vArranger Forums

thanks

Thanks Dan...will it also be linkable to a style as well?

I am using Sampletank 3. Is there a way to link a saved VST state with a style? Or is this only available via the Song Save dialogue?

In the VST Options box (the one that lists all the parameters) how can I edit these parameters ? And how an I either stop these parameters loading as default when clicking on the VST tab or load a default of m,y own choosing?

Thanks

Cool, thanks!  Yeah Guitar Mode is tricky as there are many control "notes" that are only there for layers and velocity switching etc etc.

Thanks Dan, but as the Korg styles are locked up in .set files how does one accomplish this?

Can vA now use Korg styles up to and including PA3? If so (and bearing in mind the Korg style format) how can these be loaded into vA - is it simply a case of adding the styles to a folder, or is there some other procedure to follow?

Thanks

Quote from: Pekilik on October 16, 2015, 03:04:14 PM
Retriggering note length in Fill in is Basic function in all hardware arrangers, it is not  personal idea any of us ...

ermmm, I don't think so. Note re-triggering is available on a few arranger OS's, but NOT note length retriggering, afaik.

hahaha!

Quote from: BjayG on October 13, 2015, 10:20:42 PM
Lylo wrote:  > but also with a job and a family

This came as a total surprise - but it does explain my concerns.     

I have always assumed that vA was written by a commercial company (albeit a very small one man one) with full time support and development.  Maybe I was being very naive - but given its high price it never once occurred to me that vA was basically a hobby project that was being developed in someones spare time and effectively had hardly any support/development capacity.

I'm truly disappointed because I'm sorry to say that I cannot see that there is the likelihood of any major development in anything like the near future.

I hope maybe I've misunderstood - so please correct me.

Barry

Yeah I reckon you have misunderstood   This is NOT amateur hacker or hobby software. Perhaps way back when, Dan did develop it originally as a hobby project for himself - I cannot say as I was not around then. But what I can say now is it is fully professional with professional support. More so than many programs and companies.

You are looking at it in a negative way when you should look at it positively. Where else would you get to talk one on one with the developer?  Many, MANY of the capabilities in vA now came from suggestions and two way dialogue between licence holders and Dan. Dan comes up with most of it thought. All we offer is some tinkering around the edges. The price is fully commensurate with the amount of work that goes into providing upgrades, tech support and the myriad other minor tasks (most of which are behind the scenes) that need to be undertaken on a day to day basis. Not to forget once bought, you pay for NOTHING else!!! Whereas these days most software companies are moving to subscription services and the end-user just pays and pays!

You have a question or need some help? - well if the forum does not have the answer within a few hours, then Dan will have one for you within the day! He also has, on many occasions, actually logged on to a users PC live, to help sort issues (with the owners consent of course - it cannot happen without it).

I cannot tell you what to think, obviously, but I can give a personal guarantee that you will never ever be let down, and you are getting software of the highest quality and operational status. Others I am sure will also make comments on this and you know what, I bet you NONE will make any disparaging remarks either!

Of all the issues I have seen, I would hazard a guess that approx 99% of them were user error, or incorrect PC setups. This software is mature, works extremely well and all that happens to it is new features are added to make a muso's job all about performing, and forgetting about the "back-room" stuff

C'mon, drop the negativity and jump in!

Thanks Dan I will check it   might be a workable short term solution

   thanks m8

Supplementary question: Can the Style Mixer be edited?

cheers, thanks Dan

As we know when a midi file with markers is loaded, the bottom section (the arranger parts section ABCD etc etc) changes to reflect the markers in the midi file. My question is, can these buttons then be mapped to an external MIDI device, for example a Korg Kontrol or Nanpad?

Yes Lylo - I know this    just teasing 

Well Lylo, it has been 8 months now since this was raised

Is there any way to stop vA when it loads, after the user selecting VST output, the ST3 Multi? Or is there a way to edit what appears to be the "default" multi getting auto loaded?

Thanks

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but the single thing that would complete it is if when you saved a "song" it also saved the VSTi patches assigned to the "Arranger Parts" not just the right hand/left hand sounds.
When I open a song that I use my VSTi for I have to go back and re-assign the sounds within the VSTi.

Ça va, je ne faisais un peu de plaisir. 

Je ne vous remercie d'essayer d'aider, donc merci 

Quote from: Lylo on September 23, 2015, 10:29:50 PM
Always believe Lylo.

Hmm perhaps...if you had of written the correct thing in the first place...your first post said to re-install vA itself...it was not until later when you realised your small error that you changed to vA SYNTH!!!

But no matter...you got there in the end

right, I will try it again..I am sure I did select 64, but.....the install routine seems to ask the 64bit question by default so I am not sure how it (64bit) was not installed on the first time, however it DID ask the same option again, and when the install was repeated this time it worked as it should have.

