Cakewalk^® Releases SONAR 5 Producer Edition™, the Definitive Audio Production Environment

—Featuring: True 64-bit end-to-end signal path on 32-bit and native x64 systems; Roland® V-Vocal™ VariPhrase vocal editing technology; Perfect Space™ Convolution Reverb; 5 new instruments: PSYN II, Pentagon I, Roland Groove Synth, SFZ SoundFont sampler, and RXP REX player groove box; integrated inline audio and MIDI editing; track templates; clip-based effects and editing with per-clip effects bin and clip-based effect automation; tempo-sync automation patterns; video output to 1394 Firewire devices; 32 bit version and native x64 Edition on one disc, and BitBridge™ enabling 32-bit VST effects and instruments to run in SONAR’s native x64 Edition environment; more—

New York City, AES 2005 (booth 826), (October 7, 2005) — Cakewalk, developer of the best-selling music and sound software for Windows, announces the release of SONAR 5 Producer Edition, the definitive Digital Audio Workstation for Windows. SONAR 5 shatters the limitations found in ordinary digital audio workstations by utilizing a true 64-bit end-to-end signal path on native x64 systems and 32-bit systems. SONAR 5’s 64-bit double precision floating point engine ensures a level of sonic integrity that is simply not possible with 32-bit floating point applications. In addition, SONAR 5 introduces groundbreaking advances in RAM and native processing power on Intel EM64T and AMD64 based systems running Windows XP x64 Edition.

Version 5 adds an inspired collection of responsive instruments and processors, workspace enhancements, Perfect Space™ Convolution Reverb, RXP REX Player groove box, seamless VST integration, and powerful editing tools including Roland® V-Vocal™ VariPhrase technology. And SONAR 5 not only provides tools for creative results, but integrates them in a cutting edge engineering and mixing environment.

“Our goal in developing SONAR 5 Producer Edition was to strike a perfect balance for both engineers and musicians, continuing Cakewalk’s reputation of providing feature rich products that retain their elegance in ease of use,” commented Greg Hendershott, Cakewalk Founder and CEO. “To satisfy the musician inside, we added a spectrum of creative technologies, workflow enhancements, and responsive instruments. And to give tracks the edge in production, we added powerful vocal editing technologies, a pristine convolution reverb, and groundbreaking sonic improvements like SONAR’s 64-bit double precision engine. With all these features and more, I feel confident that this release will exceed expectations, as it has mine.”

New features, workflow innovations, and enhancements include:

• Both native x64 edition and 32-bit versions ship on one disc
• True 64-bit end-to-end signal path
• Pristine 64-bit mix engine (accessible within 32-bit version)
• BitBridge™ enables 32-bit VST effects and instruments to run smoothly in SONAR’s 64-bit environment
• Roland® V-Vocal™ VariPhrase technology for exceptional audio stretching and pitch correction
• Perfect Space™ 64-bit Convolution Reverb
• PSYN II Subtractive synth; Pentagon I vintage analog synth; Roland Groove Synth; SFZ SoundFont sampler, and RXP REX player drum machine and groove box
• Integrated VST and VSTi support
• Integrated inline audio and MIDI editing, arranging, and mixing all in one view
• Bus and Synth Waveform Preview with per-track markers show the location and value of the maximum peak in each track and bus; overages indicated in red
• Envelope automation enhancements include tempo-sync patterns and freehand drawing
• Object-oriented clip-based effects and editing including per-clip effects bin, clip-based effect automation
• Updated MIDI FX plug-ins with enhanced functionality
• Track Templates for one-click recall of all track properties (mix, FX, busses, instruments, multi-track setups)
• Track Icons and Tabbed Edit views for quicker workflow
• Automatically remove DC offset during recording
• Advanced step recording
• Video output to 1394 Firewire devices for high quality viewing with lower CPU and disk usage
• 32-bit float file import, export, rendering
• Seamlessly mix 16, 24, 32 bit files per project
• More

New Standards in Digital Mixing

Double Precision — SONAR 5’s 64-bit double precision floating point engine utilizes a true 64-bit end-to-end signal path, delivering dramatic increases in dynamic range and audio fidelity —breaking through plug-in accuracy and summing bus limitations found in 32-bit floating point applications. This significant enhancement is not limited to the native x64 version of SONAR, and is easily accessible from the 32-bit version through a simple mouse click in the Audio/Options dialog.

