MusicDevelopments

musicdevelopments · Post by **musicdevelopments** » Fri May 16, 2014 10:50 am

Thank you donato, for your honest opinion. Rightful criticism is never annoying, it is an opportunity to make things better. Although I may never be able to create a software that is equally suitable and likeable for everyone, I am doing my best to please all users.

E.g. version 1.X had a user interface with the inspectors and libraries docked at the left side of the window. People complained that those took too much screen space (even though those panes could be closed) and sent me screenshots with the wasted areas marked with red lines and circles. I said, OK, the UI must be reworked, and I thought having inspectors open on-demand, placed anywhere, and closed after the operation will be a good idea. Now some people want dockable inspector and library windows (just like in v1.X) and even move them out of the window. So my job is not easy...

I agree, the user interface still needs improvements for a smoother workflow. I have lots of ideas about that, and I get even more on this forum. There are more important tasks before that will happen, e.g. the new key-based chord suggestion system which is being worked on right now. Now much less bug reports arrive than earlier so this will speed up development.

About the videos: there are people who like shorter, more formal, more polished videos but I know that many people like Chris' informal, friendly style. The videos are indeed invaluable and I am grateful to Chris for making them.

Thanks so much,
Attila

dsan@mail.com · Post by **dsan@mail.com** » Fri May 16, 2014 2:36 pm

donato wrote:2(edited for brevity)..... but in my opinion contain a lot of extra unimportant information. Same thing with the written manual. I don't need to know an example of your favorite VST, and there are many things in the video that are simply unimportant and extraneous to the user.

Hi donato. Welcome to Rapid Composer! Glad you became interested and purchased RC. I'm sure you will find it quite useful in your arsenal

I just wanted to mention a couple of points regarding your post. Specifically in item 2.

We all tend to think in terms of the self; however, try to keep in mind that there are other users that find the provided information quite important to themselves. Sometimes the added information provides inspriration or gives something that the reader/viewer was uninformed about.

donato wrote:3. Somehow things need to be easier. I guess things are supposed to get massively better in 2.0, but the workflow is still incredibly convoluted. Things need to be more intuitive and clever. I don't know how, I just know the interface is still sloppy in my opinion.

As with any software, it takes time to learn it; especially an incredibly complex software laden with features. Bear in mind, many of the features you find are direct response by the dev to users' requests.

TBH, I find that going through the program to learn its features enhances my abilitites to use RC. Yes, at first, I found it complicated....not so much now. Not to say it's not a complicated program - it is - but rather to say it looks worse than it is. I think RC is easy to learn once you dive in. Perhaps there are some features missing that could make it better (don't know what at this point

- but maybe, yes).

donato wrote:So, I know these criticisms are annoying, but just an honest opinion. I love the product and am happy that things are moving along at a good pace, but there is still a lot that can be improved. Maybe others have workflow improvement ideas. All in all, thanks for a great product. I am really happy for this as it has helped me think in different ways and create things I otherwise wouldn't have.

I think you will find Attila one of the most open minded people around; always welcomes useful criticism and ideas.

If you have an idea of how to make RC more useful to its users please share.

You say "but there is still a lot that can be improved." - what are your thoughts? Give some examples of improvement and I am confident Attilla will consider them, if not immediately implement improvements.

I only say this because if you read past posts you will find a bevy of requests that have been made and implemented and now, we are out of ideas

(Not that we haven't given Attila way too much to do mind you

)

Again, glad to hear you are liking Rapid Composer

Happy Musiking!
dsan

colinspider · Post by **colinspider** » Mon May 26, 2014 8:35 am

I love you.

My request -

I'd love to be able to name my tracks in the idea tool.
I'd love to be able to add custom names to my generators.

Naming things makes a big difference to the creation process.

-------------------------

My other request

I'd love to have the idea tool data save in the save file.

-------------------------

I love your software and wish you more success.

Regards

colinspider · Post by **colinspider** » Mon May 26, 2014 8:50 am

I love your software ....

My feature request is "Idea tool update LOCK"

When using the Shift-G to populate the idea tool into the composition it would be AWESOME to lock a track so it is NOT updated.

So an option in the idea tool to LOCK a track so it will not update into the composition.

This would make a very flexible workflow.

Regards

musicdevelopments · Post by **musicdevelopments** » Tue May 27, 2014 8:23 am

Hi Colin,

thank you for your requests! Yes, the Idea Tool needs an update. There are plans to integrate the idea tool into the main composition page. Then you can selectively generate tracks, rename them, and everything will be easier and more flexible. Much more people use the Idea Tool than I expected so this is important to me.

Thanks,
Attila

dsan@mail.com · Post by **dsan@mail.com** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:49 pm

Those changes will be fantastic additions to an already great program.

Thank you Attila!

Happy Musiking!
dsan

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Wed May 28, 2014 3:02 am

Inspired by the Idea Tool in the full version of RC, I thought of an idea for another type of generator: one that chooses a phrase randomly from a set of phrases, instead of generating a new one from scratch; the phrases to be included in the set are specified in the generator's configuration (the selectable phrases might be added to the set individually and/or as a group via the group name). Whenever the generator gets regenerated, a phrase is once again randomly chosen from the set of selectable phrases:

The "Phrases To Use" parameter should probably have a minimum lower bound equal to 2 and a maximum upper bound equal to the number of phrases in the set.

