Category: daw

Tracktion releases Waveform, and it’ll run on the Pi!

Waveform_DAW

So you may remember me posting about this not so long ago. Well finally it’s here. Tracktion runs on most regular desktops, but why I’m really interested in it is because it’ll run on the Raspberry Pi 3, and that’s where I’m going to be using it. That is, as soon as I’ve got a copy of course.

Why I’m interested in Tracktion’s Waveform is because I think it could start to turn the Raspberry Pi into an interesting competing mobile platform, and that would be very cool. Now you may be wondering just how the Pi is a mobile platform. That’s a good question, and one for another day. For now let’s say a little about Waveform. Here’s Tracktion’s press release:

“SEATTLE, WA (April 03, 2017) – Tracktion Corporation is proud to announce the release of Waveform, the latest in their long line of innovative DAWs. Transcending the award-winning T7 in look, feel and feature set, Waveform maintains the open, intuitive characteristics of its predecessor. In addition to providing a solid recording platform, the Tracktion team has developed an array of new tools designed to speed up and expand creative composition.

All good DAW’s have the ability to record, edit, mix and share music however, Waveform may be the only application evolving at the same pace as modern music production. Since acquiring ownership of the platform in 2012, Tracktion has completely re-factored the application, adapting it to the latest production trends, on a yearly basis. No other DAW can make this claim. In addition, Waveform is laser focused on music production so it avoids the complexities inherent in most of today’s DAWs as they struggle to support everything from film mixing to enterprise operations or live music performance.

Beyond sheer efficiency, Waveform inspires creativity with an unprecedented suite of composition tools. Intuitive MIDI pattern generators allow even untrained musicians to quickly assemble entire musical arrangements while built-in virtual instruments such as the FM Synth and new Collective™ sampler/synthesizer provide a wealth of new sounds and blending options for a truly sophisticated sonic palette. Of course, Waveform is also compatible with all VST and AU plugins such as Tracktion’s popular BioTek™ Organic Synthesizer.

“Our goal is to continually gain market share by remaining more current and flexible than our competitors,” explained Tracktion Corp CEO, James Woodburn. “Our constant re-factoring process means that we can track emerging production trends and incorporate the best ideas into our codebase. Watch on-line tutorials detailing how today’s top producers like to work and you’ll find that Tracktion seamlessly fits into those workflows.”

Despite the remarkable power of this application, Waveform’s highly refined code remains efficient enough to support even the relatively tiny Raspberry Pi platform. This allows the app to run smoothly on almost any modern Windows, Mac or Linux computer but also opens it for use as an embedded solution in the growing DIY maker community.”

Check out the Waveform page at Tracktion’s site. It’s worth taking a look.

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More information emerges about Korg Gadget for Mac

Tim from Disschord gets the scope on the latest information on Gadget for Mac. Here are all the details:

  • Award winning KORG Gadget currently iOS only will soon be available for Mac.
  • The ultimate Gadget collection includes all of the more than 30 gadgets.
  • Intuitive and simple operation that delivers powerful music production.
  • Power users can get back to the basics, beginners can jump right into great music making.
  • Takes advantage of the large screen with a single-window four-split (divided in four) screen design.
  • Comes with “Gadget Plug-in Collection,” a magnificent collection of plug-ins that support AU, VST, AAX, and NKS (*1).
  • Two new gadgets provide long-awaited audio recording.
  • A new powerful drum gadget with 16 pads.
  • Supports the latest technology including Allihoopa, Ableton Link, and Bluetooth MIDI.
  • Seamless connection between KORG Gadget for iOS and KORG Gadget for Mac enables a smooth workflow so you can produce music anytime and anywhere.
    (*1) NKS will be available in the future version.

In addition, KORG Gadget for iOS version 3 will also be available February 28 and features the long-awaited Audio Track recording and playback. These gadgets elevate KORG Gadget into the realm of a true all-in-one production studio.

Release date: February 28, 2017 (Tuesday Japan time)
Regular Price: $299 -> Introductory Special Price: $199 (Limited Time only)
Purchase available via download at the new KORG SHOP (new site opening soon)

As Tim points out this isn’t cheap. You could pay $199 for Logic Pro X (on the app store). But then again this is desktop territory and not mobile. Prices are higher, and on the whole I’m not sure it’s bad value at all.

