The M4 Files

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The new MuLab 4 doc files are available at http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs

Cheers!
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...OK, I'm sure that's work in progress... but it's a bit of a frightener if you're new to the software and wanting to find something. Some structure with headings would be a good start :). Also, you could make more interesting use of the space on the page by having the groups in columns or something - the long list needs scrolling through, making it slower to quickly pick out what you're after than if it were all visible.

Also, fixed font sizes (like "font-size: 11px;") aren't great. I always encourage use of percentage-based sizes for everything.

It would be nice if "next" and "previous" links didn't keep moving around from page to page - consider having them additionally at the top?

http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/mulab-versions.html
Are these hard constraints again? I thought you'd said something about using soft constraints and an annoyer?

http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/installation.html
installation.html wrote:Latest Application Patch An application patch is a newer version of the application file. Installing the latest application patch updates an existing MuLab installation to the most recent version while preserving all user settings. You can find the latest MuLab 3.2.14 application patch in www.mutools.com/mulab/patch If you're in doubt what all this is about, then simply install the complete package above and everything will be fine
Should be deleted?
Tip: On Windows 7, it's recommended not to install the Mulab folder under the 'Program Files' folder, but e.g. in C:\Applications\Music\Mulab (or any other non-system folder). This is to avoid access problems caused by Windows' UAC/Virtual Store mechanisms.
It actually runs perfectly well for me, with the files owned by Administrator in a folder owned by Administrator. Don't ask me where my Settings are, though! :hihi: I must have found them once to set my registration key... or maybe I used the menu...

http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/recording.html
Could do with a screen shot of the recording controls at the top, maybe (if you jumped in here, you'd have missed them earlier).

http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/audio ... mples.html
Typo:
audiofiles-and-samples.html wrote:"Trumpet-D4" implicitly tels that it's a Trumpet at C4
:-o

http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/musynth.html
Hm. Mm. Spotting the orange on brown "F1" is tricky... I think this may cause some initial discomfort/confusion in understanding musynth. Once you know what to look for, it's fine but that initial stage may put some people off. Maybe use the green from the "LEDs"?

...I skimmed the detailed stuff and it looked okay... :)
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pljones wrote:...OK, I'm sure that's work in progress... but it's a bit of a frightener if you're new to the software and wanting to find something. Some structure with headings would be a good start :). Also, you could make more interesting use of the space on the page by having the groups in columns or something - the long list needs scrolling through, making it slower to quickly pick out what you're after than if it were all visible.

Also, fixed font sizes (like "font-size: 11px;") aren't great. I always encourage use of percentage-based sizes for everything.

It would be nice if "next" and "previous" links didn't keep moving around from page to page - consider having them additionally at the top?
Thanks a lot for your suggestions, here above and below.
I do appreciate and evaluate each of your suggestions even though i only implement some of them.

I know the M4 docs are very basic. That's intended as i don't want to spend too much time in writing words that get outdated almost while i write them, because that's what happens with software, evolution goes so fast. Ok, i'm exagerating a bit but you get the point. And reading text is boring for most musicians, so the more text, the more boring. The lighter the docs, the more fun time remains for being creative :)

That said, i'm 100% convinced of the need of the docs, that's why i make them.
And i'll certainly extend the docs where necessary. If someone thinks something essential is missing, let me know. Thanks!

Note i don't see the docs as 'a tutorial', which is much more oriented on the practical side. The MuLab tutorials will come as YouTube movies. Coming soon.

The docs are only the essential textual info from which everything else can be deducted. I know it's more fun for the user to have things explained in the very detail, step by step, but then that's the goal of the Muvies, that will be more fun than reading text, i hope.
http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/mulab-versions.html
Are these hard constraints again? I thought you'd said something about using soft constraints and an annoyer?
Yes indeed, the track and MIDI channel limits are soft limits. Updated that doc page. Thanks!
http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/installation.html
installation.html wrote:Latest Application Patch An application patch is a newer version of the application file. Installing the latest application patch updates an existing MuLab installation to the most recent version while preserving all user settings. You can find the latest MuLab 3.2.14 application patch in www.mutools.com/mulab/patch If you're in doubt what all this is about, then simply install the complete package above and everything will be fine
Should be deleted?
Yep, a biiiig typo :D (a past-o in fact)
Tip: On Windows 7, it's recommended not to install the Mulab folder under the 'Program Files' folder, but e.g. in C:\Applications\Music\Mulab (or any other non-system folder). This is to avoid access problems caused by Windows' UAC/Virtual Store mechanisms.
It actually runs perfectly well for me, with the files owned by Administrator in a folder owned by Administrator. Don't ask me where my Settings are, though! :hihi: I must have found them once to set my registration key... or maybe I used the menu...
Ok, i softened the tip.
http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/recording.html
Could do with a screen shot of the recording controls at the top, maybe (if you jumped in here, you'd have missed them earlier).
OK.
http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/audio ... mples.html
Typo:
audiofiles-and-samples.html wrote:"Trumpet-D4" implicitly tels that it's a Trumpet at C4
:-o
Oops :D
http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/musynth.html
Hm. Mm. Spotting the orange on brown "F1" is tricky... I think this may cause some initial discomfort/confusion in understanding musynth. Once you know what to look for, it's fine but that initial stage may put some people off.
Finetuned that picture.