Thanks

Thanks, but if you understood the OP it is an issue with a 64bit VST (not the vASynth)....I was sure there was a 64bit beta of vA itself, but I am yet to hear back from Dan, so maybe I was dreaming it 

ummm there is no installation for vA it runs by itself from the thumb drive without installing

When using Sampletank 3, I can not access the VST setup screen (the actual VST itself to set parts etc) and when I click on it in the VST window of vA I get the error message as shown in the attached image and then the app (vA) hangs needing a restart.....any ideas anyone?

EDIT: I think I found out why...seems the latest version I received is a 32 bit application!!! ST3 is 64bit only!

ahh cool, thanks Dan.....that email is restricted to uses such as these which is why I sometimes forget to check it. It is not for daily internet crapola

Dennis

well okay then...please do send it to me 

thanks Dan. In that case I will await the new version to come.

Dennis

Hi guys just wondering what the latest version is please? The one I have is 1.17.88

Cool, thanks Dan...it will be a HUGE boost to using vA when you do get the link to a "song save" for vst's used

Dennis

I couldn't do this in the past but can vA now (with the VST support and 64 bit mode) save what instruments are loaded into the VSTi? For example Sampletank, where several parts have a sound assigned.

I tried this by saving the default config (via the Save tab) but it while it loads ST, there are no instruments loaded...is this still something vA cannot do?

Thanks

So far so good Sampletank 3 is behaving nicely. As it has some quite useful drum kits I don't see a need for Addictive drums 2 as yet, but I might install them anyway
It's a shame that it (ST3) cannot "see" the volume controls of vA. But I will try using the ST3 midi "learn" and see if I can somehow get them connected.

sent you a PM Dan

Dan is vA actually "coded" to 64 bit or is it still running at 32 bit (but using bridging for 64 bit vst's) ?I just had a look via task manager and it states vA is 32bit...

When I try to load up Sampletank 64 bit I get the message as seen in the attached pic...vA crashes and needs to be shut down in task manager.

EDIT: Dan has a Microsoft VC redist pack - this fixes this issue. Thanks Dan

Dennis

Quote from: Dan on March 10, 2015, 10:34:46 PM
So we want now a review of the new version of vAranger with ST3 !

Sure  

Yes I did Dan, had it for a couple of weeks now. It is SOOOOO much better than ST2.5 - And wiht the larger plugin screen graphic size  I can actually read the screen now

Dan if you could please send me the 64bit version I would appreciate it. It will be good to test it with SampleTank 64bit with no J-Bridge

I already own it - have done for a LONG time....

Yes. It will be nice if Dan can get vA into a 64bit version.

Nothing really, just curious. I have just upgraded my ST 2.5 and thought I would run it with vA. I think the first thing I might need to do is create some sort of ins file...although I am not sure ST actually receives patch change data. Anyway I will get around to experimenting one day soon

Just wondering if anyone is using vA with the new IK Multimedia Sampletank 3?

Cool, thanks much Dan

Dennis

Just wondered if there has been any advance on the release date of the latest non beta version of VA2?

vA will NOT run on an iPad.

Quote from: Dan on March 31, 2014, 12:01:11 AM
Hello Jhon,

Because I see that it is not so simple to display a sheet music with a style, I decided to simplify thing.
I just sent you the new version update for you to try.

Now, how to do it :

- Right click on a song
- Click on ASSOCIATE SHEET MUSIC...
- Select your score file  JPEG, PDF, TXT, RTF, etc...
- It's done !

You can do again ASSOCIATE SHEET MUSIC... if you want to add more sheet music pages for the same song.

Let me know if it's now easy enough

vArranger will do the SCORE folder creation, copy and naming of files for you.

Dan would you mind forwarding on that update PDF version to me please?

Dennis

Good. Yes I was aware of "re-sampling", not ideal but it does work...uses more CPU cycles to do it, but if he is not running mega modelled vst's there should be not too many issues.

Another happy camper.......next 

Quote from: Dan on March 22, 2014, 09:45:11 PM
The problem is : vArranger runs at 44.1 Khz

Your bluetooth sound card can only run at 48 Khz

I will try to correct this soon

Doesn't vA run at whatever is set for the audio interface being used? I mean, vA generates NO sound itself does it?? It is pretty much only midi data. Ergo the issue here is that the OP has mismatched sample rates and in this case audio will never work, no matter what is set in vA ne c'est pas?

Seems to me the solution is to alter the Windows default sample rate to 48khz for all playback devices. This then may give a chance for the BT sound card to indeed work.

