SynthFont (1) wishlist (Page 2 of 3)

Yes, I did miss that request. I really don't see a reason for it any longer. I'll get back in mid August.

@Elven: I can certainly make them darker.

Kenneth,
Actually, it might be more useful to add this feature to the Default Override / Default SoundFont Override. Being able to switch on key+velocity blending responsive to CC11 on a per program basis could ensure that it is only used where there is a noticeable aural benefit. I am wondering if the net result of CC7 and CC11 should be used to determine weather SynthFont blends between soft velocity layers or loud velocity layers. CC7 typically is used to control channel volume, whereas CC11 is used to control instrument expression. Prior to sound variation in SynthFont this expression was usually just another version of volume control. So existing MIDI files may use some combination of CC7 and CC11 for volume control intending this combination to pass for mid-note adjustments in velocity. What do you think about this matter Kenneth?
Cheers

I think it would be a great addition to Synthfont having a drop-down menu like the MIDI Program feature in Synthfont, but just for VSTs and DXi instruments. Having to scroll all the way down in the case of some VSTs makes things pretty slow and clumsy compared to the MIDI Program feature where you can very quickly select an instrument in comparison.

Music Creator shares the MIDI Program approach when it comes to VSTs and it makes things so much easier and visible.

It also encourages people to try new settings in a VST because the list of settings is much more comprehensible and less tedious to navigate.

X-D Now that was a fun typo, I know you have to write a lot of code so it's fine with me. Yes, I meant something similar.

I am sorry if I misworded something. What I was trying to say is that the VST settings could display in a similar way than the MIDI Program menu of Synthfont.

The VST spectrum is a broad range, I have like dozens of them and I try some more than others, obviously, but the point is that some VSTs feature a lot of settings and navigating them is slow and clumsy in Synthfont as of currently.

I think it is an easy feature to implement? I mean, if it doesn't put an awful burden on you. I certainly would love native DXi support, so we can add some of our favourite synths, but I understand you if that feature never makes it into Synthfont.

I still hope built-in DXi support will be featured some day though.

Soooooo if there is other than "Init" or "default" those presets showing in a menu seems like a good idea and kinda consistent with how we choose a VST or a VSTI.  On several of my VSTI there seems to actually both... within the VSTI graphics itself there is sometimes a categorized list in some kind of order... as well as an often long scrollable list up in the SYNTHFONT wrapper header....which is tedious and confusing if one isn't really familiar with the VST or VSTI.... I agree that some folks may think something is wrong with the VST/VSTI or SYNTHFONT if they don't see the  preset selections in both places.... I've seen this same scenario in other DAWS and music softwares so i guess there is always going to be some of that happening. Still a menu, where possible, is a nice idea.

DXi support can certainly be added. It is just a matter of a) extensive programming and b) more extensive testing. So it will not happen within the next month or so.

You already partially have this feature as another form!

The scales function that shows grey bars and if left as C Maj or A Minor then it shows what I want, except I would rather they were a darker version of the octave colour rather than a dark grey. (Hopefully pointing this out might make it easier for you to code as the feature is nearly there!)

In other news I am using SynthFont 2e2 (I miss the Scroll to Tick too much so I'm still using 2 even though you've discontinued it) on Windows 8 Release Preview and it's working fine.
Doesn't look like much, if anything, needs to change for it to be Win8 compatible.

EDIT: Wow, how odd, the piano roll has just disappeared in 2e2 and I don't think it's ever done that before. o.o

What about a little brother/sister Synthfont player?

I find myself listening to some MIDI files online, without downloading them, and I miss some of the features of Synthfont when using other players.

In general, having a little "sibling" you can associate MIDI file formats with, load Soundfonts <3, Gigastudio files, whatever.... which utilizes the original Synthfont engine, allowing the program to also load VSTs and DXis based on the settings users have on the original Synthfont, would be a great idea.

Users would not only have a great MIDI player but also VST, DXi support -loading them at the beginning, like in Synthfont-. The interface is up to you, of course, but for instance you could use the Karaoke, playlist and playback progress window, etc.

Hmmmmm.... Cose has an interesting point here... there are a zillion little midi players around with some at a price ...... for the life of me I cannot find a musicians smaller and very fast utility midi player that tells me all there is to know about a Midi file that also shows me the tracks/midi channels and the embedded volume/panning/preset, etc for each.
Why?..... well ! for me.... I audition an awful lot of midi files looking for some kind of quality and styling close to what I am seeking to do ( in SYNTHFONT).  Some of the "skins" available for XMPLAY tell me a lot about lengths, number of tracks, bit rate, output rates, etc and provides a quick n dirty audition play of the midi but tells me nothing about each channel....so auditioning become a two step process of viewing info on the total midi file on some internet site, a quick audition then if all that sounds OK.... saving the file for even more analysis in SYNTHFONT.
It would be terrific to see all that with a per channel perspective of each channel in some kind of SYNTHFONT utility player thats very very fast loading, has the ability to play a midi directly from a web site and shows me comprehensive info on not only the total midi but also for what the parameters are for each channel...
In actuality, even SYNTHFONT,  at this point does not tell me on a single summary display panel some of the parameters on a midi file...such as bit rate etc. I have no clue if this kind of thing is suitable for all musicians but it would be invaluable to those who spend a lot of time examining and auditioning MIDI FILES.
I suppose a SYNTHFONT lite player wouldn't need file saving, piano roll editing some of the other stuff the full blown SYNTHFONT has that makes it great for developing. However, I think it could provide a ton of info on the midi file and a better quality audition of the file.... IF..... IF.... it could load very fast and play a midi from a web site.
Chasp
Chasp

Some nice points Chasp mentioned already, and to add to what he said, in my case it's just that I love to listen to instrumental music.

And the problem is that I have a couple of thousands of MIDI files.

I am tired of downloading mediocre MIDI files of some of my favourite songs, or simply I just want to download.... let's say version 2 of a particular song instead of version 1 or 3 or 4 in a given website. But without listening to them first I download them all.

It is pretty time consuming since there are all sorts of stuff.

My favourite player to play MIDI files is Synthfont, but it's a full-fledged DAW, and it's clumsy in comparison with a little Synthfont player.

In order to listen to files directly on the web I use either Spider Player or XMPlay. Both support Soundfonts and have some cool features, like 32 bit audio processing and some other cool built-in characteristics.

Even so, I got accustomed to the VST/"DXi" support in Synthfont, its sound engine and most of its features and I miss not being able to play the files from the internet on Synthfont without having to download them or having a more simpler, straightforward interface.

Reason being, I think it would have been a good idea to have something similar to a little Synthfont sibling -Synthboy or Synthgirl X-D-.

Utilizing the foundations of Synthfont it could be an incredible neat player, giving native support Soundfonts and to VSTs -although sometimes I like to listen to files raw, without VSTs there are times that Synthfont sounds fantastic-, and having the windows conveniently organized in your interface the way you see convenient.

People could associate MIDI files to the pocket Synthfont player and play MIDI files directly from the web having all the basic advantages of Synthfont in one little cute player.