Steinberg has released version 2.0 of Nuendo, its media system targeted to professionals in audio production: composition, film, broadcast, music, post production, surround, game sound, and multimedia. Mac OS X compatible (it requires 10.2.5 or higher), the new version has 200 new features and “is all about surround,” according to Steinberg.
It sports an advanced multi-channel architecture through the entire signal path. Each input, audio track, effect return, group and output now offers up to 12 discrete channels, and is ready for 5.1, 7.1, and 10.2 productions. Steinberg has developed a range of tools including a new way of organizing physical inputs and outputs and dedicated surround panning devices in all relevant points within the audio signal path; this has been done to make routing in a project more transparent. Several input and output busses can be utilized at the same time, with a variety of configurations possible, including mono, stereo or any of a range of surround formats. Additionally, a track can be routed to and from any of these buses.
As of version 2.0, Nuendo’s 32-bit floating point mixer has been re-engineered and now features full plug-in delay compensation and real effect returns, as well as phase reverse and input gain change per channel. Another new feature is the ability to create any number of the new input buses, which let you write effects directly into the recorded file. The new architecture allows for recording in either split or interleaved surround audio file formats. Nuendo 2.0 keeps track of which part of the signal chain is multi-channel and which is stereo or mono. Patch editors or panning devices are available when matching between different channel formats is needed.
Nuendo 2.0 features compatibility with other systems, with support for major file and exchange formats. The update also allows for personalized project setups. The update has a suggested retail price of US$1,526.50.