D

Yeah we could - if they ever replied to emails and phone calls

It is such a shame that something as expensive as the new SD1000 has such basic operational bugs - who knows WHAT awaits on the new MidiJay Pro 

The Surface Pro 2 is, however you can get some good bargains on the original Surface Pro which is what Dan has, and I have one as well.

Yep, that's how it worked last time I used it - I don't think it has been changed.

Well you can scan using any printer/scanner device attached to your PC - or there are plenty of files around (quality varies) . If I don't scan I use websites like MusicaNeo, but there are plenty of online sheet music stores..

If I use just a chord/lyrics chart I jsut scan them and "print" to a PDF using something like PDF Creator (free) you can also use IrfanView (also free)  to create multipage PDFs from other docs (liek TIFF, JPEG, BMP etc )

Another trick I do is to use one of the free online PDF to X format converters to change a PDF purchased into a format I can edit with say, Paint (or The Gimp) so I can remove all the staves and leave just the "bare bones"  and then re "print" to a PDF for use on the iPad (or the PDF app in vA in your case).

There are many things you can do

It was a Microsoft Surface Pro I would imagine

 

John the PDF plugin creates nothing - it only allows the ability to load and view a PDF chart on file. These need to be created outside of vA.

However vA can "remember" the PDF used with a song so it can be very useful.

In my case I run an iPad and a Surface Pro side by side, so I have no need for it.

Dennis

I think Dan has an app that you can get from him to allow access - let him sort it like that...it could take ages to do it via the "paste in a view" method, unless you can do a snippy of each view window in sequence - then I can see exactly what you are doing (or not doing )

ummm it is really difficult without looking at your system directly (and I do not want to do that )

Re the sample rate  - it should be selectable via a little drop down arrow at the side or simple by clicking on the format itself..
Can you post a screen shot of your Sound view? The one that lists all the devices - and we can go from there....I suspect you are not quite getting what I am suggesting to you...no offence

No sorry Dan - not true! I get latency to around 5ms with NO exclusive set. That is a furphy! Much like 48khz sounds better through a PA than 44khz

And again, as per that argument, latency less than about 10 ms is not really noticeable. I choose 5ms because I "perceive" it to feel better under my fingers on the keybed. And I can

TBH I was perfectly happy with 10ms for ages until audio in Windows, hardware and apps started to improve!

Okay now this is just one of those things you do to eliminate a possible cause, so there is no guarantee, however it had solved this issue for a lot of people....

As a background it is the new "give exclusive control" power Windows 7+8 gives to the audio driver service to the program/app using it. Which means that even when that program/app is no longer in use the audio is still "locked" to it. Right, the steps are:

CONTROL PANEL  >  HARDWARE + SOUND  >  SOUND (Manage  audio devices) >  PLAYBACK choose the device you want to use (usually it is the one that is "set as default" but may not be, in any case choose the one you want to edit. In your case I suspect it will be 1. Wasapi Bluetooth audio (it may even be set as your default???)

Once you have single clicked on the device (which highlights it) choose the properties box (lower right) then select ADVANCED and where it says EXCLUSIVE MODE,  uncheck the box (it is set to on by default in W7 and W8) . Also make sure the default sample rate matches the device you want to use, as this has also been known to prevent audio. This means that if the device you are using is set to 48khz, for example, but the sample rate in the Sound settings is 44khz, you will get no sound, again depending on what is set as default.

TBH, and this is a personal view only, why anyone bothers with 48khz is not only strange it also drains system resources (read CPU cycles can increase by as much as 60-70% as opposed to 44khz - which means less available CPU cycles for a second and subsequent vst) with no benefit whatsoever, seriously!! 48 is really only suitable in a purely recording audio situation. And would take too much space to explain fully here......Anyway I digress, sorry

Also follow the steps above for the RECORDING tab as well. Do it for all audio devices on the system.

Oh, and also turn off Windows Sounds ( the tab after RECORDING) and set it to no sounds. Windows Sounds are notorious for interrupting audio devices being used at the same time.

Okay try that (if you have not already ) and let us know...

Quote from: jbg31792 on March 22, 2014, 04:50:13 AM
What is a PM?

John

John it's a personal message...click on a user name and under the name on the left you will see Send Personal Message

But on second thoughts - as it is free (AFAIK)  I thought why not simply link it here

Free as far as I know - send me a PM with your email and I will send it to you.

looks like Dans PDF Reader plugin..

Just use the "MODIFY" tab at the top right of your post - this will let you edit out anything you do not want in it

Might be as simple as tweaking the "Exclusive" setting in Sounds (via Control Panel) Dan....it was why I was asking after the OS, if it is W7 or W8 then this tweak could very well solve it.

