Open Planet Software have updated Sessions to Version 8.0, available for $19.99. The update is FREE to existing users.
What’s new in version 8.0:
Sessions 8.0 introduces Backing Tracks.
- Use pre-recorded backing tracks, stems and loops in vour live performances. With Backing Tracks you can play an individual audio file or a set of stem files. each with its own volume control. Tracks can be independently set to play once or loop indefinitely and can be routed into the Scene Mixer for further processing.
- Open Planet have also refreshed the Toolbar in Sessions 8.0. The central display now shows the current position in either bars & beats or elapsed time. Toolbar buttons include Play / Stop, Rewind, Metronome Mute / Unmute and a new Panic button that mutes the output and kills any hanging MIDI notes.
- Please note: Proiects saved with Sessions 8.0 are not compatible with previous versions of the app
Session Mix is a new view that provides a bird’s eye view of your entire session. Your 12 Scenes are arranged in a grid with colourful, easy-to-see and easy-to-reach buttons. Designed to be simple and intuitive to use while playing live, Session Mix lets you control all 12 Scene output levels and seamlessly switch Scenes without any other distractions.
Sessions is the performance-oriented plug-in host that puts all your virtual instruments and effects at your fingertips. With powerful features and a streamlined workflow, musicians can enjoy ultimate freedom to explore, create, play and perform without a DAW.
Refreshingly straightforward, Sessions is designed to keep you ‘in the moment’ however you make music. Thanks to the fluid drag-and-drop interface and innovations like the Always-On Recorder, producers, songwriters and sound designers can quickly experiment with new ideas and jump-start the creative process.
For live players, Sessions has everything you need for an impromptu jam or a professional stage performance including MIDI layers and splits, flexible audio mixing, seamless sound switching, MIDI control, Ableton Link support and so much more…
Compatibility
- AUv2* and AUv3 instrument and effect plug-ins
- Mac / iPad compatible multi-channel audio interfaces
- MIDI keyboards and controllers
- MPE controllers and plug-ins
Mixer
- Unlimited Audio Input Channels for live audio sources
- Unlimited Instrument Channels for hosting instrument plug-ins
- Unlimited Auxiliary Channels
- 1 Master Output Channel per Scene
- Unlimited effect plug-ins on each Channel
- 8 sends per Channel, switchable pre / post fader
- Auxiliary Channels can be routed to independent external outputs
MIDI
- Layers and splits using MIDI device, channel, note and velocity
- Note transposition on each Instrument Channel
- MIDI CC control for switching Scenes and controlling Macros, Start/Stop and more
Plug-ins and Widgets
- Plug-ins are represented in the Mixer by Widgets
- Widgets can be customized with knobs, sliders and switches to control up to 12 plug-in parameters
- Over 30 beautiful Widget themes, many inspired by the classic hardware of yesteryear
- Flexible Mixer / Plug-in split screen options: auto-sized, fixed 50/50 or full width
- A plug-in’s own UI can be displayed in the main app window or in separate floating windows*
Scenes
- 12 Scenes, each with its own independent Mixer
- Seamless switching between Scenes
- Seamless layering using Pinned Scenes
- Session Mix view for ‘big-button’ Scene switching and pinning
- Customizable with color, icon and name
Macros
- 16 Macro Controls and 1 Big Knob per Scene
- Macros auto-map to the first 16 Widget parameters by default
- Macros can be configured to control multiple parameters, each with its own scale and range
Patches & Projects
- Save individual Channels and Scenes to the Patch Library
- Save the content of all 12 Scenes, Macros and the Beat Clock as a Project file
- Move Patches and Projects between Mac and iPad (third party plug-in availably may vary between platforms)
Recording
- The Always-On Recorder continuously records the last 5, 10 or 15 minutes
- Loop playback of recorded or selectable region
- Export recorded or selectable region as M4A or WAV
- Manual direct-to-file recorder for recordings of unlimited duration
Beat Clock
- Start / Stop, Tempo and Time Signature controls
- Internal, Ableton Link and external MIDI clock sources
- Metronome with selectable tick sound
Plugin-in Library
- Separate tabs for Instruments and Effects
- Independent Search and Favorites filter in each tab
- Organise Plug-ins alphabetically or grouped by manufacturer
- Hide unwanted plug-ins using the Plug-In Manager
and more…..
- Highly efficient multi-threaded audio engine
- CPU meter
- iPad background audio
- Bluetooth Audio / MIDI
- Keyboard shortcuts*
- Light and Dark modes
- Safe Start to help troubleshoot problematic plug-ins
- * – Feature only available on macOS
For more information on Sessions, click here:
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