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digital-audio-workstation posts

Filed under: Audio, Internet

Indaba Music launches online digital audio editing tools

Indaba Session Console 2.0
Online music collaboration, creation, and sharing suite Indaba Music has opened its new online audio editing tool to the public. Session Console 2.0 Alpha lets you create and mix audio recordings online. Sort of. The application is built on JavaFX, so while you launch the application from a web browser, it acts more like a desktop app that opens in a separate window and can take a minute or two to load.

But once Session Console 2.0 is loaded, it works as a powerful digital audio workstation that blurs the lines between local and remote storage. You can import hundreds of drum, bass, guitar, and other audio from Indaba's library, or download tracks you've uploaded to an Indaba Music Session. You can also click the big red record button to record a new track using your computer's audio hardware and save it to an online session.

Session Console 2.0 offers true multi-track, non-destructive audio editing. In other words, you can load up a bunch of audio files and apply dozens of effects in real-time without affecting the original source files. This makes it easy to create a mix, then a remix, then another remix, and then go back to the original version of the audio to start all over again from scratch.

The software is still a little rough around the edges. It locked up on me when I tried importing audio files from my desktop or files I'd used for an older Indaba Music project. But I had no problem loading a few of Indaba's pre-recorded guitar and drum samples to play around. It's worth keeping in mind, this is still Alpha software, and it might be worth keeping an eye on if you're looking for a quick and easy audio editing solution that you can use from any Java-enabled computer.

You can check out a demo video from Indaba Music after the break.

[via Create Digital Music]

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Filed under: Audio, Internet, Web

Indaba Music updates its browser-based music production tools

Indabamusic
Indaba Music is an online music creation web site and community. Users can upload audio tracks from their computer or call in and record tracks over the phone, and then use Indaba Music's web-based audio editor to mix, loop, and edit the audio.

Today, the company announced a limited beta of a new version of its online audio production tools, based on JavaFX. The update will add the ability to record tracks from any Windows, Mac, or Linux computer using the the browser based tool. The new editor will allow users to record tracks directly to the internet, and share their projects with other users who can mix and remix them.

The company lets users create and save a limited number of sessions for free. You can also pay $10 per month for up to 10GB of online storage and an unlimited number of projects.

The new version of Indaba Music's web based editor should be available to the general public in July.

[via Create Digital Music]

Filed under: Audio, Windows, Macintosh, Commercial

Cross platform digital audio editor Reaper hits 3.0, stays cheap

Reaper 3.0
Reaper is a powerful multitrack digital audio editor for Windows and OS X. And it's dirt cheap compared to comparable apps like Pro Tools or Adobe Audition. While a full license will set you back $225, you can purchase a discounted license for just $60 if you're buying it for personal or non-profit use.

The company's also cool with you're paying for a discounted license if you're a for-profit, but you make less than $20,000 a year. Oh, and there's absolutely zero difference in a fully licensed copy of Reaper and a version with a discounted license. There's also a 30 day free evaluation period, after which you're hit with a nag message every time you launch Reaper.

Last week the team released Reaper 3.0. If you've been following the app's progress, you shouldn't be surprised by any of the new features. It seems like there's a new point release every week or two. But here are some of the major changes and improvements since Reaper 2.5.x:
  • Improved memory use
  • Native graphics rendering engine
  • Automation lanes
  • Multiple tabbed projects
  • Improved MP3 seek accuracy
  • Nested track folders
  • Multichannel (greater than stereo) media support, including MOGG
  • FX parameter controls on track and mixer control panels
  • Customizable toolbar icons and actions
[via Making Music]

Filed under: Audio, Windows Mobile, Commercial, Mobile Minute

Record, edit, and mix audio on the go with MeTeoR for Windows Mobile

MeTeoRMeTeoR is a multi-track digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for Windows Mobile. It has all the basic features you'd expect from a full-fledged desktop DAW like Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, or Reaper. But it runs on Windows Mobile.

That means it's not going to be quite as fast or efficient at applying effects or mixing down large projects as the big guys. But here's a little secret. While most people use their cellphones and PDAs to do things like make phone calls and track appointments, many modern phones have more processing power than a computer from 10 years ago. And there's been decent digital audio editing software for PCs for much longer than 10 years. Now when somebody shows me a good digital video editing package for Windows Mobile I'll be surprised.

MeTeoR has a multi-track recorder plus windows for editing wave forms, mixing audio levels and pan settings, and importing audio. You can also add several effects including reverb and EQ effects. The full program costs $29.95, but there's a free trial available.

The program works with Windows Mobile 2003 and newer devices. A 400MHz or faster processor is recommended.

[via Create Digital Music]

Filed under: Audio, Open Source, Beta

Audacity 1.3.4 beta released: open source audio editing keeps getting better

Audacity 1.3.4
The Audacity team has released another update to their popular cross-platform, open source digital audio editing application. The Audacity 1.3.x beta line features a ton of options that aren't available in the 1.2.x stable versions. For example, it's much easier to move sound files from one track to another or to split and manipulate audio tracks.

Audacity 1.3.4 beta features a ton of small, but important updates, including:
  • A new welcome screen
  • Enhanced Windows Shell integration, meaning you should be able to access Audacity from Windows dialogs like "open with."
  • New keyboard commands and shortcuts
  • The solo track button actually does what you'd expect and mutes all other tracks
  • Metadata editor added for OGG, FLAC, and WAV/AIFF exports
Audacity 1.3.4 beta is available for Windows and Linux. The most current version of Audacity for OS X is still 1.3.3 beta.

Filed under: Audio, Windows, Shareware

Reaper 2:0 digital audio workstation released

Reaper 2.002
The folks behind the digital audio editing application Reaper just don't seem to know when to stop. We just noticed that the digital audio workstation got bumped up to version 2.0, and by the time we went to download it Reaper 2.002 was out.

Sometimes it seems like there's an update every time we blink. And unfortunately, there's no automated updater, so you have to download and install a new version every time you upgrade.

That said, Reaper 2.0 looks sweet. There's a new default theme which is pretty sexy, but there are also a ton of tweaks under the hood. Here are a few highlights:
  • New pitch and time-stretch modes
  • New extended mixer views
  • New pitch-shifter plugin
  • New automation options
  • Improved plug-in compatibility
  • Performance enhancements and bug tweaks galore
You can download an evaluation copy of Reaper and use it for free for 30 days. After that point, a message pops up every time you load it asking you to register, but the program remains completely functional. A full commercial license will set you back $225, but if you plan to use the software for non-commercial use, you can buy a license for $50.

[via Making Music]

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