MUTOOLS has upgraded MU.LAB, the sequencing application for Mac OS X and Windows, to version 4.

Next Generation Modular System:

• Simplified, more transparent and enriched modular architecture.
• New MuDrum module.
• New MuSynth VA synth module.
• New Super Modulator module.
• New Note To Modulation module.
• New Controller To Modulation module.
• New Aftertouch To Modulation module.
• New PitchBend To Modulation module.
• New Tanh Distortion module.
• New Constant Modulator.
• New Event Delay module.
• Many new inspiring patches, special thanks to AD.
• MUX and PolySynth now can have a variable number of inputs and outputs.
• MUX and PolySynth can also have modulation inputs. You can use a modulation input on the PolySynth to input global LFO which will be common to all voices.
• Oscillator, SamplePlayer, MultiSamplePlayer, NoiseGenerator: Volume parameter now uses a more relevant 'multiplied' modulation.
• Oscillator, SamplePlayer, MultiSamplePlayer: New Pitch parameter (replaces the Pitch Mod Depth).
• Oscillator, SamplePlayer, MultiSamplePlayer now have rich portamento features.
• Improved the oscillators' pitch modulation code resulting in even better sound.
• Oscillator now has 300. accurately selected and hi-quality waveforms. Thanks to adventurekid.se.
• Oscillators now have the option to start at fixed start phase from 0 to 359 degrees.
• MultiSample Player now has 4 outputs. Each MultiSample zone can be routed to 1 of these 4 outs.
• The Main Audio Input + Output modules (the one that stream from/to the audio device) can be used anywhere, in any modular level.
• Improved ADSR module:
  • Now using logarithmic slopes for a natural sound, other slopes possible too for broad sonic creativity.
  • Much higher envelope times possible.
  • More musical options.
  • Continued smooth sound on changing/automating the envelope times.
  • ADSR speeds are modulatable.
  • Velocity Sensitivity.
  • Includes a Process On/Off switch.
• Improved LFO module:
  • Many more waveforms.
  • Tempo Syncable.
  • Nicer User Interface.
  • Frequency and Amplitude is modulatable.
  • Includes a Process On/Off switch.
• Improved Audio Balancers 1->2 and 2->1:
  • Balance parameter is modulatable.
  • Now also have a crossfade curve.
  • Fine-tuned editors.
• Improved Wobble Generator:
  • Now also has a Process On/Off switch.
  • Fine-tuned parameter strings.
• Fine-tuned MM Filter resonance.
• Filter Mod Depth parameter has been removed, use mod cable Amplitude or Mod Mapper.
• Improved modulation cables now use a more relevant Amplitude + Offset properties instead of Min-Max values. Same for the Modulation Mapper module and the Wobble Generator.
• Besides the standard MIDI controllers, now also Aftertouch and Pitchbend can be used to MIDI control parameters.
• When mapping a MIDI controller to parameter 'None', all mappings for that controller are deleted. (within its context).
• Deep Editor now uses full featured meta-parameter editors on top.
• Meta-parameters now use similar auto naming as tracks etc: if no explicit user name, then an auto name is used.
• You can drag-drop parameters on a meta-parameter so to add/edit that mapping.
• Fine-tuned the GUI of many module editors.
• MUX Play Editor is much more customizable: You can drag-drop parameters and editor buttons onto it and move them around. Also support for group frames.
• New "Revert Preset" function for modules.
• All modules have a Open/Save Preset context function.
• Streamlined "Save As" for patches: Always using a file browser. File browser will open in the most relevant location.
• At many places you can choose the 'curve' for example when applying modulation to a parameter you can choose whether it should be applied linear - exponential - logarithmic -...
• Racks now have direct parameters to its Gain, Stereo Pan, Stereo Width and Mute.
• Racks now use plain knobs to control stereo pan and stereo width.
• Racks can open-save presets.
• Extended sample library.
• Optimized performance: MuLab 4 uses up to 35% less than MuLab 3.

Composer & Sequencing

• The "Part Targets" feature has been removed. This simplifies the concept without loosing anything essential. For it is still possible to set a separate MIDI channel per part. You can even use separate MIDI channels per event.
• Improved Track/Part MIDI channel management:
  • Tracks and parts now evaluate the target channel apart from the target module.
  • Sub-tracks can overwrite the MIDI channel of the main track.
  • Parts take the MIDI channel of the track, if any, else they can have their own MIDI channel.
  • Events take the MIDI channel of the sequence part, if any, else they can have their own MIDI channel.
• Composer has a + button with feature-rich Add New Instrument Track / Add New Audio Track / Add New Track options.
• Composer and Sequence Editor have an integrated grid panel.
• Extra preset grid: "MIDI Clock".
• New way for editing audio, sequence and envelope parts using floating windows.
• New way to draw parts and to indicate selected parts and unique/shared sequence parts.
• New: Envelope Parts.
• New Focused Target Module Panel always shows the module that is played by the MIDI keyboard.
• The Part Property Panel is moved below composer.
• Audio Parts now have a gain-pan-fadin-fadout play parameter.
• Sequence Parts now have a key+vel play parameter.
• Improved Mute/Solo behaviour for tracks.
• Fine-tuned context menu for track mute.
• Fine-tuned the algorithm to define the destination track when recording a new part.
• Greatly improved the Audio Recording Options panel.
• In the sequence editor, when moving the loop-end locator, you get a set of nice options how the new loop should be filled.
• When drawing line curves in the Event Graph Editor, now the used value resolution is 1024 instead of 128, but with a min of 10 ms between value.
• Improved the "Modify Time/Length/Value 1/Value 2/..." sequence functions.
• Fixed: "Thin Out" sequence function reported a wrong number of deleted events.
• Sequence functions sub-menu is more optimized to the context resulting in a cleaner, less bloated sub-menu.
• Sequence editor: When drawing new notes, they're monitored while you draw. (preferencable).

