You are here

Hi to all and bug found in PadthV1

Hi to everyone, (this is my first post here) :)

First off, thanks for all the great apps, rncbc! They are really good!!

I installed the git version of PadthV1 and (almost) all seems to be working fine. However, two problems:

(I wasn't able to log in to Sourceforge to post the bugs there, so apologies if this is not the right place.)

- twice the synth locked up while playing notes and changing the values of the harmonics levels. (all works fine if I don't play notes while changing the harmonic levels)

- I got this message in the terminal once, and had to restart the synth:

SuspendRefNum error
JackClient::Execute error name = padthv1
Server is not running

However, QJackCtl was indeed still running and usable with other instruments.

Hth!

brian

Forums: 
rncbc's picture

hi Brian,

you're welcome of course.

indeed, changing the harmonics in padthv1 while notes are still playing is not a safe operation: please avoid doing that often if you can.

also, changing any of the parameters that cause a complete wavetable regeneration (eg. Sample, Width, Scale, Nh, etc. but not Detune nor Glide) are all on the same recommendation: don't tweak them nor automate them while notes are playing still.

i'll try to mitigate this in this next development cycle and let's hope for the better :)

meanwhile, feel free--and hopefully inspired--to explore and harness (though carefully:)) to make and churn out as many .padthv1 presets you can... i'm sure you'll have some ready in no time and share to the world on linuxsynths.com of course ;)

cheers && thanks

briandc's picture

Thanks for the tips! :) Yes, I'll be careful to not play notes when changing waveform parameters.

Presets (and dedicated webpage) are on their way..! (maybe already after this weekend...)

brian

rncbc's picture

btw. while on thy linuxsynths.com: all vee-one's lousy names have one and only vowel and all have names which are not longer than eight (8) characters in length
hope you solve the riddle (hint hint: samplv1:).
byee

briandc's picture

Sorry bout the spellling error for Samplv1! I'll make the changes on the website before the end of the day. :)

I'm testing out Padthv1 today a bit more. When I save a preset, the synth freezes and I have to restart. In the terminal I get this error:

SuspendRefNum error
JackClient::Execute error name = padthv1

Fortunately, the preset does get saved correctly and when I restart it is available for use.

Also, everytime I start Padthv1, I have to use Alt+F7 to move the GUI window because the title bar is always out of view at the top of the screen. (my resolution is 1280x1024)

EDIT: a few more details: in QJackCtl I get this when I am forced to close the GUI:
Sun Sep 3 11:50:38 2017: ERROR: Failed to find port 'padthv1:in_1' to destroy
Sun Sep 3 11:50:38 2017: ERROR: Failed to find port 'padthv1:in_2' to destroy
Sun Sep 3 11:50:38 2017: ERROR: Failed to find port 'padthv1:in' to destroy
Sun Sep 3 11:50:38 2017: ERROR: Failed to find port 'padthv1:out_1' to destroy
Sun Sep 3 11:50:38 2017: ERROR: Failed to find port 'padthv1:out_2' to destroy
Sun Sep 3 11:50:38 2017: Client 'padthv1' with PID 10437 is out

The terminal reads also: Server is not running. (but Jack is indeed running)

hth!

brian

PS. Is there any way to modulation between the two GEN samples?

rncbc's picture

I guess you're trying the standalone JACK client form... may I ask what binary you're running? is it the AppImage one? did you build from source on your own? the AppImage is quite new and experimental so YMMV ;)

re. Is there any way to modulation between the two GEN samples?
yes, both "Balance" and "Ring Mod" maybe be modulated by the LFO.

byee

briandc's picture

I'm using the Git version. (Is this the AppImage?)

