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Lab Rats Wanted

Posted

As you all know, "THE" update is closely around the corner.  Since many substantial things have changed, the user manual and most videos need to be updated. This will take some time, but I really would love to use this time for a "lab test", if anyone is interested.

In order to speed up beta testing and to get valuable user feedback regarding how intuitive the new setup is, I would like to publish an early Beta of Synfire 1.7. You should know that there is no update manual, no updated videos and nothing else but the plain software yet. You will need to work your way through it all on your own (which is part of the test, of course).

Also, installing the Beta will replace your current installation. So if you save any files, you can not return to 1.6.6. However, if you backup your computer, or all your Synfire documents at least, chances are fine that you still can. Although I doubt this would be necessary, because 1.7 is pretty stable already.

We can gather all feedback here in this thread.

Any voluntary lab rats wanting to jump into the cold water?

8-)


Tue, 2013-08-27 - 14:19 Permalink

I'm happy to take the plunge!  I'm still very much experimenting with Synfire at the moment and still finding my way around.  So I have nothing critical to lose by trying the new version!

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 15:01 Permalink

I'm also in!

Keen on the new features related to libraries/phrase pool.

Did not yet use Audio Engine and plugin support that much in the old version.

I'm curious on how the new version works and what new workflows evolve.

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 15:27 Permalink

Andre,

I'm in :)

if you think that it's already stable we gather feedback here otherwise we can use some ticketing system

 

let us know how you want to proceed

 

 

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 18:49 Permalink

Hmmm ... this isn't like one of those trials with an autopsy at the end, is it?

 

Not that I couldn't be persuaded, anyway. ;)

 

BTW Andre, sorry about your hand. That is one of the worse cases of 'mouse fatigue' I've ever seen.

 

 

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 18:58 Permalink

Definately from myside!

Using NI Maschine as VST on Mac Synfire for electronic all the time (Maschine hosts the Synths etc and I route Synfire midi through the engine to the hosted Vsts, should be a good test). Very nice setup for sketching ideas into maschine and exporting as loops to use in Ableton. 

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 21:07 Permalink

Great! The downloads are online in your user accounts now.

I'll be summarizing the list of changes tomorrow and shoot a brief video intro that will point you to the things that have changed or that are new (quite many). So maybe waiting until tomorrow will save you some confusion, although I doubt anyone can resist. So be it ;-)

Since most of you are already familiar with the concept, it should not be too difficult to find everything you need quickly. As always, finding your way through a reshaped landscape takes a little time. So keep calm and be patient.

Let us know about your experience, confusions, questions here on this thread.

Thanks! See you tomorrow (that is, in 12 hours).

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 21:23 Permalink

Hello!

Despite I am an old user of this fantastic software, the lack of knowledge of the english language doesn´t allow me to participate in this forum as I would like. Maybe this is a good starting point.

 

I would also like to thank the developers and the people who are taking part actively in this community.

 

Of course, I´m in.

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 21:56 Permalink

Ah, and don't forget to turn the tool tips on again. They will be helpful.

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 22:29 Permalink

ok
here is  my first panic attack !
:)
none of my Device Descriptions works.

sort of my setup details:
...
W7 x64
Audio Engines Disabled
...
Over 300 D.D.  s  ..
all DD s   assigned to one unique Midi Drones in the Reaper  and  that  tracks saved as Reaper Track Templates.

Normally ( till 1.7  beta)  i was run  Synfire first then start to load that Track Templates in Reaper..
in this way Synfire  assign tracks to correct D.D.s   automaticaly  ( well  it was )...
now :  everythings in right places  DDs  still in the list ,   but  nothing happens, none of the DD s get active when i load any of my track templates..
i hope this is a bug not a new feature.
...
also i got 2 crashes ( also i send the Crash Reports )
so far thats it, ill continue tomorrow.
Best Regards
Yıldırım


Tue, 2013-08-27 - 22:37 Permalink

The update installed fine and I can load and play  my old cognac files. Synfire picked up the system sound settings and I just had to hit play to hear music playing - much better!

 

However trying to create a new song causes a complete crash every time.

 

I'm using MAC OS 10.8.4

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 23:23 Permalink

here is  my first panic attack ! 
Image removed.
none of my Device Descriptions works.

 

First impression: Much improved.

 

First issues:

I can confirm the issue with the Device Descriptions (I use a separate installation for these tests, so the panic is limited  :) ). First they seemed not to work properly since the instruments don't shine up in the 'sounds' list at the programs tab. But apart from that they actually work fine. 

I had a chrash when I tried to remove a rack module from the shared rack. The Device description that was loaded in that rack module before the crash happened is now greyed out in the device list of the rack modules and therefore it can't be selected anymore.

 

Will do more "stress tests" tomorrow.

