Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
Forum Statistics

194,093 users have contributed to 42,911 threads and 257,915 posts.

In the past 24 hours, we have 6 new thread(s), 23 new post(s) and 82 new user(s).

  1. Home
  2. Sample Libraries
  3. Vienna Instruments Libraries
  4. VIenna VI floating window & server interface behavior

  • VIenna VI floating window & server interface behavior

    G
    G
    The floating window behavior of the Vienna VI is very annoying. Switch away from your sequencer app to your web browser or any other app, and the VI window is still there, over the other app. It's omnipresent. This has to change, IMO, please. Can we have the option to select float on or off?

    Plus, the Vienna Instruments AudioUnit Server Interface concept should to be modified so that we don't have all these little windows littering the sequencer desktop. When I click on a virtual instrument that's in an insert slot on a track in my sequence, I want the virtual instrument window to pop up instantly (ala Kontakt and every other VI I'm aware of). What I don't want to see is what is essentially a go-between window that pops up instead, asking me if I want to display the VI GUI. Not very elegant behavior, IMO, and creates unnecessary clutter. The AudioUnit Server Interface is like bad press agent for the Vienna VI GUI.
  • J
    J
    Gary, you've touched on something that a few others, including myself, have mentioned. Just think-- we only have HALF of the Cube! Imagine yourself using VI to do a Wagnerian-size score!!

    The floating consoles and AU-GUI interfaces indeed do get quite unwieldy very quickly. I do like the large console of VI, but I confess that I get lost and often go "click crazy" keeping up with which GUI interface goes with which console, ducking consoles onto the dock, etc., etc.

    I'd like to see, at the least, some sort of VI preference to disable the floating window option. This would accommodate those who don't mind the floating window as well as those who do. I'd thought about getting a second monitor, but that would only serve as a dumping ground with the consoles and AU-GUI clutter remaining.

    Also, if the AU-GUI must be there, I'd like to better understand how saving data in the AU-GUI differs from saving matrices in the console itself. Some people have stated that they don't bother with saving in the GUI ('.aupreset'), but if I don't save in both places my custom setups do not load. I really don't quite understand why this is necessary for some and not for others.

    But another thought I had must be directed at Audio Units itself. If this GUI option is indeed part of the function of Audio Units, then much could be remedied if the AU-GUI was ONE SINGLE WINDOW with a list of all loaded virtual instruments, whether VSL or not. A "hot" button could be by each instrument loaded in the sequence that would allow the user to choose at a glance which consoles of which instruments can be seen at any time in any combination.

    Yet, this observation brings me back to VI's integration with AU. VI is the only virtual instrument I have which dominates my system and screen the way it does. It is common to hit the space bar to start and stop playback, even if other instrument consoles are open and on top of the DAW. VI uses the space bar (where is that documented?) to turn certain PERFORM/CONTROL features on and off. It gets so confusing (being a creature of habit or 'standard') to hit the space bar to not only hear nothing playing back but also to have unwittingly deactivated an important control feature which must be searched and remedied before continuing. Not being able to reprogram this keystroke is a problem. If it IS possible to reprogram these computer keystrokes, I've not found that feature. I've only been able to assign and un-assign controller numbers.

    On the one hand, one can say that "it just takes some getting used to", but more and more it feels like your 3 year old kid who stands in front of the TV without regard to others who are watching.

    Once again, preference options to activate or deactivate these overrides would come in quite handy. Short of expecting an unlikely update of AU from Apple, it is even more crucial for VI to nestle itself a bit better into the OS without taking it over.

    ... and I can't get it out of my head that some people just don't have a problem with this--!!
  • R
    R
    hi guys!

    I do agree with you JWL.
    What would be also great is to have a main window that could resume and call out all the VI installed and used with the learn, optimize and reset buttons (I don't know if they can do it).

    The thing I don't like is to go through all my VI and click one by one on learn (I have 14 so far). Then call each of them and click on Optimize. It's a real pain!
  • P
    P
    re: the floating window.

    JWL, i don't reckon it's something i'm ever going to get used to, it's a right royal PITA [:D]

    when clicking on it to change a sound in DP, i always forget to click back on a window in DP. whilst the vienna window is on the top, you can't play a midi note from a controller keyboard, and i always think i've done something wrong! similarly, if i open up a new sequence containing viennna instruments, my first instinct is to hit the space bar (to play the sequence), but half the time the VI window is already on the top, so you need to click on a DP window straight away before you can do anything. I really hope they sort this soon [:)]
  • M
    M
    last edited
    last edited
    I agree 100% with you guys.
    In another topic, I posted:

    @Another User said:

    again, we thought this being a treat rather than a bug:
    1) When you close the GUI Window you actually hide it - clicking "Show GUI" makes it appear again
    2) You can minimize standalone.
    3) Staying on top: Consider if VI GUI won't be a floating window - it will disappear whenever you click another window - then you start searching for it.

