NEWS / 2025-07-23

🚀 MACE 1.3.0 Is Here

Introducing Text-to-Audio Generation, GPU Acceleration, Beat Syncing & More

MACE Version 1.3.0 is the biggest leap forward yet in MACE’s evolution. We’ve cracked open the next frontier: direct text-to-audio generation inside your DAW — powered by a new Prompt Engine, GPU acceleration across platforms, and a complete rework of how samples are managed and stored.
This update transforms MACE into not just a generative sampler — but a next level sound design interface for the modern producer. The Prompt Engine runs natively, on your own machine! No subscriptions, tokens, or cloud based processing or wait times.

Let’s dig into what’s new:

🧠 Prompt Engine: Text-to-Audio Inside Your DAW

The new Prompt Engine enables fully local, high-quality generation of sounds from simple text descriptions. No cloud needed. Just describe the sound — MACE takes care of the rest using machine learning diffusion models. This is a major technical milestone in plugin design!

Generate up to 11 seconds of stereo audio from text
Each MACE session only loads the engine once — all instances share it
Auto-detects GPU or CPU support (Windows & macOS)

Legacy models are still included as Fixed Models, ideal for one-shots. More on that below.

✍️ Prompt Editor Overlay

To launch the Prompt Overlay:

Click the Prompt Editor icon in the action tool bar above the Main Sample Viewer
Click Generate From Text Prompt option in the Action menu
Holding shift while dragging a pre-made Prompt Model from the Model Browser into a cell will bring up the editor before generation for tweaking

The Prompt Editor has various parameters:

Choose format (loop, one-shot or other)
Set duration, BPM settings, key, scale and metadata like prompt name and author
Optionally export directly into your Prompt Library
Click Generate!

Diffusion Steps

Controls the number of diffusion steps for the sample generation.
Higher values result in more detailed and potentially unstable samples,
Lower values produce faster, lower-quality results.
8 is a good quality/speed default.

Entropy
Controls the entropy (sigma) value for the sample generation.
Higher values result in more coherent samples, while lower values produce more unstable and varied results.
1.0 is a good default for most cases. Lower for insanity.

Use Raw Prompt is a feature that uses only the text in the prompt text-area. Some of the parameters in this editor inject guidance prompts under the hood to strengthen your average prompt. This is for advanced users that may want more granular control of the prompt for the generation.

Note: Due to the generative nature, not every generation is guaranteed to sound like your prompt or be the correct BPM. MACE tries its best to correct the BPM post generation if the BPM Sync Sample After Generation feature is ticked. Sometimes the results will be wildly different — however this can lead to happy accidents and glitchy fx!

📚 Prompt Library Integration

MACE 1.3.0 introduces a powerful Prompt Library system built directly into the Model Browser — letting you instantly browse, load, and trigger prompt-based generative models with zero typing required.

These curated categories give you fast access to pre-configured sounds across a wide creative spectrum:

Each preset is handcrafted to generate unique sonic textures within its category — ranging from clean utility samples to experimental noise and cinematic textures.

You can also create and save your own prompt presets directly into these folders using the Prompt Editor — complete with author name, model name, and format controls.

Use the dropdown at the top of the Model Browser to explore the categories and drag any prompt directly into a cell to generate instantly.

🕘 Prompt Session History

Track every prompt you’ve used in a session — even across multiple MACE instances. Reuse, tweak, or relaunch any past prompt from the new Prompt Session History sidebar.

⚡ GPU Acceleration Across Platforms

MACE now runs faster and smarter on modern GPUs — no CUDA required.

Windows: Works on compatible AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel GPUs via DirectML
macOS: Uses CoreML for native acceleration on Apple Silicon (M1–M4)
CPU fallback mode ensures compatibility for all systems

No setup or drivers required. If MACE detects your GPU, it just works.

🧱 Fixed Models (Legacy Support)

Legacy generators are now labeled Fixed Models in the Model Browser. They don’t support prompts but are still:

Fast
Light on system resources
Great for one-shots and creative grains

These models work even on machines that can’t run the Prompt Engine. Ideal for quick stabs and percussion!

🔍 Advanced Waveform Viewer

The Advanced Waveform Viewer in MACE 1.3.0 has been overhauled for precision, performance, and clarity. Whether you’re fine-tuning loops, editing one-shots, or inspecting textures, this new viewer gives you detailed control and visual feedback.

Key Features:

High-Performance Zoom & Pan
Smoothly zoom in on microdetails or zoom out to view the full waveform. Navigate with ease, even on long files.
Beat Grid Overlay
View your waveform against a live beat grid synced to the host BPM. Ideal for aligning loops and rhythms.
Loop Marker Snapped Control
Adjust loop in/out points directly on the waveform with snapping behavior that adapts to your snap mode (Beat / Fine / Free).

🎛 Beat Snapping Workflow

Introducing 3 Snap Modes in the Sample View:

Beat Snap: Locks markers to the beat grid
Fine Snap: Lightly guides markers to the grid
No Snap: Full freehand editing

Bonus: Hold hotkeys while dragging loop markers:

Alt + Drag: Fine Snap
Ctrl + Drag: No Snap (freeform)
Default drag uses full Beat Snap

📂 Generation Cache System

Every generated sample is now stored to disk instead of RAM — unlocking longer files, lower memory use, and persistent session data.

Default cache path can be customized in settings
Cached audio is not lost between sessions
Session-aware protection flags are added on DAW save

🛡️ Cache Management & Protection

Take control of your generation data:

Session Protection: When you save a project, MACE protects those generation files from cache wipes
Wipe Tool: One-click cleanup of unprotected audio, with safe Recycle Bin deletion
Consolidate Active Cells: Copy all 16 loaded samples into a folder and update references automatically — great for archiving or moving projects

🧠 Smart Tempo Sync & Resampling

Loops generated via Prompts now attempt to snap to your host tempo automatically
Manual Cell BPM Resync (singular via the action menu and all via the footer button) – allows correction post-generation
Dragging a sample to your DAW will now resample it based on cell control settings
- Hold Shift to export the raw, unprocessed original generation/file

🧩 UI & Plugin Enhancements

Advanced Waveform Viewer: Better zoom, drag, and playback tools
Regen Button Automation: Expose prompt regeneration to DAW automation lanes
Prompt Model Shift-Drag now opens the prompt editor before loading
Right-click prompt options added to the browser for fast workflow

🐞 Bug Fixes & Stability

Major Fix: Playback engine had issues that introduced subtle audible clicks when rapidly firing notes on samples
Major Fix: Playback engine had issues in which looping in ping-pong audibly was glitching when voices were greater than 1
Fixed: Regen triggers failing when UI was closed
Fixed: Ableton bug where automation lanes were disengaging unexpectedly
Fixed: State save errors with certain settings paths
Optimized: Threaded stability and memory handling
Many minor crash and behavior fixes across platforms

Thanks to everyone who tested the alpha builds and provided feedback — this release would not exist without you. 🙏
Let us know how it runs on your setup and keep pushing the boundaries of what MACE can do.

— Jordan / TENSOR