Melodyne DNA update (Check it out!)

[The MPCist]

Got this in an email just now: (needless to say, I'm upgrading!!)



As always in mid January the NAMM Show is being held in Los Angeles. This is where this year we will be demonstrating the first Melodyne with Direct Note Access, our revolutionary new audio editing technology. Melodyne editor offers all the perfected, tried-and-tested audio editing functions with which you are already familiar from Melodyne. Through the integration of DNA, however, even the harmonies in an audio file can now be seen, accessed and reshaped—note by note.

Originally we were going to call it “Melodyne plugin 2”. But since we have in effect developed an entirely new product around DNA, with new technology and completely new fields of application, and one, what’s more, that can also run in stand-alone mode, we decided to give it a new name: Melodyne editor.

Naturally, despite the name change, you as a user of Melodyne plugin can still take advantage of the update options already announced: the switch to Melodyne editor costs 129 US$/€, and anyone who registered Melodyne plugin after 12th March 2008 will even receive Melodyne editor free of charge.

In the next few days, we will be beginning our own internal beta tests. We reckon on being able to invite you as a Melodyne customer to participate in the public beta test sometime in March. We’ll notify you by email when the time comes.

You will find further information about Melodyne editor and our new DNA technology at our website: celemony_ :: News.

Kindest regards,
All at Celemony



Our official press releases for your information:

Celemony presents Melodyne editor with DNA Direct Note Access
Celemony Software GmbH is presenting at the NAMM Show 2009 Melodyne editor, the first product with Direct Note Access. DNA technology was first introduced at the Musikmesse Frankfurt 2008 and has aroused great interest worldwide. It allows for the first time to edit individual chord tones in audio recordings. Melodyne editor offers for single audio tracks all the possibilities that have made Melodyne legendary, and, with DNA, opens up in addition to these unique new possibilities for the correction and refashioning of audio material. Melodyne editor can run as a plug-in or stand-alone and will be available from spring 2009 onwards for 349 US$/€.

Melodyne has for years been very highly regarded as a particularly musical audio software application delivering exceptional sound quality. Its unmatched ability to recognize and edit the pitch, timing and various other parameters of notes contained in audio material have elevated Melodyne worldwide to the status of an indispensable tool for music production—especially for the editing of vocals. With the development of the cutting-edge DNA technology and its introduction in Melodyne editor, Celemony is now opening the door to totally new applications. At the same time, Celemony is underlining the singularity of its multi-award-winning Melodyne software.

Melodyne editor represents both functionally and technically the next Melodyne generation. It brings all the perfected, tried-and-tested editing functions made famous by the existing editions of Melodyne and is therefore outstandingly well suited to the editing of vocals and other monophonic instruments. With the integration of DNA, however, even the harmonies in an audio file can now be seen, accessed and shaped—note by note. Users can quite literally intervene in the chords of their recordings and change individual notes within them. This offers sensational new possibilities for the correction and refashioning of audio.

Melodyne editor is designed for the editing of individual instrumental recordings such as vocals, guitar, saxophone or piano, but good results can also be obtained with more complex material such as string quartets. If two instruments sound the same note at the same time, Melodyne editor offers one note for editing. The user can alter the pitch, position and duration of the note detected, make it louder or quieter, copy or cut it and paste it in some other position, and so on. Adjustments can also be made to the formant register, vibrato and drift of the notes as well as any pitch, volume or formant transitions. Special copying functions also allow the transfer of selected attributes from one note to another.

Whilst in terms of intuitive access, musicality and sound quality Melodyne editor is in the finest Celemony tradition, its technical foundations are completely new. The new software base offers among other things optimized multi-threading that fully exploits the advantages of modern multicore processors. In addition, it allows many improvements in plug-in operation including freely selectable window size, the monitoring of pitch editing, scrubbing, and ‘Edit Play’ (playback not tied to the host).