BitBridge™ — a primary barrier to making the leap to the 64-bit environment has been the lack of plug-ins available. SONAR 5’s BitBridge™ sweeps aside any resistance by enabling the use of 32-bit VST effects and instruments in SONAR’s 64-bit environment. BitBridge technology extends the viability and use of your favorite VST plug-ins; ensures future compatible of freeware, even for the most obscure, independently developed shareware plug-ins.

Bus & Synth Waveform Preview — get priceless visual feedback while you mix, and before you mixdown. Quickly auto-locate and display the value of the maximum peak of each audio track, synth, or bus. Maximize output and prevent clipping by finding all the overs and peaks in your project before you mix. Also draw more precise automation on synth and track busses with visual references provided by the waveform preview.

Clip-Based Effects and Editing — Have you ever wanted an effect on just one clip? Audio and MIDI clips now contain full-featured effects bins, with unlimited number of audio and MIDI effects contained per clip, clip-based effect automation, automatic delay compensation; mix 16, 24, and 32 bit audio clips seamlessly in the same project; apply fades to selected audio clips, specify fade duration and curve type. In addition, the automation drawing tool has been enhanced for clear, efficient envelope viewing and editing through powerful tempo-sync’d pattern drawing, as well as freehand and random shapes.

Perfect Space™ Convolution Reverb — true full-resolution convolution stereo processing providing unheralded clarity in the accurate representation of the acoustic characteristics of any physical space or sound. The Perfect Space secret lies within its complete 64-bit double-precision processing of impulse responses at a latency as low as 64 samples (1.5ms at 44.1khz), yielding fast, responsive use with any input signal. Also features: non-destructive impulse editing, linear-phase EQ, SSE/SSE2 and 3DNOW optimizations, and over 300 impulse responses from professional hardware reverbs real spaces.

Native Power

SONAR 5 ships with both a 32-bit version and the first native 64-bit digital audio workstation on the Windows platform. On Intel EM64T and AMD64 based systems running Windows XP x64 Edition, SONAR 5 introduces 20-30% processing performance gains and ground-breaking advances in RAM allocation with access up to 128 GB of physical RAM.

Amazing Vocal Edits

Roland® V-Vocal™ VariPhrase Technology — integrated into SONAR 5, V-Vocal provides a powerful tool for the creation of perfect vocal tracks. The V-Vocal processor features intuitive controls for simple edits or the transformation of any vocal with automatic pitch correction; flexible phrase and dynamics adjustment; create harmonies, add vibrato, rephrase any audio region; and more.

New Responsive Instruments

SONAR 5 presents an arsenal of high quality instruments for the musician’s choice in expressive tools:

PSYN II — classic analog sounds and evocative new sounds through full-featured subtractive synthesis modeling. New for version 2: drive, delay, and modulation effects settings provide expanded sonic horizons.

Pentagon I — vintage analog synthesis, brings to life the analog realm of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Also includes a unique voice modulator for creative expansion and a library of classic keyboard sounds.

RXP — the new tempo-syncing drum machine and groove box that plays REX and SFZ loops, as well as single hits. RXP features hit and loop preview pads, built-in multimode filter and envelopes, drag-and-drop (drag REX files in/drag MIDI out). Includes over 275 megabytes of REX files across many genres.

SFZ SoundFont Sampler — outstanding sound quality is paramount in this multi-timbral sampler, featuring limitless sample-arranging capabilities, built-in effects, adjustable CPU/quality optimization settings for smooth operation with your hardware, with several load-in modes (including direct-from-disk streaming for SoundFonts). Also includes SoundFonts taken from the critically acclaimed Dimension Pro sound library.

Roland® GrooveSynth — featuring 100%-genuine Roland sounds from their genre-defining groove boxes and synthesizers. GrooveSynth includes over 400 instrument patches from these legendary synths: 101, 303, 505, 507, 606, 808, and 909.

