Amberwolf

I used the ancient MIDIMan USB from the win95 days for years just fine (windows always had the drivers built in for it), until one day some months back it just blew up (some chip in it actually smoked; I think JellyBeanThePerfectlyNormalSchmoo drowned it in water dripping off her head while I wasn't home, and it had already dried out by the time I opened it up but not before it blew it up). Some of them are still around: https://www.ebay.com/itm/274549855853 Now I use this one Midiplus 2x2 USB MIDI interface https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CHRS1RC I also have one similar to this that I found at goodwill for a couple bucks but it wasn't worth even that. It detects MIDI being sent, and *sometimes* passes those thru to the USB and the software on the computer, and *sometimes* passes MIDI from the computer to the output cable, but most of the time it either doesn't do either one at all, or it corrupts the data. I already tested the actual wiring, connectors, solder joints, etc., so it's just crappy electronics. This thread has links to other threads about the same "only get one note" problem, caused by the crappy electronics https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/122795/my-usb-midi-cable-is-properly-connected-but-only-one-note-plays-at-a-time-for-ab

There's a thread here somewhere, recently posted to, with a pdf file.

No, they're not. When all four were still around (it's just JellyBeanThePerfectlyNormalSchmoo now, the one sitting down in that first pic), one of the bags below would be about a week's worth (much older version of the trike, from before JellyBean and PeanutButter even existed; the trailer was later modified with another pair of outer wheels to haul a piano home)

Here's another smile: (but they didn't respond to "mush" very well) (no, they weren't really going to be pulling the trike, it was just for the cuteness of the idea)

Yeah, I think my homebuilt EV looks better:

Thanks for listening and commenting! What specifically do you hear that needs "clean up"? (so I can target it, as I probably can't hear it myself). I am presently using VX64 Vocalstrip on them, with the vocals split between "lead" and "backing", wiht lead going thru Lead Vocal Over Easy Please preset and and backing thru "backing vox silky sligh" preset. These have an EQ I can change, or I can stick a separate EQ in there, if necessary.

I recall the function in CPA6 and 8, but I haven't had a machine that could use my SB's in so long that I don't know if newer versions of CW / Sonar support the SoundFont Manager or not--CPA9 probably does, but I think I went from 8 to SONARXL. I don't know if SFM will even run in modern OS's (WinXP was the last one I think I ran it in). (When I lost the last of my computers that could host a SBLive (or AWE64!) card, I also missed being able to use the KxProject, I think it was, that let me use the DSP on the cards for effects and whatnot).

Without specific knowledge about that plugin, but based on my experiences with testing various plugins / software / etc., my best guess is there is a bug in the plugin itself, or an "idiosyncracy" in how they implemented something, that causes Sonar to blow up whenever that particular thing is accessed. Sometimes the host (Sonar in this case) could be made to more gracefully handle the unusual situation, sometimes it's a situation where the plugin trashes things like memory space that the host itself (or another plugin) is using. What do the plugin developers say about the crashes?

7th new version; 110124 000001 100092G https://www.soundclick.com/amberwolf/?more=14885769 I experimented and built a bass-companion track out of tiny slices of a deep female voice from the samples out of the free Marie-Pneuma instrument from PianoBook, to complement the synthbass (Z3TA2+) bassline in some places. It was going to replace that track, but didn't do what I wanted everywhere, so it's just addon in places and replacement in a very few spots. Rather than use the clip's pitch dialog, I used Kerovee (automatable tuner/pitchshifter)as a track FX and automation to control the transpose to match the synthbass notes, after first building "clips" of the arp pattern in the voice by using the clip pitch dialog then bouncing the resulting many tiny clips into 2-measure-long sections to use and slice up as needed. Also further edited the vocal tracks to try to cure the repeititititiveness; that's still a WIP though it's much better. More mix changes, etc.