Another configuration parameter (e.g. "Resize To Fit Strategy") might include what should happen if the randomly selected phrase is too long or too short for the amount of time taken up by the generator in the track.

musicdevelopments · Post by **musicdevelopments** » Wed May 28, 2014 8:38 am

This is an excellent idea! Congratulations, tonedef!

If this phrase container is long, you can specify how the required number of phrases are laid out (e.g. if you need 2 phrases: ABABAB... or ABBAABBA.. or randomly) each phrase count will have a few patterns.

If you use multiple phrase generators, they could use the same rhythm.

And in the end you can break up this container to be able to edit individual phrases.

Very interesting!
Thanks!
Attila

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Wed May 28, 2014 12:19 pm

musicdevelopments wrote:This is an excellent idea! Congratulations, tonedef!

If this phrase container is long, you can specify how the required number of phrases are laid out (e.g. if you need 2 phrases: ABABAB... or ABBAABBA.. or randomly) each phrase count will have a few patterns.

If you use multiple phrase generators, they could use the same rhythm.

And in the end you can break up this container to be able to edit individual phrases.

Very interesting!
Thanks!
Attila

The randomized choice could also be narrowed within a selection...

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Wed May 28, 2014 12:59 pm

BlackWinny wrote:
musicdevelopments wrote:If this phrase container is long, you can specify how the required number of phrases are laid out (e.g. if you need 2 phrases: ABABAB... or ABBAABBA.. or randomly) each phrase count will have a few patterns.

If you use multiple phrase generators, they could use the same rhythm.

And in the end you can break up this container to be able to edit individual phrases.
The randomized choice could also be narrowed within a selection...

Excellent! Numerous possibilities for making this potential generator another useful tool in the already impressive RC toolbox!

dsan@mail.com · Post by **dsan@mail.com** » Wed May 28, 2014 1:55 pm

I think it should be called the TD71 Randomizer, or something similar

That is some great thinking tonedef

Congrats on coming up with that idea!

Definitely looking forward to that feature

I'm curious; when the phrase is generated will it generate based on chords, notes or a combination of?
Perhaps buttons to choose which to generate?

Ahhh....the possibilities are endless.

Happy Musiking!
dsan

yellukhan · Post by **yellukhan** » Wed May 28, 2014 3:07 pm

Great ideas !

and if i understand correctly,
i especially loved "ABABAB... or ABBAABBA" ( or 3x phrase : AAABAACB)
random phrases with definable repetition .

musicdevelopments · Post by **musicdevelopments** » Sat May 31, 2014 6:10 pm

Hello!

A new beta version is uploaded with the following features:

The scale, tempo and signature properties are displayed on the master track and are editable with a single click
It is possible to set the initial length of the inserted phrase generators
New phrase variation: 'Spread Out Chord Notes' to make a fuller sound from any phrase
4 new schemes are added to the Chord Generator to spread out chord notes in octaves
Bug fix: MIDI export and MIDI drag and drop from the VST plug-in to the host did not work well

If you want to hear something nice, make sure you (especially yellukhan

) add 'Spread Out Chord Notes' to a FingerPicking generator...
Also please let me know if the master track extension is useful, or what do you need to make it more usable.

Have a nice weekend!
Attila

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Sat May 31, 2014 6:26 pm

musicdevelopments wrote:Hello!
A new beta version is uploaded with the following features:

The scale, tempo and signature properties are displayed on the master track and are editable with a single click

It is possible to set the initial length of the inserted phrase generators

New phrase variation: 'Spread Out Chord Notes' to make a fuller sound from any phrase

4 new schemes are added to the Chord Generator to spread out chord notes in octaves

Bug fix: MIDI export and MIDI drag and drop from the VST plug-in to the host did not work well
If you want to hear something nice, make sure you (especially yellukhan ) add 'Spread Out Chord Notes' to a FingerPicking generator...
Also please let me know if the master track extension is useful, or what do you need to make it more usable.

Have a nice weekend!
Attila

Whoahhh !

All these new features are GRRREEEAAT !

Atonal · Post by **Atonal** » Sat May 31, 2014 7:58 pm

Adding a 'Chord (and-or) limited Progression' SUBSTITUTE generator.

Since chords, within a phrase or existing progression, can be related to other 'similar color' adjacent chord substitutes since they are 'similar and related' to each other ( this is different from creating NEW , independent chords, and not related to the current progression ) . . it would be nice to be able to
(1) select or define a phrase or bar length
(2) have a substitute chord generator be able to grab a set or series of chords (from the Pallet, by color hue ) which can be replacements for the existing chord(s) progression without severally (drastically ) altering the flavor or characteristic of the original progression ... just 'substituting' chords by density or additional added extension of existing chords. -- the pallet already does this by showing acceptable colors as guides . . .

The user could select the type of substitute before hand ( for Harmony, for Scale, for Tonality ) based on the already existing color coded chord pallet selections guided by the density of the colors -- Red, Yellow, Green, Orange, grey ... whatever, . . since the colors are ALREADY there, and are already driven by the type of adaptation (tonality, scale, Harmony, the user wants to follow ... etc ... ?
--- being lazy, this would be a nice addition to have the substitutes (progression list ) just shown to the user, instead of having to hunt and test each possible chord 'SUBSTITUTE' individually ...

-- atonal

MusicDevelopments

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