New Button "Display" displays, in a separate Display Window, the contents of a text file.
New Shortcut Keys
If in Chosen Files Mode ("Chosen Files" list highlighted) the "Escape" key will exit this mode.
"Control J" : Will Get and Display the Maximum Sample(s) from one or more selected soundfiles.
BULK PROCESS : Now accepts "EDIT : add silence at start" as an option.
ANY/ALL FILES Menu
OTHER SPECIFIC FILES : NAME OF FILE : New option "SOUNDS WITH NAMES STARTING WITH .."
Highlights all soundfiles whose names start with the specified string.
SELECTED FILES ONLY Menu
PROPERTIES : New option to find "DURATION SUM" of selected Soundfiles.
RENAME : New option "SUBSTITUTE SUFFIXES"
If files on the Chosen list have suffixes (starting with an underscore) at their ends
and an equal number of files are selected on the workspace, also having suffixes,
this option will substitute the suffixes from the Chosen List,
for those on the workspace selected files.
RENAME : New option "TRANSFER SUFFIXES"
If files on the Chosen list have suffixes (starting with an underscore) at their ends
and an equal number of files are selected on the workspace
This option will add the suffixes to the Workspace selected files.
RENAME : New option "NAME AS CHOSEN FILE + SUFFIX" : Only for Soundfiles.
Takes the rootnames (directory path discarded) of the files on the Chosen list,
adds a suffix to the end of those names,
and renames the files selected on the workspace with these new, suffixed names.
RENAME : New option "NAME AS CHOSEN FILE : INCREMENT INDEX" : Only for Soundfiles.
Takes the rootnames (Directory path discarded) of the files on the Chosen list,
and, if they have the same Numeric Suffix, increments the suffix
and renames the files selected on the workspace with these new names.
CLEAR FILES FROM WORKSPACE :
New option
"CLEAR BACKED-UP FILES : EXCEPT FILES ON CHOSEN LIST"
PROPERTIES : GET MAXIMUM SAMPLE(s)
Can now select several soundfiles at once.
Now immediately presents a list of selected filenames with their max levels.
SELECTED FILES OF TYPE Menu
SOUNDFILES : IS SOUNDFILE IN ANY KNOWN MIXFILE?
Now allows those mixfiles to be highlighted if they are on the Workspace.
SOUNDFILES : New option to "PLAY ALL SNDS INDIVIDUALLY"
Differs from PLAY ALL SOUNDS SELECTED (which concatenates files to play as a single event).
Each file-play must be triggered by a keystroke
but the Names of the individual files will be displayed when they play.
SOUNDFILES : PLAY ALL SOUNDS SELECTED
Modified to accept any mix of mono, stereo and multichannel files.
(but does not display the names of the individual files being played).
SOUNDFILES : New option "PLAY MERGED CHANNELS"
Takes several mono files (2 - 8) and plays as one multichannel output.
SOUNDFILES : New Option "IS SELECTED SOUND IN SELECTED MIX?"
If a Soundfile and a Mixfile are selected, checks if sound is in mix.
TEXTFILES : COMPARE SELECTED TEXT FILES
New Keyboard Operations allow an adjacent pair of lines to be compared.
New Keyboard Operations to "Grab" or "Play" sound named on any Highlighted Line.
If a pair of mixfiles, or a pair of multichannel mixfiles is selected,
new option to "compare soundfiles used" in one with those used in the other.
TEXTFILES : New option to "MERGE TEXTFILES"
If Two Textfiles are selected, of the same type, the 2nd file can be appended to the first.
TEXTFILES Menu: New option of "IS TEXTFILE A "BAD" MIXFILE ?"
Checks syntax of file which you believe to be a Mixfile, but the Sound Loom doesn't!!
LIST OF SOUNDFILES : SNDLIST SOUNDS MOVED OR DELETED
Notes if any sounds in a Soundlist file have subsequently been deleted.
MIXFILES : MIXFILE SOUNDS MOVED OR DELETED Notes if any sounds in a Mixfile have subsequently been deleted.
This option only works with a file whose name has a mixfile extension (".mix", ".mmx").
Once a mixfile has been reclassified as a ".txt" file (due to bad syntax),
use the new option "IS TEXTFILE A "BAD" MIXFILE ?"
MIXFILES : new option "NUMBER OF MIXLINES USING N CHANNELS"
Counts number of Mono, Stereo and N-channel (active) Soundfiles used in the mix.
MIXFILES : new option of "ARE ALL FILES IN MIXFILE BACKED-UP ?"
CHOSEN FILES LISTING
New Keyboard Shortcuts for a Mixfile which is currently on the Chosen Files List.
Up and Down Arrows Grab Soundfiles inside a Mixfile to the Chosen List.
Down Gets all the soundfiles (in the order they appear in the mixfile).
Up Gets all soundfiles which are not currently backed-up to directories.
GET/MOD Menu: MIXFILES : New option to "GET SNDFILES IN MIXFILE TIME ORDER"
REORDER Menu : New option to "INTERLEAVE BY PATTERN"
REORDER Menu : New option to "INTERLEAVE BY NAME"
DIRECTORY LISTING
LIST Menu: New option "SEARCH BY SPECIFIED STRING"
New button in resulting window to "SEARCH ON NAME OF FILE SELECTED ON WORKSPACE"
Useful where directory contains ".wav" and ".txt", ".brk", ".mix" (etc) files with the same name.
e.g. filter, or extracted pitch data from a motif property in a Properties File.
LIST Menu: New option "SPECIFIED CHANNEL COUNT"
Lists only (sound)files with the specified number of channels.
MUSIC TESTBED
CLEANING KIT
Once Cleaning completed, can now View Output (and Play it) rather than simply Play it.
New Option to "Subtract Spectrum STEREO" to clean a stereo file. File displayed, and noise areas marked in normal way.
"COMPARE SEVERAL SOUNDFILES" New Option
EDIT Menu
New option "SLICE TO OVERLAPPING SEGMENTS" Cuts overlapped segments from long source (for further processing).
New option" SLICE FOR PROCESSING IN SITU"
Cuts a segment from a source (for subsequent processing), and also the part of the source from zero to segment start, and the part of the source from segment end to the end of the source.
The initial sement can then be processed (by a process that doesn't change duration), and then returned to the original file in its original location. This option also produces the (editable) mixfile to enable this recreation.
Process can be applied to a single soundfile, or to a soundfile within a mix.
In the latter case, the time-segment to modify is marked in the mix-output,
and then mapped to the timeframe of the sound-in-the-mix.
New option "JOIN FILES IN RAND-PERMED SEQUENCE"
Extend sounds with large-scale repeating features (like chanting crowds) by cutting individual slices of the source and using these as input to a process to generate a longer version of the original using random-permuted sequences of the cut segments.
New option "EXTRACT CHANNEL PAIR" : Extract any Channel Pair from a Multichannel file.
New option "CREATE DROPOUT IN SOUND" : Produces version of source with level dropouts.
New option "EXTEND BY RAND-PERMUTING SLICES WITHIN"
Takes a slice-edit textfile and, using the resulting slices, retains the first and last slice, in situ,
and extends the sound centre by randomly permuting the other slices.
New option REMOVE (CUT OUT) LOUD PEAKS IN SOUND" Allows brief peaks in sound to be cut out. Works best with c. 3 successive applications. Use for editing textures like applause where some events are too close to the mike.
Extension of option "REARRANGE A SOUNDFILE"
Now possible to copy a chunk of a sound, and reinsert it somewhere else in the sound without deleting the original chunk.
New option "APPLY LIMITER"
Extracts the envelope of the sound looking for peaks above a Threshold value you specify.
These peaks are then compressed to a level below a Maximum that you specify.
ENVELOPES Menu (now ENVELOPES & LOUDNESS)
New option "MAX & MIN LEVEL OF ALL SOUNDS"
Find max & min level of all sounds amongst selected sounds
OR all sounds in a mixfile.
New option "LOUDEST CHANNEL FOR EACH SND IN LIST" Lists loudest channel for each sound in a list of files.
New option "CREATE MIX WITH SND PEAKS STAGGERED"
Creates a mixfile in which there is a fixed timestep
between the peaks of successive soundfiles.
New option "LIST SUDDEN ONSETS IN SOUND" : Detect any sudden jumps to a peak.
MULTICHANNEL Menu : nowsubdivided to shorten menu list display.
MIXMERGE (Currently on Chosen Files List GET/MOD Menu) added to this Music Testbed Menu.
MULTICHANNEL PROCESSES
New option to "PAN 8-CHANS GRADUALLY INTO 1"
Each channel pans from its original location, around the edges of the space, to the goal channel
apart from the channel directly opposite the goal, which pans directly to the goal channel.
New option to "FIND ANY MATCHING CHANNELS" Searches for any channels which are identical within a multichannel sound.
New option to "REFORMAT TO 8-CHANNEL RING"
Takes N mono files, or one multichannel file, and converts format to 8-channel ring.
New option to "REARRANGE CHANNELS" Takes Any multichannel or stereo file and rearranges the order of the channels.
OPERATIONS ON INDIVIDAL CHANNELS
New option "LIST ONSET SEQUENCE OF CHANNELS"
In a multichannel file which has sounds centred in the channels (i.e. there are no sounds spread between the channels)
and where sounds on different channels enter at different times,
as each sound enters, notes on which channel it is projected and lists the (temporal) Sequence of Channels.
STEREO AND MULTICHANNEL
New option to "RANDORIENT STEREOPANS IN MULTICHAN" either
Converts a mixfile of stereo files (only) to create new Multichannel mixfile, or
Modifies ALL stereo files (only) in a Multichannel mixfile,
If a stereo signal already pans across its stereo axis, the panning axis is reoriented randomly across the multichannel space.
New option to "STEREO WRAPAROUND IN 3-CHANNEL SURROUND"
Takes a stereo file and creates a 3-channel output, which wraps gradually around the space (from mono to 3-channel-width).
CONVERSION TO MULTICHANNEL
New option to "TRANSFER TIMES FROM 1ST MIXFILE TO 2ND"
Allows mono-, or stereo-, file-timings to be tested in a mono or stereo mix before being retimed in a multichannel context.
SPECIAL MIXES
New option "CREATE MIX WITH SND PEAKS STAGGERED"
Creates mixfile with a fixed timestep between the peaks of successive soundfiles.
New option to "CREATE MIX FROM SNDFILES AND ONSET-LIST"
Creates a mixfile from a list of times, possibly extracted or created elsewhere, and ....
A Single soundfile (which repeats in the mix) OR
Several soundfiles, where the number of soundfiles equals the number of times in list.
If there are less sounds than times, either ...
the later times are not used or....
the sounds are cyclically repeated or...
the sounds are random-ordered repeated.
New option "STEREO TO "STEREO" ON LEFT OR RIGHT" sMoves centre of stereo image leftward, or rightward.
PITCH OPERATIONS Menu
New Option "CHORDS FROM NON-VOCAL SAMPLE" Allows a MIDI-value-specified chord to be created over a pitched sample.
Values may be entered from MIDI keyboard, a file, or typed in, and must be integers.
PROPERTIES FILES Menu
"ADD NEW SOUND WITH EMPTY PROPERTIES".
If 2 or more appropriate files are selected on Workspace (but NOT on Chosen Files list) this option works immediately, without having to add those files to the Chosen Files List.
If there is only one properties-file on Workspace, selecting just Soundfiles is adequate. (The properties file itself doesn't have to be selected too).
SPACE DESIGN Menu
"DOPPLER PAN" Has a new option to save and load named patches,
and will now run without rise and decay values (for sources which already have this built in).
"DOUBLE PROCESSES" New Menu
"DEGRADE SOUND" Applies (user-defined) sequence of ring-modulations and waveset-distortions to an input sound.
"CONVERT PITCHFOLLOW TO HF"
Converts a MIDI-type Filter Varibank file which follows the pitch of a signal
(possibly generated automatically from Motif property in a Properties File)
into a Varibank Filter File of the Total Harmonic Field encomapssed by the pitch-follower.
"CONVERT PITCHFOLLOW TO HF in KEY" The same except that here a Key for the Filter data can be specified.
Pitches in the output datafile are confined to the triadic (+ flat 7th) notes of the specified key.
"PLAY THE DATA" from a Fixed-Harmonic-Field MIDI-style Varibank Filter.
"RECURSIVE FILTERING" : Run sound two or more times through Lopass/Hipass filter.
REVERB OPERATIONS Menu
New option "INTERNAL STEREO DELAY" Takes a mono or stereo input file and creates output with delay between channels.
New option "STEREO REVEAL MONO ->STEREO->MONO"
Cause stereo sound to emerge from a mono mix in one channel only, and/or merge to a mono mix in the same or the other channel.
New option "DISTORT REVERB" : Cause mono sound to cross into a distorted reverberated version.
New option " FAST CONVOLUTION" : Fast Convolution of two mono, or two stereo sounds.
PARTITION SOUNDFILES Menu
Help button added.
Escape and Return Keys now function as intended ...
Escape = Abandon Partitions
Return = Keep Partitions So Far
PATTERNING OPERATIONS Menu
New Options "DETECT, EXTEND OR SYNC-WITH ONSETS"
Detect times of sudden onsets within a sound-A and create a List of Onset-Times.
Convert Onset-Times to Splice-Times to chop sound-A, at the onsets, into Sound Slices.
Use Onset-Times and the Sound Slices to internally extend sound-A.
Use Onset-Times and one or more other sounds, to create a stream of those other sounds, synchronised to the original sound.
PLAY OPTIONS Menu
New Option "PLAY PART OF MULTICHAN SND" : segment of a multichannel file can be played.
New Option "PLAY SINGLE CHANNEL OF SND" : Play selected channel of a stereo or multichannel sound.
New Option "PLAY STEREO IN WIDE MULTICHAN" : Play selected channel-pair in Multichannel setup.
