Discover the new and improved features of Ardour 7.5, the Open-Source digital audio workstation

Just two months after its last release, we now officially have Ardour 7.5, the newest release of the popular open-source digital audio workstation, and it has brought about significant changes and a multitude of improvements and bugfixes. Wanna know more? Here we mention some of the main changes that are worth taking a look at in this new version.

One of the standout features is Tempo Map Editing, which allows users to map tempo to real performance and easily adjust tempo map nodes to align with recorded material. Accessing the tempo mapping mode is as simple as navigating to the "Edit / Tempo / Map Tempo" option, or users can set it as the default mode in the "Preferences" dialog. Another noteworthy addition is the Section Editing, a feature that empowers users to mark a specific range, such as a chorus, and perform operations like copying, cutting, and pasting its contents, along with automation and playlists. This enhancement streamlines the editing process, making it more efficient and intuitive. Moreover, I/O connections per device are now saved when switching between backends, catering to users who frequently change locations and audio interfaces.

In terms of usability, Ardour 7.5 has made further strides. Loaded plugins can now be renamed right within the processor box, simply by hovering over a plugin strip, right-clicking, selecting "Rename" in the menu, providing a new name, and confirming the rename action. Additionally, control surfaces like PreSonus FaderPort 8 and 16, Ableton Push 2, and Contour Design shuttle devices automatically activate upon connection to USB MIDI ports. Notably, the Softube Console1 controller has gained support in this version, thanks to the contribution of Holger Dehnhardt.

To ensure users can make the most of these new features, Ardour plans to provide more documentation, including an updated manual and instructional videos, in the near future. For those looking to familiarize themselves with the tempo mapping feature, the Harrison Mixbus video serves as a valuable resource. The developers emphasize that the user experience (UX) of mapping tempo to performance has reached a stage where it is ready for feedback and adoption, signaling their commitment to refining and enhancing the software based on user input. And there are still many more improvements and bug fixes that we didn't mention here, but you can always take a look at the official changelog to know all the details.