Ardour 8.10 is now available for download, marking the last update in the 8.x series of this popular digital audio workstation. This release focuses on fixing previous issues and introducing a suite of updates to enhance user experience on Linux, Windows, and macOS platforms.

Key Fixes and Improvements

One of the major areas addressed in this release is the scheduling of disk input/output threads, which saw improvements in system-dependent performance issues. Additionally, importing MIDI files via drag-and-drop should now function more reliably with the file name restoration. Content-slipping in regions properly updates playback buffers, providing a seamless creative process.

Thematic and User Interface Enhancements

Ardour 8.10 introduces updates to non-default color themes, a new MIDI binding map for M-Audio Axiom 49 MkII, and a Lua script designed for duplicating regions on the grid. These updates aim to improve ease of use and customization options for users.

Transitioning Beyond Version 8

With the git repository advancing to 9.0-pre0, users can anticipate new features in the upcoming 9.0 release. However, the repository is currently deemed unstable for production work due to ongoing developments.

Notable Features Introduced in Previous Releases

• Track Dragging: Users can now reorder tracks and busses using mouse dragging, enhancing the management of the editor and mixer views.
• Ruler Changes: The number of available rulers is reduced to three, simplifying the display of markers and reducing potential confusion.
• Parallel Disk I/O: This new feature allows leveraging modern multi-core CPUs for increased storage bandwidth, crucial for handling large audio and MIDI files.

Bug Fixes and Performance Tweaks

This release also fixes a vast array of bugs across different components, from MIDI operations and plugin handling to GUI improvements. The community of contributors, including Alexandre Prokoudine, Ben Loftis, Fabio Pesari, and others, played a significant role in bringing these improvements to life.

Looking Ahead

As the final release in the 8.x line, Ardour 8.10 lays a solid foundation for the transition to version 9.0, promising new features and capabilities. Users are encouraged to keep an eye on the developments as the team shifts focus toward future innovations.

This release announcement and further details can be found directly on the Ardour website.