The UK’s Future Music magazine has reviewed Apple’s upgrade to Logic Pro and Logic Express. The upgrade takes Logic from version 7 to 7.1. FM like it and think it’s a worthwhile upgrade from version 7, even though it’s not free — it’s about US$20 for Logic 7 users.

FM’s favourite new features in Logic include universal plugin delay compensation, which should allow you to avoid delay problems no matter how you route your sounds. They also like the Audio Follow Tempo feature, which detects tempo in a piece of audio so the song’s tempo matches with the audio.

They point out that this is one of a number of the new features that seem to come from GarageBand 2. Audio Follow Tempo seems to use the same underlying technology as the Apple Loops functions in GarageBand. Also, the two new hybrid synth instruments, Hybrid Basic and Hybrid Morph, are both already in GarageBand. It’s also now possible to create your own Apple Loops from selected audio in Logic. Hopefully this isn’t a sign that Apple is trying to simplify Logic along the lines of GarageBand. They say “Logic is such a powerful and complex program now it’s often difficult to know where to start.” But this is one of Logic’s strengths, so they hope it’s not the shape of things to come.

The full review is not available on the website, but only in the print edition available in shops. Overall, FM give the Logic 7.1 upgrade ten out of ten for versatility and quality of results, and 7 or 8 for their other criteria.

Future Music magazine has reviewed Kontakt 2, the software sampler from Native Instruments. They gave it a glowing review, praising everything from the updated GUI to the new effects. Their verdict: “Kontakt is quite simply the most creative and flexible sampler the world has ever seen. It’s an inspirational and revolutionary piece of software that sets new standards — not just for sampling, but also virtual instrument design in the broadest sense.”

They liked this sampler so much that they found only one major flaw. Kontakt 2 has a “Universal Import” feature, which enables it to import almost every sound file format in existence. However, Kontakt 2 cannot automatically map samples by detecting their pitch. This is especially strange since most competing programs now do have this feature.

The review describes the new features in more depth. Unfortunately, it’s not available on their website; you have to buy the print version of the magazine. Now that each issue comes with a DVD, it’s worth it even at high import prices.

Mix magazine favourably reviewed Sony’s Acid Pro 5. They especially like the fact that it now has VST effects support. WIth VST effects and the new Groove Mapping and Groove Cloning quantization processes, they say Acid is now closer than ever to being an all-in-one music production system.

Their conclusion is very positive: “Is this latest update worth the wait for Acid’s legions of dedicated users? The answer is a resounding yes. It may have taken a while for the new release, but the program’s developers have kept up with what their main competitor, Ableton Live, has been doing and upped the ante in several ways. Support for VST effects, new organizational tools, tempo-based effects and bus-to-bus routing, and the bountiful content disc give the user plenty to groove with right out of the box. The new tools are well done and vastly improve workflow. Depending on what you do, Acid may very well graduate from being a construction zone to a comprehensive final stop.”

Dr. Fink’s Funk Factory is a new sound library from Sony. New sound libraries are released all the time, but this one is noteworthy because the cover design is so groovy. I thought it would jazz up this website. That’s the only reason this is here. Really.

But as long as we’re here, this is some information from the Sony website:, as well as their press release. Beware of the very long sentence in the next paragraph.

For more than ten years, Matt Fink held down the keyboard spot in one of the most influential bands of all time: Prince & the Revolution. Outfitted in surgeons’ regalia, ‘Dr. Fink’ was selected by Prince to partake in the complete vision: writing, recording, and live onstage. Now, Matt Fink is prepared to enhance your vision, with an invitation to the Dr. Fink’s Funk Factory library, a Sony Sound Series Premium Collection library that delivers all the core components of the classic Eighties pop/funk sound: majestic polyphonic analog synth themes, payday grooves captured directly from vintage machines, realtime clavinet licks, searing solos and motifs, those classic orchestral stabs — a complete genre delivered with total authenticity and blazing fidelity. Capture this magical vibe — the same talent, the actual instruments, the studio expertise, and the sound that went around the world in a day — and turn it loose in your own digital workspace: ACID software, and every software and hardware platform that supports .wav files.

“The premise for Dr. Fink’s Funk Factory was to match old school sounds and beat loops with contemporary techno beats and synthesizer sounds so that they could be mixed and matched within this collection,” said Matt Fink. “I really enjoyed creating the Funk Factory, and I hope that others will have a fun and creative experience with it as well.”

