GrabTracks ARA Sampler for macOS and Windows is FREE for a limited time

GrabTracks is a fairly new ARA sampler plugin for macOS and Windows that offers a tactile, intuitive way to manipulate audio in your DAW.

The plugin usually costs $29, but you can download it for free using the promo code “GRABTRACKSPROMO100.”

The promotion could end at any time, so grab it while it’s free.

ARA (Audio Random Access) is a plugin extension developed by Celemony in conjunction with PreSonus. ARA adds a musical information channel to existing formats (AU, VST, etc.), enabling DAWs and plugins to share pitch, rhythm, and tempo information more efficiently.

ARA-enabled plugins have direct access to all audio information without having to transfer or play an entire track for analysis, resulting in a faster workflow.

In addition to being a timesaver, ARA (first showcased in 2011) enables non-destructive audio editing and manipulation in ways similar to MIDI. Plugins like Melodyne and Auto-Tune are prime examples of how we can play with elements like time and pitch, thanks to ARA.

GrabTracks by Kobito leverages ARA in an interesting way. The plugin allows you to grab audio from your DAW track and control/manipulate audio effects by drawing directly on the timeline.

Drawing curves and gestures directly on the timeline creates a more tactile and intuitive workflow that appeals to users of all levels.

GrabTracks includes a fairly long list of effects, but something like the newly implemented granular synthesis provides a good introduction to the workflow.

Being able to visually represent elements like speed, grain size, and pitch with lines and dots drawn directly on the timeline makes an often complex process easier to digest.

I rarely hear the term “granular synthesis” without thinking of Oi, Grandad. The free four-voice granular synth plugin might be a few years old, but its name makes it impossible to forget.

While GrabTracks isn’t entirely about doing things you couldn’t do before, it will make many processes faster and more approachable.

Additional effects include Pitch Glide, Repeater, Wobbler, Flanger, Tape Stop, and more.

The SuperFusion function allows you to control multiple effects with a single curve.

GrabTracks is available in AU and VST3 formats for macOS and Windows.

The download includes ARA and non-ARA versions of GrabTracks. Apple Silicon (M1 or later) requires Rosetta for the ARA version.

The non-ARA version allows Ableton users to use GrabTracks, though without ARA support, the plugin must capture audio during playback, which removes the immediacy of ARA.

Ableton aside, GrabTracks is compatible with most major DAWs, including Studio One, Logic Pro, Reaper, Cubase, and more (see the full list on Gumroad).

Try it while it’s free!