Updates on Laras Composition

[larascomposition]

Hi, All
This page is to give updates and discuss Laras Composition

Thanks

[larascomposition]

New Update is available, some bugs were fixed.

Version History

July 1, 2021
V1 - First Release.

July 6, 2021
V1.01 - Bug Fixs:

• Fix three chords that can't be used in the first release (Majb5, Maj7#9, C7#9).

• Fix Track 4 error in the Multi Tracks Composition. In the previous version if you use Track 4 for other than Drums then Track 4 and 3 will be merged.

• Fix definition error in STY Blues Bass patterns.

• Fix transpose button in the Music Scale that leads to putting wrong notes in the scale notes information and in the scale MIDI file.

• Fixing typos in the user guide.

Download link https://www.kvraudio.com/product/laras- ... /downloads

[beingmf]

Unfortunately either version idles at the startup window:



(Win10 x64, latest Java version)

[larascomposition]

Hi beingmf
I'm also using win10 x64
Thank you for reporting this. Usually, this happens when .dat file is edited but not following the format of comma delimited format LARAS used, but I don't think that is your case.

Can you do the following to get information from Java Runtime Environment what went wrong:
- Go to command prompt
- Change your directory to where you put Laras
(1) type
Java -version
(2) run Laras by typing in the command prompt
Java -jar Laras.jar

Make a screenshot or copy paste here the texts shown in the command prompt when you do (1) and (2)

Thanks

[beingmf]

Sure, thanks for getting back:

1)
java version "1.8.0_291"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_291-b10)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.291-b10, mixed mode)

2)
MIDI Directory is created!
Composition Directory is created!
Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NullPointerException
at laras.MIDICore.changeDev(MIDICore.java:91)
at laras.MainLaras.setupMIDI(MainLaras.java:387)
at laras.MainLaras.<init>(MainLaras.java:349)
at laras.MainLaras.lambda$main$0(MainLaras.java:12056)
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$500(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(Unknown Source)

[larascomposition]

I see that the output of the info in the command prompt show us that LARAS is successfully running (from the message MIDI Directory is created! and Composition Directory is created! but it stopped when checking and setting the MIDI device available in the system.

I could not recreate the case with my system. So the best answer I can give right now, is to test MIDI system in your system. Maybe you can do something like installing Virtual MIDI tool for example VirtualMIDISynth (https://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth), then run LARAS again to see whether LARAS can see the MIDI device.

Hope it helps.

[larascomposition]

New Update V 1.02 is available.
Please visit LARAS page to see the Version History.

[Saffran]

...Maybe you can do something like installing Virtual MIDI tool for example VirtualMIDISynth (https://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth), then run LARAS again to see whether LARAS can see the MIDI device.
Hope it helps.

I can recommend the virtualmidisynth. Together with a nice general midi soundfont library it's easy to use and has a beutiful sound.
I use it on my old win7 32-bit surfmachine with onboard realtek 16bit41hz sound.
It produces fine midimusic that's hard to tell apart from what i can hear with my Onyx 24bit41hz audiointerface on the musicmachine. (As coming from a vst sampler in my daw.)
I use this soundfont: JJazzLab SoundFont.sf2
https://musical-artifacts.com/artifacts/1036
I love the banjo.
Yes i use JJazzlab backingtracks. I can recommend that also.

[larascomposition]

I'm using JJazzlab too
Great software, about a month ago I asked the developer to open an account so I can help translating JJazzlab, but haven't finished it because of this challenge. Its soundfont sounds nice, waaaaaay much better than the default one JRE gives. Using it when I tested Laras. Sometime I use SyFonOne instead of virtualmidisynth if I need to change instruments to hear different sound while testing.

[beingmf]

Works now, thanks! Still trying to wrap my head around the how-to's but the first impression is really good!
(what about that song database though? Almost none sounds like the original composition, and most of them are only a 4-chord progression)

[zachy9]

I'm unable to get Laras working on Mac OS Big Sur — when I open Laras.jar, I get a message saying "there was an error while trying to open" it.

Any suggestions? Here's what I get from the terminal on my JRE version:
java version "1.8.0_291"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_291-b10)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.291-b10, mixed mode)

EDIT: I was able to get it running from the command line.

[Obsolete462444]

Is it possible in Laras to click individual notes on the keyboard and Laras will tell me which scale these notes belong to?

Also, when on the music scale page I choose a scale (say: D#), why is it always jumping back to C as soon as I choose another type (eg Minor) within the bottom three column table?

[oldcastle]

I hope this plugin is not dead already. It has great potential.

[larascomposition]

Hi All
Sorry for not replying earlier.
In the last three weeks, I was in deep grieved as several colleagues and close friends of mine passed away because of this pandemic. I just upload a video on Youtube, https://youtu.be/sNX9I6qWVQo

@oldcastle
No it is not dead

@Kazi7
Yes it is always started in C. That's the default behavior of that function. After selecting Scale you can tranpose it to other key using tranpose button (to the right of scale search box)

Laras does not have that functionality at the moment.
I use to go to https://www.scales-chords.com/scalefinder.php for that purpose.

@zachy9
I'm sorry I could not recreate the problem. I don't have access to Big Sur machine. I tested Laras on Catalina.
You might want to check this article https://wolfpaulus.com/java-on-macos-big-sur/
I see that you have the solution already.

@beingmf
Yes, it won't sound like any song it represent, because LARAS just use the typical chord movement (progression) of that song, translate it into degree (e.q I vi IV V) and put that in the key of C. The idea is to learn what movement inside the progression as idea for your own composition. A kind of Axis of Awesome - 4 Four Chord Song video.
You can always transpose it into other key by using transpose button.
If you want to dig deeper into a song internal structure, this is the website that I visit often https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab

Thanks

[GaryG]

So sorry to hear that.

As a theory numpty I'm finding this very useful, other tools just seem to give you everything without much explanation whereas I feel I may actually be learning something with this

Thanks.