Topic: Preview 2.09: Piano roll editor updates
- This topic has 139 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 1 month ago by
Conquistador.
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January 15, 2009 at 16:38 #1774
ZynewaveKeymasterDue to popular request, the theme for the 2.09 release is an overhaul of the piano roll editor. So far the changes are only cosmetic, but something I’ve wanted to do for a long time:

Beta1 can be downloaded in the VIP lounge. Changes so far:
Replaced the old keyboard image in the piano roll editor with a new scalable photographic image. This results in equal spacing between black and white keys on the timeline.
The “piano keyboard contrast” value in the piano roll region properties defines the coloring of the white keys. It ranges from 0% (same as panel color in the color scheme) to 100% (true white/black colors).
Increased the resolution of vertical zoom in the piano roll editor. The old +/- vertical zoom keys are replaced with a zoom slider.
Added “highlight octave lines in timeline”, “highlight black keys in timeline” and “use double-click to delete notes” options to the piano roll region properties.
Added “piano roll region properties” shortcut to the piano roll keyboard right-click menu.
January 15, 2009 at 16:49 #13730
UncleAgeParticipantNice to see some dev time spent on the piano roll. Tell me, are you looking for ideas in this part as well or are you just tidying up the interface a bit?
January 15, 2009 at 17:08 #13731
LiquidProj3ctParticipantYesssssssss!!! the piano roll needs a revision! It’s my basic tool of work 😀
I’m sooo excited waiting your news!
Thanks you! i love the new keys!
January 15, 2009 at 17:43 #13732
thcilnnahojParticipant:love: :love: 😆
That’s fantastic!I think now’s the right time to consider some of the changes you described in the future development sticky thread, too. Especially (imho):
– When dragging the size of a note then other selected notes should resize accordingly.
– Highlight keys on keyboard when played by external MIDI keyboard.
– Option to turn off note audition. And for auditioning, maybe have the note ring for as long as the key is pressed as opposed to the current quantize setting.January 15, 2009 at 17:48 #13734
ZynewaveKeymaster@UncleAge wrote:
Nice to see some dev time spent on the piano roll. Tell me, are you looking for ideas in this part as well or are you just tidying up the interface a bit?
Feel free to post your list of wishes.
January 15, 2009 at 18:05 #13735
LiquidProj3ctParticipantLet’s play to differences
Frits, I don’t want to annoy you, but I honestly think that these ideas i’m gonna to suggest (and repeat) are very good ones:
Actual piano roll Podium v 2.09 beta 1:
Sugested piano roll:
1. minimal grid = snap value
When you have a grid with more resolution that actual snap value it can confuse the user where he should draw notes.2. semitransparent colours for ghost notes
It’s pretty comfortable see them with their colours. Then you can find easily without mute channels where is your chord progresion… etc Also Ctrl+Double Click on them would open the corresponding clip in the same piano roll.3. 3D notes
They’re done with Paint :), if you like the second idea this wold be very useful for differenciate between the notes you’re working and the notes that are ghost notes.Best regards 🙂
January 15, 2009 at 18:30 #13737
UncleAgeParticipantOk thcilnnahoj, you started it 🙂
..I’d like to see a feature similiar to the “Fold” button in Live. basically with the click of a button, the only note lanes shown are the ones with notes already in them.
…It would be nice if the editor maintained its current visual state from the last time it was opened.
…Not a must have but definitely a sweet feature that I liked when I used FL Studio’s demo was the ability to place chords in via the piano roll (there’s quite a bit of empty space there on the left dieing for some additional functions 🙂 ).
…if the above is possible, it would be a nice touch if it were possible to restrict the notes available by key signature. ie…Cmaj or Cmin. Once again not a must have just something not all that common but very useful when not working with a midi controller.
…drag and drop of midi clips in to the editor (if not already available). As well as the ability to save.
…having the ability to adjust the velocity while holding the mouse down on the selected note is something that I really liked in Guru (however it should compliment, not replace the velocity screen to the south)
I’m not expecting any of this to actually make it in there. I just wanted to point what I think are workflow improvements for me 🙂
And let me add one more thing…
I think a lot of us doing most of our work “ITB” spread the workload across different apps to take advantage of the better workflow that you get in one versus the other. In Podium having the ability to drag/drop midi data into the timeline took care of one hurdle for me. Improvements in the rendering and multi-take lanes took care of another. the mixer improvements were a very nice addition as well as the smaller track headers. And even though I love the session view in Live during the creation process I gotta say that with the upcoming improvements in midi data flowing from a one vst to another and the changes to the piano roll, it may be possible for me to ditch most of the other apps. And to me that’s pretty exciting news.
January 15, 2009 at 19:07 #13738
SlomoParticipantNice! As always!
Though the suggestion for 3D-notes, mentioned above, would probably generate a killer headache with lots of notes going on…
January 15, 2009 at 19:08 #13739
ConquistadorParticipantLove the look of those keys Frits!
@Frits wrote:
Feel free to post your list of wishes
Putting a Piano roll specific FR list together of my own. 🙂
January 15, 2009 at 19:30 #13742
aMUSEdParticipantDon’t like 3D notes myself. I hope colour cueing stays as I do like that.
January 15, 2009 at 19:35 #13743
UncleAgeParticipantJanuary 15, 2009 at 19:49 #13745
roninParticipantI agree to almost all FRs mentioned before. They are all useful but I doubt in the idea of 3D notes too….but maybe Frits has the time to make a small preview with his design skills.
January 15, 2009 at 20:12 #13746
PiginiParticipantI’m very glad the piano roll is next on the list.
Will contribute some ideas soon.
Right now, I have to catch some sleep before my head hits the scratchpad …
Sorry, no meat in that post, only wanted to say something rather sophisticated like: !!!!BRILLIANT!!!!January 15, 2009 at 21:28 #13748
LiquidProj3ctParticipant3D notes?? who say that? 😀 Me not 😛
January 16, 2009 at 02:51 #13749
adlaiusParticipantGreetings, all.
As I’m new to Podium and have yet to find anything substantive to quibble about, I might as well jump in on the flat vs. 3D debate 🙂
I love the current look where everything in the piano roll view is flat (it reminds me of all those cool old 8-bit apps and games). But if the future holds a 3D piano graphic, a more 3D look to note events would make the overall apperance more cohesive (IMO). Check out Temper’s look, for instance:

Not too intense, and I imagine a Podium implementation would be even more subtle. Anyway, just a thought…
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