RHYTHM AND TIME OPERATIONS Menu
New Option "SYNC FILES TO TIMEMARKS BY SILENCEPADS"
Two or more soundfiles are (successively) graphically displayed, and the attack peak of each marked on the displays.
Files are then padded with initial silence so that they now all have synchronous attack peaks.
New Option "CREATE CLICKTRACK OVER SOUND OR FROM TEXTLIST"
Creates a clicktrack soundfile either from a text listing of times, or by displaying a sound, and marking the click times on the display.
In the latter case, a soundfile and a textfile (of click timings) is output.
TEXT OPERATIONS : New Options
"GENERATE PHRASES FROM WORDLISTS"
takes a set of files containing lists of words of different grammatical types and generates phrases by random permutation of these words.
"ALPHABETIC SORT AND REMOVE DUPLICATES" takes wordlists for use in "GENERATE PHRASES FROM WORDLISTS" and sorts the words into alphabetical order, eliminating any duplicates found.
"CONFLATE (& POSSIBLY RE-SORT) TEXTLINES IN FILES"
takes list of phrases in textfiles and merges the lists, (optionally) re-sorting the final merged list.
"ELIMINATE TEXTS COMMON TO DIFFERENT FILES"
Takes several files each of which contain a list of phrases and, if any phrase is listed in more than one of the files,
deletes it from all files except the shortest file which lists it.
"CHECK BAD CHARS IN NON-GRABBED TEXTFILE"
If a textfile fails on a Grab from the Directory Listing (on RHS of Workspace), check if it contains invalid characters.
"FIND REPEATED WORDS : PARTITION TEXTS TO FILES" In a textfile contaning pharases, display groups of lines that share similar words, (options are shared first words, shared last words, or any shared words). Partition these lines amongst the files to minimise word-repetition in each file.
"MARK & EXTRACT ITEMS FROM TEXTS LIST" allows phrases in a textfile generated by "GENERATE PHRASES FROM WORDLISTS" to be selected, by adding a star ("*") to them, these (starred) phrases then being extracted to a new file of phrases.
"CATEGORISE & EXTRACT ITEMS FROM TEXTS LIST"
Assign text-lines in a textfile to different categories. Extract each category to a different output file.
"SPECIFY ORDER & REORDER TEXTS IN A TEXTS LIST"
Number the lines in a list of text-lines in any desired order (i.e. not necessarily sequentially).
Then extract the lines, in strict numbered order, to a different output file (with or without the attached line-numberings).
"REORDER PRE-NUMBERED TEXTS" : Extract the lines, in numbered order, to a new output file.
"ASSEMBLE TEXT-LINES TO A CONTINUOUS TEXT"
Extract text-lines from a textfile, and reassemble them in a newfile as a continuous text, with possible paragraph breaks.
"COUNT SYLLABLES : ASSESS SPOKEN DURATION" Count syllables in a textfile list of words. Words may incorporate the symbols "-" and/or "_" but not numbers, quotation marks,or other punctuation. Counting assumes, for example, that "ious" or "ient" are single syllables, but "crying" is two.
"GROUP PHRASES FROM TWO OR MORE TEXTFILES"
Takes two (or more) textfiles listing phrases, and generates random groupings in format ....
(for 2 input files) phrase-from-file-1 : phrase-from-file-2
(for 3 input files) phrase-from-file-1 : phrase-from-file-2 : phrase-from-file-3 : etc.
" LINK PAIRED PHRASES"
Takes paired phrases from a paired-phrase textfile (from "GROUP PHRASES FROM TWO OR MORE TEXTFILES") and a set of linking phrases taken from any combination of textfiles named "prelink", "midlink", "postlink", or "inverselink", and join the phrases together with the linking texts.
PROCESS PAGE
MULTICHAN : MULTICHANNEL STAGING
New menu item allows Naming of multichan-staging and stereo-reduction formats
independently of the name of the input or output soundfile.
The Restaging Formats can, themselves, be Renamed.
PARAMETERS PAGE
"LOOP"
Active Sound View button added to all "LOOP" processes enabling parameters for Loop Segment start time and length to be specified graphically.
"SOUND INFO : Maximum Sample in Timerage"
Sound View button added to enable timerange to be specified graphically.
"CHANNELS : Extract All Channels"
When process has been run and Generic Output Name selected (followed by Return), now creates default names "name_c1", "name_c2" etc (where "name" is name of input file). Also a new option, "Numbered Channels", appears, and this can be used to switch off/on the automatic rename before Return is hit.
"MIX" "MULTICHANNEL MIX"
Control Q takes you to the QIK EDIT page,
Control Q twice goes directly to graphic display of mix output (usual access : VIEW OUTPUT).
If the Mix End Time is beyond the Permissible Range, hitting Return (to start the mix)
now automatically resets the range to its maximum value (with no intervening User Query).
"EXTEND : ZIGZAG : USER SPECIFIED"
When using Make File, the "F1" function button on the keyboard will add both time zero (at start of a created list) and the file duration (at end of list).
GENERAL
Entering Numeric Parameters
"mS" or "ms" at the end of numeric value is read as milliseconds and is converted automatically to seconds.
Generic Rename
If selected for multiple outputs from a process which has only one input file, the Generic name now defaults to name of input file plus underscore and a number
with numbers running from 1 upwards. A keyboard Return now delivers this default option.
ReRunning a Process
If you attempt to immediately Rerun a program with exactly the same parameters, your command is queried. However ..
When doing a Mix you often want to rerun the mix process, with a modified mixfile, but with the same parameters. So in this case no Warning Dialogue now appears.
If not running a mix, the dialogue window default response is now "No" So a Return does not rerun the process.
Sound View
Specification of the Range of the display : Range specifying dialogue box modified ....
True Bottom of Range now shown (rather than always zero).
Toggle buttons added to insert either True Minimum or "1.0", as Bottom-of-Range Value.
("1.0" is useful minimum for e.g. loudness curve to amplify, but not attenuate, source).
RUN WINDOW
On running a Mix or a Multichannel Mix the window no longer waits for you to hit OK after the run,
either returning directly to the parameters page, or (for an incomplete mix) curtailing the mix and then returning directly to the parameters page.
INSTRUMENTS
The Sound View option is now available during Instrument Creation.
Any instrument with "stereo" in its name New option to assign a (selected or newly created) control file to two adjacent parameters within the instrument.
For example a stereo time-stretch instrument (needing a stretch-factor for each channel) can be assigned the same file for both channels.
QIKEDIT
The Page Title now displays the start-time of the mix (if this is not zero)
If Space-Bar is used to play sound: but No sound is selected, plays current (or previous) mix output, it if exists.
REROUTE Menu: New Multirouting Option to apply to stereo sources in 8 channel mixes.
Data in the form of two equal-length strings of integers, separated by a comma e.g. "123,468"
routes channel 1 of source to all output channels in 1st string (i.e. in the example, input 1 to outputs 1,2 and 3)
and channel 2 of source to all channels in 2nd string (i.e. in the example, input 2 to outputs 4,6 and 8).
New Buttons "SHOW STEREO" and "SHOW MONO" (Not available with multichannel mixes).
Highlight all active stereo (mono) files in the mix listing.
New Button "SEE PAN" : (only with 8-channel mixes).
Feature for use with 8 channel mixfiles containing stereo sounds that pan.
The mixfile data can be sorted into the time order of any stereo events (which may not correspond to the time order of the soundfile entries) and the panning directions then displayed graphically.
Function assumes that the original pan events are Left to Right (Otherwise, interpret graphics inversely!).
Files which do not pan can be set to be "Ignored" by the ordered pan listing. Otherwise, non-stereo files are indicated by a closed curve linking the outputs used.
A call to the Calculator puts any numeric value currently in QikEdit Value box
into the Value box of Calculator.
Control Q takes you to VIEW SOUND (graphic display of mix output).
PARAM(S) IN LINE Menu : New option "MAXGAIN OF SOUND IN LINE (FORCE)"
Sometimes imported files have header formats incompatible with the CDP
and attempts to read MAXGAIN OF SOUND IN LINE give anomalous results.
The new menu option re-calculates the Max Gain data, but may not rewrite the header.
New Shortcut Keys.
Control s,S ...... Get Start time of highlighted line to Value box.
Control a,A ...... Add Start time of highlighted line to value in Value box.
Control e,E ...... Get End time of line to Value box.
Control g,G ...... Get maximum possible gain for sound in line, to Value box.
Control n,N ...... Get Number of highlighted line to Value box.
i.e. counting lines from 1, which line is this?
Control h,H ...... Highlight line whose line-number is in Value box (cursor must be in Value Box).
Alt b,B ............. Highlight All Active lines Below currently Highlighted line(s).
Alt p,P ............. Highlight All lines Playing at time in Value Box.
New Button "EXPAND TIMES AT"
Insert equivalent of a bar of silence before each highlighted line. Duration of silences taken from Value box.
Button "GET POSITION" now available with ordinary mixfiles (as well as multichannel mixfiles)
"PARAM(S) IN LINE" menu : New Option, Get "END TIME OF ENTIRE MIX" to the Value box.
"ALL MUTED TO END" now sorts muted lines into time order before moving them to end.
New Options in "SELECT LINES" : "STRING IN Value BOX"
Select all Filenames which contain string in Value Box.
Select all Filenames with Segments which Start with string in Value Box.
Get Filename to Value Box.
New Button Options with Value Box.
Last button restores previous value in Value Box (if there was one).
Up button, Increments value in Value Box (if it is numeric).
Down button, Decrements value in Value Box (if it is numeric).
PROPERTIES FILES
Better Help Information for copying, and moving Properties from one sound to another.
If Motif property files are generated in a specific directory, they are now automatically remembered
so that they will be listed for potential backing-up at the end of your session.
When entering a Motif on the staff-lines, Play Both now works even if source is stereo.
Automatic generation of HF (Harmonic Field) property from Motif.
Especially useful when the HF property (as a whole) has not been established at the time that Motif-values have been stored in the "Motifs" property.
If both property names exist, HF automatically generated when a Motif is entered.
If Motif, but not HF, already exists, a new (empty) HF property can be added.
Then, on Property page display, do Alt-Shift-Control-Click on any HF property box and, on the window which comes up, click on the button "HF from Motif". This will generate the HF property automatically from the existing Motif property
On the property file display, when a sound is selected to Play or View,
the interface now remembers the (last) sound selected and recolours the play(view) button.
When adding properties to an existing properties file (Shift-Control-Alt-Click on property box) the window now includes a Large Keyboard
to allow (MIDI) pitch values to be entered. Keys in the central octave (marked in blue) play the appropriate pitches.
When displaying a Harmonic Field (HF) property, using Shift-Alt-Click, and using the Play button in the Harmonic Field display to play it, if the Soundfile related to the HF values does not yet exist you are offered the option to create it.
Click on Play a 2nd time to play the newly created soundfile.
When entering a Motif property, there are now Two "Sound View" buttons,
"SVSetTime" allows note-timings to be (re)entered over a graphic of the sound.
"Sound View" allows the sound to be viewed (to assess pitches) without erasing timing data.
When entering a Motif property, and the Play button format involves a STOP button window,
the Play/Stop Window now appears below pitch-stave display, so stave can still be seen.
If any property is an integer lying within the MIDI range (0 - 127), Control-Alt-Click will now play a pitch-class equivalent.
SOUND VIEW WINDOWS
Reference Pitch play button A modified to a drop-down menu to play any of 12 tempered pitches.
TAB Key can now be used to Remove or Restore the Play Box.
TEXT VIEW WINDOWS
GRAB with Control-G will now handle more than one highlighted line.
TABLE EDITOR
"TABLES" : "SPECIFIC DATA TYPES" : "VARIBANK FILTERS"
New Option to Convert Pitches in a MIDI Varibank data file to a MIDI list which can be synthesized as a chord using "synth : chord"
"TABLES" : "DERIVE EDIT DATA FROM LISTED TIMINGS"
New Option to Convert Time list (of sound sudden-onsets) to an EDIT : Slice Data File for chopping file apart at onsets.
"RAND" New Version of "N COPIES, EACH ORDER-RANDOMISED"
for process "SWITCHING BETWEEN MEMBERS OF 1ST HALF AND 2ND HALF OF SET"
e.g. If your set is a list of 8 output channels and you wish to do a random pan but have alternate pan-positions in one half (or the other half) of the set of channels, this option will do this.
END OF SESSION BAKUP TO EXTERNAL STORAGE
Window now displays the size in Megabytes of the data to be stored.
More than Two back-ups to Memory Stick are now possible.
BUG FIXES AND IMPROVEMENTS
GENERAL
For users who had not downloaded the NESS Physical Modelling programs the Table Editor refused to open files, giving an error message. Problem fixed.
If "SHORT WINDOWS" was set (from the System State Menu on Workspace), Instruments could be created, but not Run : Fixed.
"BULK PROCESS" : "PARAMETERS PAGE" : "PLAY OUTPUT"
With more than one playable output file, failed to list available Files, and gave an error. Fixed
SOUND VIEW
Play Box Toggling to left or right (Alt-Control-Click) : Endtimes of Playbox not rewritten. Fixed.
Viewing very long soundfiles by ...
Double-clicking on a listed soundfile on the Workspace
Using "VIEW SOUND OR TEXTFILE" on Workspace Menu "FILES OF TYPE"
Using the View button on the far right of the Parameter Page, to view the Process Output
there can be a significant delay while the graphic is being created. In this situation a wait message, "CREATING WAVEFORM DISPLAY" now appears.
Quantisation
Quantisation was prevented if Quantisation Value exceeded Parameter's upper limit.
However, this could prevent Quantisation of negative values (e.g. if Range Top is zero). Fixed.
"ENTRY OF BREAKPOINT VALUES"
Truncating values of form "-n.9m" where "m" greater than 5 gave false results. Fixed.
WORKSPACE and CHOSEN FILES LIST
"PROPERTIES FILES" : "ADD SOUNDS TO ..."