Dennis

Yes, the MidjayPro, is more for the hardware "platform" rather than the content. It is a slick bit of gear though - strong GAS on this one

What OS are you using?

thanks for understanding Dan Yes it is a reasonable host for sf2's I found it when I was working on that "other" project good for static patching presets. Me, I cannot wait for SampleTank to go 64 bit -very soon apparently.

LOL, no out of bed for about 6 hours now, and its a comfortable 17 degrees Celsius (about 70 in your money)....One tries to post helpful stuff (not here per se) and gets shot down...when it is only an idea, not syaing everyone has to go out right now and run whatever it is...

You guys were not coming from that angle which is why I apologised!

Anyway, moving right along,  nothing to see here folks

Sorry Dan and Stewbow - it was not directed personally at either of you. Just a flow on from other forums I guess.

jeez why does having a discussion about these things have to end in people getting all defensive - I was not repeat NOT criticising vA at all , merely offering something alternative to use. Sheesh I thought it was just a friendly discussion about different things.

Yep as I wrote (if you read it ) it leaves about 2 gig spare....

Hmmm when using Jeskola in other projects I noticed no time lag on changing presets - perhaps because there were no "on the fly" changes and all the patches remained constant for the project loaded? And that was not in vA.

But in using it dynamically as you say there could very well be load time glitches.

As I said the vA SF2 player is a great tool Dan and it move vA ahead in a big way when you introduced it.

Dennis

Not on a surface - there is not 4 gig available that is why I wrote "in real terms" . The reality is that on a base Windows 8 system on the surface with 4 gig, once the system is loaded up to run vA, there is probs only about 2 gig left for sf2 files to fit in...and even then the surface will have some RAM overhead issues in the actual use of them..

And then if one wants to also use some VSTs as well, the available RAM drops even further. Ideally if all one used was the vA SF2 player and nothing else, it would work okay -not brilliantly but okay. However they are all still pretty much GM sounds, and, to me anyway, the difference is chalk and cheese

Please I am not saying the vA sf2 player is bad, it IS a good tool, particularly for PC newbies and it gives a decent (albeit - cheesy) sound for instant "out-of-the-box" satisfaction to new vA owners. I am just posing some alternatives.

Now if vA saves the state of each part for a song ( or style ) then whether it can have remote access of banks and voice slots is well, irrelevant imo. Because as soon as you load the saved vA song file, it SHOULD then load the saved patches and vst or sf2 file used for each part, as I understand it anyway - so I might be wrong.

btw I took a snapshot of the Jeskola player view so you can see the depth of control one can tweak for each sound...

But the vA SF2 won't allow the use of multi gig SF2 libraries will it? It (the sf2 library) has to be under (in real terms - not theoretical) 1 -2 gig in size, yes?

All I am suggesting is an alternative Dan - have you ever seen/used Jeskola?

Dennis

By the way, a really good host for using SF2 files is Jeskola http://jeskola.net/xs1/

It has inbuilt editing controls (ADSR) reverb chorus plsu a lot more, and it is 16 channel multi - and.....it's free

Nope, and the French will thank you for stopping me trying

Although, Lylos Youtube vids were interesting - in French - but still interesting

That reads okay Dan - are you thinking of assimilating the two (English and French) ?

Quote from: Denv12 on March 18, 2014, 07:29:29 AM
Just an update to my original post:
Today I received my new Ketron SD1000 sound module.Bought it in Sydney,Australia.(I live in Adelaide).
I specifically bought it for the electric piano sounds.Oneday I'll learn to use software for that side of it.
I hooked it up by running the dual RCA's L-R to amp.
MIDI In (module) to Piano Out (piano).
It has a red light instead of the blue light as on the Ketron SD2.

If I may ask, how much did you pay for it?

J-Bridge for the most part works well.. there seems to be issues with SampleTank in Windows 8 64bit, but apart from that J-Bridge is smooth and plays nicely in the background. YMMV

Is this new update beta available from the download link you sent via PM a while back Dan?

Dennis

Dan, I sent a PM in case you miss it - on a totally different matter

D

All good John, Dan is on to it so an answer should be forthcoming soon I would imagine 

There you go, my doubt was unfounded 

Just one of those things with drivers on the OS - it happens..I suggest that in vA you get used to using one or the other for operation. In fact, why not try it...use JUST the mouse and run the same steps as you outlined in your OP and see what happens, unless I  miss my guess, I would suggest that you will not have a problem....And then use JUST the trackpad and its buttons (NO mouse at all) and see what happens.

EDIT: BTW - I am assuming the mouse is either a wired mouse, or the batteries are not low - low batteries can also cause these issues.

