[BETA] filament - Real-Time MIDI Orchestration Plugin & Plugin Host

[WillTurnerFLA]

Signed up and anxious to check it out when you re-open the public beta.

We've still got a bit of a beta road to go so fingers crossed!

[Morty-C-137]

The only issue I am experiencing atm is GUI related. The current choices in background and contrast provides poor legibility and becomes tiring to my eyes quickly. Dark green and grey on a rich black backdrop is..imho not a good experience.

Excited about the functions of the app though.

Hey Morty, you're not alone in this! I've had a number of use feed this back so we will change this/give theme options for the plugin.

That's great to hear Will!

[Uncle E]

Thanks Uncle E, this isn't possible simply playing in, and not hugely compatible with the engine. However this is actually a feature in the arpeggiator - per note instrument output. I removed it before the beta as it fell slightly against the grain of some of the other arpeggiator features but may bring it back if its useful!

Thank you. That would be nice. It's one of my favorite features in Harmony Bloom but that's not an arpeggiator.

[WillTurnerFLA]

Thanks Uncle E, this isn't possible simply playing in, and not hugely compatible with the engine. However this is actually a feature in the arpeggiator - per note instrument output. I removed it before the beta as it fell slightly against the grain of some of the other arpeggiator features but may bring it back if its useful!

Thank you. That would be nice. It's one of my favorite features in Harmony Bloom but that's not an arpeggiator.

Yeah I get it completely, it's such a nice technique when writing.

[WillTurnerFLA]

Just wanted to say thank you for everyone that signed up and the feedback we've had so far. You've successfully revealed a whole host of bugs. Keep tearing into it please. Very excited to get this fully developed and out to everyone.

Also those who are wondering if they've missed the boat on the beta. The plan is to run two more iterations over the next two months before release, so there's still a chance to get into the beta and if you don't you'll get a release day discount anyway.

[Morty-C-137]

And thank you Will! Really liking the options that Filament provides.

A thing I have noticed is that Filament allows us to use our keyboard to browse any presets as usual from our any 3rd party plugin we load (if it has it's own preset browser) except for Serum 2. And I have checked in Serum whether setting keyboard shortcuts on or off in Serum's Global menu makes a difference and it does not.

One other thing is when we have a plugin window opened it remains on top even when Filament itself is minimized. That all is expected and.. imho welcome behavior. However; the 3rd party plugin window still remains on top even if we click away to another app. And that.. imho is unwanted behavior.

[WillTurnerFLA]

And thank you Will! Really liking the options that Filament provides.

A thing I have noticed is that Filament allows us to use our keyboard to browse any presets as usual from our any 3rd party plugin we load (if it has it's own preset browser) except for Serum 2. And I have checked in Serum whether setting keyboard shortcuts on or off in Serum's Global menu makes a difference and it does not.

One other thing is when we have a plugin window opened it remains on top even when Filament itself is minimized. That all is expected and.. imho welcome behavior. However; the 3rd party plugin window still remains on top even if we click away to another app. And that.. imho is unwanted behavior.

Glad you're enjoying it! And thanks for that, I'll add them to the list

[mambo888]

Can the clip launcher import midi files? I was not able to do it.
Can the plugin export midi or direct the midi to a midi track / external instrument - instead of loading instruments?
Testing would be greatly helped if we could record the midi output.
Also in Clip launcher when I click Save "Save Launcher Preset" I cannot type in Logic pro.

[mambo888]

Same way I cannot report bug in Logic pro - even though the text field is selected - everything I type is interpreted as Logic Pro command

[WillTurnerFLA]

Same way I cannot report bug in Logic pro - even though the text field is selected - everything I type is interpreted as Logic Pro command

Hey Mambo - I'm getting a build ready to get across to everyone today, which I'm hoping will sort the typing issue. Plugin export midi isn't a function at the moment but we have had multiple requests - so we may explore implementing it before the next Beta.

The clip launcher should be able to import midi files - drag a file from the desktop onto the piano roll. Unfortunately, you can't drag straight from a Logic Pro region in, so you have to export first. Believe you me, I would love to do this but we spent about two weeks trying to unpick Logic's proprietary midi format and it's firmly under lock and key.

