AAX Native 64-bit plug-ins

The rollout of AAX Native 64-bit plug-in support has begun. Aspect, the semi-modular synth; String, the lush Solina emulator; and Sequent, a step-sequenced beat mangler and multi-effect, are all now available as AAX Native 64-bit plug-ins.

All upgrades are free for registered users. Download the updates at loomer.co.uk

AAX Native 64-bit support for the remaining product line will follow shortly.

String 1.14.5 update for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux

String 1.14.5 for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux is now available. This release adds:

• (feature) Added "Tuning" parameter to modulation section. This enables String to be tuned up or down a half-semitone in either direction from standard concert pitch. Previously saved presets and projects will use A=440Hz by default.
• (fix: Windows 64-bit VST) Fix for immediate VST crash which could occur on certain hosts when run in Windows XP 64-bit.
• (feature: Linux) Added "Show Directory" to the preset browser, which will will reveal the selected preset directory in your window manager.
• (fix: Mac OS X Audio Unit) Fixed issue which caused Reaper to host new instances of String FX as a mono plug-in.
• (improvement: Linux) Presets and configuration files are now located to comply with the XDG Base Directory Specification. Older installations will still use any existing preset library location to maintain backwards compatibility.

Sequent 1.3.11 for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux

Sequent 1.3.11 for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux is now available. This release add the following fixes and features:

• (fix: Mac OS X) Cables between effect modules can now be removed using a single button mouse.
• (fix: Mac OS X) Fixed issue which could cause Sequent to be skipped by Kore or Maschine's plug-in scan.
• (fix: Mac OS X Audio Unit) Space key-presses will now always be passed through to Logic, ensuring that Logic's transport can be started and stopped.
• (fix: Mac OS X) Gatekeeper signed installers now install correctly on Mac OS X 10.5.
• (improvement: Windows) The 32-bit and 64-bit VST plug-ins are now installed as separate components. You can choose which one(s) to install, as well as selecting different install folders for each architecture.
• (fix: Mac OS X Audio Unit) Fixed issue which caused Reaper to host new instances of Sequent as a mono plug-in.
• (fix: Mac OS X Audio Unit) Fixed minor memory leak in parameter names.
• (improvement) Clearer UI fonts in various places.
• (improvement: Linux) Presets and configuration files are now located to comply with the XDG Base Directory Specification. Older installations will still use any existing preset library location to maintain backwards compatibility.

Download Sequent 1.3.11 plug-in here.

Sequent 1.3.5 for Mac OS X released

Sequent 1.3.5 for Mac OS X is now available. This minor release fixes two issues:

• (fix: Mac OS X RTAS) Fixed installer bug which could cause the Sequent RTAS component to be installed in the incorrect folder.
  
• (fix: Mac OS X Audio Unit) Space key-presses will now always be passed through to Ableton Live, ensuring that Live's transport can be started and stopped, even when Sequent's GUI is selected.

Download Sequent 1.3.5 for Mac OS X here.

Sequent 1.3.3 for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. Now with Gatekeeper and JACK Transport support.

Sequent 1.3.3 for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux is now available. This version add the following fixes and features:

• (feature) Keyboard entry of rotary parameter values. Rotary controls can now be typed directly into by clicking on the text value below the control.
• (improvement:Mac OS X) Installer and all installed components are now signed in compliance with Mac OS X 10.8's Gatekeeper system.
• (improvement:Linux) When using the JACK audio system in standalone mode, the JACK Transport now syncs Sequent's tempo, start/stop status, and playhead location.
• (improvement) Step response on the filter, distortion, pan, and delay module parameters has been significantly reduced to allow for tighter control of sequenced automation.
• (improvement) Changing sequencer patterns via MIDI keyboard can no longer cause audio glitches when using a realtime audio driver.
• (fix) The Master sequencer will now correctly follow a host's PPQ position, and restart in response to a host's transport restarting.
• (fix:RTAS) Fix for the right-channel muting when bypassing in Pro Tools when used on a mono to stereo track.
• (improvement) Significantly improved UI response speed; reduced CPU usage when parameters are automated whilst the UI is open.
• (improvement:Windows) Removed C++ runtime libraries redistributable requirement for RTAS plug-ins. The installer no longer installs the C++ runtime library redistributable components when installing the RTAS plug-ins.
• (improvement) Routing and sequencing windows are now lighter and clearer.
• (improvement) Factory presets now use a compressed pattern format, which are significantly smaller, and so improves preset loading and search times.

