It’s been a while since I’ve spoken to you - but it’s for a good reason. Over the last 2 months, I’ve been working on the most complex and daunting update to Audiocube yet: a functional MIDI timeline.

This is a feature that I have been putting off building for a while because of my lack of understanding of MIDI systems. After a few months of trial, error, and research, I’m excited to finally announce Audiocube’s MIDI timeline - the focus of the latest v8 update.

In this article I’m going to show you the new MIDI editor, and highlight a bunch of other new improvements in the latest update!

To celebrate, I’m running a sale on Audiocube Pro licences - now only $49 (down from $150) - until September 1st.

Sale: Buy Audiocube Pro - $49

Introducing: Audiocube’s MIDI Timeline

Audiocube is now equipped with a MIDI timeline system, which can be used to create, edit, and export MIDI clips.

The timeline is used to sequence a range of Audiocube’s devices - now giving you the ability to create detailed sequences in your projects.

The MIDI timeline can sequence these devices:

Samplers - acting as traditional audio sample sequencers, with key, time, and polyphony.
Emitters - can be triggered to emit their physics nodes, with key, time, and polyphony.
Logic boxes - can be sequenced to trigger their connected devices via pulses, with time.

More to be added soon.

The MIDI timeline can:

Create new midi clips/files.
Import midi files from your PC into Audiocube devices.
Create, move, cut, copy, paste, duplicate, select, delete notes in a clip.
Change the length of midi notes.
Export created MIDI clips to a file on your hard drive.
Loop a chosen section of the timeline (for all devices).
Scroll, and zoom in/out for navigation and precision.
Set the BPM and time signature of playback.
Select a variable subdivision grid with snapping, allowing enabling precise rhythmic pattern creation. You can also place notes freely, without snapping to the grid.
Skim through a sequence using a master timeline playhead.
Velocity, and more, coming in the next update.

Check out the full MIDI timeline manual page for more details.

How To Use Audiocube’s Midi Timeline

Create a new device. Let’s start with a Sampler for simplicity.
Open the timeline panel with the button in the top left (or F2).
Drag and drop MIDI clips from your browser to the timeline to load them, or start clicking in the grid to create a new one.
Create a midi sequence:

Select the BPM and subdivision grid settings.
Double click (or cmd/ctrl + click) in the timeline to create a note at the desired time and pitch.
Change the note length, or adjust the time/pitch position.
Create multiple notes to built your sequence.
(Optional) use shift + mouse to highlight notes, then cmd/ctrl + d to duplicate or C/V to copy paste.
Press spacebar to play/stop your sequence.
Enable looping with the toggle, and drag the start and end position of the loop bar to create looping patterns.

Create other devices and click them to select in the midi timeline.
Export your midi clip - click the export button to save the current sequence as a MIDI file (to use in other software). This will be located in your Audiocube Library/MIDIStore folder.

Use the zoom bars to change the viewpoint of your timeline, zooming in and out of pitch and time.

The MIDI timeline is still in its early days, but I wanted to get it out asap. It’s functional enough to use and create sequences, but I have a lot of other ideas to build into it.

Additional Updates

While MIDI was the main focus, this update includes several other improvements.

Improved UI & UX: The UI has, once again, been completely upgraded. It now has a much more open, transparent, and futuristic feel. Embracing smoother corners, frosted glass UI, and a more intuitive design overall. I’ve been working on giving it a more professional and cohesive style - I’m mostly happy, but still see some room for improvement.

I spent a lot of time working on the overall UX, to make the workflow smoother and more familiar. This includes a bunch of changes to layouts and processes. One example is the project screen, which now looks and feels smoother. Many menus, sub menus, and window popups have been changed.

I’ve condensed the console and terminal into a single window, giving power users a more streamlined experience.

Drag & Drop Import: I’ve implemented drag/drop file import for Mac and Windows (untested on linux).

Now you can simply drag and drop audio, midi, and project files (.mp3, .wav, .mid, .audiocube), from your computer’s browser into the app to import them.

Branding Refresh: I’ve been levelling up my art and graphic design skills to create a more cohesive and exciting brand styling. I’m going for something much bolder, punchier, and unique. The style focuses on dark, grainy, realistic 3D textures with cinematic lighting, reflecting materials, and concentric 3D shapes - reflecting the nature of vibrations, and encapsulating Audiocube’s purpose and stye.

This includes a refresh of the website, app icon, logo, and more. It will take a while to get all of this finished, but it’s coming out piece by piece. I’ll release a new design styling deck when the time comes.

What’s Next?

I’ve already started planning and preparing the next update, which has wider horizons thanks to the MIDI timeline and development skills progression.

Effects system: I think the main focus will be to update the mixer and effects system to be more flexible and powerful, while also being able to integrate with the new midi system.
Automation: The midi timeline gives me the opportunity to start building out an automation system - for both effects and device placement. This is a challenge that I’ve been scared to try, but I have the rough concept planned out and it should only take a month or so (hopefully…)
Improved acoustics engine: I have the rough framework for acoustic surface materials (e.g bricks, fabric, wood), and more precise control over sound propagation and directionality. Rather than all sounds emitting as spheres, they could be controlled cones with width, depth etc.
General controls: I’ve been spending a bit more time using other 3D modelling software which has given me inspiration on missing features like movement gizmos, better grouping, and improving the rendering options.

Make sure you make the most of the sale - ending 1st September!

Buy Audiocube Pro - On Sale

Thanks for all your support and encouragement,

Noah

Update: Audiocube 8 - MIDI Editor, Drag Drop Import, & More!