Yet another release with a feature that was not on the planned roadmap, but got a higher priority due to user feedback. Beta can be downloaded in the VIP lounge.
The changelog so far:
• Scanned plugins are now stored in a global plugin database. This database makes it simpler to avoid rescanning of plugins when creating new projects and when updating the plugin setup in existing projects. The database file is stored as a standard Podium project file in the Podium setup folder.
• Added a plugin option selector to the Create New Project page. The first time you create a new project you have the option to build the plugin database. In the following new projects you can select between: “load plugin database”, “rebuild plugin database” and “update plugin database”.
• Added a new project option selector to the top of the Create New Project page. You can select between stereo, surround, or any of your saved project templates. This replaces the old “Project Templates/New Project” submenu.
• Added the option to “open properties dialog for new arrangement” on the Create New Project page.
• Added several new commands to the Devices menu on the project start page: “Update audio and midi mappings” will update the mappings found in the audio and MIDI folders to match any changes made in the interfaces setup dialog. “Load plugin database” will replace the current plugin setup in the project with the latest scanned plugin database. There are also commands for rebuilding and updating the plugin database. The “Load plugin setup from template” submenu can be used to load customized plugin setups from project templates. This menu replaces the old “Project/Project Templates/Load Device Setup” submenu.
• When changing selections in the Interfaces dialog a messagebox will appear asking if you want to update the audio and MIDI mappings in the project.
• Editing curve sequences for Zynewave plugin parameters now use the default value from the plugin editor, instead of always defaulting to zero.
• Made minor changes and improvements to the import of MIDI files.
Please save a backup of your project files, if you plan to try the new audio/midi/plugin update on your older projects with this beta. I’ve tested it, but there may be some cases that I have missed.
If you guys don’t find any bugs with this, I plan to release 2.28 next week. I had promised to fix some reported bugs, but I think I’ll delay those until 2.29. It’s been a while since 2.27 was released.
Edit: I have made some changes to the plugin import procedure, so please check if all your plugins still import correctly.
@Frits: There is a tiny mistake in the download-url of beta1. Thank you very much for this beta! I’ll test it right away.
@all: You can still download beta1 by changing the url to “…beta1.zip” instead of “…beta.zip”.
@ronin wrote:
@Frits: There is a tiny mistake in the download-url of beta1. Thank you very much for this beta! I’ll test it right away.
@all: You can still download beta1 by changing the url to “…beta1.zip” instead of “…beta.zip”.
Fixed. Thanks.
Genious! I like a lot the global plugin database, I’ll test it tomorrow.
Just some short notes: it looks awesome so far! Scanning seemed to be faster than ever and the new functionality seems to be everything I need. Update Audio/Midi is very useful too. Thanks! 🙂
However I’ve noticed that Bootsie’s epicVerb and DensitymkII crashed Podium while scanning. I think they never crashed it before.
This may not be Podiums fault but I thought I’d mention it (because there is another thread with similiar issues).
@ronin wrote:
However I’ve noticed that Bootsie’s epicVerb and DensitymkII crashed Podium while scanning. I think they never crashed it before.
This may not be Podiums fault but I thought I’d mention it (because there is another thread with similiar issues).
These plugins have crashed randomly for me with earlier Podium versions. Random crashes are often timing dependant, so the fact that the speed of scanning has changed a bit in 2.28 can explain why they have started to crash for you now.
@Zynewave wrote:
• Added a plugin option selector to the Create New Project page. The first time you create a new project you have the option to build the plugin database. In the following new projects you can select between: “load plugin database”, “rebuild plugin database” and “update plugin database”.
Superb! =D>
This works like a dream, and removes the waiting-for-scanning that used to slow down the Project creation before.
Great effort Frits! 🙂
Few questions:
– What’s the difference between Update and Rebuild database? i think that update doesn’t scan plugins in database
– How can I customize the global database? I’d like to remove mono plugins and folders
Haven’t tried any of the other functions yet, but my plug-ins import just fine.
The recent projects listbox uses a wrong background color, it seems – probably a tiny bug.
@LiquidProj3ct wrote:
– What’s the difference between Update and Rebuild database? i think that update doesn’t scan plugins in database
Update will only scan/import dlls that are not already present in the plugin database.
– How can I customize the global database? I’d like to remove mono plugins and folders
Open the “PluginDatabase.pod” project file from the Podium setup folder, make your customizations, and save back the project. You may want to save a backup, as a “rebuild database” command will rewrite the database from scratch.
@thcilnnahoj wrote:
The recent projects listbox uses a wrong background color, it seems – probably a tiny bug.
It’s transparent. Load a background wallpaper, and you’ll see. I changed it to emphasize that this list does not contain objects in the current project, as the other two lists. I also have some plans for further changes to the recent projects list.
Open the “PluginDatabase.pod” project file from the Podium setup folder, make your customizations, and save back the project. You may want to save a backup, as a “rebuild database” command will rewrite the database from scratch.
Thanks. I think that a small command to save it automatically would be helpful too
Thank you. 😀
I’ve uploaded a “MIDI file tutorial” video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV1Eg7zToZw
The video also demonstrates the new project page.
@Zynewave wrote:
I also have some plans for further changes to the recent projects list.
That’s interesting to hear! I have had not-so-nice experiences with it on rare occasions – when reloading a setup file, the list would be blank, and I had to “reimport” all projects by hand… I guess the list has to be stored somewhere, though.