BackupBand 0.C
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 12:03 pm
https://sourceforge.net/projects/backupband/files/
The new version of BackupBand is now released. There are lots and lots of internal changes to the program. Don't install this version over the old version. Either first delete your old home/BackupBand folder, or if you want to keep the older version, rename the old folder to something like BackupBandOld.
There is no longer separate versions for different sample rates. There is just one version now that lets you choose sample rate when you choose your sound card. (Setup -> General -> Internal Synth). You can switch between 44 and 48 KHz, or alsa and jack, without restarting the program.
I've revamped the zip files on the SourceForge page. "backupband.zip" is the program. "manual.zip" is the documentation. "instruments_44k.zip" are the 44Khz versions of the instruments. "instruments_48k.zip" are the 48Khz versions. You must download backupband.zip, plus one (or both) of the instruments file. Everything should unzip to a single BackupBand folder. There are optional additional instrument packs for both rates too.
You do need to download the latest instrument samples because there were some issues with pops/clicks in the older samples. The new samples sound a lot cleaner (especially with the improved sample engine). And the organization of files is changed. Do read the manual about new choices you have for where to install files.
In fact, the user manual has been augmented significantly, albeit still not completely finished. Many previously undocumented features are now revealed, such as "note command mode", and the Master MIDI channel. There's lots of new info there.
There is one caveat. BackupBand's preferences file format has changed, and it doesn't read the old format, so you'll need to go through the Setup screens again and customize things. But then you'll also see numerous new features to try. And a Help button to click.
Details about the update are as follows:
Fixed a bug that caused a crash when choosing any audio device except JACK.
Fixed the mouse double-click bug. There is a new "Click delay" setting on the "Setup -> General" screen you can change to adjust the double-click sensitivity, if desired.
Fixed the StyleEdit utility. It works.
Fixed the "there is no application installed for shared library" error when trying to start BackupBand from the desktop.
Added a new chord changing model for people using a MIDI guitar. ("Setup -> Human -> Chords -> Model" set to "Guitar"). Only when you play a chord on 4 to 6 strings will BackupBand's robots follow your playing, and change to that chord. Otherwise, you can solo over the robot musicians without confusing them into changing the chord. This makes for a practical "Hands-free" method of a guitarist controlling BackupBand live, without the need for an extra device to trigger chord changes. Whenever you want to change the chord, quickly strum any chord (on at least 4 strings), including 7ths and 9ths and augmented and diminished and suspended, and then immediately resume your solo. (Tavasti, try it.)
Renamed/reworked/added some other chord models for particular recommended usage such as the "Breath/Wind", "Drum Pads", and "Bass Pedals" models. (Tavasti, for your MIDI box, select "Drum/Pad" chord model, and set "Trigger by" to "Program Change".)
BackupBand's tempo can be sync'ed to, and controlled by, external MIDI hardware or other software via MIDI clock. To enable this mode, go to the "Setup -> General" screen and set "Clock" to "MIDI".
The robot guitarist now has a Fender Strat in his collection. And the Bassist can play slapped. Some of the styles have been updated to use these.
When choosing to connect BackupBand to other running software, BackupBand's list will display those other programs' midi ports to choose. BackupBand will save those connections, and restore them the next time BackupBand is run. You therefore no longer need a third-party "connection/session" manager (such as QJackCtl) to setup/restore software connections.
The Setup screens now have a Help button to present text descriptions of the various settings. Not everything is described yet, but I'm working on it. Of course, the text descriptions are not as detailed as the user manual, but enough to mostly get you by after you've read the manual.
The remote control of BackupBand has been greatly expanded/improved. Most every operation of the program can be controlled via any MIDI message of your choice. And you can define some notes on your MIDI controller to control operations, rather than play notes/chords. BackupBand is now easily configured for use with any MIDI hardware -- not just keyboard controllers, but also MIDI guitar/bass, breath/wind controllers, drum pads, etc. Also, BackupBand now supports configuring up to 32 mouse buttons to control any 32 settings. Likewise, the computer keyboard can be configured to your preference. USB pedals can be easily configured to operate BackupBand. In a nutshell, you can fully operate BackupBand using just about any single hardware device. And all the configuration is done via the new "Setup -> Commands" screen.
The Controller "Test" button (on the "Setup -> Human" screen) displays incoming MIDI messages, and reports what BackupBand does with each message. This makes it easier to setup both your controller, as well as BackupBand.
