The Pro-9 added in this version is described as an overhaul of the former XR-909 generator. It offers virtual-analog drum sound modelling. Additional sound parameters are furthermore designed to give finer control over the electronic drum sounds, particularly for the Bass and Snare Drum, according to the company.
The effects section gains a lookahead limiter and a new compressor, allowing to master tracks in Orion, without having to resort to 3rd party plugins. The new Vintage Chorus effect is a recreation of the analog stereo chorus sound employed in 70s and 80s hardware gear.
The DrumRack gains features, such as GM Drum Map compatibility, LM4 support, a 12-bit vintage switch for MPC-type sounds as well as the ability to drag+drop MIDI clips into it directly.
The revised mixing console doubles the number of busses to 8 and adds an extra insert slot. Most controls of the mixer can now be pattern-automated. Furthermore, additional pan laws are available, including Equal Power 0dB, Equal Power –3dB and Linear –6dB for broadcasting.
The new navigation bar in the arrangement window is designed to give an overview of the entire project, and to allow instant zooming or navigating to any bar with a click. Furthermore, mousewheel support has been added to all views, including the piano roll, arrangement, mixer, instruments and effects. The new Template system is designed to allow you to customize the plugins you work with. For instance, you may create MIDI maps, route instruments to specific busses, apply insert effects, define keyboard splits or throw in automation. A template is added to a project in the same way as a plugin, with a mouse-click.
Another feature is Song Merge: Suppose you programmed a bass line in an older project, Song Merge is designed to allow you to incorporate that track into a new project, preserving the patterns, arrangement, Mixer/EQ settings, applied effects and so on.
The sample content for Orion 8 has been provided by Yellow Tools. The new skinning system introduced is designed to allow customization of instruments and effects, and window frames and buttons as well. Two skins are provided, a new skin as well as an adapted skin from V7.
Pricing & Availability
Orion 8 is available in the Synapse Online Shop for $249. The upgrade price for Orion 7 users is $99. Until March 14, 2011 there are introductory prices of $199 for the full version and $69 for the upgrade.
More information is available at www.synapse-audio.com.
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