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VSTSynthFont64 3.310 and Reaper 6.01 X64: Accessibility for screenreader

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:53 pm
by Druify82
Hello,

I use VSTSynth as my favorite Soundfont player in Reaper. When I choose to run it as "dedicated" or "Separate" process, I can use the most important functions with some workaround in my screenreader (NVDA 2019.3 and OSARA addon). Here are however some suggestions that will make using it much more easier.

- Options dialog: Checkboxes and radio buttons were fine before 3.300. Now I cannot read out the status and what at all is "Enabled" or "Dark".
- The Files Open Dialog has no accessible folder tree like other windows dialogs.
- When pressing Enter on a filename, Windows tries to open the file as well and asks with wich program it should be opened.
- Reliable tab key when tabbing to the non-simple view. Currently Tab runs backward. Some elements cannot be reached with the keyboard at all.
- Better text labelling of Elements
- Context menu reliable when using Tab and Shift+Tab to change Soundfont, Muting etc.
- Possibility to automate each setting. To Reaper users with NVDA screenreader and OSARA addon that is an alternative to control the VSTi.
. Possibility to set volume by manually entering the value instead of only by using the volume slider which is accessible with keyboard when you are lucky to tab through to the second "Unknown" control after the edit box.

Best wishes,
Druify

Re: VSTSynthFont64 3.310 and Reaper 6.01 X64: Accessibility for screenreader

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:09 pm
by Admin
Hello Druify,
I'll try and address all of your screenreader related findings eventually in good time.

To begin with, it is strange that you find the options dialog in 3.310 hard to handle. I have not changed the nature of any of the checkboxes or radiobuttons, they are the same as before, They are standard Windows controls, so I'm a bit lost here.

Second item on your list is the File Open Dialog box. These controls here are mostly of a commercial nature from a third party. Hence I have no way of assuring that they work with screen readers. I will need to ask the vendor for information.

The third item is more of a bug and will be fixed in next version.

That's all for now.
Kenneth

Re: VSTSynthFont64 3.310 and Reaper 6.01 X64: Accessibility for screenreader

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 2:15 pm
by Admin
Installed the screen reader NVDA and realized that the tracks items (list of tracks) cannot be accessed. Neither can some labels.

To be continued...

Re: VSTSynthFont64 3.310 and Reaper 6.01 X64: Accessibility for screenreader

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 1:32 pm
by Admin
A new version is out now with a lot better support for screen readers. Read more about it here:
http://www.synthfont.com/VSTSF_news.html

I know it could be better - many of the comments above have not been fully addressed yet. So I repeat ... to be continued.

Re: VSTSynthFont64 3.310 and Reaper 6.01 X64: Accessibility for screenreader

Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 8:35 pm
by Druify82
Hi,

I'm sorry for replying that very late. I was really surprised by the quick changes you made. So the screenreader mode is a good idea, and it was good to start out with just the basic functionality though I would like to use all options in that GUI, because it's really more easy to use, especially when using more soundfonts.

I also saw you made some corrections of the open dialog which first did not show SFZ files (though now in 3.421 they do not play any more other than sf2 files).

Hope to answer much quicker next time (instead of next year ;)).