    1) Anything that needs more clicks is not a feature to me - it starts to become a nuisance.
    2) I found that too. However, I think it is contrary to standard Mac OSX behaviour. One should be able to go to a different app and <Hide all others> but VI Standalone never hides, therefore - extra clicks or key commands (cmd-M)
    3) I agree 100% that the GUI should float, but only locally for Logic or whatever host is being used. All of Logic's Native plugins float (unless you choose not to), but they disappear completely when you bring the Finder or another app to the front. I really don't want a window that always floats in front of everything else that is open. There is no way to minimise the float GUI, so one is forced into extra clicks.

    I am already using VI in 2 jobs and it's amazing - but these issues really bug me and what is "simply a click or two" becomes hundreds of clicks. The same goes for the host not remembering the GUI's screen position. I imagine that VI is working slightly differently from "normal" plugins, but I'm making these suggestions in the interest of improving the workflow for all users.
    Hopefully the update will address these problems. Non-standard behaviour tends to always cause problems, as seen in the posts above.

    Regards - Colin
  • L
    L
    last edited
    last edited

    @paul lm said:

    half the time the VI window is already on the top, so you need to click on a DP window straight away before you can do anything. I really hope they sort this soon [:)]


    Same or me on Logic !
    Could it be corrected ? that's 2 windows to open/close plus what Paul said
  • H
    H
    paul im. are you the bass player that lived in paris?

    it's ron meza here.


    i am using Logic to house the VI au and yes that display gui window is nonsense as well as the fact that each instance doesn't say what track it belongs to.

    fortunately i use DP for work and logic as a slave ala giga studio so i only need to see those stupid floating nonsense windows from time to time.

    ron
  • J
    J
    One odd thing that's happening is that I'm starting to click in and out of ALL of my sub windows even when I'm not using VI.
  • H
    H
    I thought that the actual GUI-thing is simply not yet done.

    this little "display GUI" window is simply useless.
    When i doubleclick the insert in logic i exactly do it for one reason:
    to have the GUI displayed.


    Greets:
    HTF
  • L
    L
    That is for me the MAIN problem of the VI.
    I'm enjoying the working and easy repetition tools and so many other things.
  • M
    M
    Just installed the first 5 VSL Instruments DVDs; registered; updated the Syncrosoft key; etc, etc. I'm using the very latest versions of Syncrosoft software + VSL software (latest as of April 12, 2006). The Syncrosoft software shows all my registered products and codes. But in Logic when I instantiate a VSL Instrument, and then click on the 'Display GUI' button, nothing appears (ie: no GUI window appears). I've tried this a few times, and always no GUI window. I've even waited one hour after clicking on 'Dispaly GUI', but still with no result. What is going wrong here? I'm running Mac OS X 10.4.5 on a PPC G5 Mac, running latest version of Logic and using VSL as AU plug-in.

    BTW- I'd like to hear from the VSL team regarding updating/changing this 'Display GUI' nonsense. No other AU plug-in I own asks you to go through the extra step to display what should appear on its own without clicking on anything. Any updates in the near future to make this Display GUI button go away?

    Thanks.
  • T
    T
    I am not having any display problems in Logic, but if you are, it's probably a Logic thing. I just switched over to Logic a week or so ago, and I find it to be one buggy piece of software. Instruments stop playing all by themselves, files that were saved no longer open. Amazingly nasty. I do enjoy the program and find it wonderfully powerful, but I can't imagine working on a deadline with it. Gotta go check out DP again I suppose...

    Tom H
  • J
    J
    last edited
    last edited

    @tom@aerovons.com said:

    I am not having any display problems in Logic, but if you are, it's probably a Logic thing. I just switched over to Logic a week or so ago, and I find it to be one buggy piece of software. Instruments stop playing all by themselves, files that were saved no longer open. Amazingly nasty. I do enjoy the program and find it wonderfully powerful, but I can't imagine working on a deadline with it. Gotta go check out DP again I suppose...

    Tom H


    There is something seriously wrong with your set up. Logic does not behave that way. It sounds as though you have something corrupt in you computer. Logic is the most stable sequencer I have.
    You should trash your preferences and make sure you have the latest updates on all your 3rd party plug ins.
    J
  • T
    T
    last edited
    last edited

    @tom@aerovons.com said:

    I am not having any display problems in Logic, but if you are, it's probably a Logic thing. I just switched over to Logic a week or so ago, and I find it to be one buggy piece of software. Instruments stop playing all by themselves, files that were saved no longer open. Amazingly nasty. I do enjoy the program and find it wonderfully powerful, but I can't imagine working on a deadline with it. Gotta go check out DP again I suppose...

