StiX : MultiSynthesis Drum Machine (v1.6 Released + Flash sales)

[Lotuzia]

And I'd like to make a feature request:

- left and right clicking on the sample selection button in the advanced window enables one to push up or down in the sample selection list

current behaviour - left mouse button pressed on sample selection button moves DOWN the next sample list

additional behaviour - right mouse button on sample selection button goes UP through the list

doable?

Yes, you have perfectly well explained it. And it could be usefull if for example, you suddenly decide that you prefer the last sample you have browsed. We'll consider that. It's just that the osc section is very crowded, so the spare space becomes very expensive.

[Lotuzia]

loving the new metal skin

is there any chance to be able to add favourites to the drum sound presets so when i look through kick/snare/hat presets folders etc i can quickly see the ones i like?
just to be able to put a little star next to preferred sounds would be great

Thanks Emef.

Favorite : First in StiX, you can create your own tags, for each preset category ( Global presets, Drumpads, Drumkits, Patterns etc )

I've created a 'Favorite' TAG for global presets, and it can be found in the 'TYPE' filed of the global presets. So if you sort the global presets by 'TYPE', using the 'sort by' function, you'll have all your favorite Global Presets displayed at once.

Of course, you'll still have to tag them as 'Favorite', and this done by opening the INFO dialog box, giving the preset the proper tag, the choosing the Save or Save As function ( Save as is mandatory for factory presets as you cant rewrite them )

So how to adapt that to the Drumpads ? JUst create a 'Favorite' criteria in whatever criteria field you want. I'd suggest though, to keep all the criteria information already done for each preset, to create a new Sound Designer, and simply name it 'Emef' or 'Favorite'. Then retag any drumpad you like using this new tag. After that, is you sort drumpads by Sound Designer + another criteria, you will have all your 'EMEF/Favorites' drumpads displayed at once. So for example you could have :
EMEF/FAVORITE -> VA Based presets in a list,
or an
FM Snares -> EMEF/Favorite in a list.

Id depnds how you then use the 'sort by' function.

Well, StiX databased system is extremly powerfull, and it is able to manage a lot of cases, including the 'favorite' one. But one have to spend a bit of time with it. It's, as often, a balance between depth/power, and learning curve.( and imagination !)

[emef]

cheers i'll look into doing that

[emef]

that all worked out fine, thanks again for that quick reply Lotuzia

[Lotuzia]

that all worked out fine, thanks again for that quick reply Lotuzia

Glad you find it usefull. I hope it will give you plenty of ideas to filter and sort out sounds, drumkits, rythms in StiX, and find the right ones for your tracks quickly.

[Lotuzia]

Testing Song Mode. Press start on the daw, and everything flows.

StiX Glasgow

Kick is VA and one oscillator only HH are virtual analog also ( closed and open are made with the same sound) . No compressor, no nothing. Keys are FM8, and the bass courtesy of PolyKB II. I've also saved the drumkit and it will be included in the V 1.0.

Another demo using song mode. Keys are Xils 3, and the bass the POlyKB II -again-.

StiX Ibiza

It would be nice if StiX could do what these heavy & expensive cinematic sound libraries with gazillions multi samples offer. Well, it can't . But it was fun to try Here's a possible result, ussing a mix of all synthesis methods.

Drums of War 2

The preset and the drumkit will be added in StiX v1.0.

Quick sketch while testing v 0.98C, trying to do a solid/centered, but not too obstrusive/inyourface, drumbeat. Just chaining patterns on the fly with a midi keyboard, while adding a few drumhits here and there. Very exciting to play StiX *live*, it keeps the interest and energy constant. Bass:pkbII /Keys:FM8/ Brass&Strings:Kontakt Stock, *lead*:MiniSyn'X

StiX Lounge House

Preset(s) will be added in StiX v1.0.

Another global + drumkit preset with a mix of analog and samples druumpads. Everything is Stix, including the *synth* pump. Played in Song mode, no compressor, and stereo output only.

