Developer Sample Magic has announced a major update to its instant referencing Magic AB plug-in, adding dozens of new features.

Sample Magic has announced a major update to its Magic AB plug-in, including the following additions:

• Entirely rebuilt one-click referencing engine that loads all popular and professional audio file formats from WAV and AIFF to mp3 and m4a — no need to convert files first.
• New Latch, Sync, and Manual playback modes to suit various workflows (Latch playback to DAW transport; Sync playback to DAW timeline; Manual playback — for freeform referencing).
• Multiple cue and loop points per track; cue point naming as standard.
• Mono-stereo monitoring.
• High-resolution output meters coupled with peak, RMS, and crest monitoring scales.
• Redesigned Mini AB with more options and smaller footprint.
• Dozens of user-flow tweaks, including RAM-saving "deactivate tracks" mode, drag and drop files, more accurate zoom, all-new preset system and more.

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The concept behind Magic AB is simplicity itself – an easy-to-use but powerful utility plugin that allows you to switch between the audio you are working on in your DAW and up to nine reference tracks at the click of a mouse.

With A/B referencing playing an essential part in production, mixing and mastering, AB offers an infinitely faster, easier and more accurate method to compare multiple audio streams to those currently available in any DAW.

Magic AB v2 sits on your mix bus (or individual channels), allowing instant switching between your current project and the reference material in pristine, transparent quality, regardless of the processes already on the mix bus. If required, plugins can be added post Magic AB to provide a sounding-point for programme material with or without additional processing.

With Version 2 (Dec 2015), Magic AB includes a host of new features and powerful workflow improvements including two new referencing modes, up to four programmable Cue and Loop points per track, RAM-bypass mode, drag and drop files, Mono/Stereo switching and much more.

Spoiler: Screenshots

Features
Magic AB is both an indispensible mixing tool and a workflow improver that allows the producer to:

• Perform instant AB references: compare the track you are working on in your DAW with any commercially produced reference track in a variety of audio formats (mp3, Aiff, Wav, m4a, AAC).
• Like the sound of a reference? No problems – drag/drop your chosen reference track/s into Magic AB then flick between them and your mix with a single mouse click.
• New in Version 2: three unique referencing modes: Sync to compare your current mix with older versions – a mastering must; Latch to follow the DAW timeline; and Manual for freeform referencing.
• Hone in on the details: cue the reference track from the precise point you want to hear and loop the section you want to focus on. New with V2: save up to four cue/loop points per track and work in detail with the all-new zoom.
• Compare multiple mixes quickly and simply: create and save ‘go-to’ playlists to radically speed up mixing and mastering.
• Balance the relative volume of mixes with extensive, accurate, easy-to-read metering (peak, RMS and crest values with adjustable peak fall time). The clear, ergonomically designed GUI with bold waveform display means you’re always comparing like with like.
• Compare stereo mixes or flip to mono to check mono comptability.
• Give your ears a chance to recalibrate with manually changeable crossfade times. Flip in an instant, or allow a transitions of up to 2000ms.
• Do it all 'in mini' with Mini AB - the same powerful feature set at a tenth of the size: ideal for those using smaller screens.

All but invisible on processor power, and with RAM-bypass mode for processor-heavy projets, Magic AB v2's light, refined design means setting it up as a default on your mix bus is a breeze without draining resources.

Working on virtually all DAWs, with a patented-ease of use, Magic AB represents a second-to-none mix and workflow improver for all producers, regardless of genre.

Installer in AU, VST and AAX formats compatible with 32/64bit DAWs. Please note that Magic AB Version 2 does not support RTAS. (Version 1 does – and Version 1 users can continue to use V1 in RTAS format).

VERSION 2 - December 2015
Magic AB v2 is an entirely new plugin, rebuilt from the ground up into a new framework. As such it is not meant to be a replacement for version 1 – and is not backward compatible. Users may continue to use Version 1, or Version 2 – or both in a single project.

Magic AB v2 is available as a £9.90 upgrade for registered users, or a special introductory offer price of £44.90 (RRP £49.90), €68.94 €62.04

More details: Sample Magic's website.

 

Last edited: Dec 8, 2015

What is it that is so brilliant & invaluable i've always wondered?

 

Instant access to referencing is a snap once you get used to it. And among other things, in the existing version you can set a loop, say, in the last chorus where the song is at its peak and whenever you change references it's always at cue.