What’s more interesting is that Korg have chosen to release it via their own store and not Apple’s Mac App store. Obviously doing it this way means that they can secure an additional 30% that Apple would have taken, but what will be interesting is how they manage updates and versions.

But there’s less than three weeks to go before it lands now, so not long to wait.

Is the Raspberry Pi the next mobile platform?

In case you hadn’t seen this it comes from NAMM where Tracktion Corporation announced the rename of the DAW to Waveform, and that it would run on the Raspberry Pi computer. Now that’s impressive I think. Considering what a Pi costs ($35) it’s a pretty amazing deal. There’s no pricing set for Waveform as yet, but currently Tracktion’s T5 DAW is free.

What’s more, if you watch the whole of the video you’ll hear that they’re also planning bespoke Pi audio hardware too. I’ll be keeping an eye on this as I think that the Pi has the ability to become a much more interesting platform in the not too distant future.

KORG Gadget is coming to the desktop

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Whilst this is a surprise it’s also very welcome. In many ways it’s the next step for Gadget, and an obvious step. We’ll know a bit more next week as things become clearer, but there are a few points to note already that I think are important.

Firstly, Gadget on the desktop is still going to have Ableton Link, which is excellent news of course. Next and more interesting, is an integration with Allihoopa. Which I think is a first. I think it will be very intriguing to see how that’s done and also if the integration comes to Gadget on iOS as well. Finally I’m keen to see how the iOS to Mac OS connection works as well, and what ‘seamless’ really means.

For now, here’s what’s on the Korg page …

The award winning KORG Gadget music production iOS app is soon to be released for the Mac. Building on the smooth operability and intuitive user interface of the iOS version, “KORG Gadget for Mac” provides a new dimension of inspiration for every creative artist. The Mac version also comes with “Gadget Plug-In Collection,” a magnificent collection of plug-ins that support AU, VST, AAX, and NKS. With KORG Gadget, you can use the Mac version at home and the iOS version when you are mobile, letting you enjoy a seamless workflow and ideal music production experience. The care that KORG has paid to hardware instruments over more than 50 years of experience has been channeled into the powerful cutting-edge musical software that is KORG Gadget. Now, the ultimate all-in-one music production studio extends its scope to a new platform and brings a new level of music making for Mac users everywhere.

Main features of KORG Gadget for Mac

  • Award winning KORG Gadget currently iOS only will soon be available for Mac.
  • The ultimate Gadget collection includes all of the more than 30 gadgets.
  • Intuitive and simple operation that delivers powerful music production
  • Power users can get back to the basics, beginners can jump right into great music making.
  • Takes advantage of the large screen with a single-window four-split (divided in four) screen design.
  • Comes with “Gadget Plug-in Collection,” a magnificent collection of plug-ins that support AU, VST, AAX, and NKS.
  • Two new gadgets provide long-awaited audio recording.
  • A new powerful drum gadget with 16 pads.
  • Supports the latest technology including Allihoopa, Ableton Link, and Bluetooth MIDI.
  • Seamless connection between KORG Gadget for iOS and KORG Gadget for Mac enables a smooth workflow so you can produce music anytime and anywhere. – See more at: http://www.korg.com/uk/news/2017/011202/#sthash.YHW6eAMN.dpuf

All information will be publicly announced when the NAMM show opens on January 19, 2017 (local time) in Anaheim, California, USA. Don’t forget to check the KORG Gadget product page. – See more at: http://www.korg.com/uk/news/2017/011202/#sthash.YHW6eAMN.dpuf

Audio Evolution Mobile Studio arrives on iOS

After being very sucessful on Android Audio Evolution Mobile comes to iOS with an impressive range of features.

Record your ideas on the go or create entire music productions from scratch, we’ll leave it up to you! This app is a portable multitrack audio and MIDI recording studio featuring virtual instruments, editing with unlimited undo/redo, mixing, real-time effects, automation and much more!

Note that this is our initial release and we’d appreciate any feedback or bug reports! We are highly responsive to customer feedback.

