New Gear Alert: Pro Tools 2019, Arturia’s MicroFreak, Bitwig Studio 3 Beta & More.

Avid announces immediate availability of Pro Tools 2019.

Pro Tools 2019 is here, boasting higher track counts, enhanced playback features, complimentary cloud storage, and more.

The latest version of Pro Tools boosts power and performance for every level of user—from professional music creators and aspiring artists to top-echelon audio post professionals and engineers—enabling them to work faster and more creatively on the most complex projects.

For users working in high track-count environments, such as audio post production, Pro Tools | Ultimate delivers 50 percent more voices/audio tracks than previous versions. In addition to this base voice limit increase to 384, Pro Tools | Ultimate software and HD Native customers will be able to further increase the number of available voices up to 768 per system—on par with a three-card Pro Tools | HDX system—with the addition of native Pro Tools | Ultimate Voice Packs.

Additionally, this release of Pro Tools has enhanced playback features that enable more fluid creativity in the software. You can perform seamless track and timeline interactions during playback—inserting plugins, adding or deleting tracks, changing routing, adjusting loop duration, and more.

Pro Tools | First users can now create and save an unlimited number of projects locally. You can selectively sync up to three projects to your complimentary cloud storage for easy access anytime, anywhere.

For facilities and institutions, Avid also announced the immediate availability of Pro Tools Multiseat Network Site Licensing. Multiseat licensing enables easy administration of multiple Pro Tools seats from a single account and local server, eliminating the need for a multitude of physical iLok dongles and cumbersome site management.

For information on pricing and a full list of Pro Tools 2019.5 features—including support for macOS Mojave—click here.

Arturia announces the MicroFreak is now available.

Arturia debuts their new hybrid synthesizer, MicroFreak, featuring 12 oscillator types and a host of other features to fuel creativity.

MicroFreak is an experimental hybrid synthesizer that features a multi-mode digital oscillator, analog state-variable filter, patch matrix, a unique poly-aftertouch flat keyboard, sequencers, arpeggiator, and a host of connectivity options.

The multiple modes of MicroFreak’s digital oscillator can be easily switched and directly controlled with the 4 dedicated knobs in the Digital Oscillator section. The Type knob switches between the engines, while the Wave, Timbre, and Shape controls let you refine the oscillator to suit your taste.

MicroFreak currently contains 12 oscillator types, but Arturia has left room for more to be added in the future.

Check out an introductory video to MicroFreak here.

MicroFreak is available to purchase at any authorized Arturia dealer, priced at $349 / €299.

Bitwig announces Studio 3 Beta is here.

Centered around “The Grid,” Bitwig Studio 3 is now in beta, offering scores of improvements and added functionality.

Initially announced in January, “The Grid” is a modular sound design environment built into two new devices: Poly Grid and FX Grid. These Grid devices work in the same way while allowing for different configurations.

If you want to build a polyphonic synth, start with Poly Grid. If you need an adaptive audio effect with your sound, FX Grid will chew up incoming audio, either gently or otherwise. For cascading drones, either device can be a great workbench since both can handle incoming notes and audio, and are equipped with Bitwig’s unique Voice Stacking for dynamic layering. And when your idea morphs, just convert what you’ve started to the other device.

Sporting 140+ Grid modules and a supersonic patching workflow, The Grid is a truly modern modular patching environment that lives within its family of new devices, ideal for designing sounds and harnessing synthesis.

And while The Grid is the focus of Bitwig Studio 3, other new features—including an optional realtime ruler when you need to plan in minutes or hours, signal meters within each input chooser for seeing the signal you are looking for, and general display and style improvements to aid common workflows—are already in the public beta.

Bitwig Studio 3 Beta is currently available to try, with an expected release in Q2 2019. It is a free upgrade for all Bitwig Studio customers with an active Upgrade Plan.

Waves introduces the Submarine subharmonic generator plugin.

Waves implements their Organic ReSynthesis technology into the new Submarine subharmonic generator plugin.

Submarine is a two-octave subharmonic generator plugin that adds bigger, deeper sub bass to your tracks, with unprecedented clarity and low-end accuracy. Powered by Waves’ Organic ReSynthesis technology, Submarine’s two subharmonic generators deliver well-balanced subsonic results on any large sound system.

Submarine’s two sub generators process your source—kicks, bass, even full busy mixdowns—and cleanly add new subharmonic frequencies up to a full two octaves below the precise frequency range you’ve selected. The plugin’s Organic ReSynthesis engine strips the original signal down to its core elements—carrier, pitch, formant, and envelope—processes them individually, and then reconstructs the audio to create brand new sub frequencies which retain the exact pitch and time of the original signal. The result is deep subharmonic content that is clean and musical, and naturally blends with your source.

The plugin’s Range slider lets you zero in on the exact frequencies from which you want to generate your sub sounds, anywhere between 20–240 Hz. Use the Drive control to saturate the added subs and easily glue them into the rest of the mix. Use the Dynamics knob to go from short transient sub sounds, to heavier compression for longer sustained sub notes.

Submarine is on sale now for $29 (reg. $79).

Propellerhead releases Rigs 4 for Reason.

Propellerhead expands Rigs for Reason with version 4, featuring new presets, Rack Extensions, and more.

The Rigs 4 series offers three custom-curated bundles with popular new Rack Extensions, hundreds of presets, and hours of tutorials.

Backline Rig 4 delivers an ensemble of realistic-sounding organic instruments, including drums, guitar, keyboards, and more. Synthetic Rig 4 offers a powerful collection of versatile synths and signal processors. Explore a massive collection of legendary studio-grade effects with Mix & Mastering Rig 4.

Each bundle in the Rigs series offers a collection of 30 hand-selected products made by leading developers such as Propellerhead, ProjectSAM, Softube, Expanse, Robotic Bean AB, Red Rock Sound, Selig, and more.

Each Rig comes with three hours of tutorials from the industry professionals at AskVideo to help you get the most out of your new Rack Extensions, as well as hundreds of presets from top sound designers and pro mix engineers to jumpstart your creativity.

Check out an introductory video to Rigs 4 here.

Save over $1,550 on Rack Extensions and ReFills for a special price of $299 each, or upgrade your previous bundle for $79.

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