Edit: Samplv1 page is now corrected. Thanks for giving me the heads up! :)

brian

rncbc's picture

the AppImage is the one posted on the v0.8.4 release announcement here.

so you built from git source right? does it always freeze when you save a preset? say, when it opens a "file save" requester dialog?
seeya

briandc's picture

No, if I modify a preset and go to another, the dialog to save before leaving doesn't cause it to freeze.

brian

briandc's picture

Hi rncbc,
here's a few presets from the past few days. Some are very similar because I was doing some comparisons, so... see what you like, if any. More coming!

http://linuxsynths.com/Padthv1PatchesDemos/Padthv1PresetsSept0717.tar.gz

brian

rncbc's picture

sounds like you're having some fun, besides the glitches/bugs here ;)
anyway i still can't reproduce any of then; although the abrupt all-notes-off when changing any of the generators parameters, I don't get any lockups or crashes whatsoever, yet.
cheers && thanks for sharing.
ps. now eagerly waiting for some demos :P

briandc's picture

I'm wondering then if my lockups (and off-screen GUI) are caused by a permissions issue. I'm using AntiX (Debian) and permissions are a bit more strict than on Ubuntu and others.

Here is the error I got today when saving a preset:

/usr/local/bin/padthv1_jack
SuspendRefNum error
Gtk-Message: (for origin information, set GTK_DEBUG): failed to retrieve property `GtkRange::activate-slider' of type `gboolean' from rc file value "((GString*) 0x8bdc670)" of type `GString'

And when I closed the GUI:

Server is not running
Server is not running
Server is not running
Server is not running
Server is not running
Server is not running
WARNING: 1 message buffer overruns!

Hth,
brian

rncbc's picture

having GTK messages from on a Qt application may only be attributed to the widget style as default from the DE environment in use (eg. gnome, xfce, etc.)

please go to menu Help > Configure... > Options > "Custom style theme" and choose anything else but the "(default)" or "Gtk+" for that matter ... set this style to "Fusion" which is my favorite and the one shown as of the official screenshots ;)

and while you're at it, make sure you keep "Use native desktop environment dialogs" to OFF (unchecked).

hth.
cheers

briandc's picture

Ok, I set it to Fusion.
I have never used the "native desktop environment dialogs" box.

What I notice, is that the audio and midi connections are disconnected when I save a preset. (But I can still use the GUI and change presets.)

This is what QJackCtl reads when it disconnects:

Fri Sep 8 17:14:50 2017: Disconnecting 'a2j:MOTIF8 [24] (capture): MOTIF8 MIDI 1' from 'padthv1:in'
Fri Sep 8 17:14:50 2017: Disconnecting 'padthv1:out_1' from 'system:playback_1'
Fri Sep 8 17:14:50 2017: Disconnecting 'padthv1:out_2' from 'system:playback_2'
17:15:37.200 JACK connection change.
Fri Sep 8 17:15:37 2017: ERROR: Cannot connect ports owned by inactive clients: "padthv1" is not active
Fri Sep 8 17:15:37 2017: ERROR: Cannot connect ports owned by inactive clients: "padthv1" is not active
17:15:41.805 JACK connection change.
Fri Sep 8 17:15:41 2017: ERROR: Cannot connect ports owned by inactive clients: "padthv1" is not active

Hth...

brian

rncbc's picture

i believe your're connecting an external MIDI master keyboard (MOTIF8?) through a2j then padthv1 (ie. JACK-MIDI interface).
may I ask why not plain directly ALSA-MIDI ?
nb. JACK-MIDI is indeed recommended for inter-application MIDI connectivity, but when dealing with outboard equipment you don't have one single benefit from it, quite the contrary, may i say.
beware, remember to never connect simultaneously both ALSA-MIDI and JACK-MIDI inputs on padthv1 (or on any other v1 for that matter) as results are proverbially undefined :)
cheers

briandc's picture

I connected the Motif through ALSA-MIDI and now when I save presets there's no lock-up! Yay! :D
Can you explain a bit more about the difference between using ALSA-MIDI and JACK-MIDI? I thought they were basically "interchangable."