Features:

  • Multitrack audio recording / playback
  • MIDI sequencing with piano roll editor
  • Drum pattern editor
  • Inter-app audio effects and instruments
  • AudioBus support (including AudioBus remote)
  • Audio Unit v3 instruments and effects displayed directly in the app
  • Non-linear editing with move, trim, split, cut/copy/paste, remove, cross-fade, etc. with full undo/redo
  • Virtual instruments (comes with free instruments and more instrument packs to download with in-app purchase)
  • Wide range of downloadable loops available (free and paid)
  • Clip volume and fade points
  • Loop playback
  • Automation of mixer and effect parameters
  • Mix-down to WAV, AIFF and ALAC
  • Metronome
  • Punch in/out
  • Zoom down to the sample
  • Each track has controls for volume, panning, mute, solo, arm, 3-band EQ with mid-sweep, 3 insert effects, 2 effect sends and output bus selection
  • Unlimited number of tracks (more than 3 requires the PRO in-app purchase)
  • Unlimited number of groups (requires the PRO in-app purchase)
  • Real-time effects including: chorus, compressor, delay, dual delay, reverse delay, reverb, flanger, noise gate and many more!
  • Offline effects: fade in/out, normalize, reverse, pitch shift, time stretching
  • Several grid options for aligning your samples (with tempo and time signature settings)
  • Projects are interchangeable with our Android version
  • Export to other DAW’s by rendering all tracks to separate audio files (stems)
  • Media server to access your files easily from a desktop computer

In short: a complete portable multitrack music studio that will replace your fourtrack recorder or tape machine!

The following in-app purchases are available to expand your studio:

  • FX pack 1 (distortion, overdrive, speaker sim, wah wah, phaser)
  • FX pack 2 (10-, 15-, 30-band graphic EQ)
  • ToneBoosters effect pack 1 (Barricade, DeEsser, Gate, Reverb)
  • ToneBoosters EQ with frequency analyzer
  • ToneBoosters Compressor
  • Autotune with two-voice harmonizer
  • Soundfont instrument packs
  • Loop packs from Function Loops

Audio Evolution Mobile Studio is free on the app store (with IAPs):

n-Track Studio 8 arrives with amazing new features and a very different model for iOS music making

It’s been a big day today, firstly seeing the arrival of Cubasis 2 (plus the LE version), and now with n-Track Studio 8 arriving too.

This is a big and very significant shift for n-Track is a lot of ways.

  • Firstly, this is a big update with a lot of new functionality in it so it’s well worth reading all of the detail below.
  • Secondly, n-Track 8 is now an AU host, which makes it one of only a few in that category
  • Finally, and this is really different, n-Track 8 is free, but is using a subscription model for pricing. This is a real shift for mobile music and needs a little thinking about.

So what do we think about subscription models?

Well firstly I’d like to point out that this isn’t something entirely new. In actual fact when Sunvox first arrived on Palm OS is used a subscription model. Not many people will remember that at all (I’m looking at you Jo), but it worked like that for a while. Secondly, this kind of model is actually starting to gain ground in the desktop world, with Splice launching their ‘rent-to-own’ model recently.

Personally I think it’s a model that’s worth exploring. If you’ve got a project that demands the pro features in n-Track 8 you could use those for a month or two then scale back. If anything it’s probably more flexible than paying up front for an app where you’re not going to use all of the features, or indeed buying an IAP only to find that it doesn’t really suit you.

It’ll be interesting to see how this is accepted by the wider community, but I’m positive about it, and if anything, I’d like to see a few more apps go down this route. For now, take a look a the new app’s description, grab it (it’s free and universal) and tell me what you think of the model.

n-Track Studio 8, all the detail you could want!

n-Track Studio 8 turns your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into a complete recording studio. Record and playback a virtually unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks, mix them during playback and add effects. Edit your song and share it with your friends, or join the Songtree community and jam with other artists.

HOW IT WORKS:
Record a base track with the built-in mic or an external sound card, add other audio tracks or create a melody using the internal keyboard or the built-in virtual instruments.

Import a groove or create it using the step sequencer, use the mixer to adjust levels, pan, apply equalization and add effects, save or share the recording directly from your device to your friends

MAIN FEATURES:

