BlueARP VST Arpeggiator development - let's discuss! (Apple M1 ready, 4K)

[graywolf2004]

Oleg mate I got a problem, used 4 instances of BlueArp 1.13b3

Thanks, I need to do more debugging on it since I made many changes comparing to 1.12rc5. Did you notice any pattern to this error? How often does in happen (every 10 mins, etc.)?

[graywolf2004]

This is a one of a kind tool... and the fact that you release it freeware makes you one of the coolest guy on the planet!
Now, pardon my stupid whining but I can't help myself with an (important) /detail/ about it: why, oh WHY restrict it to 5 notes in Key Select (when 8 would have been the strict minimum IMHO)?
I believe these restrictions aren't at all dictated by coding limitations, are they?
Thank you for a wonderful software Greywolf (now consider my requests and go code the extended version!!! Hehehe).

Of course there is a reason for 5 keys - to force you to use other things like octave & semitone transpose or force to scale instead of feeding in huge chords. Also, I designed it for multi-instance usage, where each hand controls 1 instance, so there are 5 keys for each hand. This is the way I want it to be.

[graywolf2004]

Two feature requests:
Could you add an option to key select, "inc" and "dec" which increments/decrements a counter and uses that input note for the step? When running out of notes it would return to zero/last, so having one step with "inc" selected and playing a triad would produce that triad arpeggio.

Cthulhu has this feature, but bluearp is a pattern arp and I want to keep it this way. Why can't you model it with a pattern like k1-k2-k3-k1-k2-k3-k1 for example?

Another feature I really like in arps is a sync/rate option for "fit". This would be an additional switch. For example if 1/16 were selected for sync and "fit" were enabled, a triad would play at a rate of 1/16*3, or 1/48.
That allows you to keep a fixed rate while playing different lengths of chords with the inc/dec feature...

Well, I think I got the idea - it's about makine "C64 music". Again, for me it's too far away from the concept I have for bluearp, so sorry. Maybe later, if I will add some additional screen with hidden / advanced settings.

[KushiQ]

@graywolf 2004. First of all thank you very much for sharing this great Arp.
But... I've got a problem when I want to use it in WIN64, Cubase64.

The problem is that when I drop the plugin into the project the BlueArp-Window is empty and shows a white screen as if GUI has crashed. Presets are loadable and still working?!

Running BlueARP in 32 bit version of Cubase7 however is no problem. But with using JBridge for running under Cubase7/64 makes the problem.

Do you know about the Problem? It would be great to use BueArp under Cubase7/64. I'm using the latest Update of BlueArp.

[graywolf2004]

@graywolf 2004. First of all thank you very much for sharing this great Arp.
But... I've got a problem when I want to use it in WIN64, Cubase64...

This is a second crash report about JBridge + BlueARP. Will try to debug it with JBridge today.

[KushiQ]

@graywolf2004 Oh that would be great!!

[Psyclapse]

@graywolf2004 What are your thoughts on building 64 bit as well as 32 bit?

I'd like to use BlueARP but I'm on 64 bit (Win7 / S1) and don't want to use jbridge. (Trying to keep my DAW minimalist).

[aciddose]

Why can't you model it with a pattern like k1-k2-k3-k1-k2-k3-k1 for example?

Because the inc/dec system allows the two patterns to have different lengths.

The sequence might have a length of 7, while the notes might be 3.

3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21

vs.

7, 14, 21

So this can produce complex algorithmic patterns that would otherwise require you to program more steps than are available.

Also, the most important factor is that it is dynamic. The number of input notes does not depend upon the pattern, there can be 1, 3, or 90, no difference. Also, a change in input notes can be sync'd to the beginning of the pattern which will quantize the input.

The feature combines all capabilities of a pattern arp with a input driven arp... a "meta arp" basically.

If you want to stick to a pattern-based arp then I'll have to continue working on mine

[graywolf2004]

The feature combines all capabilities of a pattern arp with a input driven arp... a "meta arp" basically.

I see. Cthulhu works this way, check it if you didn't yet. It's step type can be either key select or up \ down.

[phreaque]

Oleg mate I got a problem, used 4 instances of BlueArp 1.13b3

Thanks, I need to do more debugging on it since I made many changes comparing to 1.12rc5. Did you notice any pattern to this error? How often does in happen (every 10 mins, etc.)?

Privet
Well, not so significant pattern found, sometimes it runs smooth for more up to 10 minutes other times it stuck in 1 minute, it happens only in this case:

* Multiple instance of the plugin
* While playback
* (or) when pressing notes (i.e. triggering the clock)

Tempo has nothing to do about it, tried to change the tempo to minimum to check if it global clock issue or not.

I mixed 3 instances of the stable version (1.12) with only one instance of(1.13b) and it works good, no error.

[graywolf2004]

Hi all. Some notes on my progress:

1. Fixed the issue with JBridge (tested in Cubase AI6 x64)
2. Found some more reasons fore multiple-instance crash.
But didn't yet fix it completely. Need more debugging.

Reasons are memory leaks (it's all about dynamic strings\arrays and heap memory) and multiple GUI update calls. So I need to clean up my code more.

[metalthrix]

Hi everyone and hi graywolf2004,

I must thank you for your hard work first, and i would like if you could check something for me !

I am using renoise and Wusic Vm and the blue Arp window wont fully open, in fact its opening 2 half long and thats all but the plugin seems to work in background so it look like its just a gui trouble.

I know that you were aware of this problem like we can see in this thread : http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 77#5464277

But it seems like the problem still occurs ! Do you know what it could be ?

[AusDisciple]

I especially love the GUI. I'm using it with a touch screen (my Sony Vaio Duo 11) and it is great for live improvised recordings with my analog rig which is exactly what I was looking for...

This is a useful feedback, thanks. I kept the idea of touchscreen in mind when I designed it, though I don't have touchscreen PC yet, but I will

As mentioned, I have been using this with my Sony Vaio set up next to my Roland System 700 analog sequencer and it is great to use for improvisation and live recording.

The only thing I'd like to see, if possible, would be to have the semitone section with a selectable one octave up, one octave down or two octave view. As it is, it is a little too small to adjust these pages with a touch screen with two octave view.
Maybe you could add a selector for one octave with scrolling view and a two octave view. Just an idea.

Is 1.13b2 still your latest version? So far, it is working really well here in Windows 8 in the latest version of REAPER (4.55).

[AusDisciple]

Here's a pic of my current setup. In this pic, next to the System 700 sequencer, you can see my Sony Vaio running REAPER with BlueARP, Night Flight string synth and Big Rock phaser...

Click the image for high res view.
Keyboard rig MK2 close view:

[graywolf2004]

HI all. Here's an update
http://www.graywolf2004.net/files/BlueARP_v1.14b1.zip

Main changes:
1. Fixed 'no GUI' bug with JBridge. Maybe will also help with Wusic Vm
2. Some GUI optimisations - I removed redundant GUI updates.
This may increase stability, but may also introduce minor bugs like GUI won't
be updated when neccessary (so pls check it for this kind of bugs)

Still didn't solve all stability issues. My methos of testing - I run 3 instances of BA is FL studio with a a lot of random notes and automation (kind of a stress test). And it still crashes sometimes.