BackupBand 1.1 needs testers

[j_e_f_f_g]

http://wikisend.com/download/336478/backupband1_1.zip

BackupBand 1.1 is on its way. I'm releasing this alpha version for testing before I post the final version to SourceForge. Documentation isn't yet completed. This alpha contains only the Files that changed from the previous version. It should be unzipped on top of the old version in order to obtain a full working version.

This version is all about customization. You can completely remake the user interface, deciding exactly what graphical controls are shown, where they appear, and the size. This is done by creating a text file named "default.layout" (in the Styles/Window folder) specifying how you want the window (and panels) to look. I call this a "window layout" file. With this level of customization, BackupBand can run on a high definition monitor, and the graphical controls won't be tiny and difficult to operate. Conversely, you can run BackupBand on a small 600 by 480 touchscreen like a handheld device, and the controls won't be huge and pushed offscreen. BackupBand is useable with a wide range of screen sizes. Plus, you can display only those controls that matter to you.

In the previous version, the "Chords" panel had 2 piano keyboards -- one to play major chords, and another to play minor chords. The new version has a single keyboard, and you play various chords by clicking the various mouse buttons, and optionally holding down the Shift, Ctrl, and Windows keys. For example, clicking the left button plays a major chord. Clicking the right button plays a minor chord. Clicking the middle button plays a suspended 4th. Holding down the Ctrl key while pressing left, right, or middle button plays a major 7, minor 7, or dominant 7 respectively. Holding down the shift key while pressing left, right, or middle button adds the 9th. (You can hold both the Ctrl and Shift simultaneously to add both the 7th and 9th to the chord). Holding down the Window key while pressing left, right, or middle button play a diminished, dominant with the 7th in the bass, or augmented, respectively. In conclusion, you can now use the mouse to play just about every chord possible in a BackupBand style, via a single graphical keyboard.

You can assign just about every function to any of the three mouse buttons, and most keys on the computer keyboard. (A Key command involves holding the ALT key and pressing one other key.) You configure the mouse/keyboard via the Setup -> General page. (The 4 buttons under "Assign functions"). For example, click on "PC Keys" to assign keys to functions. You'll be presented with a list of functions. Preceding each function is the key assigned to that function. For example, Alt + S is assigned to the "Change style" function. Click on the function name to select it, and then press whatever computer key you want assigned to that function. The mode buttons offer further customization of the function. Click the Help button for details on a specific function.

Alt + H brings up a help page that lists some key shortcuts that are already permanently mapped to various functions.

There are many improvements to graphical controls. For example, if you click and hold the mouse on an up or down arrow, the control's value will continuously change until you release the mouse button. You can also double-click on numerous controls to directly enter a value.

A small rectangle in the upper right corner (beside the panel bar) lights up if an audio xrun happens. The rectangle flashes if there are a series of xruns. You can click on the rectangle to quickly bring up the audio device screen to adjust the buffer size.

There is a dedicated "Tap Tempo" button, Click on it 4 times at the desired speed for the tempo. Alternately, you can hold down the Shift key and press the Space bar 4 times. There is also a Ritard button. Each time you click it, the tempo slows down a little more. The Accelerando button does the opposite. The up and down arrows on your computer keyboard raise and lower the tempo, and the number keys let you directly enter a new tempo.

When you click on a variation button (Intro, Verse, Chorus, or Bridge) during play, the button flashes until the variation finally locks in.

There is much more flexibility and power in controling all the features via midi controllers and usb pedals.

[Luc]

I just gave it a try. Do I have to compile it? It's not working.

I ran ./BackupBand and got a full screen warning telling me "You must set JACK's sample rate to 44100." Grumble...

I did, and now I get: "./BackupBand" terminated by signal SIGSEGV (Address boundary error)

I also tried StyleEdit. It runs and I see "Make pattern" and "Make MIDI," both with Drum, Bass, Guitar and Song buttons. Whichever I click gets me a blank screen with up and down arrows on the corner and OK/Cancel buttons at the bottom.

Awaiting instructions...

[brau]

Sign me up, would love to test it out.

[j_e_f_f_g]

Luc, out of curiousity, did you try the previous version 1.0, and if so, did that work for you?

