Work in progress: Piano roll

Renoise Tools
33

@frenetic_friend

Was never fond of the idea of a Piano Roll inside Renoise, but as you’ve done it anyway, and others are liking the idea, here’s a suggestion (an important one).

Go vertical … I mean why are you using a horizontal scroller when Renoise is vertical by design?

Just because other DAW’s do it that way doesn’t mean you have to use the same bad design. Be inventive and make it ‘belong’ Renoise by making it a vertical Piano Roll to match the vertical tracker aspect of Renoise. Making it a vertical Piano Roll is not only better from a design integration aspect, it’s simply better by design cause it’s the right way up! Think about it, those horizontal Piano Rolls in the other DAWs are wrong, they are all wrong, because they all suffer from having the keyboard displayed on it’s side. Make a vertical Piano Roll, however, and that nonsese is removed cause it means you can have the keyboard the right way up, positioned at the bottom of the Piano Roll where it should be. It means you can line-up the notes scrolling from the top of all the keys, black or white, and all the right way up!

So personally, congrats and well done on for what you’ve achieved, but zero points for making the same mistake they all make.

Renoise is vertical by design, so it makes sense to take advantage of that and have a superior vertical Piano Roll.

I believe that the reason of the pianorroll done in vertical is to have the landscape view of the composition, because the monitors are wider than tall.On the other hand, there has always been the mania of making the pianoroll upright. The same for patterns view (the work area is horizontal).But the pianorroll horizontally (work area in vertical) would work very well with Renoise, for a concordance with the pattern editor.Will you also say that Renoise’s automation editor is badly made?

That being said, I have no problem with seeing things vertically or horizontally.My brain is accustomed to both situations. However, one tool may be designed to offer both UI, in vertical and horizontal.It is enough to design it for both cases and to add a button that says “rollover”, or “vertical” / “horizontal”.I suppose the programmer will be interested in leaving his tool stable. These are secondary things that can be added later;in this case, it is necessary to think to “leave it ready” for later.

The main problem with this tool is that it may take up a lot of horizontal space, and if you use only one monitor, you will have trouble seeing the pattern editor along with the tool at the same time.

I have been using a tool that has two virtual pianos, one horizontal and one vertical, by design theme / need, and there is no problem.Creating the GUI is not the most complicated. The difficult thing is that everything works as you would expect.

By the way, here is an example of building a horizontal piano. The same method can be used to construct it vertically:https://forum.renoise.com/t/build-a-perfect-virtual-piano-using-buttons-only/47819

34

The piano roll brainstorming thread isover here people.

Unless you got code, let this person work on their cool project, possibly raising the bar for Renoise Lua, without harshing the vibe?

35

Wasn’t aware of the other thread, and I wasn’t “harshing the vibe”, either.

It’s just a suggestion, and I suggested it cause just about every DAW designer out there is completely clueless about design and cannot think for themselves (which is why they all suffer from horizontal piano rolls). It has nothing to do with the aspect of the screen, and everything to do with the designer not being able to design and think on their own (AKA people doing a job they actually have no clue about). You cannot fit a complete horizontal composition in view no more than you can fit a complete vertical one in view, so I’m afraid any percieved benefit of horizontal piano rolls is complete nonsense. The reason for the suggestion now, is that it’s at an early stage, so better to suggest it now than at a later time.

It was a suggestion, not an order, so no need to “harsh the vibe” like you just did, and no, I don’t have any code cause I’m not a coder.

I do, however, have design skills that make so-called “professionals” look like complete amateurs (which most of them are).

A couple of comments.You are not the first to make suggestions or ideas in this thread.That’s what I understood.I do not think anything will happen to you comment but it is not necessary to score.And but…

But,When a “newborn programmer” makes a program, he is trying to build things, not make the perfect mega tool.

Frenetic_friend (in this case) is building a very complex tool, not thinking in vertical or horizontal, because seen in perspective, it “is stupid” at this point in the game (is a secondary theme).The important thing is to create the tool and that it works!Then we’ll see (he will see…).In fact, this programmer has proven more than many of us together, since his tool brings together things so complex that only you understand if you know something of the code used.

Regarding the pianorroll link. It’s just an topic since 2002/2003. That gives to think.It is the first time that I see a real pianorroll tool.And for construction, I assure you that the programmer has thought much more than you can get to understand without knowing code.

And yes, the way to design also has to do with the shape of the monitor or what you also want to add to the tool.Most things have a reason, or several, are not done without thinking.

36

I didn’t choose horizontal work area because I’ve never seen different approach. Before starting to make this tool I tried Radium Music Tracker, where piano roll and automation curves are located along each track in pattern view.

Plus, I saw a topic here with vertical concept. But I wanted my tool to be more traditional. And as Raul said, there is more horizontal space, and automation editor is horizontal too.

you will have trouble seeing the pattern editor along with the tool at the same time.

