Celemony has announced Version 2 of ARA

Celemony announces ARA 2: Plug-ins and DAWs mesh even better
 
At NAMM 2018 Celemony announced version 2 of the acclaimed ARA (Audio Random Access) plug-in extension. The ARA interface extension allows plug-ins and DAWs to communicate more comprehensively with one another and therefore work far better together. Now Celemony is announcing a new version, ARA 2, which has even greater possibilities.
 
With ARA 2, the exchange of information between DAWs and plug-ins is even more comprehensive, which makes additional applications possible. The new ARA 2 specification allows, among other things, the simultaneous editing of multiple tracks, the transfer of chord track information between the DAW and the plug-in, seamless clip borders that make the manual setting of crossfades superfluous, Undo interlocking with the DAW, and much else besides.
 
To profit from the new possibilities, both programs – the DAW and the plug-in – must support the ARA 2 specification. Fortunately, ARA 2 is considerably more flexible and can be integrated more easily into a multitude of DAWs as well as supported by a very wide variety of plug-ins. What features then become available depends, of course, upon the specific plug-in and DAW in each case involved. One pairing may allow only simple sound editing, another perhaps even automatic tempo and harmony adjustments.
Celemony is holding out the prospect of the spring release of a version of Melodyne with ARA 2 – the beta-testing has already begun. ARA 2 was developed in collaboration with established as well as new ARA partners. The first implementations have already been announced: One development partner, Presonus, for example, is currently working on a version of Studio One featuring the new technology and also Cockos has announced ARA 2 integration for Reaper. Apple, with its Logic Pro X 10.4, has already presented at the NAMM show ARA support based on ARA 2.
 
http://www.celemony.com/en/pm-ara2
 
Thus the outdatedness of Sonar begins. :(

Great! When will this be added to SONAR? Oh, wait...

noynekker
Very cool . . . and I've read rumblings that even Steinberg (source: Cubase forum) has ARA on their radar, for future development. Apparently, they don't want to be left behind, or suffer from "outdatedness" either.

Not only that - but ARA2 will also support exchanging Chord Track information between the DAW and Melodyne. Chord tracks is a feature that's only found in Cubase (so far), and if Melodyne will become capable of following (or even creating) Chord Tracks, it will be very useful indeed!
 
For me this indicates Steinberg is already involved for a considerable time in the development of ARA2. Nice to see my "jump ship" to Cubase in April last year was not a bad move (apart from gaining hugely in the MIDI department to start with).

Samplitude has ARA which is great, but I also see that Reaper will be adding it as well from the OP. These are my 2 DAWs of choice when (and if) Sonar stops functioning. I still use Sonar daily, but continued news like this will make the inevitable switch easier.
 
 

Really happy I have the Studio version. Simultaneous editing of multiple tracks. Woo hoo!

Matron Landslide

Makzimia
And, drum roll, Logic Pro X has ARA2, there you go :).

Actually it doesn't, ARA2 hasn't been released/finished yet.

Actually yes it does :@). Based on it.
 
http://www.celemony.com/en/pm-logic-ara2
 
 

I personally don't care about Melodyne, but, apparently..
 
Logic’s ARA support is based on the new ARA 2 specification, but for a plug-in to take advantage of this, it, too, must support ARA 2.
 
And that is what is part of the new smart flexible audio tempo stuff Logic 10.4 now does, so, that I do care about. Either way, it's a VERY cool new feature, yes?
 
Tony

Good question. This could require two upgrades if not released as a point patch on both sides (Melodyne and DAW).

emwhy
Will the older versions of Melodyne work with this new standard?
 

I very much doubt it as the new specification will be written into a new version of Mel. It also probably won't be backward compatible, so once you update to the new Melodyne it is unlikely to work in Sonar anymore. So for any Sonar projects that use Melodyne, you should make sure you render those tracks!

I'm pretty certain Cakewalk was a beta tester partner/developer with this new ARA2. Sonar would have implemented it and probably a nice discount to Melodyne upgrade too.

SimpleManZ
I'm pretty certain Cakewalk was a beta tester partner/developer with this new ARA2. Sonar would have implemented it and probably a nice discount to Melodyne upgrade too.

Instead there is Reaper and Studio One etc.

msorrels
The last version of Melodyne didn't break older SONARs (or other DAWs with ARA support), it's not a given this new version will break the last SONAR.  They actually went a long way at making sure they didn't break things last time.  Given this is all just just at the announce stage, it would be unfair to start jumping to conclusions.  Let them announce the actual upgrade to Melodyne first.

All version of Melidyne up to now was based on ARA1 specification. So till some degree they all was compatible with any ARA1 host side implementation.
So the questions are (1) is ARA2 an extension of  ARA1 (2) if ARA2 is not an extension of ARA1, will next Melodyne support both?
What is clear is that hosts supporting ARA2 only will be unable to work with ARA1 (ARA1 was a bit overcomplicated and not extremely transparent, the reason some hosts, f.e. Reaper, have decided to not work with it).
Someone has to look into ARA2 specs to answer on (1)... I have to find time for that
 

Typically a spec incorporates prior versions so that it adds more and something socketed to it will only get data for the spec it is built to. Ceremony comes across as a company that plans this way so an ARA2 version will most likely function as ARA1 if a DAW only supports ARA1. Again ARA2 would need to be in place on both sides of the fence, so whether upgrades are required remains to be seen, but it shouldn't just break the prior functionality.

Sorry my ignorance, but will ARA 2 Melodyne work with either / both Studio One / Sampletitude
Nigel
 

35mm
 As I understand it, Celemony has only just announced it so I don't think there will be anything for several months yet.

Please do not think that ARA2 was announced to DAW (and other...) developers just 2 day ago