Synapse Audio Software has released Orion 8, an updated version of its music production software for Windows.

Here’s what’s new:

• New Instruments
  • Pro-9 virtual-analog drum sound modelling generator(complete overhaul of the former XR-909 generator).
  • Acoustic Grand, a high-quality, sampled-based grand piano module.
• New Effects
  • High-quality lookahead limiter and a new compressor, both meeting professional standards.
  • Vintage Chorus effect, a detailed recreation of the warm, analog stereo chorus effects manufactured in the 70s and 80s.
• New Mixing Console
  • Revised mixing console doubles the number of parallel sub groups to eight and adds an extra insert slot, eliminating the need for clumsy workarounds.
  • Additional pan laws are available for the mixing desk, including Equal Power 0dB, Equal Power -3dB and Linear -6dB for broadcasting.
  • Ability to pattern-automate the mixer in the sequencer.
  • Both the mixing console and master section support automatic PDC (plugin delay compensation) and 64-bit double-precision mixing.
• Templates and Song Merge
  • New, innovative Template system allows you to fully customize the plugins you work with.
  • Song Merge allows you to incorporate tracks into a new project easily, preserving its patterns, arrangement, Mixer/EQ settings, applied effects and so on.
• Improved Workflow
  • New navigation bar in the arrangement window gives an overview of the entire project, and allows instant zooming or navigating to any bar with a single click.
  • Patterns can be resized and stretched with the mouse directly in the playlist.
  • Full mousewheel support has been added to all views, including the piano roll, mixer, instruments and effects.
• DrumRack
  • Each sample or sample group can now be mapped to any MIDI key, and all new V8 drumkits are mapped according to the General MIDI (GM) drum map standard.
  • MIDI Grooves can be imported via Drag+Drop and will function instantly due to the GM compatibility.
  • The new 12-bit switch added allows for vintage, gritty MPC-type sounds.
• New Sample Content
  • Provided by well-known sampling experts Yellow Tools.
  • Whether you’re looking for a high-quality acoustic drum set, percussion samples or an electric bass or acoustic guitar- the new content added to Orion consists exclusively of finest 24-bit quality multisamples, a huge improvement compared to the content that came with earlier versions of Orion.
  • Installing the Sample content is much easier than in previous editions, too, as it is performed by a dedicated Setup program.
• Look+Feel
  • New skinning system introduced allows full custimization of not just all instruments and effects, but the window frames and buttons as well.
  • Two skins are provided, a new V8 skin as well as an adapted “Azura” skin from V7.

Orion 8 is available in the Synapse Online Shop for $249. The upgrade price for Version 7 users is $99. For the limited period of two weeks, users may take advantage of an introductory price: $69 for the upgrade and $199 for the full version. Note that for purchases made within the European Union (EU), 19% VAT is added.