For those who don’t know the tool: Samplitude is a Windows DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for recording through mastering, with a video timeline and plugin workflows via VST3. The Suite edition folds in Soundly and Sound Forge for faster SFX pulls and file edits, and was acquired by BorisFX last year.

Finally video that behaves

Samplitude 2026 adds a new video engine aimed at smoother playback and better responsiveness when you keep the picture inside the session. The feature set targets full-resolution 4K footage at up to 60 fps, with GPU acceleration on NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel hardware.

Codec support gets an refresh as well. The new engine supports AVC and HEVC, via the standards behind H.264 and H.265, plus AV1. For anyone who has ever had to keep a dialogue edit locked to picture while a laptop fan negotiates with physics (Random example… *cough*), that’s amazing: get video decoding off the CPU so the machine can spend its budget on audio processing.

Samplitude also keeps its existing video import formats, and 2026 positions the new engine as the part that makes navigation, scrubbing, and playback less painful while maintaining tight sync inside the project.

Audio engine work that targets dense sessions

The 2026 update includes performance and stability work, paired with VST3 and audio engine improvements.

The goal is to keep demanding sessions running smoothly by improving CPU management and multicore performance, especially when projects lean on heavier processing chains and higher-latency plugins. This focuses on fewer workflow interruptions during recording, editing, mixing, and mastering, even when the session scales into complex multitrack mixes.

OSC control turns the DAW into a network device

Samplitude 2026 adds OSC remote support, built around Open Sound Control workflows. The feature is intended to let users trigger editing, mixing, and transport functions over a network from a phone or tablet, and it also calls out control surfaces like Stream Deck.

This is not a “single vendor controller” story – interoperability with OSC-compatible apps and controllers is reeeeeaaaally common in audio land, but in many cases not the “Headline” Feature of a new control surface. That matters in small booths, multi-room recording setups, and any environment where the person pressing record is not the person sitting at the DAW. (Get an overview of OSC on Wikipedia, and check your current hardware – some already support it, like my webcam! )

Suite-only routing and library integration aim at post workflows

Samplitude Suite adds an FX Routing Matrix designed for flexible routing through plugins, with support around stereo, surround, and more advanced effect chains. The matrix is a way to route track channels into plugin inputs and then return plugin outputs where you want them, including sidechain-style configurations and multichannel bus work.

Suite users also get Soundly integration inside the arranger window. Find an effect in Soundly, then send it into the Samplitude timeline so it appears on the project without manual file wrangling. The integration also includes organising personal clips alongside the Soundly database, for faster reuse of common assets like theme music or recurring effects beds. Or the swearing bleep, if you edit podcasts.

Finally, the Suite bundles Sound Forge 2026 as an integrated audio editor, with sample-accurate editing, finalisation, and mastering tools for stereo and surround work. The positioning here is: use the DAW for timeline decisions, then jump into a dedicated file editor for detailed waveform surgery and repeatable processing tasks.

Expanded ARA2 support adds two named tools

Samplitude 2026 expands ARA2 support with ReSing and MTrackAlign. The workflow described keeps analysis and processing inside the DAW without exports or manual file shuffling, and it frames the integration as faster clip-based correction and alignment work directly in-session.

Small fixes that add up in daily editorial

Beyond the big-ticket items, Samplitude 2026 lists a set of additional improvements that speak to everyday production friction. It includes overload and noise protection that automatically mutes audio at critical levels. Export gets an option to quickly export audio without effects via a checkbox. The plugin buffer dialogue is updated with clearer descriptions for choosing buffer settings. Navigation adds an “Open in Windows Explorer” option to the right-click menu. Marker list export gets usability and compatibility improvements. Arranger controls bring back a classic double-click behaviour for full track fit. Resampling options get a streamlined workflow. Nested VCA support allows controlling multiple VCAs at once with a single fader.

Pricing and availability in plain numbers

Samplitude is sold with subscription and perpetual options. The listed monthly subscription is $25, the annual subscription is $145, and a perpetual license is $395. Upgrade and support plans start at $185.

Samplitude Suite lists an annual subscription at $175, a perpetual license at $495, and upgrade and support plans starting at $275. The Suite does not list a monthly subscription option.

What to test first before you roll it into real work

If you are considering a move to Samplitude 2026 mid-season, the obvious test plan writes itself. Validate picture playback with your facility’s usual codecs and frame rates, prohibit acquisition from randomly integrating new cameras, and check the GPU path on the specific machine builds you actually ship work on. Then stress the audio engine with your worst sessions, including the plugin chains and routing patterns you know can break lesser setups. If you plan to use OSC control, test your network conditions and controller mapping early, before a client session turns into a Wi-Fi troubleshooting workshop.

https://borisfx.com/products/samplitude/

The post Samplitude 2026: the DAW that learned new video tricks? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Boris FX adds a full professional audio toolchain to its Suite bundle. The Academy and Emmy Award–winning developer now includes Sequoia, Samplitude, and Music Studio, three Digital Audio Workstations covering recording, mixing, mastering, live workflows, and entry-level creation. The move extends the Suite’s scope from VFX, tracking, and postproduction toward a combined audio–video environment, after aquiring them earlier this year. The DAWs are integrated into the Boris FX Hub, meaning subscribers gain access without additional cost.

