[linux-audio-dev] more on XAP Virtual Voice ID system

[David Olofson]

On Wednesday 08 January 2003 09.15, Tim Hockin wrote:
> > It's just that there's a *big* difference between latching
> > control values when starting a note and being able to "morph"
> > while the note is played... I think it makes a lot of sense to
> > allow synths to do it either way.
>
> Should controls have a flag that indicates whether they are
> continuous vs note-on ?

They would have to be different *types*, as the semantics are totally 
different.


> They can certainly be both or either one. 

Yes, and that's my problem with it. Or rather; it's ok for synths to 
be able to hint that they use controls this way, but designing the 
voice addressing/allocation scheme around it has serious implications.


> It is a hint to allow the host to send init-params at init time
> only (and a hint to the user). Obviously the plugin has to ignore
> it no matter what.

Right, I think... As long as they're really just normal controls, and 
work *exactly* like normal controls (apart from the way the synth 
"samples" the values), this is fine.

Hosts may or may not care, though; if the user *really* wants to put 
initializers some time before the actual start of notes, it's not 
really a problem, although it may indeed cause some synths to waste 
real voices on tracking voice controls. (That's why I suggested some 
synths might want to use Virtual Voices until sound is to be 
produced.)


//David Olofson - Programmer, Composer, Open Source Advocate

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