Does F5 key on the keyboard refresh it like it would windows or a browser page? (don't know if that is part of it's functionality, but it's common enough in apps/etc)

Thanks--unfortunately I don't really know what most of those mean regarding the way this track sounds 😊 (while I know some of the technical stuff, I don't know the specific equipment, etc). My own hearing is failing in a way that I probably simply can't tell the problems exist--I'm sure they're there if you hear them. There's lots of things I cant' hear at all because they're right in the spots where my various tinnitus whines lie, or where the frequency bands of my ears are that simply don't work anymore. Is the newer version (71C) better, or worse?

New sixth version: rebussed, remixed, levels, fx, etc. 110124 000001 100071C https://www.soundclick.com/amberwolf/?more=14885278 Strange; the levels in the mix are much lower at the beginning and end, on all the tracks. and the master bus out. My hearing is nowhere near as good as it used to be, and my tinnitus keeps me from hearing a lot of things, so I don't hear any issues there. (which is why I ask for the feedback, so I can fix things I can't tell are there anymore ). I hadn't yet done anything mix-wise; was just using the "template" I already had from The Skaergaard Intrusion project, with it's bussing, levels, etc., and this left the final multiband compressor with a +5.1dB final gain, which in this project's mix meant that the waveform between the beginning and end was the "trimmed hedge" look, while the B&E were a normal waveform nowhere near clipping (or triggering the compression). Now I've gone thru and reduced general levels in tracks and buses, and reset the gain on the MBC, so it doesn't have the hedgetrimming, and is a normal waveform throughout. I also rechained some of the FX, and rebussed certain things, splig the vocals to multiple tracks to allow different submixes, which brought up the vocals some, and then readjusted the automation to compensate for some issues caused by that. Thank you for listening and responding! Which drums? there are some "tiny / thin" drums intended to just fade into the song, then there are some kettle drums. The latter include their own FX in the clip so until I can find some kettledrum samples in my stuff that are close enough to replace them with (with my own FX chain) there's not much I can do about any muddiness there. yeah, the problem I have had is that some of the people that have listened to my stuff tell me that they aren't going to listen to stuff they have to turn up because then when they play their regular stuff they have to remember to turn it back down first (because it's probably all stuff tha'ts been overcompressed to death). So I started doing it this way so I could get them to keep listening (since I have so very few people willing to even try, I have to keep as many as I can). But I went ahead and turned this one down a lot more than usual.

Aaannnnd...new version 5 110124 000001 000060x https://www.soundclick.com/amberwolf/?more=14884899

New version 110124 000001 000047u https://www.soundclick.com/amberwolf/?more=14884412 There are some places I am probably going to bring htem out; I'm not sure if I want to for th whole thing but we'll see how that works out. I am slowly replacing various vocal pieces (or embellishing them or altering them) as I find appropriate ones that better fit the song tha'ts been built since I started. So that should be fixed eventually. There's a few tiny flute bits, one of them flowing thru a small vocal segment that fit with it perfectly at 2:07 in, and a couple more in the next 15 seconds or so. Is one of those what you mean? Thanks! I'll take a look (but unless APD/etc has them for super cheap (like $10 :lol: ) I don't have the budget for it).

For further info, some other topics discussing the format / export/import/etc: https://discuss.cakewalk.com/search/?q=DAWproject &quick=1

Other than versioning, another way that I use for *every* program that I save files from, is to NEVER EVER SAVE But instead ALWAYS USE SAVE AS I re-bound the key in SONAR of CTRL-S to SaveAs, and used the menu editor to remove Save from the menu, and turned off the Standard toolbar with the Save icon in it since it can't be altered to SaveAs. So there is literally no way to just save a file over itself without the chance to rename it. Then I use a file name that is the date, and a six digit number representing the project I'm working on that day, and a six digit number for the file version (and often a letter or set of letters representing significant changes to the project). So it might end up like this for the first project of the day 110124 000001 000038n ProjectNameHere.cwp 110124 000002 000027A ProjectNameHere.cwp for teh second, etc. Doesn't matter what actual name you use, as long as you are consistent so you know what they mean. The main point is to never ever save, and only use SaveAs, so that: ---you never accidentally lose data from saving over something --you have multiple versions of the project so you can go back to any point you save-as'd at, even if one file is corrupted or lost.

