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The Roland V-Vocal plug-in can now convert audio into MIDI data.

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In addition to the Step Sequencer, there are now Smart MIDI Tools on offer. These are user-configurable and designed to perform multiple functions, depending on how you have them set up. There are three pre-configured Smart MIDI Tools in the package (Select, Draw and Erase). You can determine how they react when, for example, right- or left-clicking with the mouse.

You can also assign modifier keys to mouse clicks for even more options, and you can save any custom assignments you make for future use. This is all done via an interface in which you perform the actions on a 'dummy' graphic of a MIDI clip to demonstrate which mouse movement you want to associate with a function.

Another new MIDI treat comes in the form of the MIDI Magnifier, which has elicited no small amount of appreciation around these parts. When working with MIDI in the arrangement view, the MIDI Magnifier zooms in on a specific section of the piano roll surrounding the mouse cursor without affecting the overall zoom level, making detailed editing from the arrangement view a real possibility. Again, this seems very obvious in retrospect, and we wouldn't be surprised if it were to become a standard feature in competitors' products. Genius!

If you spend a lot of time editing MIDI Controller data in the control lanes of the Piano Roll View, you'll be happy to know that multiple MIDI parameters can now be viewed and edited using multiple lanes, if you wish. You can now copy MIDI CC data and move it across the different lanes. Not bad!

Audio dynamite

Cakewalk earns kudos for the new MIDI functions, but it hasn't scrimped on the audio side either. For starters, there are a handful of awesome new plug-ins, the best of which are designed for mastering.

The new LP-64 Multiband linear phase mastering compressor/limiter is a gorgeous dynamics plug-in that'll hold its own with even the most renowned third party efforts. Ditto for the LP-64 EQ, which offers both parametric and graphic modes. Both can also operate at sample rates up to 192kHz.

Our favourite new plug-in is probably the relatively simple Boost 11 Peak Limiter. Bearing a striking resemblance to Sonnox's Inflator, and in the tradition of some of the most sought-after hardware limiters, Boost 11 offers just two parameters: Boost and Output. These are enough to help whip any stereo mix into perfect, CD-ready shape.

Sidechaining

Many users will applaud Cakewalk's inclusion of proper sidechaining support - a feature that users have been crying out for for some time. Sidechaining is a method by which certain parameters of an effect react to an auxiliary input signal.

Electronic musicians in particular will appreciate sidechaining as a useful tool for creating rhythmic tracks from other sources. You could, say, use a hi-hat pattern to trigger a gate applied to a pad or vocal, or have the kick cause dramatic pumping effects on other parts of the mix. These effects are extremely commonplace in many forms of dance music.