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Cantabile
by Topten Software
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KVR Rank: 141 138 [30-Day: 181; 7-Day: 204; Yesterday: 534]
21 members are watching Cantabile for news
Product Cantabile
Developer Topten Software
Primary Type Live Performance Host
Price (MSRP) Free / $40 / $150
Plug-in Formats
Can Host
Instruments
VST
Can Host
Effects
VST
Operating System Availability
Operating
System
Latest
Version
Download Is it
Available?
WindowsWindows 64 / x64 2.0 Free DownloadReleased
Miscellaneous Information
Copy Protection Serial Number
Supported Sample Formats include MP3, WAV
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Cantabile

Cantabile is a powerful host for virtual instruments and effects with an emphasis on real-time performance and use in live performance situations.

  • Play: With Cantabile you can play VST instruments and process audio effects in real-time. Plug-ins can be connected in series to form racks and multiple racks can be run concurrently with each delivering a different sound or instrument. Racks can also be connected together to apply common effects to multiple instruments.
  • Perform: For live performance, Cantabile's sub-session support can be used to pre-configure sets of plug-ins and instantly switch between them by bypassing some and enabling others. Most settings can be controlled remotely using MIDI controller assignments and everything can be kept in sync with MIDI clock support.
  • Record: Cantabile's audio and MIDI recorders can be used for automatic or manual recording and support both optimistic recording where all recordings are kept unless specifically deleted, or pessimistic recording where recordings are automatically discarded unless flagged to be kept.
  • Design: For preset designers Cantabile includes a comprehensive set of tools including the ability to morph and randomize presets, "A-B" preset toggling, program bank organiser and shared program banks.

Cantabile is available in three editions:

  • Cantabile Lite: A free, simple to use, yet high performance host designed for use as a quick VST scratch pad, or for users just getting started.
  • Cantabile Solo: Intended for home hobbyists and casual users who need a more flexibility, including unlimited plug-ins and racks, preset morph and randomize tools, MIDI filters, MIDI controller assignments and session lists.
  • Cantabile Performer: Designed specifically with live performance in mind, Performer adds features like sub-sessions, partial sends, MIDI Clock, MIDI routing tables, triggers and large-font status panel.

Cantabile Performer Features: (Cantabile Solo and Cantabile Lite are a subset of this)

  • Low-latency real-time performance.
  • Unlimited racks and plug-ins.
  • Real-time audio processing.
  • Fast switching between configurations with sub-sessions - no waiting for plug-ins to load mid-performance.
  • Individually triggerable audio and MIDI clips.
  • Powerful MIDI routing and manipulation.
  • Control of all important settings (including VST parameters) with MIDI controller assignments.
  • Automatic and manual audio and MIDI recording.
  • Easy management an entire performance with session lists.
  • Send MIDI configuration to external devices on session/sub-session load with triggers.
  • Customizable large-font status display (transport position, current/next/previous song, etc.).
  • MIDI clock synchronisation (send and receive).
  • Partial sends - split off part of an audio signal and send to another rack.
  • Easy configuration of keyboard splits
  • Preset morph and randomize tools.
  • Preset management tools.
  • Multi-channel audio support.
  • Built-in metronome.
  • Multi-core support.
  • On-screen keyboard and controllers.
  • Offline renderer.
  • Easy to use Fluent user interface, drag/drop, clipboard and undo support.
  • Supports VST effects, instruments and MIDI plug-ins.
  • Support for 64-bit audio.
  • x86 and x64 versions available.

RSS FeedAll KVR Audio news items relating to Cantabile.

Topten Software updates Cantabile v2.0 to Build 2048 13th November 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile v2.0 to Build 2047 5th November 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile v2.0 to Build 2046 20th August 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile v2.0 to Build 2045 29th July 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile v2.0 to Build 2044 3rd July 2009
Synthogy updates Ivory to v1.72 (Win & Mac) and releases Ivory Cantabile for Windows 2nd July 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile v2.0 to Build 2043 23rd June 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile v2.0 to Build 2042 17th June 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile v2.0 to Build 2041 11th June 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v2.0 Build 2040 3rd June 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v2.0 Build 2039 26th May 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v2.0 Build 2037 15th May 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v2.0 Build 2036 28th April 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v2.0 Build 2033 22nd April 2009
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v2.0 Build 2032 14th April 2009
Topten Software releases Cantabile v2.0 6th April 2009
Topten Software releases Cantabile 2.0 Beta 12th November 2008
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v1.2 Build 1260 11th December 2007
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v1.2 build 1259 7th December 2007
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v1.2 Build 1258 4th December 2007
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v1.2 Build 1256 7th August 2007
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v1.2 Build 1255 13th June 2007
Topten Software updates Cantabile to v1.2 Build 1253 19th March 2007
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.2 build 1252 2nd March 2007
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.2 build 1249 26th January 2007
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.2 build 1247 beta 13th November 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.2 build 1243 beta (Lite and Full) 30th October 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.2 build 1240 beta (Lite and Full) 24th October 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.1 (build 1129) 30th June 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.1 (build 1128) 22nd June 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.1 (build 1127) 19th June 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.1 (build 1124) 5th June 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.1 (build 1123) 31st May 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.1 beta 16th May 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.0 build 114 12th April 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.0 build 113 10th April 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.0 24th March 2006
Cantabile v1.0 beta build 107 now available 20th March 2006
Cantabile v1.0 beta build 102 now available 10th March 2006
Topten Software releases Cantabile v1.0 beta 8th March 2006

User Reviews by KVR Members for Cantabile.

