Renoise 2.1 Beta testing!

Citation :
... and can be download at the Renoise Backstage

Demo versions will be available right before 2.1 goes gold (with the release candidates).


What is this release about?

This is a small intermediate release (2.0 -> 2.1). The main idea about the 2.1 featureset is, that until we offer features like a piano-roll, a "birds-eye arranger", audio file streaming,... directly in Renoise - which will definitely take time to implement when done wisely - you should be able to easily use them outside and WITH Renoise.

So we've added support to easily integrate Renoise into other DAWs & Audio Tools, namely via ReWire on OSX & Windows and by supporting the Jack transport protocol on Linux.

Even if Renoise would have all features you can think of: every DAW/Sequencer has its own style/things it can do good or bad, or things you are simply used to. So why shouldn't you be able to easily combine those? ReWire makes this possible. You can either use Renoise as your main DAW and integrate other sequencers into Renoise, or vice versa. Thats now all possible with ReWire.

For all those who think they don't need ReWire (read the ReWire FAQs to see whats possible though, before deciding this ;) ), there is also a bunch of small Renoise improvements here and there. See below for the details, and enjoy playing around with them ;)

More info about ReWire & Renoise can be found here:
ReWire FAQ/HowTo

A large list of ReWire compatible software + some compatibility notes with Renoise
can be found here: Available ReWire Applications & Compatibility


Beta Testing (same procedure as usual)

Although we've very very carefully tested all the new features, especially ReWire, we will have a small beta testing phase where only registered users can use the new release. Please help us, by trying out the beta builds, and reporting any problems/feature finetuning ideas and so on in the beta forums. There you will also find some FAQs for the new features.


License Upgrades (extend your Renoise license)

Renoise licenses are valid for a full version number, so if you've bought Renoise at version 1.0, this release (2.1) would be the first Renoise release that needs a license upgrade to be accessed.

We do offer upgrades at the Renoise backstage now - see the "Account Details" page in the backstage please. There you will see at which version you've registered Renoise and can also buy the upgrades. A license upgrade (one full version number) is 39 EUR.
You can also order multiple updates at once if you like, via the quantity field in the shopping basket.


Whats next (what happens after Renoise 2.1 went gold?)

We've planed another small "intermediate" release (Renoise 2.2) which should contian another bunch of "small" and easy to add but fun features. The 2.1 release already took quite long because of ReWire. Then, Renoise 2.5 will follow with a huge new feature which is to be decided by all registered users via the feature polling on the backstage.
We'll start the feature polling soon, and let you know about this in a separate topic and by newletters.


Now, whats new in Renoise 2.1?

CODE

+ Full ReWire Slave & Master support (on Windows & OSX)

ReWire allows you to connect and synchronize multiple software applications,
so that you can run them side by side while passing Audio/MIDI information
between them.

For example, you could connect Renoise to Logic, program your drums in Renoise,
while arranging the bulk of your song in Logic. Or you could connect both Reason
and Ableton Live to Renoise, arrange your track in Renoise, control Reason's
built-in synthesizers, and play around with loops in Live. All it takes is some
ReWire enabled software and you are good to go.

ReWire has two modes, both of which are fully supported by Renoise:
*ReWire Master* (ReWire Mixer) and *ReWire Slave* (ReWire Synth)

@See: https://www.renoise.com/board/index.php?showtopic=19623
for more info about ReWire & Renoise


+ Jack Transport Support (Linux only)

Similar to ReWire, Renoise now supports the Jack transport protocol.
Jack transport allows Linux users to start/stop reposition multiple audio
programs, all connected/running through Jack.

@See: https://www.renoise.com/board/index.php?showtopic=20003
for more info about the Jack Transport protocol & Renoise



+ New Pattern Sequencer Features:

- Decoupled Sequencer Playback Now Possible:

This new feature allows the user to detach the current playback position
from the edit position. This lets you edit a pattern while other patterns
are playing.

To decouple the sequencer, simply turn off the "Pattern Follow" option, which
will then decouple the pattern editor & sequencer.

