[fixed 1.1.2] Redux not receiving keyboard events in Ardour and Reaper under Linux

[tavasti]

Seems silent here, should this be formally reported as a bug?

[4tey]

@tavasti

I can see that Redux is receiving key presses, because I see those ‘keyboard’ keys animated to be pressed, but nothing happens in Phrases-editor.

Just saying, I think you’ll find ‘the-Linux-Redux-VST-keyboard-forwarding-event-issue’ is already known about.

Redux & Ardour

Is anyone successfully using Redux with Ardour on Linux? I can load the plugin, put it’s not possible to use the keyboard in the editor.

Linux: Redux computer keyboard does not work in Ardour

Hello, When the on-screen Redux keyboard keys are clicked, they show as such by becoming grey and a sound is made. When the computer keyboard is used, the corresponding on-screen key becomes grey, but no sound is heard. Seems (sounds) like a bug. Redux demo version, Linux Mint 17, Redux used as a plugin for Ardour. External MIDI keyboard works fine. Edit: As I follow along the Quick Start, the Esc and TAB keys do not work, to edit and move along columns, as they do in Renoise. I think it would…

[tavasti]

Ok, thanks. So Ardour side is fixed, but still waiting for Redux to be fixed.

Linux: Redux computer keyboard does not work in Ardour

The “XEventProc” thing is now implemented in Ardour So I’ve tried implementing it in Redux ´too to check if it’s working, but it’s not. Not exactly sure why. I’ll need to build and debug Ardour from sources to find out more info here. This unfortunately will take a longer while. Basically, the reason why the keyboard in Redux is working in Carla, Renoise, Bitwig and Co, but not in Reaper and Ardour, is because the latter hosts are embedding the plugin window into child window frame. In or…

So most likely this is somehow related to Renoise strange behaviour regarding keyboard. Keys that are bind in window manager do now work as expected when using Renoise (which is annoying)

Most likely that same code is causing problems here when Redux is embedded inside Ardour own plugin window, and it can’t see itself as ‘focused window’. Sounds like some change in X11 key event handling is needed.

[Nixon]

I tried redux in the latest dev build of reaper and can play samples (enter phrases etc) with the computer keyboard when the editor window is open. Can’t remember if this was working before but i don’t think so.

[Nixon]

It somehow only works in fluxbox not xfce, this is very strange.

[carlcx]

I am running BitWig 3.2 on Linux and I’m having the same issue. Keys can only be used to play notes. Everything else doesn’t work. I faintly remember this working before, but I’m not sure what changed. I can get the keys to work in Carla, but as an earlier poster said, it crashes a lot.

[lilith]

I was just testing it in Bitwig 3.1 and it was working.

[carlcx]

I used my package cache to test BitWig v3.1.2. It worked, indicating BitWig made some change in v3.2 that broke redux. I’ve contacted BitWig support and will update when I hear back.

[lilith]

I’m testing 3.1. at the moment with Debian. I get sporadic xruns, especially when using e.g. DIVA. This issue still prevents me from buying it.

[carlcx]

I took at look at their changelog for v3.2

• Linux: When plug-in window is focused, allow key events to still work as though the Bitwig window was focused (for example, keyboard note input will still work)

I bet this is causing the problem.

[lilith]

Yes, seems so. Right, I read this yesterday and forgot about it. Maybe write an email to the support team.

[fladd]

So Bitwig was the only host in which it worked correctly and now they explicitly changed that? Those people are hilarious.

[lilith]

Bitwig and Tracktion.

[carlcx]

After some back and forth to show the actual problem, this is what I got from BitWig support:

thanks, keyboard input for plugins is a bit complicated under Linux.

We contacted the Redux developer to see if we can improve the situation.

[lilith]

lol… it was working before, but there must be a reason why they changed it.

At least they try to solve the problem.

[taktik]

Working on this with the Bitwig team to get it fixed again.

I’ve also finally found out why it didn’t worked in Ardour and Mixbus, so this will be fixed in the next update.
Will check Reaper on Linux again as well.

[fladd]

@taktik

Will check Reaper on Linux again as well.

Nice!

[Nokatus]

In the mean time… I switched to Fluxbox as my go-to window manager (without any additional “desktop environment” stuff alongside), mainly because of this issue. It has already been mentioned that Redux works when using Fluxbox, but it bears repeating: yep, I can confirm that Redux works beautifully, also in Reaper, and doesn’t need any input gimmics around it when running Fluxbox as the wm. It just works, out of the box, all editing operations and ESC and space and everything.

Granted, moving to Fluxbox might feel like a drastic workaround in itself :D, and I sympathise. Anyway, personally I’ve enjoyed taking the “custom lightweight power user DIY yada yada” road on my builds before, heh, running antiX and whatnot, even on new systems with loads of RAM and… I’ve come to appreciate Fluxbox quite a bit, on any system. I understand configuring it isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun time, but still, it’s well worth considering.

This is because in many distributions there’s already a session manager that lets you choose the wm/environment for the current session during login. If you install Fluxbox and use it as a secondary choice, you can keep it ready to go and barebones-configured just for those music making sessions. Configured nicely (see something like https://forum.mxlinux.org/viewtopic.php?t=47962 ) it’s a lot better than actively working around this issue all the while actually editing and making music.

In other words, when you are making music and using Redux, the window manager soon fades away in your mind and you can focus on the solid editing workflow. That is, instead of keeping the current window manager but actively working around the issue while editing, constantly impacting the core feel of what you’re doing.

[subcomandante (Reggaecide)]

Hello. I was wondering if anyone knows if redux works in reaper nowadays?
I have been trying to send notes to it from reaper with no prevail and is curious about if i am doing something wrong or if it is still an issue with how the vst works with reaper.