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.

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!

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!

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.

Sequent 1.2.3: Linux 64-bit; Undo; Master Sequencer; Random Pattern Generator

Sequent 1.2.3 is now available - download it here for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. The installers contain both the full version for registered users and the demo for evaluators.

 

Sequent 1.2.3 represents a massive update to the product; an exhaustive list of new fixes and features follows:

• Native 64-bit support for Linux VST plug-in and standalone application formats.
  
• Integrated undo and redo, with unlimited history size.
  
• Master Sequencer, to arrange effects along a time-line.
  
• Random pattern generation functions.
  
• Partial preset support for Routing configurations.
  
• Thru switch for Delay Module, which if enabled allows the dry signal to be passed through when the delay effect is turned off.
  
• Effects are now colour-coded for easy identification.
  
• Category support in preset browser.
  
• Windows VST 32-bit plug-ins and standalone applications no longer depend on additional runtime libraries. However, these libraries are still required - and installed - for the RTAS format plug-ins.
  
• libjack is now weak-linked for standalone Linux. This means JACK is not required (but still recommended) for Linux users.
  
• Windows RTAS plug-in is now installed to the correct location on 64-bit Windows operating systems.
  
• MIDI Program Changes are now multi-threaded, and so will no longer potentially stall the audio synthesis.
  
• Fix for rare issue that stopped presets from loading in Linux Renoise when LADSPA plug-in support is enabled.
  
• Fixed crash that could occur when connecting Effects in the Routing Window whilst simultaneously changing Presets via MIDI.
  
• Fix for crash (on both Windows and Linux) that could occur when 'space' is pressed when confirming the overwrite preset dialog.
  
• Presets without Patterns are now considerably smaller when saved to disc.
  
• Improved rendering speed of Router graphics.
  
• Reduced CPU usage when switching or editing patterns.
  
• Preset Browser is now maximized to fill the entire plug-in window.
  
• For Windows VST (32-bit and 64-bit), the preferences file can be placed alongside the DLL file to facilitate USB or portable installs.
  
• Additional presets.
  
• Various host compatibility fixes.
  
• PDF manual is now printer-friendly.

Sequent updated to 1.1.2

Sequent 1.1.2 for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux is now available.

This release add the following fixes and features:

• Native 64-bit versions for Windows (VST) and Mac OS X (Audio Unit).
• Integrated Preset Browser, with meta-data, tags, searching, and hot-swap support.
• Component Level Preset Support: create partial presets for each Effect.
• Effects in the Modular routing window now can be toggled on and off by double-clicking them.
• Unused Effects can be removed from the Routing window.
• Cables in the Routing window can be removed by right-clicking on them.
• A cable can now be created by dragging from an Effect's Input to another Effect's Output.
• Fixed: Gate Depth or Slew Time would jump to 0% when linking the Gate Depth or Gate Slew Time sequencer.
• Fixed: Editing the Delay Time Sequencer would sometimes cause the current Delay Time to change.
• Fixed: The same connection could be made multiple times from an Effect to an Output.
• Fixed: Rare crash could occur when loading several presets in quick succession.
• Fixed: Synced Delay time in the Sequencer window is now displayed correctly.
• Various host compatibility fixes.

Sequent 1.1.2 is available for Mac OS X (Audio Unit, VST, RTAS, and Standalone formats), Windows (VST, RTAS, and Standalone formats), and Linux (VST and Standalone formats). Download Sequent 1.1.2 here.

Rekkerd reviews Sequent

Rekkerd.org have posted a short review on our latest release, Sequent. Aside from the overwhelmingly positive text, it's also worth checking out for the short demonstration video. Thanks Rekkerd.org!

Sequent 1.0.2 for Linux

A short note to mention that Sequent for Linux has been updated to version 1.0.2. This fixes a rather nasty bug that slipped through the cracks of our testing: sometimes the interface would lock, or indeed crash, when changing presets in certain Linux VST hosts. Download it here.

Sequent released

Sequent is now available, and in a wealth of standalone and plugin formats: Windows EXE, VST, and RTAS; Mac OS X Audio Unit, VST, RTAS, and App; and Linux VST and executable. There are a few audio demos here to whet your appetite, download the evaluation demo here, or buy it directly from our online store.

And finally, big thanks again to Kev at www.inquer.co.uk for a stunningly beautiful interface. Kev is available as a freelance graphic designer, so feel free to drop him an email.

Sequent: Sequenced Modular Beat Looper and Multi-Effect

Sequent is a modular multi-effects unit, the perfect tool for mangling audio on stage or in the studio. The effects - including a flexible beat looper and a pair of filters capable of self oscillation - can be connected in practically limitless combinations by simply dragging virtual cables between them.

Each effect parameter can be sequenced with a step sequencer (or which there are twenty-two), controlled live via a midi controller, or even left to chance by using the random mode. Sequences are combined into patterns which can be switched instantly between using either the on-screen interface or the notes on a midi keyboard.

Sequent will shortly be available to purchase at the Loomer website for £49 GBP, for Mac OS X (Audio Unit, VST, RTAS and Standalone), Windows (VST, RTAS, and Standalone), and Linux (VST and Standalone). An free evaluation version will be available for download at launch.

Hear Sequent in action with this short demo of an Amen loop being mangled.