Open Planet Software have updated Sessions to Version 5, available for $19.99.
What’s new in version 7.0:
Sessions 7.0 introduces support for Plug-in Side-Chains,
- Many Plug-ins, such as vocoders and compressors, feature a Side Chair input which allows them to ‘listen’ to an audio signal to control some aspect of their internal behaviour.
- Sessions 7.0 adds a Side-Chain picker to the Plug-in Widget menu. From here, you can select which Channel Strip output you want to connect to the Side Chain input of the Plug-in.
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.
Session Mix also includes Pinned Scenes that enables you to activate and deactivate additional Scenes alongside the currently selected Scene. This opens the door to new possibilities such as always-on Scenes and delivers the flexibility to treat Scenes as layers that can be seamlessly blended in and out during a live performance.
Open Planet have also added new external MIDI mappings so you can pin / unpin Scenes and adjust individual Scene output levels from your MIDI controller.
Sessions 5.0 also includes the following new features and improvements:
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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