  • Stereo and mono audio tracks
  • Virtually unlimited number of tracks (max 11 tracks without in-app purchases)
  • Group and Aux channels
  • MIDI tracks with builtin synth featuring 128 General MIDI instrument sounds
  • Pianoroll MIDI editor
  • Step Sequencer
  • On-screen MIDI keyboard
  • EQ with 2D and 3D Spectrum analyzer + chromatic tuner*
  • Import existing tracks from your iTunes library
  • Reverb, Echo, Chorus+Flanger, Tremolo, Pitch Shift, Phaser, – Tube-Amp and Compression effects can be added to any track and master channel*
  • Automate track volumes and pan using volume and pan envelopes
  • Supports the new AudioUnit plug-in standard: open 3rd party effects and instruments inside the app, without switching to another app*
  • Audiobus input and output: you can send audio from other apps to n-Track, play your favorite instrument app and record the output inside n-Track alongside the device mic/line input. Each Audiobus app can be recorded to a separate track*
  • Interapp audio: receive audio from instrument apps, use other apps as effects or host n-Track inside another app*
  • Share your recordings on Facebook
  • Collaborate to create music with other musicians with the integrated Songtree online music making community
  • Quick one touch drums and bass grooves tracks
  • Built-in metronome

ADVANCED FEATURES:

  • 64 bit double precision floating point audio engine*
  • Internal audio routing
  • Support for multichannel external audio devices on the iPad: record 4 or more tracks simultaneously from pro-audio devices such as the RME Babyface, Fireface, Focusrite Scarlett etc.
  • Support for multiple audio output when using compatible USB devices*
  • Record 16, 24 or 32 bits audio files*
  • Set sampling frequency up to 192 kHz (frequencies above 48 kHz require an external audio device)
  • Sync with other apps or external devices using MIDI clock and MTC sync, master & slave*
  • Choose microphone on multi-mic devices and set microphone polar pattern (e.g. cardiod, omnidirectional)
  • Allows monitoring and processing live audio input with near-zero latency
  • AudioCopy 2.0 allows transferring audio files between compatible apps
  • Support for DropBox and SoundCloud

SUBSCRIPTION INFO*
Some features require one of the two available in-app subscriptions levels:

Standard edition:

  • Length: 1 month
  • Price: $0.99 for 1 month
  • What you get:
    • Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks (Free edition is limited to 8 audio tracks, 1 MIDI track and 2 step-sequencer tracks)
    • Unlocks all the available effects (Free edition has Reverb, Compression, Echo and Chorus)
    • Unlimited number of effects per channel (Free editon has up to 2)

Pro edition:

  • Length: 1 month
  • Price: $1.99 for 1 month
  • What you get:
    • 64 bit audio engine
    • Export in 32 and 64 bit uncompressed (wav) format (the Free and Standard edition are limited to 16 or 24 bit wav)
    • 3D frequency spectrum view

Get n-Track Studio 8 on the app store now:

Link goes beyond iOS, establishes a serious desktop presence aside from Live

It’s only fair to say that Link has very quickly established a strong foothold in the iOS world, and has of course had a desktop presence from day one with Live. But the big question was always whether or not other desktop DAWs would take it on.

Now that’s happened with Reason. Here’s what Propellerheads say about it:

“Reason is the first third party DAW to add support for Ableton’s Link technology. Users of Reason 9.1 can effortlessly sync their music making apps across WiFi, and Link will keep all apps in tempo and time. Drop in or out of the Link at any time. Change tempo on one device and all the Linked apps follow suit.

Use the Link enabled Reason for Jam sessions with friends using Ableton Live or other Link enabled apps on desktop or mobile. Or use Link to record the sound of your favorite iOS apps to your Reason tracks in perfect sync.
How to use Link

Using Link is a breeze. Reason 9.1 adds Ableton Link as a new sync mode that you enable from the transport panel. You’ll see how many other Links are available and a graph will show timing information. When you hit play in Reason, it will start playing in sync on the next downbeat. When you stop, all other apps will keep playing. There is no sync master.

Reason 9.1 is a free update for owners of Reason 9. To update Reason 9, simply download it from Reason’s auto updater that will detect the update on launch.”

Make now mistake that this is massive, truly massive, and I hope that it isn’t the last. Quite frankly I think that we should see all DAWs take on Link, and I’d like to see some Android love for Link too.

What’s more, it’s great to see Jakob in there doing his thing!

Auria Pro has arrived

At long last, and after a very long wait Auria Pro has finally arrived, and it is a beast. Here’s the full details of the Pro version …

Auria Pro – Mobile Music Production. Redefined.

