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[winner]

No, nothing much has changed since the last release (rev.9); the only real change is the addition of the soundfont config presets, which is in the "stuff" updates. Why, do you have something that needs adding?

Well I have a couple questions. It seems to me that in a previous version of the midi plugin, when the gain setting was applied to different .sf2 files, the gain setting was kept for each, independently. For example, if I set a gain of -3dB for soundfonta.sf2, all instruments played from that soundfont would experience the -3dB gain. If I set a gain of 0dB for soundfontb.sf2, all instruments played from that soundfont would experience 0 dB gain. Now it seems that the gain setting applies uniformly to all soundfonts used. Which is the intended behavior?

It would be desirable to have the gain setting specified for each individual soundfont, or even better, for each individual channel or instrument within a particular soundfont. Is this possible?

Also, what I think would be a great feature would be if a particular soundfont COMBINATION could be specified for particular midi files, paths, etc., similar to what the Options and stuff > Saved settings dialog does for other aspects of playback. Then, if a folder of orchestral midis which uses four soundfonts plays, it would utilize the four soundfonts as specified for all the instruments, and if a folder of jazz band music which uses two soundfonts plays, it would utilize those two with soundfont selections made for every instrument.

I'd guess there's a workaround to do all this, at least for folders, with different .ini files in particular folders, but can the functionality I'm talking about get integrated into the midi plugin, and maybe even for particular midi songs?

[johndoe]

How about *.sf2pack (soundfonts packed with BASS_MIDI_FontPack)?
Do you plan to support *.sf2pack in xmp-midi too?

[Ian @ un4seen]

It seems to me that in a previous version of the midi plugin, when the gain setting was applied to different .sf2 files, the gain setting was kept for each, independently. For example, if I set a gain of -3dB for soundfonta.sf2, all instruments played from that soundfont would experience the -3dB gain. If I set a gain of 0dB for soundfontb.sf2, all instruments played from that soundfont would experience 0 dB gain. Now it seems that the gain setting applies uniformly to all soundfonts used. Which is the intended behavior?

Strange. The gains should still apply per-soundfont, and that does seem to be the case here; are you sure it isn't there? Perhaps the soundfont that you think is being used isn't actually? You can check the Samples info window to confirm what soundfonts are being used.

It would be desirable to have the gain setting specified for each individual soundfont, or even better, for each individual channel or instrument within a particular soundfont. Is this possible?

I'm not sure about that. Ideally, a soundfont's presets would already have their volume levels set properly relative to each other, and if not, it would probably be better to fix the soundfont (eg. using Vienna Soundfont Studio) for a more permanent solution.

Also, what I think would be a great feature would be if a particular soundfont COMBINATION could be specified for particular midi files, paths, etc., similar to what the Options and stuff > Saved settings dialog does for other aspects of playback. Then, if a folder of orchestral midis which uses four soundfonts plays, it would utilize the four soundfonts as specified for all the instruments, and if a folder of jazz band music which uses two soundfonts plays, it would utilize those two with soundfont selections made for every instrument.

Rather than having additional options for that in the MIDI plugin, it would probably be better to expand the existing "MOD" Saved Settings option to include the ability to store settings for other formats too. That is something that I have been considering for a while, but it hasn't quite happened yet. Perhaps it'll appear in 3.6

How about *.sf2pack (soundfonts packed with BASS_MIDI_FontPack)?
Do you plan to support *.sf2pack in xmp-midi too?

That isn't currently possible. The problem is that the MIDI plugin doesn't include FLAC/etc decoders, and the FLAC/etc plugins don't include the necessary functionality to allow the MIDI plugin to use them. It may be possible to add that functionality though. I'll look into it.

[winner]

It seems to me that in a previous version of the midi plugin, when the gain setting was applied to different .sf2 files, the gain setting was kept for each, independently. For example, if I set a gain of -3dB for soundfonta.sf2, all instruments played from that soundfont would experience the -3dB gain. If I set a gain of 0dB for soundfontb.sf2, all instruments played from that soundfont would experience 0 dB gain. Now it seems that the gain setting applies uniformly to all soundfonts used. Which is the intended behavior?

Strange. The gains should still apply per-soundfont, and that does seem to be the case here; are you sure it isn't there? Perhaps the soundfont that you think is being used isn't actually? You can check the Samples info window to confirm what soundfonts are being used.

Thanks for the response! I'm clear on this settings behavior, since I'm going back into the midi config dialog to recheck the gain settings for each soundfont after making a change. Using my three soundfonts, if I set one of them at a different gain level, all three are affected. I do not have the "Store per-user config/etc option" checked.

