I would like to second Starkeeper's suggestion of making a software arranger that is also a VST host. This would greatly simply things from a user's standpoint. A VST host would have soundfont capability because it could host rgcaudio's free sfz soundfount player.

Here is an idea for chord recognition. Allow the user to set a scale for one-finger chord recognition. If a user selects no scale, all one finger chords are major. If a scale is selected, it is assumed that a one finger chord calls for a third from the scale. For example, if a Cmaj scale is selected, c,f,g, trigger major chords, while d,e,a,b trigger minor chords. If the player wants a different chord, it can be more fully fingered--for example, in Cmaj scale, c-eb triggers the Cm chord.

Seventh chords can be triggered by playing the real note to the left. In other words, 2nd intervals are interpreted as sevenths based on the higher note of the interval. Thus, in Cmaj scale, Bb-C is a Cmaj7th.

Well if you are only going to use sfz as
your sound source, then a VST host is not
needed, as all you would need is the
standalone free version of sfz linked with
Midi-yoke. The problem with sfz and all
current SF players(as Frank has pointed out
many times)is XG drum kit change recognition. It would be great if some SF player would actually do this correctly.
But as for the free sfz doing this, it
probably will never happen, being that the
company was purchased recently by Cakewalk.
As far as VST hosting in general, it can
be quite a can of worms, and I would suggest making the user friendly arranger portion as good as possible, and leave hosting to such experts as Forte and Console.
Your other alternative is to require a
Creative SF compatible soundcard to use
with your program, as I think Frank has
used this and ,I think, said handles XG well.



[This message has been edited by Vquestor (edited 02-22-2005).]

I disagree. I wish OMB could host Vsti's directly, instead of having to work through a seperate interface. SFZ is ok, but it's far from being the best host for soundfonts.

I don't like having to open up LS Pro or another app to host vst instruments when I use OMB. I think it's a waste of CPU. There are other good GM / GS modules that I prefer to use instead of soundfonts. Band in a Box hosts DX instruments without a hitch.

AJ

Everything I said was prefaced by "if you
are only going to use sfz as your sound
source".
I think a good solution would be
to make the software arranger itself as
a VST, which could then be loaded into
Forte which will remember all modules and
setups and load on one click.
What do you think Dan du France?

Yes, these would be advanced MULTI-PADS.
And how about support for regular PSR multipad files? No software arranger does
that at the moment.

A Vst version would be ok, but I'd still want a standalone as well. In some cases, Forte and LSP are just an extra step that I don't need. The interface in a Band in a Box works fine for me just the way it is with all of the dxi ( vst ) synths I use. If it responded as a real time arranger does, I'd be set.

I don't necessarily care for the idea of having to have a creative soundcard either. This works fine for my PC setup, as I use an old SB live to host soundfonts, but I don't want to have to have a Creative card on my laptop ( yet another USB device ) along side my Midiman Quattro.

I do like the multipad concept very much, particularly if it includes an option such as the PSR series have to make user multipads.

AJ


[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 02-22-2005).]

Hi ,
I suggested Multi Pads to Jos back in Vers6 OMB (I think). Hopefully one day he may see fit to included them. I miss them.

Maybe if we all asked nicely ( haa haa)

best wishes
Rikki

p.s. Be nice if the tracks that make up the styles could be replaced by audio loops ( recorded live on real instruments) Is that something along the lines you were suggesting vquestor?

Hi AJ,
they now make an Audigy PCMCIA card. Supposedly supports soundfonts. I ordered one anyway, anything would have to sound better than my inbuilt card. Ididn't want an external one.

best wishes
Rikki

Hi Dan!

I have an idea which I would prefer to tell you about privately. Please email me at

flatfoot50@juno.com

so I can send you a reply

Douglas Wolfe
Sacramento CA, USA

I've had this same idea a couple of years ago, but I soon forget about it for an absolute lack of collaboration on the programming side.

So, first of all, which OS?
Windows, Mac or Linux?

Then, which language? (.Net ...)

Then again, wich libraries? (DirectX...)

After all this choiches, we have to know some project specs. As an example, I hope that you will consider standard MIDI format for styles files, so that it will be easy to build styles with any soft sequencer.

Regarding chord recognition algorithm, this is absolutely not easy, because you know that same position can lead to different chords.
Following starkeeper example, how can you decide if those notes belong to Am7 or to C6?
I think that this problem has no solution, and it needs more informations to properly solve it.
One way to decide correct chord is adding another lower note which will help the machine in this decision: if lower note is C then the chord will be C6; if it's A it will be Am7.

Another thing to think about. Current arrangers can transpose what they are playing following your chord progression (and this can be relatively easy to do, applying some simple math to MIDI notes events); but they chan change a major progression in minor or 7th or whatever chord they recognize. This is not so easy: to change from major to minor you have to identify all 3rd notes, and lower them of half a tone; from major to 7th you have to add 7th note; and things get more complicated as chords go more complicated.
Remember that all this computing work should be performed in real time, because when you change the chord on the keyboard you expect the style to immediately change, according to the new chord.

Anyway, this message is for offering you my support in this project. If you decide to develop it for Windows using VB (6 or .Net) and DirectX I will be proud to help you.




[This message has been edited by RicFreak (edited 02-23-2005).]