Do you really need to see them both? In any case, the tool is resizeable. 2 octaves can fit under pattern editor in place of automation pane.

I have been using a tool that has two virtual pianos, one horizontal and one vertical

I wonder what tool was that.

However, one tool may be designed to offer both UI, in vertical and horizontal

Yes, maybe later I’ll implement it.

37

Do you really need to see them both? In any case, the tool is resizeable. 2 octaves can fit under pattern editor in place of automation pane.

I think it is not strictly necessary to be able to see the pattern editor along with the large tool. It is assumed that the pianorroll will be reliable. But seeing both areas, it’s easier to locate the point where you’re editing, and jump from one workspace to another. I would have no problem because I use 2 monitors.

I wonder what tool was that.

It is an editor type tool that I have built, with 2 windows. One shows a vertical piano to be able to introduce notes with the mouse, and another horizontal one for chords, that shows the notes of each chord also.I will try to leave an screenshot in the other thread on building a horizontal or vertical piano.

Yes, maybe later I’ll implement it.

If you get the tool to work fine, you will have completed the work…

Edit:I have already uploaded the screenshot…

38

The closest thing I’ve seen before this thread is a QT/C++ app that did piano roll over OSC by a user named Re.Dread (?) I spent the last 30 minutes looking for the topic where his tool was discussed, with screenshots, and failed. Deleted? I did find the GitHub repo: [https://github.com/dmin7/Qtroll ] The protoype was named re.dread.Qtroll.xrnx

Oh yeah, and Mini Roll:

https://forum.renoise.com/t/experimental-miniroll/40559

39

It is assumed that the pianorroll will be reliable.

Yes, I didn’t mention it before, but the tool should handle volume and pan columns. They can be presented as hideable “points envelope” beneath the main area. As well as delay and pitchbend (I didn’t check it yet, but I assume there is a way to add “instr. MIDI control” to DSP pane by script if user chooses to alter pitch in tool. Although this pitchbend can go only one tone higher or lower)

Also, just a thought, what if I make individual LPB control for each beat, so when you change LPB for single beat, piano roll does not expand, it just shrinks/expands grid in this section. Lines are added/removed and notes in whole pattern are recalculated to keep their timing. But I don’t know if it’s worth the effort. I already have sufficient “to do list”.

Currently I’m working on algorithm to place notes in track so that they don’t stand on the way of their neigbors or occasionaly delete them. I implemented feature to expand/shrink note if dragged by it’s edge and move note if dragged by it’s center. Also, possibility to draw a raw of short notes so that their line would gradually spread from first to last, or from first to peak in the middle, then to last. I don’t know if it has practical value, but why not?

40

Yes, I didn’t mention it before, but the tool should handle volume and pan columns. They can be presented as hideable “points envelope” beneath the main area. As well as delay and pitchbend (I didn’t check it yet, but I assume there is a way to add “instr. MIDI control” to DSP pane by script if user chooses to alter pitch in tool. Although this pitchbend can go only one tone higher or lower)

Also, just a thought, what if I make individual LPB control for each beat, so when you change LPB for single beat, piano roll does not expand, it just shrinks/expands grid in this section. Lines are added/removed and notes in whole pattern are recalculated to keep their timing. But I don’t know if it’s worth the effort. I already have sufficient “to do list”.

Currently I’m working on algorithm to place notes in track so that they don’t stand on the way of their neigbors or occasionaly delete them. I implemented feature to expand/shrink note if dragged by it’s edge and move note if dragged by it’s center. Also, possibility to draw a raw of short notes so that their line would gradually spread from first to last, or from first to peak in the middle, then to last. I don’t know if it has practical value, but why not?

I think you are doing an awesome job with this tool. Right now I can only think of four things to tell you:

  1. It’s “your tool”. So you can do whatever you want with it. I usually think that each tool has the inevitable imprint of its author. It’s kind of like a personal tool.Making a tool to satisfy others is very difficult. Each person will “complain” about something.
  2. Create the code thought to “be easily removed”.Sometimes we tangle the code, and then removing it or replacing it with another is difficult.
  3. “Leave the code ready”, to add things later.Not only write down what each thing is, but the code structure itself should have the facility to add more things.
  4. LUA optimization tricks to make as few calls as possible.

I assume that you are already an expert in code. So all these comments are left over. But sometimes, we fail in the most basic, which has to do in the organization of the code, so that months later does not look like a road map or a plate of spaghetti.I am now struggling with these 4 points.It is enough to read the code of other tools. You will see that every programmer has his hobbies or addictions.All this makes programming very interesting…

41

@Renoised, you gave me an idea to make a tecno song, titled “zero points”. :wink:

Pum

Pum

Pum

Zero pooooints!!!

Pum

Error

Pum

Zero pooooints!!!