TBH I doubt it is an issue with vA...rather an issue with the mouse drivers and trackpad drivers conflicting when you try to use both. As these drivers are system (as in Windows OS) it requires a re-boot to clear the "logjam" so to speak. vA is just collateral damage, and it is NOT vA you are needing to re-boot, rather the OS itself.

Hey Dan I went for the Surface Pro in the end...It should arrive in a few days. The Iconia W700 looked okay (albeit about $300 more) but in the end I settled for the Pro as it is smaller is pretty much the same sort of specs (although the BIGGIE was it had no Memory Card slot!!)  and will sit nicely next to the iPad on the stand in the live show setup.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Dennis

I am looking at an Iconia W700S as a possible alternative, a good price too, but if it does not pan out I will stick with the SP

Quote from: stewbow on March 07, 2014, 07:35:30 PM
ok, here's my opinion so far.
I've tried allocating a seperate VST to each track and it got quite jumpy and glitchy, though having said that, the samples were quite big, but I was trying to push hard to see how far it would go.
using a SD2 for the Drums bass and accomps with VSTs for Right Hand voices works great.
In a live performance you don't need pops and glitches so a mix of hardware and software voices is I think the way to go.
The new Save feature is a big plus.

Stuart

If you run a mutlitimbral VSTi you should not have any issues. If your processor is slow and your have a small amount of RAM, you will get issues...what are your PC specs?

Quote from: 4partmusic on March 07, 2014, 05:12:20 PM
S
This is where I am getting a little lost. 

1. It appears that to get multi-timbral out of say SampleTank 2 you need to load 16 instances of the VST, is that correct?
2. Do I need to go through each track and assign the midi out to the VST?
3. If I assign each individual track (Drum, Perc, Bass, Accompnient 1 etc.) Can I just load one instance of SampleTank?

Sorry, my learning curve is sometimes a little slow.

Thanks,

Terry

1. No - ST is a multitimbral VST already and inside ST ensure a midi channel is set for each part (it is the default so it should already be so) - make sure you have the patches in ST on the matching channels from vA
2. No as it is driven by the channel assignment, and ergo is already selected for each part by choosing VST as the MIDI out under options.
3. Already answered at 1.

okay Dan, that'll do me

Cheers

Dennis

Dan,

As the pricing of the Surface Pro 1 has dropped (with the release of gen 2) I was wondering how your experience is going with your Surface Pro gen 1? It has been a bit longer now, and I would like to get your views (pros and cons please) on it as I am now seriously considering buying one as it has come into my "price orbit"

Thanks
Dennis

I actually raised this with Dan last year IIRC - On the forum and in private email, the indication was that it is possible, but low on the list of priorities...It is a good option to have as it allows one to have an audio backing track, AND to transmit hardware setup MIDI data for the song being played as well.

Quote from: Dan on February 19, 2014, 06:56:08 PM
Yes Dennis, you also have the SD2 sampled, but your take is using 8GB of samples !
There is another SD2 sample set from Live styler who is working too. (less good quaility)
The new user want to sample everything again for his own need, and will maybe share it with all the vArranger users.

Okly dokly - I understand where you are coming from now. my set IS rather high quality hence the size   and is more designed for streaming rather than for loading in toto into ram. It works well with an app called Jeskola-XS being driven by vA.

D

Well you can always get a refund perhaps your friend did not research it enough!

To be blunt, I think this is post is from someone with little knowledge of either vA or VST instruments and effects. I suggest you go away get a bit more experience and then start pontificating on how things should be

I mean Halionsonic2 ?? REALLY!? sheesh give me strength

JM 2 cents

What I found easy to do, was to use vA with a VST host. In my case I used Cantabile as it allows one to select "scenes" and song setups via midi. I would set up Cantabile "sets" with 5 vst's (Bass Drums, Guitar, Acoustic Keys and Electric keys - the latter two for my live playing. Each of these was set to the matching channel from vA and to accept note and controller data only, no patch changes.

AS I said above, I blocked program changes coming in from vA and instead used presets created in Cantabile for different styles. As it was using bass gtr and drums only, there were not too many variations..much like when one is playing with a live band...the bass player does not have multiple basses on stage, and the drummer uses one kit for the gig etc...all that changes are the effects used, hence the need for setup variations, not wholesale changes of instruments.
Worked quite well too....

As an aside, I have ALWAYS used arrangers (hardware and software) and backing tracks in a manner as close to a live ensemble or band as I could make it. The bare minimum of instrumentation, and with only subtle changes to effects that would be used in a live setting, I pretty much use the same drum kit for most songs on any one gig, for example....

Yeah, I agree, but Steinberg have changed a fair bit in the VST3 specs Dan....