If not all sounds in a selected Properties File are on the Workspace, Soundloom asks if you want to upload them. The default to a Return reponse is now No.
"COMPARE FILES"
Files containing same lines, but line-repetitions in one file, and not other, declared identical. Fixed.
"CHOSEN FILES LIST" : "REORDER" : "INTERLEAVE"
Interleaving of "abcd" produced "bdac" and not "acbd" : Fixed
Any Workspace or Chosen-Files-List Menu-item which adds or changes files within a Mixfile.
The Duration of the Mixfile is now updated so that the Mix page behaves properly.
"MUSIC TESTBED"
"CLEANING KIT"
After Cleaning, hitting Return (instead of Keep Output or Abandon) hung the Loom. Fixed
Filtering Processes ignored your specified filtering location, Filtering the entire file. Fixed
"EDITING OPERATIONS " : "REARRANGE A SOUNDFILE"
Error in placement of reinserted segment if cut from a time before reinsertion time : Fixed
""FOF RECONSTRUCTION" "More Information" button added on submenus, to explain how to use this.
"MULTICHANNEL PROCESSING" : "FIND OR REMOVE EMPTY CHANNELS" Failed. Fixed
"PHYSICAL MODELLING"
Error generated if physical modelling files (extension ".m") placed on Chosen Files list
and "PROCESS", "BULK PROCESS" or "INSTRUMENT" selected. Fixed.
(Physical Modelling files can only be used through the "MUSIC TESTBED")
Error generated if Valve-Creation attempted before instrument Shape defined. Fixed.
"PLAY OPTIONS" : "PLAY GROUPS MULTICHANNEL" Rejected multichannel files as input : Fixed
"REVERB OPERATIONS" : "CREATE REVERB ON SOUND TAIL"
Now remembers the previously used params for the position of the segment to reverb.
Useful if adding reverb to related files (e.g. individual channels of a multichan sound).
After saving the output, no longer automatically quits, so you can try other reverb values.
"PROPERTIES FILES"
When altering an existing Harmonic Field (HF) property, using Shift-Alt-Click, and Graphic Entry, error occurred, freezing Loom. Fixed.
"QIKEDIT" Mixfile editor
Using "VIEW SOUND" on the Mix output to Mark a Time, when the mix start was not zero,
gave an anomalous (doubled) result in some situations. Fixed.
Using "UNMUTE" to unmute Muted lines, where any one of the muted files no longer existed,
returned correctly (i.e. without doing the unmuting) but gave no indication of why : Fixed.
Inserting a new file with "ADD NEW FILE (AT)" or "... LAST MADE (AT)" if inserted at the time of a Hilighted Line, and this line was followed by muted lines, sometimes caused the Inserted file to insert after all the muted lines : Fixed.
"CREATE MIXFILE WITH TIMESTEP"
Using Sound View to view 1st of sounds being processed, to determine Time Step value. The value may now be entered with a mouse-click on the Sound display graphic.
"VARIBANK" : Using Sound View
In Make File : the Standard Features / Delete Features button can now be used when Sound View generates the data (as well as when text-entry is used).
In Get File : times (only) can now be added to an existing Filter Data file, correctly.
"MULTI-CHANNEL STAGING"
Improvements
Naming the Restaging Format now automatically offered with "Arrange on Multiphonic Stage"
(as is already the case with "Collapse to Stereo Panorama").
Bugs
"COLLAPSE TO STEREO" : Setting relative levels of input channels not working : Fixed.
The format-changing mixes created were not entered into the Mix-Management scheme. Hence if the soundfile-in-the-mixfile was backed up, or moved to a new directory, the format-changing mix was not updated and no longer recognised as a valid mixfile: Fixed.
After creating the re-staging mixfile, the mix would fail to run from the Process Page if it was sent immediately to the Chosen Files List.
(A different type of File had to be sent to the Process Page first) : Fixed.
Fixes 2 bugs for users who have NOT downloaded the Physical Modelling application.
First caused the Table Editor to refuse to open files (with an error message).
Second caused an error when editing a textfile from Read/Edit Selected File on the workspace menu Selected Files of Type. Attempting to save the edited file by overwriting the existing file generated an error message.
Both now fixed.
Instruments failed to run in the Short Windows setting (set on the System State menu). Now fixed.
"More Information" bars added to the submenu of FOF reconstruction on the Music Testbed to clarify the usage of these FOF-processing programs.
MAC ANOMALY
When editing textfiles from the Read/Edit Selected File option on the workspace menu Selecterd Files of Type, the editing window sometimes does not become active (you cannot type into it). If this happens, open the Calculator from the Edit window, then close it. The text-editing window then becomes active as normal.
"Shorten Windows" option on the System State - System Settings 2 menu, now applies to all long windows found on the Loom, making them compatible with laptop small-screen formats.
Minor improvements to internal "Help" documentation of Physical Modelling package.
On the MAC, the "Physical Modelling" options now functional if the MAC version of the ness-brass program is downloaded onto your machine and placed in the "_cdprogs" directory with the other CDP programs.
For further details, see the description under release 16.0.2 below.
"Shorten Windows" option on the System State - System Settings 2 menu, now applies to all long windows found on the Loom, making them compatible with laptop small-screen formats.
"Version 17.0.0.B" corrects bug in release 17.0.0A
which prevented directories from being opened.
Synthesizing realistic instrument sounds using models and
software developed by the NESS research project at the University of Edinburgh. (NB: A specific warranty attaches to these programs which means that the University is not liable for any consequences of your use of them.)
These options will only appear on your workspace if you have
the program ness-brass.exe and the associated dll files in your _cdprogs subdirectory.
You can use the test files in the physmod_examples directory. Put them in your base Soundloom directory (e.g. "_cdp"). The files called test with a ".m" extension are score files. These use the other files (e.g. Trumpetvalve.m) as their source instruments. Use the View/Edit options on the Physical Modelling menu on the Music Testbed, to try these out.
"VIEW SOUND" option on "SELECTED FILES OF TYPE" menu has been moved to the TOP of the menu.
The position of the Sound View window can now be forced to lock to the top lefthand corner of screen.
using a new menu option on "SYSTEM STATE" --> "SYSTEM SETTINGS 1".
New option to Choose N files at random from the Chosen Files List
located on the "REORDER" menu above the Chosen Files list.
New options to highlight specific files on the Workspace.
SOUNDS IN KNOWN MIXFILES
NON-BACKED-UP SNDS IN KNOWN MIXFILES
These options are located on the "ANY/ALL FILES" --> "OTHER SPECIFIC FILES" submenu.
Modification to "IS FILE IN ANY KNOWN MIXFILE?" option on "SELECTED FILES OF TYPE" --> "MIXFILES" submenu.
Output now hilights one mixfile (only) which uses the sound.
New option to MOVE SOUNDFILES TO TOP on the "SELECTED FILES OF TYPE" menu.
MUSIC TESTBED
MULTICHANNEL OPTIONS.
Stack (up to 4) transpositions of a multichannel file, on top of the original file.
Mix any number of files, side-by-side, in a multichannel output (no more than 16 channels in total).
EDITING OPERATIONS: CREATE RELATED ZIGZAGS.
Generates several zigzagged versions of a source, all of the same output duration
and hence (if mixed) synching at their ends (if they are synched at their outsets).
SPACE DESIGN.
Pan mono file, adding DOPPLER shift.
Random rotations of several mono files.
PROCESS PAGE
Quick access to PVOC SYNTHESIS and MERGE CHANNELS.
With one analysis file on the chosen-files list, clicking the PVOC button takes you directly to Synthesis
without needing to click on the PVOC submenu.
Similarly, in Bulk Processing mode, with several analysis file on the chosen-files list,
clicking the PVOC button takes you directly to Synthesis.
With several mono soundfiles on the chosen-files list, clicking the CHANNELS button takes
you directly to Channels-Merge without needing to click on the CHANNELS submenu.
New SPECTRAL TIME-STRETCH option Around times
allows the time-stretch to be specified in a different way.
Here a maximum time-stretch is set, and the sound will be stretched from 1 (no stretch) up to this maximum.
After entering a value for the maximum time-stretch, in the parameter box, go to Make File
followed by the Sound View option on the textfile-edit page, where a list of times can be entered
by mouse-clicking on the sound graphic.
If 2 times are entered
sound remains unstretched up to first time marked.
sound stretches more and more up to a maximum (the entered value) at the 2nd marked time.
If (groups of) 4 times are entered
Sound remains unstretched until time 1.
Sound reaches its maximum stretch at time 2.
Sound remains at maximum stretch until time 3.
Sound stretched less and less towards time 4.
Sound is not stretched after time 4.
QIK EDIT page
Rotation of the frame added to options for REROUTE for Multichannel mixes.
Uses mnemonic like 3R to mean rotate the image by 3 channels clockwise.
MINOR IMPROVEMENTS & BUG FIXES
Grabbing soundfiles from Mixfiles (SELECTED FILES OF TYPE menu)
now (correctly) ignores the initial (channel count) line.
Multiple User systems with backup to a Network disk. New safety feature.
Previously the query PLEASE CONFIRM THAT YOUR NETWORK DIRECTORY IS xxxxx
interpreted Carriage Return to mean NO, (i.e. xxxxx is NOT my network directory)
so that a user hitting carriage return in haste failed to backup their work to the network.
Carriage Return is now interpreted to mean YES (i.e. xxxxx IS my network directory)
so that backup to the network drive proceeds even when Carriage Return is used.
New Error Trap when Bulk Processing multichannel files.
If Bulk Process is applied to a SINGLE multichannel file,
the file is first divided into its separate channels and then each channel processed individually.
Once all channels have been processed, at Save As, the processed output channels are recombined
into a multichannel output.
Should the processing fail on any channel (e.g. attempting to normalise a channel with zero level)
the processing of further channels is now abandoned, and the pre-processing state of the Loom restored.
WHICH? Button, Relevant option (on the Process Page)
now works correctly when duplicated processes (processes on one menu, duplicated on another) are listed.
Synthesizing realistic instrument sounds using models and
software developed by the NESS research project at the University of Edinburgh.
These options will only appear on your workspace once the MAC version of these programs become available and you have framework.exe and the associated dll files in your _cdprogs subdirectory.
The "Leeds" colour scheme (slightly modified) now implements correctly on the MAC.
(previously, as the MAC insists on a white background for menubuttons and menus,
the white text used in the original Leeds scheme produced blank menus, until the mouse ran over them).
Error message reports are also now readable when using the Leeds colour scheme.
The original MAC implementation was hampered by a quirk in the implementation of the TK/Tcl language
on the MAC which meant that LOOM windows did not automatically come into focus when you returned
to them during Loom usage. This was initially solved by adding a small extra window that pops up between
all the major Loom windows, adding an extra click for every operation. In addition, if
you returned from the parameters window directly to the workspace ("Return to Workspace" button), the extra window caused all the
intervening windows in the window-stack to be displayed (therefore requiring an additional click to dismiss each of them).
The latest TK/Tcl MAC implementation no longer has this problem, so the extra window has now been removed.
(Consequently, returning from the Parameters page to the Workspace requires only a single click).
HIDDEN WINDOWS PROBLEM SOLVED
Occasionally the original Soundloom allowed 2 Loom windows to appear on screen at the same time.
On the MAC, the 2nd window was sometimes hidden behind the 1st.
The MAC implementation has now been reconfigured to display just 1 Loom window at a time,
ensuring that no Loom windows are hidden.
Updating is necessary if files on the Workspace are modified outside the Loom, while using the Loom.
New Keyboard shortcuts CONTROL-u, CONTROL-U or ESCAPE
update data on any files highlighted on workspace (or, if no files highlighted, any files on Chosen Files list).
FINDING EMPTY (SILENT) SOUNDFILES
New Keyboard shortcuts ALT-z and menu option under PROPERTIES
highlight either ALL zero-level soundfiles on workspace, or all those found amongst files previously highlighted on the workspace.
UPDATING MIXFILES
If, while updating a mixfile, it is found to refer to sndfiles that are no longer on the workspace BUT still exist,
the update window offers a new option to load those files to the workspace immediately.
MUSIC TESTBED
New STEREO REVERB option creates a stereo reverb-image for a stereo file (or a 4-channel reverb image).
PARAMETERS PAGE
When any Get File button on the Parameters Page is used, a listing of possible textfiles appears.
Double clicking on any file in the list now displays it.
MINOR IMPROVEMENTS & BUG FIXES
Information button for different modes of newer programs: Display not always for correct mode: Fixed.
Loom correctly recognises CDP version numbers of your programs, and sets itself up accordingly.
A new option for several users to use a single machine without the need for passwords.
Note that this mode is not quite so robust as Multi-User mode,
and users would need to agree on the various system settings (play command, interface colour etc.)
to avoid having to reset these global properties every time they used the machine.
On the MAC
Special Multiuser environments are not implemented on the MAC, as these can be set up
within the MAC's own architecture
Advice about backing up (and reloading) the users environment on a memory stick has been added.
MINOR IMPROVEMENTS To data entry in the Table Editor.
In cases where the older Native PC player cannot be found (a possibility on some Windows 7 systems),
the Loom now searches for Windows Media Player.
In addition an option to specifically request Windows Media Player
has been added to the System menu entry where you can change the program to play soundfiles.
It should also now be possible to use VLC to play files, if you have this program on your system.
(See the same interace on the System menu).
On the MAC
Playing from Quick Time (as an option) has been modified.
In addition an option to specifically request Quick Time has been added
to the System menu sentry where you can change the program to play soundfiles.
It should also now be possible to use VLC to play files, if you have this program on your system.
(See the same interace on the System menu).
NB You must download the appropriate shell scripts and put them in your _cdprogs folder
for these options to work.
