Leapfrog Audio announces Rephrase

Leapfrog Audio have announced Rephrase, a powerful phrase editing virtual instrument. No longer do you have to think of audio tracks as fixed blocks. Using Rephrase your audio tracks become instruments in their own right. Edit them directly as MIDI in your host application, or even play them live via MIDI.

At the core of Rephrase is a high quality resynthesis engine. The engine is the result of over a year's research and development. It has been finely tuned to ensure sampler like quality is achieved, whilst allowing free control over pitch, time, volume, formant, partial tuning etc. The engine performs formant preservation, meaning audio files sound realistic, even when pitched up or down by a large amount.

Rephrase imports monophonic audio files and automatically splits them up into notes. Notes can be played back in-order, allowing changes to timing, pitch and volume of each note via MIDI.

MIDI export, including drag n drop functionality, allows the phrase to rapidly become part of your music. Phrases are exported in sync with your music, because of automatic tempo detection, and time stretch synchronization features. Harmonies can be easily created by sending MIDI on multiple channels.

Rephrase uses an advanced file caching, and navigation system to ensure the fastest possible workflow. CPU usage, memory usage and the phrase file format are all highly optimized to ensure a light load on your computer.

Additional features include: modulation - for creating vibrato and tremolo effects, spectrum based compression, a resonant LP/HP/BP filter and high quality reverb.

The Windows VSTi version of Rephrase is scheduled for release in early November, and will cost $199 USD / €159 EUR / £109 GBP. A Mac version will follow in early 2005.