RapidComposer 6 beta feedback and discussion

[shiningstarswwsj]

Hey Attila,

I was wondering if it would be possible to add a multi-rename option directly in this selection menu (where we currently see things like “Remove X phrases” and “Common Tags”).

Multi-Phrase Rename.png

Having a bulk rename option here would make the whole workflow much faster and a lot more manageable. This would fit really nicely here as well, since it’s already handling bulk actions.

I’m often exporting created MIDI files from a DAW, and RapidComposer ends up adding track-based or generic names to the imported phrases. So I end up having to rename everything manually afterward, which takes quite a bit of time, especially when dealing with large set of MIDI files for different Instrument types (like 300+ phrases). This would really speed things up for me and hopefully others as well.

Also, I would like to request another idea related to Phrases

Would it be possible to have a way to detect and show duplicate or similar phrases within a folder in Rapidcomposer by highlighting them. This would also make organising and using a large set of phrase libraries much easier and will also help in finding similar ideas to an existing phrase to try out different ideas and variations.

These features would be really useful, Thank you Attila!

[musicdevelopments]

But I can't use RC on my MacBook Pro anymore because OS 10.13 doesn't support it anymore. It's really sad.

Hi lulukom,

I am really sorry about this. In the last few years the minimum supported version was 10.15. It may have run on older versions but that was not supported. In fact I did not even know that anyone used RC on 10.13, or that it was capable of running on older versions.
Metal support is required on macOS, which means at least 10.15.

Thanks,
Attila

[musicdevelopments]

Thanks for the update Attila.!

As for testing, I have already emailed you with my findings about the new TrackPad support for Windows Laptops (after you sent me the pre-release). Lets see if there's other insight from users on this...

Hi thebutler,

I have improved trackpad support on Windows in beta3 compared to the version I sent you earlier. Please let me know if trackpad still have issues on your laptop. There is a new setting under Settings / User Interface / Scrolling: Trackpad mode (Auto/Mouse wheel/Trackpad). 'Auto' usually works. If it detects horizontal motion, it switches to 'trackpad' mode. The difference is that for 'trackpad' the OS provides momentum scrolling, while for 'mouse wheel' RapidComposer handles acceleration and deceleration.

Thanks,
Attila

[thebutler]

Hi thebutler,

I have improved trackpad support on Windows in beta3 compared to the version I sent you earlier. Please let me know if trackpad still have issues on your laptop. There is a new setting under Settings / User Interface / Scrolling: Trackpad mode (Auto/Mouse wheel/Trackpad). 'Auto' usually works. If it detects horizontal motion, it switches to 'trackpad' mode. The difference is that for 'trackpad' the OS provides momentum scrolling, while for 'mouse wheel' RapidComposer handles acceleration and deceleration.

Thanks,
Attila

Ok. Appreciate the further effort, but things seem to have gone slightly backwards with the progress here...

In the right hand panel, the scrolling setting on 'Auto' seems ok for vertical scrolling, albeit still some 'free running' behaviour - i.e. you have to hold your fingers down on the Trackpad and swipe up/down, to control positional navigation there.

Horizontal scrolling (double finger swipe L+R) is a mess in the composition window - it does not work. If the window is at the top of its view (Track 1 at the top), a single double-finger swipe L/R will VERTICALLY scroll the view all the way to the bottom (you have no control to stop it).! Once there it needs a swipe up/down to scroll the view back to the top.

Same with hovering the cursor over the scrollbar at bottom - a single swipe L/R will scroll the view fully to the right and then its 'stuck' there.! You can click and drag on it of course.

Switching the scrolling setting to 'Yes (trackpad)' brings the whole navigation experience to its knees - throughout the UI. Sluggish and treacle-like trying to work. Not nice.

So, moving forward, I'm going to ensure I have a mouse to hand whenever I use this laptop out with me (which isn't that frequently). The scroll-wheel in combination with modifier keys, just makes for a much more reliable experience.

[thebutler]

deleted

[musicdevelopments]

Ok. Appreciate the further effort, but things seem to have gone slightly backwards with the progress here...

I am sorry, it seems this new library does not handle trackpad properly on windows. I'll revisit this issue later. The trackpad on macOS works perfectly, but on Windows it is a pain to implement.

Although you deleted your next post, I still remember what it was about. So I implemented your request today

Thanks,
Attila

[thebutler]

Ok, understood Attila... Shame it's proved so much trouble for you on Windows. As you say, come back to it later; don't waste more time/resource now.!

I moved my deleted request to the 'Feature Request' topic pages, here:-
viewtopic.php?p=9218184#p9218184

But wow - that's brilliant news.! Already implemented...

