Whooooooop! We’re doing a second issue. Why not. People seemed to like the first one. We’ve got some new reviews and things and a bunch of audio software news that is interesting but probably not substantial enough to merit it’s own page. Dive in, plugin-head, dive in…
There’s been some big news this month, as you’ll see. Updates, both welcome and not so welcome have emerged. Some new, groundbreaking bits of software have been released. And we’ve published one or two articles.
Recent APG Articles
Here’s what we’ve been writing about since the last ‘zine:
Review: Sample from Serato – LIsten up, sample-junkies! We thought you should know about this one. It’s awesome.
Review: Icarus from Tone2 – Complex wavetable synthesis and more…
Review: F6 from Waves – Newbie guest reviewer, Chris, pens some words about Waves’ latest take on dynamic equalisation.
Review: Atlas from Algonaut – This plugin brings a whole new approach to sample browsing and drumkit building using AI.
News: Plugin Boutique release Bass Master – Theres a new bass synth in town. Check it out.
Newwwwwsssss
This is the news! We’ll try to keep it brief…
All APG 1st Birthday Prizes Claimed
Yup… we’re just a baby really. We only turned one year old in April and to celebrate we gave away a bunch of stuff. A few winners from our mailing list never responded to claim their prizes (including the epic UVI Vintage Vault 2!) so after giving them plenty of chances we chose some new winners at random. All of whom have now got their plugins and sample packs.
We love giving stuff away so the next excuse we can think up we’ll do another prize draw. Just make sure you’re on our mailing list to be entered.
Output Announce Arcade
Apparently “this changes everything”. Big claim.
According to Output, Arcade is a loop synthesizer with new content delivered every day and tools to transform it all so it sounds like you. But what does that mean?
Arcade is a loop synthesizer with new content delivered every day and tools to transform it all so it sounds like you. It even works with your own loops. Arcade moves far beyond loop packs, delivering a playable instrument that lets you perform and manipulate loops in real time. Work faster and be more creative with new product lines, kits, and loops arriving directly in the plugin.
We haven’t had a chance to try it out yet but it looks like an interesting approach. Have you tried it yet? tell us about it in the comments!
Find out more about Arcade from Output (100 days trial)
Waves Announce v10
This one’s definitely causing a bit of a stir… but not necessarily for good reasons. Waves have announced that all their plugins will be updated to version 10. If you already own Waves plugins then you can upgrade for free… as long as your WUP (Waves Update Program) hasn’t expired. For those of us who own a number of Waves plugins with expired WUPs this does mean paying potentially quite a lot to update.
When you update to V10, you get:
- Waves plugins added free of charge to Waves bundles covered under the Waves Update Plan:Electric Grand 80 Piano added to the Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Horizon, Broadcast & Production, Broadcast and Surround Suite, Sound Design Suite, and Mercury bundles.Eddie Kramer Drum Channel added to the Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Horizon, Broadcast & Production, Broadcast and Surround Suite, and Sound Design Suite bundles.
- Access to all plugin updates since the last major update to v9
- Access to future plugin updates when covered under the Waves Update Plan
- Bug fixes and plugin improvements: see the full list on our Release Notes page
Are you updating? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Find out more about Waves’ update to v10
FL Studio 20 Officially Released
Proving that the ability to count isn’t necessarily important when making music (uhm…) Image Line have leapt straight from v12 to v20 of their unique DAW. Okay, it’s because it’s their 20th anniversary, we know that. Still confusing a few people on the internets…
Anyway. This one’s a big one as they appear to have addressed the last few bugbears that FL users were complaining about, as well as adding some really nice features. In addition, FL is now fully available on Mac! Here’s the list of key new features:
- Mac version – FL Studio is now available for macOS 10.11 and higher. It’s a native 64 Bit application Including support for Mac VST and AU plugins. Projects made on Mac and Windows are interchangeable. Project interoperability extends to 3rd party plugins installed on both platforms. Existing, Lifetime Free Update, and new customers can unlock FL Studio for Mac and Windows at no extra cost. One license to rule them all!
- Time Signatures – FL Studio now supports Time Signatures, including unlimited Time Signature changes, independently in both the Playlist and Patterns (Piano rolls). FL Studio’s unique pattern system enables, simultaneous and multiple Time Signatures at any point in the Playlist.
- In-situ rendering (‘freezing’) – Bounce selected Audio and Pattern Clips to audio. Options include; Consolidate Playlist Clip selections or complete tracks. Render Clips to Audio, Render Clips to audio and replace Playlist Pattern Clips. Use these features to compile audio-takes into a single Audio Clip, reduce CPU load by converting real-time synthesis and effects processing to audio or convert MIDI to audio for further processing and resynthesis.
- Playlist Arrangements – The Playlist now supports multiple ‘Arrangements’ (Playlists). Each Arrangement is the complete layout of Audio, Automation and Pattern Clips. Users can now work with multiple versions of their project saving ideas, sound design and ‘arrangements’.
- Plugin Delay Compensation (PDC) – PDC and Automatic PDC have been rebuilt, from the ground up, to support today’s complex workflows. Manual and Auto-PDC can now co-exist. Updates include: Mixer send compensation, Wet/Dry mixer FX compensation, Audio input compensation, Metronome compensation, Plugin Wrapper custom values remembered per-plugin and improved PDC controls in the Mixer.
All this serves to make FL an even bigger competitor in the DAW wars. Of course… haters are still gonna hate (and continue to sarcastically call it “Frooty Loops lol”).
Check out the latest version of FL Studio (restricted trial available)
Other stuff…?
Feel free to add any other interesting news in the comments. We’re trying to include the most interesting things we’ve heard about in the last month but we’re sure to miss stuff and we don’t like missing stuff! So tell us about all the stuff!
Until next time… go make some damned music!
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See you there!