Thanks pljones!
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'muvies' :hihi:
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Just checked out the new docs... Great stuff on the synths. Answered a bunch of my questions in one shot! Yayyy. The MuDrum is crazy... if it had a beat programmer it would be the ultimate drum plug! Wow... It's simple but complex all in one. I'm rethinking my DAW strategy everytime I mess around with MuLab...

:)
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DHR53 wrote:The MuDrum is crazy... if it had a beat programmer it would be the ultimate drum plug!
:)
oh you mean like a groovebox sequencer? just goes to show that a full on groovebox would be a welcome addition
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More like a grid to place patterns in rather than a Electribe thingy... My .02 anyway... Although the piano roll certainly works for this, a grid with drag and drop of midi patterns is the ultimate way to fly IMHO. :)
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Just want to say that i'm constantly updating details in the doc, and extending them with extra bits of info. That will be an ongoing process the coming months. Cheers!
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can you do all the stuff an electribe seq can do in piano roll then? Its just that after using audio loops in muzys v3.14 I had problems with the piano roll. For the life of me I can't remember off hand what they're called, but when loading an audio loop muzys automatically placed locator points throughout the length of the loop. I don't understand how this worked but if you viewed the loop in piano roll, each locator was represented by a different key going up the scale of the keyboard. When it reached the final keyboard key they were then in a line til the end of the loop???

Sometimes I had problems with a loop playing in the main seq but click on the loops test button and all was fine??? As the manual doesn't explain much and muzys was out of date when I started using it I couldn't get this sorted. The only way I could solve the playback issue was to delete all locators past the problem point. Bloody annoying! Was it a bug?

Anyway, I don't know if this is an inherent quality of piano roll or, as I said, a bug. But I'd prefer a proper groovebox seq for simplicity. I suppose there could be an option to hide it and use piano roll if Jo thought it was worth adding. Though I expect it won't :-(

I've now bought a mu-licence just waiting for it. If piano roll is easier then I'm all up for that. I don't want Jo to add something that can be done already but easier/better! I just hope this locator issue was a bug or maybe my lack of knowledge rather than an inherent problem with locators/piano roll.

Jo- my paypal has cleared. how do I recieve my licence, by email? will it be sent to paypal one or forum one? As I'd prefer forum email if you can see it. It might get lost in the paypal one as its heavily used but rarely accessed.

Thanks
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sl23 wrote:can you do all the stuff an electribe seq can do in piano roll then?
Yes, certainly!
You can even do more in the piano roll for you have total control over note length and velocity!

Imagine a open hihat with a longer decay and a shorter release.
Now by varying the hihat note lengths you'll get extra groove!

That said, i totally agree that a "classic drumbox pattern editor" is handy and fun too and i want to add such module in MuLab.

Forgive me that i'm a bit silent on feature requests these days, but i'm 100% focussed on finishing M4 and releasing it. Finetuning all the details is a tedious work but the big gain is that in the end we get a very useful, rock solid and effective app to create lovely music with 8)

Soon after M4 has been released and the necessary promo has been done, we can start dreaming about new features. Then i'll also do a poll to get a feeling of which feature requests have most priority. I assume multi-core will be on top.

M4 is expected to be released next week.
Sometimes I had problems with a loop playing in the main seq but click on the loops test button and all was fine??? As the manual doesn't explain much and muzys was out of date when I started using it I couldn't get this sorted. The only way I could solve the playback issue was to delete all locators past the problem point. Bloody annoying! Was it a bug?
Muzys is not under my control anymore, sorry. Lets talk MuLab!
Jo- my paypal has cleared. how do I recieve my licence, by email? will it be sent to paypal one or forum one? As I'd prefer forum email if you can see it. It might get lost in the paypal one as its heavily used but rarely accessed.


MuLab user keys are always sent via email. Your MuLab user key has been sent to you.

Hope you'll like the piano-roll + MuDrum combination!

Please feedback how it feels to you!
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Thanks Jo. yes I'm looking forward to using the full mu-lab and hope someday you add the groovebox seq. I understand there's more important things at present and wasn't expecting you to drop everything for that.Hope I didn't come across that way!

I realise muzys is a dead duck now I wasn't expecting any help with it as such, it was more a fear I would have the same problem with mu-lab? Now I have mu-lab full, I can archive muzys :-) It certainly was a good program but I love the stuff I've seen in mu-lab already.

If there's one thing I don't like though its the whole menu system. Apart from looking a bit dreary, I wonder if it could be laid out better and some things renamed. That was my first impression though so after getting used to it I could find it actually ok. Will let you know how I get on.

I'm also confused why there's a two menus with session in each, is there a difference?

Thanks

off to check my emails...
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sl23 wrote:I'm also confused why there's a two menus with session in each, is there a difference?
Updated the docs on this: http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/main-menu.html
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Ok I see now thanks that helped explain it.

Personally I would prefer some reorganisation for both menus. Not sure how you, or current users feel about this, but would you mind if I suggest a new menu layout?

I just think its a bit messy :-( sorry. If everyone prefers it as is then I won't bother as it'll take some time to get it right.

What do you think?
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Feel free to suggest!
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mutools wrote:Feel free to suggest!
Replace new session menu entrance with: New Mulab Open..and if you open this there is a session already there

By stacking(cascading) the mulab programs, by... the second program is moved from the left upper corner horizontal and vertical for a short distance

The user can see at once by the cascading screen from the second mulab program that there is a another second mulab program open and so on

The window management must be chanced for that
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