StiX Technotron

[stardustmedia]

Here are some more findings I had today:
- Master out level/knob (I hope I miss that somehow, because I can't find it)
- FX out level/knob, per FX of course. Ideally there would be 3 extra faders in the mixer. E.g.: REV, DEL, PHAS
- All FX-sends are pre-fade. Normally I'd expect FX-sends to be post-fade. There are situations where pre-fade is necessary/wanted. So ideally user can choose per instrument if the 3 sends are pre- or post-fade, individually per send (Again, maybe I just missed that somewhere)
- The volume fader should be bigger. For me you could make the solo and mute buttons smaller to gain more space for the faders.
- The values for volume fader should be in dB. I expect a drop about 6dB when going down from 100 to 50. But it drops way more, around 18dB. From 50 to 25 it dropped then only by 13dB (the same sound, sine like)
- This brings me to the next point: Make the faders logarithmic. They should be very fine at the top and then get broader/coarse to the bottom.
- Faders should also have a 'Reset to the default value' function, with Logic it's usually CMD+click. Other knobs in StiX do that already
- So said: Volume faders should have a zero dB position (also = default value), like in a real mixer or in the most DAWs
- Overall I'd decrease the amount of different fonts, font colors and font sizes.
- It should read 'Paste', not 'Past' in the button for copy pasting in the middle at the top
- The color coding of the pan knobs should be different than blue. Blue relates to envelopes and LFOs. Maybe white like the FX would be better.
- I'd color LFOs differently from the envelopes. Maybe yellow?
- Maybe there is a reason I don't see yet, but I'd use the same names in the pop up (reading out the values) as used in other places. For instance the instrument MISC, the pan pop up reads 'PAN MS : xxx%'. I'd suggest to go with 'PAN MISC : xxx%'

Some findings are GUI related, so probably they'll be addressed anyway. Nevertheless I dropped my ideas

It's late and I'm tired. Hopefully I didn't make too many mistakes and bring shame to me

System information:
Logic 10.2.1
MacOS 10.9.5
StiX 0.9.8d

[Lotuzia]

Here are some more findings I had today:
- Master out level/knob (I hope I miss that somehow, because I can't find it)
- FX out level/knob, per FX of course. Ideally there would be 3 extra faders in the mixer. E.g.: REV, DEL, PHAS
- All FX-sends are pre-fade. Normally I'd expect FX-sends to be post-fade. There are situations where pre-fade is necessary/wanted. So ideally user can choose per instrument if the 3 sends are pre- or post-fade, individually per send (Again, maybe I just missed that somewhere)
- The volume fader should be bigger. For me you could make the solo and mute buttons smaller to gain more space for the faders.
- The values for volume fader should be in dB. I expect a drop about 6dB when going down from 100 to 50. But it drops way more, around 18dB. From 50 to 25 it dropped then only by 13dB (the same sound, sine like)
- This brings me to the next point: Make the faders logarithmic. They should be very fine at the top and then get broader/coarse to the bottom.
- Faders should also have a 'Reset to the default value' function, with Logic it's usually CMD+click. Other knobs in StiX do that already
- So said: Volume faders should have a zero dB position (also = default value), like in a real mixer or in the most DAWs
- Overall I'd decrease the amount of different fonts, font colors and font sizes.
- It should read 'Paste', not 'Past' in the button for copy pasting in the middle at the top
- The color coding of the pan knobs should be different than blue. Blue relates to envelopes and LFOs. Maybe white like the FX would be better.
- I'd color LFOs differently from the envelopes. Maybe yellow?
- Maybe there is a reason I don't see yet, but I'd use the same names in the pop up (reading out the values) as used in other places. For instance the instrument MISC, the pan pop up reads 'PAN MS : xxx%'. I'd suggest to go with 'PAN MISC : xxx%'

Some findings are GUI related, so probably they'll be addressed anyway. Nevertheless I dropped my ideas

It's late and I'm tired. Hopefully I didn't make too many mistakes and bring shame to me

System information:
Logic 10.2.1
MacOS 10.9.5
StiX 0.9.8d

Thanks, you would be a great beta tester

Typos : Paste, Misc : Ok, this will be done ( PastE was on the list for ages, we forgot to fix that)
Master Out : Please use the GANG MODE ( Just switch the gang led to ON). A global gain knob would take place, use cpu to manage another vca, and would be useless/confusing in the separate outputs version.
Volume Faders : Were carefully calibrated several times to be efficient and easy to use. The default position is 80. 'reset to default' is a good idea.

[stardustmedia]

Thanks, you would be a great beta tester

Typos : Paste, Misc : Ok, this will be done ( PastE was on the list for ages, we forgot to fix that)
Master Out : Please use the GANG MODE ( Just switch the gang led to ON). A global gain knob would take place, use cpu to manage another vca, and would be useless/confusing in the separate outputs version.
Volume Faders : Were carefully calibrated several times to be efficient and easy to use. The default position is 80. 'reset to default' is a good idea.