Download Sequent 1.3.3 here.

Sequent 1.3.2 Linux 32/64-bit beta: now with JACK Transport

To popular request, the roll-out of JACK Transport supporting Loomer plug-ins has begun. The initial release, a beta of Sequent, adds the following changes :

(improvement:Linux) When using the JACK audio system in standalone mode, the JACK Transport now syncs Sequent's tempo, start/stop status, and playhead location.

(improvement) Step response on the filter, distortion, pan, and delay module parameters has been significantly reduced to allow for tighter control of sequenced automation. It's a much requested change, but does have implications for backwards compatibility.

Older presets, those created with Sequent 1.3.1 and earlier, will always open with "1.3.1 Compatible Smoothing" enabled, so this change will be completely transparent to saved projects. New presets will always be created with this compatibility mode disabled. You can view, as well as change, the compatibility options under the "Options" menu.

The easiest way to hear this change is to sequence a simple filter pattern, crank the resonance up high to hear those 0df filters squeal, and a|b the sound with the old and new smoothing algorithms. 

With the old, you will heard a mild slew as the old filter's cutoff step response slowly charges between values. With the new, the step is instant, which allows for precise control of sequenced values on a step. 

(fix) The Master sequencer will now correctly follow a host's PPQ position, and restart in response to a host's transport restarting. 

(improvement) Factory presets now use a compressed pattern format, which are significantly smaller, and so improves preset loading and search times. 

Download the updates here for Linux 32-bit, or here for Linux 64-bit. 

Provided no nasty bugs manifest in these versions, I'll release corresponding Mac OS X and Windows betas next week, and a full official release sometime after. JACK Transport supporting versions of the other Loomer products will follow in due time. Enjoy!

Manifold and Resound 1.6.3 for Windows released

Manifold and Resound 1.6.3 for Windows are now available.

These minor updates add the following fixes and improvements:

• (fix) Fixed crash which could occur rarely (although repeatedly) on certain systems when starting up the 32-bit standalone application, or when particular hosts first scan the 32-bit VST plug-in.
• (improvement) Removed C++ runtime libraries redistributable requirement for RTAS plug-ins. The installers also no longer install the C++ runtime library redistributable components when installing the RTAS plug-ins.
• (improvement) Clearer font rendering on preset browser.
• (fix) Various minor host compatibility tweaks.

Download the updates here. Note these issues did not affect the Linux or Mac OS X builds of these products: this update is for the Windows versions only.

VST to AudioUnit Preset Converter

KVR user aMUSEd recently tipped me off about a Python script which converts presets from .aupreset format to .fxp. Putting discussion about why we shouldn't be using host or plug-in architecture proprietary formats aside, it's a useful little tool for automating a mass preset conversion.

I've derived a mirror script which reverses this process, converting .fxp presets into equivalent .aupreset files: useful for Logic users migrating from a VST-only to an Audio Unit environment. Converting from one opaque format to another was never going to be easy, but it certainly seems to work for the (select few) plug-ins I've tested it with. Provided that the plug-in saves to an opaque chunk, and that the internal format is identical for both Audio Unit and VST plug-in chunks, conversion should work.

There are a few bits of information, absent from fxp format presets, that is required by au presets. The first three of these, the so called 'type', 'subtype', and 'manufacturer', can be found by running (from the command-line)
auval -a
and then copying the three, four character codes for the destination plugin. Our own Aspect, for example, uses:
aumu Lmaa Loom  -  Loomer: Aspect
aumu Lmaa Loom are the type, subtype, and manufacturer, respectively.

The final piece of information is the state key. This is completely defined by the developer, and there is no simple way to programatically find this. All is not lost, however: just save an aupreset using the plug-in, open it (in TextEdit, for example), and locate the key. Note that it is NOT the <key>data</key> line, but is usually found after that. Again, in Aspect's case, we have <key>jucePluginState</key>

So, in the case of Transverb, assuming that your presets are stored in .fxp format and in a folder called "~/transverb_presets", from the directory you've unzipped the app you'll need to run from a Terminal:

./fxp2aupreset.app/Contents/MacOS/fxp2aupreset ~/transverb_presets aumf DFtv DFX! destroyfx-data

or for those using the python script:
python ./fxp2aupreset.py ~/transverb_presets aumf DFtv DFX! destroyfx-data.

If all goes according to plan, this will create an aupreset for each fxp file it finds. Copy the aupresets into ~/Library/Audio/Presets/... in order for Logic/AU Lab or whatever to find them. Make sure you've already saved at least one preset with the plug-in to ensure that the .aupreset folder have been created beforehand.

