SoundFlow has released SoundFlow 4, the latest version of their Pro Tools focussed shortcut and macro platform. In the last 9 months, the team have continued to develop SoundFlow releasing no less than 7 point updates culminating in this release. We have the details.

SoundFlow - The Story So Far…

9 years ago SoundFlow started as an app for creating extra shortcuts for Pro Tools. 3 years ago Christian launched it as a product with 103 shortcuts for Pro Tools. A year later, they had turned Soundflow into a platform with the release of SoundFlow 2, in which you could build your own scripts and develop your own workflows. Commands could be triggered from the keyboard, external hardware devices, MIDI controllers, touch surfaces or be integrated into existing scripting.

SoundFlow 3 enabled regular users to be able to build their own automated macros and workflows in DAWs like Pro Tools as well as iZotope RX, Soundminer, in fact, any macOS application. This version also added deep integration with the Stream Deck, which is a 15 button hardware device with LCD screens behind every button, enabling users to be able to design their own dynamic ‘Decks’ inside SoundFlow that react to what you are doing, as well as providing access to all of SoundFlow’s integrations. You can read much more about SoundFlow in our comprehensive article.

In the last 9 months, the team have continued to develop SoundFlow releasing no less than 7 point updates culminating in the release of SoundFlow 4.

SoundFlow Key Features Introduced In Version 3.6 to 4.0

• iOS and Android apps now available. These enable users to be able to design their own cross-platform touch surfaces that interact with their SoundFlow macros, giving remote controlling any DAW or other app that SoundFlow integrates with.

• Third party apps now available in the SoundFlow Store. SoundFlow has partnered with third-party developers (including famous mix engineer Andrew Scheps) to start bringing premium content to the SoundFlow Platform. These paid-for apps will be available as add-ons from the SoundFlow Store.

• There is now an interactive Help Panel that will enable users to be able to access video content and other tutorials from within the app which will be especially useful to new users by offering them an easier better path to learn more about SoundFlow and to easily get help when something doesn’t work as expected.

• Easier drag-n-drop way to design Decks within SoundFlow.

• (3.7) New direct integration with Stream Deck….

  • Faster to set up.

  • Integrates with the Store.

  • No local files - everything is synced to the cloud so available from any computer.

  • Advanced triggers - for example, showing different Decks per window/plug-in.

  • Dynamic Decks - have script show dynamic content on Decks.

  • Speed - better performance.

• (3.6) Many new trigger types including…

  • window triggers, which enable a user to change Stream Decks depending on the focused window in an app

  • HID triggers

  • Improved MIDI triggers

  • System-wide triggers

SoundFlow 4 - New Features In More Detail

Cross-Platform Surfaces Are Finally Here

With the release of SoundFlow 4, users will be able to design their own cross-platform touch surfaces and have them instantly work across both macOS, iOS and Android. At launch, we understand that more recent iOS and Android tablets will be supported, with support for Amazon Fire Tablets coming soon.

Surfaces - Key Features

SoundFlow Surfaces will enable a wide range of new workflows. SoundFlow scripts and macros can now be triggered by inputs like virtual faders and XY pads and skinned buttons. Users will be able to use the new Surfaces designer with an easy to use drag’n’drop editor.

SoundFlow has worked hard to improve on other solutions like Lemur or TouchOSC by removing the need for manual configuration. The objective was to enable the user so that once you have designed a surface on your Mac, it will instantly sync to all your connected devices, iOS or Android, with no need for complicated setup, or manually routing MIDI or OSC.

SoundFlow will take care of all communication to and from all your connected devices automatically. SoundFlow tells us that you can use as many iOS and Android devices as you wish.

In addition, since surfaces travel with your SoundFlow Cloud Account, this means you can have access to all your surfaces, like any other SoundFlow setting, from any computer in the world once you log in to your SoundFlow account.

Third-Party Apps

Over the past few months, SoundFlow has been developing a new program called SoundFlow Approved Authors. These are 3rd party developers who have been given access to even more powerful parts of SoundFlow’s engine and who will be able to harness this access to develop paid-for 3rd party apps on the SoundFlow platform. In the coming months expect to see a variety of 3rd party apps popping up within SoundFlow.