It would be desirable to have the gain setting specified for each individual soundfont, or even better, for each individual channel or instrument within a particular soundfont. Is this possible?

I'm not sure about that. Ideally, a soundfont's presets would already have their volume levels set properly relative to each other, and if not, it would probably be better to fix the soundfont (eg. using Vienna Soundfont Studio) for a more permanent solution.

Yeah, I had the same thought as well about individual channels/instruments, and I suppose you're right, though I've come across many soundfonts with a few instruments horribly maladjusted for volume. It would be a nicety but I can agree probably too much work for something that should've been accomplished in the soundfont itself. I was just thinking that there are many folk such as myself who do not do much with constructing or modifying soundfonts, other than the marvelous combining mechanism that XMPlay provides.

Also, what I think would be a great feature would be if a particular soundfont COMBINATION could be specified for particular midi files, paths, etc., similar to what the Options and stuff > Saved settings dialog does for other aspects of playback. Then, if a folder of orchestral midis which uses four soundfonts plays, it would utilize the four soundfonts as specified for all the instruments, and if a folder of jazz band music which uses two soundfonts plays, it would utilize those two with soundfont selections made for every instrument.

Rather than having additional options for that in the MIDI plugin, it would probably be better to expand the existing "MOD" Saved Settings option to include the ability to store settings for other formats too. That is something that I have been considering for a while, but it hasn't quite happened yet. Perhaps it'll appear in 3.6

Right on!

[Ian @ un4seen]

Using my three soundfonts, if I set one of them at a different gain level, all three are affected.

Strange. Does it matter which of the 3 you adjust? Anyway, please upload your XMPLAY.INI file to have a look at here...

   ftp.un4seen.com/incoming/

Please also upload a MIDI file that you're using to test the gain changes.

[winner]

Using my three soundfonts, if I set one of them at a different gain level, all three are affected.

Strange. Does it matter which of the 3 you adjust? Anyway, please upload your XMPLAY.INI file to have a look at here...

   ftp.un4seen.com/incoming/

Please also upload a MIDI file that you're using to test the gain changes.

Uploaded. In the uploaded config file you might find four or five soundfonts. I've found the gain setting behavior to actually be a bit more quirky than just one change affecting all soundfonts. I'm finding that a change applied to an instrument in a soundfont may only affect a subset of instruments in the soundfont, and that an applied change of gain may not even take at all, while sometimes I do see the change affect all soundfonts.

[Ian @ un4seen]

I see you have individually set a soundfont for each preset (in bank 0) to use. Each of them has its own gain setting that will only apply to the particular preset, so could it be that you're setting the gain of a preset's soundfont and expecting it to apply to all presets that are using the same soundfont? If that's not it, please give an example gain change (eg. which preset's soundfont) that produces the strange results with your example MIDI file.

[winner]

I see you have individually set a soundfont for each preset (in bank 0) to use. Each of them has its own gain setting that will only apply to the particular preset, so could it be that you're setting the gain of a preset's soundfont and expecting it to apply to all presets that are using the same soundfont? If that's not it, please give an example gain change (eg. which preset's soundfont) that produces the strange results with your example MIDI file.

Actually I have not set the particular soundfont for absolutely every preset. I've set a340.sf2 as the default, but with most of the individual presets layered above a340 in play priority and associated with other soundfonts.

I thought in your previous response that a gain setting would only apply to a particular soundfont, not each preset?

An example of a change:

In the lower scroll box, I highlight preset 042, for "Cello LP" in the merlin_symphony.sf2 soundfont. I raise the gain to +3. I click apply. I close Options and stuff dialog, then close XMPlay. I reopen XMPlay and go back to the MIDI config dialog. Every preset associated with merlin_symphony.sf2 shows a gain of +3 as I highlight each in the lower scrollbox. But now also, as I highlight other presets in the lower scrollbox which are associated with other soundfonts, e.g., preset 000 for JV1080_Nice_Piano_m.sf2 or preset 016 for 361-Organ B3.sf2, all of the other presets, no matter which soundfont association,  also indicate a gain of +3.

[Ian @ un4seen]

I thought in your previous response that a gain setting would only apply to a particular soundfont, not each preset?

Each soundfont entry has its own gain setting, so it is possible for a preset to have its own gain if it has its own soundfont entry (assigned by double-clicking on a preset). The preset-specific entries are indicated by a number in the "Preset" column of the soundfont list.

