This page provides a roadmap for AudioMulch development planned over the next year or so. We're making this information public to give you a better idea of where AudioMulch is going.
AudioMulch development is guided by our priority to provide an easy-to-use, high quality environment for musical and sonic performance, improvisation, and sound mangling.
All public releases during 2009-2010 will be part of the 2.x release cycle, and hence will be a free upgrade for users who purchase version 2 now.
A word about expectations
This roadmap should be taken as a rough guide only. It is not intended to entice you into using AudioMulch based on promises of future functionality. Plans can change and deadlines can slip. Everything here is subject to change without notice. We strongly advise you to evaluate AudioMulch based on the current version. If you haven't tried it already, please download the 60 day trial version and try it for yourself.
Here's the roadmap: (green means certain, yellow means a little uncertain, orange means vague and subject to change)
Read on for more information about the roadmap.
Recent Past, Present and Ongoing
Recent development has focused on fixing bugs reported in the 2.0 release. We are committed to improving usability, reliability and compatibility with 3rd party hardware, software and operating systems, but bugs and issues only get fixed if we know about them. If you find an issue, whether a bug, glitch or just confusing behaviour we're always very happy to hear about it (either in the forums or by email). Reported issues are fixed as soon as practical, often in the next minor update.
We want to make it even easier for you to get started with AudioMulch, so we are currently working on new video tutorials aimed at beginners (Update: the first of these tutorials are now online here). We are also reviewing and improving the contraptions reference section of the AudioMulch help files.
The 2.1 Update
Around the end of 2009 During the first quarter of 2010 an update will be released which will include the following additions:
- Support for non-4/4 time signatures in automation and in new pattern editors for all pattern-based contraptions
- Support for hosting AudioUnit plug-ins on Mac
- Dynamics processing contraptions (Limiter, Compressor, Gate)
- An alternative light grey colour scheme for users who don't like the black one
Version 2.1 will also include improvements to existing features. We will upgrade to version 4.5.x of the Qt GUI framework, which promises to improve user interface performance. If time permits we will also include a new MIDI device selection and rescanning mechanism to improve compatibility for users who often disconnect/reconnect multiple MIDI controller devices.
There are other possible inclusions but we need to get further along with our main priorities before considering additional commitments.
Interested users will be invited to participate in the beta testing process prior to the public 2.1 release.
Next Year: 2010
Once the 2.1 update has been released, focus will shift to adding new contraptions, targeting specific enhancements, and performing maintenance. For example, AudioMulch's undo system needs some work to accommodate currently non-undoable actions such as Automation recording and creating and deleting Metasurface snapshots.
New Contraptions
One of AudioMulch's strengths is its unique sound processing and mangling capabilities. In 2010 we plan to get back to audio algorithm development and add new contraptions to expand AudioMulch's sonic palette. We have a lot of ideas, probably more than can be implemented in a year, but it's safe to say that the capabilities will fall into the broad categories of sound mangling, filtering, resonating and noise generating. We may also take the opportunity to enhance existing contraptions.
Possible Enhancements
The roadmap diagram above lists a number of possible enhancements. The ample use of question marks indicates that we're really not yet sure which of these features will be included. That said, the listed items are some of the most commonly requested so we expect to include quite a few of these in some form:
- Motorised fader feedback
- Patcher grouping / macros / abstractions of some sort
- Drums contraption enhancements (stereo samples, multiple outputs etc.)
- Scala tuning tables
- Open Sound Control parameter control
- (computer) Keyboard parameter control
Other possible contenders are tap tempo support, colorizable contraptions, and auto-parameter randomisation.
The Horizon
We keep a long list of suggestions and possible new features, but there are a couple of items which really stand out as being important for the future of AudioMulch:
- Performance modulation ("LFOs"): Support for some kind of time varying parameter modulation which is focused on performance, dynamic evolution and uncertainty rather than the kind of controlled composition which the current AudioMulch Automation system affords. This could take the form of separate assignable LFOs, enhancements to the Automation system, or something else entirely.
- Host integration options (VST+AU? Rewire?): AudioMulch is designed for stand-alone performance, but let's be honest, integrating AudioMulch with your DAW software should be easier than it is currently. At the moment you need to use third-party Audio and MIDI communication drivers like VAC, JACK, MIDI Yoke, and/or ReaRoute. We recognise that a built-in solution would be preferable and are working towards this. This may take the form or Rewire support, or AudioMulch as a VST and AU plugin — we'll see.
We're researching the best solutions for these features. Its hard to say when they'll be released or even whether they'll be part of the AudioMulch 2.x series and whether they'll be free to current users. What we can say is that we recognise that these issues need to be addressed and we're working on it.
Let us know what you think
AudioMulch is not a user-run democracy and probably never will be (sorry, that's just the way we are), but development is strongly influenced by community feedback. AudioMulch has benefited immeasurably from feedback from users and we invite everyone to participate in the process and let us know what you think – whether it concerns a bug/issue/glitch, a desired improvement, or anything else you can think of.
We have a feature requests forum where you can discuss possible new features for AudioMulch and we are listening. Often we view feature requests as representative of broader problems to be solved – so if you think something is lacking, feel free to propose a solution no matter how wacky you think it is.
As we mentioned above, we have a forum for reporting bugs or you can send an email to support@audiomulch.com.
If something on this page is confusing or unclear we'd like to fix it. Please let us know. AudioMulch's main developer Ross Bencina is always happy to hear from you. Feel free to send an email to rossb@audiomulch.com.