Thanks

I understand the GANG MODE. It is some kind of a work around. Nevertheless it is, in most mixing situations useless, as long as the effect sends are pre-fade. Of course, thanks to the modern DAWs and floating point calculation, the user can just add a gain plugin to control the "master" volume without hearing clippings, even if the meter goes above 8dB. Depending on the situation, this is not possible, so there must be a master knob.

BTW: You don't tell the mix engineer to lower all faders to take down the volume on the master out that goes to the tape (although the analogy isn't 100% accurate for StiX )

[stardustmedia]

PS: Just realized that there is another point that could be improved. The possibility to move the volume faders in very fine steps, let's say in 0.1dB steps. Can't say what that means for the used numbers in StiX though A lot of plugins offer such behaviour by SHIFT or ALT click and turn a knob.

[Lotuzia]

Thanks, you would be a great beta tester

Typos : Paste, Misc : Ok, this will be done ( PastE was on the list for ages, we forgot to fix that)
Master Out : Please use the GANG MODE ( Just switch the gang led to ON). A global gain knob would take place, use cpu to manage another vca, and would be useless/confusing in the separate outputs version.
Volume Faders : Were carefully calibrated several times to be efficient and easy to use. The default position is 80. 'reset to default' is a good idea.

Thanks

I understand the GANG MODE. It is some kind of a work around. Nevertheless it is, in most mixing situations useless, as long as the effect sends are pre-fade. Of course, thanks to the modern DAWs and floating point calculation, the user can just add a gain plugin to control the "master" volume without hearing clippings, even if the meter goes above 8dB. Depending on the situation, this is not possible, so there must be a master knob.

BTW: You don't tell the mix engineer to lower all faders to take down the volume on the master out that goes to the tape (although the analogy isn't 100% accurate for StiX )

Send Pre/Post : Yes I forgot to comment on this, sorry for that (and, indeed, you're right, it's also related to the mixer gang mode) We might implement it in a future version. It's at the top of the pile for some weeks now.

Also forgot to mention -already implemented- : Reset mixer level to default value : Ctrl + click on fader (Windows )

Mixer fine tune increments w/shift key is already implemented : [edit] Right Click : FIne increments Right Click + shift : Very fine increments

[Lotuzia]

StiX v0.98 F has been released. It’s a major step towards version 1.0, because the GUI/UI has now reached it’s almost definitive incarnation, and all major bugs have possibly been patiently eradicated.


Changes :

 GUI/UI : Advanced Synthesis Panel : The 3 PEV knobs (pitch envelope amounts) have been disassociated from the oscillator section and moved near the Envelope Bloc. Filter Bloc has been moved left of the OSC section.
 GUI : Sequencer : The panel toggle buttons have been renamed to MULTI, SINGLE, and BEAT editors.
 GUI : Song Mode. Buttons renamed to CYCLE, and START.
 GUI : Multiple visible improvements : Blocs better centered in their resp. zones, Sequencer functions/items aligned, some typos fixed, etc.

Fixes :

 Audio Unit : GUI now correcty displayed
 GUI/UI : Now loads almost instantaneously in most hosts.
 GUI/Multi Version : StiX Multi GUI updated
 OSX/iLok : Installer updated to fix AudioUnit/AAX iLok issues
 StiX Multi : VuMeters now working when a drumpad is not assigned to Master Bus
 StiX Multi : Preset changes don't affect Master Mix settings anymore
 GUI : Pop-up inviting to close and relaunch StiX when Color Sheme (a.k.a Skin), or size, are changed in the Options Menu

+ Thanks to all the people who helped us, here, and there, with their remarks and suggestions. Without you, StiX would not be the same !

[simesf]

I downloaded the demo just now and when I tried to install it I got the message: ShellExecuteEx failed: code 299. Only part of a ReadProcessMemory or WriteProcessMemory request was completed.

[simesf]

I downloaded the demo just now and when I tried to install it I got the message: ShellExecuteEx failed: code 299. Only part of a ReadProcessMemory or WriteProcessMemory request was completed.

Sorry about the repeat message. The KVR server had a burp.

[Lotuzia]

I downloaded the demo just now and when I tried to install it I got the message: ShellExecuteEx failed: code 299. Only part of a ReadProcessMemory or WriteProcessMemory request was completed.

Sorry about the repeat message. The KVR server had a burp.

Thanks for the report simesf,

Could you please give more details : What demo version ? ( Full featured/Time Limited ot Restricted Features/Non time limited ?)

Also, what host and system do you use (+ versions)