Kairatune update 1.2.3

Kairatune has been updated to version 1.2.3.

  • Kairatune can now be played with the computer keyboard on Windows without freezing Ableton Live
  • Kairatune VST instrument’s parameters can now be assigned and edited in Ableton Live
  • Kairatune will now show up in Ableton Live on 64-bit Windows
  • Fixed a bug that may have caused Kairatune’s parameters to behave erratic on some hosts

Thanks for all who have helped on testing!

Cotracks feature requests

This is the current list of most wanted features for Cotracks.

Sequencer

  • step sequencer / event editor
  • overdub recording
  • record until manual stop
  • swing / groove quantize
  • triplet repeater

Controller

  • full 12 keys
  • adjustable keys / ribbon range
  • more scales
  • user defined scales
  • arpeggiator
  • chord generator

Instruments

  • sample import
  • adjustable sample start / end point

MIDI

  • input from external devices and other apps
  • output to external devices and other apps

Session

  • centralized mixer for all units
  • tap tempo
  • landscape orientation in solo mode

Please see the up to date list on our support forum.

Repeater – How to


The repeater feature of Cotracks Music Studio enables notes to be triggered in rapid succession without actually tapping the note more than once. The repeater repeats automatically whatever notes are playing, with rate that can be controlled through an interface resembling an XY-pad. The repeat rate is determined by the horizontal position of the repeater handle. Most of the controller area is for freewheel repeat, while there are four slots on the bottom edge, that enable a special beat synced repeat.

Freewheel and Beat Synced Repeat

The beat synced repeat makes it very easy to create fast rolls that synchronize with playback. When the handle is in one of the slots, the repeats occur at even sub beats whose number depends on the slot. Each of the four slots repeat at different rate. It is possible to move the handle directly from one slot to the next.

The freewheel repeat doesn’t synchronize the triggers in any way, which enables odd and almost arbitrary repeat rates and a very useful rate sweep, where the handle is dragged slowly from the left to right, triggering notes faster and faster, or the opposite, from right to left triggering notes slower and slower. One very cool trick is to start from a fast freewheel and land it in one of the beat sync slots.

Toggling the Repeater

The repeater is in effect only when the pad is touched. This enables toggling the repeater on and off very quickly. The quick toggling can be used to create some quite impressive rhythmic textures by tapping short repeats at different rates while playing a note or a chord.

Sometimes it might of course be more convenient if the repeater would just be enabled without the need to touch it. This is where the repeater hold comes handy. When the hold is enabled the repeater acts as if it was constantly been touched at the handle location. To enable repeater hold, simply toggle the hold button next to the pad.

Blending Over a Sequence

The repeater can be applied to notes that are played live as well as to notes that are played back from a previously recorded sequence. The blend can be recorded, meaning that it is possible to overdub a sequence with the repeater. To blend the repeater tap the record button while touching the repeater handle.

Toggling Repeater Playback

It is possible to disable the repeater while playing back a sequence which contains some recorded repeater action. To disable the repeater playback, toggle the small “play” symbol next to the repeater pad.

Repeater in Action

Finally, it’s best to see the Cotracks’ repeater in action. This is a clip extracted from the Cotracks Features Overview video.

Updated Cotracks’ online content and support feature

Just updated the online content and support feature in Cotracks. We had previously all of the videos on the start page. That wasn’t the best approach as the videos took a while to load. All videos have been moved to two dedicated sub sections: Tutorials and Reference. Now you can have a quick peek at the support pages more conveniently.

Looking forward to 2014!

The year 2013 has been incredible! First of all we registered Futucraft and went into the audio software business. We produced and launched Cotracks, our first commercial product. And we sort of completed, what i started with Kairatune two years a go, with the release of the Mac version and the native 64-bit versions. That is not to say that the development of Kairatune has reached it’s goal, on the contrary, now it’s finally possible to start thinking about what’s next? What new features to add?

I already have some new stuff on my mind for the year 2014. There’s still some Kairatune polishing to be done. We’ve received a lot of feature requests for Cotracks and those will be addressed. I will compile and publish a feature request summary for Cotracks as the first thing. We will also put some effort in Cotracks’ marketing. We had talk with Jyrki the other day and thought it would be time to produce the kick-ass demo track for Cotracks! Something we’ve been way too busy to do in 2013. Add to that some new demo videos and perhaps an update on the futucraft.com as well.

It’s been a wonderful year and i’m really looking forward to take on with 2014! Happy New Year to everyone! and a humble, sincere Thank You to all of you for your support!

Matti

Kairatune advanced features

Preset manager


The preset manager has some features that are only accessible by right-clicking on the preset list.

  • Details option displays a preset detail editor that lets you modify the preset name and category and add other supplemental information to the preset. Double clicking on a preset name also displays the detail editor.

  • Copy and Paste options lets you duplicate and copy a preset across instances of Kairatune. The Paste option always appends the set of presets instead of replacing the current preset.
  • New option simply adds a new preset with default parameter values and with the name “Init”.
  • Export option lets you save the preset as a ktpreset file.
  • Remove option simply removes the preset.
  • MIDI assignments sub menu lets you copy, paste or clear the MIDI assignments of the current preset.

Plugin configuration


The button on the upper right corner opens a configuration menu. Through the configuration menu you can load or import presets from various file types and export the current set of presets as a ktbank file.

  • Load option replaces the current set of presets.
  • Import option appends the current set of presets.

You can import ktpreset single preset files and load or import ktbank preset bank files exported from Kairatune version 1.2. You can import single preset FXP files and load or import FXB preset bank files generated with prior versions of Kairatune.

  • Restore factory presets replaces the current set of presets with the built in presets.
  • Remove all presets option clears the current set of presets.

If you want Kairatune to start up with a custom set of presets, you can configure the current set to anything you want and set that as the default. After you’ve set the default, any new Kairatune instances will launch with the new default set of presets.

MIDI learn


The MIDI learn menu opens by right-clicking on a control. The menu provides options for assigning a MIDI controller to the parameter by learning. In short, MIDI learning means that you instruct Kairatune to listen to MIDI controllers and assign the first controller it receives to control the selected parameter. The three different variations let you assign the control to the specified sub ranges of the parameter’s values.

After you’ve assigned a controller you will see a separate sub menu for each assigned controller. The sub menu provides options to further modify the controller range or remove the assignment.