PC ONLY: DISTRIBUTING SOUNDLOOM UPDATES TO SEVERAL MACHINES SHARING A NETWORK DRIVE
Where several machines are running the Loom, and are connected to a networked drive,
it is now possible to automatically update the machines with the latest version of the Loom
simply by downloading the latest version to the network drive (only).
To ensure that all machines running the Loom have the latest version,
a batchfile can be created that
Copies the Loom from the network drive to the local machines at the session start.
Launches the Loom.
This batchfile can reside in the CDP base directory on each local machine
and be called from a desktop shortcut - replacing the direct call to the soundloom programme itself.
(Thanks to Martin Allison at Durham, for setting up this network management system).
The workspace-loading mechanism has been modified so that,
so long as the name of this batchfile begins with soundloom
once launched the Loom will not attempt to load this batchfile onto the workspace as a working file
nor generate an error message.
As a reult of this change, name checking has become slightly more rigorours, so that the Loom will not load any file
whose name begins with soundloom.
The interface to set the Play command (on the System menu on the Workspace)
was recently revised and simplified to give the two options of
Using the CDP's own play program (pvplay).
Using the native PC player.
On some new Windows 7 systems, the native PC player previously used (which had no accompanying graphics)
is not (easily) accessible.
The automatic search procedure has therefore been modified to look for Windows Media Player
as the fallback option, should the previous native player fail to be found.
In addition, a new button on the interface allows you to actively select Windows Media Player.
The default audio player is pvplay: paplay should not be used.
Getting hold of control files that are not on the workspace.
When you go to Get File on the Parameters Page, the file you want to use may not be on the Workspace.
To grab it to the workspace and use it (without returning to the Workspace page).
Hit the All Textfiles button at the top of the window. This lists all the textfiles currently on the Workspace.
If your file is not amongst them (not loaded onto the Workspace)..
Choose the new Other button which appears.
This will display the File finder page.
The Get Dir button in this new window takes you to the CDP Directory finder, from where you can select a directory.
The files from the chosen directory will then be listed on the File finder page.
Select the file you want to use.
If it is a viable CDP control file, it will be loaded, for you to use. (If it is not an appropriate file, a warning is given).
Generic naming of output files: these can now be numbered from 1 (instead of zero) if desired.
WORKSPACE
You can now End the Session with Control Q
Directory Listing (the panel on the RHS of the Workspace): New options
The listing can now be sorted by the date of production of the listed files.
Files with CDP-incompatible names on the PC are now handled more thoroughly
MAC files with PC incompatible names, like ".DStore", are ignored.
other files with incompatible names are displayed and the following options offered
Copy the entire directory containing the files to a new subdirectory, as a failsafe backup.
Replace any "." (stop or decimal point) character within a name with "p" (for "point")
(but NOT the "." introducing the file extension).
Change the extension of textfiles with unknown extensions, to ".txt"
Seeing the files used to create a sound via a mix.
"F4" will display the mixfile from which the selected sndfile was made,
so long as the soundfile and the mixfile share the same name.
Grab files with the same name but in different directories.
New Option on SELECTED FILES ONLY menu, under FIND FILE OR DIRECTORY
Grabbing (to the Workspace) specific files within a list-of-files in a textfile.
New Item on SELECTED FILES OF TYPE under LIST OF ANY FILES.
A group of files in a list-of-files, specified by number (their position in the list),
can be grabbed to the Workspace from the list.
PLAYING SOUNDS
The sound playing facilities in the Loom have been extensively revised.
If the STOP button fails to appear on your system, reset it on the SYSTEM menu.
on the MUSIC TESTBED there are new PLAY OPTIONS.
Play (mono) the Chosen files in groups of N, playing consecutively.
Play (mono) the Chosen files in groups of N, playing simultaneously, as a multichannel file.
MUSIC TESTBED
NEW MULTICHANNEL OPTION
Inject K mono soundfiles into an N-channel (multichannel) ring
so that the K input sounds are equally spaced around the N output channels.
e.g. 4 inputs to 8 chans are distributed to positions 1 : 3 : 5 : 7 repectively.
e.g. 12 inputs to 8 chans are distributed to positions 1 : 1.66 : 2.33 : 3 : 3.66 : 4.33 : 5 : 5.66 : 6.33 : 7 : 7.66 : 8.33
PROCESS PAGE
New Shortcut:
Process page will now run a Mix (or a Multichannel Mix) in response to a Carriage Return.
BULK PROCESSING OF MIXES
Lists of mixfiles, or of multichannel mixfiles, can now be bulk processed
with full-length output (only), even if they have different output durations.
QIKEDIT
REROUTE
new REMAP option: sends each of a selected group of mono input file to a different single channel output, specified in a list of output channels.
new LR (left-right) option: send 2 mono files, or each channel of a stereo file, to all the left, and all the right channels of a multichannel output.
new I (interleave) option: puts 2 mono, or 2 stereo files, or 2 channels of a stereo file onto alternating channels of a multichannel mix.
new SQ (square) option: spreads 2 stereo files onto all channels of a multichannel output.
e.g. for 8-chan output:
File 1 Left goes to 1,2
File 1 Right goes to 3,4
File 2 Left goes to 5,6
File 2 Right goes to 7,8
new "+" or "+N" option : All outputs are sent to the next channel or to N channels beyond the current one.
If the new channel number is greater than the total number of output channels, the value is wrapped around.
BUG FIXES
Table Editor: AGAIN function working incorrectly for Column Swap: Fixed.
The interface for (re)setting the default audio drivers (System menu) should now function properly.
PLAY anomalies in Loom 13.0.2 and 13.0.3
The CDP program process is used to STOP Play, when playing a sound, (and to Abort processes on the Run Window).
If it is not on your system, the STOP PLAY button will not appear when you play sounds.
The program can be downloaded from the Sound Loom website. Windows 7 users may find that process will not copy onto their PC.
An alternative mechanism to stop Play and Abort processes has therefore been added, using the PC native program taskkill.
When setting up a new system, if process is not on the system, the Loom searches your PC
to find taskkill and uses this to terminate Play and to Abort processes.
The default CDP audio player is pvplay: paplay should no longer be used.
PLAYING SOUNDS
The sound playing facilities in the Loom have been extensively revised (see below).
On the PC the window for changing (re)setting the play program (called from the System menu on the Workspace)
has been redesigned and simplified (and will soon be updated for the MAC).
If the STOP button fails to appear on your system, reset it on the System menu.
QIKEDIT
Reroute has a new remap option.
This sends each of a selected group of mono input files to a different single channel output,
where those channels are specified in a list.
BUG FIXES
Table Editor: AGAIN function working incorrectly for Column Swap: Fixed.
The interface for (re)setting the audio drivers (System menu) should now function correctly.
PC issues
PLAY anomalies in Loom 13.0.2 and 13.0.3
The CDP program process (in your CDP programs folder) is used to STOP playback when playing a sound
(and to Abort processes from the Run Window).
If it is not on your system, the STOP button will not appear when you play sounds.
(The programme can be downloaded from this website).
Windows 7 users may find that process will not copy onto their PC.
An alternative mechanism to Stop Play and Abort processes has therefore been added,
using the PC native program taskkill.
When setting up a new system, if process is not on the system, the Loom searches your PC
to find taskkill and uses this to terminate Play and to Abort processes.
RAPID STEPPING BETWEEN WINDOWS with Return and Escape
In general
Return means proceed to do an action e.g.
Go to the Process Page, Run the Process, or Abandon a window which has NO action (an information display only).
Escape means quit a window without any action e.g.
Return from the Parameters Page to the Process Page, or from the Process Page to the Workspace.
On the MAC, to circumvent the window-greying problem, hit Return or Escapetwice.
(This dismisses the small intervening window, causing the principle windows to come into proper focus).
Space means Play the selected sound (or stop playing it).
In text-entry windows (where Space is a character you can type into the window)
use Control-p instead, to play any soundfile whose name is highlighted.
ABANDON WINDOWS with Return (or Space Bar):
Almost any window in which you cannot enter text information
can now be exited by hitting Return.
(In a text entry window, Return will be entered as a character in the text display)
A window in which sounds cannot be played, will respond to Space in the same way.
(Otherwise hitting the Space Barplays any selected sound).
One exception is the Parameters Page as here you must decide whether to....
Return to the Process Page,
Return to the Workspace or
Recycle the Output.
See the Keyboard Shortcuts under the "K" key for quick exits here.
NB: If you do use Return or Space Bar in this way, and you have not already saved the output,
any potential output from the quitted window is abandoned.
DATE AND START TIME:
The Workspace now displays the Date and Start Time of your session.
PLAYING or GRABBING from a Textfile listing a sounds:
In a textfile listing, where a soundfile name is highlighted, it can be played using Control-p
or grabbed to the workspace using Control-g.
Where the highlighted item is a soundfile preceded by a ";" character (e.g. a muted line in a mixfile)
the ";" character will be ignored, and the soundfile played or grabbed as normally (if it exists).
DISPLAYING BREAKPOINT FILES:
From the Read button on the Parameters page.
From the new "BRKPNT FILE" options on the "SELECTED FILES OF TYPE" menu on the Worspace.
These will no longer reject files for graphic display because of "Insufficient Screen Resolution".
TASK LIST:
A "TASK LIST" has been added to the Notebook menu on the Workspace.
The Task List is an undated list of things to do, as distinct from
The Notebook which is a diary-style list of dated entries.
"SEE LATEST NOTEBOOK ENTRY" now also shows any existing Task List.
Workspace
"PLAY MAIN MIX":
This new button (at the foot of the workspace) only appears if you have designated a mixfile
as the Main Mix (see menu SELECTED FILES OF TYPE : MIXFILES).
You can play the output of the Main Mix from this button, even when it is not on the Workspace if..
you have created the sound output from that mix and
the output Soundfile has the same name as (or begins with the name of) the main mixfile and
the soundfile is on the workspace, OR in the same directory as the mixfile.
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS (These may differ slightly on the MAC - see the relevant "K" key):
BACKSPACE to Clear the Chosen Files List.
TAB to highlight on the workspace, (only) those files currently on the Chosen Files list.
Shift TAB also moves the newly highlighted item(s) to the top of the workspace.
SHIFT UP Selected files go to top of listing they are in.
SHIFT DOWN Selected files go to foot of listing they are in.
SHIFT LEFT Selected files go to listing to Left i.e.
If files selected are on the Directory listing, they are grabbed to the Workspace.
If files selected are on Workspace, they are added to the Chosen Files list.
SHIFT RIGHT Deselects files i.e.
If files selected are on the Chosen Files list, they are removed from that list.
If files selected are on the Workspace, they are removed from the workspace.
(NB: Files are not deleted from your system).
HOMElists the contents of the directory specified in the directory-name box
in the directory listing panel on the right of the workspace page.
F8 Gets (recalculates) the Maximum Sample of any selected sound.
F3 Causes Pitchmarks to be displayed (or no longer displayed) when a workspace soundfile is selected.
The Keyboard Shortcut to Toggle between Workspace Mode and Chosen Files Mode
has been changed to Alt-Left (or Right), (Command-Left or Right on the MAC) from plain Left or Right
to avoid flicker when advancing the cursor in the Directory name box.
For full details of Keyboard Shortcuts on any page, consult the "K" Key (on the top left of the page).
BRKPNT FILE : DISPLAY SELECTED FILE:
This new option goes immediately to a graphic display of the file, if only 1 file is selected.
SEARCH:
New Option to Ignore the directory pathname of files.
New Option to reverse the search order (search from end to start).
ANY/ALL FILES : SELECT SPECIFIC FILES : OTHER SPECIFIC FILES:
New options to
Hilight Files in a Specified Directory.
Hilight non-backed-up Sound files (only).
Music Testbed
EDITING OPTIONS:
New option to rearrange parts of a soundfile.
ENVELOPES:
New option to Fade In sound from a time after the file start.
MULTICHANNEL WORK:
Multichannel engineering
Modify individual channels of a multichannel sound,
recombining the modified (and any unmodified) channels to create a new multichannel file.
Working with stereo and multichannel
Extract stereo groups from a multichannel file.
Inject stereo sounds into a multichannel file.
Pan or rotate a stereo sounds around a multichannel space.
Conversion of data to multichannel
Convert a stereo mixfile to a multichannel mixfile.
Convert a mono sound to a multichannel sound (with identical signal in all channels).
Parameters Page
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS (These may differ on the MAC - see the relevant "K" key):
F8: Get maximum sample of source sound(s).
F9: Get maximum sample of output sound(s) (if they have been created).
FACILITIES FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS
Mix From Mixfile and Multichannel Mix:
MaxSamp button and output overload (for the Output File).
If this finds a maximum value indicating that the output is overloaded, the mix gain parameter is automatically reset to 0.1
If the mix is run again, the MaxSamp should now give a legible output level, for a mix at 1/10th of the input levels,
and the mix gain is automatically reset a 2nd time to give a maximum level, undistorted output.
With the CDP Release 6.0 version of the program maxsamp2, MaxSamp reports the Channel in which maximum sample occurs.
"INCOMPLETE OUTPUT" warning:
After running the mix, if the output is not the complete mix
(i.e. the specified Start time is greater than zero or the specified End time is less than the total duration of the mix) a warning appears, below the parameter bars.
(The "Set All Defaults" button, or the "Default" radio buttons at the right edge of the parameter display bar
will set the Start and End time the the true start and end of the mix).
Note that the Loom can now be set up to dovetail the ends of such incomplete mixes
so they are usable as sound output (See the System menu).
Envelope Dovetail now has an activeSound View button.
This allows you to mark, on the waveform display, the required start or end dovetail, or both.
If you change your mind (marking either the start or the end dovetail, or both, a 2nd time)
your final choice will be remembered.
Loudness Gain has a new button to scale the values in an envelope file
so that the values in a file (used as the loudness parameters) are changed to lie in a larger or smaller range.
