Backline 1.0.0 Beta 1 posted (replaces AUM and then some!)

[Matthew Foust]

Backline (download) is our new utility for Mac OS X. Think of it as Cocktail or OnyX for audio geeks. What does it do?

- Audio File First Aid: repair malformed audio files
- Effect Manager: manages Audio Units and VST plug-ins including SmartGroups
- Effect Update: Effect Manager integrates with our forthcoming online plug-in database and tells you when updates to your plug-ins have posted (think MacUpdate + software update for plug-ins)
- Effect Audition: load any Audio Units or VST effect and see how it sounds using our built-in sound files or your own
- MIDI Tools: MIDI Monitor, MIDI Clock, MIDI Timecode Generator
- DDP Player: Load a DDP 2.0 set, browse its metadata, listen to the tracks, and burn to CD
- Reset Audio System: Reset CoreAudio server (coreaudiod), clear the Audio Components Cache, Stop CoreMIDI server
- Audiofile Engineering Tools: back up/restore all of your Audiofile settings such as keyboard shortcuts, reset preferences, reset effect caches, uninstall

Effect Manager and Audiofile-specific tools are free. The rest of the tools (MIDI, Audio File First Aid, Effect Audition) will require a license key (tentatively $19). DDP Player will require its own, separate paid license (TBD). Both paid modes can be purchased and used independently.

Please check it out and let us know what you think!

We have a whole bunch of other tools we'll be adding in future updates (virtual instrument audition, RTAS & TDM support in Effect Manager, CD-TEXT validator and more).

[stringtapper]

The link on your site isn't working for me.

[Rico]

Or me.

[jjcdrummer]

This'll do it:

http://www.audiofile-engineering.com/ap ... _v1875.dmg

[Matthew Foust]

Fixed. My bad.

[PaulSC]

What's a "SmartGroup"?

[stringtapper]

What's a "SmartGroup"?

Aren't those plugin bundles like everything from Urs? Zebra 2, Filterscape and Uhbik all come with more than one plugin but in the plugins folder they're each bundled as one.

[Matthew Foust]

SmartGroups of effects much like a SmartFolder in the Finder or a SmartPlaylist in iTunes.

[stringtapper]

Ok I'm wrong.

Question: the Effect Update feature won't be functional until you have your database up right?

My plugin folder is starting to get big enough that I need this feature.

[Matthew Foust]

Ok I'm wrong.

Question: the Effect Update feature won't be functional until you have your database up right?

My plugin folder is starting to get big enough that I need this feature.

The database is live actually. It simply needs data!

It's doubtful we'll have a public facing view of it right away, but that will eventually come. Our hope is to have the individual developer's maintain their own accounts. It will most likely behave like iusethis where all users can maintain entries, but developers can assume control of their titles upon request.

[PaulSC]

Thanks for the reply and illustration... sounds/looks interesting!

[michael]

First problem. The AU validation is failing all my plug ins, and with Pluggo + another 80 or so I have to sit there and hit OK 180 times, waiting in between hits for the screen to pop up.

[Matthew Foust]

Please send issues to support@audiofile-engineering.com.

[michael]

OK now it's failing all the VST's I force quit, got to get going on the day.

Let me know when a fix comes for this. It was failing every AU, and on it's way to failing every VST. Great idea for a product though.

[Matthew Foust]

Need more info. I have more plugs than I can count here and all but a few validate properly.