MusicDevelopments

BluGenes · Post by **BluGenes** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:07 am

Also note, I forgot about generator presets. so is this a moot point?

yellukhan · Post by **yellukhan** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:47 pm

just thinking out loud
in most cases might be good idea to use Track Template presets
...
create a track
-add Chord Generator
-add join notes variation to track adjust the settings as you need,
-add more variations ( if you want ... such as Spread Out Chord Notes, Transpose etc.)
-save as Track Template & load anytime you need.
you can now freely split & join master track chords ... that track will follow every changes automatically.

magicmusic · Post by **magicmusic** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 2:41 pm

Hi yellukhan this work i use it often. right side top the "tracks" button open track template browser. you can save with track menu save as track template. and drag and drop from browser. notes and all variation are store too. My wish for this is, i report earlier, that it is possible that only VST instrument and track settings are load with a option in browser, ignore track content or so. so can easy change VST instruments. because the instrument browser can not store VST presets

musicdevelopments · Post by **musicdevelopments** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 6:50 pm

The instrument browser can store VSTi presets.
You can make a snapshot of your VST plug-in settings, and store it as an 'instrument':

BTW did anyone notice that snag.gy is down and all images are gone from my forum posts?

magicmusic · Post by **magicmusic** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 8:35 pm

Hi Attila

wow thanks, thats great that it work. I see you have presets from MUX. and i test it with mux, it work. some long time ago i test it with sample tank 3 and some other and it do not work(with newest version work too not with sample tank).there is only the VSTI load and not the preset of it. but doesnt matter. i use always MUX. and inside MUX it work ok

only small thing i notice, when i rename with right click on and change the name, press return then all open VSTI name display in the instrument browser list are close. maybe this can stay open. for other browser such a rename feature is usefull too

Meinolf · Post by **Meinolf** » Sun Oct 22, 2017 3:47 pm

Hello Attila,

1. RC 3.31 (a minor issue): slider manipulation is not in sync.

# When changing the value in the track dialog the value on the track bar is updated (yellow arrow)
# When changing the value on the track bar the value in the track dialog is not updated
# Both controls manipulate the related instrument control correctly

2. RC 3.31, RC 3.4b4: RC crashes when importing a midi file with MIDI import

I tried to import a midi file with MIDI import. The following figure shows the status after file selection and everything seems to be correct:

When clicking on Import or on Import into current composition RC crashes during analysis of the midi file after 2-3 seconds. I think it was working in RC 3.3 but I am not sure.

1. Ideas for improvement

I. Envelope editor
Provide copy/paste functionality for the envelope editor to allow to use the same curves in the same track multiple times or in multiple tracks (example is manually created).

II. Control midi instruments from rcINST files

In the rcINST file it is possible to control some behavior of VST instruments using _program, _midibankmsb, _midibanklsb and I already use it for some instruments.

Would it be possible to provide the MIDI device and the MIDI channel also within this file and use this information to configure the instrument? I use Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 and it allows to load 16 instrument patches into one GPO instance. To play it in RC the device and the channel has to be selected manually.

I use 4 instances of GPO with many instruments (1. Strings, 2. Brass+Percussion, 3. Harp+Keys+Organ, 4. Woodwinds). To help me to select the correct device / channel I have added the configuration to the instrument name like this: French Horn Section (2:2) => Device 2, Channel 2 or Full Strings (1:6,7,8) => Device 1, Channels 6, 7 and 8 to have 3 Full Strings instruments.

Maybe the _function parameter can be used to switch off the fields in the dialog for this case. I have found that the _function=8 parameter controls some behavior for drum setups.

I have seen the post regarding SynthMaster and the capability to save a setup. But this does not work for my environment.

Questions
1. How are the parameters _lowestnote=<H0>; _highestnote=<D4>; _chord=0; in the rcINST file used?
I have used _lowestnote=<H0> and _highestnote=<D4> for my GPO instruments but don’t see any effect in RC.

Many thanks,
Meinolf

Meinolf · Post by **Meinolf** » Sun Oct 22, 2017 5:37 pm

Hi magicmusic, maybe interesting for others

since version 2.8.6 SynthMaster supports MIDI Program Change and MIDI Bank Changes messages. So, you can assign selected presets to MIDI banks by right clicking on the presets list and assigning them to a MIDI bank.

You will get a XML file containing something like this:

Code: Select all

<SynthMasterMidiBanks>
    <MidiBank bankName="Bass" bankNumber="0">
        <MidiProgram index="0" filePath="C:\Users\...\SynthMaster\Presets\Michael Kastrup CM\ARP Bass Berlin Style MK.smpr" />
        <MidiProgram index="1" filePath="C:\Users\...\SynthMaster\Presets\Michael Kastrup CM\ARP Bass Jarre Style MK.smpr" />

Now you can create a Custom SynthMaster.rcINST file. "Custom" is important to get the file loaded by default. Related to the XML file the rcINST file shall contain:

Code: Select all

name="ARP Bass Berlin Style"; kind="MIDI"; _program=0; _midibankmsb=0; group="Bass"; category="Synth"; function=0; _chord=0; 
name="ARP Bass Jarre Style"; kind="MIDI"; _program=1; _midibankmsb=0; group="Bass"; category="Synth"; function=0; _chord=0; 
...

_midibankmsb=0 is related to bankNumber="0" and _program=0 is related to MidiProgram index="0".
You can define groups for specific banks e. g. Bass, Synth, Lead and so on.

