JazzMutant has announced the upcoming release of a new firmware for their Lemur multitouch-screen controller.

The version 2 firmware update offers a host of new object features. Workflow improvements, scripting additions and other features allow the controller to be used with some of the most popular software applications around, with Ableton Live users, in particular, benefiting from some of the new features. 

What’s new:

• Breakpoint object: offers total control of synthesiser or sampler envelopes with a multi-segment envelope editor to allow you to really get inside a sound. Rather than assigning knobs to these sound shapers, jump right in and directly tweak an on-screen representation of the envelope.
• Gesture object: this emulates a trackpad control with advanced gesture recognition and has three novel ways to interact with your sound. You can send different control messages to your computer simply by pinching, rotating or tracing your fingers.
• Alias: now you can easily produce a copy or alias of a controller object that sends exactly the same information to your computer. This takes up less memory and is much less time consuming than setting up a new object with identical characteristics. Manipulating the original or its doppelganger can now control the same computer parameters but from different interface screens. Moving one will automatically update its “mirror image”.
• Tabbed Container: containers are virtual panels that contain a selection of controls. Tabbed containers allow you to change the contents of this panel at the tap of a finger. This feature allows you to greatly improve interface layouts.
• Mouse and keyboard control: now Lemur’s objects can be used to remotely control the mouse cursor or computer keyboard.
• Workflow improvements: setting up your custom performance interface is a breeze with the improved and new-look Jazzeditor. Workflow improvements include the ability to simply drag objects from the new palette into the work area – any custom-made modules from your library will also appear here. It’s now no longer necessary to select a MIDI or OSC target for each parameter within an object – just choose a “parent” target and you’re done. There’s also a new ‘colour chooser’ to make your interfaces visually distinctive.
• Extended scripting abilities: a new multi-line script pane opens up a whole new world of possibilities. You can now modify the physical behaviour, appearance or size of an object in real time. Add a ball to a Multiball object by touching a pad, or zoom in on a fader for ultimate precision. These scripts can act locally or be received from the computer. For Ableton users that means it is now possible to receive clip names and colours and display them on the Lemur. Any changes in your Live set are automatically reflected on the Lemur.

The public beta of the v2 firmware update will launched at AES (October 3rd to 5th) with the full version released Q4 2008. The full update will be free.

via MacMusic