Aspect 1.7.1 update now available

Aspect 1.7.1 for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux is now available. This release adds the following improvements:

• Fix for hung note that could occasionally occur when using legato triggering for Envelope 1.
  
• Fix for certain non-ASCII characters being either missing, or displayed incorrectly in the interface.
  
• Integrated preset browser is now re-sizeable.

Grab the update here.

Aspect 1.7: Linux 64-bit; Mono legato; Envelope triggers

Aspect 1.7 is now out. Download the update here: go shake some speakers.

Click for full-size screenshot

Improvements in this release (apparently the 19th update for Aspect!) include:

• Native 64-bit VST and Standalone application versions for Linux.
  
• Integrated undo and redo, with unlimited history size.
  
• Mono legato modes, with selectable low, high, and last note priority.
  
• Mono unison: stack up to five unison voices in mono legato mode.
  
• Independent trigger mode for each envelope: retrigger, reset, or legato.
  
• Category support in preset browser.
  
• Increased filter cutoff modulation range.
  
• CPU usage is now consistent when using the Mac OS X RTAS plug-ins.
  
• 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.
  
• Factory presets now load significantly faster.
  
• Additional presets.
  
• Various host compatibility fixes.

Upgrade notice for Cubase users

Just a quick heads-up for Cubase users regarding an issue which can cause Loomer plug-ins saved in Cubase projects to reset to their default after upgrading said plug-in.

Other hosts are not affected. Presets saved externally are not affected.

This issue will only crop up if you:

• Save a project using a plug-in that used the old, flat preset system.
  
• Upgrade the plug-in to a version that users the new integrated preset browser.

By old flat preset system, we mean the one which looks like this:


And this is the new integrated preset browser:



To clarify, if you've updated from a version before any of these, to these versions or later, your plug-in configuration saved in the Cubase project will reset to default:

• Aspect 1.6.0
  
• Manifold 1.5.0
  
• Shift 2.0.0
  
• Resound 1.5.0
  
• Sequent 1.1.0
  
• String 1.2.3

If you've already upgraded to a plug-in using the new browser, further upgrades will not cause any problems.

Due to the nature of the bug, there is no workaround that we can implement in our code. The bug is with Cubase, and the ball is very much in Steinberg's court in terms of a fix. In the interim, we suggest:

• Before you upgrade, save your presets out to native .xml or .fxp files.
• Upgrade the plug-in(s).
• Open your Cubase projects, load your saved presets into the affected plugins, save the projects, and never concern yourself about this bug again.

If you're a registered user who has already upgraded and would like a link to an older version of a plug-in so you can downgrade and save your presets or email us on the support email address listed here.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Shift 2.1.0 update: Linux 64-bit; bug fixes and improvements

We are pleased to announce the update for Shift v2.1.0, our diatonic granular pitch shifting effect, is now available: download it here. Shift v2 is available for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, in Audio Unit, VST, RTAS plug-in formats, as well as in standalone application format.

What's new in this release:

• Native Linux 64-bit standalone application and VST plug-in.
  
• Fixed audible click and DC offset which could occur (albeit very rarely) when changing between certain presets.
  
• Fixed issue that could cause some presets to be instantly marked as changed after opening them in Pro Tools on Mac OS X.
  
• Presets can now be quickly grouped using categories.
  
• Windows installer now uses the correct admin privileges. This fixes an issue where Vista or Windows 7 could complain that Shift may not have installed correctly.
  
• Windows VST 32-bit plug-in and standalone applications no longer depend on additional runtime libraries. However, these libraries are still required - and installed - for the RTAS format plugins.
  
• Filter types are now labelled Off, LP, BP, and HP.
  
• Minor visual improvement to interface button controls.
  
• All presets from Shift v1 are now included (and in many cases improved) in factory preset library.
  
• Preset loading speed is improved when using MIDI Change Program messages.
  
• PDF manual is now printer-friendly.
  
• PDF manual now contains description of Echo Shift function.

Loomer String 1.2.3 released; New Preset Browser; Linux 64-bit

Another update has been released: this time, its String 1.2.3. This release adds the following improvements :

• Native 64-bit VST plugin and standalone application for Linux.
  
• Integrated Preset Browser, with meta-data, tags, searching, and hot-swap support.
  
• Additional presets. All presets now tagged and annotated.
  
• Presets can now be sorted using auto categorization.
  
• String Instrument and FX now have their own individual default preset.
  
• Reduced CPU usage.
  
• CPU usage is now consistent when using the Mac OS X RTAS Plugins.
  
• Windows VST 32-bit plugins and standalone applications no longer depend on additional runtime libraries. However, these libraries are still required - and installed - for the RTAS format plugins.
  
• libjack is now weak-linked for standalone Linux. This means JACK is not required (but still recommended).
  
• Fixed slight pitch shifting timbre that would rarely occur when quickly swapping between presets using different delay time settings.
  
• PDF manual is now printer-friendly.
  

This finally sees our entire current product line now using the vastly improved integrated preset browser. String is also the first to have a new preset browser feature: Categories.

Categories are a nod to those people who have expressed a liking for the old preset system, saying it was a lot easier to find all the (for example) bass presets. Of course, you could always enter 'bass' into the search area, but who wants to be typing when you're on the verge of creating a timeless bassline?

Categories are user creatable search terms that, for quick access, appear in the browser tree. Anything you can search for can be used as a category: so you can even categorize by preset authors, or indeed any tag or descriptive word. And provided you've tagged all your presets correctly, they'll automatically appear in the correct category (or categories).

String 1.2.3 is available for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. Download the update here.

Enjoy!

Manifold 1.5.0 / Resound 1.5.0 - Now Linux 64-bit compatible

I'm pleased to announce another update; this time, Manifold 1.5.0 and Resound 1.5.0 for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux get the upgrade treatment. These releases add the following fixes and features:

• Native 64-bit support for Linux VST plugins and standalone applications. All releases hence will come in Linux 64-bit VST plugin and Linux 64-bit standalone format.
• Integrated Preset Browser, with meta-data, tags, searching, and hot-swap support.
  
• (Resound) Noise parameter is now scaled such that wow, flutter, and mechanical noise of the tape machine are completely absent at 0%. Older presets will still sound identical.
  
• (Resound) Reversed delay tempo syncing has been improved with hosts that don't provide accurate PPQ.
  
• Reduced CPU usage.
  
• Windows VST 32-bit plugins and standalone applications no longer depend on additional runtime libraries. However, these libraries are still required - and installed - for the RTAS format plugins.
  
• Various host compatibility fixes.
  
• Additional presets.

Go here; download the updates.

Shift for Mac OS X updated to 2.0.2

We have just released an update for the Mac OS X version of Shift, bringing it to version 2.0.2. This release adds the following :

• Fix for Dry Voice Volume and Synced Delay Time UI controls not responding correctly in Digital Performer.

As far as we can tell, this issue was only apparent in Digital Performer. Shift stays at 2.0.0 on Windows and Linux. Download the update immediately here.