Just a small snippet from http://www.steinberg.net/en/company/technologies/vst3.html

No MIDI restriction for parameter value transfers
VST3 has a dedicated interface for event handling that carries a much wider range of functionality than standard MIDI events would be able to provide. This opens up a big range of opportunities for musical use cases with very high potential for innovative product design. For example with VST3 some controller events (for example, pitch) can be referred to a note event (using a note unique ID). This offers the possibility to e.g. modulate only a single note which itself is part of a chord.


Multiple MIDI inputs/outputs
Unlike with VST 2.x,, a VST3 plug-in can have more than only one MIDI input or one MIDI output at the same time.

I have no VST3 instruments yet so I have not been able to investigate it further...but hopefully "under the bonnet" there is more to come...

Quote from: Dan on February 22, 2014, 11:30:39 PM
...............But some VST designers does not know very good MIDI

Ain't that the truth!!!  Been fighting it for years. I THINK the VST3 specs allow for nearly full midi implementation..

Might be something, might be nothing but as you know Ketron (and other OS designers) us 0 as the centrein midi programming...ie  -64  0  +63  instead of 0-127

Dennis

it is the third (middle) pedal on acoustic pianos (mostly the American brands Steinway et al) - simply means that when used only the notes being played at the time it is pressed get held while those following do not. For example you can play a chord, press the sostenuto then play any series of notes after it as a solo line perhaps and they do not get sustained.

Here is a short video (audio is not all that good, but it should give you the idea   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1cVBPqQpgg

It's called sostenuto

Quote from: Dan on February 19, 2014, 09:24:02 AM
The SD2 has an advantage of sounding very good out of the box.

The virtual instruments can give you a better sound than SD2 but at a price of work for finding and selecting good soundfonts, vst instruments, etc...

You can also use the SD2 + some virtual instruments....

Someone is recording his Ketron SD2 note by note, to create a SoundFont for vArranger. 

Maybe he will share his work with other vArranger users.

I already have that Dan, have had for some years - in fact I think I sent it to you?

Quote from: Dan on February 13, 2014, 12:16:21 PM
............ Most of audio card asio drivers can't run 2 program together using ASIO.

Not the fault of the Audio Interface makers or ASIO, it is an inherent issue in the Windows OS, always has been...

The way around it, if one wants to use two interfaces with low latency (and avoid using the ghastly ASIO4All, as useful as it is) you run one on ASIO and the other on wasAPI which is the Microsoft "version" of ASIO.

Quote from: paoloaccordion on February 11, 2014, 05:09:11 PM
Hello Dan can send me the new version? You already have the vst?

I would suggest the VST's need to come from you

Yes please add me to that list for the new beta Dan, always happy to trial new betas- not that I get a lot of time these days. It seems to be always running out, as it certainly must do for you too 

Quote from: Dan on February 03, 2014, 06:29:54 PM
Yes, I want to create a generic drum kit, who will play good/real with most of styles and midifiles.
Not huge instrument....
I have recorded brushes too...

For now, I am still working on finding the right mix for those 8 tracks of drums microphones
Eq, compression, balance...
What you hear now, is not the final product... only many days of work   still lots of work

Bass and Piano will be the next projects if the drums is working good

Yeah good plan imo.

I sorta figured it wasn't finished - and even when it IS finished, it won't be...if you get my meaning

As a personal view only, I reckon you should run up bass as a priority over piano. Preferably a sampled one rather than a VST - P-Bass is probs the one that would cover the widest range of genres. Again jmo

That (having the drums and the bass) will give vA a great sounding rhythm section over which anything will sound good - even GM sounds

Dennis 

Yes, definitely heading down the correct path Dan - but it is a big task and you know if you are to be using one trap set the sound will not appeal to all, who may want a "warmer" or fatter snare for example, or a kick with more or less "bite....

And then the other differences like variations using brushes or hotrods....I look at drumkits from BFD and Addictive Drums for example, and see how huge those instruments are...but then again if you are only trying to produce a "generic" kit or two to run with vA then you will find it infinitely more doable....might I suggest you add a decent bass to go with the vA drums?

Anyway I admire you for taking this step, and congrats on getting this far with it...good stuff

The one tool that would make vA a complete package Dan, so it is  good to hear you are still working on it.. vA is pretty damn good at the moment but this would be the icing on the cake

 

No probs -understand Dan 

Thanks for the replies it was appreciated. Yeah I still have many hundreds of Ketron styles stored on my hard drive......somewhere!!

