Results for DAW

Paul Davis has released version 3.0 of Ardour, the open source digital audio workstation application for Mac and Linux.

Ardour 3: Record, Edit, and Mix on Linux and OS X.

Changes in Ardour v3.0

• Major New Features
  • MIDI recording, playback and editing, including plugin instrument support for LV2, VST and AudioUnits.
  • Parallelization of DSP operations to use any number of processors.
  • Matrix-style patching/routing.
  • Overhauled export system (multiple formats at once, stem exports, multichannel exports).
• New & Improved Audio Signal Handling
  • Monitor section.
  • Solo operation redesigned, includes Solo Isolate and correct AFL/PFL modes.
  • Per-channel visible phase invert buttons.
  • Internal aux sends and explicit aux busses.
  • Improved send control.
  • Stereo panning via width+position.
  • Track/Bus groups extended.
• Audio Editing
  • Option for Automation moves with Regions.
  • Rhythm Ferret improvements.
  • Vertical stacking of overlapping regions in tracks.
  • Non-destructive, non-overlapping recording mode.
  • New region editing features.
  • Strip Silence.
  • Media search path.
• New & Improved GUI details
  • Session overview pane.
  • Unified processor list (plugins, sends, returns etc).
  • Extended Region list.
  • Extended Track/Bus list.
  • Improved and expanded editor cursor set.
  • Dynamically resizable big clock window.
  • New and improved preferences dialog(s).
  • New editing implementation for clocks.
• External Control
  • MIDI binding maps
  • Dramatically improved Mackie Control support.
  • Linear Timecode support.
  • Improved MTC chase.
  • MIDI Clock chase.
• Miscellaneous
  • 64 bit timeline
  • Dynamically resizable disk buffers.
  • JACK Session support.
  • Undo system internals use less memory and improve speed.

Ardour 3.0 is now available for Mac, Linux and as source code.

More information: Ardour

Steinberg has released Nuendo 6, the latest version of the state-of-the-art production environment tailored to post and audio production studios.

“Nuendo 6 has undergone intensive development, and we are proud to make this solution available to our customers,” comments Timo Wildenhain, product marketing manager at Steinberg.

Nuendo 6 provides new mixing facilities featuring full-screen mode and scalability, Insert View for displaying activated insert slots, plug-in and channel search and integrated Control Room. The brand-new channel strip comprises high-pass and low-pass filters, a noise gate with sidechain support, various compressors and a brickwall limiter while the overhauled Channel Settings window provides immediate access to channel parameters.

Further highlights of Nuendo 6 are the EBU R128 standard compliant loudness metering with RMS metering scales, the Loudness Lane for tracking and editing loudness efficiently and the new ADR taker system including on-screen dialog for dialog recording and language dubbing.

Prominent plug-ins are MixConvert v6 for individual downmixing, Voxengo’s 64-band CurveEQ and IOSONO’s Anymix Pro 1.3 for automatic EQ and loudness adjustments to surround sound signal panning and upmixing up to 8.1 surround sound.

MemZap stores and recalls zoom settings and positions within the project, VST Connect SE plug-in allows for online collaboration and the Remote Control Editor is utilized for easy mapping of effect and instrument parameters to external controllers.

Other newly implemented features include a redesigned user interface, VariAudio 2.0, ASIO-Guard with drop-out prevention algorithms, a 1.5 GB library by Pro Sound Effects and 90 minutes of free online video tutorials.

The optional Nuendo 6 Expansion Kit (NEK) comprises features that turn Nuendo into a fully fledged composing application. Included are the new Chord Track, which detects and modifies the harmony structure of MIDI and audio tracks edited in VariAudio, and Chord Assistant, newly introduced to bridge chords and generate harmonic chord progressions. The feature set is complemented by Hermode tuning for dynamic retuning in real time, 300 new instrument sounds for HALion Sonic SE as well as the Retrologue virtual-analog and Padshop granular synthesizers.

Nuendo 6 is available to purchase for MSRP 1,699 EUR. The Nuendo 6 Expansion Kit is MSRP 249 EUR. Prices including German VAT. Various boxed and downloadable updates are also available from resellers and through the Steinberg Online Shop.

Customers who have activated Nuendo 5 since November 14, 2012, are eligible for a free, downloadable Grace Period update to the latest version. Restrictions may apply.