“Our first product with DNA was intended to be an update to Melodyne plugin 2. Since, however, we have ended up developing a new product around DNA, with new technology and fully new application possibilities, and one that furthermore can also be used as a stand-alone application, we decided to give it a new name. Melodyne editor sums it up nicely: a Melodyne editing environment for individual tracks,” says Carsten Gehle, Technical Director of Celemony Software GmbH.

When it appears in the spring of 2009, Melodyne editor will replace Melodyne plugin and be available for 349 US$/€ from the Celemony web shop as well as from music dealers. In addition, Melodyne editor when released will also form part of the Melodyne studio bundle. Naturally, even after the name change, the update options already announced for existing users of Melodyne plugin will still be valid: the switch to Melodyne editor will cost 129 US$/€, and anyone who registered Melodyne plugin after the 12th March 2008 will even receive Melodyne editor free of charge.

[LeMauce]

Finally! So now every band just do 1 take and the "editor/assistant" being put to work for some editing wrong notes @ 10bucks a hour.
This is believe me change the way of recording and producing. AND ofcourse sampling... Its opens allot new ways to the holly grail / rome.

[Subsonic]

I just recieved my email regarding DNA as well. This will be fascinating to see how it works, but I'm also a bit scared. Fascinated by the technology, frightened for the art...

Subsonic

[jamwerks]

Originally Posted by Subsonic

Fascinated by the technology, frightened for the art...

Me too....

[The MPCist]

Originally Posted by jamwerks

Me too....

Me three!

Someone armed with Melodyne DNA + Maserati plugins will now rule the music world!

[LeMauce]

Originally Posted by The MPCist

Me three!

Someone armed with Melodyne DNA + Maserati plugins will now rule the music world!

Then im good to take over the world! (insert "the brain voice" of pinky and brain...)

or

(mr.burns) "Excellent"

[jval]

Looks cool... not sure if I'd use the DNA a whole lot but it'll be good to have. The other features look good too.
My only hope is that they fix some issues with the audio quality...

[jamwerks]

Used to be that singers and other single lined stuff got "zapped" and the musicality (seemed) to stay intact.

Now piano parts, horn sections, string quartets, and lots more, will all get plastic surgury touch ups forced on them by the powers that be.

Ever notice how everybody having had a face lift looks a bit alike?

It's a exciting yet dangereous moment for the artform we know as music!...............

[redroom]

Looks great but this was announced so long ago its feeling like a bit of
Vapourware.

[Rufuss Sewell]

Originally Posted by jamwerks

Used to be that singers and other single lined stuff got "zapped" and the musicality (seemed) to stay intact.

Now piano parts, horn sections, string quartets, and lots more, will all get plastic surgury touch ups forced on them by the powers that be.

Nah, all that stuff got the zap when midi came out. Remember the 80's?

Vocals were the last hold out and that pretty much ended with "Believe."

I honestly don't see music getting any worse because of this. Even a DNA'ed acoustic guitar will be better than an 80's sample of an acoustic guitar.

On the other hand, I can see lots of cool experimental destruction to old recordings, which I greatly look forward to. Blue Suede Shoes in a Hungarian Gypsy scale for example... yum.

[jamwerks]

Originally Posted by Rufuss Sewell

On the other hand, I can see lots of cool experimental destruction to old recordings, which I greatly look forward to. Blue Suede Shoes in a Hungarian Gypsy scale for example....

I guess in pop and film music this will be just another (much better) tool. But for the word of classical music, this is really going to cause a wave. I'm thinking especially of piano, string quartet stuff. It's a bit like altering the dna of the artistry....

[waltermusik]

Originally Posted by LeMauce

Finally! So now every band just do 1 take and the "editor/assistant" being put to work for some editing wrong notes @ 10bucks a hour.
This is believe me change the way of recording and producing. AND ofcourse sampling... Its opens allot new ways to the holly grail / rome.

If this is irony, I like it.

