Waveform 14 released.

[jabe]

Thought we should have a new thread for the release.

A couple more videos from YouTube:

Assistant


Multi-channel mode


And the Overview:

[Teksonik]

$89 to "upgrade" from WF Pro 13......

[Watchful]

Yeah, that's a no for me. Other than moving panels around and the AI assistant--which I can't see myself really ever using--I don't see what it adds.

Maybe if the upgrade drops to $40. But $89 is too much for some cosmetic changes.

Not critical of anyone who thinks otherwise. And I hollered pretty loud for ARA2. But this seems like a 13.7 to me.

[unholyeyebrows]

I have to agree the upgrade price seems a little steep. My upgrade to WF13 Pro in 2024 cost just over $50 with a discount code. Tracktion are probably justifying the WF14 upgrade price due in part to the bundled Biotek 3. However I bet I'm not the only one who already bought that when it was discounted to $40 a few weeks ago.

As for the public beta I think this was a welcome move by Tracktion and seems to have got some good user engagement (59 bugs logged at Github). However with 37 issues still open and unanswered today, and WF14 now shipping, I do feel like this was a little half-baked.

I also do not plan to upgrade right now but may do if there is a larger discount in the future. I think for new users WF14 Pro is still a reasonable deal so hopefully the user base might grow as a result.

[Kodokushi]

Unfortunately it's not available for Linux yet ...

The Homepage says "Coming soon", which imho is quite vague.

I tried then to make the Windows version work via the WINE Windows-compatibility layer on my Linux system.
I downloaded and installed the installer exe, but when i run it, it won't even let me enter my credentials.
So i'm stuck. Looks like my free 30 day trial ended before it even started ...

[jens]

However with 37 issues still open and unanswered today, and WF14 now shipping, I do feel like this was a little half-baked.

[aMUSEd]

Is it possible to remove the assistant tab yet?

I can't see much benefit for me from upgrading, the only features I liked were the slightly improved interface and more logical project management but I can live without those.

[skipscada]

I may have misunderstood, but the AI feature, which is presented as the main new feature, is only a kind of chatbot that's supposed to give guidance about existing features? And you need to pay an external AI provider to use it? And the results are probably a roll of the dice. I'm pretty sure it's a dead end that will quickly be abandoned or downplayed by Tracktion. I understand AI is something the developers feel they need to explore and build experience in, but making their existing customers pay real money for it is detrimental to customer relations.

Improved UI and project management could be a plus, but unless users report a wow-effect I'm not very interested. If the upgrade price drops significantly I'd probably pay up to support development.

[Granath]

I just tried to send a short looped MIDI pattern to my external synth in Waveform 14 and ended up with hanging notes. The note‑off clearly isn’t handled correctly at the loop boundary, even though the notes are snapped and non‑overlapping.
Waveform’s new built‑in AI then suggested “shortening the last note” as a workaround – exactly the kind of hack I last had to do on my Atari ST in the 1980s. This is what annoys me: sloppy core behaviour being glossed over with an AI feature.

[jabe]

I may have misunderstood, but the AI feature, which is presented as the main new feature, is only a kind of chatbot that's supposed to give guidance about existing features? And you need to pay an external AI provider to use it? And the results are probably a roll of the dice. I'm pretty sure it's a dead end that will quickly be abandoned or downplayed by Tracktion. I understand AI is something the developers feel they need to explore and build experience in, but making their existing customers pay real money for it is detrimental to customer relations.

Improved UI and project management could be a plus, but unless users report a wow-effect I'm not very interested. If the upgrade price drops significantly I'd probably pay up to support development.

There's a video of the Devs discussing the AI features. It'll give you a better idea. They're going to be adding more over time.

[fedexnman]

I'll probably upgrade when they do the next Sale . Love Tracktion/Waveform .

[sceyefeye]

I'll probably upgrade when they do the next Sale . Love Tracktion/Waveform .

Yeah - I have seen much better sales than this launch price. Am also a little wary with that many open bugs on GitHub

Though I am looking forward to see how they work on the bugs, and am half expecting a bug fix release sometime soon

[fedexnman]

I rarely upgrade a DAW when the new version comes out . I wait n see and get a sale kind of purchaser .

[talby]

Is it possible to remove the assistant tab yet?

Yes. Just deactivate the AI feature on the AI tab in the SETTINGS.
Waveform simply provides now a door to AI for those who are interested in walking through it, but it does not force it on nobody.

On YouTube someone even claimed the AI would now lurk in the background. Unbelievable what a fearmongering, obviously by that person without having understood at all what is actually provided.

[talby]

(...) Other than moving panels around and the AI assistant (...) I don't see what it adds (...)

It adds multi-channel support, i.e. surround sound like 5+1 and 7+1.
Waveform can now be used for professional film scoring!

It's a pity that this big feature upgrade isn't seen behind all the fog made about the now also available door to AI. By the way, STEM separation, which is welcomed by so many, that's an AI tool for years now present in WF. And the same like the option to not go through the new AI door to external AI service providers, the STEM separation could also be rejected by simply not installing the required STEM content package.

Noteworthy as well, there is now also a nicely updated manual available again, finally a manual worth for beginners to consult it. Users of older WF versions, i.e. WF13 and WF12, who still feel in need of a manual, will for sure also appreciate it - and have access to it without having to purchase W14 if I see it correctly. For instance, the audio hardware setup is now nicely explained, and all the parameters of the WF internal effects, and what the various internal instruments are good for. It also explains what it's all about the legacy stuff which can be activated in WF - but this is nothing which new users would have to care for, besides reading in the manual the new projects shall not use it.