With audio now bundled alongside Sapphire, Continuum, Mocha Pro, Silhouette, SynthEyes, CrumplePop, Optics, and Particle Illusion Pro, the Suite reaches eleven applications under one license.

Sequoia is the flagship DAW for high-end, mission-critical work. Its feature set spans classical recording, multitrack mixing, professional mastering, immersive formats, and real-time broadcast CMS integration. It is widely used by Grammy award-winning mastering engineers (Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Sam Smith), touring engineers for acts such as the Foo Fighters and Depeche Mode, and European broadcasters including Radio France, ARD, and ORF. The system’s reliability in long-form acquisition and precision mastering workflows makes it one of the most established DAWs in the professional audio market.

Samplitude addresses studio-based music production with a hybrid audio engine focused on transparent processing. Key features include object-based editing, independent project switching, advanced comping, support for up to 999 tracks and 256 I/O channels, and a configurable export system for stems, ranges, and full sessions. It targets producers and musicians who need a flexible DAW with large-channel-count capabilities.

Music Studio provides an entry-level path for creators, offering simplified composition, recording, mixing, and mastering. It features a streamlined interface and a library of virtual instruments, loops, and genre-spanning samples. The tool is designed for quick creativity and early-stage music production without the learning curve of studio-grade systems.

The Boris FX Suite subscription remains priced at €990/year or €147/month, covering all supported host applications, including Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and OFX hosts (Autodesk Flame, Foundry Nuke, DaVinci Resolve, VEGAS Pro). A Black Friday promotion runs November 24–30, offering a 25% discount on the Suite or individual products.

The post Boris FX Suite Expands with Three Audio DAWs first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Boris FX built its reputation on video plugins for compositing, matchmoving, rotoscoping, and tracking. The company’s Sapphire, Mocha, and Continuum suites are standard in film and television post-production. With the acquisition of Sequoia, Samplitude, and Music Studio, Boris FX extends its reach into professional audio. The move widens the toolset available to editors and artists, giving them both image and sound environments under one roof.

Sequoia: High-End Audio for Broadcast and Mastering

Sequoia is a professional digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for high-level recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. It is widely used in broadcast studios and classical music production. The software supports object-based editing, allowing users to edit individual sound events directly in the project window without destructive changes. Advanced mastering functions include spectral editing for cleaning up noise, loudness metering compliant with international standards, and DDP image creation for professional CD mastering.

For immersive audio workflows, Sequoia offers full Dolby Atmos support and an integrated ADM (Audio Definition Model) editor. In broadcast environments, the DAW connects with content management systems and automation platforms, enabling live production and playout. The software also supports extensive hardware control surfaces and third-party plugins, keeping it adaptable to a wide range of studio setups.

Samplitude: Studio Production with Speed and Precision

Samplitude comes in standard and Suite editions and targets musicians, producers, and post-production editors. The platform provides a full DAW environment with multitrack recording, virtual instruments, MIDI editing, and integrated mastering tools. Its object-oriented workflow lets users apply effects, fades, and edits directly to clips, reducing the need for additional tracks and buses.

The 2025 release focuses on performance improvements: projects load up to 17 times faster, file sizes are significantly smaller, and memory usage is reduced by nearly two-thirds. New range markers streamline export options, while expanded ARA2 plugin support allows tight integration with software like Melodyne. The Suite edition adds advanced tools, including Dolby Atmos support, a 3D convolution reverb, and bundled software such as SOUND FORGE, Acon Digital Acoustica Premium, and CrumplePop restoration plugins. Samplitude is optimised for 4K HDPI displays, making it suitable for detailed editing on modern monitors.

Music Studio: Entry-Level Creativity

Music Studio is aimed at beginners or hobbyists who want an accessible entry point into music production. It includes a library of loops, samples, and virtual instruments across genres, offering users a simple way to sketch out arrangements or produce full tracks. Despite its low entry cost—$35 per year—it retains a streamlined DAW structure, with track-based editing, mixing tools, and basic mastering features. While it lacks the broadcast and immersive audio functions of Sequoia and Samplitude, it serves as a learning platform and lightweight production environment.

More Tools, More Coverage

For years, Boris FX was synonymous with image processing. Adding professional DAWs does not deepen its VFX technology but expands the overall scope of its toolset. For post-production teams, this means the same vendor can now provide both high-end visual effects plugins and industry-standard audio environments. The range covers everything from entry-level music production to full-scale broadcast mastering. As always, new releases should be tested carefully in controlled conditions before use in production pipelines.

The post Boris FX Turns Up the Volume first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.