Tue, 2013-08-27 - 23:52 Permalink

@ juergen
Lucky you !  :)
and   :
"First they seemed not to work properly since the instruments don't shine up in the 'sounds' list at the programs tab. But apart from that they actually work fine. "

i didn't get this (yet)...

i am trying find Devices  in arrangement ..after i assign the category ( again) arrangement start to see device, but
if i  open one of my Libraries and  want to use same Device  for this library,
i can't see the Device  in the "Assign Instrument" dialogue  window.
anyway..
...
I ll test/check  more tomorrow.
..

for the "real"  :)  closing words of tonight:


- New  figure  Drag Drop is  Fantastic !   i love it.

- Embedded Library also Fantastic !
  (i will love it  , after figure out to fix DD issue  :)  )
great to use  with "Use the Sound,Harmony ...selected instrument in the Arrangement for preview"
but this feature seems allows only preview of first  phrase in the pool   or the phrase that selected for the preview .
also activating "Respond instant feedback" didin't work for this case it plays previews instantly but plays original phrase..


one Suggestion
 in  the Matrix tab if Double click to Container = switches to  Arrangement screen of same container, wold be useful.


Wed, 2013-08-28 - 00:00 Permalink

Quick feedback. Installs just fine on 10.8.3. Shared rack doesnt work I see red colour 

 

Image removed.

 

But I think thats maybe just a point setting it up again. 

 

Libraries load and work properly. Like the new interface and really snappy performance, change of icons etc.

 

More tomorrow when I have more time.

 

Thanks for this great software and the update. Good luck. 

 

BR, 

 

Plopseaw

Wed, 2013-08-28 - 05:22 Permalink

Installation is a breeze in windows 7 64X

When starting the application I got this message (see screen).

I ignore message regarding audio engine and was able to open old project.

The new pallete with all the integrated menus is genius!

 

Attachments

Wed, 2013-08-28 - 09:12 Permalink

Thanks for your feedback, everyone. First hotfixes are already being collected.

PLEASE: Submit crash reports (Help >> Online Updates), if you encounter them! These will speed up the fixes dramatically.

@soundcase:

Can you explain, step by step, which procedure you followed in 1.6.6 that does now no longer work? If I understand correctly, you relied on Synfire to repair connections to a DD after a DAW track went back online, correct? On the shared rack? I think this can be fixed, although there is probably a more appropriate procedure to achieve this. Will have to look at it first. 

MIDI Drones can be part of the private rack, saved with the arrangement AND their associated DD included. This keeps your shared rack free from 300 one-off DDs that are tied to individual projects. There is also a new "Preset" feature for rack modules. It allows for saving and recalling a rack module including its DD and plug-in preset.

i can't see the Device  in the "Assign Instrument" dialogue  window

The way to do this now is to add a rack module, then assign the plug-in and DD there. The rack module then appears on the instrument inspector menus where you assign a sound.

@juergen:

First they seemed not to work properly since the instruments don't shine up in the 'sounds' list at the programs tab. But apart from that they actually work fine.

The DD now distinguishes between fixed-channel sounds and selectable programs. The former are listed and configured on the "Channels" tab, the latter on the "Programs" tab. Your device needs to offer at least one dynamic channel, if it is supposed to select programs by MIDI messages.

Everyone, if you have any broken DDs, please send them to support at cognitone dot com, so I can have a look. Add a short description of what the DD is for, or if you have used it in a special way.

this [embedded library] feature seems allows only preview of first  phrase in the pool   or the phrase that selected for the preview .

Check out the "Phrases" tab below (Pro only).

Wed, 2013-08-28 - 09:59 Permalink

First patches are available: Check Help >> Online Updates. You do not need to restart Synfire after the update.

Patches include all submitted crashes so far.

Wed, 2013-08-28 - 13:08 Permalink

Just installed the patches and File/New/Song shuts Synfire down every time. File/New/anything else work fine. Is it just me?

Wed, 2013-08-28 - 13:44 Permalink

Still trying to learn 1.6.6 but would love to give it a shot..

Count me in!

 

Wed, 2013-08-28 - 15:24 Permalink

Hi Andre
according to your Q:
"Can you explain, step by step, which procedure you followed in 1.6.6 that does now no longer work?"

i switch back to 1.6.6b3 temporarily  for record this gif
i tried to show on every aspect how comfortble i am in this workflow
i hope i didn't over detailed

anyway here it is ( 8.5 MB)   gif .

Wed, 2013-08-28 - 15:37 Permalink

Thanks for the pictures. Wow, that's an interesting workflow.

How did you make sure the (shared) setup was saved with your arrangements? If I don't miss something, you had to rebuild the setup manually each time you loaded a different arrangement.

This is no longer necessary. You can save the entire setup with your project now. Or make a preset for each of the DDs you use and recall that including the plug-in state. I'll show that in a video.