Workflow Services

With the release of SoundFlow 4, SoundFlow also debuts their new Workflow Services. This is aimed at companies or professional individuals who don’t have enough time or programming skills to get the most out of SoundFlow. Instead, they can tap into a dedicated team of SoundFlow Consultants available for hire to develop tailor-made solutions.

Other New Features

The release also includes a number of other updates and improvements. Most significantly for new users, there is now a new interactive Help Panel, which includes video tutorials and other learning content, all designed to make it easier to get started with SoundFlow and get help if you get stuck.

Free Soundflow 4 Webinars

SoundFlow Founder, Christian Scheuer, will be hosting 2 free online webinars in relation to the launch.

Webinar For New SoundFlow Users

On Thursday, J​une 18th 2020​ at 10 am Pacific Time / 19:00 (7 pm) CET

Webinar: How To Design Your Own Surfaces

On Thursday, June 25th 2020​ at 10 am Pacific Time / 19:00 (7 pm) CET

Both these free webinars will be hosted on Facebook Live. Unfortunately, they can only schedule live events on Facebook 7 days in advance. We recommend you check the SoundFlow User Group on Facebook for more details.

Videos

Exclusive Production Expert Video Introduction To SoundFlow 4

In this exclusive video tour, SoundFlow Founder, Christian Scheuer shows our own Mike Thornton around the new SoundFlow 4 as well as covers the new features added in versions 3.6 and 3.7.

SoundFlow 4 Tutorial - How To Work With Keyboard Shortcuts & Triggers

In this free video tutorial learn how to get started creating keyboard shortcuts and triggers in SoundFlow 4. This tutorial is especially for new users of SoundFlow.

SoundFlow 4 - Creating Your First Macro

In this free video tutorial learn how to create a macro in SoundFlow 4. This tutorial is especially for new users of SoundFlow.

Tutorial - Setting up SoundFlow with Stream Deck.

With this free tutorial, learn how to Set up SoundFlow with Stream Deck, and the reasons why SoundFlow recommends their direct integration.

Tutorial - Designing Decks In SoundFlow For Stream Deck Devices

In this free video tutorial from SoundFlow, learn how to…

• Install packages with pre-designed Decks.

• Make Decks show automatically when an App becomes focused.

• Make editable copies of other users' Decks.

• Design your own Decks.

• Launch applications with your own Macros.

• Re-use icons across Decks.

If you haven't already watched "Setting up SoundFlow with Stream Deck" above, we recommend that you watch that first.

Demo - Pro Tools Expert Exclusive Tour Of SoundFlow 3

In this extended demo video, SoundFlow founder Christian Scheuer takes Mike Thornton through the key new features introduced with SoundFlow 3. Christian starts by explaining how SoundFlow came about and how it has developed over the last 3 years.

Tutorial - Learn How To Go From Simple Keyboard Macros To UI Automation

In this free video tutorial you can learn how to automate creating clip groups from Stream Deck buttons with SoundFlow macros. They also discuss how to avoid unstable keyboard and mouse simulation in cases where it can be optimized to use UI automation.

Tutorial - Automating And Scripting Popup Windows And Dialog Windows In Pro Tools

In this free video tutorial learn how to control and automate Popupand dialog windows in Pro Tools using SoundFlow.

What Users Say About SoundFlow

Grammy-award winning mixing engineer, producer & musician Andrew Scheps has worked with artists like Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. He says…

“SoundFlow has been nothing short of life-changing for me. I have Pro Tools working for me now!

I’m a bit late coming to SoundFlow, and I regret every minute before I got it. It’s easy to do the high-level scripting that’s possible in other apps, but it goes so much further and deeper! I have Pro Tools doing things automatically that I never could have scripted before.

The deep level of integration with Pro Tools itself, as well as the native drivers for Stream Deck, make it a ridiculously powerful platform. The ability to slap together a macro in no time, and then convert it to a script to go nuts with the details makes it so flexible and powerful.

And that’s not even talking about surfaces! I’ve already developed several apps that have solved problems and enhanced functionality in ways that are impossible with any other tool I’ve used (and believe me I’ve tried).

On top of all of that, the camaraderie in the forums and the ability to get other people’s scripts (and post your own) in the Store make it a huge resource and a fantastic community.”

Emmy, Golden Reel and HPA award-winning re-recording mixer, Jonathan Wales has worked on hundreds of films, including Get Out, Memento, Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House. He says…

“SoundFlow has quite literally revolutionized my relationship with Pro Tools. The impact on tasks which used to require a lot of mouse clicking is huge. Now I find myself doing the right thing, not just the easy thing.