The AJAMSonic SSD upgrade is a multi gig SSD with about 300 styles programmed by AJ and some new sounds (limited because of the SD1+ architecture). The USB upgrade enables one to use a thumb drive to transfer files to and from the SD SSD. No more floppies! So with that upgrade it should make it pretty decent I think (hope)

Cheers m8
Dennis

Yeah I agree Dan...the less reverb the better in my view ;-)

Thanks Dan - I have been off "arrangers" for some time now, preferring synth workstations for the better sound/patch quality, however I am getting frustrated with the amount of time needed to set up a synth to play tunes as backing tracks that will run sort of like an arranger....so in a way I was thinking it all might just be a bit easier with an arranger again. I do not like the Korg PA1x, nor the cheaper Rolands (and Yamahas I don't like at all for sounds) and I have always like Ketron drums for other sounds I could use VSTI's on my laptop and use vArranger as well to run those tracks that are my (self-recorded) MP3 tracks.

And it is such a good price, I may even be able to keep my MOXF 8 instead of the usual sell one to buy one..would vA play nicely with a SD1? I was also planning to buy the AJAMSonic SSD for it and the USB upgrade kit from AJ in the US.

I have just been given a chance to buy a practically new (yeah really!!) SD1+  I seem to remember you gigged with one extensively in years past - could you give me your opinion please...as in a worthwhile purchase...pros/cons etc . I am getting it for approx $390 Euros

Dennis

Sweet! I did a re-d/l yesterday actually (Sunday our time) would this have incorporated the change Dan ?

Dennis

Cool Dan, yeah I was aware of that method - I was more enquiring about the style itself and being able to save directly to it...but after more thought following your reply, it was probs a redundant question as I think I agree that it is better to save to a particular song as one may want different set ups for each song even if using the same "base" style...

Dennis

Yes I agree Dan, using virtual midi  it was possible, but the way you have it set up makes it just so easy and especially so having it all there from the one window and app

One question...will it be possible in the future to save the VST out assignment (for example VST out 2) to a part? In my case for example I use VST out 2 (which is assigned to Addictive drums) set to the drum part. At the moment when I change a style the VST defaults back to VST 1 - not an issue as I can always change AD to VST 1 instead, but I just wondered.

Thanks

PS: How far along is the option for directly saving style edits to the style itself? Again not and issue at all, just curious

Just been running it with Addictive Drums - sweet! I am playing manual bass and keys along with it, no other arranger parts. I am getting a really cool "trio combo" vibe.

IMO,  VST support is about the best thing you have added Dan! Even if only three...with VST's like Sampletank (16 parts available in one VST) one really only needs one VST, but having 16 separate outs- wow just think of the possibilities!!!

Anyway just wanted to say thanks for this most important of additions.

Dennis

And I hope it is a truly prosperous and peaceful year ahead for you Dan.
All the best :-)

Dennis

Cool, understand - got your email m8, so thanks heaps

Dennis

  You just did Dan!  And this is a great development, thanks.

Dennis

Dan is the new Beta going out to all owners automatically, or do we need to make a request on this thread?

Dennis

Okay cool - thx

Thanks Dan, yes that I was already aware of, but I mean actually saving the SF2 patch with the style - lets say I use my SF2 bass patch and also a guitar SF2 with say, a swing style - does vA then allow those patches to be saved with the style? And then if that style is used again at a later date, is the same sf2 patches are automatically recalled?

Sorry to be so specific, but sometimes it is difficult with language and grammar differences to impart proper meaning to questions...

And these are saved with the style so they load automatically when the style is loaded at a later time?

But is it correct to say that a user cannot save and use their own sf2 sounds for style parts?

Yes - assuming you get the correct "sound" and ambience Dan (and from your post it seems you will do) - you can mark me down as a buyer as well. I am always happy to pay for quality. My experience with the soft synth was that it worked fine, but sounded "naff" so any work you do in this area will be be tremendous.

Who knows, maybe start thinking of selling an all in one product,  vA together with a quality multi-instrument soft synth packaged with a mini-pc setup primarily to run vA and other softsynths!. For example http://www.mini-box.com/Mini-Box-M300-LCD

The new micro-ATX MOBOS are creating all sorts of possibilities.

Dennis

Kudos - that IS a major achievement Dan 

Dennis

Are we there yet   

Okay thanks Dan - that answers it perfectly. I am only asking so I can properly define the vA setup methodology in my head for possible future use live. (at this stage it is still not my "live" rig) . But I do still keep messing with it from time to time.

Cheers
Dennis

Quote from: Dan on October 28, 2013, 04:59:11 PM
i think, You had a dream 

Now I am thinking you are deliberately ignoring the question  - the question again...

But still,  even though vA is using them (SD2 edits and tweaks) live it MUST store this data (sysex) somewhere to use it again when the song is loaded at another time...or are you saying the editing is ONLY in real-time and does not last past the current session?

Can you answer this above question please?

