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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0000090OpenMPTFeature Requestpublic2016-09-14 10:38
Reporterharbinger Assigned To 
PrioritynormalSeverityfeatureReproducibilityN/A
Status newResolutionopen 
Platformx86OSWindowsOS VersionXP
Product VersionOpenMPT 1.18.03.00 (upgrade first) 
Summary0000090: Better Sample-to-Instrument Assignment
Description

Creating a mixture of samples and instruments is tedious and oftentimes confusing with the current code. Additionally, it is possible, under specific circumstances, to define a "Pattern Editor instrument" (that can be called in the Pattern Editor but doesn't exist as an Instrument per se), which is merely a sample call. This would be indicated by an "s" prefix in the Instruments menu in the Pattern Editor when other "real" instruments exist.
What we need is a clearer way to set up sample-to-instrument declarations. Yes, drag-and-drop is pretty simple, but it would be good to have the sample and instrument slots all set up from one place.

Attached is a mockup of my idea.

You would be able to view up to 16 sample slots at a time, each 16 separated into tabs (which increase as you add sample slots). You can also sort the slot list by Sample ID or by instrument ID.
Each row holds the ID of sample slots, sequentially if sorted by Sample ID. The first field in the row is an editable box which allows you to name/rename the sample. If the sample slot is not present in the file, the sample name is blank and the rest of the controls are disabled. If you wish to assign the sample to an instrument slot, you check the button between them to link the sample to the instrument, then open the combobox under the Instrument Slot list in that row and choose the Instrument Slot ID, which always has one plus the number of assigned Instruments. (That is, if you've already created 2 instrument slots, you can choose from 1 - 3, where choosing slot 3 creates a new Instrument Slot.)

For multisampling an instrument, you can do a quick sample mapping in the Note Range comboboxes (which become enabled only when the link button is set and the Instrument Slot is chosen). Of course, more detailed sample mapping can be done in the Instruments page.

If you wish to assign a plugin to the Instrument Slot (whether or not it is sample based), you can choose here from the Plugin List combobox.

The only drawback is the use of null samples (sample slot 0) which you would normally assign for instruments that are plugin-based. When sorted by sample, the null sample cannot be shown, but normally these are created in the Instruments page anyway. In the above example, in order to designate a plugin to an instrument, 3 extra empty sample slots are created and marked "none." This is not a problem -- until you use the Clean Up function, which will eliminate the empty slots, but the plugin-based instruments would be intact, just not visible in this dialog -- until you sort this dialog by instrument. Thinking about it now, it might be useful to include an icon for creating sample slots when none are assigned. Care must be taken to keep this dialog simple, however, as we don't want to transplant the Sample page to this dialog. The whole object here is to quickly define the sample list and link samples to instruments or instruments to plugins.

This request is easier said that done, i'm sure, but we're not adding new functions except those that deal with GUI-to-data input.

Steps To Reproduce

For example, drag-and-drop a sample into the Sample Display into a new IT-type track. Then create a new sample slot, but do NOT assign it to an instrument (we're not sure what we want to do with it yet). But don't put a waveform into this slot #2 yet. Now go over to the Instruments page and create the first instrument, but without the existing sample (we're going to use another sample, which will be the one in slot #2). Drag-and-drop a sample into the Envelope window. Normally this would (or should) create a new sample slot and assign it to this instrument. However, you'll notice (both by the Sample Map and the Samples page) that instead, sample #1 is overwritten while sample #2 remains empty. It will do this everytime. If you try to assign the instrument's Sample Map to all sample #2, and drag-and-drop another sample, it will again overwrite the first sample slot, and re-assign the sample #1 to the instrument.

TagsNo tags attached.
Attached Files
Sample-Instruments Manager.png (37,327 bytes)   
Sample-Instruments Manager.png (37,327 bytes)   
Has the bug occurred in previous versions?
Tested code revision (in case you know it)

Relationships

related to 0000831 new Provide a way of easily creating multisampled instruments 

Activities

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2011-03-22 20:46 harbinger New Issue
2011-03-22 20:46 harbinger File Added: Sample-Instruments Manager.png
2016-09-14 10:38 Saga Musix Relationship added related to 0000831