BackupBand's robot musicians can be individually configured more completely. Not only can you turn a robot off, you can also then play that robot's instruments yourself via a midi controller. For example, if you're a drummer, you can turn off the robot drummer, and play any of BackupBand's sampled drum kits yourself using MIDI drum pads (while the bass, guitar, and pad robots play along). There are now individual volumes for the drums, bass, guitar, pad, and soloist. The Mixer section now displays a button for each robot, indicating what instrument that robot is playing. (The instruments can change depending upon what Style is selected). You can click the button to change a robot's instrument.
Added thread arbitration. What this means is that, when playing a songsheet, it no longer prevents you from changing tempo, selecting style, etc. This makes songsheet playback as interactive as style playback.
Added a new panel named "Songs" to BackupBand's window layout. This panel contains only those controls useful when playing a SongSheet. This page also displays the names of all songs, so you can quickly double-click upon the one you want to play. (The next version of BackupBand will definitely contain the songsheet editor/creator, BillH. I'm writing it now).
The Menu key (on your PC keyboard) shows or hides the menu bar each time you press the key. Holding the Shift key while pressing Tab cycles through the screens you created in your window layout, even when the menu is hidden. The Tab key alone switches to Setup.
OPTION=MENUHIDE can be added to the WINDOW line in a window layout file, to initially hide the menu. OPTION=NOTITLE will remove the title bar and borders from the window. Also improved error reporting for a bad layout file.
Added a version number to the General settings screen. BackupBand version numbers will use a number, followed by an alphabetic letter. For example, the first BackupBand with a version number is "0.A". The next version is "0.B". After "0.Z" will be "1.A".
Added an xrun indicator (a small flashing box) in the upper right corner of the window (beside the menu bar). It appears when there are xruns. You can click on it to jump to the screen where you set the audio card's buffer size.
Extra option for Autostart.
"Chord hold" option.
Legato phrasing added to some parts. Legato switching added to certain instruments.
Support for layering/splitting instruments.
Improved volume algorithm. Support for midi expression controller and channel pressure.
More control over the reverb.
More choices for the Software Configuration Tool.
Lots more little tweaks/improvements/fixes. I've lost track of everything that's been done.
The new version of BackupBand is now released. There are lots and lots of internal changes to the program. Don't install this version over the old version. Either first delete your old home/BackupBand folder, or if you want to keep the older version, rename the old folder to something like BackupBandOld.
There is no longer separate versions for different sample rates. There is just one version now that lets you choose sample rate when you choose your sound card. (Setup -> General -> Internal Synth). You can switch between 44 and 48 KHz, or alsa and jack, without restarting the program.
I've revamped the zip files on the SourceForge page. "backupband.zip" is the program. "manual.zip" is the documentation. "instruments_44k.zip" are the 44Khz versions of the instruments. "instruments_48k.zip" are the 48Khz versions. You must download backupband.zip, plus one (or both) of the instruments file. Everything should unzip to a single BackupBand folder. There are optional additional instrument packs for both rates too.
You do need to download the latest instrument samples because there were some issues with pops/clicks in the older samples. The new samples sound a lot cleaner (especially with the improved sample engine). And the organization of files is changed. Do read the manual about new choices you have for where to install files.
In fact, the user manual has been augmented significantly, albeit still not completely finished. Many previously undocumented features are now revealed, such as "note command mode", and the Master MIDI channel. There's lots of new info there.
There is one caveat. BackupBand's preferences file format has changed, and it doesn't read the old format, so you'll need to go through the Setup screens again and customize things. But then you'll also see numerous new features to try. And a Help button to click.
Details about the update are as follows:
Fixed a bug that caused a crash when choosing any audio device except JACK.
Fixed the mouse double-click bug. There is a new "Click delay" setting on the "Setup -> General" screen you can change to adjust the double-click sensitivity, if desired.
Fixed the StyleEdit utility. It works.
Fixed the "there is no application installed for shared library" error when trying to start BackupBand from the desktop.
Added a new chord changing model for people using a MIDI guitar. ("Setup -> Human -> Chords -> Model" set to "Guitar"). Only when you play a chord on 4 to 6 strings will BackupBand's robots follow your playing, and change to that chord. Otherwise, you can solo over the robot musicians without confusing them into changing the chord. This makes for a practical "Hands-free" method of a guitarist controlling BackupBand live, without the need for an extra device to trigger chord changes. Whenever you want to change the chord, quickly strum any chord (on at least 4 strings), including 7ths and 9ths and augmented and diminished and suspended, and then immediately resume your solo. (Tavasti, try it.)
