1.0rc1 Release Notes
23/12/2005 AudioMulch 1.0rc1 Release Notes
AudioMulch version 1.0rc1 is now available from the download page. This version will expire on January 14th 2006.
This version includes over 20 bug fixes, user interface tweaks and sonic enhancements. The most significant changes are: improved LiveLooper and CanonLooper contraptions with documentation; the ability to use MIDI note and aftertouch messages as control sources; and a new toggle MIDI mapping mode for boolean (checkbox) parameters. Together these enhancements make it much easier to control AudioMulch contraptions (including the Loopers) using MIDI foot pedals and control surfaces with buttons.
Release Candidate Status
This version is the first "release candidate" for AudioMulch version 1.0. The focus is now on stabilising AudioMulch for the forthcoming 1.0 release, the main reason for releasing this candidate is to ensure no major bugs have crept in before the final 1.0 release, so if you find any, please report them to rossb@audiomulch.com. You may wish to consult the known bugs file in the distribution for a list of known bugs.
Note that the expiry date for this release has been set short to ensure that people are testing the latest version.
CannonLooper and LiveLooper Contraptions
The CannonLooper and LiveLooper which have been included in an unsupported form since 0.9b13 have undergone major revision for this release and should now be considered ready for use. These contraptions allow long syncronised loops to be recorded and played back in different ways. Each contraption has a page in the help file describing its use. As this is their first "supported" release they are still listed in the Beta category for now. Please send feedback regarding the functionality of these contraptions as they will be the target of some tweaks before the final 1.0 version is released.
Thanks to Helen Thomson who sponsored the development of these contraptions and contributed significantly to their design, and also to their revision in October this year.
New MIDI Control Sources
Two new controller types are now available when selecting MIDI control sources with the Parameter Modulation dialog, or with the Quick-map MIDI function: "Note Velocity" and "Note Aftertouch". The note velocity controller makes it easy to use control surface buttons which transmit MIDI note on and note off messages to control AudioMulch parameters. This may be even more useful in combination with the new "toggle" boolean mapping option (see below).
For both velocity and polyphonic aftertouch messages you select the note number of the key whose messages you want to map. Note off messages are automatically converted to velocity 0. Please note that this is not intended as a solution for mapping a whole MIDI keyboard onto a single parameter to play melodies. Each note is treated as a separate control source.
New MIDI Toggle Mode for Boolean (Checkbox) Parameters
The Parameter Modulation dialog's mapping pane contains a new "toggle" option when mapping MIDI controllers for boolean (checkbox) parameters such as mixer mutes. When the toggle option is selected, the parameter's value is toggled whenever the received MIDI message is greater than the threshold and the previously received value was less than the threshold. In other words, this toggles the parameter's value on the rising edge of the incoming MIDI value's crossing of the threshold. If the invert option is enabled it will instead toggle on the falling edge.
Enhancements
The following additional enhancements are included in this release.
- Added a new "Trigger" parameter mapping property type which improves automation and MIDI modulation of certain controls on the CanonLooper and LiveLooper.
- Changed mapping for SouthPole filter cutoff modulation knobs to logarithmic for better control.
- Reduced the minimum SDelay delay time to 0ms (internally, 1 sample).
- Increased upper frequency limit on 5Combs filters to 12kHz
- Changed SDelay lookup algorithm so that infinite feedback does not become muffled if left for a long time.
- Changed 5Combs tuning algorithm for more accurate tuning and more consistent brightness at different frequencies.
- Reduced zippering on 5Combs gain controls.
- Parameter Modulation dialog now displays boolean (checkbox) MIDI thresholds as 7 bit or 14 bit values depending on the resolution of the control source.
- Rewrote LiveLooper, now crossfades loops, changed control organisation, record modes and sync to bars capability.
- Changed CannonLooper UI to have separate track location and status indicators.
- Go to End button on Transport toolbar works now.
Bug fixes
The following bugs were fixed for this release:
- Fixed bug where unchecking "open all channels" for ASIO devices would cause a crash if there were any unassigned channels.
- Fixed bug where the last buffer of a soundfile preview would loop until the next preview if the preview devices were not also being addressed by other AudioMulch contraptions.
- Fixed bug where automation mapping curves went to 128 even though the maximum MIDI value is 127; this could cause 7 bit MIDI control modulation to never reach the maximum value.
- Fixed bug where Parameter Modulation mapping curve editor would display the wrong output values for dB amplitude parameters.
- Fixed bug in generic VST editor where sliders could "fight" against the plugin if it tried to snap them to specific values making them difficult to edit.
- Fixed bug where it was not possible to cut and paste text from some edit fields (e.g. 10Harmonics frequency).
- Fixed bug where automation recording of integer properties (e.g. DLGranulator max grains) would insert too many points.
- Fixed crash in generic VST editor if the plugin had no parameters.
- Fixed bug where contraption editors would be displayed in the wrong locations if loaded with the contraption editor pane stretched accross multiple monitors.
- Fixed intermittent crash on exit if a channel in the Automation form had focus when the application was closed.
- Fixed crash if the Notes window was visible and audio or MIDI was active and a 5combs edit field had focus when AudioMulch was closed.
- Added zero detent code to Knob, Slider and RangeSlider so if the mouse moves the value accross zero, the value will be snapped to zero. This fixes a bug where moving SouthPole knobs to full negative and back to the middle does not result in an exact zero value.
- Fixed bug where generic VST editor first column width was too narrow to display long names until you resized the window (e.g. rgc z3ta+).
- Fixed bug where you could continue editing an automation point if you had the mouse down and enabled recording with the 'r' key on the keyboard.
- Fixed bug where automation cut/copy/paste during recording could be performed even though it caused crashes.
- Fixed bug where MetaSurface toolbar button stays depressed if a document was loaded that didn't use the MetaSurface after it had been visible.
- Fixed error while loading documents containing feedforward characters (from buggy VST plugins for example).
- Fixed bug where automation tooltips would appear on the wrong monitor of a multimonitor system under some circumstances.
- Automation hints for integers no longer display decimal places.
- CannonLooper and LiveLooper no longer pre-allocate huge chunks of memory, they use memory as required by the length of their recordings.
Reporting Bugs
Although this version has been tested it may contain new or as yet undetected bugs. If AudioMulch crashes or behaves in an unexpected way please report it as a bug to rossb@audiomulch.com. Further details about reporting bugs are contained in the Beta.txt file which is included with the AudioMulch installation.
Previous Release Notes
You can review the release notes for the previous version (0.9b21) here. All previous release notes are archived here.
Thanks
Many thanks to everyone who reported and helped to track down bugs in the previous release. This version benefited significantly from kind input from members of the mulch-discuss mailing list, and from the QA genius of Tim Kreger. Thanks also to those who registered or contributed suggestions, your support continues to help AudioMulch grow and is greatly appreciated.
Special thanks to all the folks at STEIM for giving me such a great environment to live and work during October. It was a great place to start the final stage of the journey towards AudioMulch 1.0
Merry Christmas and a joy-filled New Year to you all.
AudioMulch software, documentation and web site copyright ©1997-2006 Ross Bencina,
All Rights Reserved. AudioMulch is a registered trademark.