There are a couple of improvements and new features in this update.
Preset handling
The preset handling is still the same slightly odd system:
- Click the randomize name button until you get a name you like.
- Press save.
There is still no way to manually type a preset name inside the plugin.
But there are a few improvements:
- If you click Save while ------ (Init Patch) is active, the plugin now automatically randomizes a name and saves the patch.
- If you click the name display, the preset browser opens.
The preset browser gives a much nicer overview of your patches.
You now have these filters:
- All
- Factory
- User
- Starting Points
- Favorites
That makes it much easier to focus on just the presets that are relevant.
You can also star-mark presets as favorites.
In the top right of the browser there is a button called: Edit patch names and delete patches in the folder...
That button simply opens the preset folder in your file manager. Since preset names are taken from the file names, this makes it quick to rename or delete patches outside the plugin.
Next to it there is a refresh button. That is there in case you rename or delete files during a session and want the browser to reload the folder and reflect the latest changes.
If you got the 1.0.0 for Mac at release day, your presets might be in the documents folder and not show up. If so, just drag them to the folder opened by the button and click the refresh button and they should be back.
Selecting a preset, or just clicking outside the browser, closes the preset browser automatically. For the closing on selecting a new patch, I am not sure that is the preferred behavior as I can see a good case to keep it open as well. So that might change in a future release.
Soloing of oscillator slots
When working on a patch, it can be useful to hear just one slot at a time.
Since there are 8 slots, it can be tedious to turn all the others off one by one, so you can now solo a slot with cmd/ctrl-click.
Solo only affects notes played after it is activated. Notes that are already held will continue following the sequence and trajectory they already had.
A soloed slot is shown with a white outline.
Solo is not saved with the patch and is cleared when you change preset, as I see it more as a workflow feature than a patch feature. Feel free to email me if you want to convince me otherwise. ;)
This was a user suggestion, so thanks a lot for that.
While adding this, I also made it possible to activate or deactivate slots with a single shift-click, in addition to the old double-click behavior.
Smoother note starts
The synth had a tendency toward clicky note starts, especially in unison.
I have tightened up the voice handoff / retrigger behavior and some slot reset handling, so note starts should feel smoother now.
Small quality-of-life fixes
There have also been a few smaller fixes in this update, including smoothing on the filter wet control and some general behavior cleanup.
Windows UI handling improvements
There has also been some work on UI handling on Windows, especially for longer sessions and for freeing up resources more intelligently when the plugin is idle.
Some duplicate cache buildup has also been reduced.
This work was based on recurring feedback from a very patient user, so thanks a lot for that too.
Grab the latest version 1.0.3 from your account page:
https://www.unusable.net/account/
I still have a backlog of enhancements and features I want to explore, so there is more to come later.
So, what is on the roadmap...
There will not be any work on new products for the coming month or two.
I have a backlog of improvements, optimizations, and features for most of the plugins that I would like to get done, and I would also like to spend more time in the studio with the full plugin catalogue and actually make some music, at least a few hours every week.
I will also try to be a decent husband and father and join my family on vacation from July 13th to the beginning of August.
I will of course have a Mac and a PC with me, so I can still do fixes and push updates if needed. But my response rate will likely be much slower than it is at the moment.
On a more personal note
Thanks for the support and the communication.
One of the biggest pleasures so far has been hearing what you use my products for, and the sounds you get out of them.
So please do not be shy. Keep sending me that stuff.
All the best,
Rasmus Nyåker