Loudness Tremolo and Pitch:Speed Vibrato each have a new button to random-fluctuate the frequency
of any (numeric) value given for the tremolo or vibrato frequency, generating a datafile to replace the original numeric value.
Extend : Back to Back now has an activeSound View button, so the edit-location can be entered graphically.
Time Stretch of analysis files has a new Button "0.01sec->"
which shuffles time values in any breakpoint file forward by 0.01 secs.
This may be useful if breakpoint files are generated from Sound View
where the timing of the source sound (displayed when the breakpoint line is being drawn)
lags very slightly behind the analysis file (which is actually the data being modified by the breakpoint-file).
Modify pitch : Accelerate and Multichannel : accel now each have an activeSound View button,
so acceleration start & end times can be marked on the sound graphic, and output to the parameter boxes.
Extract single-moment formants now has an activeSound View button,
so the formant time can be marked on the sound graphic display, and output to the parameter value box.
Sustain a specific FOF within a sound now has a MIDI entry button, with the transposition parameter,
so a transposition sequence can be entered from a MIDI keyboard.
You must first play a reference pitch, followed by
a melody-line which defines the transposition data relative to the reference pitch.
A loudness envelope is also generated, which can be applied to the sound output of the process
to reflect the note duration and loudness entered at the MIDI keyboard.
Qikedit
NEW KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
SHIFT UP: (as on the Workspace) Selected lines go to the top of the listing.
SHIFT DOWN: (as on the Workspace)Selected lines go to the foot of the listing.
SHIFT LEFT: Selected lines are muted.
SHIFT RIGHT: Selected lines are unmuted.
DELETE: Removes selected muted lines (only).
"LAST MADE" OPTION: to integrate mix construction and sound processing
New buttons have been added to "ADD", or "CHANGE" an existing file to the "LAST MADE" file.
For example, if you decide to modify a file in the mix, you can....
Select a soundfile on the mix listing.
Hit "SND TO WKSPACE", which puts the sound on the Chosen File list, and returns you directly to the Workspace.
Modify the sound, using one or several CDP or Loom facilities.
Return to the Qik Editor, by hitting Control-mthree times.
The file you originally selected will remain highlighted in the mix listing.
Hit the ".... LAST MADE" button to replace the originally selected sound with the modified sound you have just made.
OTHER NEW BUTTON OPTIONS:
"CHANGE EVERY" OPTION: will change every instance in the mix of the selected sound to a (specified) new sound.
"CHANGE MANY" OPTION: will change all the selected sounds to a (specified) new sound.
"MARK OFFSET" OPTION:
Set on offset value on the Value box.
Select two sounds to offset.
When you hit the "MARK OFFSET" button, each file in turn wull be graphically displayed
allowing you to mark a specific time in each sound.
The second file with then be moved so that its timemark is offset from the timemark in the 1st file, by the value of offset.
"STAGGER BY" OPTION:
Set a stagger value on the Value box.
Select several soundfiles in he mix.
The 1st selected line is moved by stagger,
the 2nd selected line by 2 * stagger, the 3rd etc.
the srd selected line by 3 * stagger, and so on.
ORDER ALL LINES: sorts the entire mixfile into time order, including any muted lines.
MUTED TO END: moves all muted lines to the end of the listing (sorting them in time order).
EXTENSION OF EXISTING FACILITES:
NEW "SEARCH" OPTIONS:
Ignore the directory pathname of files.
Ignore all commented out lines.
NEW "TAP TIME" OPTIONS: to add the resulting time to any value already in the Value box.
NEW "SELECT LINES" OPTION: to select lines starting at time in the Value box.
EXTENDED MULTICHANNEL FACILITIES.
CHANGE LEVEL OF A SINGLE MULTICHANNEL OUTPUT ROUTE.
Use "AMPLIFY BY" or "SET LEVEL TO", but instead of entering a single (amplification or level) value,
Enter a specific route (e.g. "4:2") followed by a (level or amplification) value.
The specified route must already exist in (all) the highlighted line(s).
Only the level of the specified routing will be modified.
REROUTE:
Rerouting the output of multichannel files on the QikEdit page, is simplified by the various abbreviations accepted by the QikEditor.
These abbreviations have been extended, as follows....
"Stereo Front" (mono or stereo files only)
Entering "stereo front" in the Value box, and selecting "REROUTE"
will route a stereo input file to the 2 channels to left and right of the front-centre position (channel 1).
A mono input will be routed to both channels.
This works even if the stereo file had previously been routed to several different output channels.
"Stereo Wide" (mono or stereo files only)
Entering "stereo wide" or "stereo front wide" in the Value box, and selecting "REROUTE"
will route channel 1 of a stereo input file to the 2 channels to left of the front-centre position (channel 1),
and input channel 2 to the 2 channels to the right of the front-centre position.
A mono input will be routed to all these 4 channels.
This works even if the stereo file had previously been routed to several different output channels.
Rerouting stereo to all outputs.
For an N-channel output, by entering, "1-N" the stereo signal can be sent to all output channels,
e.g. for an 8-channel output, you would enter "1-8"
You are offered two options..
N/2 sets of stereo, with stereo L and R going to comsecutive output channels (L, R, L, R, L, R ...)
N mono outputs i.e. the stereo signal is mixed to mono and sent to all outputs.
This works even if the stereo file had previously been routed to several different output channels.
Rerouting every existing routing assignment to a (possibly) new output.
Where a line already assigns its input channels to K output routings,
K alternative outputs for the routings can be entered, separated by commas.
e.g. if the current assignment has 4 routings only, e.g.
"1:1 1.0 1:2 1.0 2:3 1.0 2:4"
the assignment
"4,3,2,3"
reassigns this to
"1:4 1.0 1:3 1.0 2:2 1.0 2:3"
Rerouting every input channel to specific output channels.
For N input channels, N output targets should be entered, separated by commas.
e.g. if the current assignment has 4 input channels only, e.g.
"1:2 1.0 2:4 1.0 3:6 1.0 4:8"
the assignment
"1,3,5,7"
reassigns this to
"1:1 1.0 2:3 1.0 3:5 1.0 4:7" NB: Where there is an ambiguity as to whether the data refers to N inputs or K routes,
you can specify which of these you intend.
Shift and Mirror an existing routing, using "Nm".
For example, in an 8-channel output mix, entering e.g. "6m" (or "6M"),
the output configuration is both shifted and mirrored. In this example..
The whole frame is rotated so that the output currently going to channel 1 goes to channel 6.
All output channels are then mirrored around channel 6.
Thus, for example, a stereo file initally route to output channels 1 and 2, would be
rotated to channels 6 and 7
mirrored around channel 6, to outputs 6 and 5 (in that order)..
Antiphony with stereo files:
By entering "antiphonal", "antiphony", or "antiphon", a stereo file will be rerouted to antiphonal output.
With an odd number of output channels (e.g. 7)
antiphony (in 7 channels) will be between channels 234 and 567, omitting the centre channel (1).
With an even number of output channels (e.g. 8)
"antiphon"(etc) will generates antiphony between channels 234 and 678,
appropriate for a layout with channel 1 centred at the front.
and omitting both centred channels, 1 & 5.
"Antiphon"(etc) (with a capital "A") will antiphonate between channels 1234 and 5678.
This would be appropriate for a layout with no centred channels.
Copying the routing (and levels) from one line to another.
Select two lines with the same number of input channels.
">" Copies the routing (and levels) of the 1st line to the 2nd line.
"<" Copies the routing (and levels) of the 2nd line to the 1st line.
"<>" Swaps the routing (and levels) of the 2 lines.
Copying the routing within a line.
By entering "copy" followed (after a space) by a list of channels (separated by commas),
each routing in the existing line will be duplicated to a different output.
(The number of items listed after "copy" must equal the number of routings already in the line).
e.g. if the existing routing is ..
"1:1 1.0 2:2 0.5"
the routing "copy 7,8" will produce the new routing
"1:1 1.0 2:2 0.5 1:7 1.0 2:8 0.5"
Routing to alternate channels.
"Odd" routes successive input channels to odd-numbered output channels.
"Even" routes successive input channels to even-numbered output channels.
The number of output channel must be even, and must be a multiple of (2 times the number of input channels).
e.g. if the input has 2 channels, the output must have 4 or 8 channels.
For full details of all Reroute mnemonics, see the "Help" button on the QikEdit page.
Text Edit Pages
A new "UNDO" button has been added, which restores the original state of the file being edited
without exiting the editing page.
Table Editor
New Option to "MOVE ROW(S) from cursor onwards" on "TABLES : AT CURSOR" menu.
Rows can be moved forward or backward in a table.
If rows are moved backwards, any intervening rows are deleted. e.g. with rows
0 1
1 .9
2 .8
3 .7
4 .6
5 .5
If row at time 4 is moved by "-2.5" (2.5 seconds backwards), it overwrites 2 rows, giving
0 1
1 .9
1.5 .6
2.5 .5
(hence preserving the increasing time-order of the first column).
Bug Fixes and Improvements
Playing files from Chosen Files list
Playing files from Chosen Files with Double-Click or Control-p
always gave you a list of Chosen files to select from (rather than playing the selected file).
Now plays the selected file.
QikEdit
QikEdit button has been confined to the Mix and Multichannel Mix parameter windows only.
Bugs were occurring when it was accessed from some other mix processes.
NB Many of the functions of the other mix operations are now available as Button options in the QikEdit window.
Problem with spatialisation facilities for non-multichannel files. Fixed.
"Mirror Frame" for multichannel files: now affects the selected line(s) only.
"Chosen Files" and Directory list boxes:
When moving from a list of long names to a list of short names the listing jammed to the right side,
so short names could not be seen without first using the Scroll Bar. Fixed.
Quantising breakpoint files in "Sound View"
Drawing breakpoint file with Range 0-1, then quantising with Value "1" (forcing all values to 0 or 1),
produced an error message "Impossible quantisation value". Fixed.
Processes available with multichannel Chosen Files
If the list of chosen files includes multichannel soundfiles (more than 2 channels) Create a mixfile, Create mixfile with timestep and Create mixfile on timegrid
are no longer activated on the Process page as these apply to mono and stereo files only.
Create multichannel mixfile, of course, continues to be activated.
The setting up of Sound Players on the Loom has been extensively revised.
Set Command To Play Files, which appears when the Loom in first set up,
and can be accessed from the System menu on the Workspace,
now includes a number of new options.
You can now select the internal CDP player as the default player for your system.
New buttons
Set CDP Play Directory and
Set CDP Play Cmd
allow you to do this.
This has the advantage that it is guaranteed to work, but the disadvantage that it has no graphic interface
apart from a STOP button that appears when Play begins.
If you choose to use the internal CDP player, you can also specify the Audio Driver you would prefer to use.
The available audio drivers on your system are listed, and you can select (and Confirm) the one you want to use.
The Default Player (shown on the list) is set if you do not select a particular Driver.
NB Setting the Audio Driver here does NOT affect the driver used with any other Play application
(e.g. Quicktime, Windows Media Player etc.) which will have its own menu to allow you to set its Audio Driver.
On some MAC systems, playing sounds on the Loom (with any audio player)
cannot be terminated without the use of the STOP button,
whilst on others, the player works better without the STOP button.
The STOP button is therefore now installed by default on any NEW system,
but you can turn it off (and on) on the Set Command To Play Files page.
(The separate System menu option to turn STOP on and off, has therefore been removed).
You can also play sounds from a graphic display accessed from the Sound View buttons.
This uses a different play function, available in the Snack extension of the TK/Tcl programming language
in which the Sound Loom is written.
QIKLOADING
When you start a new session, the files on the workspace at the end of the last session
are restored to the workspace for this new session.
As they are loaded, each file is parsed to establish its properties.
For very large files (or a very long list of files), this can take some time.
Qikoading saves the properties of the workspace files at the end of a session
so they can be re-established without parsing the files when you begin a new session.
If your environment is setup to establish the maximum level in Soundfiles, on Loading,
QikLoading will do this check if max level is not already among the known properties.
If your environment is setup to look for Properties Files
(textfiles of user-defined properties: not to be confused with the standard properties all files have)
QikLoading will still check for these.
NB:
If you have altered Workspace files outside the CDP Environment
this will most probably change their properties.
If in doubt (or you encounter problems on the Loom), use the new Refresh Workspace Data button
(at the foot of the workspace) to re-establish the correct file properties
On multiuser systems, where users' work is backed up to, and restored from, a network drive,
the process of copying files to the local machine from the network drive, at the start of a session,
occurs before the workspace is loaded.
QikLoading will NOT affect the speed of this process.
"ONE AT A TIME" PROCESSING OF CHOSEN FILES
The One at a time button (below the Chosen Files list) allows you to process
a whole list of files placed on the Chosen Files list, one at a time.
This may be useful where you want to apply similar but not identical processing
to a group of files.
(In contrast, Bulk Processing applies the same process,
with the same parameters to all the files on the Chosen List).
Previously, you proceedeed to the next file in the (original) list, by returning to the Workspace
and hitting the Next button (below the Chosen Files list).
This procedure has now been streamlined so that you can get the Next file
without leaving the Parameters page, continuing to apply the same process,
but with possibly different parameters, to each file in turn.
Once One at a time processing is initated on the Workspace,
the Parameters Page gets a Get Next File button (replacing To Wkspace: Get New Files).
If you hit this new button, the Sound Loom will move to the next file in your original list,
reconfiguring the parameters page to refer to this new file
so you can proceed immediately to process it with (possibly) different parameters.
If, however, you use Get New Process or Recycle Outfile, the new button will revert
to its original function (To Wkspace: Get New Files) returning you to the workspace
where you can still use the Next button to get the next file in your list.
QIKEDIT
Synchronising an event within one sound with an event in another
A new button, SYNC AT MARKS, allows you to synchronise two soundfiles in a mix at marked events within those files.
The two files are graphically displayed, in turn, so the time-marks can be entered in each.
On concluding the process, the second file is moved, so that the marked events in the two files
synchronise with one another.
