Waveform 14 Public Beta

[edrickblade]

beta-app-screenshot.webp

Tracktion is pleased to announce Waveform 14 will be entering a public beta phase before a full launch soon. If you wish to help us put the final polish on 14 and get an early look at what features it includes,

Beta warning
Please note that this version of Waveform 14 is classified as beta software. As such, features may change or be removed and there may be bugs. Please don't use it on any existing projects or work you will come to rely on.

Reporting bugs

If you wish to report bugs, we have a GitHub repository where you can do so: https://github.com/Tracktion/waveform_public_beta. Please sign up to GitHub if you don't already have an account and then email waveform14beta@tracktion.com with your username to be added. You will find notes on the main page of the repository for reporting issues.

Significant changes since 13

One very important change in 14 is a new Project type. In order to simplify Waveform projects and make them more easily achievable and movable between folders/computers, there is no longer a ".tracktion" project file associated with a project, any folder containing ".tracktionedit" files can be considered a Project by Waveform. The Edit files themselves will contain relative paths to source audio files.

When you open an Edit from a previous version, Waveform will ask you if you want to convert that project to the new format. Please only do this on test projects for now.

You will see new format (folder based) projects with a white icon in the Projects list, old format projects will be shown with a yellow/orange icon.

This change also greatly simplifies the Archive process in that it just copies any files external to the project folder into the project folder (a process called "consolidation") and then creates a zip folder containing the files for that project. This does away with the old ".trkarch" files. You can then import these zip archives back into Waveform 14 or unzip them manually and open the Edit files it contains in Waveform 14.

Like all major Waveform releases, Edits saved in Waveform 14 are not openable by previous versions of Waveform.

Features
This is a brief overview of the features Waveform 14 contains. It's not an exhaustive list and there will be improved documentation and learning materials being created whilst the beta period is ongoing which will be ready for the full launch.

AI

• A new AI assistant in the browser side panel focused on deep integration to assist you with your music making, not do it for you

• No additional subscriptions, BYOK pay as you go with the model of your choice (OpenAI and Anthropic support initially)

• LLM driven help assistant

• Can answer functionality questions referencing the user manual
  "Tell me about step clips"

• Can help with music production knowledge
  "My vocals sound muddy - how should I EQ them?"

• Can help with music composition knowledge
  "Can you help me improve this arrangement?"
  "What should I add to this session to make it more interesting?"

• Can generate MIDI sequences
  "Generate me 4 bar melody, bass and chord sequences for this track"

• Can read existing MIDI clips and generate accompaniments, for the same and different instruments
  "Create a bass line and drum sequence to go with this melody"

• Can generate Javascript shortcuts using the existing API which can be run directly from the assistant panel or saved for future use
  "Create me a script to rename all the clips on each track to the track name"

• Has memory to retain information about you and your tastes
  "Make a memory that I like jungle D&B"

• Can create custom slash commands to quickly run features with arguments
  "/generate_midi 4 bar EDM synth lead"

• Can create "Skills" which contain detailed custom information for future tasks

You asked, we listened (features added as a direct response to user feedback)


Multi-channel/surround

*Configurable multi-channel audio output device busses

*Configurable multi-channel audio input device busses

*Record multi-channel audio files

*Import and play back multi-channel audio files

*Multi-channel mix bus for multi-channel plugin support

*Multi-channel Racks

*Support for multi-channel panner plugins and output format generators (Eg. Fiedler Audio)

ARA2

*Added support for any ARA compatible plugin as a time-stretch mode

*Global and chord track now passed to ARA plugins

*Looping of clips now supported

*Note previews of ARA content now show on clips

*Copy/paste of ARA clips now correctly supported

UI

*Refreshed user interface

*Improved colour scheme

*All 18 colours now user-definable

*Removed cluttered lower properties panel and moved functionality in to the Actions panel

*Integrated title bar

*New menu bar (native on macOS)

*New clip detail editors

*New track icons and browser

*New font

*Refreshed and more consistent icons

*More responsive UI

Other

*Simplified project management (no more .tracktion project files)

*Improved project archiving

*DAWproject import/export

*Improved translations

To Signup for BETA go to:
https://www.tracktion.com/signup/w14beta?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=w14beta-042226
At the end of page is the "Waveform 14 Public Beta Signup"

[unholyeyebrows]

Just installed the beta. Already liking the new UI.

