MuTools has released MuLab 5 – a new version of their semi-modular DAW for Windows and Mac.

MuLab 5 features more than 100 improvements compared to MuLab 4. Here’s what’s new:

• Multi-core support – MuLab 5 has full multi-core support. It will use a number of parallel computing threads which will be spread over the different CPU cores in your system, processing all the racks, plug-ins and modules as parallel as possible. You can control how many of such parallel threads should be launched via the Audio Setup.
• Integrated Multi-Functional Browser – MuLab 5 features a new multi-functional browser where you’ll find all samples, sequences etc in your session, but also your MUX preset, wave and MIDI files etc on your system.
• Extended Drag-Drop Support – In parallel to the new browser, MuLab 5 features extended drag-drop support.
• Enhanced Automation & Modulation Envelopes – Curves are used at many places in MuLab/MUX, the most prominent place is in the automation envelopes in the composer and in the multi-point envelope modules. Now the curve between two envelope points can have many more forms e.g. Exponential, Sine Wave, Saw Wave, Stairs etc… Also editing has been greatly improved for there is a clear curve handle in between 2 envelope points.
• Extended MUX Power
  • Enhanced support for designing your own MUX front panels. (see below)
  • New Sequence Player module.
  • New Note Key Ranger module.
  • Doubled the number of meta-parameters to 32.
  • All MU parameter names can be customized. (i.e. not only the meta-parameter names)
  • Parameter edits are undoable.
  • Enhanced audio filter algorithm resulting in even higher audio quality.
  • Improved support for rack presets e.g. you can now directly drop a rack preset on a MUX deep editor etc.
  • Smart Bypass for VST plug-ins.
  • ADSR envelope has extra “Legato” property,
• Enhanced Support For Designing Your Own MUX Front Panels – Creating nice front panels for your modular patches is a matter of drag-dropping the relevant parameters and components onto that front panel, and arrange them using slick group frames.
• Extended Shortcut System – you can map a computer key (or even a MIDI event) to a certain context function, then pressing that key triggers that context function, In MuLab 5 you can now assign multiple functions to a single shortcut, and thus build kind of little macros.
• MuClips – MuClips are preset files that combine a sequence part together with its target sound module. For example you made a nice drum beat or bass line, now these can be saved as a MuClip and easily used in other sessions or shared with other users.
• Restyled User Interface – MuLab 5 comes with a restyled user interface. At the same time MuLab’s looks are also more customizable.

MuLab 5 is priced at 69 EUR. Several pricing options are available, see the site for details.

If you’ve used MuLab 5, let us know what you think of it!