Altos 586

The Altos 586 is a line of digital audio workstations (DAWs) designed for music production and post-production applications.

Introduction

The Altos 586 is the latest iteration in the long line of DAWs produced by Cakewalk Software, Inc. First released in 2006, the Altos 586 has undergone several revisions and updates over the years to improve its performance, features, and user interface.

Key Features

• 64-bit operating system support
• Multi-core processor support for improved performance
• Improved audio processing capabilities
• New scoring tool and notation software
• Enhanced MIDI editing capabilities

History/Background

The Altos 586 was first released in 2006 as a major update to the Sonar DAW. The original Sonar version 5.x had been gaining popularity among professional audio engineers and musicians, but its user interface and feature set were seen as somewhat outdated.

The release of the Altos 586 brought significant improvements to the software's performance, stability, and features. It also introduced a new user interface that was more intuitive and streamlined for users familiar with previous versions of Sonar.

Technical Details

The Altos 586 uses a proprietary audio processing engine called the "VSTi" (Virtual Studio Technology Instrument). This engine allows users to run VST instruments plug-ins, as well as supports a variety of other audio formats and codecs.

• Midi protocol support: VST, VSL, MIDI 1.0, 2.0
• Audio file format support:
• WAV, AIFF, MP3, FLAC, WAVPACK
• DirectX audio file formats
• Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) files
• Processing engine: VSTi
• Memory requirements:

1. Minimum 2GB RAM
2. Recommended 4-8GB RAM for optimal performance

Applications/Uses

The Altos 586 has been used by a wide range of professionals and hobbyists in various fields, including:

• Musicians and producers for recording and producing music
• Audio engineers and sound designers for post-production and live events
• Composers and notation software developers for musical composition and notation

A notable example of the Altos 586's use is by the musician and producer, Scott Bomar. In a review published on MusicRadar in 2007, Bomar praised the Altos 586 for its ease-of-use interface and robust feature set.

Impact/Significance

The Altos 586 has had a significant impact on the music production industry by providing an affordable and powerful alternative to other DAWs on the market. Its user-friendly interface and advanced features have made it popular among beginners and professionals alike.

However, the release of newer models such as the Sonar 8.5.x and Pro Tools has led some critics to question the Altos 586's relevance in the current market landscape.

Related Topics

The Altos 586 is part of a larger family of DAWs produced by Cakewalk Software, Inc., including:

• Sonar (the original version)
• Sonar 5.x (the predecessor to the Altos 586)
• Sonar 8.5.x (a newer model that built upon the Altos 586's design)

Other popular DAWs in the market, such as Ableton Live and Logic Pro X, have also influenced the development of the Altos 586.