I've updated the preset bank: http://linuxsynths.com/Padthv1PatchesDemos/Padthv1Presets01.tar.gz

Demos and webpage coming soon! :)

brian

PS: Feature request: legato mode when monophonic, and velocity sensitivity for the filter?

rncbc's picture

re. the difference between using ALSA-MIDI and JACK-MIDI? I thought they were basically "interchangable.

not quite or better said, there's a catch:

JACK-MIDI system builds on top of the ALSA-MIDI system so that, when dealing with external MIDI equipment to drive a terminal MIDI soft-instrument like padthv1_jack, the ALSA-MIDI interface is one direct shunt, while the JACK-MIDI will have to go through and over an extra conversion bridge eg. a2j(midid); maybe a picture is worth a thousand words:

                (MIDI/USB cable)
                       |                                 .-------.    .------------------.
 .----------------.    |    .----------------.      .--->|  a2j  |---->in  JACK-MIDI  etc.
 |     MIDI       |    V    |      ALSA      |     /     '-------'    '------------------'
 |   keyboard  out>--------->in    MIDI   out>----<
 |  (external)    |         |    (system)    |     \                  .------------------.
 '----------------'         '----------------'      `----------------->in  ALSA-MIDI  etc.
                                                                      '------------------'

re. Feature request: legato mode when monophonic, and velocity sensitivity for the filter?

while on the other V1's that share almost the same synth engine architecture, I've been thinking on implementing the legato mode over the years but unfortunately didn't come with anything pretty or kin to my liking--all are supposed to be polyphonic instruments to start with, though the current mono(phonic) mode was quite an indulgence i've made some years ago: it only does lousy *staccato* mode for the time being:)

[UPDATE:] - Mono(phonic) "Legato" mode option is now being introduced on git head master to synthv1, samplv1 and padthv1, as time of this writing; the old single "Mono" switch is now replaced by a fake-LED radio-button list: 1) "Poly" meaning normal polyphonic mode or old Mono=Off; 2) "Mono" which stands the same as old Mono=On; and finally 3) "Legato" as the special new Mono mode ;)

i'll try and keep thinking on this and on the DCF Velocity sensitivity as well, maybe for X-mas :)

stay tuned
cheers

briandc's picture

Hi rncbc,
wow! Thanks for the new feature! And thank you for the explanation above. In the past, I always thought either MIDI connection would be fine, as some synths only work with a2jmidid and others (like Csound) are not usable if a2jmidid is enabled at start-up. So I'll need to keep this all in mind as we go forward.. :)
One quick question: as I have the git version of Padthv1 installed, what must I do to update my version to this new one with legato?

Thx!
brian

rncbc's picture

just build and install it again as usual, after a git pull or fresh git clone:

./autogen.sh clean   # only if not a fresh git clone
./autogen.sh
./configure && make && make install

hth
cheers

briandc's picture

Thanks for the explanation. (Git has always been a bit mysterious to me. But I'm studying it a bit more now..)
I did a fresh clone (in another directory).
It's not so clear to my understanding whether the new version "erases" the first one, or if the first one remains accessible for future use, if needed. But when I ran the usual /usr/local/bin/padthv1_jack command, I noticed that I had the newest version, so that's good. :)

The legato function works fine. (If you had a second legato mode locking to the filter/amp sustain levels rather than retriggering, you could (imo) eliminate the first mono button. ...Just a thought, of course.. :) )
Thanks for adding it!

brian

rncbc's picture

maybe i have been calling it a wrong name :/

the current legato mode--which now applies to all said polyphonic v1's, not only padthv1--makes it as re-triggering or reset to the Attack stage for all EG's.

that second legato mode would make it to the Sustain stage, right? Ok, that's of course feasible... but, keeping the so called old "Mono" mode as it ever was (before and still is), what should we call this new second (legato) mode? smooth legato?

i'm sure you musicians/performers/synthesists do know better and more ;)

[EDIT:] well, i now reckon i've been a dang moron on this whole mono(phonic) mode subject: even in Wikipedia > Legato > Synthesizers section it says it all... yep, that old V1 "Mono" mode is facing the edge of extinction... better now than never ;)

[EDIT2:] and there it goes:- Mono re-triggers (resets) into Attack stage and Legato now fastens into the Sustain stage... all in git head now. OK., it's not perfect, specially on the samplv1 front, where the new "Mono" re-triggering mode should really mean it ;)

[EDIT3:] samplv1 old Mono vs. new Legato mode now fixed.

cheers

briandc's picture

No problem. (Now you know how I feel about all things programming-wise! :D )
I have lots to learn myself, in music, in computers, in...... just about every field there is!

