Sony Media Software has announced ACID Pro 6, a significant upgrade to its music creation and production application. This new release includes several major development enhancements to the recording and MIDI capabilities of the program, transforming version 6 into a full-featured professional digital audio and MIDI workstation.

ACID Pro 6 now provides users with a multitrack recording and MIDI sequencing environment. It has been re-engineered to perform faster and more efficiently not only on dual-core and multiprocessor systems, but also on single-CPU machines providing more efficient track buffering for higher performance at lower latencies. No longer simply a loop-based production tool, this application moves into the category of full-featured DAW's by combining the ACID music creation technologies and 24-bit/192kHz audio support with new MIDI editing and workflow capabilities.

New features:

• Multitrack Audio and MIDI Recording - Simultaneously record multiple tracks of audio and MIDI into the ACID timeline through a variety of methods, including step recording, punch in/out, continuous looping and more.
• Multiple Media Files per Track - Layout multiple media files per track, including one-shots, Beat-mapped events, loops and disk-based files with new automatic crossfade capabilities.
• Inline MIDI Editing - MIDI data can be manipulated directly on the ACID timeline, using either a piano roll or a drum grid interface. Edit all note position, velocity, pitch bend, and controller information using an easy, visual approach in the main multitrack interface.
• MIDI Filtering and Processing - ACID Pro 6 provides processing of MIDI data directly on the timeline, including quantization, swing, editing of velocity values, event duration changes, and more.
• VSTi Parameter Automation - Using automation envelopes, ACID Pro 6 provides increased mixing flexibility for VST instrument parameters.
• Drum Map Editing - The Drum Map Editor provides an intuitive way to create custom Drum Map templates, to make working in the Drum Grid even easier.
• Project Sections - ACID Pro 6 now provides for the creation of project sections that lets users more efficiently rearrange time-based segments of audio and MIDI events located across multiple tracks.
• External Control Surface Support - ACID Pro 6 allows for hands-on mixing using external hardware control surfaces. Control record, transport, envelopes, faders, mutes, solos, pans, and effects automation. ACID Pro 6 includes native support for the Mackie Control Universal, however the generic control interface option allows user-customizable mapping of up to five generic control surfaces.
• Record Input Monitoring - The new multitrack workflow provides users with the ability to monitor audio signals with real-time track effect DSP during recording sessions.

Additional ACID Pro 6 key features include:

• On-the-fly punch-in recording.
• Envelope automation recording.
• Track record meters.
• MIDI track envelopes for controllers.
• MIDI keyframes for patch changes and sysex messages.
• MIDI Quantize and Velocity filters.
• MIDI file import and export.
• Freehand envelope drawing on the timeline.
• Gracenote CD album identification.
• Dual/Multi-core processor support.
• Film-style panning mode for 5.1 surround projects.

ACID Pro 6 is expected to be available in March at an MSRP of $499.95.