Sony Sound Series libraries are delivered in the ACID .wav file format that supports pitch-shifting and time-stretching in the entire line of ACID music creation programs, as well as Live, Sonar, Cubase, Logic, Soundtrack, and GarageBand 2. These loops can also be imported into any other non-linear editor that supports the .wav file format.

MacWorld gave a top review to Apple’s SoundTrack Pro audio editing application. They gave it five mice — their top award — for its excellent user interface and powerful, easy-to-use sound editing features. It doesn’t do everything (MIDI, for example) but the sound editing and cleanup tools are fast and comprehensive.

Macworld writes: “Soundtrack Pro strikes a good balance between the needs of musicians, video editors, audio editors, and multimedia pros. There’s no easier or quicker way to perform day-to-day audio-editing chores, repair sound problems, design sound, match audio to video, or automate sound-asset management, on either a Mac or a PC.” And “Its streamlined audio features will make it desirable for music production, as well, especially in combination with a full-featured workstation. Any one of its key features—the sound-effects library, the extensive collection of effects and audio-repair and -editing tools, or looped video scoring—would justify the program’s price, but Soundtrack Pro gives you all of them in one package.”

Cakewalk has released SONAR Home Studio version 4. The Producer and Studio editions have been at version 4 for a while, so finally the home version has caught up. There are too many different SONARs to keep track of! To add to the confusion, there’s also SONAR Home Studio version 4 XL, which is just Home Studio with more bundled effects, instruments and sounds.

Their extensive press release has all the details: Based on SONAR 4 technology, SONAR Home Studio brings the professional power of SONAR to musicians looking to take the first step into digital recording. SONAR Home Studio provides everything needed to take music from inspiration to finished CD with features that include: 64 audio and unlimited MIDI tracks; 24-bit, 192 kHz audio engine; Master Control Toolbar; Track Presets for easy track setup; Track Icons for quick visual orientation when recording and mixing; Track Inspector; Project Navigator; enhanced loop-based composition tools; music notation printing; customizable Console, color schemes, layouts, toolbars and keyboard commands; ASIOâ„¢, WDM, DirectXâ„¢, DXiâ„¢, VSTâ„¢, ReWireâ„¢ Support; PowerStripâ„¢ multi-effects processor and Cakewalk Audio FX1 and Audio FX2 plug-in suites; SFZ SoundFont player; Virtual Sound Canvas DXi and Dreamstation DXi; CD burning; and hundreds of megabytes of ACIDâ„¢-format loops.

SONAR Home Studio Version 4 Highlights

• Record, edit, arrange, and mix 64 audio tracks and unlimited MIDI tracks
• 24-bit, 192 kHz audio engine
• 32-bit floating point audio engine
• Dynamic Console view
• Master Control Toolbar
• Track Presets and Track Icons
• Navigator view
• Track Inspector
• Project Navigator
• Loop-based composition tools with enhanced loop construction toolset
• Universal Bus Architecture (up to 16 busses simultaneously)
• Advanced MIDI routing & synth layering
• Audio metronome
• Confidence recording of audio, MIDI, and automation
• Music Notation
• PowerStripâ„¢ multi-effects
• Cakewalk Audio FX1 and Audio FX2 effects suites
• Virtual Sound Canvas DXi
• Dreamstationâ„¢ DXi
• SFZ SoundFont player
• ASIO, WDM, DirectX, DXi, VST, ReWire Support
• Hundreds of megabytes of ACID-format loops
• CD burning with included Cakewalk Pyroâ„¢ Express

Master Control Toolbar — this view centralizes all common controls needed for recording, providing quick access to all Views, Record, Loop, and Punch transport functions; direct access to Track Presets and Track Properties; shortcuts to the Windows Mixer and File Export for CD burning. The Master Control Toolbar can float or dock to the top or bottom of the screen.

Track Presets — provides an easy and flexible way to create and recall complete track setups including mix, routing, and effects settings. Track Presets can contain any combination of Audio, MIDI, and DXi tracks, as well as any number of Tracks, Sends, and Busses. Hundreds of Track Presets included.

Track Icons — provides quick visual cues when recording and mixing. Track Icons can be assigned to any track or bus and stored per-project, per-Track Preset, and globally. Track Icons can be independently toggled on/off from Track, Console, and Track Inspector Views; Track Icons are also customizable, users can easily add their own Track Icons using Windows Bitmaps (BMPs).