An example of a change:

In the lower scroll box, I highlight preset 042, for "Cello LP" in the merlin_symphony.sf2 soundfont. I raise the gain to +3. I click apply. I close Options and stuff dialog, then close XMPlay. I reopen XMPlay and go back to the MIDI config dialog. Every preset associated with merlin_symphony.sf2 shows a gain of +3 as I highlight each in the lower scrollbox. But now also, as I highlight other presets in the lower scrollbox which are associated with other soundfonts, e.g., preset 000 for JV1080_Nice_Piano_m.sf2 or preset 016 for 361-Organ B3.sf2, all of the other presets, no matter which soundfont association,  also indicate a gain of +3.

OK, I think I see what's happening now. The gain adjustments apply to the soundfont that is selected in the list to the left of the slider, not the preset that is selected in the list below. So when you're selecting those other presets, it is in fact still the same soundfont that is selected and its gain that is shown.

To make it more convenient to set the gains for preset-specific soundfonts, here's an update that'll automatically select the corresponding soundfont when a preset is selected...

   www.un4seen.com/stuff/xmp-midi.dll

Let me know if your troubles persist with it.

[winner]

OK, I think I see what's happening now. The gain adjustments apply to the soundfont that is selected in the list to the left of the slider, not the preset that is selected in the list below. So when you're selecting those other presets, it is in fact still the same soundfont that is selected and its gain that is shown.

To make it more convenient to set the gains for preset-specific soundfonts, here's an update that'll automatically select the corresponding soundfont when a preset is selected...

   www.un4seen.com/stuff/xmp-midi.dll

Let me know if your troubles persist with it.

Thanks Ian! When I try to click some items in the upper or lower scrollboxes, they do not get highlighted. We'll need this fixed to visually confirm the selections. Also, for those items that do not get highlighted, it is impossible to move the gain slider.

[Ian @ un4seen]

That's strange. Is that with the same config as you uploaded and is it always the same items that can't be selected, and if so, which? Please also confirm what Windows version you're using.

[winner]

That's strange. Is that with the same config as you uploaded and is it always the same items that can't be selected, and if so, which? Please also confirm what Windows version you're using.

Ian, the config I'm using has changed slightly, but not so much that it would change the character of the trouble. The item I can select, in the upper soundfont scrollbox, is the a340 default (lowest tier) soundfont, listed at the bottom of all items there. In the lower scrollbox, I can select presets 121-127 of the the a340 soundfont, which are there by virtue of the a340 default choice, and not selected individually. In the upper and lower scrollboxes, I am unable to select any of the Merlin Symphony,  Merlin Grand GS, Nice Piano, or Organ 3 items. When I do try to select any of these, though, both scrollboxes adjust to synchronize the soundfont/preset choices, as you probably intended for this program change. But the choices are not highlighted. To summarize, for presets chosen as overrides to the main, lowest tier soundfont, when trying to select an item in the upper or lower scrollbox, it does not get highlighted and allow me to make a gain change.

My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit edition.

[winner]

That's strange. Is that with the same config as you uploaded and is it always the same items that can't be selected, and if so, which? Please also confirm what Windows version you're using.

Ian, the config I'm using has changed slightly, but not so much that it would change the character of the trouble. The item I can select, in the upper soundfont scrollbox, is the a340 default (lowest tier) soundfont, listed at the bottom of all items there. In the lower scrollbox, I can select presets 121-127 of the the a340 soundfont, which are there by virtue of the a340 default choice, and not selected individually. In the upper and lower scrollboxes, I am unable to select any of the Merlin Symphony,  Merlin Grand GS, Nice Piano, or Organ 3 items. When I do try to select any of these, though, both scrollboxes adjust to synchronize the soundfont/preset choices, as you probably intended for this program change. But the choices are not highlighted. To summarize, for presets chosen as overrides to the main, lowest tier soundfont, when trying to select an item in the upper or lower scrollbox, it does not get highlighted and allow me to make a gain change.

My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit edition.

Ian, I've once again rebuilt my list of soundfonts/presets for bank 0 and this time rev. 9b of the midi plugin seems to be behaving as expected and as I think you intended for this version to operate.

I'm happy to find that each specifically-selected preset in a bank can keep an assigned gain level. Honestly, I've never observed the midi plugin work like that before; to my recollection, when I've highlighted a preset in the lower scrollbox and changed the gain level, then moved on in that scrollbox to highlighting any other preset in the same soundfont, I'd find that all those other presets had taken on the same gain level as the first one where I had made the change.

