Audio/MIDI multitrack recording software
MultitrackStudio

New in MultitrackStudio 5.2

  1. Practice Mode
  2. Notation editing improvements
  3. MIDI editing improvements
  4. Other


Note: pictures may be from a later version


1. Practice Mode

These days many instruments are software based. This isn't only true for software MIDI instruments like the Sampler or VSTi plugins, but for guitar amp simulators like the Guitar Amp effect as well. Until now, MultitrackStudio wouldn't let you use these instruments while the transport is running without actually recording them. With the new Practice Mode you can.

This new feature comes without any buttons or other controls. All you have to do is:

  1. Make sure the track's Play and Rec buttons are both 'off'.
  2. Make sure the instrument or effect you want to use is visible (ie. click the slot so the window pops up).

Now you can start the transport and the track will be in practice mode.

You'll obviously have to use Soft Monitoring in order to hear audio tracks.


2. Notation editing improvements

The notation editor makes a major step forward in version 5.2:

  • Notes are nicely spaced horizontally. This is essential for readable music notation. Note that this means that the notes no longer 'line up' visually with other tracks (the bar lines still do). There's a one-bar 'helper grid' when adding or moving notes.
  • There's a row of buttons which determine to duration of new notes.
  • Time signature changes are shown in the editor like you'd expect them to be.
  • There can be key signature changes throughout the song, they too appear in the editor the way you expect them to.
  • Quintuplets and septuplets. More triplets.
  • Less overlapping notes and other layout improvements.
  • Smarter handling of unquantized notes.

And, last but not least, the Multi MIDI Editor now does notation as well!

Notation in the Multi MIDI Editor
Notation in the Multi MIDI Editor


3. MIDI editing improvements

MultitrackStudio 5 introduced the 'lasso' which can select multiple notes. Version 5.2 makes this feature more prominent and more powerful.

The Notes Editor, which pops up on clicking the editor's EDIT button if multiple notes are selected, now has Dynamics, Humanize, Quantize and Legato controls.

Notes Editor
Notes Editor
Mode buttons
Mode buttons

The MIDI editors can work in one of three modes:

  • Select Part: works just like an audio editor, ie. the mouse doesn't "see" the notes at all.
  • Select Notes: clicking a note selects it, pressing the mouse button in "empty space" and moving it lassoes notes. Selected notes can be moved.
  • Add Notes: clicking in "empty space" adds a note, clicking a note selects it. Moving the selected note(s) is possible as well.
Three new buttons in the bottom left corner of the editors can be used to switch mode. The Alt key can be used to temporarily switch between Select Notes and Add Notes mode: in Select Notes mode you can add a note using the Alt key, in Add Notes mode you can lasso notes using the Alt key.

Besides making the lasso more prominent, these modes also reduce the risk of accidentally adding notes. Note that the Select Notes and Add Notes modes can do more than their names suggest, so you don't have to switch mode very often.

MIDI controller and automation editors now have 3 modes as well: Select, Add and Draw.


4. Other

  • Dragging audio/MIDI between tracks now snaps to the original position if you're close.
  • Pianoroll/notation editors: lasso shows name of lassoed chord, if any.
  • Drum editor: notes appear like diamond shapes.
  • Drum editor: "select similar notes" can now work on selected notes only.
  • Number of first bar can be -9..1, allowing for various numbers of count-in bars.
  • Audio and Pianoroll editors can zoom vertically.
  • Editors: mouse pointer behaves more in line with Windows standards (when dragging etc.).
  • Editors can do standard Windows style "click at start, Shift-click at end" selecting.
  • Add Click Track: "Accent on Beat One" is now "Bar Accents", and does a bit more to make the click track sound more pleasing.
  • Time signatures can be typed instead of using the up/down buttons.
  • "Extract temp from track": beats can represent 3/8, 7/8 etc. (not just 1/8, 1/4 etc.).
  • Effects can be bypassed quickly by clicking the slot while keeping the B key down.
  • Tuner effect has been redesigned for better visibility from a distance. New per-note offsets let you create custom tunings.
  • "Export MIDI Tracks" can optionally include lyrics and/or markers in the MIDI file.
  • Tested with Windows 7 RC (both 32 and 64 bits).
  • Other improvements and somes fixes.

Full Version History