    Tom H


    There is something seriously wrong with your set up. Logic does not behave that way. It sounds as though you have something corrupt in you computer. Logic is the most stable sequencer I have.
    You should trash your preferences and make sure you have the latest updates on all your 3rd party plug ins.
    J

    No, it isn't my setup, if you go to the Logic users group on Apple you will see other long time Logic users experiencing the same problems. Freeze tracks often stop playing back and have to be refrozen or Logic restarted, and when both my main and safety copy of TWO different songs would not open yesterday another Logic user told me out to get around it, and that it had happened to him as well.

    So far using Logic has been like going on the Space Shuttle for me. Very powerful, very risky. [;)]

    TH
  • M
    M
    Tom,
    If you just switched to Logic, I assume you have v7.x on Mac. Did you also install all the required Pro-App updates? Many folks miss these and complain about instability.

    Look here:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301838">http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301838

    Are you force-using any Audio Units that didn't pass validation? This can also be problematic.

    Regards - Colin
  • H
    H
    last edited
    last edited

    @tom@aerovons.com said:

    I am not having any display problems in Logic, but if you are, it's probably a Logic thing. I just switched over to Logic a week or so ago, and I find it to be one buggy piece of software. Instruments stop playing all by themselves, files that were saved no longer open. Amazingly nasty. I do enjoy the program and find it wonderfully powerful, but I can't imagine working on a deadline with it. Gotta go check out DP again I suppose...

    Tom H


    There is something seriously wrong with your set up. Logic does not behave that way. It sounds as though you have something corrupt in you computer. Logic is the most stable sequencer I have.
    You should trash your preferences and make sure you have the latest updates on all your 3rd party plug ins.
    J

    No, it isn't my setup, if you go to the Logic users group on Apple you will see other long time Logic users experiencing the same problems. Freeze tracks often stop playing back and have to be refrozen or Logic restarted, and when both my main and safety copy of TWO different songs would not open yesterday another Logic user told me out to get around it, and that it had happened to him as well.

    So far using Logic has been like going on the Space Shuttle for me. Very powerful, very risky. [;)]

    TH


    Aaah, Comrade Tom, a lesson in life. Perhaps it would have better to stick with the Sputnik!

    I'm seriously considering changing from Logic as well. The freeze bug is just one of a few that spoil my compositional enjoyment on a fairly regular basis, and like you i've cruised the logic forums, searching for answers, only to find others have the same issues. I will miss the EXS MK11 though. A clever piece of Emagic development, and has proved useful.

    Now, the new Nuendo looks interesting..........!

    Regards,

    Alex.
  • T
    T
    last edited
    last edited

    @musos said:

    Tom,
    If you just switched to Logic, I assume you have v7.x on Mac. Did you also install all the required Pro-App updates? Many folks miss these and complain about instability.

    Look here:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301838">http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301838

    Are you force-using any Audio Units that didn't pass validation? This can also be problematic.

    Regards - Colin


    No none of the above applies here. And all units pass validation. Again, there are some pretty experienced Logic users out there with the same problems, especially the "tracks suddenly won't play back" thing.

    Do you know what the safest System version for Logic 7.2 is? I'm on 10.4.3 right now...

    Thanks
    Tom
  • J
    J
    I went to 7.2 and then went back to 7.1.1. It's much better. There are some problems in 7.2 that need worked out. 7.1.1 and OS 10.4.6 are great on my machine.
    a Dual Core 2.3 GHz with 4.5 G Ram.
    J
  • M
    M
    Tom@Aerovons.com wrote:

    "I am not having any display problems in Logic, but if you are, it's probably a Logic thing. I just switched over to Logic a week or so ago, and I find it to be one buggy piece of software."

    Hi Tom. No, it's not Logic's fault that the VSL V.I. won't display the GUI. I have been through my fair share of bugs with Logic over the years, but Logic has been running well since the last update, and ALL other AU plugs display and work well within Logic- just VSL V.I. won't display. VSL V.I. is also the only AU plug I know of that makes you click on a 'Display GUI' button.

    Later today I will once again go through the motions: repair permissions, try any stand-alone V.I. version to see if it will display, etc.

    Still hoping to hear from the VSL team on this problem.
  • T
    T
    last edited
    last edited

    @mdfmuse said:

    Tom@Aerovons.com wrote:

    "I am not having any display problems in Logic, but if you are, it's probably a Logic thing. I just switched over to Logic a week or so ago, and I find it to be one buggy piece of software."

    Hi Tom. No, it's not Logic's fault that the VSL V.I. won't display the GUI. I have been through my fair share of bugs with Logic over the years, but Logic has been running well since the last update, and ALL other AU plugs display and work well within Logic- just VSL V.I. won't display. VSL V.I. is also the only AU plug I know of that makes you click on a 'Display GUI' button.

    Later today I will once again go through the motions: repair permissions, try any stand-alone V.I. version to see if it will display, etc.

    Still hoping to hear from the VSL team on this problem.


    Regarding the "Display GUI" thing, yes, that's pretty silly. Of course you want to display it[;)]

    TH