Synful Orchestra

Added support for Mac OSX 10.7 Lion.

Fixed an important bug that occasionally caused users to lose their Synful Orchestra Control Panel setups when they saved a project file.

Fixed a problem that sometimes caused the challenge/response authorization window to freeze up so that it was not possible to paste in a response code.

Fixed an important bug that occasionally caused users to lose their Synful Orchestra Control Panel setups when they saved a project file.

Fixed a problem that sometimes caused the challenge/response authorization window to freeze up so that it was not possible to paste in a response code.

Protools/RTAS Compatibility (Mac Only)

Fixed memory consumption problem that caused sluggish behavior, and even occasional crashes, especially with Logic projects that include many instances of Synful Orchestra.

Fixed problem with intonation of high notes in tremolo, sul-pont, and sul-pont-tremolo playing modes.

Fixed problem with enabling, saving and restoring MIDI CC control assignments – this problem only occurred under some unusual circumstances.

Fixed problem with assigning MIDI CC automatically when loading pre 2.4 projects.

Fixed a problem that could cause random crashes do to improper handling of note-on events with pitch slide.

Fixed a problem which, under some conditions, caused the New Authorization window to come up even when Synful Orchestra was already authorized.

Protected against reading in of project files containing corrupted Synful Orchestra AU preset data

Version 2.4.1 is the first non-beta release for 2.4.x. Version 2.4.1 fixes a number of bugs associated with the beta version 2.4.0. Version 2.4.1 introduces no new features that were not in 2.4.0.

Bug fixes in 2.4.1:
Fixed a bug that caused Synful Orchestra and the host sequencer to crash when scrubbing tracks by dragging the location button in DP and other sequencers.
Fixed a significant bug in loading existing (pre 2.4.x) projects and templates that include Synful Orchestra. This bug was capable of causing a wide variety of irratic behavior – host sequencer crashes, random values in controls, interference with other plugins, etc.
Fixed a bug that caused slow degradation in performance over time until 100% of CPU was used – noticeable if looping for a long time (e.g. 10 minutes to 1 hour).
Fixed a bug that created erratic unpredictable behavior in saving and loading new programs. This would not cause a crash but would appear as random parameters not being saved or loaded with the project.
Fixed a problem that would sometimes cause Synful Orchestra to be unrecognized by the host sequencer.
Fixed problem with blank/white feature list during Windows 64 bit install and inability to complete install.
Fixed problem with installaion of 64 bit Windows drivers.

Full String Playing Modes. pizzicato, bartok-pizz, col-legno, tremolo, harmonics, sul-ponticello, sul-ponticello-tremolo.

New Synthesis Engine. The new string playing modes are the first to use our new synthesis engine which preserves full 24 bit fidelity while still allowing us the flexible morphing capabilities we need for Reconstructive Phrase Modeling (RPM).

New Control Parameters. With the new string playing modes we have introduced several new innovative controls: sforzando strength, tremolo rate, tremolo rate spread, pizzicato release sounds with release noise level control, release time adjust with timbre change on release, new bow noise control for tremolo. Try playing with release time, harmonic tilt, and harmonic parity, etc. on the new playing modes – the results can be quite interesting.

Keyswitching. To access the new playing modes you can use keyswitching, MIDI program changes, or the Control Panel. Articulations that normally occur in arco string playing such as spicatto, detaché, normal legato, bow-changes, attacks of various kinds, etc. are still automatically selected based on normal Midi input. However Playing Mode changes from arco, to pizz, sul-pont, etc. are choices that the composer/performer must make and keyswitching makes these very convenient.

Flexible MIDI Controller mapping. You can now map any MIDI continuous control to any Synful Orchestra parameter. No more Volume Only or Volume and Expression switches.

Flexible Control Parameter Names. The name of Control Parameters may now change depending on the Program and Playing Mode and are more appropriate to the instrument. For example, the old "sustain noise trim" is now called "breath noise" in flute and "bow noise" in strings. See Help for full details or just play with the Control Panel.

Simpler and More Flexible Program Management. See the Help for details about Local Channel Programs, Save Load Default Programs, Renaming Programs, etc.

Pre 2 .4 Mode. A number of things have changed in version 2.4.0 but we want to make sure your old projects load and sound the same. For the most part this happens automatically however there is a new button called Pre 2.4 mode on the Control Panel which is on by default when you open an older project. 99% of the time you can and should turn it off. See the Help section on Upgrading to 2.4.0 for full details.

Changed MIDI Program Number . It used to be that we displayed MIDI program or patch numbers from 1-128. Now we display them from 0-127. This will not affect your sequences or projects. It is just how we display the numbers in the Program and Playing Mode pop-up lists. So where Violin used to be displayed as MIDI Program (or patch) 41, now it is displayed as 40. The reason for the change is that most controllers and sequencers seem to do it this way (however, the fact remains that they do not all agree!).