Extended Drag-Drop Features

• Reworked Drag-Drop sub-system opens many options. For example: Drag drop a module on a track = Set Track Target.
• You can drag-drop modules with [Ctrl] to copy them.
• Drag-drop module on the "+" track button = create new track for that module.
• You can drag-drop modules and parameters on (envelope) parts.
• You can drag-drop a module onto the Focused Target Module Panel to explicitly play that module from MIDI input.

Multi-Session

• Open and play multiple sessions at the same time.
• Cut-copy-paste and drag-drop parts and modules from one session to another.
• Undo/Redo works per session.

User Interface

• Racks and modules can now be colored. The colors are used by the tracks and parts targeting the module. This makes a visual link between the composition and the sounds/effects.
• Improved behaviour when doing "Reset Graphic Resources": Also all module editors now properly reset themselves.
• String valuators: double-click = select all, cfr standard behaviour in most software.
• When showing the source file path of audio files, relative and absolute paths are shown, if different.
• Tab key has been freed from hard-coded behaviour. So it's freely usable as a shortcut key. (Control + Tab still is reserved for stepping thru the open windows though).
• Right-click anywhere on a rack to popup the context menu.
• Knobs and sliders now step to more default values on Alt+click.
• Meta parameter editor: Minimum and Maximum values now use the effective parameter values.
• Modulation cable property panels are non-modal floating windows.
• Modulation cable property panels now use knobs with clear value displays.
• When selecting an output for a rack, all relevant inputs are shown, not only racks and output interfaces.
• You can directly drop a.Mux file onto a rack slot.
• Alert popups: You can use the first char of the options. But as "Cancel" can be done by by [Esc], it will not eat the [C] from any other option starting with a C. (and so "Close Without Save" can be done via [C] ;)).
• Improved shortcut handling.
• The Session Modular Area window includes the session name.
• Improved font system.
• Font icons better match the accompanying text and color.
• Rack slots also show the module icon.
• Individual rack slots can get the GUI focus and this can process shortcuts.
• Optimized and beautified module editors.
• FolderBrowser shows big icons.
• More skinning options for the audio level meter.
• Fine-tuned editing of musical positions in bars.beats.ticks, frames, seconds,...
• Fine-tuned editing of parameter values.
• Right-click Play button -> "Panic" function for quick access when needed. As a note: The Panic function is also shortcuttable of course.
• Clicking Play while the audio engine is not running now gives a friendly alert with the option to go to the Audio Setup.
• [Alt]-click on slots, modules or cables = toggle mute.
• When loading a patch, sample or waveform from outside the library, you can now simply step to the previous/next patch, sample or waveform in that folder.
• Oscillators: You can drag-drop a wave file onto the display.
• When activating a synth editor, then the MIDI focus also is auto switched to this synth.
• VST plug-in manager: multi selection possible => easier grouping.

Others

• Imports MP3 files as samples.
• "Save Session As" now uses a new method: MuSessions are saved in a separate folder so that the Audio subfolder becomes more private per session. This will make it more easy to bundle a MuSession into a zip.
• New options to to manage the audio/sample files within the session's audio folder.
• Rack Sends popup menu now also include 'Copy As Parameter Event'.
• Improved VST engine.
• Tuned new VST naming algorithm: MuLab prefers to use the VST patch name rather than the VST plug-in name, if relevant.
• MuLab now supports opening sessions via the command line.
• Fixed: When saving a session in some parent folder of the library folder, then there could be a file reference problem when loading the session on another system.
• New "Save As 'New' Session" function.
• Inline Sample Browser: You can step thru the samples in a folder while the music is playing and using the selected sample. For example: choose a snare drum sample while the drum pattern is playing it.
• New type session menu.
• New MidiSetup preference "MidiOutputMicroTimeCompensation".
• Fixed: When your computer was up and running for many days without restart, then there could be some practical problems.
• Fixed: Possible denormalizations bug.
• Fine-tuned management of sequenced sustain pedal events.
• And many many other micro improvements, too many and too detailed to list them all.

Pricing & Availability

MU.LAB 4 comes in 3 versions: MU.LAB FREE, MU.LAB XT (€25) and MU.LAB UL (€75). See here for differences.

Customers purchasing MU.LAB UL before January 15, 2012, will receive a free upgrade to MU.LAB 5 (expected Q2 2012).