[musicdevelopments]

Hello thebutler,

I see! No problem, feel free to post also feature requests here.

Thanks,
Attila

[thebutler]

Ok... one more quick one; this has bugged me for a while.!

Copy/paste of phrases needs a little attention please...

1. if you select a phrase and 'copy' with CTRL+C (load the clipboard), then move the playhead to a position a few bars ahead along the timeline and try a 'paste' with CTRL+V, it won't work.
2. if you move the playhead first, then select, copy a phrase and then do a paste, that will work.
3. if you move the playhead to the end of the phrase, select it, copy and paste it, that works and you can continue pasting multiple times along the timeline with CTRL+V (the playhead automatically/helpfully moves to the end of the phrase each time). But if you do this say for three or four pastes, then move the playhead some bars further along, the clipboard is emptied.! The 'paste' will no longer work.

In this case, I would expect the copied phrase to still be active/loaded on the clipboard.

[musicdevelopments]

I know why you expect that...

TLDR: do not click on the timeline, instead click inside the track to set the playback position. This does not make the timeline the keyboard focus.

The problem is that each keyboard focus area has its own meaning of copying/pasting. E.g. on the left track area, you can copy/paste tracks. If the timeline is active, you can copy/paste selected time durations. So the reason pasting does not work after clicking on the timeline is that you make the timeline active (in keyboard focus), so you cannot paste phrases there. You can paste phrases only when the workspace is active.

On the other hand I know that it would be logical to set the playback position and press Ctrl-V...
First I thought that I simply do not make the timeline the focus area, when setting the playback position. But I found this a bad idea, because also the arrow keys work differently on different focus areas. If you click to set the playback position, you expect that you can move the playback position by pressing the left and right arrows, because it became the keyboard focus.

[thebutler]

I know why you expect that...

TLDR: do not click on the timeline, instead click inside the track to set the playback position. This does not make the timeline the keyboard focus.

Oh. My. Goodness.!

So easy when you know.. All this time, and it was right there in front of me...

I must read the manual again. I must read the manual again. I must read the manual again. I must read the manual again. I must read the manual again...

[musicdevelopments]

No, you must not read the manual. I should add more help and feedback in the program so that the manual is not needed at all.

Thanks,
Attila

[musicdevelopments]

RapidComposer v6.1b4 is available!

This is the last beta, it should work very well.

Improvements:

• Audio dragging implemented, both for tracks and for the whole composition. The workflow: Ctrl-click on track/composition drag button to render the audio, then Ctrl-drag audio
• Additional audio file formats supported: WAV 24-bit, WAV 32-bit, AIFF 24-bit, AIFF 32-bit, AIFF floating point
• Unified audio export menu with additional export options
• Added dedicated "Insert Track" buttons for each track type for one-click track creation.
• Added an "Add to Composition" button to the Phrase Editor for inserting the phrase directly into your composition.
• Dragging phrases beyond the left or right edges now automatically scrolls the composition.
• The new UI works in Waveform Pro
• Fixed non-functional rhythm track (due to a bug fix in v6.0.7)
• Windows standalone, VST3 plug-in and installer are digitally signed

[thebutler]

RapidComposer v6.1b4 is available!

This is the last beta, it should work very well.

Great stuff.! Thanks Attila...

Improvements:

• Audio dragging implemented, both for tracks and for the whole composition. The workflow: Ctrl-click on track/composition drag button to render the audio, then Ctrl-drag audio

Not quite understanding... Can you say a bit more about this please.?

Starting at the audio track level, what is the reasoning for 'render audio' here.? The audio file I've added to that track, is already set..? Does the rendering then allow click-dragging the (resulting.?) audio out to DAW etc.?

I notice that Audio tracks don't have a track drag icon in the header.? Maybe I'm missing a setting somewhere..?

For the whole composition, what audio is being 'dragged'.? Any/all audio+MIDI tracks contained in the compostion, that have been rendered by Ctrl-click on track/composition drag button (see in Red box below - no audio tracks are shown in the clipped image here)

RC_v6 b4_Drag icons.jpg

Also see that the track drag icons (in yellow) have changed since beta 3 - they now resemble MIDI icons.? Intentional.? It conflicts with the icon shown in the helpful 'hover' tooltip. Previous beta, they displayed as in the tooltip message.

Further, I am not understanding this section of the 'hover' track drag icon tooltip message...

RC_v6 b4_hover on track Drag icon.jpg

I've made a Timeline Selection but when I right-click, I don't see where to select 'Timeline Selection' as advised in the message.

• Dragging phrases beyond the left or right edges now automatically scrolls the composition.

Nice.! Works a treat - thank you.!

PS:- hoping we'll see an updated Manual too, when v6.1 is ready.?

[thebutler]

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