Integrated Authorization. On Mac there is no more SynfulOrchestraAuthorizer – just a button on the Control Panel. Authorization and trial period status is displayed on the Control Panel.

Windows Machines Require Reauthorization. We have changed the copy protection scheme on Windows to be the same as Mac. See Purchasing and Authorizing in the Help for instructions.

Windows Vista, XP64 and Vista64 Compatible.

Mac Universal Binary, Leopard Compatible

Logic 8, Cubase 4, DP5 Compatible

Many Bug Fixes:

Switching Programs and Playing Modes while playing live or in the middle of sequences is now much more reliable.
Fixed problems in time-spread control over sections.
Fixed problem with Pitch Bend control being undelayed under certain circumstances when Delay for Expression is on.
Many more.

Universal Binary

String Sections. Wind and Brass Sections. Any Synful Orchestra solo instrument can now be turned into a natural sounding section. Synful Orchestra uses the RPM database to guarantee realistic variations between the players. You can select the number of players in the section, how the players are positioned on stage, the rhythmic variation between the players, detuning among the players, and more. Listen to the new Tristan und Isolde example included in the download to hear the naturalness of these sections. See the Synful Orchestra help section on Localization and Section Controls for full details about sections.

Natural Divisi. Synful Orchestra sections simulate realistic and natural divisi. For example, if you create a ten violin section Program and play a monophonic line then all ten players will play that line. If you play a ten note chord then each player will play one note in the chord. The Synful Orchestra section automatically adapts to the changing polyphony of the part. If you play 3 note chords or polyphony then the ten players distribute themselves automatically 4-3-3 across the notes.

Player Position. Synful Orchestra virtual players can be positioned in the listening room. The position of the virtual listener can be changed and the room size can be adjusted. The new ability to create sections uses the positioning capability to make the different players in a section sound like they are spread out realistically in space. See the Synful Orchestra help section on Localization and Section Controls for full details about sections. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR LOGIC USERS: If you use Apple Logic and want to use the Synful Orchestra direct, 2 walls, or 4 walls localization controls then you must set the MIDI pan in Logic to the center or to off. This is because Logic performs panning itself which will interfere with the more powerful Synful localization modes.

Bigger and Prettier User Interface. We have added a number of controls to the Control Panel to support player localization and sections. We have also upgraded the look a bit so it's prettier and more consistent (we hope!).

Degradation Over Time Bug. We fixed a problem which caused Synful Orchestra to have reduced performance over time. So if you ran for 1-2 hours you might have to stop Synful Orchestra and the host sequencer and restart them to get rid of clicks and pops that had emerged. This was quite apparent when using Cubase on PC/Windows but it was true to some extent on every platform.

Better Performance. We have improved the efficiency of Synful Orchestra so you now get more voices on the same computer.

Better Note Transition Modeling. We now take better advantage of Delay for Expression for modeling note transitions, especially in advance of an upcoming note.

New Orchestral Example. We have included a new MIDI example of an excerpt from Wagner's famous Prelude to Tristan und Isolde to demonstrate string and wind sections and the ability to model the entire orchestra.

Program Locking. There is now a button associated with every MIDI channel on the Control Panel that locks the Program assignment for that MIDI channel so that changes coming from a MIDI controller or from the host sequencer do not override the Program setting in the settings in the Control Panel.

Enter Control Values By Typing. You can now enter control values in the Control Panel by typing in the numerical display boxes in addition to adjusting the slider or knob positions.

Version 2.2.0 and 2.2.1 mistakenly set Delay for Expression time to one-half second rather than one second. Delay for Expression has been restored to one full second in 2.2.2. A bug has been fixed that affected the Trumpet program running under Digital Performer. The bug appeared in 2.2.0 and caused DP to crash. The bug is fixed in using the following the patch. Depending on on your browser you may need to right click or Ctrl-Click on this link and select "Save Target As" or "Save Target".

Synful Orchestra now supports these sample rates: 11025, 22050, 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 176400, 192000. You do not need to do anything within Synful Orchestra. Just change the sample rate in your sequencer/DAW.

Synful Orchestra Control Panel parameters are now mapped to MIDI continuous controllers for automation and interactive real-time control – see the new chapter in the help documentation for details.

A bug was fixed which affected behavior of the Synful Pitch wheel mode. This bug resulted in erratic behavior that was difficult to control

The Synful Pitch wheel is now more responsive to quick changes. This fix may require adjustment of pitch-bend curves in existing projects.

A bug was fixed that sometimes affected proper legato or slur detection especially with Delay for Expression OFF.

The Tune Orchestra slider control has been fixed. There was a bug causing the orchestra to go out of tune with itself when this slider was used.

Synful Orchestra now supports Sassafras Keyserver license management system. This is for a separate multi-seat license version of Synful Orchestra.