If you want to move the 1st file, change the order of the 2 files in the mix listing (use Reverse Order in QikEditor).
If the sync is impossible (because this would mean moving the starttime of a file to a time before zero) then no change is made.
Entering new events at specific beats
If a soundfile is to be added to a mix, so that a specific event in the file
occurs at a specific beat in the existing mix, a new entry on the MM menu
calculates the entry time.
Required parameters are....
the metronome mark (MM).
The beat number (counting from zero) the new event will occur at, in the overall mix.
The offset-from-zero of the initial beat in the overall mix (its starttime, in the complete mix).
The offset-from-zero of the event-to-be-synchronised in the new soundfile (time of event, within the soundfile).
MULTICHANNEL FILES
Grabbing multichannel files
It is now possible to Grab, to the Workspace, files with a specific number of Channels.
Thumbnails
Mono mixes of multichannel files (Thumbnails) can now be created...
From the MUSIC TESTBED menu.
When you go to View a Multichannel File.
When you Recycle a multichannel output file from the Parameters page.
These are stored in an off-workspace directory from where they can be recalled,
and are retained from one session to the next.
Thumbnails can be accessed ...
On the workspace
When a multichannel file is selected (placed on the Chosen Files list) for processing, OR
When a multichannel sound is selected for Viewing on the Workspace.
In both cases, a new button at the foot of the workspace allows
either the multichannel file, or its thumbnail to be processed/viewed.
When using Sound View elsewhere, for a multichannel file,
the option to view (or recreate) the thumbnail is offered.
Independent processing of file channels
A process that, for example, seaches for silences in a file, to determine how to process the file,
will only find silences where none of the input channels has sound.
However, you may wish to apply the same process to each channel independently,
(silence may occur in one channel and not in the other(s)).
Any process can now be applied independently to each channel in a multichannel file.
If only one multichannel file is on the Chosen List, the Bulk Process button will now
split the file into its constituent channels before processing, and join together the resulting channel-files, after processing is complete.
The available processes are restricted to those producing mono or stereo outputs (for each input channel).
If a process with a stereo output (e.g. reverb) is selected, the stereo outputs are mixed appropriately
onto the multichannel output space.
If more than one file is submitted to Bulk Process it will operate in the normal fashion,
processing each file in turn.
Panning a process over a multichannel file
Several of the processes can now be made to pan around a multichannel file
i.e. the sounds in the channels do not move, but the processing of the sounds does move.
To initiate this .......
Select PAN PROCESS ROUND MULTICHAN FILE on the Music Testbed.
Run the process you wish to pan.
Then, on the MULTICHAN menu, select multichannel pan and then pan a process.
Parameters for panning are set here, in the normal way and an output file is generated with the process panned around the input file.
Changing the routing information in a multichannel mixfile, on the qikedit page
New options to Swap Position of 2 or more soundfiles in a multichannel file.
Rotate Positions now rotates selected files relative to the entire set of output channels.
Thus e.g. in an an 8-channel mix
A file routed to outchannel 4, if rotated by 3, goes to channel 7,
A file routed to outchannel 4, if rotated by 6, rotates (through channel 8) to channel 2.
A multichannel files routed to outputs 1-2-3-4, rotated by 2, will move to 3-4-5-6.
A multichannel files routed to outputs 1-2-3-4, rotated by 6, will move to 7-8-1-2.
Reroute will now accept a channel list (e.g. "5-8") as a value in the Value box,
to change the routing of a multichannel file in the mix, so long as there are input channel corresponding to
the output channels specified in the list (e.g "5-8", specifies 4 output channels, 5,6,7, and 8).
As before, when applied to a mono file, "5-8" reroutes it to channels 5,6,7, and 8.
Applied to a 4-channel input file, "5-8" reroutes each input channel in turn to channels 5,6,7, and 8
MULTICHANNEL TOOKIT
Richard Dobson's Multichannel Tookit has been integrated into the workspace.
The processes will only appear (on the MULTICHAN menu) if you have these programs on your system
(together with the new CDP program frame) in the same directory as your other Loom/CDP programs.
These programs allow the format of multichannel files to be changed from standard "wav"
to "WAVEX" and "WAVEX-ambisonic".
Ambisonic and WAVEX format files can also be directly created and manipulated.
Toolkit programs can be accesses like any other CDP program, but at present leave no history (in the log files).
The CDP convention for assigning extensions to Ambisonic filenames generated on the Loom are
WAVEX B-FORMAT (ambisonic) files, get the extension ".amb" (recommended)
Standard wav (aiff etc.) ambisonic files, get the extension ".wav"
However, two new options on the SYSTEM menu, on the Workspace allow you to
Change WAVEX B-FORMAT (ambisonic) file extension to ".wav" (not recommended)
Change Standard wav (aiff etc.) ambisonic file extension to ".wxyz"
MUSIC TESTBED
SOUNDS LISTS: New options to manipulate textfiles which list soundfiles.
Compare Soundlists finds sounds in common, or sounds not in common, between selected soundlists.
Sort by Directory sorts soundlist into alphabetic order of the directory names of the soundfiles listed.
TABLE EDITOR
Deletion of duplicated rows in tables (added to "TABLES" menu)
Delete Duplicated Rows: Deletes any row which duplicates another row, anywhere in Table.
Delete Adjacent Duplicated Rows: Deletes any row which duplicates another row adjacent to it.
Delete Adjacent Rows Duplicated After Col 1: Deletes any row which duplicates another row adjacent to it
but ignore column 1 (which might be e.g. a time value) when comparing the rows.
Sorting harmonic field statistics
In properties files, the property name "HF" indicates harmonic field information.
Values for this property may be assigned either
automatically through the graphic interface on the Properties Table display
(double click on the Properties file), or,
by editing the textfile, using upper case note names (e.g. "D"), with or without "#" signs (no flat signs)
and in ascending pitch order.
For less important (e.g. passing) notes, use lower case letter names instead.
HF properties can be analysed statistically.
If you have defined any of the properties "HF", "motif","rhythm" or "text"
a STATISTICS menu button will appear on the top right of the Property Table display.
Selecting "HF" from this menu allows you to assemble statistics about these HF values and output results as a textfile.
Such textfiles of statistics can be further examined in the Table Editor, via the TABLES menu
Select by intervals between adjacent vals:
Selects all HFs with an interval (specified in semitones) between adjacent notes in the HF value
Select by intervals between any vals:
Selects all HFs with an interval (specified in semitones) between any of the notes in the HF value
Select by note (group)s in common:
Selects all HFs with a (group of) note(s) in common
OTHER CHANGES
Changes in the Function of the Escape Key:
Workspace: Escape now goes directly to Process the Files.
Keyboard Shortcut to toggle between Workspace and Chosen Files modes is now Left, or Right Arrow.
Process Page: now runs the Previous Process used, if any.
BUG FIXES
MAC Multiuser Systems: user Name entry.
A previous Loom version for the MAC had a bug preventing users of a multiuser system from entering
their name or password to register as a user. This has now been fixed.
Sound View: play and display of soundfiles.
There is currently an incompatibility between the Snack extension of the TK/Tcl language
(used to implement the Sound View graphic displays in the Loom) and the most recent versions
of the TK/Tcl language. This caused Sound View soundfile play and display to
function incorrectly on 64-bit machines.
A working solution to this problem has now been found, and implemented.
Following the suggestion of a user, it is now possible to save a Workspace with a name,
and to load the named workspace, or update it (by saving with the same name).
This permits 2 or more parallel projects to be run on the Loom.
Before saving or loading, ALL files on the workspace need to have been backed up to directories.
Otherwise, files in the base directory will become confused between the 2 or more projects being run.
PROPERTIES FILES
Statistics On Property Value in Properties File(s)
New option on Music Testbed to display frequency of occurence of the values used in a named property
in (a list of) property file(s).
Gather Sounds with a specific Property Value to a new Properties File
New option on Music Testbed to find every sound which has a specified value for a specified property,
in a (list of) property file(s), and create a new properties files containing just those sounds.
MULTICHANNEL OPERATION (FORTHCOMING CDP RELEASE)
Most CDP processes have been upgraded to work with multichannel files.
Others have been provided with a multichannel equivalent (on the MULTICHAN menu).
And there are also some new processes..
Project mono or stereo (or multichannel) files onto a multichannel stage in a user-specifiable configuration.
Condense multichannel files to a stereo stage, in a user-specifiable configuration.
Reorient, mirror, renumber or (gradually) rotate a multichannel frame.
Pan sounds (in various ways) around a multichannel stage.
Brassage or texture a file around a multichannel stage.
CDP's Multichannel Toolkit, created by Richard Dobson, handles standard, extended and ambisonic wavefile formats,
and allows conversion from one format to another.
These options will appear on the MULTICHAN menu, once the Toolkit programs are present in your CDP base directory.
To simplify working with multichannel files, they can be mixed down to mono,
breakpoint files for particular processes designed over the mono mix,
and these breakpoints then applied to the multichannel file itself.
A new keyboard shortcut (on the PC Control-Alt-M, on the MAC Control-Command-M) - and menu item -
mixes a multichannel file to Mono.
On the System State menu on the Workspace, Multichannel Options allows you to specify whether
multichannel files recycled from the Parameters Page are..
Always recycled as they are (as multichannel files).
Always recycled as a mono mixdown, for test processing.
Recycled as a mono mixdown if this is requested.
QIKEDIT
The QikEdit, page (accessed from the parameters page when running a mix)
has the following new options specifically for multichannel mixfiles.
Add Further Channels to an existing multichannel file.
Switch between ring-numbering and bilateral numbering of channels.
Mirror the output channel layout about any channel, or any midpoint between channels.
Independently adjust the level of any output channel in the mix.
Also, a new order randomisation option has been added.
At present Randomise Order randomises the time-order of mixfile lines,
and those lines retain both the filename, and the output routing of the file.
Randomise Names randomises ONLY the filenames, retaining the routings associated with the times.
This option will not work if your selected files have different numbers of channels,
as the routings for mono, stereo and multichannel files are not necessariliy compatible.
MAC BUGS FIXES
Some users have reported problems with the STOP PLAY button.
If you are calling a Sound Player with its own Start and Stop functions (e.g. QuickTime Player)
you can now choose to get rid of the Loom's STOP PLAY button and rely
on the Start and Stop functions of the called Player.
This new option is on the System menu on the Workspace page.
Problem with Nudge button on Envelope Curtail Parameters Page. Fixed.
There are many Keyboard shortcuts on the Loom, and further shortcuts have been added in this version.
This is an overview of some of the most important.
PLAY Shortcuts
The Space Bar can be used to play sounds in almost all situations.
Highlighted sounds on the Workspace Listing , Chosen Files List, or Directory Listing.
Sounds selected in any kind of textfile you are viewing (but not where you are editing the text).
From a Sound View window (where a 2nd use of the Space bar will stop the playback).
On the Process selection page, the (1st) input soundfile is played (if there is an input sound).
On the Parameters Page, the output sound is played, or (if no output has yet been created), the input sound.
Double Clicking on a sound's name will play it in almost all situations (but not where you are editing the text).
Control-P will always play a highlighted sounds, even in a text-editing window.
Take Care in Windows where text can be Edited, as Space is a text-character you can enter.
Use Control-P to play sounds from such windows.
GRAB & COPY Shortcuts
Control-G will now Grab any Highlighted files on the Directory Listing to the Workspace Listing.
Control-G already Grabs to the Workspace.
A Soundfile Highlighted in any Textfile display.
All Soundfiles listed Within a Textfile, when that textfile is Highlighted on the workspace.
The textfile could be
A list of sounds (with or without other data).
A batchfile.
A properties file.
Control-C will now Copy any Highlighted files on the Directory Listing to the Workspace Listing.
Control-C already copies (Duplicates) any file Highlighted on the Workspace Listing.
PAGE CONTROL Shortcuts with Escape
Parameters Page: Two hits on Escape takes you Directly to Running the process.
Run Page: Hit Escape (like the OK button) to acknowledge the process is completed.
Note that Control-K will Abort the currently running process (NO Output will be produced).
Workspace: Toggle between Workspace Mode and Chosen Files Mode.
Process Page: Toggle between
Active Processes state
Menu Information state
Process Information state
EDITING and VIEWING Shortcuts
Workspace
F1Displays a Textfile Highlighted on the Workspace.
F2 Displays for Editing a Textfile Highlighted on the Workspace.
(on the Workspace, if you select a Soundfile and hit F1, the sound will be displayed).
Parameters Page
Any Textfile used as a parameter on the Parameters page, if highlighted, can be viewed or edited similarly.
F1Displays the highlighted Textfile.
F2 Displays for Editing the highlighted Textfile.
(Note that any filename change made whilst editing, is written to the parameters page).
SEARCHING Shortcuts
Control-s searches the Workspace Listing for Single files with a specified pattern.
Control-S specifies a new pattern and searches the Workspace Listing for single files.
Control-z searches (and sorts) the Workspace Listing for All Files with a specified pattern.
Control-Z searches the Directory Listing for All Files with a specified pattern.
The "K" Key
A Comprehensive Listing of Shortcuts available on any page, can be found under the "K" Key on that page.
MENU EASY ACCESS
A DO IT AGAIN option has been added to the top of the ANY/ALL menu above the Workspace Listing.
A DO IT AGAIN option has been added to the LIST menu above the Directory listing.
These give fast access to often-used menu items.
Items appearing at these locations can also be assigned to the QIK button,
as with items appearing in any of the existing DO IT AGAIN locations.)
A Which Menu? button has been added, below the Workspace Listing, indicating where actions are to be found on the Workspace menus.
QIKEDIT PAGE
All sounds used in the Mix are now automatically grabbed to the workspace (if not already loaded).
Window Dimensions and Control.
The display window is now longer and wider.
An even longer window is possible (new option on the System State menu).