More information: Steinberg / Nuendo 6

Ableton has version 9 of its Live music production software for Windows and Mac.

Record automation into clips. Edit automation with curves. Session View automation lets you capture your performance or add movement to your loops. Use curves to make automation more musical.

Live’s unique Session View makes it easy to improvise with musical ideas. In Live 9, you can now record parameter changes directly into Session View for even more flexibility. Edit automation curves with the mouse to create smooth mix transitions or radical parameter changes in your clips.

In one click, create new Session View scenes from your Arrangement tracks, or drag and copy individual clips from Arrangement to Session. The automation comes with them, making it easier than ever to move from improvising to arranging and back.

Changes in Live 9

• Session automation: In Session View, automation can now be recorded in real time directly within clips. Automation can move together with clips between Arrangement and Session View.
• Find sounds fast: Live’s new browser puts all instruments, effects, samples, and plug-ins in one easy-to-navigate view. Drag and drop folders from anywhere on your computer, search as you type and navigate from the keyboard to find everything quickly.
• Discover new sounds: Live comes with a large selection (3,500 in the Suite edition) of production-ready sounds, which were carefully crafted with the help of over 40 artists, sound designers and engineers. All sounds feature Macro controls for fast access to their most meaningful, musical parameters.
• Get your sound right: Live’s studio effects have all been reworked for even better sound and usability. The Glue Compressor is a new effect – an authentic model of a legendary 1980s console bus compressor. EQ Eight has an audition mode for isolating frequencies and an expandable spectrum display. The Gate and Compressor effects feature a Gain Reduction view which shows changes in signal level over time.
• Extract music from samples: Live’s new Harmony, Melody and Drums to MIDI tools extract natural-feeling MIDI directly from the favorite parts of your music collection. You can also sing, tap a rhythm, play any solo instrument, then use Melody or Drums to MIDI to turn your recordings into MIDI clips that you can edit and reuse with any sound.
• Edit the details: Transpose, reverse and stretch MIDI notes or warp clip automation and add curves to automation envelopes. New tools and an improved workflow allow fast and flexible editing of musical ideas.
• Max for Live – now in Suite: The Suite edition of Live 9 comes with Max for Live and its many unique instruments, effects and tools. Max for Live itself includes 24 new devices such as a convolution reverb, new drum synthesizer instruments, MIDI echo as well as reworked versions of classics such as Step Sequencer and Buffer Shuffler 2.

Live 9 is available to purchase for $99 USD / 79 EUR (Live 9 Intro download version), $449 USD / 349 EUR (Live 9 Standard download version) and $749 USD / 599 EUR (Live 9 Suite download version).

Upgrades to Live 9 Standard / Live 9 Suite vary in price depending on the Ableton products you already own.

Ableton has also announced that its Push hardware instrument is now available to pre-order.

Push is the controller perfectly integrated with Ableton Live.

Push provides direct, hands-on control of melody and harmony, beats, sounds and structure, powered by Ableton Live running on your computer. High-quality, dynamic pads, buttons, encoders and display combined with an innovative workflow allow you to play and compose musical ideas without the need to look at or touch your computer, and more importantly, without interrupting the musical flow.

Push features

• Play and sequence beats: Push’s 64 velocity- and pressure-sensitive multi-color pads can be used to play, step sequence, and navigate within rhythm patterns – all at the same time. The 11 touch-sensitive endless encoders can control device parameters, adjust velocity, nudge timing and more.
• Play melodies and chords in a new way: Push “folds” a keyboard’s worth of notes into its 64 pads, with different pad colors showing the key center and other notes in the key. This allows you to play in every key using the same finger patterns, move between keys at the touch of a button, and explore new harmonies and phrases.
• Improvise with song structure: Push expands the scope of creation with its unique workflow. Using just a few buttons to trigger clips, overdub notes, move between song materials and variations lets Ableton Live itself become an intuitively playable instrument.
• Move smoothly from creation to arrangement: Push offers both the inspiring instrument to start creating music, and the full-featured software to finish off a track. Everything created with Push is laid out in Ableton Live on your computer – ready for fine-tuning, arrangement and export.
• Includes Ableton Live 9: Push includes Ableton Live 9 Intro and works with any edition of Ableton Live 9 (Intro, Standard, Suite). All the included instruments, effects and sounds, as well as your own libraries, are ready to be played, tweaked, and personalized.
• Designed by Ableton, built by Akai Professional: Utilizing Akai Pro’s long-standing expertise in the field of pad controllers, Push features 64 pressure and velocity-sensitive RGB (multi-colored) pads with an adaptive layout and a touch strip with 24 LEDs for pitch bending or navigating through a Drum Rack. The 11 touch-sensitive encoders and LCD display adapt dynamically to control and show active parameters.
• Fits inside a backpack alongside a laptop: Push is 370 mm / 14.57 inches wide, 293 mm / 11.54 inches deep and is 46 mm / 1.81 inches in height (including encoders) and weighs 2990g / 6.59 pounds. Backside connections are a USB port, power adaptor input and two assignable footswitch inputs. (Push is USB-powered, the brightness of the display and LEDs can be increased by using the included power supply).
• Push cover: An optional steel cover doubles as a sturdy, angled stand for performance.