And as for the dream, well I am not so sure  - but I have asked elsewhere about it, so I will wait on that reply.

And in any case there is always the option of using insert effect #8 which is a combo distortion/delay/chorus and if the delay rate is set high enough it emulates reverb.

Now, the SD1 had overall system effects (Rev+ Chorus) and insert effects - distortion, delay, leslies etc etc and one could set an insert on a part by part basis, with the system effects applying to the total end output. AFAIK, the SD2 engine is VERY similar.

In fact reading the sysex documentation for the SD2 (page 44 of the manual) could certainly lead one to believe that it is the same with the SD2.

This was the question Dan, which you may have missed again...

But still,  even though vA is using them (SD2 edits and tweaks) live it MUST store this data (sysex) somewhere to use it again when the song is loaded at another time...or are you saying the editing is ONLY in real-time and does not last past the current session?

Yes if using the rev as an insert, but the SD2 can use rev/cho as system effects while allowing a user to use one insert effect...when I was mucking around with the SD2 and vA the other day I was using the distortion effect, but still had overall rev - maybe I imagined it.

*bump* for this unanswered question:

I was more talking about distortion/overdrive effects and sound mods -

But still,  even though vA is using them live it MUST store this data somewhere to use it again when the song is loaded at another time...or are you saying the editing is ONLY in real-time and does not last past the current session?

A bit of a small hijack (sorry OP ) but this reminds me - Dan, is vA any closer to PDF import support as yet?

Dennis

There was a PC editor years ago called SD Edit Gold Plus or something like that for the SD1 - but I cannot find it now   (and then your own MSP Editor )

I was more talking about distortion/overdrive effects and sound mods -

But still,  even though vA is using them live it MUST store this data somewhere to use it again when the song is loaded at another time...or are you saying the editing is ONLY in real-time and does not last past the current session?

Okay got that, but would it not also save the sysex data created when editing the efx and other sound edit data? I mean it MUST be generating it for vA to be able to actually make the changes on an SD2, yes?

Ahh okay...perhaps even an export would work, although thinking about it , I cannot see why the data in the 2nd midi file (.mid2) could not be imported into say, Sonar, added the to original midi and then re-saved?

What do you think?

Okay - as you know it is really REALLY difficult to downgrade a Windows OS - (read a full re-install of the older version) so I wanted to make 100% certain before proceeding.

Okay thanks - I was hoping to use the SD2 editing capability of vA to edit midi files (for sysex - effects etc etc) as there is no PC editors for the SD2. Then to save it to the midi. Any idea if it can be added and what sort of time it would take to add this capability Dan?

Yes I thought as much but I just wanted to confirm

Just checking to see if this is normal program operation or not...I have a midi file loaded, and I have tweaked some things, however when I click on SAVE all that is available is to save the StartUp Config - the other options are "greyed" out.

Thanks

Quote from: Dan on October 26, 2013, 06:20:26 PM
Do you run vArranger from your USB disk?

It's better to run from your hard drive. So, please copy your vArranger2.exe program, and the vArrangerData folder into your hard drive.

But you still need the USB stick attached, yes?

Would it not be better to post publicly any valid W 8.1  data, for those of us about to upgrade to 8.1?

Quote from: Dan on September 03, 2012, 09:21:27 PM
Yes, I will think about it. Also, I think to add a global ON/OFF for the score loading with the songs.

For now, you can assign a Pc key to the LYRICS ON/OFF

Dan, are you any further along with this possibility?

Dennis

Yes, even the Model 2 still only has the one USB 3 port, although it is a full sized port. Apparently the 2 also will have a native docking station option.

Thanks

Dan, what is the audio quality like from the headphone socket and using the WASapi drivers?

Would it be the equivalent of an iPad?

I am using a dedicated firewire interface (Presonus) with the Portege and I know a headphone socket and wasapi is not as good, but is it passable for live P.A. purposes?

Just been checking what I can find on the 2 - seems not a lot is different apart from bigger storage and 8 gig of RAM (only wiht the 512 gig hard drive model) Screen size is the same, connections are the same, although it does now have a native docking station.

I am looking at $700 (Aussie) for this unit - about 480 euros, so I am not sure if it is a good deal or not. But the seller assures me it has had less than 20 hours use and is in "out of the box" condition...might have to think some more. Although I do need to replace my ageing Portege M780.

Thanks Dan - If the surface 2 has a larger screen I might hold off..Although I might just see if I can find some info re the 2 before jumping in on the one.

Dennis

Dan, I am considering buying a Surface Pro 128gig, I wonder if you could pass on your experiences with it? Reliability, build quality running audio, running vA etc etc, you know what I mean

Thanks

Dennis