Computer Music reviews Cakewalk Project5 Version 2 in their May issue (old, but good). They gave it a very good review, rating it nine out of ten. They’re impressed by the many changes in this new version, and they think all of the changes have improved an already useful program. Actually, the only change they didn’t like about version 2 is that the box it comes in doesn’t look as nice!

They say the most striking alteration is the total abolition of the SYN.OPS window., which was used to display the interface of the select instrument of effect. The entire window has been replaced with a “stylish” left-hand oriented “inspector”. This leaves the bottom half of the main screen free. “This is a major workflow alteration from version 1, and after just a few hours with the program, you begin to see the logic behind this change. Everything you need is now available from just the one screen.”

The new Groove Matrix feature has attracted a lot of comment. It’s a grid of cells into which you can drag and drop any pattern, sample or groove. You can then trigger them either by hitting the Groove header at the top of each column or by triggering via MIDI remote control. This is similar to Ableton Live’s Session View and they say its “a fantastic tool for live performance or fast, experimental on-the-fly song arrangement.”

The new instrument, the Dimension sampling synth, gets an ecstatic thumbs-up. They call it an “incredible addition to Cakewalk’s studio” and say, “The presets are excellent, and with its innovative synthesis options, Dimension brings a new twist to the soft-sampling scene. It’s so good that we almost gave it a review of its own.”

Overall, the reviewers note that the Project5 engine looks and feels much slicker, and uses much less CPU than previously. The audio engine is also much smoother. The whole thing is a huge improvement over version 1: “P5 2 raises the bar significantly in comparison to its predecessor, yet still has an incredibly low price tag.” Their final recommendation speaks for itself: “This is one hell of an update. Improved workflow, a glitch-free and ultimately more reliable audio engine, better instruments, stacks of new features … and a fresh new look make it an essential purchase for users of version 1.” And for people who weren’t happy with version 1: “It’s time to re-try the demo.”

Buy Project5 at SameDayMusic.com