[NAMM] Cakewalk Announces Z3TA+ 2

Z3TA+ 2 Highlights:

•    Waveshaper is now a part of the Oscillator section with 4 new Waveshaping modes.

•    4 new Filter modes bringing the total to 14 filter modes with separation control for tweaking resonance peaks on stacked filters.

•    Graphically controlled Envelopes providing visual representation of all envelopes, mouse controlled ADSR, and improved naming and interface arrangement.

•    Graphical LFOs show the resulting LFO shapes when morphing between two waves and the new AMOUNT fader scales an LFO’s intensity.

•    Graphical Arp provides visual display of Arp patterns, including 100 new patterns from Dance MIDI Samples. 50 new ‘Gate’ patterns, also from Dance MIDI Samples, apply trance gates to synth pads and leads while Humanize and Swing controls are designed to increase total Arp flexibility and expression.

•    Effects enhancements include: Simple drag and drop routing of effects, new Hypertube distortion algorithm, and distortion module routing (apply to filter busses and master section or both simultaneously).

•     Real-time Expression now with Adaptive Pitch Bend which allows for the bending of notes within the key and mode performed; automatically learns key based on performance.

•    Waveshapers can be mapped to the modulation matrix.

•    XY Pad speed control allows users to adjust the morphing speed of XY coordinates.

•    Z3TA+’s sound engine has been improved with a new ‘HIGHEST’ SRC algorithm.

Other UI enhancements

•    Layout is rearranged with numerous usability improvements

•    Menu items now show graphical previews (oscillator shapes, velocity curves, etc)

•    New extended ribbon controller with latch (Shift-click)

•    Menus are revamped

Availability

Z3TA+ 2 (Win/VSTi) has an estimated street price of $99/€99/£89 (vat inclusive) and will be available at www.cakewalk.com August 4, 2011. Customers who purchase Z3TA+ 1.5 starting July 18, 2011 will get a free upgrade to Z3TA+ 2 when it becomes available. Registered Z3TA+ customers can upgrade for $49/€39/£35 (vat inclusive) at www.cakewalk.com.