Open Planet Software Launches Sessions Pro for Mac and iPad

Open Planet Software has officially released Sessions Pro, an advanced Audio Unit (AU) plug-in host designed for both macOS and iPadOS. This new application serves as a versatile control center for musicians, producers, and live performers, aiming to streamline the creative process and enhance live setups. Sessions Pro builds upon the foundation of the original Sessions app, which was initially released for Mac in 2024, now expanding its capabilities to include iPad compatibility and a host of new features.

Gordon Murrison of Open Planet Software highlights Sessions Pro as a significant evolution. Specifically, the team has integrated a multi-threaded audio engine and introduced a dedicated Session Mix performer’s view. Moreover, backing track playback and flexible file-based projects have been added, alongside numerous smaller yet crucial refinements such as plug-in latency compensation, plug-in side chains, and various workflow improvements. This latest iteration, Sessions Pro, notably introduces MIDI FX plug-in support and flexible MIDI routing, which consequently opens up new possibilities for DAW-less creators to incorporate arpeggiators, sequencers, and other MIDI generator Audio Units into their productions.

Streamlined Workflow and Performance Features

Sessions Pro is engineered with a streamlined design, prioritizing ultra-low latency and performer-friendly features. It acts as a central hub, bringing together all necessary tools for live players and creators working without a traditional Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). For instance, guitarists and keyboardists can benefit from stage-ready functionalities like MIDI layers and splits, ensuring seamless sound switching during performances. Additionally, the application supports backing tracks and extensive MIDI controller integration, further enhancing its utility in a live context.

In the studio, producers and creators will find Sessions Pro equally valuable. The application facilitates experimentation with new ideas through its flexible MIDI routing and comprehensive MIDI FX capabilities. Furthermore, it includes Ableton Link support, allowing for synchronized playback with other compatible apps and devices. Perhaps one of its most innovative features is the automatic, continuous recording function, which ensures that no spark of inspiration is ever lost. This ‘Always-On Recorder’ captures up to 15 minutes of audio, providing a safety net for spontaneous musical moments.

Deep Plug-in Integration and Customization

The intuitive drag-and-drop interface of Sessions Pro belies a powerful, high-performance, low-latency, multithreaded audio engine. This engine is designed to scale effortlessly, handling everything from simple plug-in chains to complex multi-layered keyboard patches, and even mixing an entire live band with side chains, pre/post-fader sends, and auxiliary channels. Plug-ins are deeply integrated, blurring the lines between the host and the plug-in itself. The elegant single-window design displays a plug-in’s user interface alongside the Mixer and Library, thus reducing clutter and keeping essential controls front-and-center.

Customization is a key aspect of Sessions Pro. Plug-ins are displayed as customizable Widgets, which are compact mini-panels containing the most relevant plug-in controls. Users can add knobs, sliders, and switches, mapping them to any plug-in parameter for immediate hands-on control. Moreover, Sessions Pro allows users to switch and blend twelve independent Scenes with seamless transitions, providing dynamic control over their soundscapes. Macros, located at the bottom of each Scene, offer limitless potential for real-time control, allowing users to adjust multiple parameters with individual scales and ranges, often via external MIDI controllers or pedals.

Advanced Mixing and Recording Capabilities

The pro-grade mixer within Sessions Pro offers comprehensive control over audio signals, complete with sends, auxiliary channels, and side chains, enabling sophisticated sound design and mixing. For performers utilizing backing tracks, Sessions Pro supports loading and playing individual audio files or multi-track stems, which can be mixed during playback. Tracks can be set to play once or loop indefinitely, offering considerable flexibility. Furthermore, these tracks can be routed directly to the main output or through the mixer for additional processing and effects.

Sessions Pro also ensures robust timing and reliability. It features a custom-built, high-performance, low-latency, multithreaded audio engine that incorporates plug-in delay compensation and sample-accurate MIDI timing. The Beat Clock keeps all plug-ins in sync, supporting Ableton Link and external MIDI clock. For practice sessions, a built-in metronome is also available. The application is built exclusively for macOS and iPadOS, leveraging Apple’s latest technologies like Apple Silicon optimization, Swift, SwiftUI, Core Audio, and Core MIDI for stability and lightning-fast performance.

Features

• Connect instruments and microphones; shape sound with Audio FX plug-ins.
• Play Virtual Instruments with layers and splits from MIDI keyboards/controllers.
• Utilize arpeggiators, sequencers, and other MIDI generator plug-ins.
• Mix with a pro-grade mixer, including sends, auxes, and side chains.
• Control critical plug-in parameters with configurable Widgets.
• Switch and blend twelve independent Scenes with seamless transitions.
• Set up single-knob, multi-parameter Macros for dynamic control.
• Use external MIDI controllers/pedals for Scene switching and Macro adjustments.
• Play pre-recorded backing tracks, stems, and loops; route via mixer or direct.
• Stay in time with Ableton Link and MIDI Clock; includes built-in metronome.
• Continuous, automatic background recording (up to 15 minutes) and traditional direct-to-disk recording.
• Fast plug-in search/favoriting and ability to hide unwanted plug-ins.
• Maintain a library of favorite Patches and plug-in combinations.
• Quickly load/save entire Projects with all Scene, Macro, Clock, and Backing Track data.
• Rock-solid timing, low-latency, multi-threaded audio engine with plug-in delay compensation.

Price
One-time purchase: $19.99

More info: Open Planet Software | Sessions Pro