Blue Cat Audio releases Network Audio Protocol V2 Free Update

Blue Cat Audio has announced a major update of their network audio/MIDI communication protocol, with the release of Blue Cat's Connector 1.4, Freeceiver 1.2 and PatchWork 2.72. This free update allows the plug-ins and applications to carry up to 32 audio channels for surround and ambisonics streaming, and now supports System Exclusive MIDI data. It also adds network latency compensation and transport/clock synchronization capabilities to synchronize applications and audio streams together, regardless of the network latency and many other improvements and fixes (full list below). {PRODUCT-HEADER-22848-connector}. Connector, the virtual cable plug-in that lets you connect applications together locally or thru the Internet, provides the core features of this new protocol. Freeceiver is a free implementation that can receive audio and MIDI signals sent by Connector anywhere. PatchWork, the virtual patchbay for plug-ins, provides network processing capabilities using this network protocol. {PRODUCT-HEADER-28487-bluecatsfreeceiver}. New In Connector 1.4/Freeceiver 1.2 Connector Protocol V2: Latency compensation: Connector can now evaluate, compensate and report the latency of the connection. Transport synchronization: Connector can now send MIDI Timecode (MTC) and MIDI Clock compatible signals to synchronize applications together. Manage synchronization with clock anticipation: the clock signal can compensate the connection latency to synchronize apps with no delay. Carry up to 32 audio channels for surround and Ambisonics support. MIDI System Exclusive (SysEx) support. Plug-in/app Features: The plug-in can now receive and transmit SysEx MIDI events. MIDI Thru option to merge incoming MIDI events with received events. Improved connection stability when sender under high CPU load. Improved connection status reporting in receiver. Find currently selected preset easily in the menu (folders containing the preset now display a check mark). New option to cycle next/previous preset in current bank. The plug-in can now send Bank Select and Program Change messages upon changes in the user interface to keep in sync with an external controller. Fixed memory leak in receiver when using resampling. Mac: Fixed location of text edit boxes changing when closing and re-opening the plug-in GUI in previous release. ASIO Driver: ASIO Positioning Protocol (A.P.P.) support: the ASIO driver can now control the transport of applications supporting the A.P.P. protocol (Cubase, Nuendo...) when being sent a clock signal. ASIO buffer size can now be set from the driver settings window. Audio compression and UPnP options can now be set from the driver settings window. {PRODUCT-HEADER-8050-patchwork}. New in Patchwork 2.72: Network Audio: Connector Protocol V2 support for network audio device. Application now reports plug-ins latency to the network client when running in network mode. Network audio device can now manage up to 32 audio channels. Adjust compression settings and activate UpnP for the Connector slave network audio device. Fixed application sometimes dropping local MIDI events when using the network audio device. New Features: Reported latency is now displayed in the status bar (bottom right). Route MIDI events from hosted plug-ins back to PatchWork's input with the new MIDI Loopback port. New 'learn once' mode for MIDI and macro controls. Fixes: Fixed issue with some older VST2 instrument plug-ins not receiving MIDI events (such NI Kontakt 6) in previous release. Fixed VST3 plug-ins sometimes not updating meters when loaded in PatchWork. Fixed AAX effect plug-in not loading anymore in Pro Tools 11 and earlier. Improved WASAPI driver support for some audio devices in the Windows application. Fixed Arturia VST3 plug-ins editor not re-opening properly when closed with the plug-in slot button. Fixed Audio Player crashes when using file with less channels than the plug-in. Fixed Audio Player not properly syncing its playback position when resampling. Fixed generated MIDI clock sync issues when already slaved to another MIDI clock. Fixed occasional performance issue when controlling PatchWork parameters via MIDI in the VST/VST3 plug-in. Fixed CPU meter display sometimes off by one pixel. System requirements: Intel or Apple Silicon Mac running Mac OS 10.9 or newer. PC running Windows Vista or newer. Read More