I can accomplish so much more in the same period of time - and with much less physical stress and strain. The new direct integration with Stream Deck makes text much more legible and the interactions are much faster.

I don't want to even consider using Pro Tools without SoundFlow anymore.

Composer of classical and film music, former record producer and musician, Simon Franglen has received Golden Globe and Grammy nominations for the theme song for Avatar and is the composer of upcoming Avatar 2 and 3, won a Grammy for his producing “My Heart Will Go On”, and has worked on films like Se7en, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Magnificent Seven, and arranged music for Skyfall and Spectre.

“I value my time. I value my headspace. I’d rather be composing than clicking a mouse or trying to find something in a menu. If you value your time, SoundFlow is essential. let me give you a quick example…

I wrote a script to allow me to add chords into Pro Tools in 5 seconds by typing the chord in English, instead of the 20 seconds it normally took to select a right click box, then choose three different options from three different dropdown menus. This script alone saves me 10 minutes across a long cue.

I have scripts that map all my quantize / grid / nudge values to an Android surface and also map these to key commands that mimic Sibelius on the qwerty keyboard. I have scripts that copy track names from Pro Tools and create matching Kontakt instruments inside Vienna Ensemble Pro automatically. I have custom surfaces that have all the Cip Gain / Clip Effects and custom presets mapped out on them for quick vocal editing.

SoundFlow easily saves me 30 minutes a day. It costs me two cappuccinos a month. I think that’s a bargain.“

Golden Reel-winning and Emmy-nominated sound effects editor, Steve Bissinger has worked on shows & films like House of Cards, Mindhunter, Ad Astra, Transformers and The Incredibles 2.

“Many of the features I use are very simple, but I use them all day long; opening the pan window, soloing and muting tracks by name, especially guide tracks and predub masters, navigating by markers, setting and writing surround panning automation in one keystroke to a variety of presets, creating/deleting a temporary track group, auto-dragging a track by name to above the current track (great for moving GT’s), saving and rev’ing the session and moving the old session to the “old session” folder, to name a few.

There’s a script that runs in the background that makes the pan window follow the selected track, a long requested feature. These and many other macros/scripts have solved almost all of my wish list feature requests and as a result, I am working almost effortlessly and am able to spend much more time experimenting, creating and mixing.

SoundFlow is unique in that it’s able to address Pro Tools directly rather than using workarounds such as searching for an image to click. It’s faster, more powerful, and more customizable. The idea of Pro Tools as a generic audio work horse with custom “overlays” for specific tasks such as cutting FX, foley, dialog, or music, or composing or tracking music is, I believe, the future. And it seems like SoundFlow is leading the way here.

I’ve extended my SoundFlow universe to include workflows throughout all of my apps and I keep discovering ways to improve my efficiency. I’m really looking forward to working with surfaces in the near future and for the many other great features that are coming soon!”

Award-winning Film Composer and multi-instrumentalist, Jesper Ankarfeldt has a wide array of credits within film and TV.

“SoundFlow is the workflow power hub which I run almost all my hardware and computer programs through. This integrates everything into a streamlined workflow which is not just making me faster when I write music or have to deliver with a short deadline, but also allows me to stay focused and inspired and create new ways of approaching the way I write music. Currently, SoundFlow controls 12 different pieces of hardware, including StreamDecks, touchscreens, rotors, tablets, mouse and MIDI devices. SoundFlow also connects multiple programs for me such as Nuendo, Vienna Ensemble Pro, Finder and various plugins.
It’s hard for me to imagine having to work without SoundFlow as it does so many things automatically for me now, saving me countless hours and creating more headspace for creativity.”

SoundFlow 4 Availability And Pricing

• SoundFlow 4 is available as a subscription service from the SoundFlow website starting from $4.99 per month.

• There are options for Pro users who want access to all features, and a special version for MPAA-approved facilities that need to work offline.

• All updates are included in the subscription.

• Note that Surface and Stream Deck related features require a Pro subscription which starts from $9.99 per month.

• All subscriptions have a 30-day free trial period, and it doesn’t require a credit card to start your trial.

• More details on the different pricing plans can be found on the SoundFlow Pricing Page.