When the list of sounds in the mix is longer than the screen display and you make a change to the mix
the display remains where you are working, rather than returning to the top of display.
New option GET INITIAL STATE restores state of mixfile at the start of the current Qikedit session
so you no longer have to quit the mix page, to restore this state.
RESTORE ORIGINAL no longer quits the mix page, unless you request this.
More options to (restore and) move timing of muted lines.
New option to highlight all sounds which are repeated in the mix.
New option to find Difference in Endtimes of two soundfiles in the Mix.
New options to round a Time (in the Value Box) to the nearest count of beats at the current MM,
and to convert a Time into an (exact) count of beats at the current MM.
Grabbing MM beat-counts as times (to the Value box): more comprehensive application.
Pressing the buttons to send 'Value' or Time-in-Line to Calculator, now automatically calls up the Calculator.
(Note that the Use as Value button on the Calculator returns the Calculator Output to the Value box on the QikEdit page.)
MUSIC TESTBED : NEW FACILITY
New Reverberation Option. Add Reverb to (only) the (specified) tail of a sound.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS
Directory Listing
LIST - SUBDIRECTORY NAMES now lists the contents of a subdirectory if only one subdirectory exists.
(Where more than one subdirectory exists, the subdirectory names will be listed, as before).
When using FIND DIRECTORY, the highlight-state of the Workspace is now retained.
Notebook
The Notebook can now be accessed from Keyboard Shortcuts.
Alt-n (Command-n on the MAC) shows the latest entry in the Notebook.
Alt-N shows the Whole Notebook, and allows new entries to be made and other operations performed.
SEE LATEST ENTRY now shows any updates to the Notebook made during the current session.
Sounds can now be Played or Grabbed from the Latest Entry display.
Grabbing names of background listings to the Notebook. Several names can now be grabbed in one call.
Breakpoint Generation in Sound View: Top of range can now be set to 1.0 by simply pressing a button.
MakeLocus facilities available from the Parameters Page when using EXTEND Drunkwalk.
Some of these operations now allow you to use Sound View to specify the data.
In Multiple User Systems, a trap has been added to catch use of (illegal) 'space' characters when a New User-name is first entered.
MAC: General upgrade of button names on the Workspace, making them more self-explanatory.
MAC: If your screen is too small to accomodate the new window width,
there is a new option on the MAC System menu to Change Display Width.
BUG FIXES
Search on Workspace Listing (or Directory Listing), occasionally stalled. Fixed.
QikEdit: When grabbing times from the Graphic displays of the mix output, where mixfile data did not begin at zero time,
time output to Value did not compensate for this type of offset from zero. Fixed.
MIDI entry: When grabbing duration from MIDI input, failed after first duration grabbed. Fixed.
MAC: Sound View: Blue (and red) highlight-boxes no longer obscure the waveform display.
MAC: Backup to memory stick. Now works.
MAC: Which ? window in Table Editor froze on 2nd access. Fixed.
Window now also repositioned to better screen location.
MAC: QikEdit page: Error in reporting if the mix failed. Fixed.
MAC: QikEdit page: Both "RESTORE" options failed. Fixed.
Extensive updates to the QikEdit facility accesible from the Parameter page of the Mix process
help to integrate sound-making with sound-assembly in a mix. Details information about this can be found
in the document Integrated Assembly which you should download.
PATCH LOADING (PARAMETERS PAGE)
With no name in the patch-name box, pressing Load will load any temp patch which exists.
TABLE EDITOR
Warp the Levels in a Mixfile, with a breakpoint warp-function. (JOIN menu).
Convert (Quantised) Frequncy Data to Multi-Instrument-Format Sequencer Data (TABLE menu).
CALCULATOR
New TAP TIME button: enter time value by tapping button twice.
MUSIC TESTBED
NEW RHYTHM OPTIONS
SYNC SOUND TO MM BY EDITING in Rhythm operations.
Use for subtle changes to material.
PROPERTIES FILE OPTIONS
Extract texts of any text property in properties file
(and name of each associated soundfile), and write to a separate text file.
Change directory of all files in a (supposed) property file.
(Useful if directory of sounds listed in Properties file has been subsequently renamed).
FOF RECONSTRUCTION
Now possible to reconstruct the original file, using every single extracted FOF in turn, from a single button press.
WORKSPACE
PROCESS LISTED FILES ONE AT A TIME
A list of files on the Chosen Files list can be processed one at a time, using new buttons at foot of list.
GET LAST OUTPUT FILES
Last output files can be grabbed to Chosen Files list using new button at foot of that list.
HIDE NON-BACKED-UP FILES
If you are retaining files in the workspace base directory, but you don't want to use them in the current session,
new option to hide them (they are removed from the workspace listing).
QUICK ACCESS TO SOUNDS INSIDE A MIXFILE
Sounds inside a Mixfile on the Chosen Files list can now be rapidly displayed using Keyboard shortcuts.
Control-B displays all files inside the mixfile.
Control-b displays all non-backed-up files inside the mixfile.
The Last Mix button at the foot of Chosen Files list, will return you to the mixfile.
NEW DUPLICATION OPTIONS ON FILES LISTED AS 'CHOSEN FILES'
New Option to duplicate the filenames listed on the 'Chosen Files' list, N times.
The duplicated items can also be randomly permuted in order.
SOUND-LISTING FILES : UPDATING
If a textfile which lists sound is called to the workspace but proves to be out of date
because the listed soundfiles have been backed up to a (different) directory,
the Sound Listing can now be updated to reflect the true directory of the sounds listed in it.
FORCE FULL PARSE OF PROPERTIES FILES
On loading the workspace, textfiles can now be parsed to check if they are Properties Files.
(The previous default was that the workspace recognised Properties Files only via the user-defined property-file extension).
This complete-parsing can be switched on and off from the System State menu on the workspace.
SEARCH FACILITIES
On the Workspace, Search now picks up the name of any (single) file highlighted on the workspace,
as the default search-string.
On the Directory Listing Search now picks up any Search string last used on the Workspace
or in QikEdit, as the default search-string. A redesigned interface makes for quicker access.
In Recall Action, Search now picks up any (single) file highlighted on the workspace.
PROPERTIES FILE HIGHLIGHTING
Properties Files can be selectively highlighted, using the new option on the ANY/ALL FILES menu.
under OTHER SPECIFIC FILES.
NEW KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Control-b : will grab the non-BACKED-UP soundfiles from a Mixfile on the Chosen Files list.
Control-B : will grab all the soundfiles from a Mixfile on the Chosen Files list.
Control-g or Control-G : will GRAB to the workspace any soundfiles listed inside a selected textfile.
(Textfile can be a soundlist, a mixfile or a properties file).
Control-m : will grab the LAST MIXFILE used to the Chosen Files list, and take you to the process page.
Control-M : will grab the MAIN MIXFILE used to the Chosen Files list, and take you to the process page.
(another 'control-m' or 'control-M' : goes to mixing parameters page, and another to QikEdit page).
Control-s or Control-S : will SEARCH the workspace for a file.
Alt-a or Alt-A : will highlight all ANALYSIS files on the Workspace.
Alt-b or Alt-B : will highlight all BATCH files on the Workspace.
Alt-e or Alt-E : will highlight all binary ENVELOPE files on the Workspace.
Alt-f or Alt-F : will highlight all FORMANT files on the Workspace.
Alt-m : will highlight all MIX files on the Workspace.
Alt-M : will highlight all MULTI-CHANNEL MIX files on the Workspace.
Alt-p or Alt-P : will highlight all PROPERTIES files on the Workspace.
Alt-s or Alt-S : will highlight all SOUND-LIST files on the Workspace.
Alt-t or Alt-T : will highlight all TEXT files on the Workspace.
Control-Alt-m : will report if selected soundfiles are in any known mixfile(s).
UNIVERSAL LOAD FROM TEXTFILE
Any soundfile listed in a textfile open in the Loom, can be grabbed to the workspace.
Highlight the soundfile name and hit Control g or Control G.
SOUND VIEW
EXCISE (INSERT) MANY
The list of segments to be deleted, or silence masks to be inserted, when created in Sound View,
is now sorted into the correct (time-increasing) order, and any overlapping segments are merged,
so that the format of the data is always correct for these type of processes.
CROSSFADE MIX
Times for Start and End of Crossfade can now be entered from Graphic Display (Sound View).
FOF RECONSTRUCTION VIA THE PROCESS PAGE
Where FOF numbers are required as parameters, Sound View now returns the appropriate FOF-number
at the time(s) indicated (provided that FOFs have previously been extracted via the process page).
BUGS FIXED
Point duplication in output from Sound View output: Fixed.
Line duplication in SORT TIME ORDER in QikEdit: Fixed.
Problem with Tap Rhythm facility on Workspace. Fixed.
File extension of output files in Table Editor was defaulting to .txt
even when user-defined extensions (e.g. .brk) were in use on the system.
Now assigns appropriate file extensions to textfiles.
Problem with Sound View window in FOF Extraction : Fixed.
New commands are now available, on the SELECTED FILES OF TYPE menu
SOUNDS TO TOP OF WORKSPACE: Force to the top of the workspace, sounds listed in a textfile.
REMOVE SOUNDS FROM WORKSPACE: Remove from the workspace, sounds listed in a textfile.
REMOVE SELECTED SOUNDS: Remove from a sound-listing textfile, sounds highlighted on the workspace.
RETAIN ONLY SELECTED SOUNDS: Retain in a sound-listing textfile, only Sounds highlighted on the workspace.
MIXING
RESTORING MIX PARAMETERS
The last mixfile used can be grabbed to the Chosen Files Listing from a new button at foot of that panel.
The Penultimate run mix parameters can be set as the default parameters, when you call the mixing program.
This option is set (or unset) from the System State menu on the Workspace.
MAIN MIX
It is now possible to designate one particular mixfile as the Main Mix.
The command to do this is ESTABLISH AS MAIN MIXFILE on the SELECTED FILES OF TYPE menu.
For example, you may be using a mixfile to assemble a section of a piece.
Designating this as the Main Mix allows you to use other mixfiles, and then return to this Main Mix,
remembering it's default settings.
In particular
The Main Mix can be grabbed to the Chosen Files Listing from button at foot of that panel.
If you have set the Penultimate run params as the default parameters for mixing (see above),
the penultimate-run parameters of the Main Mix will be restored, whenever it is used for mixing.
The Main Mix (and its previously used parameters) will be saved between sessions.
QIKEDIT FACILITIES
It's now possible to restore the original state of the mixfile you have been editing in 'Qikedit' (or 'Edit Mix').
from the 'Restore Original Mix' button on the 'QikEdit' page.
Spatial locations already assigned to files, can now be randomly permuted.
Level or Position set in a mixfile line can be grabbed to the 'Value' box.
The difference between the time in 2 lines can be grabbed to the 'Value' box.
The sum or difference between the time in a line and the existing value in the 'Value' box, can be grabbed to the 'Value' box.
Maximum gain possible for a selected soundfile can now be determined and grabbed to the 'Value' box.
All commented-out lines can be hilighted by one button-press.
All repetitions of a soundfile (on selected line) can be hilighted.
The last mix generated can be viewed from the 'QikEdit' window. (Button at foot of display).
If you highlight an area of the sound in that display, and then Output Data,
on return to the mixfile display, the lines active at this time will be highlighted.
BULK PROCESS TRAP
If you try to normalise a list of sounds, using Bulk Process,
any sounds already above the normalisation level are now trapped
to prevent error messages or failures in the Bulk-processing procedure.
SUCK AND SEE : SAVE ALL
When a process is run with one parameter set to Suck and See (i.e.with * as its value)
it is now possible to save all the files that are output, (as well as chosing particular files to keep, as previously).
END OF SESSION DISPLAYS AND OPTIONS
A number of new options on the System State menu on the Workspace, (SESSION END DISPLAYS),
allow end of session requests to be displayed or suppressed.
If you want to be able to backup your entire CDP system to an external drive (e.g. a memory stick)
you can request this option to be displayed at session ends.
In some situations you are asked whether you would like to save the workspace or not, at the session end.
If you always want to save the workspace, you can suppress this request.
A display of current and recent backup directories is normally displayed at the session end.
You can suppress this display.
FORTHCOMING : MULTICHANNEL FACILITIES
Mono soundfiles can be panned over (up to) 16 output channels.
Multichannel files can be configured within an octaphonic space.
Sounds with any number of channels can be mixed to any number of output channels, in any configuration.
Multichannel files can be 'tape-transposed'.
Textures can be created over more than 2 channels.
Sorting Textfile-Listings Of Sounds:
New workspace menu option to remove duplicates (or invalid files) in soundfile-listings.
Searching Directory Listing On Specified String, Or Specified Extension:
There is now a choice to search the currently listed items, or the entire directory.
(Choice only activated if this distinction is relevant).
Sorting Workspace By File Type:
New option to sort on property-files.
Naming Files Which List Sounds:
List of recently-used names now appears in the window, when a sounds-listing is being created.
Thus, for example, the sounds used in a texture might be listed in a textfile with the same name as the texture-sound.
SOUND VIEW GRAPHICS
Data can now be entered from Sound View graphic display for
Extend zigzag (random)
Grain-extend an iterative sound
Shortening selected-boxes on the display: new option.
Currently Alt-Click (PC) or Command-Click (MAC) will extend or contract an existing selection box to the place where the click is made.
However, clicking inside the existing box, always shortens the box from the edge closest to the click.
Now Alt-Control-Shift-Click (PC) or Command-Control-Shift-Click (MAC) allows you to shorten the box from the edge furthest from the click.
QIKEDIT MIXFILES
Spatial Scattering
Mixfiles where all the files are mono, or centred, can now be spatially scattered using the SCATTER POSITION option.
If files are already spread out in the stereo space, 'scatter position' scatters sounds around their existing positions,
the degree of scattering being determined by the parameter (0-1).
