Numerology 2 Sneak Peek


So after many months of development, Numerology 2 is getting ever closer to release. Most modules and features are now ported and working well, and things are proceeding with the implementation of a few remaining big items, a bunch of cool new stuff, as well as those all-important bug fixes. There are too many new goodies to cover them all right now, but here are some of the high points.



New Features

  • Universal Binary: Run it on PPC, run it on Intel, Tiger (10.4) or Leopard (10.5), it runs great on'em all.

  • ReWire Device Mode That's right: sample-accurate sync, transport lock with audio and midi streaming between Numerology and supported ReWire host programs (currently: Live, Digital Performer & Logic).

  • Much-Revised UI
    • Much cleaner graphics and fonts.
    • New tab-based system for switching between stacks (formerly known as 'groups').
    • All modules are fully collapsable.
    • Stacks, Modules and Presets can all be easily moved via drag-and-drop.





  • New Routing System: After much study and reflection, we've devised a graphical routing system that gives you a tidy overview of all audio, CV and MIDI routing for a stack without the typical headaches of 'virtual cable' routing systems. The new routing display shows up on a separate tab. In addition, the new routing internals will allow you to setup feedback routing for audio, MIDI or CV-based signals.




  • The Patchbay: The Numerology 2 patchbay provides a one-stop solution to a problem common to all audio apps: how to reconfigure existing projects when your audio or MIDI hardware changes. Numerology 2 uses a patchbay system that allows you to create as many inputs and outputs as you need, give them proper names, then assign them to whatever hardware ports you desire. When your hardware config changes, you just tweak the patchbay to reassign or add connections as you like, then you can open any existing projects and keep working, without having to tweak each project separately.

    The patchbay also allows you to better organize routing between stacks, making it much easier to mix-and-match stacks from different projects.


  • MonoNote/PolyNote Sequencers Two all-new mega sequencers with an absurdly long list of features:
    • Integrated sequencing for thirteen data types (and probably more before it's all done):
      • Pitch
      • Gate Length (the length of a note within a step)
      • Step Length (modify the length of a step directly)
      • Step Repeat (repeat a step up to 8 times)
      • Gate Divide (built in!)
      • Velocity
      • Random Jump (percentage chance of jumping to some other step)
      • Three CV / CC sequences
      • Aftertouch
      • Skip Value
      • Mute
    • Integrated note generator with scale quantization.
    • Three integrated MIDI CC generators.
    • Dedicated skip, select and mute buttons.
    • Handy "Norm All" and "Zero All" buttons
    • Support for sequences up to 64 steps.
    • Gate Adjust (for scaling all gate values at once)
    • Velocity Adjust (ditto, but for velocity)
    • All the usual Numerology sequencing overkill goodness: Three ClockDiv modes, HardSync, 5 direction modes, trigger modes, left and right shift, etc. etc.
    • External inputs for: Pitch, Gate and Velocity (if you didn't have enough already)









  • New Multi-Track Drum Sequencer: A re-imagined version of the TwoTrack Drum Sequencer from Numerology 1.4, the new DrumSeq is variable from 1 to 8 tracks, and includes many goodies from the MonoNote and PolyNote sequencers, including dedicated skip & mute buttons per step, built-in step length & gate divide, and the all-new smart randomize feature.




  • New Randomization features: The MonoNote, PolyNote, and Drum Sequencers all offer a smart randomize feature that allows you to randomize a few, some or all suitable parameters with one button click.




  • Add Modulation: This new menu item allows you to add modulation to almost any parameter of any Numerology module (including Audio Units) in just a few seconds: pick a module, pick a param, pick a modulation source (LFO, Envelope or Sequencer), then click "OK" and you're done. Numerology adds any necessary modules to the current stack and wires them up for you. There is no faster way to get weird.




  • Much Improved MIDI Sync: Numerology 2 has an all-new sync engine that now supports Midi Time Code (aka SMPTE over MIDI) in addition to MIDI Clock.


  • Envelope Module: A much-needed companion for the DualLFO module, especially for trigger-happy sequencing. It can run as an Attack-Hold-Decay-Sustain-Release mode when fed gate values, or in Attack-Hold-Release mode when fed simple triggers. You get curve control over the Attack, Decay and Release segments, and it can be programmed in real-time (seconds) or beat-time, with an super-wide range of legal timing values.




  • Better Mixing:
    • 8 stereo aux sends
    • Manage presets directly within the mixer: duplicate, snapshot, delete, move, rename and so on.
    • Mixer Scenes: save mix and preset settings for mulitiple stacks/groups at once.


  • Improved Preset Management
    • Support for an unlimited numbers of presets.
    • Presets now have ratings, colors and comments to aid organization.
    • Assignable Alphanumeric keyboard events for triggering presets.
    • Assignable MIDI events (note, program change, or CC) for triggering presets.





  • Sequencer Tweaks: Fresh updates for some already highly capable modules:
    • Long sequencer support (up to 64 steps)
    • Sequencer "speed" control for continuous speed changes.
    • Handy "Div Mode" menu for choosing between the three available ways to set the rate of a sequencer: "Norm", "Ratio" and "Speed".
    • Dedicated "SkipStep" buttons, makes it easier to get that Rubycon thang on.
    • Dedicated "Select" buttons, for selecting and editing multiple steps at once.
    • Handy macro buttons for skip and select buttons to select all, none, or invert in one click.
    • Custom Range option for the CV/Control Sequencer.




  • But wait, there's more!: There's more cool stuff coming this way, but we're just not ready to talk about it all just yet, so check back for updates.


    Public Beta, etc.

    The latest Numerology 2 builds are available now for registered users, and a public beta is in the works. There is no current release date set, but check www.five12.com for updates. Please note that all information provided here is preliminary and subject to change. Questions and comments are welcome, just send us an email.