New free VSTi - Time stretching - Audio demo

[quintosardo]

Great tool, quintosardo.

Thank you very much, Paulie Phonick. Posts like this are very useful for me, you know...

Actually, I've been thinking of writing a similar thing myself, just couldn't get to it because of my studies...

If you could imagine how long does it take to do this...

I just gave Traks a try and I get ugly clicks on playback - the more the higher the Sound setting, though they don't stop when Sound is set to 0. The clicks are there at 256 samples latency, but disappear at 1024 samples. As the CPU load doesn't even hit 25%, I think the problem is related to disk streaming - my laptop drive is not the fastest around. Still, as I know I never got any clicks when streaming in sfz, I know it's doable so maybe the streaming procedures need some optimisation. Also, an option for buffering samples entirely in RAM (as long as there's enough space) would be nice.

Disk streaming is done in "idle" cycles. So cpu load indication is not so significative (the most of the load is on hard drive and is done out of "process"). But the pc is hardly loaded, this is why I try to maintain a good "focus" for this vsti -> it is more for good multitrack playing, less for loop-mangling

Avoid using sliders while playing or try using less tracks...
I believe that it is an "overload" problem, not a bug. I'll try to optimize the code.

You CAN load loops entirely in RAM!! Simply define as "sample" instead of "loop". Today it is limited to 2.000.000 samples, but it is only to avoid huge-unwanted-loading (if you switch a note from "loop" to "sample" it is automatically loaded in ram. If it was a 10 min loop it is a big problem)

Apart from that, I'd love to see the following features in Traks:
1. A file browser on the GUI instead of dropping.

Yes, already in todo list

2. Horizontal and vertical zoom in sample display.

I'll add this if I'll see that it doesn't overload sound part... I still hear clicks when using sliders while playing...

3. Ability to select a range on the sample and quick assign it to a note by MIDI learn. Also, currently, the user is forced to assign End point before the Start point, which is not particularly intuitive. I'd say a better idea would be to allow any order of assigning and highlighting values in red instead of playing the note when Start is not before End. Or better, play sample backwards then.

I agree, it is not intuitive. A solution maybe keeping the length while moving the start after the endpoint. More complicated solutions, like reverse playing, are not suitable, because it involves buffer pre-loading and so on...

4. Ability to quick assign detected sections (white marks) to notes by MIDI learn.

Yes, this is interesting. It will be added together with visual feedback from gui keyboard

5. Ability to edit detected sections - combine sections, move boundaries, split at position.

These are a step further. The original idea was: you have multitracks, maybe pre-assigned to notes, and you simply want to play them, without worrying about file cutting and tempo and pitch and so on..

6. ADSR envelopes (for each section?)

In "todo" list: attack+decay for slices
ADSR would be only for single shots, right??

7. Polyphonic mode for playing multiple sections from one sample at once.

Already in "todo" list for samples, together with multi-samples (velocity+random switching)

Please note that today "samples" play poliphonic over "loops". While a loop plays, you can add samples (in that demo I added single shots to get variation to the same loop)

That's all that came into my mind after my first look into Traks. I'll be happy to drop further ideas or do some further betatesting, as you develop Traks. Thanks for making it free!

Thank you again for your reporting , let me know any further idea/result

Quinto

[TrekStar]

what the word "DEMO" means???

ditto...the thread is it praising as a freebie but it seems only a demo....

[Maniah]

1) I am using latest beta for Energy XT. I can only see the waveform on the lower display (the bigger one) but not on the smaller display on top.
Also, only the file placed on track one appears on the waveform display (again, only the bottom one). Shouldn't i be able to see all the files on all tracks??

2)The GUI gets messy when scrolling. A bunch of scrunched up lines appear. I have to close and reopen to remedy.

Some feature requests:

1)This plug has potential to be a great live tool. It would benefit if there was a transport with standard play/stop functions so that all files could play simultaneously (have the option to slave to host of course). This way, one can focus on muting/soloing certain tracks and/or tweak with effects instead of just triggering tracks with midi notes(although that option is there for users who desire it).

2)The quantize feature is nice but is a bit weak IMO. It would be great if it could resemble, as closely as possible, the "warp" features of Ableton Live.
What i mean by this is HOW it quantizes.

3)What would REALLY be cool is to have the ability to have only selected tracks affected by time stretching, quantizing etc. Perhaps a button on each track that is a "warp" button. Once activated, that track can be "warped" (stretched, quantized etc.).

3)I am not sure if this is possible already due to the fact that only the file on track one is displayed (as stated above), but it would be nice if there was an option to set each track with exclusive start/end loop points.

4)Have the capability to assign all parameters to CCs. Especially the mute/unmute buttons on each track.