If files are all centred, 'scatter position' scatters sounds across a stereo width defined by the (0-1) parameter.
Duration Entry
A time value can now be entered in the parameter box, by tapping twice on the new Duration key.
(Time between taps sets value).
The time difference between 2 highlighted lines can now be sent to the parameter box.
A fixed time-step between highlighted lines can now be set.
Pitch Reference
A concert-A button has been added.
Sound View
Selected sound in the mixfile can now be viewed gaphically (and played).
TEMPO CONVERSION FOR PROCESSES AND INSTRUMENTS
Processes which time-stretch or contract files (e.g. spectral timestretch, or brassage timesqueeze)
now have an additional button on the parameter page for Tempo-conversion calculations.
Instruments (existing or new) which use these processes will also feature this new button.
(NB: Either time-stretching or time-squeezing is handled correctly, but not both within the same instrument.)
PROPERTIES FILES
New option, on the Table display, to remember each sound played, and to save these to a textfile-listing.
Sounds play during Text Search are remembered and can be sent to the workspace, etc.
New workspace option to Sort on Filetype Property Files.
PLAYING SOUNDS FROM TEXTFILES
Soundfiles mentioned in textfiles (e.g. the Notebook) can currently be played by highlighting the name and pressing Control-P.
If the directory path of the file is missing in the textfile, Control-P will now allow you to specify a directory path
in order to be able to play the soundfile.
TABLE EDITOR
New option (on BRK menu) to remove too-rapid risetimes in an envelope breakpnt file, by specifying a minimum risetime.
New option (on SEQ menu) to convert between sequencer textfile formats (single instrument and multi-instrument styles).
BULK PROCESSING: NAMING
When a Bulk Process changes the file type (e.g.Pvoc Synthesis, or Analysis) there is a new option to retain the original name
(with the changed file extension).
BACKING UP THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENT TO e.g. MEMORY-STICK
On concluding a a session, a new option appears allowing you to backup the entire CDP environment to a specified location.
This might typically be a memory-stick, but could also be a different internal drive, or a different directory on the current drive.
RESTORING CORRUPTED DRIVE INFORMATION
If you are running a multiuser environment, you may have specified an alternative drive (e.g. a network drive)
where users store their files at the end of a session.
The Loom stores information about which drive you have chosen.
If, for any reason, this drive-information becomes corrupted, you will now receive a message
'THE PRINCIPLE USER MUST RE-SET THE MULTIPLE-USER DRIVE INFORMATION'
'FROM THE SYSTEM STATE MENU.'
If you are not the principle user, even if you log in, the Loom will close.
You need to contact the principle user.
If you are the principle user.
Go to the System menu on the Workspace,
Select CHANGE SYSTEM USERS --> CHANGE OR RESET DRIVE FOR MULTI-USERS
to reset the drive name.
BUGS & PROBLEMS
Automatic Reset Of Mixfile Attenuation
When you ran a mixfile and then checked the output level with MaxSamp,
if necessary, the attenuation parameter of the mixfile was automatically reset.
The attenuation can no longer be accurately reset in this way, and has been replaced by a warning message.
To set a good attenuation level automatically, run get level in mixfile before running MIX FROM MIXFILE.
Backing Up Mixfiles with Soundfiles: Mixfile Management
When both mixfiles and soundfiles used in the mixes were backed up in the same operation from the workspace,
the mixfile management system did not always correctly update the mixfile data.
The backing-up procedure has been modified to ensure that this works correctly.
Entering Motif Data, Graphically, In Properties Files
Occasionally, the Loom would (erroneoulsy) declare the number of notes entered was not the same as
the number of time-points entered. Fixed.
(This error message will still occur if the number of time-points genuinely exceeds the number of notes entered).
Problems With Bulk Processing
Some PC users have reported that Bulk Processing often fails on their machines,
with an error message, suggesting that the Loom failed to read an EOF (end of file) message.
This message is sent out when a CDP process terminates, and the Loom looks for it,
but a very fast process may terminate before the Loom has 'seen' the EOF message.
A new option, EOF TRAP, on the System menu on the Workspace ensures that the Loom continues to operate
correctly, even if it fails to pick up an EOF message during Bulk Processing.
Problems With Spectral Display Screen Size In Sound View
Since incorporating the Sound View graphics in the compiled Loom, the Sound View screen display
fails to expand automatically when the display is switched from wave to spectrum display-mode.
You can expand this yourself by dragging the bottom corner of the window, or maximizing the window-size.
Alternatively you may permanently set a larger window-size in a new option on the Workspace System menu.
LOADING THE WORKSPACE: Searching for the Maximum Sample in Soundfiles
Normally, when files are placed on the workspace (e.g. when you startup your system or when you grab new files)
the maximum sample in any soundfile is read, and stored in its header, so it can be rapidly accessed later.
When first loading extremely large new files, this may slow down the process of loading the workspace.
However, certain facilities, (e.g. getting the maxsample of a list of files, on the Table Editor) work quickly
because the maxsample of all loaded soundfiles is known. If these are not known in advance
you have to explicitly get the max sample of each file, using one of the MaxSamp buttons or a Properties menu.
An option has therefore been added, on the System State menu on the Workspace
to allow you to turn off, or turn back on, the reading of the maxsample of a soundfile when it is loaded or created.
The default situation is that the maximum sample is read, unless you tell your system not to do this.
The Sound View graphics now run entirely within the Sound Loom.
This means that you no longer need to have TK/Tcl installed on your system to enable Sound View.
Active and Passive Button Colours
Some Sound View buttons allow you to output data, but others do not.
Buttons which allow output are now coloured green (as before),
whereas those with no output are coloured red.
Quick Data Ouput
In cases where there is only one set of data to output e.g. breakpoint data, zigzag data, a single edit-chunk etc.
the Sound View window now closes automatically once data has been output successfully (using the OUTPUT DATA button).
Where several pieces of data may need to be output (e.g. cut and keep many),
the CLOSE button is available to use once all required data has been output.
Output Confirmation
If data is successfully output (with OUTPUT DATA), a message is displayed.
(if the message is not displayed, try zooming in and out, then OUTPUT DATA again).
Range Setting For Loudness Breakpointdata Graphs
New buttons attached to the upper value limit of the range.
Norm sets value to the maximum available (without distortion).
Floor rounds down any value already entered.
Fl. rounds down, to one decimal place, any value already entered.
Last gets the previous value used, and puts it in the value box.
WORKSPACE: NEW FEATURES:
Adding Files to Chosen List:
New buttons, at foot of workspace display , can be used to add Workspace selected files to files already on the Chosen Files list.
(This is complementary to the standard ways to do this, via Chosen Files mode, or from a menu).
TapRhythm Button:
Create a list of times in a textfile by tapping out a rhythm.
"A" Button:
Now plays concert-A if you Shift-Click on it with the mouse.
A simple click now displays a Drop-Down Menu with tones at every semitone, available to play.
NOTEBOOK:
New menu item to display (just) the most recent entry in the Notebook.
(This is the most recent entry at the start of the current session).
SELECTED FILES ONLY menu: SORT
New option to sort files in the order you select them from the workspace.
ADD SELECTED FILES TO A SORTLIST: Selected files are added, in order of selection, to a (hidden) sortlist.
REORDER FILES AS PER SORTLIST: Files on the assembled sortlist are placed at top of workspace, in sortlist order.
CHOSEN FILES LIST:
PROPS menu:
New function under GLOBAL PROPERTIES OF FILES to Find MAXIMUM LEVEL AMONGST FILES (listed soundfiles only).
REORDER menu:
New function to DUPLICATE ALL FILES i.e. replace each entry on the list by two identical adjacent entries.
GET/MOD menu:
New function to WRITE ALL FILES TO TEXTFILE. This allows listings with duplicate files to be written
directly to a textfile.
Rationalisation of menu constituents.
WORKSPACE: MUSIC TESTBED: New Features:
HELP Information Added.
When the Help button is pressed, the Music Testbed menu now remains active.
Selecting a Testbed menu item brings up an appropiate help message at the top of workspace page in the usual way.
PITCH DATA menu:
Menu has been split into three parts, dealing with
Tempered pitch data operations.
Varibank Filter pitch data operations.
General pitch data operations.
New function to ISOLATE SPECIFICALLY PITCHED SEGS IN SOUNDS, searches for areas of specific
(tempered) pitch within a sound (using pitch-extraction data you have already created) and gates to zero-level
all parts of the sound except these. The inverse functions (gating the specified pitches) is also possible.
This function can be applied to many sounds at once.
RHYTHM AND TIME OPERATIONS menu:
New function to EMPHASIZE PEAK(S) which finds the loudness peak in a file and then gates the remainder of the sound to zero level.
This function can be applied to many sounds at once.
PROPERTIES FILES
TABLE ENTRY
The current working scroll-position in a large properties file is now saved between sessions.
On starting the next session, the previous line accessed is highlighted on the table display.
The Left, Right, Up and Down Arrow-keys, when used to move to the various edges of the display,
highlight the row or column currently being worked on.
New button Copy UP TO Next HB puts the property value in the previously clicked-on box, in
all boxes up to and including the next box clicked-on box (but only if the 2 boxes are in the same property column).
New Button MOVE To Next HB puts value in last clicked-on box into the next clicked-on box, and replaces the
value in the original box by a null value.
Property values from other property files can be interrogated;
(You must have those other property files on the workspace). Alt-Click on a property name (head of column) to do this.
ENTER PROPERTY VALUES page
Where a property has multiple values (e,g, "high,(long),top"), these are first separated into their consitutent parts
before being listed in the listing window.
Except in cases where only a single value is possible or usual, (e.g. text,MM) properties are now added
(with comma separation) to any existing values in the value-box.
New button Clear clears any value(s) currently in the value-box.
New brackets button [()] adds brackets around the (last) value in the value-box.
New star button [*] adds * to the (last) value in the value-box.
QIKEDIT OF MIXES
Mirror (exchange right and left channels) can now be applied to (groups of) mono files as well as to stereo files.
STARTTIME PARAM TO VALUE now grabs the time from any highlighted mixfile line.
CLOSING DOWN
The list of recent-directories-used-for-backup (which appears when a session is ended)
can now be deleted when it appears.
(Any directories used for backup in the session being closed are still remembered).
GENERAL
Better recognition of breakpoint-file structure within textfiles.
This ensures that number lists, or files with 3 or more values per line, are not mistaken for breakpoint files.
Visibility of numerals in boxes in Leeds colour scheme.
On some pages, the numerals in (read-only) boxes were almost invisible in this colour scheme. Fixed.
PC only: Playing sounds in Vista
Some users have reported problems playing sound from the Loom in Vista.
See the updated advice in "Troubleshooting."
BUG FIXES
SOUND VIEW BREAKPOINT-LINE DISPLAY When Zoomed-in.
When leftmost or rightmost point in zoomed-in window was deleted, the brkpnt-line at the edge was recreated with the wrong slope. Fixed.
Points added to the graph, when zoomed-in, were sometimes duplicated or omitted from output data. Fixed.
WORKSPACE : ANY/ALL FILES: SORT WORKSPACE :AS CHOSEN FILES ORDER:
This now deals correctly with any duplicated files on the Chosen Files list.
QIKEDIT MIXFILES: KEEP COPY OF MIX WITH NEW NAME:
Now deals with upper Case characters correctly.
SKETCH SCORE: TEST MIX:
Now exits correctly when overlap value is set too large.
To get a feel for the effect of any particular parameter on a CDP process,
you may now enter a star (*) instead of a parameter value (for just one parameter at once).
This will bring up a new window allowing you to specify, simply, a parameter range you want to explore.
The Soundloom will then generate a whole set of output sounds tied to that range of parameters, and allow you to
listen to these, and to keep any sound, parameter value or list of parameter values that interest you.
..tracks soundfile namechanges (e.g. rename, backing up).
When soundfile names are changed, checks all known mixfiles on your system (not
just mixfiles loaded on the workspace) and if the renamed files are found
in any of those mixfiles, rewrites the mixfiles using the new soundfilenames.
This replaces the 'Mix Refresh' facility.
Direct entry of MIDI data from an external MIDI device has now been made possible.
You must have Richard Orton's Tabula Vigilans on your system (in the _cdprogs directory) for this feature to become operational.
Direct MIDI entry is accessible through the buttons that look like tiny piano-type keyboards (these do not appear if you have not installed 'Tabula Vigilans).
Midi-entry buttons are customised to the application you are using e.g.
with the Varibank Filter, you can place the cursor on a data line, then use the Midi-In button to play notes.
These note-values will then be entered (as MIDI or as Frq, depending on which mode you are running) into the filter data file at the cursor position.
With the Texture programs' datafiles (parameter 1) there is an additional intelligent interface which asks for each required MIDI data-set in turn, allows you to enter each from a MIDI keyboard, then writes the data to the file in the required format. For example a Texture using 3 input files, with motifs over a harmonic field will ask for....
The snack waveform-display facilities in TK/Tcl have now been incorporated into the CDP.
These give you a graphic display of the sound or its spectrum.
Extra facilities have been added to allow you to
Zoom in and out of the display, down to the sample level.
Select a portion of the display to play (or to Zoom into).
See a frequency scale superimposed on the spectrum.
Zoom-in, frequencywise, to see detail in the spectrum.
and
Draw breakpoints, time-marks or frequency marks on the sound graphics, and output these as data to your Sound Loom parameter file or
directly into the parameter value boxes on the Loom.
Graphically Select (several) portions of the sound for cutting or editing
The Sound View can be called from
the "Make File" button and the "Edit File" buttons on the parameters page.
from the Parameters page, replacing the "Src View" buttons.
the Workspace (Control V).
Special interfaces have been added to simplify data entry to special data files e.g.
Varibank Filter data files.
Texture data files.
Sequencer data files.
You may want to customize your use of the SoundView facilities.
To do this, use the new option on the 'System State' menu.
See the manual for further details.