Yoshimi master feature

[folderol]

There is a new feature on the current master for soloing parts. This has slowly developed from an idea about two years ago. It's far too soon after the last release to make a new one (don't want to annoy the distro packagers) but I'd be keen to see how people get on with it. I've been using it quite a bit lately.

It is available to build from:
https://github.com/Yoshimi/yoshimi
or
https://sourceforge.net/projects/yoshimi

Details:
There are two commands that change the way Yoshimi responds to incoming MIDI so that only one of a group of instruments will get note-on events, but all of the group will see note-off ones. These are both in the Mixer Panel.

The 'Solo' drop-down list enables the feature for either 'row' or 'column' mode and also makes the CC spinbox visible.

For both of these modes, if you have a programmable MIDI controller you can set it up to activate a specific part, or to increment/decrement which part in the set is active.


You use the CC spinbox to set which incoming CC changes the part that gets new notes. The *value* this CC sends is what performs the actual change. It does this instantly and silently. Most importantly it leaves any existing notes sounding through a note off release and effects tail.


In row mode the whole of the first 16 parts are ostensibly receiving channel 1. This is most useful if you want to play live through a piece with multiple instrument changes while playing. It works best with a foot switch that internally stores a channel number and increments/decrements it with every press, then sends it.

Although this uses all of the first 16 parts, you can set the number of parts to 32, and then you can use the 17+ row for normal 1 - 16 channels. Also, if you have vector control set up, Solo intelligently recognises the fact. For each one it finds, it will switch in/out the whole vector column appropriately.


For running Solo in column mode you need to have 32 or (preferably) 64 parts set, like this you can have up to 4 parts switched per channel - independently of any other channel. However, this works more like vector control in that you have to switch in steps of 16. For example, to control the channel 4 column you would send 4, 20, 36, 52 to select the wanted part. This is more appropriate for post recording MIDI automation.