Mutools MuLab 4

MUTOOLS has upgraded MU.LAB, the sequencing application for Mac OS X and Windows, to version 4.

According to the company, here is the list of changes:

Modular System:

Simplified, more transparent and enriched modular architecture.
New MuDrum module.
New MuSynth VA synth module.
New Super Modulator module.
New Note To Modulation module.
New Controller To Modulation module.
New Aftertouch To Modulation module.
New PitchBend To Modulation module.
New Tanh Distortion module.
New Constant Modulator.
New Event Delay module.
Many new inspiring patches, special thanks to AD.
MUX and PolySynth now can have a variable number of inputs and outputs.
MUX and PolySynth can also have modulation inputs. You can use a modulation input on the PolySynth to input global LFO which will be common to all voices.
Oscillator, SamplePlayer, MultiSamplePlayer, NoiseGenerator: Volume parameter now uses a more relevant 'multiplied’ modulation.
Oscillator, SamplePlayer, MultiSamplePlayer: New Pitch parameter (replaces the Pitch Mod Depth).
Oscillator, SamplePlayer, MultiSamplePlayer now have rich portamento features.
Improved the oscillators’ pitch modulation code resulting in even better sound.
Oscillator now has 300. accurately selected and hi-quality waveforms. Thanks to adventurekid.se.
Oscillators now have the option to start at fixed start phase from 0 to 359 degrees.
MultiSample Player now has 4 outputs. Each MultiSample zone can be routed to 1 of these 4 outs.
The Main Audio Input + Output modules (the one that stream from/to the audio device) can be used anywhere, in any modular level.
Improved ADSR module:
- Now using logarithmic slopes for a natural sound, other slopes possible too for broad sonic creativity.
- Much higher envelope times possible.
- More musical options.
- Continued smooth sound on changing/automating the envelope times.
- ADSR speeds are modulatable.
- Velocity Sensitivity.
- Includes a Process On/Off switch.
Improved LFO module:
- Many more waveforms.
- Tempo Syncable.
- Nicer User Interface.
- Frequency and Amplitude is modulatable.
- Includes a Process On/Off switch.
Improved Audio Balancers 1->2 and 2->1:
- Balance parameter is modulatable.
- Now also have a crossfade curve.
- Fine-tuned editors.
Improved Wobble Generator:
- Now also has a Process On/Off switch.
- Fine-tuned parameter strings.
Fine-tuned MM Filter resonance.
Filter Mod Depth parameter has been removed, use mod cable Amplitude or Mod Mapper.
Improved modulation cables now use a more relevant Amplitude + Offset properties instead of Min-Max values. Same for the Modulation Mapper module and the Wobble Generator.
Besides the standard MIDI controllers, now also Aftertouch and Pitchbend can be used to MIDI control parameters.
When mapping a MIDI controller to parameter 'None’, all mappings for that controller are deleted. (within its context).
Deep Editor now uses full featured meta-parameter editors on top.
Meta-parameters now use similar auto naming as tracks etc: if no explicit user name, then an auto name is used.
You can drag-drop parameters on a meta-parameter so to add/edit that mapping.
Fine-tuned the GUI of many module editors.
MUX Play Editor is much more customizable: You can drag-drop parameters and editor buttons onto it and move them around. Also support for group frames.
New “Revert Preset” function for modules.
All modules have a Open/Save Preset context function.
Streamlined “Save As” for patches: Always using a file browser. File browser will open in the most relevant location.
At many places you can choose the 'curve’ for example when applying modulation to a parameter you can choose whether it should be applied linear – exponential – logarithmic -…
Racks now have direct parameters to its Gain, Stereo Pan, Stereo Width and Mute.
Racks now use plain knobs to control stereo pan and stereo width.
Racks can open-save presets.
Extended sample library.
Optimized performance: MuLab 4 uses up to 35% less than MuLab 3.

Composer & Sequencing

The “Part Targets” feature has been removed. This simplifies the concept without loosing anything essential. For it is still possible to set a separate MIDI channel per part. You can even use separate MIDI channels per event.
Improved Track/Part MIDI channel management:
- Tracks and parts now evaluate the target channel apart from the target module.
- Sub-tracks can overwrite the MIDI channel of the main track.
- Parts take the MIDI channel of the track, if any, else they can have their own MIDI channel.
- Events take the MIDI channel of the sequence part, if any, else they can have their own MIDI channel.
Composer has a + button with feature-rich Add New Instrument Track / Add New Audio Track / Add New Track options.
Composer and Sequence Editor have an integrated grid panel.
Extra preset grid: “MIDI Clock”.
New way for editing audio, sequence and envelope parts using floating windows.
New way to draw parts and to indicate selected parts and unique/shared sequence parts.
New: Envelope Parts.
New Focused Target Module Panel always shows the module that is played by the MIDI keyboard.
The Part Property Panel is moved below composer.
Audio Parts now have a gain-pan-fadin-fadout play parameter.
Sequence Parts now have a key+vel play parameter.
Improved Mute/Solo behaviour for tracks.
Fine-tuned context menu for track mute.
Fine-tuned the algorithm to define the destination track when recording a new part.
Greatly improved the Audio Recording Options panel.
In the sequence editor, when moving the loop-end locator, you get a set of nice options how the new loop should be filled.
When drawing line curves in the Event Graph Editor, now the used value resolution is 1024 instead of 128, but with a min of 10 ms between value.
Improved the “Modify Time/Length/Value 1/Value 2/…” sequence functions.
Fixed: “Thin Out” sequence function reported a wrong number of deleted events.
Sequence functions sub-menu is more optimized to the context resulting in a cleaner, less bloated sub-menu.
Sequence editor: When drawing new notes, they’re monitored while you draw. (preferencable).