Personally, I like the mono (retrigger) mode just as much as the "legato" or "smooth" mode. They both have their place, I guess.

So I suppose I should do a new git-clone-build thingy? If I do it in the same directory as before, will it overwrite the previous version?

brian

briandc's picture

I'm testing out Padthv1 at my laptop that uses Ubuntu Studio 14.04 / KXstudio. Running the current KXstudio repo version (2:0.8.4-1kxstudio2v5) and playing it using the Virtual Keyboard (ver.1.9). I have the same issue of Padthv1 automatically disconnecting from Jack when saving a preset. I'm using Alsa-Midi to connect, and I have the Fusion style selected (and no native dialogs checked).

The presets are indeed saved; but I then have to close and restart Padthv1.

EDIT: the same problem occurs when loading a preset. (when using the folder button to the left of the dropdown preset list) I haven't tested it on the Git version yet.

brian

rncbc's picture

one question: does the other V1s suffer from this same phenomenon or is it just padthv1_jack ?

seeya

briandc's picture

Added webpage for Padthv1, with a bank of presets (more than the previous archive I posted here). Cool synth! ;)

http://linuxsynths.com/Padthv1PatchesDemos/padthv1.html

Let me know if there is any incorrect info in the description, or if I should add something.

brian

rncbc's picture

waveforms can be further shaped with Rectangle, Triangle, Welch, Hann and Gauss logarithms

technically speaking, this things named as Rectangle, Triangle, Welch, Hann and Gauss are indeed not about (time domain) waveforms but rather refers to the (frequency domain) "apodization", or better said, the window function that shapes or spreads over band-width on each partial or harmonic component along the spectrum. And yes, the Width parameter means band-width of each component ;)

yeah, all geek speak.
cheers

briandc's picture

I don't mind the "geek speak" at all. :) Sometimes I understand the explanations, sometimes I just try to get a "feel" for what the particular function does to the sound. (In this case, more the latter than the former! :D )

Still, I looked at the wikipedia link, and also found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apodization , particularly the section about digital audio. It sounds as though the "ringing" is similar to aliasing. ?

I updated the webpage. Let me know if it's better or not: http://linuxsynths.com/Padthv1PatchesDemos/padthv1.html

brian

rncbc's picture

who would tell?

perhaps it's been uh funny that this new mono(phonic) mode is dang evidence that "playing a mono-synth with two hands" ain't that a laughable subject anymore... think about all the trolling that went on and on Synth Memes!...

now, anyone who has access to a simple MIDI keyboard that spans over more than a lousy couple of octaves (ie. 25keys+) may come forward and tell the dang truth: playing a mono-synth (eg. a v1 with their new mono modalities) with two, yes two (2) hands, is quite frankly A thing and a blast of a performance resource... who would tell?

yeah, mini-keys? wtf?

cheers

ps. these new so called mono-modes are curently found on git head master branches only, for the time being.

briandc's picture

Hi rncbc,
I hope all is well.
I've added a few new presets to my preset bank here: www.linuxsynths.com/Padthv1PatchesDemos/padthv1.html

There's something you might want to check; if you load a monophonic preset in the bank (eg. MonoLove), try holding an initial key with one hand, and play legato notes in the other hand. You will hear the initial tone being retriggered together with the legato notes.

For the rest, it's a ton of fun! :)

brian

rncbc's picture

hey thanks.

re. mono/legato issue: oops, it looks like after all the two-hands on a mono buster is backfiring on me.
ok. will try to fix that, unless you want to keep the fun as it is--think of a performance special feature and not quite a bug? ;)

[UPDATE:] a probable fix has been pushed to git head, master branch of course, re. two-hands-on-mono/legato issue--please test && tell.

cheers

briandc's picture

Hi rncbc,
sorry for the delay. If I did the git bit correctly, I still get the "bug" (or new feature, depending on how one wants to see it! :) ).

Just to be sure we're on the same page... my version of PadthV1 is: 0.8.4.11git.aee4ef
Is this the right one? (I had to do the "make install" part as root on my machine.)

brian

Pages

Add new comment