2 is mentioned at audio forums like Kvr the same question is asked: "does it work as a plugin inside a DAW". When someone replies "no" the interest fades away.

To be honest, if the next update doesn't allow HN2 to work in some way alongside Cubase, I will buy Halion Sonic just to use its flex phrases system in combination with the Harmony Improvisator plugin, that I also own.  I will only use HN2 from time to time, and only because I like it so much. It is not as incredibly useful as it could be. As simple as that.

That new audio layer for synfire pro that you can work directly within your DAW and the hassle of setting up your VSti is gone..that new feature will be also made transferred to Harmony navigator 2 ( that is going to be happenin the near future ..i assume? )

So than you can do all things in your DAW!

I like to see 2 dedicated midi tracks in HN2 for composing melodies  and working with audiotracks in your DAW

I've only heard about HN2 hosting plugins, nothing more. I asked about this in the 'Latest Development' blog but got no reply.

https://users.cognitone.com/content/are-you-working-vst-hn-well-synfire-automatic-installer-ive-not

it is coming also for HN2

Harmony Navigator does just what it  set out to do.  If you want full songwriting flexibility, get Synfire Pro.  I know a big jump in price, but there is nothing out there that does what this does as well.  HN2 is a very stripped down version of Synfire Pro. It makes sense Andre did it this way.  It gets people acquianted with the software, and they can upgrade to SFP, and not lose any money. 

I first got HN2.  After a week or two, I tried the demo of SFP and upgraded to that.  It is a lot of $$. I never spent that  much money on music software (well actually the Emagic Logic Pro, cause they kept charging you for add on instruments). Cognitone is a small company (right now), and I believe they actually need to charge this much, to keep eveything going.

When Emagic sold Logic Pro to Apple, Apple was able to cut the price in half, cause it would help sell hardware.

In the meantime, save your HN2 midifill import into Band in a box, and create melodies, harmonies, solo's to your hearts content. 

Sorry bout the double reply - wifi died on upload, or I thought it did.

HN2 perfectly does what it was designed to do.  If you want melody and harmony features, get Synfire Pro.  I bought HN2 and played with it for two weeks, I came to a similar conclusion. I tried the demo of Synfire Pro.  I was hooked.  Perhaps Cognitone will add some features, but don't expect them to make it too similar to their top of the line software.  

Years ago, I used Emagic's Logic Pro, It was expensive, when you started adding on their individual instruments, E piano, organ, etc.  After Apple bought it, they used some of it's software in other Apple software, They then cut Logic Pro's price in half.  It was the perfect software to sell more hardware.  They are a huge company and can afford to do this.

Cognitone is a small  company, but they give the most bang for buck (features developed by a small staff of software engineers). Purchasing Synfire Pro, is the most amount of money i have spent for software in a long time.  But worth it to me.  Every user has a different criteria for purchases. You dont want to spend $1200 in software for a 'hobby' - $200 is fine.  

With time, I'm sure Andre will figure out the $$$/feature curve, then everyone can be happy.

"If by "automatic installer" you mean VSTi support, yes, HN2 will also support that."

I understand that HN2 will host VSTIs, not that HN2 will work as a VSTI inside a host. I wish that I'm wrong.

And Synfire is overkill for me. All I'm saying is that HN2 lacks just one single feature to be perfect for songwriting. If it never gets that feature in order to not compete with a product that goes well beyond simple songwriting, that would not make sense to me. I prefer to work inside my DAW only with Harmony Improvisator and Halion Sonic than to add another program like BiaB to the equation.

Hi

I understand that HN2 will host VSTIs, not that HN2 will work as a VSTI inside a host. I wish that I'm wrong.

You can read the blog about synfire pro that also for HN2 will be the automatic Vsti installer used and also a direct connection with your DAW! ( if i am right? )
So you can work right away in your Sequenzer software ..there is a direct connection with HN2 for midi

So for melodyrecording you can use your own software sequenzer

For composing with HN2 as a plugin VSTI for a DAW is also a hassle to set this up in your sequenzer

Now there is HN2< ==> DAW and the connection is automatically made by HN2 for the accompaniment tracks ( 8 i believe ..but i like to see some more) ..so it is very easy to use !!

Finally, I do not think the inclusion of a simple mini-editor of phrases and synchronize with DAWs in HN2 make it too similar to the top of the line software.

There will be no need for a simple mini-editor in HN2, because there is a direct connection with HN2 and your DAW  if the automatic installer is ready for HN2 as i understand

All the 8 tracks of HN2 are in your DAW   i thougt

So there is a direct communication with HN2 and your DAW for midi..it is more easy to transfer midi files than ..with one button or so..i think

So you can do your melody editing in a DAW   

Well, yes you are right, with the new engine, all the 8 tracks of HN2 are in your DAW.

But what if you want to change the arp direction of the accompaniment, and after that want to continue experimenting with progressions?

1. You click the one button you mentioned, to transfer the midi to the DAW
2. record the phrase in the DAW
3. edit the arp section
4. export MIDI
5. import the phrase into HN2

With the minieditor, it would be some mouse clicks, now this 5 steps is pain in the ...