The python script can be found here (you'll need the construct library installed for this). For those who'd rather not dabble with Python dependencies, you can find a command-line App bundled for Mac OS X here.

Thanks to yairadix from the rawmaterialsoftware forum for the original script, and for doing all the heavy lifting in defining the fxp construct structure. 

Aspect 1.7.10 now available

Aspect 1.7.10 is now available. Fixed in this release are the following issues:

• Fixed issue which made audio rate modulation of either oscillator's pitch by the noise modulation source slightly quantized. This caused previously created presets using this configuration to sound slightly different in Aspect 1.7.9. 
• Fixed bug which occasionally caused newly saved user presets to still be marked with the changed (*) flag in the preset name display.

Download Aspect 1.7.10 for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux here.

Aspect 1.7.9 released

I'm pleased to announce another small update for Aspect, our semi-modular synth for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. This release adds the following improvements:

• (Windows) Fixed incredibly rare crash which may occur when first opening the plug-in on certain 32-bit VST Windows hosts. 
• Massively improved speed and responsiveness of all UI controls. 
• Improved CPU usage when tweaking parameters from a hardware controller. 
• (Windows) For the Windows VST plug-in, when using a relative path of "." for the presets folder, the path is now relative to the plug-in's DLL file and not the host's executable file. This makes it possible to easily create a portable or USB stick install of Aspect. 
• Standalone versions now support multiple simultaneous hardware controllers. 
• (Linux) User presets are now displayed in alphabetical order in the preset browser. 
• (Linux) Improved UI font selection means that a more appropriate font is often used in any Linux distributions which provide only a small selection of default fonts. 
• Fixed an issue where the OK button in the save preset browser would temporarily become disabled when switching from the Factory presets selection. 
• Various minor compatibility fixes for certain hosts.

Download Aspect 1.7.9 for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux here.

Cloud Industry for Cumulus Preset Bank

Looking for a few more free sounds for Computer Music's exclusive granular sampler plug-in, Cumulus? Then perhaps you should download Cloud Industry, a selection of presets by AbstractCats, a name perhaps familiar to Cumulus users: he was a major contributor of sample content and presets to the Cumulus Factory bank.

Cumulus is a granular sampler which radically transforms sample content by breaking it into tiny slithers of audio called grains and reorganizing them to form new sounds. Cumulus is capable of a wide ranges of timbres: from evolving atmospheric soundscapes; to organic physical textures. Up to eight Scenes can be created; a Scene corresponding to a particular sample position and set of synthesis parameters. Scenes can be played in realtime via MIDI, or arranged internally using the built-in sequencer.



Cumulus is available as part of CM Studio. The complete, full, unlimited version can be found on the cover-mounted DVD of any issue of Computer Music. Cumulus is available in VST, Audio Unit, RTAS, and standalone formats for Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows.

Shift 2.2.3, Diatonic Harmonizer and Delay Effect, Released

Shift 2.2.3 for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux is now available. Download the updated version here.

Shift is a diatonic granular pitch shifting delay. Shift combines an intuitive and beautiful user interface, with a great sounding granular synthesis engine. Shift's flexibility allows a palette of timbres ranging from basic echo effects, through intelligent harmonies, to exotic evolving ambient soundscapes.

This minor update contains the following fixes and features:

• Fixed incredibly rare crash which may occur when first opening the plug-in on certain 32-bit VST Windows hosts. 
• Massively improved speed and responsiveness of all UI controls. 
• Improved CPU usage when tweaking parameters from a hardware controller. 
• Standalone versions now support multiple simultaneous hardware controllers. 
• For the Windows VST plug-in, when using a relative path for the presets folder, the path is now relative to the DLL, not the host. 

Admittedly a minor update, but certainly worth a download for anyone who has fallen foul to the, now fixed, start-up crash bug.

String synth hardware concept

Courtesy of Achim Ortmann, a selection of concept renders for a String hardware unit. There are currently no plans to actually make the physical unit, but thanks Achim! String is currently available - as software only - for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux: download the demo here.

Sequent 1.3.1 update

Sequent 1.3.1 for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux is now available. This version add the following fixes and features:

• Fix for evaluation version of Sequent not opening factory presets. This bug did not affect the registered version of Sequent. 
• Improved UI responsiveness.

Download the update here.

