Large parts of the code base have been fundamentally revised since version 2 in order to improve maintainability and enable future developments and improvements. Many changes are not visible on the surface, but have a major impact on the future of Synfire.
However, the visible improvements are quite significant.
User interface
We've overhauled the user interface to reduce overall friction and improve muscle memory and mouse movement memory. All pages now have a more uniform layout. For example, the parameters are now always on the right-hand side. The menus are all sorted according to the same principle so that you can quickly get used to them. Appearance and readability on Windows have been improved.
Tracks & Clips
The former overview page is now a real tracksheet where you can work with clips on tracks in a similar way to your DAW. While you can build (and easily rearrange) a listening experience as a whole on the Structure page, the Tracks show exactly what each instrument is playing and where. This allows you to see at a glance where something needs to be edited without having to search for it in the structure.
The track view is automatically derived from the structure. So you can take advantage of both views at the same time.
Containers now show the instrument and the parameter in the title if they only contain a single clip or parameter.
Parameter aliases
Instead of physically assigning a parameter, you can now also insert the alias of another parameter. It is automatically updated when the original is changed. For example, several melodies can be based on the same Figure, each of which can be transposed, shifted or interpreted dynamically.
Auto-positioning of containers
A container can be positioned automatically at the end, at the beginning, completely filling out or in the middle of its parent container. Whenever the parent container changes its size, the children are then automatically repositioned.
New structure commands
There are some new commands for editing the structure, which you can use, for example, to group several clips on the track side into a common container. This allows you to rearrange the flat tracks so that the structure of your piece can be changed more easily.
Library
Phrases in a library are now displayed as thumbnails so you can immediately see what's inside. The window layout has been simplified to make it easier to access the sounds contained in a library.
Snippets
The whole snippets page has been given a new layout that is more intuitive. There is a new single snippet playback mode, eight more storage locations (16 in total) and the maximum grid size has been increased to 24x24. The merging of containers after converting snippets into an arrangement has been improved. Snippets have been added to the main menu bar.
Audio
There are three new insert FX slots per rack module. Access to FX slots, AUX send and audio volume is possible directly in the parameter inspector. This allows you to largely preset the desired sound while composing, just as it will be exported to the DAW.
DAWproject export
You can now export your arrangement in DAWproject format. Cubase, Studio One and BitWig already support the import. Other DAWs will probably follow.
Insert last played chords
You can retroactively insert the last chords you played into the Harmony parameter at any time.
Interpretation
Always look ahead: Shift the harmony as a whole for individual instruments. This is ideal for adding dissonances and surprising effects. Also works well with fast driving rhythms.
Variation
Transformations now retain the entire span of a phrase. There are no more unintentional overlaps that mess up the rhythm or intrude into other containers.
Harmony
There are new chord substitutions (three variants). More chords have been added to the catalog. Chord voicing and inversion have been improved.
A complete list of all new features can be found here.