Those who don't want this new behavior by default, can disable it in the GUI
preferences pane. The "Pattern Follow" Option will then only detach the
playback position in the Pattern Editor.


- Live Pattern Triggering:

Patterns can now be "scheduled" for playback via a new column in the Pattern
Sequencer. Without stopping playback you can now trigger new sequences in the
song "in real time". The new column should be more or less self-evident.

For those who don't want to use the mouse, there are also two new related shortcuts:
* Play/Switch to the currently edited Sequence -> Control + Shift + Space
* Schedule the currently edited Sequence Pos for Playback -> Control + Space
(exchange "Control" with "Command" on OSX)


+ New meta devices (Modulation / Automation Device fun)

- *Hydra Device
Automate/change/broadcast multiple FX parameters with a single parameter.
Think of this as a magic slider, which connects itself to up to 9 other
parameters - allowing you to change multiple settings with just one slider
or automation.

- *Keytracking Device
Modulates parameters depending on an instruments key (note) value. Like what
the "*Velocity Device" does with Velocities, the Keytracking device does with
Keys/Notes.

- *MIDI Control Device
This device replaces the old "MIDI-CC Device", finally offering Pitchbend,
Channel Pressure, Program Change & regular controller (CC) in a single
device.




And finally a big thanks in advance to everyone you helps us to fine-tune the new release. Also a big thanks to all the alpha testers who helped to make Renoise 2.1 what it already is now!


Enjoy the new release!

On behalf of the whole team:
Taktik

Citation :
+ Full ReWire Slave & Master support (on Windows & OSX)

ReWire allows you to connect and synchronize multiple software applications,
so that you can run them side by side while passing Audio/MIDI information
between them.

For example, you could connect Renoise to Logic, program your drums in Renoise,
while arranging the bulk of your song in Logic. Or you could connect both Reason
and Ableton Live to Renoise, arrange your track in Renoise, control Reason's
built-in synthesizers, and play around with loops in Live. All it takes is some
ReWire enabled software and you are good to go.

ReWire has two modes, both of which are fully supported by Renoise:
*ReWire Master* (ReWire Mixer) and *ReWire Slave* (ReWire Synth)

@See: https://www.renoise.com/board/index.php?showtopic=19623
for more info about ReWire & Renoise


+ Jack Transport Support (Linux only)

Similar to ReWire, Renoise now supports the Jack transport protocol.
Jack transport allows Linux users to start/stop reposition multiple audio
programs, all connected/running through Jack.

@See: https://www.renoise.com/board/index.php?showtopic=20003
for more info about the Jack Transport protocol & Renoise



+ New Pattern Sequencer Features:

- Decoupled Sequencer Playback Now Possible:

This new feature allows the user to detach the current playback position
from the edit position. This lets you edit a pattern while other patterns
are playing.

To decouple the sequencer, simply turn off the "Pattern Follow" option, which
will then decouple the pattern editor & sequencer.

Those who don't want this new behavior by default, can disable it in the GUI
preferences pane. The "Pattern Follow" Option will then only detach the
playback position in the Pattern Editor.


- Live Pattern Triggering:

Patterns can now be "scheduled" for playback via a new column in the Pattern
Sequencer. Without stopping playback you can now trigger new sequences in the
song "in real time". The new column should be more or less self-evident.

For those who don't want to use the mouse, there are also two new related shortcuts:
* Play/Switch to the currently edited Sequence -> Control + Shift + Space
* Schedule the currently edited Sequence Pos for Playback -> Control + Space
(exchange "Control" with "Command" on OSX)


+ New meta devices (Modulation / Automation Device fun)

- *Hydra Device
Automate/change/broadcast multiple FX parameters with a single parameter.
Think of this as a magic slider, which connects itself to up to 9 other
parameters - allowing you to change multiple settings with just one slider
or automation.

- *Keytracking Device
Modulates parameters depending on an instruments key (note) value. Like what
the "*Velocity Device" does with Velocities, the Keytracking device does with
Keys/Notes.

- *MIDI Control Device
This device replaces the old "MIDI-CC Device", finally offering Pitchbend,
Channel Pressure, Program Change & regular controller (CC) in a single
device.