Renamed/reworked/added some other chord models for particular recommended usage such as the "Breath/Wind", "Drum Pads", and "Bass Pedals" models. (Tavasti, for your MIDI box, select "Drum/Pad" chord model, and set "Trigger by" to "Program Change".)
BackupBand's tempo can be sync'ed to, and controlled by, external MIDI hardware or other software via MIDI clock. To enable this mode, go to the "Setup -> General" screen and set "Clock" to "MIDI".
The robot guitarist now has a Fender Strat in his collection. And the Bassist can play slapped. Some of the styles have been updated to use these.
When choosing to connect BackupBand to other running software, BackupBand's list will display those other programs' midi ports to choose. BackupBand will save those connections, and restore them the next time BackupBand is run. You therefore no longer need a third-party "connection/session" manager (such as QJackCtl) to setup/restore software connections.
The Setup screens now have a Help button to present text descriptions of the various settings. Not everything is described yet, but I'm working on it. Of course, the text descriptions are not as detailed as the user manual, but enough to mostly get you by after you've read the manual.
The remote control of BackupBand has been greatly expanded/improved. Most every operation of the program can be controlled via any MIDI message of your choice. And you can define some notes on your MIDI controller to control operations, rather than play notes/chords. BackupBand is now easily configured for use with any MIDI hardware -- not just keyboard controllers, but also MIDI guitar/bass, breath/wind controllers, drum pads, etc. Also, BackupBand now supports configuring up to 32 mouse buttons to control any 32 settings. Likewise, the computer keyboard can be configured to your preference. USB pedals can be easily configured to operate BackupBand. In a nutshell, you can fully operate BackupBand using just about any single hardware device. And all the configuration is done via the new "Setup -> Commands" screen.
The Controller "Test" button (on the "Setup -> Human" screen) displays incoming MIDI messages, and reports what BackupBand does with each message. This makes it easier to setup both your controller, as well as BackupBand.
BackupBand's robot musicians can be individually configured more completely. Not only can you turn a robot off, you can also then play that robot's instruments yourself via a midi controller. For example, if you're a drummer, you can turn off the robot drummer, and play any of BackupBand's sampled drum kits yourself using MIDI drum pads (while the bass, guitar, and pad robots play along). There are now individual volumes for the drums, bass, guitar, pad, and soloist. The Mixer section now displays a button for each robot, indicating what instrument that robot is playing. (The instruments can change depending upon what Style is selected). You can click the button to change a robot's instrument.
Added thread arbitration. What this means is that, when playing a songsheet, it no longer prevents you from changing tempo, selecting style, etc. This makes songsheet playback as interactive as style playback.
Added a new panel named "Songs" to BackupBand's window layout. This panel contains only those controls useful when playing a SongSheet. This page also displays the names of all songs, so you can quickly double-click upon the one you want to play. (The next version of BackupBand will definitely contain the songsheet editor/creator, BillH. I'm writing it now).
The Menu key (on your PC keyboard) shows or hides the menu bar each time you press the key. Holding the Shift key while pressing Tab cycles through the screens you created in your window layout, even when the menu is hidden. The Tab key alone switches to Setup.
OPTION=MENUHIDE can be added to the WINDOW line in a window layout file, to initially hide the menu. OPTION=NOTITLE will remove the title bar and borders from the window. Also improved error reporting for a bad layout file.
Added a version number to the General settings screen. BackupBand version numbers will use a number, followed by an alphabetic letter. For example, the first BackupBand with a version number is "0.A". The next version is "0.B". After "0.Z" will be "1.A".
Added an xrun indicator (a small flashing box) in the upper right corner of the window (beside the menu bar). It appears when there are xruns. You can click on it to jump to the screen where you set the audio card's buffer size.
Extra option for Autostart.
"Chord hold" option.
Legato phrasing added to some parts. Legato switching added to certain instruments.
Support for layering/splitting instruments.
Improved volume algorithm. Support for midi expression controller and channel pressure.
More control over the reverb.
More choices for the Software Configuration Tool.
Lots more little tweaks/improvements/fixes. I've lost track of everything that's been done.