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR REVIEW

By TiUser
On 27th June 2009
Version: 2

Read all reviews by
TiUser


3 of 4 people found
this review helpful.

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helpful to you?
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Cantabile 2 is a stunning VST host with unparalleled, unique concept for live performance.

I was looking for a VST host that could not only host VST instruments and effects but works efficient, allows convenient, fast changes of your session setups and could integrate external gear I already had.

My search had an end when I discovered Cantabile. During beta phase of Cantabile 2 I realized Topten Softwares great support and open ear for user demands. It turned out quickly that Cantabile 2 would be the product I've been waiting for for a long time!

So what makes it so special and unique?

The audio engine is very efficient - it allowed me to get the lowest latencies from all products I've tried before. I could use Cantabile for side chaining VirusTI sounds through PC effects and back to it's audio interface the first time with latencies that I found playable!

The basic operation is easy to learn. The user interface offers a rack structure most musicians are familiar with. The point is, things do not end here. Under the hood of the elgant new user interface you find plenty of options - hardly lacking a solution for any fancy configuration idea you might have. Cantabile 2 offers the most stunning VST patch organizing system I've ever seen.

There are more midi manipulations filters than you might ever need, over a dozend... like 'button bank' or 'pitch based velocity ramp', just to name two more special ones...

Another outstanding feature is it's integrated recording. It's so simple that no musical idea you might have gets ever lost again... Cantabile 2 starts recording when you start to play and it finishes a clip when you stop playing for a while. You automatically get a list of audio clips just by doing nothing else than playing...

There is also a media player you can use for playback. Because you can have as many players as you want at the same time you can do a lot of things with this... like triggering and replaying sound snippets. Believe it or not, you can also record such a performance including your VST instruments playing at the same time!

Of course recording and media players work with midi too.


On top with the extended 'Performer' edition of Cantabile 2 you get even more.

One outstanding feature here is 'Sub-Sessions' - a kind of scene snapshots of your current session setup. Switching this is as fast as it can be, nearly instant. When you configure clever, you can even retain long sustain phases while you're stepping to the next sound. When you want to save processing time you can suspend plugins you don't need in a certain Subsession. Again there's much more under the hood - hard to quote all in such a user review...

The 'midi routing table' in 'Performer' edition allows you to seamlessly integrating midi gear you already have. It's like a built in midi matrix for your session.


To finish with:

Cantabile 2 is a tool to grow into... it's great for the beginner who wants to get started playing VST instruments - it hardly lacks anything a professional performer will need to play VST(i) as instruments. It works pretty stable and never lets you down!

My peronal conclusion: I love it - highly recommended - check it out!

KVR TiUser
 
Last edited by TiUser on 27th June 2009    Report
By grymmjack
On 16th May 2006
Version: 1.1

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grymmjack


11 of 11 people found
this review helpful.

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This is probably the coolest little host since MiniHost. It's very simple to use, and the manner in which it can record and playback using automatic filename generation is a great feature that turns cantabile into a cool little sketchpad. Because it works with both DirectSound and ASIO it can be used on a greater number of machines -- including notebooks that have proprietary drivers and wont work with ASIO4ALL etc.

I find myself constantly using cantabile to try out new banks, new instruments, and so on more and more. It records much nicer than MiniHost in that it senses when your input has stopped and after a predefined timespan will automatically stop recording.

I initially had problems with this on my notebook, and helped Brad to test the DirectSound fixes he implemented. The fixes now allow my notebook to work very well with cantabile and I have had no issues.

Plugin scanning is pretty good, better than other small hosts that I've used including MiniHost which is much less stable in my experience when scanning plugins.

The favorites and presets manager is pretty good too, but not as comprehensive yet as MiniHost for example where you can move presets from bank to bank and so on. Perhaps a future update? :)

What else to say? It works, it does all that it is supposed to do and it does it in obvious and reliable ways. If you are looking for a great scratchpad for ideas and want to perhaps record both the midi and audio data for later review, cantabile is the one to use. No other host can automatically record what you are doing AND name the files in such an intelligent and helpful manner.

It's free with no nag screens, so what are you waiting for, try it out and see for yourself!
 
Last edited by grymmjack on 16th May 2006    Report
Latest 2 reviews from a total of 2

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Products by Topten Software

Product: Cantabile
Developer: Topten Software
Type: Live Performance Host
Price: Free / $40 / $150
OS: Windowsx64
Formats: VST
Cantabile is a powerful host for virtual instruments and effects with an emphasis on real-time performance and use in live performance situations. Play: With Cantabile you can play VST instruments and process audio effects in real-time. Plug-ins can be connected in series to form racks and multiple racks can be run concurrently with each delivering a different sound or instrument. Racks can also be connected together to apply common effects to multiple instruments. Perform: For live performance, Cantabile's sub-session support can be used to pre-configure sets of plug-ins and instantly switch... [more]

 
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