5) Add "Solo", "Pan" and "reverse" buttons to each track (also having the option of assigning to midi CCs).

My 2 cents.

[quintosardo]

1) I am using latest beta for Energy XT. I can only see the waveform on the lower display (the bigger one) but not on the smaller display on top.

Hi Former Pharaoh

The small waveform on the top is computed in background. It appears only when the whole file has been scanned. Computing is halted while playing.
Try to wait until the whole file has been scanned (not playing), the whole wav should appear on top.
You can visually follow loading by scrolling the big waveform, it is built piece by piece

Also, only the file placed on track one appears on the waveform display (again, only the bottom one). Shouldn't i be able to see all the files on all tracks??

Track one is the "main" track. That is why I say that you should put there the more "neutral" track, like "room" or "mix" or "overhead". That is the reference for all the other tracks. You cannot see the other tracks.

2)The GUI gets messy when scrolling. A bunch of scrunched up lines appear. I have to close and reopen to remedy.

Maybe you used a wrong file format? This release only works with 16bit 44.1 KHz mono wav files

Some feature requests:

1)This plug has potential to be a great live tool. It would benefit if there was a transport with standard play/stop functions so that all files could play simultaneously (have the option to slave to host of course). This way, one can focus on muting/soloing certain tracks and/or tweak with effects instead of just triggering tracks with midi notes(although that option is there for users who desire it).

That's good -> "todo" list

2)The quantize feature is nice but is a bit weak IMO. It would be great if it could resemble, as closely as possible, the "warp" features of Ableton Live.
What i mean by this is HOW it quantizes.

Do you mean how versatile it is or how good is the result?
I mean: do ou think that it is out of time or you would like more features?
Now you can choose step and percentage quantized/not-quantized.
I've never used Live, I'll look at that function in demo and in Live manual

3)What would REALLY be cool is to have the ability to have only selected tracks affected by time stretching, quantizing etc. Perhaps a button on each track that is a "warp" button. Once activated, that track can be "warped" (stretched, quantized etc.).

This would be a more creative use of this software. It was written to use multitrack recording from the same source (like mics for drums).
I have to test it for different uses, because it could became too heavy for pc...

3)I am not sure if this is possible already due to the fact that only the file on track one is displayed (as stated above), but it would be nice if there was an option to set each track with exclusive start/end loop points.

No, it isn't possible, at this stage. It is because I was thinking about different mics for the same source, I don't know if it would be useful offset tracks.
You mean for a different use, whit different sound sources in tracks (i.e. drums, bass, guitar, etc), right?

4)Have the capability to assign all parameters to CCs. Especially the mute/unmute buttons on each track.

This is very simple/not_cpu_heavy -> "todo" list

5) Add "Solo", "Pan" and "reverse" buttons to each track (also having the option of assigning to midi CCs).

"Solo": yes
"Pan": The idea is to have mix control by host mixer (internal mixer is there only as an option). Host mixer pan should be automated
"reverse": this involves double buffering (one for forward and one for reverse). It could be too much for a pc, I have to test...

My 2 cents.

Thank you very much

[Maniah]

Former Pharaoh wrote:

2)The GUI gets messy when scrolling. A bunch of scrunched up lines appear. I have to close and reopen to remedy.

Maybe you used a wrong file format? This release only works with 16bit 44.1 KHz mono wav files

No. I am using the proper file formats.

Former Pharaoh wrote:

2)The quantize feature is nice but is a bit weak IMO. It would be great if it could resemble, as closely as possible, the "warp" features of Ableton Live.
What i mean by this is HOW it quantizes.

Do you mean how versatile it is or how good is the result?

A bit of both. Definitely download Live's demo and load some wav. clips onto audio tracks. Double click on a clip and look below on the track view. There is a "warp" button. Activate it and have fun! If you can add this to your plug..ooooh boy

Former Pharaoh wrote:

3)I am not sure if this is possible already due to the fact that only the file on track one is displayed (as stated above), but it would be nice if there was an option to set each track with exclusive start/end loop points.

No, it isn't possible, at this stage. It is because I was thinking about different mics for the same source, I don't know if it would be useful offset tracks.
You mean for a different use, whit different sound sources in tracks (i.e. drums, bass, guitar, etc), right?

Yes exactly. I make loops with Energy XT (VST synths, drums etc. and occasionally add some guitar, bass and vocals). What i do is record 1-2 bar loops and render them as wav files. I then would throw these files into Live and experiment with different loop settings for each track. It is very cool with drums/percussion because you get a totally different groove going.
Traks has the potential to offer this as well which would be nice.

Thank you very much Smile

You're welcome and thanks for the plug