[citrusui]

Quickly tried out v14 beta on Windows, quickly uninstalled;

1. I will never be interested in AI features. Let me hide it and disable it. Assistant takes up wasted space in the panel if you don't use it. Let me disable it all. For me, this makes the update an immediate non-starter.
2. There is no way to dock the actions panel to the bottom of the screen. Yet another non-starter. Apologies if this is somehow a setting I missed.
3. Legibility has decreased greatly, for example the Settings panel lacks borders around many buttons/switches.
4. Settings > Plugin panel has the list of plugins in a smaller box... for what reason? There was nothing wrong with the old layout.
5. I realize project migration is necessary for 14, but please DO NOT rename the existing project to XYZ (Original). I expect that all my original project archives are NEVER edited if I choose to upgrade. Even if that edit is a slight adjustment to the project name, that breaks the user's expectations.
6. The constant thin white border around the app is distracting. Is there a setting to disable this?

[good/ok]
7. Performance has not decreased, thankfully... unless you count the workflow changes as decreased performance, well...
8. The new color scheme is acceptable. Not my first choice but still usable.

I will probably be sticking with 13.5 for the long-term. I don't expect any big changes as a result of my feedback but I would appreciate real actions that show a commitment to listening to users. Thank you.

[unholyeyebrows]

Does anyone know how to get the AI assistant to work? I'm on Ubuntu 25.10 with WF14 beta. I have selected OpenAI in the WF settings and added my API key (I have a free account with OpenAI if this is relevant). When I then click on the Assistant tab it is just a white panel with nothing on it (see attached screenshot). If I've got this configured correctly I'll raise a bug on Github.

[unholyeyebrows]

Does anyone know how to get the AI assistant to work?

Looks like a Linux specific bug as I can get a prompt on my Mac using the same method. Will file a bug.

[mikoatkvr]

The developers are aware of the blank screen of the AI Assistant on Linux. I'm sure a fix will be rolled out soon enough, just hold tight guys

Still feel free to open an Issue on github though as the more complaints received might push it up the priority ladder a bit .

If someone has already opened an 'issue' make sure to add a comment to this ticket and not open up a new issue ( will keep things all in the 1 place where they get noticed easier ) saying something like ' I can reproduce this issue ' or similar and maybe add your linux OS version, observations and specs if applicable.

[SMSomething]

I'm old, I'm 'that' guy...

"AI
A new AI assistant in the browser side panel focused on deep integration to assist you with your music making, not do it for you"

Aaaaaannnnnd, I'm out. I'm happily digging my heels in with 13.3.5

[dysjoint]

I'm old, I'm 'that' guy...

"AI
A new AI assistant in the browser side panel focused on deep integration to assist you with your music making, not do it for you"

Aaaaaannnnnd, I'm out. I'm happily digging my heels in with 13.3.5

I'm old too, and this is the best feature by far, if it works. I'd far rather have an AI spit out a macro than spend a couple of hours of trial and error trying to write one myself. Same with coming up with solutions to any issues that arise. More time to focus on music.

[sceyefeye]

Installed this evening. Loving the UI - definitely preferring the brighter colours

Been on Waveform Free for a few months, so a lot that I am not used to. Is the output channel non a new thing or a pro thing? Been looking for that in 13 Free for a while now

[SMSomething]

I'm old, I'm 'that' guy...

"AI
A new AI assistant in the browser side panel focused on deep integration to assist you with your music making, not do it for you"

Aaaaaannnnnd, I'm out. I'm happily digging my heels in with 13.3.5

I'm old too, and this is the best feature by far, if it works. I'd far rather have an AI spit out a macro than spend a couple of hours of trial and error trying to write one myself. Same with coming up with solutions to any issues that arise. More time to focus on music.

/me puts fingers in ears, shakes head... "lalalalala" I can't hear you (or read).

Just kidding.

My music PC is offline for good (almost). It's win10 and I'm too stubborn to upgrade.

This is a hobby for me, if it was about business and livelihood I'd try to keep up with the trends.

[pdk_]

Its a nice update. Yeah, I would also prefer if the devs improved something else, and not focus on AI. ARA2 is great. The control panel change made me a little sad. This was the reason I loved Tracktion. Now it feels like any other daw. Anyway, its not my main daw. Some things are still weird for me to use it as my main. But its getting there with every release.

[Watchful]

I'd far rather have an AI spit out a macro than spend a couple of hours of trial and error trying to write one myself.

*IF* the Waveform AI can do that, that would be a big deal. There are a lot of things I would like to automate, but I'm not good at macro writing anymore.

[Paree]

is CLAP support in the roadmap? is it a JUCE thing?

[unholyeyebrows]

is CLAP support in the roadmap? is it a JUCE thing?

+1 for CLAP support. Long overdue.

[pough]

Is the output channel non a new thing or a pro thing?

The what?