Just as the existing Melodyne versions did not supersede great singers, the new Melodyne will not substitute for a composer's or instrumentalist's artistry. I will get it to support the analysis of music (no, I also don't believe that Melodyne will ever replace ear training!) and creative playing. And maybe fix a detuned guitar in an otherwise great performance.

Melodyne will help us improve our music but it will by no means turn a technician into a God.

[jamwerks]

Originally Posted by waltermusik

but it will by no means turn a technician into a God.

IMO, that's exactly what's going to happen...

Should be available only to those age 21 and over, and under strict survalence!

[Mind-Over-Midi]

Originally Posted by Rufuss Sewell

Nah, all that stuff got the zap when midi came out. Remember the 80's?

Vocals were the last hold out and that pretty much ended with "Believe."

I honestly don't see music getting any worse because of this. Even a DNA'ed acoustic guitar will be better than an 80's sample of an acoustic guitar.

On the other hand, I can see lots of cool experimental destruction to old recordings, which I greatly look forward to. Blue Suede Shoes in a Hungarian Gypsy scale for example... yum.

+1. Nice to see a glass half full type of guy among all of gloom and doomers, right away you are thinking creatively! I applaud you sir!

[LeMauce]

Originally Posted by waltermusik

If this is irony, I like it.

Just as the existing Melodyne versions did not supersede great singers, the new Melodyne will not substitute for a composer's or instrumentalist's artistry. I will get it to support the analysis of music (no, I also don't believe that Melodyne will ever replace ear training!) and creative playing. And maybe fix a detuned guitar in an otherwise great performance.

Melodyne will help us improve our music but it will by no means turn a technician into a God.

Then you like it

Im totally not keen on Auto-tune stuff. I push every musician as a engineer/producer to the max to get the right pitch/tone and with a kind of force. Otherwise i send them to James in LA for a kick in ass lesson.
Bref you get the picture. On take's im more the old skool everything 1 frickin take from the top to tail. Those are the best take's I ever had and while have "I think".
Even its rock/pop or rnb/hiphop to classic. One take.
Damn otherwise my Slate / Planning is getting ****ed up and the you have the shit hitting the fan... Musicians pissed becoz there is not enough time for them becoz the drummer screws it up and the Producer has swet hands and will kick the intern - assistant asap when he makes a wrong impression... (I always tell them to dress in red, color that match the studio walls so it work as a camoflage so he won't beseen by producers)
Aaaahhh in what wonderfull job world we life... won't change for anything..

[SFTPH]

The better the average hack sounds recorded, The better those of us that can actually do it live will be.

[rockdrummer027]

I just picked up Melodyne Plug In today so Ill get the free upgrade when DNA comes out. Im loving it already after just a few hours and cant wait now for the upgrade. Im scared for the future of music as an art as well but dont think that we should avoid advances in technology, but simply use them wisely.

[TAXS]

I'm not totally keen on how the version which whe've got these days works. First of all you have to keep your tranpose/tuning between 1 note up and down at the max. Otherwise it's note going to sound ''natural'' anymore. This is most of the times the case with vocals. Sometimes the marge will raise the bar, depending on sort of vocal you use at that time.

Hopefully the new version not only contains the DNA. But also a good update of the audio quality. Hopefully the've got updated there algohrimes so that they sound much more naturel when your transpose vocals. Even to a octave higher.

Hopefully they are going to update the Polyphonic possibilityes also to a higher level.

For instance: Can you guys get the polyphonic quality, just like beyond standing example when you've got a complete track (incl. vocals) and whant to transpose the total track?

Example Melodyne: http://www.celemony.com/assets/audio...ix1/index.html

[author]

Originally Posted by boeklanoei

Hopefully the new version not only contains the DNA. But also a good update of the audio quality.

But until then, Cubase 5 seems to do a better job.

For those who haven't seen/heard it yet, Melodyne and Cubase 5 are compared here:

MusoTalk: Cubase 5 Teil 4