example file?

cbit · 11 Jan 2004

hi, the example doesn't seem to make any sound either by pressing keys on my keyboard or on my midi controller.

i'm using an audiophile 2496 soundcard and i've tried setting the audio preferences option to both ASIO and directsound (choosing the correct outputs), but in both cases i don't hear any sound from the device (i did make sure to click in the vst window, and seperately i tried clicking in a blank area of the layout).

is there any more infomation i can provide that would be useful?

cbit · 11 Jan 2004

I don't see an option to run the audiophile card at 32bits.

By exporting as vsti, i do get an instrument that makes sound.

It behaves in unusual ways though:

The only control that seems to have any effect on the sound it creates is the 'Q' control.. turning this seems to alter the volume of a continuous drone (the drone begins after playing the first note, and after playing several, the CPU load causes playback to stop).

The controls of the synth are movable, dragging them changes their position in the layout (i don't know whether this is intentional).

Certain notes seem not to sound, or sound very quietly compared to others.

I'm running the test example vsti in tracktion 1.5.0.103

cbit · 12 Jan 2004

great! I can now select select my soundcards outputs under the directsound option, and sound plays through synthmaker. thanks.

The example synth still seems a bit strange though. I think it's a bit difficult to use the example to learn more about synthmaker at the moment because the example's controls don't seem to work in the 'traditinal' way.. (i can still only notice a difference in the sound when i adjust the Q control).

(i was also wondering, is there a way of changing the knobs' response so that they only respond to vertical mouse drag movements?)

jorge · 15 Jan 2004

cbit

I have changed synthmaker to update the sound you hear immediatelly when you change parameters.

You can download the fixed version v0.7.8j from:

[old link]

Try setting Delay to zero and moving the Mod and you should hear it.

cbit · 15 Jan 2004

thanks. Now i can tell an immediate difference when i chance the values in the middle row.

Also, moving the 'gain' knob in both the 'envelope' and 'filter envelope' section has an effect.

But none of the remaning controls seem to make a difference at the moment (the two envelopes). I have a kind of brief, muted electric piano sound with a fast decay no sustain that 'triggers' on pressing a note, and 'triggers' again when the note is released.

jorge · 15 Jan 2004

You're right, I forgot the ADSR component needs fixing too. Thanks for letting me know.

cbit · 18 Jan 2004

Using synthmaker_0_7_8n the example file seems more responsive to adjustments of its controls. But still works very differently from any synth i've used. (all the notes still hang on indefinately, i can only stop them by closing synthmaker)

Either it's not working properly, or i just don't understand how to use it :?

Could anyone explain what the three adsr units do, and how to configure the device to behave like a 'normal' synth? thanks.

jorge · 18 Jan 2004

The problem you're describing about notes hanging indefinately sounds like a bug, it doesnt happen to me, I'll try to recreate it. Does it happen when you play on the computer keyboard or external midi keyboard?

The example synth is just for testing. I'm not yet spending much time creating synths as there are still bugs to fix and features missing. If you look at the schematic it might give you an idea of what the ADSR components are doing. Basically, in version 0.7.8n I just inserted 3 sine oscillators connected like in an FM synth with feedback paths. I didnt follow any theory or logical choice of feedback paths, just the quickest to create some sound. The ADSR components are shapping the paths between the oscillators.

If you'd prefer to have a normal subractive synth so you understand it better let me know.

cbit · 19 Jan 2004

yes, for me a simple subtractive synth would help me understand more about how to use synthmaker by examining it's structure. (so far the hanging notes have happened when using my external midi keyboard, i haven't yet tried playing the computer keys, i'll post back when i have)

jorge · 19 Jan 2004

If you could try with all 3 versions: VSTi, standalone and inside synthmaker; it would help find the problem.

cbit · 19 Jan 2004

In synthmaker, the synth works much more like i expected when i use the computer keys instead of my midi keyboard. ie. no double triggering and nearly no stuck notes.. (although if i accessed a menu while a note was pressed, it did become stuck).

I imported the vsti version into tracktion where controlling it with my keyboard lead to the same stuck notes and double triggering behaviour as before.

In addition, when i deleted the vsti from my track and then tried to instantiate it again i got an error popup saying "CSynth::New> old format".. the synth window appeared, but only displayed the synthaker grey background grid (no synth), and tracktion's CPU meter jumped to full until i deleted it.

I also exported a standalone version. When i tried to open the exe file it seemed to get stuck.. the new window would appear, but nothing loaded into in it (part of my desktop image was stuck in there, graphical glitch-like).. i left it like this for a few minutes to see if anything would happen before closing it.

jorge · 20 Jan 2004

When you access a menu while a note is playing, synthmaker wont receive anymore the Key-Up message to stop playing the note, that's why the note gets stuck. If you try the same with Fruity Loops with any VSTi ( not just the ones created by synthmaker ) you get the same problem. I'll try to find a way around it.

I managed to recreate the problem you have with the standalone version. I tried it on a machine with a Duron running Windows XP and the graphics never showed up although the sound was working fine.

I've tried the VSTi sm_test_078l with tracktion on my computer and it worked fine. I tried deleting it and inserting it again and it also worked. I still have to try it on my Windows XP Duron machine.

and tracktion's CPU meter jumped to full until i deleted it

Whenever you insert a VSTi created by synthmaker, it goes through some initial calculations to generate the wave tables. At the moment those calculations can take quite a while ( 2 sec on my P4 1.7GHz but 20 sec on my Duron 1.11GHz ), that might be what's causing the CPU meter jump. When inserting a second instance of the same VSTi the calculation are already done, they're not performed again.

jorge · 20 Jan 2004

I think I've fixed the problem with drawing in a standalone created synth.

[old link]

jorge · 21 Jan 2004

I've started working on a subtractive synth, its only an oscillator for now but it would be great to know if it works for you. You can download the standalone version from:

[old link]

It works with an external midi keyboard now although it still uses the Direct Sound Primary Sound Device.

jorge · 22 Jan 2004

I've updated smSA_test_0_7_8q, it is now:

[old link]

Now it supports Midi input from an external keyboard and it allows you to select the DirectSound Device.

jorge · 23 Jan 2004

cbit, in the latest version v0.7.9 the example file is a very simple subtractive synth. [old link]

cbit · 23 Jan 2004

great!, thanks.. i'll try the new version this weekend and post back.

cbit · 25 Jan 2004

the new version doesn't seem to respond to MIDI notes from my external keyboard. (using the computer keys works though).

jorge · 1 Feb 2004

cbit, I think I found the problem with stuck notes when using an external keyboard. Have a look at: note-off doesnt work from a Midi keyboard

If you go through the test I describe there it will help me know for sure. If I'm right it will be very easy to fix.