Music Notation — integrated notation tools for the creation and printing of musical scores. Record and transcribe performances using any MIDI instrument, or just point and click to edit notes directly on the staff. Print up to 24 staves per page with chord charts and symbols, lyrics, dynamic markings, and more.

ReWire 2.0 — allows access to additional instrument sounds by patching Project5™, Kinetic™, Reason™, ReBirth™, and other popular ReWire compatible instruments right into the SONAR Home Studio Synth Rack. Also adds advanced audio recording, mixing, and editing capabilities to Kinetic or Reason.

Powerful Editing Tools — perform non-destructive edits on multiple clips simultaneously: nudge, roll out groove clips, add/edit fades, change the tempo and pitch, preview, move, extend or cut certain sections; add track envelopes; normalize or reverse the audio; unlimited undo/redo; multi-track piano roll; and Multi-port Drum Editor.

Loop Construction— the same powerful loop editing and composition capabilities found in SONAR 4 with slice-based envelope control of gain, pitch, pan; slice preview and auto-loop simplifies marker placement/adjustments.

Cakewalk Loops— hundreds of ACID and MIDI loops from leading manufacturers PowerFX, SmartLoops, and X-MiX. Rock, Hip Hop, Dance, and Electronica styles all included.

Additional features powered by SONAR 4 Technology

SONAR Home Studio Version 4 also includes many of the same features found in SONAR 4 including: customizable console, color schemes, layouts, toolbars, and keyboard commands; professional project file management tools: per project audio directories, consolidate project files for fast backup, search for associated files; Windowsâ„¢ AVI and MPEG video support for scoring soundtracks, and adding sound effects to band videos or home movies.

SONAR Home Studio Version 4 XL

SONAR Home Studio Version 4 XL is the premium-edition of SONAR Home Studio that ships with additional instruments, effects, and loop libraries. SONAR Home Studio Version 4 XL includes:

RXP DXi — the new tempo-syncing drum machine and groove box that plays REX and SFZ loops, as well as single hits. RXP DXi features hit and loop preview pads, built-in multimode filter and envelopes, drag-and-drop (drag REX files in/drag MIDI out).

Square I DXi — analog modeling synthesizer featuring warm and classic vintage analog synth sounds—designed for the serious music enthusiast. Easy layout with abundant high quality sounds.

PowerFX Dyad DXi Sampler — the advanced SF2 (soundfont) sample player with powerful tools for sound manipulation.

Reverb XL — based on the critically acclaimed Sonitus:fx technology found in SONAR 4 Producer Edition, Reverb XL provides a range of lush reverbs from subtle plates to grand cathedrals. Clean and intuitive user interface with full parameter automation and built-in Preset Manager.

Content CDs — two additional CDs of content are also included: CD two contains a library of unique and versatile samples from PowerFX. CD three contains hundreds of high quality REX and ACID format loops from Loopmasters and SmartLoops.
Pricing and Availability

SONAR Home Studio Version 4 has a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of $149 U.S.; SONAR Home Studio Version 4 XL is $229 U.S. (MSRP), and begins shipping July 27, 2005. All registered Home Studio customers can upgrade to SONAR Home Studio Version 4 for $59.00 U.S. Existing Home Studio XL customers can upgrade to SONAR Home Studio Version 4 XL for $59.00 U.S. For more information call 888-CAKEWALK, +1 (617) 423-9004 outside U.S. or visit Cakewalk on the web at www.cakewalk.com.

Cakewalk have released a free performance upgrade to SONAR 4. Unfortunately, they still insist on spelling the product name in CAPS. Anyway, the press release describes the SONAR 4.0.3 maintenance release highlights.

Audio engine optimization to improve performance during playback while copying, moving, nudging, splitting and slip-editing clips; moving events in the Piano Roll view; inserting/deleting effects (including delay-compensated effects); enabling/disabling looping; moving the Now Time (in projects without video); inserting/deleting new tracks or buses that route to existing audio ports; enabling/disabling a send on a track or bus that routes to an existing audio port; opening the GUI of an inserted VST plug-in. Additionally, the audio engine has been optimized to withstand heavy CPU loads without drop-outs.

The default auto-punch behavior has been modified to automatically mute previous takes when punch recording audio or MIDI to the same track using Sound-on-Sound (Blend) mode; this behavior can be changed to not mute previous takes.