…

Seriously, there are ways and ways of saying things…

Well, forget it!With how nice it is to talk about programming and code… :smiley: n the end you will want to learn LUA.You will see.It’s like playing the piano.

42

@Renoised, you gave me an idea to make a tecno song, titled “zero points”. :wink:

Pum
Pum
Pum
Zero pooooints!!!

Pum
Error
Pum
Zero pooooints!!!
…

Seriously, there are ways and ways of saying things…

Well, forget it!With how nice it is to talk about programming and code… :smiley: n the end you will want to learn LUA.You will see.It’s like playing the piano.

@Raul seems to be one the sweetest Spanish guys ever, are all Spanish guys this good ?:slight_smile:

43

@Raul seems to be one the sweetest Spanish guys ever, are all Spanish guys this good ? :slight_smile:

You will not see many Spaniards in these forums. Not many Indians. Between us, we must take care of each other ;).How is the book going?

Yeah, Raul is cool, but I’m convinced he’s crazy, and he keeps saying stuff to provoke responses from me :smiley:

Anyway, this is not the thread to discuss Raul’s state of mind, so if anyone wishes to discuss him, we really need a ‘Raul Appreciation Thread’.

I appreciate your dedication. But do not open that thread. It will probably be banned by a moderator.The pianoroll tool seems to have progress and is much more complex than doing a RAS. How is the RAS theme going? Any progress?

1 Like
44

Yeah, Raul is cool, but I’m convinced he’s crazy, and he keeps saying stuff to provoke responses from me :smiley:
Anyway, this is not the thread to discuss Raul’s state of mind, so if anyone wishes to discuss him, we really need a ‘Raul Appreciation Thread’.

Lol, that is one bad joke bro ?

45

You will not see many Spaniards in these forums. Not many Indians. Between us, we must take care of each other ;). How is the book going?

?

I wrote the proposals for No Starch Press, and I already have one book with them on the works. I would love to have it done with them as they are really good with geeky books and their presentation and content editing. I am expecting to get a response by Wednesday. Lets see. In any case there are a multitude of options so no worries.

I have also contacted some course sites for their interest in this topic. Let’s see how the initial response is. I will see it through one way or the other.

Side by side, doing Lua slowly but surely, also am working on VST code for some earlier stuff that I was preparing and some consulting work in between… but it’s all in a day’s work and I am a persistent guy. :slight_smile:

46

I wrote the proposals for No Starch Press, and I already have one book with them on the works. I would love to have it done with them as they are really good with geeky books and their presentation and content editing. I am expecting to get a response by Wednesday. Lets see. In any case there are a multitude of options so no worries.

I have also contacted some course sites for their interest in this topic. Let’s see how the initial response is. I will see it through one way or the other.

Side by side, doing Lua slowly but surely, also am working on VST code for some earlier stuff that I was preparing and some consulting work in between… but it’s all in a day’s work and I am a persistent guy. :slight_smile:

Sounds good! The interesting thing is that the project does not remain stagnant, as it does with other ideas. Undoubtedly, the best way is to be persistent and open.Although the book is in English, it would be very nice to be in digital format to download.Possibly it can be translated into other languages.

…

@frenetic_friend.I had an idea to talk to you about, but he preferred to say nothing.I think it is possible to make the pianoroll detect the selected note in the pattern editor, so that it centers the octave to which it belongs in the pianoroll. I think a good idea would be to add a checkbox to enable this feature.The piano roll would move up and down when editing. As it can show at least 2 octaves, it would not be over-moving. That is, the tool do not center the selected note, but at least a couple of octaves.Thus, the tool offers all the time a concordance with the pattern editor.

Calculating, if they are 2 octaves, for 10 octaves would have 5 movements. If they are 3 octaves then 3 or 4 movements.Or something like that…

47

I had an idea to talk to you about, but he preferred to say nothing.

I’m not getting this phrase. Still curious what it means.

I think it is possible to make the pianoroll detect the selected note in the pattern editor, so that it centers the octave to which it belongs in the pianoroll.

Actually, good idea. Thanks. Will try it.

48

I’m not getting this phrase. Still curious what it means.

Sorry…I want to say, that long ago I had an idea (the previously mentioned idea of pursuing the octaves detecting notes), but I preferred to comment not anything, I prefer not overwhelm you with new features. You have enough to make the whole pianoroll work correctly.

However, I think it’s a good idea, maybe to add it in a second phase in your pianoroll.

49

Amazing stuff! Would really like to try this out - this is the missing link for me personally.

50

I would also like to test out this Piano_Roll tool. Perhaps the OP would be kind enough to release the beta for testing?

51

Currently I’m working on algorithm to place notes in track so that they don’t stand on the way of their neigbors or occasionaly delete them.

My guess is that there’s some work being done here. This kind of stuff can get very tricky in the detail…

52

great thread. very excited about this.