Push is available to pre-order, starting at for $599 USD / 499 EUR (including Live 9 Intro). Shipping is expected in 2-4 weeks.

More information: Ableton

Cytomic has announced the customers of The Glue compressor effect plug-in are eligible to receive a discount coupon for Ableton’s Live 9 software.

The first fruit of Cytomic’s partnership with Ableton is out this week. Both the Glue Compressor and an updated EQ8 algorithm are included in Live 9 and Suite 9. Cytomic is proud to be able to offer existing customers of The Glue 10% off the upgrade or full price of Live 9 and Suite 9.

Discount coupons are currently being emailed out to everyone that owns The Glue, so if you don’t receive yours by the end of March 5th please log into your account and make sure that you have enabled the “Receive News Emails” checkbox. Each day another batch will be sent out to catch anyone that needed to update their settings. If you need to update your email address then please email support.

More information: Cytomic

Steinberg has announced the immediate availability of a trial version of its acclaimed Cubase 7 advanced music production system.

Cubase 7 Trial is a 30-day trial version, available as download from the Steinberg website and comprises all the features available in Cubase 7, the award-winning digital audio workstation released in December 2012.

Cubase 7 features

• State-of-the-art music production system used by thousands of professionals around the world.
• Award-winning 32-bit floating-point Steinberg audio engine with up to 192 kHz, 5.1 surround, flexible routing and full automatic delay compensation.
• Unlimited audio, instrument and MIDI tracks .
• Superb composing, editing and mixing features with unparalleled multitrack editing and quantizing, take comping and automation tools.
• All-new MixConsole provides the ultimate mixing experience with unmatched flexibility and integrated EQ/Dynamics channel strip modules for epic pro-console sound.
• Comprehensive set of 8 outstanding virtual instruments with over 2,800 sounds, including HALion Sonic SE workstation, Padshop granular synth, Retrologue virtual analog synth, LoopMash 2 and the MPC-style Groove Agent ONE drum machine.
• Complete suite of 66 high-end audio and 18 MIDI VST effect processors, including VST Amp Rack guitar tone suite, REVerence convolution reverb, Voxengo CurveEQ and many more.
• VariAudio for MIDI-style note editing of monophonic audio tracks and automatic voicing harmonization and auto-tuning effect.
• Chord Track for easy chord management and re-harmonizing plus intelligent composing assistance for generating beautiful chord sequences.
• VST Expression 2 for unique instrument articulation management and expression control on single-note level .
• Professional music notation and score printing.
• MediaBay file and preset management system.
• Cross-platform 32/64-bit for Windows and Mac OS X.

The Cubase 7 trial version is now available to download for Windows and Mac. It requires the USB-eLicenser dongle.

More information: Steinberg / Cubase

Image-Line has announced it has released a 64-bit beta version of its FL Studio music production software for Windows.

We are happy to announce that the FL Studio 64 Bit beta is now available from Looptalk for testing. While FL Studio can already host 64 Bit plugins, this beta moves the core FL Studio application and associated components to native 64 Bit operation.

The beta includes 64 Bit releases of most FL Studio ‘native format’ plugins & components such as Edison, Newtone, Sytrus, Slicex, Harmor, Gross Beat, Vocodex etc. Click on the image above to read up on the full details of the 64 Bit beta release and start testing.

FL Studio 64-bit (and 64-bit VST versions of most plugins) are available to download for registered users. New Image-Line customers can purchase FL Studio and other Image-Line products with a 10% discount.

More information: Image-Line / FL Studio 64-bit beta