Synapse Audio has announced the release of Orion 8.5, the latest version of its music production software for Windows.

This major update adds several new high-quality effects, introduces new features to the Pro-9 and Toxic tone generators, improves the workflow as well as look+feel, and comes with a nice, new default skin designed by Nick Moritz. Furthermore, the update comes with a comprehensive, user-made graphical editor for Orion skins, named Skinmeister.

Synapse Audio Orion 8.5

Changes in Orion 8.5

  • New features:
    • New default skin by Nick Moritz.
    • New effect: RNA-160 Compressor/Limiter, a faithful emulation of an outboard legend.
    • New effect: Concert Hall, a new algorithmic reverb with a high-quality sound.
    • New effect: Analog Phaser, an analog-modelled six-stage phaser.
    • New effect: Vintage EQ, tone stack emulation of the legendary ’59 Bassman Amp.
    • Compressor CV-82, an improved version of the Compressor 8 with additional features.
    • Sidechain support for VST effects.
    • Pro-9 extended with the Noise Spread knob, which increases the spaciousness of the Snare and Clap sound in the stereo field.
    • ASIO Outputs can be freely assigned to individual subgroups in the Master section.
    • Skinning system overhauled, skins are easier to develop and maintain now, most knobs support alpha-blending and an arbitrary number of frames.
    • Toxic 2 synthesizer engine completely overhauled, its performance is now up to 50% higher than previously. New “Pan Spread” knob for spreading Unison voices in the stereo field.
    • All workspace windows can snap to a user-definable grid, facilitating the window arrangement.
    • Full Screen Mode (F11).
  • Workflow Enhancements:
    • Popup Hints for generator knobs (can be turned off).
    • Current Parameter value visible in event editors (red line by default, user-definable).
    • All workspace Windows can snap to a user-definable grid.
    • “Clone” function which clones all patterns and the arrangement of a generator to a new track. The source mixer strip with all its associated insert FX and EQ settings can be optionally cloned as well.
  • Bug Fixes:
    • Toolbars no longer ‘blink’ when clicking on them.
    • Some VST plugins did not redraw properly, fixed.
    • Assigning Transport buttons to MIDI CC did not always work properly, fixed.
    • Song Merge did not always work properly, fixed.
    • MP3 Export did not work in 64-bit version of Orion, fixed.
    • Incorrect meter drawing while mixer was moving, fixed.
    • Audio glitches while window was moving or scrolling, fixed.
    • Playlist cursor drawing bugs while window was moving, fixed.
    • Song Length was not correctly updated when adding huge patterns, fixed.
    • Mousewheel did not work properly in all cases, fixed.
    • Modules were loosing focus and focus was set for playlist (TAB shortcut issue), fixed.
    • Deprecated effect “Simple reverb” was not recovered properly from older projects, fixed.
    • “Audio Input” text was not drawn properly on expanded playlist, fixed.
    • Hitting [Alt]+[-] to invoke MDI window caused hang, fixed.
    • Styles imported from V7 with automation in them did not show the automation, fixed.
    • Pattern list Drop-down in Playlist did not always work, fixed.
    • VST effect “PSP-85” crashed after inserting it, fixed.
    • “Receive MIDI from…” did not work for VST effects, fixed.
    • IL plugins had drawing issues, fixed.
    • Recorded MIDI CC Automation was sometimes not shown for VST plugins, fixed.
    • Event Editor: Events drawn with the line tool while left button was held down were erased by playlist cursor, fixed.
    • Imported v7 projects with many generators did not show all mixer strips, fixed.
    • Scrolling in Piano Roll and Playlist was sluggish sometimes, fixed.
    • Generator window was not resizable if pianoroll was opened while window was rolled, fixed.
    • After un-maximizing a window, the border was not redrawn correctly, fixed.
    • Toxic 2 “Init Program” function created a silent patch, fixed.
    • Calling up minimized Windows from the Window menu did not work, fixed.
    • On some systems the Mixer had redraw issues, fixed.
  • Skinmeister 1.2 Features:
    • Load and Save Orion skins
    • Adjust toolbars, window frames and knob positions of the mixer, instruments and effects.
    • Change colors in Piano Roll, Playlist and Event Editor.
    • Quick tools to adjust brightness, sharpness or saturation of images.

The update is free for all registered Orion 8 users, and can be downloaded from the User Service area. The demo version has been updated as well.

More information: Synapse Audio