Thanks much again for your attention to this, Ian, I'm sorry if I've caused undue concern. I'll keep monitoring the behavior of this plugin though and take notice if trouble arises again. I really like how ver. 9b of the plugin works with your new programming change and I'm really enjoying XMPlay as a midi player!!

[FB]

Hi! I've downloaded the latest version of the MIDI plugin and I'm having the same problems as winner with my config file, I can't click the first presets on any of the two lists, I can only navigate to certain numbers of presets before the list goes to the last entry in any of the lists, in my case, unfortunately, my preset list is too big to remake, if you require I can upload my config file so that you can check it there , thanks in advance!

[winner]

Hi! I've downloaded the latest version of the MIDI plugin and I'm having the same problems as winner with my config file, I can't click the first presets on any of the two lists, I can only navigate to certain numbers of presets before the list goes to the last entry in any of the lists, in my case, unfortunately, my preset list is too big to remake, if you require I can upload my config file so that you can check it there , thanks in advance!

So... to me it seems the problem appears when there are many selections of soundfonts and/or presets. In my recent rebuild I don't think I made as many selections. I'm thinking there is a timing issue with refreshing the scrollboxes, preset ordering, and cursor rendering or something.

FB, in the upper scrollbox, try making sure the soundfont/preset combos are in numeric order according to the preset number. In my case, I've made sure they're in descending order, i.e., 119, 118, 117, ...0, and that my base soundfont (a340.sf2) appears at the bottom with no particular preset.

In relation to preset selections, I notice that when a preset in the lower scrollbox is changed or even reselected from the same soundfont, the soundfont/preset loses its position in the upper scrollbox order and relocates itself at the top of the list. This behavior would be desired if the individual preset had not been specially selected previously (as part of some soundfont collection), but if it exists already as a manually selected soundfont/preset combo, I'd think it might be better if the order in the upper scrollbox remains intact. Just a suggestion. I'm no expert in complex soundfont constructions (though I'd like to learn more) and I might be missing some important conceptual or technical aspect that is counter-indicative.

[FB]

In my case, I have ordered the presets from 0 to 127 and left the default soundfont at the bottom of the upper list, I think the problem presents itself after a big number of presets is added to any of the lists, I don't seem to have the same problem in banks with fewer number of presets.

[Lacho]

I think that I must give my COMPLIMENTS to Ian for him implementation of midi ATTACK/RELEASE event! Now BASSMIDI work as an excellent GS/GM soft-syntetizer! THANKS A LOT Ian!

For this plug-in I wanna suggest some idea:

- possibility to change the COLOR of fonts played/unplayed of Karaoke window, and to add some background picture
- add a MIDI mixer to MUTE midi channels, and change some parameter as preset,volume,reverb,chorus,pan...

Thanks too, Ian!

Hello, This would be awesome.

I use XMPlay as a karaoke player for kar files, and coupled with some good soundfonts it sounds amazing without glitches like many other soundfont players; the main "issue" I have is the lyrics window, I will list some changes I think would make XMPlay even better for karaoke!

- Display lyrics with smooth scrolling or ala vanBasco (in groups of 4 lines)
- Change font and background colors
- Ability to mute midi channels, or even change instrument!


I hope I'm not coming across as bossy or anything, I'm just excited to have found XMPlay; It's just I've using vanBasco + sfz+ + vsampler for some time, and they are very buggy to play soundfonts so this is like fresh air hehe.

Thanks.

[Ian @ un4seen]

Hi! I've downloaded the latest version of the MIDI plugin and I'm having the same problems as winner with my config file, I can't click the first presets on any of the two lists, I can only navigate to certain numbers of presets before the list goes to the last entry in any of the lists, in my case, unfortunately, my preset list is too big to remake, if you require I can upload my config file so that you can check it there , thanks in advance!

I'm not really sure why that would be happening, but here's a small tweak to try...

   www.un4seen.com/stuff/xmp-midi.dll

If you still have the problem with that, please do upload your XMPLAY.INI file.

[Ian @ un4seen]

- Ability to mute midi channels, or even change instrument!

Here's an update with a "MIDI mixer" option (via the config window or a shortcut)...

   www.un4seen.com/stuff/xmp-midi.dll

It doesn't include the ability to change instruments, but you can see what the current instruments are by hovering over the channel number. Note the responsiveness of the controls will be dependent on the buffer length in the "Output" options, and will also be delayed by the "Crossfade" setting (so that should probably be disabled).

[FB]

Hi! Sorry for the long delay in my response, this new version doesn't fixes my problem, I've uploaded my INI file to the FTP it's called "xmplay_FB.ini", let me know if you require me to provide any other information, thanks in advance!