SONAR 5 Workflow Enhancements

Integrated Inline Audio and MIDI — all audio and MIDI editing, arranging, and mixing are now in one view within SONAR 5, providing the ultimate in flexibility and workflow efficiency. Plug-ins and Edit Views can also be docked and tabbed right within the Track View.

Advanced MIDI Sequencing — SONAR 5 further refines the best MIDI sequencer available with the Piano Roll now inline within the Track View: edit, display and filter multiple MIDI notes and controllers simultaneously, use the built-in track toggles to auto-snap drawn notes to specified scales. Additionally, advanced step recording allows for the fluid entry of MIDI notes from a keyboard controller, into any MIDI view at any time.

Additional Key features:

• Track Folders with the ability to edit the Track Folder Composite Clip
• Enhanced comping and editing features including track layer display options, clip muting/isolating, audition selection, customizable nudge, multi-clip slip edits, roll-outs, and fades
• Freeze tracks, effects, and synths with the ability to edit and arrange frozen data
• Loop construction toolset includes slice-based, envelope control of gain, pitch, pan
• Professional Project File Management Tools: per project audio directories; consolidate project files for fast backup; search for associated files; Extended Key Binding settings including keystroke-emulating templates for Cubase SX, Nuendo, Pro Tools, Logic, Digital Performer, Samplitude, and other DAWs
• Multi-format surround mixing and editing with over 30 supported configurations (5.1, 7.1, LCRS, etc)
• SurroundBridge™—easily use stereo effects in a surround environment
• Video Thumbnail track with support for QuickTime, Windows Media Video, AVI, MPEG
• POW-r Dithering
• MPEX 3 Time Scaling
• TTS-1 DXi multitimbral GM2 synthesizer with authentic Roland sounds; Cyclone groove sampler; and DreamStation
• Lexicon Pantheon and Pantheon Surround Reverbs
• Sonitus:fx Suite (Compressor, Surround Compressor, Delay, Gate, Modulator, Parametric EQ, Phase, Reverb, Wah, Surround)
• More

SONAR 5 Studio Edition

Designed for project studios and aspiring professionals, Studio Edition is built upon the same core engine and feature set of SONAR 5 Producer Edition offering a complete solution for recording, arranging, editing, and mixing your audio productions—all in a tightly integrated workspace. NOTE: SONAR 5 Studio Edition does not have the following features found in SONAR 5 Producer Edition: Roland V-Vocal VariPhrase technology, PSYN II subtractive synth, Pentagon I analog synth, RXP drum machine, Perfect Space Convolution Reverb, Lexicon Surround Reverb, Sonitus Surround Compressor, Video Thumbnail track, POW-r Dithering, MPEX3 Time Stretching, per-channel EQ and assignable FX controls in the Console View.

Pricing and Availability

SONAR 5 Producer Edition has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $799 U.S., SONAR 5 Studio Edition is $479 U.S. (MSRP), and both are now shipping. Registered SONAR 4 Producer customers can upgrade to SONAR 5 Producer Edition directly through Cakewalk for $179; SONAR 4 Studio to SONAR 5 Studio Edition for $99. For more information, visit Cakewalk on the web at www.cakewalk.com; or call 617-423-9004.

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Founded in 1987 and based in Boston, MA, Cakewalk is an international, industry-leading provider of software for music and sound creation. The company's award-winning products are used worldwide by more than 1,000,000 users, for applications including audio CD production, film/TV soundtracks, live stage sound, club remixes, computer game sounds, multimedia applications, and Internet delivery. For more information, contact Cakewalk, 268 Summer Street, , Boston, MA 02210, (617) 423-9004, www.Cakewalk.com.

Cakewalk is a registered trademark and SONAR, Perfect Space, BitBridge, SurroundBridge, and the Cakewalk logo are trademarks of Twelve Tone Systems, Inc. QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., used under license. Lexicon Pantheon is a trademark of Lexicon Pro, a Harman International Company, ASIO and VST are trademarks of Yamaha Corporation. ReWire, REX, and Reason are trademarks of Propellerhead Software, AB. MPEX 3 Time Scaling technology licensed from Prosoniq Products Software, http://www.prosoniq.com. ACID is a registered Trademark of SONY Pictures Digital, Inc. Other trademarks mentioned are held by their respective owners.