Noisetar synth : Questions? Suggestions? [audio demo notes + news]

[whyterabbyt]

Hello blurk

Thank you for your prompt reply.

Yes, I did explore the user presets directory. This is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\VSTPlugIns\Instruments\Strange Synths\Noisetar by Nusofting\Presets\User

And yes, you are right: Windows 10 does require Administrator permission to write into this folder.
So, if the plugin cannot make that system window appear to obtain the permission, it would be necessary to set the user presets folder somewhere else or give the user a way to change it.

Just change the folder permissions....

http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-take-own ... indows-10/

[blurk]

Hello blurk
Thank you for your prompt reply.

Yes, I did explore the user presets directory. This is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\VSTPlugIns\Instruments\Strange Synths\Noisetar by Nusofting\Presets\User

And yes, you are right: Windows 10 does require Administrator permission to write into this folder.

Great, thanks for that info.

So, if the plugin cannot make that system window appear to obtain the permission, it would be necessary to set the user presets folder somewhere else or give the user a way to change it.

A simple and I gather a fairly popular workaround is to move your VSTPlugins outside of any system-protected directories. However, I can understand if people prefer to take advantage of system-provided protections.

Personally I think it would be neater to have the user presets folder somewhere that's writeable by default rather than bothering people with a system dialog requesting permission. I'll need to discuss this with Luigi to figure out the best approach. For what it's worth, the Mac version keeps the factory presets in the installed bundle (which is read-only) and uses a user presets directory in a (fairly standard) user-writeable location, so we just need to agree where the best location is for Windows.

That could be a little bit tricky, because I've heard that some users get annoyed by software that merrily writes into the "My Documents" directory (if it's still called that on Windows 10, I'm a Mac guy if it's not clear). But on the other hand apparently other users don't like it when software buries data in the AppData directory. And yet other users don't like having to pick a folder which the software then keeps track of via a registry setting. So if you have preferred location, it could be worthwhile mentioning it.

If you manage to get that fixed I will be more than happy to create some presets for you to include in future distributions of the synth (if you want to). Send me a PM if you are interested.

I'm sure Luigi will be most interested.

[AlienXXX]

Hello blurk

I cannot comment on what other people might prefer. I usually like it when software gives me a choice of where to save stuff.
It is great if the software can suggest a default location, but I like to have the control of doing it a different way.
(So many reasons for this: so that my data is included in my backups, so that I can save those presets together with other presets... really, mostly so I know where my stuff is)

I am new to Windows 10 and I find it extremely frustrating!...

But anyway, enough on that.
The good news is that Ableton Live has its own 'save preset' button and that works for Noisetar - I have just saved 4 or 5 presets and re-loaded them successfully.
So, for me at least, the problem is as good as solved.

[liqih]

#2] Here instead is a 2' track "Master of Nukes" composed by Rafal Rudawski.
Please use this link to stream it:
http://nusofting.liqihsynth.com/noiseta ... dawski.mp3
(copyright 2016 Rafal Rudawski )

That's great!
Noisetar is one of my top favorites for sure

Some memories come to Chimera (Also a great unsual noise-synth like yours. No idea if your synth and the one by Majken used similar methods. Maybe the thing that noise can be played via pitch)

Hi thomekk,

Honestly I never played with Chimera, but I read many prasies about it. There are just too many synths around to try them all. So I know nothing of how it works.
Very possibly Majken also used a tuned narrow bandpass filter one the noise source to produce a pitched sound.
That's an old technique and many synths (with different depths) allow such method of producing tones.
But Noisetar was not designed with that in mind, I started it as flexible, more or less digital, noise generator,
for chaotic sounds, not tones. Then as later feature I decides to add also the bandpass
to "squeeze" the various noises into pitched tones. A thing that I like to do with Noisetar is to
automate the "width" of the bandpass, so that I can morph from pitched tones to more broad noises.

[liqih]

Hello

Noisetar is certainly a great favourite of mine. For long I have wanted something like this.
Of course, some normal synths include a noise generator (usually white noise, sometimes brown, in some cases a filter or tone knob is provided). But that is about it. You do have the normal filters, envelope and LFOs, but that cannot really change the texture of the noise. - Which is where Noisetar comes in and does such a great job.

Practical uses include using it to create synth percussion (or to add as an extra layer to existing percussion sounds) and also to create 'noise' (the type of noise you would get from tape, vinyl, etc).

That's so nice to read, thanks!

Next about saving the presets on Windows 10 inside
C:\Program Files (x86)\VSTPlugIns\Instruments\Strange Synths\Noisetar by Nusofting\Presets\User
and your comment : "I am new to Windows 10 and I find it extremely frustrating!..."

So far I advocate 3 possible solutions:

# 1) as administrator take ownership the "Noisetar by Nusofting" subfolder, as whyterabbyt suggested above
# 2) use a custom "Vstplugins" folder outside the Windows 10 protected folders, E.G. C:\VSTPlugIns\
# 3) we add a feature in Noisetar so that the user can choose where to store the plugin data

Why?
For 1) because, as creative user, Windows 10 is YOUR tool, and you should take the freedom
and the responsibility that is allowed to an administrator.
For 2) because it's an easy way to manage your VSTs.
For 3) because such a feature is what some users expect.

All three are good I think. 1) and 2) can be used right away, for the 3) we have to implement it.

But anyway, enough on that.
The good news is that Ableton Live has its own 'save preset' button and that works for Noisetar - I have just saved 4 or 5 presets and re-loaded them successfully.
So, for me at least, the problem is as good as solved.

Yes that's also a good solution, but then you cannot have all your custom presets in the Noisetar GUI menu.

Thanks for the offer of new presets, I will PM you.

[stanlea]

One of my favourites too.

[DJErmac]

Hi, I just wanted to bring some more love here : this synth is great and it deserves a very high place in this contest ! Love it !

[liqih]

Thanks a lot stanlea and DJErmac!

[liqih]

http://nusofting.liqihsynth.com/noiseta ... ations.mp3
Example of automation of Noisetar parameters: Stereo Enhancer, Filters and Reverb Mix on a broad band continuous noise. 1:00 minute.
The first glitches you hear in the MP3 are modulations of strEnh, then LP and HP filters sweeps, a little of strEnh again,
and then reverb mix automation.

[liqih]

Summary of all pure Noisetar audio examples released so far:

[#1]Noisetar Dupstep
[#2]Noisetar Dream
these two use 6 instances of Noisetar each and no effects, except a limiter on the master.

[#3]Noistarx By Taron
this use "some" instances of Noisetar and multiband compressor.

[#4]Noisetar Presets
this is a simple run through most of the factory presets. Dry recording.

[#5] A new short audio demo I made with other presets,
starts with pitched sounds and ends with lo-fi cymbals!
That's only one instance played live.

[#6] Here instead is a 2' track "Master of Nukes" composed by Rafal Rudawski.
Please use this link to stream it:
http://nusofting.liqihsynth.com/noiseta ... dawski.mp3
(copyright 2016 Rafal Rudawski )

[#7] http://nusofting.liqihsynth.com/noiseta ... ations.mp3
Example of automation of Noisetar parameters: Stereo Enhancer, Filters and Reverb Mix on a broad band continuous noise. 1:00 minute.
The first glitches you hear in the MP3 are modulations of strEnh, then LP and HP filters sweeps, a little of strEnh again,
and then reverb mix automation.