Try this new version, but first delete the config file named ~/BackupBand/BackupBand0. (<== that's a zero)

http://wikisend.com/download/336402/backupband1_1.zip

If this "BackupBand" works for you, then next try the optimized "BackupBand_test". If the latter doesn't work, it's a problem with gcc compiler optimizing.

p.s. you don't have to set jack to 44K to test. Just click OK. The playback will simply be off from A440 tuning.

[j_e_f_f_g]

brau,

Here's a self-contained version of backupband. It contains the minimum set of files needed to run it (minus docs). Unzip to your Home directory, and run "BackupBand".

http://wikisend.com/download/322386/backupband1_1.zip

[Luc]

This is the first time I ever run BackupBand, so I never tried version 1.0.

I just tried the new version. Both BackupBand and BackupBand_test give me the same error message as before, "./BackupBand_test" terminated by signal SIGSEGV (Address boundary error)

Sorry.

[j_e_f_f_g]

Luc, run this version from a terminal window, and tell me what it prints before the crash.

http://wikisend.com/download/132654/test.zip

[Luc]

Code: Select all

./BackupBand 
var initialization
load config
enter create_main_window
scaling gui
show window
leave create_main_window
load sounds
finish load
open devs
free temp
select style
show panel
start beat
msg loop
fish: "./BackupBand" terminated by signal SIGSEGV (Address boundary error)

fish is my shell, in case you're wondering.

[j_e_f_f_g]

Luc, here are 3 more versions named 1, 2, and 3.

http://wikisend.com/download/568804/test.zip

Start with 1. It won't make any sound. Just verify that it runs (and quits) without crashing.

If that works, try 2. The drums won't play, but if you click on the piano keys (at the bottom of the window) you should hear a guitar chord strum.

If that works, try 3. Now when you click on the piano keys (at the bottom of the window) you should hear the full band.

If 3 works, go to "Setup -> MIDI -> Device" and select the "Alsa sequencer". If you gotten this far, that should trigger the crash. Rerun 3, and if there's something else besides the Alsa sequencer, test if selecting it also crashes.

[Luc]

Alright.

#1 ran fine, no problems.

#2 ran fine, no problems, but... What piano keys? I never saw a set of piano keys. I just had a blank screen with SETUP at the top, same as in #1. I connected jack-keyboard to it on Catia's patchbay, and still no piano keys in sight or anything for that matter. Just a blank screen with SETUP at the top.
That entire Setup section seems to work well. I clicked almost everything there and it worked. Then I let it save and it created a ~/BackupBand file that doesn't seem to contain anything, just one line that is barely readable. It seems truncated or something. Is it binary?

#3 crashed with the usual error message.

[j_e_f_f_g]

Aha! I found and fixed the bug. BackupBand was crashing when it couldn't find all its needed data files. My first post mentioned that you needed to first install version 1.0, and then unzip the 1.1 beta on top of it to get a full, working version. Let me guess -- you didn't do that? You were running 1.1 executable without all the data files?

Here's a zip that contains the fixed 1.1 executable, all the minimum needed data files, and docs. (Source code is omitted.) This should work for you.

http://wikisend.com/download/622670/backupband1_1.zip

Note: In order for the executable to find the data files, everything needs to be in one folder (like how it is zipped up). Alternately, you can separate the executables from the data files, but in this case you must put all the data files in either a BackupBand directory in your Home folder, or in /usr/share/BackupBand

P.S. BackupBand0 is a binary file containing your custom settings. It should be small.

[Luc]

Alright! Everything works now. Nice program.

Very quiet, though, even with all volumes at 100 and Vol Boost on.

[j_e_f_f_g]

Very quiet

During your testing, you probably went into "Setup -> Accompaniment", changed the volume there, then saved your settings when prompted. Changes made via Setup are permanently stored, master settings.

Either go back into Setup and adjust everything how you want BackupBand to always run. Or just delete that small binary file ~/BackupBand/BackupBand0 to get rid of your saved setup.

[Luc]

Actually, I had deleted the ~/BackBand directory before I ran the latest version you sent. And running it didn't create it again, which I kind of expected.

So I ran Setup, raised volumes and exited, so BB would prompt me to save, which I did, and now it sounds better, but I still think it could be louder.

[brau]

j_e_f_f_g -

It works without any issues so far. Still putting it through its paces, trying to configure the window and such, but as far as the back up bit goes, no issues.

Brau