Set Timecode at “Now Time” command has been added to the Transport menu providing a fast and easy way to sync an audio score to external video.

Availability: The SONAR 4.0.3 maintenance release will be available for download July 29, 2005.

Ableton Live 5 has been released. The public beta program only lasted about 15 minutes, so I guess they decided very quickly that there were no big problems with the new version. As mentioned here earlier, version 5’s new features include MP3 support, automatic tempo matching, a better sampler, and plugin delay compensation.

From the website, here is the exhaustive list of features.

MIDI

• Complete sequencing, combination and reorganization of MIDI clips
• Straightforward MIDI recording, editing and pattern creation
• MIDI bank and program change settings for individual MIDI files
• Graphical MIDI controller data for intuitive drawing and editing
• Play MIDI notes with the computer keyboard
• Manipulation of MIDI timing through adaptive quantization and swing/groove settings
• Drag and drop import of Standard MIDI files and their individual tracks
• Export of MIDI tracks and patterns as Standard MIDI files

Audio and Remixing

• Preview and combine AIFF, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 audio files of any sample rate, size and bit depth
• Real-time time-stretching of any audio file to play in sync with the project tempo
• Auto Warp — automatically detects the tempo of audio material and sets Warp Markers
• Sample reverse of individual audio files
• Rhythm and time warping for audio tracks, notes and sections within audio files
• Real-time swing and groove manipulation of audio files
• Clip Envelopes — complete control of volume, pitch, timing and effects for segments or notes within audio files through drawn curves
• Flexible audio file exporting
• Clip Transport — scrubbing, nudging and navigation within files
• Live Clip format for easy storage and retrieval of musical ideas, including associated devices and settings

Recording and Sequencing

• Comprehensive audio and MIDI recording and sequencing
• Unlimited 32-bit/192 kHz multitrack hard disk recording
• Detailed on-the-fly recording and editing (with continuous breakpoint envelopes) of automation for mixer, effects control movements and song tempo
• Complete nondestructive editing with unlimited undo
• Track Freeze for conserving CPU resources and simplifying project sharing
• Track Delay controls for managing human, acoustic and hardware delays
• Drum machine-style loop/overdub recording for building MIDI patterns
• Punch-in and -out points for recording
• Count-In recording
• Creation of perfectly cut samples and loops through optional record quantization
• Launchable Arrangement Locators
• Instant resampling of audio and MIDI while the music plays
• Multi-selection clip editing
• Mackie Control support

Playing and Performing

• Nonlinear audio and MIDI file organization and triggering for imaginative recombination and improvisation
• Audio and MIDI files can be mapped to MIDI keyboard ranges and computer keys for instant triggering
• Detailed control over the launch and play properties of individual files
• Follow Actions — create groups of files that can trigger each other to generate specific or random output
• Scenes — configure groups of files that play simultaneously, store tempo changes and advance automatically
• DJ-style crossfading between any number of tracks
• Hands-on control of any interface element with a MIDI controller or the computer keyboard
• Flawless recording of all aspects of a set for later in-depth editing

Effects and Instruments

• Ableton Audio Effects: Auto Filter, Auto Pan, Beat Repeat, Chorus, Compressor I, Compressor II, EQ Four, EQ Three, Erosion, Filter Delay, Flanger, Gate, Grain Delay, Phaser, Ping Pong Delay, Redux, Resonators, Reverb, Saturator, Simple Delay, Utility, Vinyl Distortion
• Ableton MIDI Effects: Arpeggiator, Chord, Pitch, Random, Scale, Velocity
• Ableton Instruments: Simpler, for creative sample-based synthesis, and Impulse, for dynamic percussion sound design
• Endless expansion through VST and Audio Units Plug-in instruments/effects and ReWire
• Automation and remote control of all instrument and effects parameters
• Device groups for saving multi-effect combinations together with instruments
• Plug-In Delay Compensation automatically compensates for delays caused by effects and plug-ins

