Synful has announced the release of Synful Orchestra v2.4.0 Beta.

Changes:

• 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.