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Feature Request
I am at a radio network in suburban Washington DC, seeking a replacement for Cool Edit Pro (CEP), which we have been using in long-form spoken-word programming on multiple desktops for nearly 13 years.
Our Chief Engineer has most of the facility running on Linux, and wants to make the move off of Windows on *all* computers here. To that end, I have been lobbying for Qtractor as our replacement for CEP, as it comes close to the feel and "muscle memory" everyone is already used to. But am being met by opposition on only one or two points -- the major point being the ability to work on one file in a single window (CEP allowed us to edit a single file outside of the multitrack environment). We need this to work on long spoken recordings where false starts, errs, umms, bad peaks and other errors contained in basic raw audio tracks need to be cleaned out prior to mixdown with music elements and other audio.
I dont know if this feature is already in QTractor (Im using an older version from the Lubuntu repository), but if not, I would like to propose it: make it possible to hotkey one single file or clip (SHIFT+right mouse, for example) and have it open in a dedicated window for editing *outside* of the overall project.
Thanks very much.
-AP in DC
re. Feature Request
re. make it possible to hotkey one single file or clip (SHIFT+right mouse, for example) and have it open in a dedicated window for editing *outside* of the overall project.
that would call for a separate application i'm afraid, most probably a designated audio file editor--i believe that audacity may perfectly fill the bill.
qtractor is more of the kind of a music producers oriented appllication. some tend to call it a DAW but I do stick with its actual designated function, a sequencer. the last thing it is is an audio file editor. and no, the feature you're asking in particular is not currently in effect (calling an external audio editor eg. audacity).
otoh. which are exactly the editing actions you're after that can only be or yet better accomplished on a dedicated audio (clip) editor but not with the general non-destructive actions on qtractor's main multi-track window, given enough and adequate zoom levels ?
seeya
Standalone multitrack file player with midi playback.
This may not relate to a feature request for Qtractor however not sure how to put up a idea on the forum.
I wanting and most likely others in my predicament a linux standalone multitrack player for live stage work.
16 track capacity with the ability to play midi track files at the same time which is sync to the audio files. Most likely created from other DAW such as Qtrator, Cubase and tracks and midi files stored in a song file director or in a compressed file for example - '001-my song.sng' There are file players available which do exactly that made by JoeCo in the UK however, it's expensive and doesn't support midi file playback.
What I envisage or require I'll best describe in point form.
1. Play 1 to 16 tracks to 1 of 8 audio outputs via Jack or ALSA? Midi tracks using Jackmidi or ALSA?
2. Must be able to remote control using a external connection via ethernet port or midi I.e.
A. Use a OSC app iPad to load next song or song number from a remote connection via network port, able to stop, start, next previous, loop markers transport control through app and local control.
B. Use raw midi bank sel cntrl 00 & cntrl 32 & program change to select and load song. First 3 digits in song name before '-' . There may be a better approach. Transport control using note on off or cntrl assignments.
3. On each song load ability to auto play however, send program changes ,midi messages prior to track starting? Could use a midi raw flat file for patch assignments. May ask why, external keyboard and midi dmx lighting can load correct patches before starting song. Always been an issue live.
4. audio and midi track channel output group assignments config stored in xml file included in song project directory.
5. Able to store loop points to replay a section within a song between markers and able to play into the section then loop back to a previous marker until told to play through. I.e. Play 16 bar section continuously.
With the work done on Qutractor and DrumKV1 I believe there maybe some interest.
I happy to donate $$ if it doable? I'm frustrated there isn't anything out there available without using a full DAW.
Rob
re. Standalone multitrack file player with midi playback.
well, this is kind of a tl;dr :)...
don't despair, i'll try and go through all your points and get back to you a little later.
while skimming on those, i believe qtractor does cover most say about 75% of the points above. i just have to have a closer look.
seeya.
cheers
Multitrack audio & midi player for live performances
Rui,
Thanks for your reply. Yeah take your time on a reply. I know it's a big ask.
If I had something like I've posted it would be marvelous.
I'd look at porting onto ARM such as raspberry Pi 2 and making a embedded player. That's my long set goal.
I'm not too good on the linux coding needed to do such a project. I've looked a the source for Qtractor and thought what would be involved to dissect out the parts needed? I've pondered but it's far too large a DAW to take this and that without the comprehensive knowledge needed about the Engine and audio streaming. For the moment a daemon app on terminal which did what I've outlined be a start. I'd believe such a player would be an worthy project to your other great programs here.
Cheers
Rob
re. multitrack file player with midi playback.
sorry for being later than late.
though, i'd still answer each one of your questions in very brief manners... sorry for that.
1. Play 1 to 16 tracks to 1 of 8 audio outputs via Jack or ALSA? Midi tracks using Jackmidi or ALSA?
while on qtractor's Files widget, usually the right-most pane, you probably missed that, besides a media content file organizer, it's also a media file player: it can play complete audio files and MIDI files as well; audio files are enqueued for audition on the first output audio bus, usually Audio Master Out; MIDI files, all or one channel or track, (depending whether it's a SMF 0 or 1) it will be sequenced or play through the first MIDI output bus, MIDI Master Out is the default.
that said, it all depends on whether you have those master outs connected through; the special case for the MIDI file player you ought to know that it needs a sound-module generator to render the MIDI evenets that are being spit out--eg. old GM multi-part/timbral synth, sampler, ROMpler, comes to mind here: fluidsynth, qsynth, timidity, etc. GM/GS/XG capable external equipment is on demand here ;) personally, I have always have a DB50XG nearby, just in case you missed one of my other gems (qxgedit.
2. Must be able to remote control using a external connection via ethernet port or midi I.e.
A. Use a OSC app iPad to load next song or song number from a remote connection via network port, able to stop, start, next previous, loop markers transport control through app and local control.
B. Use raw midi bank sel cntrl 00 & cntrl 32 & program change to select and load song. First 3 digits in song name before '-' . There may be a better approach. Transport control using note on off or cntrl assignments.
well, now you got me stranded there. the audio/MIDI file player feature mentioned above is not accessible or controllable from the outside, not even by MMC as the general qtractor transport controls are.
3. On each song load ability to auto play however, send program changes ,midi messages prior to track starting? Could use a midi raw flat file for patch assignments. May ask why, external keyboard and midi dmx lighting can load correct patches before starting song. Always been an issue live.
that seems to be an issue for the target sound-module/generato, synth, whatever, for which i referred on 1. qtractor does not incorporate any of those things. sorry.
4. audio and midi track channel output group assignments config stored in xml file included in song project directory.
the so called qtractor sessions does exactly that, i believe, when you load a multi-track/channel MIDI file: for SMF 0, each MIDI channel becomes a qtractor MIDI track, while on SMF 1, each MIDI track becames, obviously, a qtractor MIDI track.
however there's no such group concept in qtractor, other than each MIDI track may be assigned ie. routed to separate MIDI output bus.
5. Able to store loop points to replay a section within a song between markers and able to play into the section then loop back to a previous marker until told to play through. I.e. Play 16 bar section continuously.
ad-hoc vertical loop/cycle-points is currently possible in qtractor; vertical in the sense of the time-line, across all tracks; however it loops in there forever or until you act on it (loop (re)set). what you ask is probably something that i've been thinking about, something like a pattern-based, programmable/scriptable looper/sequencer that take location markers as its heart; never mind, it's still in my thoughts; not implemented yet. sorry.
cheers
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