If any settings were left behind (like the aud.ini, etc) , then removing those may correct the problem. If you have an external audio device, you could unplug it and see if the program will launch, then change driver modes before reconnecting. If you have a built in audio device (whether you use it or not), you could disable it in Device Manager or your computer's BIOS setup, then try launching and changing driver modes.

Thanks! I think the high end sounds that way because the bass isn't present there, so it's getting brought up too much by the master bus compression. I'll have to use some automation to deal with that. Thanks! I don't know TGU/LG, but I'll google them. (I dont' really listen to anything other than whatever might be background in some tv show or movie I've seen , and whatever's forced on me by the overhead radio loop at work). I modified some of the "heavy" brushy stuff in the early section to blend in better; later sections I left more or less intact (except the sudden clashy moments, other than one for a transition). If they still seem harsh, point to times and I'll see what's going on. What do you mean by "more space between instruments / loops"? I can think of several things "space" might mean.... For now, here's version 3 with some more accent vocals, percussion, and string bits added, and some main percussion altered or removed, some transitions in various tracks shifted to better line up with each ohter. 110124 000001 000038n https://www.soundclick.com/amberwolf/?more=14882868

Updated version: https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=14881894

Still in early stages of composition and creation, using primarily sample libraries from GhostHack, Black Octopus Sound, and Image Sounds, as well as stuff I already had, and stuff I had made myself, as well as Z3TA2+ synth, and various effects. EDIT: see later posts in the thread for current version links. https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=14881842 EDIT: gave it a name (Less Like A Whisper) and added the most recent (10th?) version to my Bandcamp page https://amberwolf.bandcamp.com/track/less-like-a-whisper Looking for detailed / helpful critiques of any part of the track, technical, musical, or otherwise. Give it to me straight. Stuff I already know about that I'm working on: There's too much going on in several places, and some of the transitions are pretty abrupt. It has a LOT of work still to go, but I have a direction to go in, at least. I expect it will end up at least twice as long as it is now with the interludes and intro stuff I haven't built and played yet. Many of the samples in the libraries need trimming / chopping up / key changing in various ways to create the melodies and harmonies I'm after (I already did some of this for certain sections, but there's a lot yet to go). The percussion I still have to build transitions and "thinner" sections of to clear out some sections where there's too much going on. But any feedback about those is also still welcome. I wish the libraries had a "lyrics" translation for the non-English vocals. I love the sound of them but it would be nice to know what they mean. (one of them has translations for the Elvish parts, but nothing for the real languages).

Just a verb with no re?