“This is the first mobile mixing (AND recording AND post production) app that I’ve ever used that is truly professional. Just Wow !” – David Kahne (Grammy winning producer/engineer for Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Stevie Nicks, Sublime, The Bangles, Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor)

  • TEC Awards 2012 Nominee
  • Computer Music Innovation Award
  • Computer Music Performance Award
  • Sound on Sound 2013 Awards Nominee
  • Electronic Musician Editor’s Choice Award

Introducing Auria Pro. The first Digital Audio Workstation designed from the ground up for iPad. With professional-level features like comprehensive MIDI support, built-in sampler player and analog synths, real-time audio warping, AAF import/export, powerful busing, and optional third-party plug-in support from names like PSP, FabFilter, Overloud and Drumagog, Auria Pro clearly sets a new standard for mobile music production.

“Prepare to be amazed.” – Computer Music Magazine

“…I was immediately convinced that this is the hottest musical app to make it to the iPad so far…” – Recording Magazine

FEATURES:

  • Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks
  • Lyra multi-format sample player with a free downloadable 4GB sample library. Lyra is a true disk streaming sampler, capable of playing multi-GB sample instruments. Supports SFZ, EXS and SF2
  • FabFilter Twin2 and One analog synthesizers included
  • Up to 24 tracks of simultaneous recording when used with compatible audio interfaces (Lightning to USB Camera adapter required)
  • Real-time audio warping using élastique Pro v3, allows audio tracks to be stretched in real time.
  • Powerful audio busing system allows flexible routing of audio between tracks, subgroups and Auxes.
  • Piano roll editor
  • Tempo and Time-signature Tracks
  • Real-time MIDI parameters allow immediate control over MIDI tracks
  • Comprehensive MIDI processing functions
  • Groove quantizing, includes a free set of DNA grooves from Numerical Sound (additional grooves available for purchase).
  • User groove extraction from MIDI and audio tracks
  • Audio quantizing
  • Audio transient to MIDI conversion
  • Transient slicing
  • Project templates
  • Support for external iOS-compatible Hard Drives for project backup
  • 24-bit recording
  • Vintage-inspired ChannelStrip on every channel by PSPAudioware includes expander, multiband EQ and compressor
  • MasterStrip on all subgroup and master channels featuring PSPAudioware BussPressor, EQ and mastering limiter
  • 64 bit double-precision floating point mixing engine
  • Third party plug-in support available via in-app purchase
  • MIDI Sync support with MTC Chase, MIDI Clock and MMC
  • MIDI Remote Control (Mackie MCU and HUI protocol)
  • Supports sample rates of 44.1KHz, 48KHz and 96KHz
  • AAF import and export allows transferring complete sessions between popular DAWs like Logic, Pro Tools, Nuendo, Samplitude and others
  • StereoDelay, StereoChorus, ClassicVerb and Convolution Reverb plugins included
  • 8 Assignable subgroups and 6 aux sends
  • Time Stretching using ZTX technology and élastique Pro v3
  • Real-time audio scrubbing
  • Flexible snapping tools allow snapping to events, cursor, bars, beats and more
  • DropBox, Audiobus, IAA, SoundCloud and Audio Copy/Paste support
  • Track freeze for minimizing CPU usage
  • Full automation support
  • True 100mm faders when used in Portrait Mode
  • Adjustable pan law
  • Auto-punch mode
  • Full delay compensation on all tracks, subgroups, busses and aux sends
  • Adjustable metering modes, including pre or post fader, RMS and peak
  • Sample accurate looping
  • Automatic sample rate conversion

REQUIREMENTS:

  • iPad 4 or later
  • iOS 6.0 or later
  • USB audio interfaces require Apple Lightning to USB Camera adapter

Auria Pro costs $49.99 on the app store:

http://aos-creative.prf.hn/creative/camref:ijvr/creativeref:302434/special:rotate

n-Track is getting even more interesting, and so is Songtree

n-Track has been a longtime favourite iOS DAW of mine. Also it is extremely cross platform too, sitting on iOS, Android, PC and Mac. Now the n-Track developer is integrating the Songtree community too. That’s pretty awesome. In fact, that’s awesome for both.

But the story doesn’t end there, not for n-Track. It’s going to add Pd (Pure Data) support. Initially in their desktop apps, but then, once that’s stable, they’ll be rolling it out to mobile. Now, how amazing is that going to be? Pd in your mobile DAW!

Cool thing to look forward to …

So, what about Songtree? Well apart from n-Track coming to Songtree it also seems that it’s getting an integration with LoopTree! (seems to be a lot of trees here)

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Which will be very useful.

All together these things are going to start to become very powerful tools indeed, and very useful integrations.

http://aos-creative.prf.hn/creative/camref:ijvr/creativeref:302434/special:rotate