Additionally, you can create a SynthMaster.rcCTRL file to define custom midi controllers for SynthMaster. My file just contains

Code: Select all

controllerset="SynthMaster"; 
controller={name="Modulation"; num=1; default=0; }, {name="Volume"; num=7; default=35; };

This setup does not work if you use SynthMaster as a VSTi in RC. You need a virtual MIDI port to interconnect RC and SynthMaster. I use LoopBe30 but there is also a freeware version, virtualMIDI. The easiest setup for testing is to use the SynthMaster standalone version. Configure it to listen on one MIDI port and select the same MIDI port as Device in RC as shown in the following figure.

Now you can use and control SynthMaster from within RC and play different presets very easily.

This solution has some disadvantages:

SynthMaster is not loaded automatically. You have to do it manually or find another solution. I use http://www.hermannseib.com/vsthost.htm to load all my VSTi instruments which I need (four instances of Garritan Personal Orchestra, SynthMaster, MT Power Drum Kit, ...). And they are then fully configured.
Using this setup I could not export a WAV or AIFF file from within RC, the exported file is empty. But as I export the midi file and finalize my music in Ableton using the same VSTi instruments, it is not a big issue for me.

Happy music making

musicdevelopments · Post by **musicdevelopments** » Sun Oct 22, 2017 6:10 pm

Hello Meinolf,

thank you for the feedback!
(1) is a known issue. It requires some work but I have not had time for that.
(2) MIDI import works for me, and recently I haven't received a complaint about it. If it crashes only with a particular MIDI file, would it be possible that you send it to me?

Very good suggestions, I added them to my to-do list so that they won't get lost.

Would it be possible to provide the MIDI device and the MIDI channel also within this file and use this information to configure the instrument?

This is not easy to do but I have a suggestion. You can save yourself the hassle of setting up instruments if you prepare an empty composition where you set all instruments for all tracks, and save it as a track template. Next time you can start composing by clicking on "New Composition" Using... :

'function' in the rcINST file defines what the instrument can be used for. Yes, percussion is 8, but it is not really used in the program right now. You can check the possible values (it is a bit mask) if you right click on an instrument:

E.g. instrument preview is checking the 'function' to give you suitable preview sounds. So a chord won't be used for a 'solo' instrument.

I have seen the post regarding SynthMaster and the capability to save a setup. But this does not work for my environment.

Did you try this with GPO only or it does not work for other VSTis? It may not work well for multi-timbral plug-ins because the internal state of the plug-in is saved which may include multiple channels, so restoring the state will overwrite the settings on other channels.
I tried it yesterday with SynthMaster but today I downloaded the latest update v2.8.10 which crashes.

Questions
1. How are the parameters _lowestnote=<H0>; _highestnote=<D4>; _chord=0; in the rcINST file used?

These are unused at the moment. I had plans to analyze virtual instrument waveform properties like key range and release time automatically so that RC can suggest sensible instruments for your tracks, e.g. using slow strings for an arpeggio will not sound good...

Thank you!
Attila

magicmusic · Post by **magicmusic** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 8:29 am

Attila wrote: It may not work well for multi-timbral plug-ins because the internal state of the plug-in is saved which may include multiple channels, so restoring the state will overwrite the settings on other channels.

Hi Attila
thanks for info. I test this. When load the sound in slot 16, then it work in sample tank to save and restore a instrument. so it can work when use a single channel. In track need set output channel 16 too.

BluGenes · Post by **BluGenes** » Wed Oct 25, 2017 1:16 am

naming/saving bug..??

This is based on the previous chord generator preset stuff I was looking for.. If I create a 3/4 bar for the chord generator, then save it to the chord generator presets using the name "3/4 Bar Chord" it saves correctly and displays correctly in the phrases. If you close and re-open RC, then it shows up in a sub category group titled "3" then the "3/4 bar Chord" name. (with out the quotes)

Also, when I went to save this, I was not able to change the group name.. I suppose this is on purpose?

magicmusic · Post by **magicmusic** » Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:22 am

The / is a filesystem character. so filenames can not have a this. On windows this character is in theory possible here folder is indicate by \

BluGenes · Post by **BluGenes** » Wed Oct 25, 2017 10:17 am

Ok, that is what it was.. thanks..

edit: well, I thought that was it.. its a bug.. even if you don't use that character it produces an unwanted sub category.

Video of what is going on.. Win 10 latest version..

Meinolf · Post by **Meinolf** » Wed Oct 25, 2017 1:52 pm

Hello Attila.

I reinstalled RapidComposer from scratch (deactivate license, uninstall, remove all folders, new install). After this the MIDI import is working again without problems. I checked the crash dump file in Visual Studio but it does not provide any reasonable information.

The Exception Informationen is: Der Thread hat versucht, von einer virtuellen Adresse, für die er nicht über die entsprechenden Zugriffsrechte verfügt, zu lesen oder in diese Adresse zu schreiben.

It was may be caused because I used 3.31 and 3.4b4 side by side.

Thank you,
Meinolf

musicdevelopments · Post by **musicdevelopments** » Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:41 am

magicmusic wrote:The / is a filesystem character. so filenames can not have a this. On windows this character is in theory possible here folder is indicate by \

Yes, you are right, magicmusic. Groups are stored using the '/' character, both on Windows and macOS. Now I see this was not a good idea, because you cannot write "3/4" in a phrase name. This must be fixed.
Thanks,
Attila

magicmusic · Post by **magicmusic** » Thu Oct 26, 2017 12:42 pm

I look in windows explorer and total commander. it is not allowed to write / . maybe windows want get linux compatible and accept / too for directory access. if this want fix there need a filename translation and a filename that contain 3/4 must be convert to 3'4 or other letter that is not used. and when read this file 3'4 need convert to 3/4 on display.

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