Drag-Drop Features

Reworked Drag-Drop sub-system opens many options. For example: Drag drop a module on a track = Set Track Target.
You can drag-drop modules with [Ctrl] to copy them.
Drag-drop module on the “+” track button = create new track for that module.
You can drag-drop modules and parameters on (envelope) parts.
You can drag-drop a module onto the Focused Target Module Panel to explicitly play that module from MIDI input.

Multi-Session

Open and play multiple sessions at the same time.
Cut-copy-paste and drag-drop parts and modules from one session to another.
Undo/Redo works per session.

User Interface

Racks and modules can now be colored. The colors are used by the tracks and parts targeting the module. This makes a visual link between the composition and the sounds/effects.
Improved behaviour when doing “Reset Graphic Resources”: Also all module editors now properly reset themselves.
String valuators: double-click = select all, cfr standard behaviour in most software.
When showing the source file path of audio files, relative and absolute paths are shown, if different.
Tab key has been freed from hard-coded behaviour. So it’s freely usable as a shortcut key. (Control + Tab still is reserved for stepping thru the open windows though).
Right-click anywhere on a rack to popup the context menu.
Knobs and sliders now step to more default values on Alt+click.
Meta parameter editor: Minimum and Maximum values now use the effective parameter values.
Modulation cable property panels are non-modal floating windows.
Modulation cable property panels now use knobs with clear value displays.
When selecting an output for a rack, all relevant inputs are shown, not only racks and output interfaces.
You can directly drop a.Mux file onto a rack slot.
Alert popups: You can use the first char of the options. But as “Cancel” can be done by by [Esc], it will not eat the [C] from any other option starting with a C. (and so “Close Without Save” can be done via [C] ;)).
Improved shortcut handling.
The Session Modular Area window includes the session name.
Improved font system.
Font icons better match the accompanying text and color.
Rack slots also show the module icon.
Individual rack slots can get the GUI focus and this can process shortcuts.
Optimized and beautified module editors.
FolderBrowser shows big icons.
More skinning options for the audio level meter.
Fine-tuned editing of musical positions in bars.beats.ticks, frames, seconds, …
Fine-tuned editing of parameter values.
Right-click Play button -> “Panic” function for quick access when needed. As a note: The Panic function is also shortcuttable of course.
Clicking Play while the audio engine is not running now gives a friendly alert with the option to go to the Audio Setup.
[Alt]-click on slots, modules or cables = toggle mute.
When loading a patch, sample or waveform from outside the library, you can now simply step to the previous/next patch, sample or waveform in that folder.
Oscillators: You can drag-drop a wave file onto the display.
When activating a synth editor, then the MIDI focus also is auto switched to this synth.
VST plug-in manager: multi selection possible => easier grouping.

Others

Imports MP3 files as samples.
“Save Session As” now uses a new method: MuSessions are saved in a separate folder so that the Audio subfolder becomes more private per session. This will make it more easy to bundle a MuSession into a zip.
New options to to manage the audio/sample files within the session’s audio folder.
Rack Sends popup menu now also include 'Copy As Parameter Event’.
Improved VST engine.
Tuned new VST naming algorithm: MuLab prefers to use the VST patch name rather than the VST plug-in name, if relevant.
MuLab now supports opening sessions via the command line.
Fixed: When saving a session in some parent folder of the library folder, then there could be a file reference problem when loading the session on another system.
New “Save As 'New’ Session” function.
Inline Sample Browser: You can step thru the samples in a folder while the music is playing and using the selected sample. For example: choose a snare drum sample while the drum pattern is playing it.
New type session menu.
New MidiSetup preference “MidiOutputMicroTimeCompensation”.
Fixed: When your computer was up and running for many days without restart, then there could be some practical problems.
Fixed: Possible denormalizations bug.
Fine-tuned management of sequenced sustain pedal events.
And many many other micro improvements, too many and too detailed to list them all.