Routing and Sync

• Track-to-track I/O routing for complex mixes, post-effects recording, MIDI-to-audio conversion, submixing and synth layering
• Individual instrument outputs and multi-timbral instrument input and output routing capabilities
• Private cueing and previewing through separate audio outputs
• Complete MIDI control of ReWire clients
• Intuitive signal flow management of effects and instruments by drag and drop
• Pre- or post-mixer effect grouping/bussing on up to twelve sends/return tracks
• Tempo sync to any external source through MIDI Clock master or slave; MIDI Timecode slave
• Audio and transport sync through the ReWire protocol as master or slave
• Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks
• Unlimited audio and MIDI inputs and outputs
• ASIO, MME, DirectX and CoreAudio audio interface support

Also includes…

• Valuable Live Pack library of clips, device presets and Live Sets
• Built-in program tutorials and starter sets
• Printed reference manual (boxed version only)
• Multilingual program help and PDF manual in English, Japanese, German, French and Spanish

Macintosh System Requirements

• Any G3 or faster
• 512 MB RAM recommended
• Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later

Windows System Requirements

• 600 MHz CPU or faster
• 512 MB RAM recommended
• Windows 2000/XP
• Windows-compatible sound card

Tascam are about to release GigaPulse VST, their convolving reverb VST plugin. As expected, this allows you to model the reverb from real-life rooms of various sizes and types. It also allows you to model the effects of different microphones, either standalone or combined with room modelling.

On this topic, here’s a quick plug(in) for the SIR Impulse Response Processor, a free convolving reverb plugin. Definitely worth trying to get a feel for how convolving reverb works and sounds. And did I mention it’s free?

As for Tascam’s offering, here’s their press release blurb: Taking advantage of TASCAM’s latest DSP technology, GigaPulse is the first VST plug-in for Windows from TASCAM. Using convolving technology, which essentially “samples” a room or acoustic body, GigaPulse can emulate any room, vintage EQ or microphone. With features like mic modeling, selectable room position and tail extension, GigaPulse sets new standards for reverb plug-ins.

“GigaPulse adds new life to sampled sounds by placing them in a real acoustic environment,” says Pete Snell, GigaStudio Sales and Marketing Manager. “The convolving technology found in GigaPulse blows away traditional reverb plug-ins, and the ability to place a sound in any location of a room gives the mixer an unmatched amount of creative possibilities.”

GigaPulse goes beyond most convolving reverb plug-ins with its built-in mic modeling, which can change the quality of the reverb recording or can be used on its own to add vintage microphone warmth to your recordings. The user can select the position of the sound source in the room with a 2-dimensional grid, the perfect effect for orchestral arrangements and other spacious mixes. And Tail Control technology reduces the processing load on the computer, allowing more instances of the plug-in to be used.

• Acoustic space modeling via exclusive convolving algorithms
• Create new impulses from your own recordings
• 2D mic/source placement – move your source to up to 18 locations in a room
• Microphone modeling can be applied to the environment or used alone
• Tail Control reduces computer processing load to free up your CPU for more instances
• “Move” the mic using the Perspective slider, controlling the reverb amount while maintaining phase and stereo imaging
• Impulse libraries will be available from TASCAM, or download numerous freeware impulses from the Internet.

VocalWriter 2.0 is out now from KAE labs. This is a Macintosh-only vocal synthesizer — you use it like a normal piano roll sequencer, typing in English lyrics, and it sings them in tune in the voice you specify. The voices enunciate quite well, though they all sound a bit, well, computery. Still it’s shareware, so you can play with it before taking the plunge.

The press release on the website says: KAE Labs announces the release of VocalWriter 2.0, an update version now supporting Mac OS X. In addition, this release features increased vocal polyphony to 20 voices, downloadable PDF documentation and a lower shareware registration fee.

VocalWriter is the first music application that can automatically sing unrestricted English lyrics. Combining an advanced software vocal / instrumental synthesizer with an interactive music editor, VocalWriter is a MIDI file editor, player and synthesizer in a single integrated environment.

Most of the tasks involved with entering and editing lyrics have been automated using VocalWriter’s unique music editor. Users simply type the English lyrics for each note and VocalWriter automatically figures out the word pronunciation from its on-line 100,000 word phonetic dictionary, the syllable timing and synchronization, and the required vocal tract model parameters to sing the lyrics.

Besides a full General MIDI set for instrumental accompaniment, VocalWriter includes over 85 different singing voice models. The voice range covers models from the complex but subtle characteristics of human singers to models that extend beyond physical possibilities like singing musical instruments.

VocalWriter can be downloaded for a free 30-day evaluation from the KAE Labs web site at http://kaelabs.com. The shareware registration is $39 (US).