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Synthesizer maker Oberheim has announced a free v2.0 software update for their OB-X8 polysynth.

Synthesis enhancements take center stage in the OB-X8 OS v2.0 update, broadening the instrument’s sound palette with the ability to select simultaneous wave shapes in each oscillator for more complex timbral variations. Along with the OB-X8’s six iconic filter modes from the SEM, OB-X, OB-Xa, and OB-X8, a new 4-Pole low-pass filter type has been added that provides fuller, richer bass tones at higher resonance than ever before in an Oberheim synth. For sound designers seeking more dynamic soundscapes, independent LFO modulation per VCO level enables greater control over fluidly mixing waveform textures.

On top of that, the arpeggiator’s clock sync, with its selectable note division values, empowers musicians with expanded rhythmic control. Immersive stereo imaging is a snap to produce with the OB-X8’s intuitive new binaural mode.

Create more layered sound combinations with the expanded Split and Double memory locations. Unleash 32-voice sonic epics through polychain, which allows seamless connection and control of multiple instruments.

And finally, nuanced and expressive performances come alive with the introduction of MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) support-a multi-channel MIDI extension offering finer and more natural performance articulations per note.

“At Oberheim, we have always worked hard at finding clever ways to bring more useful features to our instruments,” says Tom Oberheim. “It’s unusual to add a new filter type and oscillator waveshapes to an analog synth via a software update, but our team is sharp and tenacious – always striving to bring genuine value to the discerning musicians who love our instruments.”

OB-X8 OS 2.0 Features:

• Instant binaural mode pans individual voices hard left and right for true stereo operation
• Simultaneously selectable waveshapes for each oscillator extends timbral variety
• New 4-Pole low pass filter type with fuller bass at high resonance
• New VCO 1 and 2 level LFO modulation destinations for independent timbral mixing
• Arpeggiator clock sync now has selectable note division values for expanded rhythmic control
• Twice the Split and Double memory locations, including program storage directly in the new banks for 512 more stored sounds
• Separate MIDI channels for lower/upper split bi-timbral operation
• Poly chain for up to 32 voices with 4 connected instruments
• MPE for new levels of expressiveness

The OB-X8 v.2.0 firmware update is available now, and free to OB-X8 owners. For more information about the OB-X8, and about the update, visit the Oberheim website.

Ableton Live 12.1 also features improved MIDI editing, automatic sample tagging and updated Limiter and Saturator devices, and puts real-time pitch correction within reach for anyone working with vocals.
Ableton has announced the latest update for the Live DAW. Ableton Live 12.1 is now in public beta. This free update for Ableton’s music performance and production software comes with significant additions like Auto Shift, a new real-time pitch correction device, Drum Sampler, a one-shot sampler for drums and more, and improvements to all editions of Live, including Live Lite, plus Push.

Live 12.1 introduces auto-tagging, making it easier to find the right sound in your user library. New tags are automatically assigned to all samples in the library less than a minute long, as well as to VST3 and AU plugins.

Auto Shift, Live’s new pitch correction and harmonization device, enables you manipulate and extract harmonies from vocals in real time. Choose a scale for Auto Shift to follow, and play and make harmonies from any monophonic signal with the dedicated sidechain.

Drum Sampler, Live’s new compact sample player is designed to be used in Drum Rack, enables you tweak and enhance drum sounds on the fly. Limiter and Saturator have been redesigned, and the MIDI Editor now allows you to filter and select notes by time, pitch, or a number of other criteria. Two new MPE-specific MIDI Transformations – Glissando and LFO – let you create curves for the MPE parameters of selected notes.

Auto-tagging for all your samples. You can now search your entire user library faster with filters – and there’s no need to tag the samples yourself. Live 12.1 automatically assigns new tags to any sample in your library less than a minute long. VST3 plugins will also be assigned tags based on metadata.

Live’s Limiter and Saturator devices have both received an overhaul, while the MIDI Editor benefits from an improved workflow that’ll let you search for and select notes using various filters.

Limiter gets a complete overhaul – with a smoother release curve making for less distortion, better metering with the improved UI, and the addition of Mid/Side routing, True Peak, Soft Clip, and Maximize modes.

Along with a more focused front panel, Saturator sees the addition of a Bass Shaper curve ideal for low end processing. Drive 808 kicks and sub basses as hard as you like and let Saturator keep the frequencies in check.

MIDI improvements. You can now filter and select MIDI notes by time, pitch, velocity, chance, duration or by a number of other dimensions using a new toolbar in the MIDI Editor. 12.1 also introduces two new MPE-specific MIDI Transformations – Glissando and LFO – allowing you to create curves for the MPE parameters of selected notes.

Ableton Live 12.1 and Push. Live 12.1 comes with a host of updates to Push. With Push 2 and 3 you can now design sounds with more detail and control by mapping Macros, and experiment with a range of different sounds using Macro Variations. Push 3 now also lets you add groove instantly to all the MIDI clips in your Set with a single twist of an encoder.

The new update also brings Live 12’s filtering system to the browser on Push 2 and 3, as well as auto-tagging for samples on Push 3 standalone. Plus, you can now save Default Sets and Template Sets on Push 2 and 3, and organize your Sets by moving tracks and scenes.

For a full list of what’s new, check out the release notes.

If you own a Live 12 license, you can join the beta program to test Live 12.1.

Once the beta testing period is over, Ableton Live 12.1 will be free for all owners of a Live 12 license. Ableton Live 12 is available for purchase from Ableton.com and, in some countries, through local retailers.   

Ableton Live 12 costs €79 / $99 / £69 for Intro, €279 / $439 / £259 for Standard and €599 / $749 / £539 for Suite. Owners of previous versions of Live can log in to their accounts to check upgrade pricing.

Ableton Push is also available through Ableton.com. Push costs $999 / €949 / £879, and Push (standalone version) costs $1999 / €1899 / £1669.   Upgrade Kits are also now available and cost $1049 / €999 / £879.

K-Devices, developer of creative music tools, has released DRIV, a new Max For Live MIDI device. DRIV is a complex sequencer designed to expand a single monophonic pattern up to four melodic lines that can intercept one other across a vast number of combinations.

Starting from a monophonic single pattern, DRIV can generate counterpoint sequences spanning across a wide range of sonic realms. Voices’ playhead can easily be offset and constrained to only include snippets of the main idea, their content can be transposed, fine tuned and even randomized, their progression twisted using phase distortion tools.

All of these tools can lead users to experiment beyond grid and traditional time signatures, and DRIV can also tidy up everything in the sequence (for instance by resetting the playheads phases all together via hard sync, or by thinning out excessive notes via voices’ individual chance percentage).

DRIV’s routing capabilities are also a handy feature when it comes to spread the same idea across different instruments (and even hardware gears) and twist it accordingly.

DRIV requires Ableton Live version 11 or 12, and runs via MacOS or Windows.

Regularly priced at €49, DRIV is available now at the introductory price of €29 until July 21 via the K-Devices website.