| • | There is an alternative version of the µTonic with separate outputs for each drum channel ("MicroTonicVSTMulti"). |
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| • | The µTonic features built-in support for MIDI controllers with easy-to-use on-screen editing and "MIDI learn". A MIDI controller can be assigned to a parameter in a specific drum channel, or if you prefer, to edit the currently selected drum channel. Once you have created your assignments you can save and load them. |
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| • | The program and drum patch file browsers feature direct previewing within the browsers. You can preview programs and patterns in their original tempo or synchronized to the music you are playing. Programs and individual drum patches can be previewed and compared directly without leaving the browser. |
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| • | There is a "pitched MIDI mode" which allows you to actually play melodies with the drum patches on your keyboard. In "pitched mode", the eight drum channels are addressed with MIDI channels 1 to 8 and you have the entire keyboard for each channel. C3 (note number 60) will play the "original pitch". This opens up new possibilities when you will be able to use the µTonic not only for drums, but also for melodies and bass lines. (Disclaimer: the µTonic will of course remain a drum synthesizer primarily.) |
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| • | The oscillator section has been blessed with an attack parameter so that you can achieve a softer sound and reduce the click of those 808-style bass drums. The attack envelope is exponential, just like the default envelope mode of the noise section. |
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| • | You can export individual patterns (or chains) to standard MIDI files and WAV files. |
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| • | You can freely assign which MIDI keys the drum channels respond to and which keys to use for triggering patterns and muting channels. |
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| • | There is a preference dialog where you can choose how knobs should react (circular, relative circular, linear or decided by host). You can also set a default startup program and switch the functions of the right mouse button and the control / option key. The latter is excellent for working quicker with editing accents etc... |
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| • | You can play the µTonic patterns even when the host sequencer is stopped. Just click the play button while it is flashing in "waiting state" and it will start playing at once. |
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| • | Right-clicking drum channels give you some options on the entire channels (like cut / copy / paste etc). Useful if you want to trade places of channels etc... |
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| • | Note names are displayed in the popup hints for the frequency sliders so that you can tune to an exact pitch. This is handy with the new "pitched mode" (described earlier). |
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| • | You can right-click a knob or slider to set an exact value with text (you may enter note names as well for frequency sliders). You can also right-click to quickly assign MIDI controllers to knobs, sliders or buttons. |
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| • | Knobs and sliders have sub-pixel precision. This goes well in line with the µTonic sound engine, which features an infinitely fine resolution on all parameters. Now the visuals are virtually infinite in resolution as well. (Try dragging some knobs and faders with the shift key down, and boy is that smooth.) |
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| • | Patterns that are part of the current "pattern chain" are lit in blue color. Empty patterns show up gray. |
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| • | You can drag and drop programs and drum patch files from the explorer / finder onto the µTonic. |
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| • | Clicking the drum patch name display will pop up a list with drum patches residing in the same directory for quick loading. |
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| • | There is a "select channel with MIDI switch" that allows you to select drum channels for editing from your MIDI keyboard. |
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| • | Shift-clicking a step button (trigger, accent or repeat) sets or resets that step button for all (unmuted) channels at once. Try it out for making abrupt breaks or intense fills in patterns. |
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| • | Windows version is even further optimized and generally uses around 15% less CPU. |
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| • | No longer does the µTonic pattern engine start to play automatically every time you open up a program. If it is stopped, it stays stopped. |
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| • | The randomization features have been tuned a little, they should now hopefully give even more... erhm... interesting results. |
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| • | Soloing a channel will select that channel. This makes it easier to solo out and edit one channel at a time. |
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| • | A star (*) is appended to the program name when it is modified (just like with drum patches). |
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| • | Both the noise and oscillator envelope now have techniques to prevent clicking when retriggering with slow attack settings. This improves the sound of the noise envelope compared to version 1.0, especially with high q settings. |
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| • | If a host reports that output b is not connected, all the drum patches routed to output b will go to a. |
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| • | Better compatibility with certain hosts (no names) by implementing yet some more "safety measures". Amongst other things we now prevent a problem were the µTonic would actually get unregistered spontaneously. (I know it sounds weird, but it is true.) |
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| • | File names and directories can contain unicode characters. They may not be displayed properly, but they should work. Previously you would get errors if you used unicode characters in names. |
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| • | The µTonic skin has undergone slight cosmetic surgery and now looks and feels clearer with sharper contrasts and a new drum patch display / selector amongst other improvements. |
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| • | And lets not forget the numerous new programs and patches contributed by Elmodic, Rory Dows and others. |
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