Of these, however, the later is a free download anyway, and whilst the sound content adds a little to what's already a good value package, it's all a long way short of essential. Into the bargain?Īcid comes bundled with several thousand loops and a pair of third-party VST plugins: TruePianos Amber Lite and Studio Devil British Valve Custom. Rounding things off, version 10 can now run at up to 24-bit/192kHz and you also get track export direct to SoundCloud. MIDI filtering has also been brought in, enabling you to specify exactly what data is and isn't captured when recording via a MIDI controller - velocity, aftertouch, pitchbend, etc. You can also now group Events across multiple tracks, meaning that a whole section of an arrangement can be 'tied' together and moved or copied as a single object.Įlsewhere, v10 introduces a MIDI drum map editor, which, while a helpful tool for sequencing drum parts, feels outdated and clunky with its checkbox-based interface. This clever little feature comes into its own when working with loops, providing a quick and easy way to create, for example, filtered breakdowns and one-shot delay spins without the need for automation. Even though Acid itself is relatively easy on the host CPU, running multiple instances of its built-in synth can slow things down considerably, and VST plugins are a potentially resource-hogging law unto themselves, of course.įurthermore, one interesting addition is the ability to attach effects chains to individual audio clips (or Events, as ACID calls them) as well as complete tracks. Top of the bill is the ability to freeze MIDI tracks, which is a standard function in any modern DAW.

In terms of new features, version 10 is about subtle - albeit, in places, meaningful - additions as opposed to fundamental change. 'In terms of new features, version 10 is about subtle - albeit, in places, meaningful - additions as opposed to fundamental change' This lack of cohesion is made even more jarring by one of Acid's best features: the excellent interactive Show Me How tutorial window, which provides a clear and concise hands-on introduction to the main elements of the software. Despite this, Acid Music Studio is very easy to use, but - as many rival entry-level DAWs demonstrate - usability and contemporary design certainly don't have to be mutually exclusive.

Acid music studio 10 final