Logitech...I once loved the company. I still think their hardware is great, but for many years I have despised their software...someone should fire their entire staff and replace them with people that understand how people actually use their computers, and don't create bloatware that forces users to do things they don't want to do, and make it far too complicated to do many tasks. And nowadays, you can't even use the hardware without the software (at least, not for more than the absolute basic functions). I also don't think much of their support or warranty departments these days. For a couple of years, until earlier this year I used a logitech "gaming" keyboard (cheap from goodwill or other thriftstores, yardsales, etc, like almost everything I use) because it had programmable backlighting****, but I had to firewall the software to keep it from autoupdating and losing all my programs every time, and sometimes even failing to operate the keyboard (requiring me to use the built in laptop keyboard to do stuff to undo the updates). At some point the software, even without updating, "grabbed" a bunch of functions and key sets and refused to let me use them normally, and I had to wipe it out. But the keyboard won't even turn on it's lights without it, so it became trash. A shame because it had a great feel and was very useful. However, it led me to a MUCH BETTER keyboard *with replaceable keyswitches*! that *also* had *individually programmable* colors (or even turn individual key lights off!), the Phantom by Tecware....also found at goodwill for like $5. It's pretty noisy, but it has a good feel, and I love that I do NOT have to run the software to do anything except set it up. It stores the stuff all in the keyboard, so the software can be closed and the keyboard still does what it does, and it remembers various presets, so I can use a key combo to change from all-one-color to the SONAR key layout color I made, etc. Their software leaves a lot to be desired for ease of use, and it has some issues here and there, but once it's figured out then just save the stuff to the keyboard, shut off software, and I'm all set. I can even move the keyboard to a computer that never had the Tecware software on it and it works just like it should. It's only real disadvantage for me is that it's body is just big enough to hold all the keys, so there's no "edge" to rest palms on, or grab it and pick it up without touching a key. Thankfully it is very popular with people that have 3D printers, so some free models of casings have been created, and at some point I'll get around to printing a modified version of one of those for it in TPU. You can buy keycap sets for it, and keyswitch kits with various pushpressure and sound emission types. I also used to use a logitech trackball M570(?) that I got new for cheap on amazon (reboxed), but the wireless radio keeps failing (and they no longer make a wired version of the shape I like***) and logitech "cancelled" my warranty saying I must be doing something to them. So I replaced that with a very similarly shaped Nulea M501 I ran across super cheaply, and that has not had any issues at all, and requires no software to run it. (I wish there *was* software I could use to one-time-program it's functions, but it doesn't have that option), but the built in do the normal stuff, plus there's a button for "DPI" so I can use it for fine fiddly work in PRV/etc with a few clicks of that button, and go back to fast work with a few more clicks.) ***My first logitech trackball was one I saw at Comdex97(?96?), the MarbleFX that you can see used as the control for the shuttles on Moya in Farscape, painted gold and silver instead of it's white and red. I still have one, but it doesn't work with PS2/USB adapters, and nothing has PS2 ports anymore. At one time I had wished for a 3D printer to make a new case for it that included a spot for a wheel, as that's the only thing I ever wanted to add to it. It was *perfect* fit for my hand and moved exactly like I needed it to; did everything I wanted even in Lightwave3D building models and PaintShopPro making textures for them. I've used a few other trackballs over time (including the Kensington someone recently posted up; I still have that one in my "emergency devices" drawer), and of those my other favorite shape was a Microsoft Trackball Explorer, whose only truly bad points were the flimsiness of the button plastics and the poor design of it's cabling that allowed it to internally short and blow out the transceiver chip in it (making it useless) (it's software was the least intrusive of any of them I've ever had, and later Windows versions didn't even need the software to be able to customize it's buttons). ****I find it necessary to use backlit keyboards even in a lit room to see which keys I'm using in various situations; my eyesight isn't what it used to be. Being able to adjust the color of at least the entire keyboard as a whole was helpful, because I often need the darkness to feel my way around a new song, or get a mood in my head without being distracted by things I can see, and picking an amber color (or red if that's not available) helps keep my eyes "free" to see outlines of other stuff in the dimness. Can't just close my eyes because then I can't see the keys needed on the computer keyboard to do things in SONAR (record, etc) even if I have the monitor turned off. (I can feel my way around a lot of things, but I am not always certain that I have the right key unless I can see it, and I don't want to miss recording something "great"....). My other favorite keyboard, until I wore it out (literally wore thru the keycaps on several keys; someday I should find or make a 3D model of them and print new ones) was the Microsoft Sidewinder x4. Only had red color lights (there's an instructable on changing them out for another color but never got around to it), but didn't need software to use or light up, and a great feel, and a heel rest, etc.

Might be something with your specific keyboard. If it's a laptop, many of them have hardware functions tied to certain keys, usually printed in a different color on the key, using the Fn key or some other key to switch to those functions. Some keyboards have media functions built in that work similarly. If you have any software that was installed for your keyboard, it may have macros or functionality in it that are doing this.

My experience has been that with used gear, sometimes liquids find their way under the rubber switch caps inside the keyboard mechanism, and either dry leaving slightly conductive sticky residue, or actively corrode partial shorts across them. Sometimes it's other less identifiable things on other electrical contacts for the specific keys/buttons/sliders with issues.

Could it be scanning a large VST file/folder collection? (could also hang on a scan if a file doesn't respond as expected or crashes)