Sequent demo critical bug notice

Just a quick heads up to make everyone aware that there is a critical bug in the Sequent evaluation: since earlier today, the demo will no longer load factory presets. Since being informed of the bug (thanks Emmanuel!), we've fixed it, but building and testing the eleven or so architectures and plug-in formats that Sequent supports will take a little while. ETA for bug fix: early tomorrow morning.

I apologise for the inconvinience, and will update this thread when the new evaluation is available.

Note that registered copies of Sequent aren't affected by this.

Thanks!

Linux LV2 preview

The most common request from Linux users continues to be, "Are your plug-ins going to be available in LV2 format?" And I'm pleased to officially announce: yes. We've in-house LV2 native versions of our entire plug-in line running in LV2 native format, and to prove it, here's a quick glance at String in Ardour 3.

We currently have no official release date for the LV2 versions, other than to say soon. (And of course, the LV2 plug-ins will use the same license key as all the other versions, so will be free to existing users.) 

Sequent 1.3.0: Mac 64-bit VST; Bitcrusher

It's time for another update: Sequent 1.3.0 is now available.

About Sequent 
Sequent is a step-sequenced multi-effect processor with a flexible modular effects routing system, an incredibly powerful beat looper, twenty-three parameter sequencers, and a wealth of randomization options. Sequent is the ideal tool for mangling audio on stage or in the studio. Sequent is available for Mac OS X v 10.4 and above, Windows XP and above, and Linux, in Audio Unit, VST plugin, RTAS for Pro Tools 7 and above, and Standalone application formats.

What's new in Sequent 1.3.0 :

• Native 64-bit VST plug-in for Mac OS X (64-bit VST support requires Mac OS X 10.6 or greater; 64-bit Audio Unit requires Mac OS X 10.5 or greater; all other formats require Mac OS X 10.4 or greater. ) 
• Bitcrusher effect added to distortion module. 
• Massively improved speed and responsiveness of all UI controls. 
• Improved CPU usage when wiring effects in the modular view. 
• Improved CPU usage when tweaking parameters from a hardware controller. 
• Improved CPU usage when rapidly switching patterns. 
• Sequence syncing is now more reliable for hosts which provide only periodic PPQ positional information. 
• Rotary controls for Looper mode and Filter types are now replaced by combo controls. 
• For the Windows VST plug-in, when using a relative path for the presets folder, the path is now relative to the DLL, not the host. 
• Standalone versions now support multiple simultaneous hardware controllers. 
• MIDI Program Changes are now multi-threaded, and so will no longer potentially stall the audio synthesis. 
• Fix for GUI freeze that could occur in certain Mac OS X VST hosts. 
• Preset searches are now multi-threaded. Preset browser can now immediately respond to user interaction, even whilst searching a massive preset library, or when browsing a folder containing a large number of presets. 
• Added soft notching for volume and crossfade controls, making unity volume and 50% crossfade mix easier to dial in. 
• Fixed extremely rare crash that could occur on a minority of Windows 32-bit systems when opening the UI. 
• Preset meta data (ie, author name, notes, tags) is now correctly displayed after loading an .FXP based preset or restoring a saved project. 
• Standalone application tempo can now be set to within two decimal places of accuracy.

Download the updates here.

Loomer Cumulus - Computer Music Exclusive

Cumulus is a granular sampler which radically transforms sample content by breaking it into tiny slithers of audio called grains and reorganizing them to form new sounds. Cumulus is capable of a wide ranges of timbres: from evolving atmospheric soundscapes; to organic physical textures.

Up to eight Scenes can be created; a Scene corresponding to a particular sample position and set of synthesis parameters. Scenes can be played in realtime via MIDI, or arranged internally using the built-in sequencer.

Cumulus is available free on the cover-mounted DVD of Computer Music magazine from issue 170 and onwards. Cumulus is supported on Mac OS X (VST, AU, RTAS, and Standalone), Windows (VST, RTAS, and Standalone), and Linux (VST, Standalone), and natively supports 64-bit for VST, Audio Unit, and Linux Standalone formats.

Aspect 1.7.7 critical bug-fix update

It seems like a rogue bug managed to slip under the radar in Aspect 1.7.6. I'd recommend anyone who downloaded it to update to Aspect 1.7.7.

This release fixes a critical bug in Aspect 1.7.6's audio synthesis engine which caused certain presets to sometimes have a transient gliding pitch at the beginning of a note. Which did admittedly add a certain flair to presets, but is, none-the-less, a bug which needed to be fixed!

Download Aspect 1.7.7 here.

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