My suspicion is the save/load function on arp presets won't work for the moment. I expect to have that sorted by the middle of next week once we have the critical bugs under control.

Thanks for raising the issues, it's really helpful

[Vlad77]

Really excited about this concept. Routing voices to separate instrument instances is exactly what realistic brass section writing needs.

Seconding Uncle E's request for per-note instrument output. This is one of the key use cases for wind/brass sample libraries. When four "trumpets" share a single plugin instance polyphonically, it sounds like one player overdubbed, no matter how sophisticated the library. Load four separate instances, each with its own expression CC curve and slightly different settings, route one voice to each, and the section starts breathing like four real players.

I develop trumpet and wind sample libraries (VGTrumpet, vgtrumpet.com), and how to build a multi-player brass section from separate instances without an unwieldy DAW template is one of the most common questions we get. Filament's centralized voice routing with keyswitch variations looks like it could solve this really elegantly.

Looking forward to the next beta.

[Morty-C-137]

I have just now updated to version 1.0.4.2 and I am liking the improvements except for the odd GUI choices? I like that we get themes and control of contrast and brightness but the fundamental issue for me was the foundation of color choices for background and various GUI elements.

The pitch black background just doesn't help in that regard and on top of that the connection lines are now shades of dark green on pitch black versus yellow which was at least clearer.

Sorry to come here and point out these things first but it's just tiring on the eyes and that affect the experience of working with it negatively.

[WillTurnerFLA]

I have just now updated to version 1.0.4.2 and I am liking the improvements except for the odd GUI choices? I like that we get themes and control of contrast and brightness but the fundamental issue for me was the foundation of color choices for background and various GUI elements.

The pitch black background just doesn't help in that regard and on top of that the connection lines are now shades of dark green on pitch black versus yellow which was at least clearer.

Sorry to come here and point out these things first but it's just tiring on the eyes and that affect the experience of working with it negatively.

Not at all Morty, I'm working on a light theme, but it's been a rush getting all the other bugs and fixes in. It is on the list though. One of the issues I'm having is that the UI is appearing darker on Windows than mac which is what I'm designing on. Working on a way to compensate this.

Have you tried the midnight theme though? This is what it looks like my end with the brightness pushed up a little. Will have a mid tone and light theme as soon as I can, but will probably be next week.

[WillTurnerFLA]

Really excited about this concept. Routing voices to separate instrument instances is exactly what realistic brass section writing needs.

Seconding Uncle E's request for per-note instrument output. This is one of the key use cases for wind/brass sample libraries. When four "trumpets" share a single plugin instance polyphonically, it sounds like one player overdubbed, no matter how sophisticated the library. Load four separate instances, each with its own expression CC curve and slightly different settings, route one voice to each, and the section starts breathing like four real players.

I develop trumpet and wind sample libraries (VGTrumpet, vgtrumpet.com), and how to build a multi-player brass section from separate instances without an unwieldy DAW template is one of the most common questions we get. Filament's centralized voice routing with keyswitch variations looks like it could solve this really elegantly.

Looking forward to the next beta.

This exactly what filament is for! Or at least one of the main use cases. Real-time polyphonic control of legato instruments.

I've send you an email, but let's chat more.

[Morty-C-137]

I have just now updated to version 1.0.4.2 and I am liking the improvements except for the odd GUI choices? I like that we get themes and control of contrast and brightness but the fundamental issue for me was the foundation of color choices for background and various GUI elements.

The pitch black background just doesn't help in that regard and on top of that the connection lines are now shades of dark green on pitch black versus yellow which was at least clearer.

Sorry to come here and point out these things first but it's just tiring on the eyes and that affect the experience of working with it negatively.

Not at all Morty, I'm working on a light theme, but it's been a rush getting all the other bugs and fixes in. It is on the list though. One of the issues I'm having is that the UI is appearing darker on Windows than mac which is what I'm designing on. Working on a way to compensate this.

Have you tried the midnight theme though? This is what it looks like my end with the brightness pushed up a little. Will have a mid tone and light theme as soon as I can, but will probably be next week.

Cheers Will! I truly appreciate you or being so responsive. I did try the midnight theme but somehow the choice of grey with teal made things less clear for me. I'll exercise a bit more patience in terms of GUI. It's easy to forget that this is a one man job. Really loving this app thus far.