Detailed info on using the new features of versions 6.0 and 6.2

Upgrades to Metro 6 for available now!

The keyboard window allows direct entry from the mac Keyboard or mouse and also expands to reveal an advanced arpeggiator under the hood. Great for using your MacBook to control AudioUnit (AU) or VST software synthesizers.

Effects Rack

Sampler followed by Delay in an effects rack on track 1

• Support for OS X CoreAudio and CoreMIDI technology including the Audio MIDI Setup application.
• AudioUnit V1 and V2 plug-in support.
• Support for AudioUnit Synthesizers including Apple's built-in DLS/SoundFont II. Easily select any compatible SoundFont. Program names generated automatically.
• Convert AudioUnit synthesizers to audio by mixing tracks.
• Real-Time audio play-through.
• Mapping of MIDI controllers to effects parameters for real time control.
• Optional floating transport window.
• High quality font support.

VST 2.0 and AudioUnit Support

VST is a trademark of Steinberg Soft- und Hardware GmbH

• Support for VST instruments (VSTi) with up to 32 outputs and 8 stereo aux busses.
• Convert VST Instruments to audio quickly and easily by mixing, rendering or freezing tracks.
• Real-Time low latency software audio play-through with effects while recording dry signal.
• Mapping of MIDI controllers to effects parameters for real time control. This, for example, enables the use of a foot controller to control the Wah effect of a real time amp simulator plug-in.


Video



Edit video in graphic editor while locked to audio and MIDI in a single window.

• Reads MOV, MPG, AVI and all other QuickTime compatible formats.
• Ability to record video from any source using the QuickTime sequence grabber. Use either the application or QuickTime to record audio synced to video.
• Time-lapse video recording with user specified frames and seconds.
• QuickTime movie synchronization improvements where user can specify to modify either Movie rate or Movie time.
• Multiple Movie tracks.
• Compressor specification for new Movie files.
• 100's of Video effects and transitions.
• Scrolling Text with two columns for standard Movie titles and many options.

Audio

• Support for audio sample rates greater than 48k such as 88.2k and 96k Hz.
• Support for bit sizes greater than 16 such as 24 and 32 and 32 bit float.
• Pitch Time stretch via Scale time and Transpose to modify audio. Also option-drag regions to time stretch audio.
• Re-sampling via Scale Time.
• Improved Tempo changing with audio. Audio regions now maintain there start times when tempos are changed.
• Define silence and remove silence of audio.
• Support for reading Cubase VST plug-in effect programs (.fxp files) and banks (.fxb files).
• Greatly improved support for loading of effects stored in documents on different computers.
• Effect editor windows added to the windows menu.
• Enhanced plug-in window with field sorting and contextual menu popup.
• Much larger number of effects automation parameters can be edited and in-use automation parameters are flagged with an asterisk.
• Automate built-in effect send, dry and wet faders.
• Mix audio tracks to 16, 24 bit or 32 bit float and sample rates of 44k, 48k, 88k or 96k respectively.
• New Aux Fader VU meters.
• New Aux pan knobs.

Jukebox (Audio Library)

• Jukebox allows loading of multiple audio files.
• Play all supported file types through effects (via aux buss) and out to ASIO or built-in device.
• Supported audio types include MP3, MP4, Apple Lossless, AIF, WAV, OGGV, compressed files and many more.
• Load songs by selecting folders and save lists of songs as presets.
• Easily search for Artist or Song using partial words.
• Complete support for reading and writing ID3 tags.
• Batch convert multiple files to AIF, WAV, MP3*, MP4, Apple Lossless, Ogg Vorbis or any of many other formats. *requires LAME converter available separately.
• Intelligent shuffle.
• Auto-size different fields or manually drag them.
• Drag files to exact time location in song by dropping them either the graphic editor or tracks window. This feature makes the jukebox double as an audio library.
• Independent font and size enables using the jukebox as a stereo component device. (Infrared remote, not included).

MIDI

• New tracks overview with note and controller representation plus independent x,y zoom control.
• New setup-tracks which are special MIDI tracks that only play once to setup your synthesizers. Usually used with Sysex.
• MIDI thru All feature sends all channels straight thru to a different synthesizer.
• Improved Remote Control. The ability to map controllers and controller ranges.
• New remote control presets.
• Improved Rhythm Explorer™ arpeggiator algorithms and phrase arpeggiator algorithm.
• Save all program name lists assigned to a given MIDI port as a .ins file.
• Insert all possible bank select messages from Event Editor.
• The ability to record some synthesizers (such as the Korg Triton) arpeggiators when not in sequencer mode by pressing play after record in external sync mode.
• Play while step recording option.
• QuickTime Musical Instruments now built-in.

• Expanding of loops now works for full track loops MIDI and Audio.
• Live scrolling via proportional scroll thumbs.
• New Master Fader VU meter.
• New Golden Style.
• Improved styles.
  
• Support for Propellerheads Rewire.

Metro 5 Standard Features:

• Support for ASIO-compatible audio cards
• Automated real-time effects processing
• 8 stereo aux busses for routing real-time effects
• Drag-and-drop editing of audio
• Audio file compression
• VU meters for monitoring of audio and MIDI
• Audio scrubbing
• Crossfades with linear and exponential curves
• Multiple color schemes
• Context-sensitive, searchable Online Help
• Online tutorials
• Multitrack Digital Audio Record up to 64 tracks of digital audio
• Record at variable sampling rates from up to 48 kHz (96kHz and 24 or 32 bit in Version 6).
• Edit and process with sample accuracy and off-line edits
• Apply effects for real-time processing and off-line edits
• Includes Audio Effects
• Drag and drop editing of audio regions
• Normalize, reverse, fade, audio
• Crossfade with linear and exponential curves
• Scale amplitude
• Merge audio (Combine)
• Real-time mixing
• Stereo mix-downs
• Multitrack MIDI Up to 99 tracks of MIDI per section, up to 32 sections per song file
• Step record, punch in-out, loop record, sound on sound record, and multi-take record
• Flexible pattern-based sequencing
• Edit notes, controllers, tempo, pitch bend and drum patterns within a single window
• Real time arpeggiator for streaming and arpeggio patterns
• Fade, cross-fade and automate volume, pan and other data
• Quantize, Groove Quantize, and Humanize
• Pitch, bend and transpose notes
• Drum grid editing
• Criteria-based editing
• Record, edit SysEx data
• Multiple time/key signatures per song
• Velocity editing
• Edit and print notation (Convert MIDI tracks into notation)
• Transcribe a MIDI performance or enter notes with a mouse
• Print scores with titles, expression text, dynamic markings and scalable staves
• Compose for film, video and QuickTime movies
• Sync MIDI tracks to SMPTE/MTC timecode for scoring to film and video
• Import and export audio to and from QuickTime movies
• Experiment and apply different rhythms in real-time with the Rhythmic Explorer™
• Paint a musical canvas with the Note Spray™ tool.
• Add more effects when needed with Adobe Premiere and VST-compatible audio plug-ins

Many Other features not listed here!