Amaranth Audio updates Cycle to v1.7 - introduces automatic waveshape modelling, improved envelopes & new tools
Amaranth Audio has updated Cycle to v1.7.
Multi-Samples As Reference
Cycle now can load a multi-sample by browsing for a directory, where it will load all the samples, parse the pitch and velocity from the filenames, and automatically map the samples across the morphing space. So now comparing the spectra and waveform of an instrument at different velocities and pitches is very easy. Find it under File > Load Multisample...
Sample playback is now polyphonic and responds to MIDI. Cycle is not a sampler so this feature is just for more convenient reference.
Nudge Tool: By dragging up and down, this new tool can:
- Change the phase of wave shapes in synth view mode.
- Change the phase of reference samples in sample view mode.
If used on the Spectrogram Editor it slides vertices up and down, or in the Spectrum Editor it slides them left and right. This main purpose is to let you align the phase of the several samples in a multi-sample, making the patterns more linear and easier to emulate.
This figure juxtaposes the waveform surface of a trumpet at multiple pitches. The nudge tool was used to align them by their first peak/trough:
Envelope Updates
New Dynamic Envelopes option: when selected, the envelopes (excluding volume) will recalculate while a note is live, on modulation change. An example usage can be controlling vibrato strength while a note is held. This recalculation comes at a CPU cost, so the option is disabled by default. Find it under Audio > Dynamic Envelopes.
A new workflow behavior is introduced such that dragging a loop- or sustain-point slides all the points to its right.
The release region is redesigned so the sustain point of the envelope can be put at zero without visually squashing the release region (see figure below):
Automatic Modelling
A model button is added for automatically modelling sample wave-shapes. To use, load a reference sample, position the playhead to the desired part of waveform, optionally adjust morph ranges in the Morph panel, then click the model button. Find it in the Waveform Surface's controls area. More features to refine this workflow are to come.
Presets & Sharing:
- Downloading community presets is fixed.
- A preset is opened immediately on download.
- New dismiss option for newly downloaded presets (should you not want them.).
- Notification of any new community presets on startup.
- Ratings, dismissed presets saved in new metadata file, unaffected by installs and updates.
Minor Graphics Update
1500+ harmonics are now visualized in the lowest notes, where previously the limit was about 950 harmonics. This change means the harmonic scaling is now identical between synthesizer output and the graphic visualization, and so the visual feedback is more accurate.
New preset highlights:
Bugs fixed:
- Preset sharing fixed.
- Pencil drawing hang on OS X fixed.
- The vertex cube visualized on selection was not always the most relevant one.
- On switching envelopes, auto-zoom didn't take deformers into account when choosing the scale.
- On box-select in envelopes area, pivots were incorrect in some cases.
- Setting a new sustain point on an envelope didn't always trigger update.
