SynthFont updated to v1.342; VSTSynthFont updated to v1.047

5th January 2010 - KVR Audio News

SynthFont has been updated to v1.342 and VSTSynthFont has been updated to v1.047.

Recent changes in VSTSynthFont:

v1.047: Introduced the first Custom Feature supported by Viena: "Always play sample to end". When checked, note off events will not have any effect, the sample will play to end. Loops are not supported. Custom features are supported by ALL products in the SynthFont series. Other programs should be capable of ignoring these features.
v1.046: Changed the Hint window to a type that doesn't always leave the shadow behind.
v1.045: The fix for 24 bit GIGA files in 1.043 made the instrument unable to read standard 16 bit stereo GIGA files.
v1.044: This version fixes a problem with Sonar loading an undefined SoundFont into track 1. (Sonar calls VSTSynthFont using the "vendorSpecific" function, but with unsuitable parameters which VSTSynthFont did not check for.).
v1.043: VSTSynthFont version 1.043 fixes the problem with 24 bit GIGA files also fixed in SynthFont version 1.310.

We haven't reported any SynthFont news at KVR since v1.202 (which was withdrawn), so a full listing of changes since then is included below, version by version.

Version 1.342

Bug fixes:

1.341 lost the ability to restore the selected SoundFont from the Arrangement file.
In the Pianoroll, "Edit note", "Standard length" was often wrong.
TransposeAll values not displayed when reading back from the Arrangement file.
Removed some other minor bugs in "MIDI Events".

New features:

You can select notes in the Pianoroll by right-clicking in the virtual keyboard. Now you can unselect all notes as well with a second click.

Others:

"Delete notes" button in Pianoroll Batch Edit deletes all notes when no were selected. Warning message now displayed.

Version 1.341

Bug fixes:

The new Vista/Win7 compatible program icons were lost.
Track layers were silent.
Vol & Pan initially not displayed in tracks list.
Default SoundFont Override did not work for tracks with multiple program changes.

New features:

New button in Pianoroll: Select/Unselect all notes in track.
It is now an option to store an altered track order in the MIDI file (and not in the Arrangement) when saving the MIDI file.

Others:

Previously SynthFont always stored a METAEVENT for the track name in the MIDI file for all tracks when saving the file. Now it is only stored if a) previously stored or b) if the track name has been changed in the tracks list.

Version 1.340

Bug fixes:

The new color scheme choice "Even Greener" was not memorized.
SynthFont was not able to restore the position of the main window.
Version 1.330 lost the ability to read mute state from the arrangement.
Version 1.330 lost some buttons in Pianoroll/Note editor.
Some VST instruments produced no sound.
Improved the Pianoroll editor and fixed a number of bugs.
different loop points for linked stereo samples now plays correctly.

New features:

This version will only once show the missing WEnc.ocx warning if you click "Yes to All" in the dialog box.
There is a function for finding lost MIDI files, called "Find lost MIDI files", in the dropdown menu on the toolbar button "Open MIDI or Arrangement".
New button [+] in the Pianoroll window for adding a new MIDI track.

Version 1.330

Bug fixes:

Often you couldn't play a MIDI file directly after saving it.
Problem when shifting selected notes up/down in the Pianoroll.
The track order arrangement feature didn't work very well.
Problem with Pitch Band in MIDI files created with GuitarPro.
The buttons in the track list header would not always be correctly aligned.
Sometimes it took too much time and CPU resources to update the tracks list.
Improved emptying of VST effects and instruments when playing has stopped.
Improved GIGA file support (some GIGA files had additional noise). Maestro_concert_grand_v2 also works now.
In some cases the song length calculated before playing was incorrect.
Exception when restoring from minimized to the notification area.
Plus the normal bug fixes, as found in all those exception reports.
And finally, fixed a large number of minor bugs and inconsistencies.

New features:

Two new checkboxes in "Files & Folders": "Keep visible" – check to keep Files & Folders visible when double-clicking to open a file; and "Autoplay" – check to start playing immediately after double-clicking to open a file.
Splitting a track with events for more than one MIDI channel is now optional the first time you open the MIDI file.
One new color scheme: "Even greener". This is equal to SynthFont's original Green scheme. Also the other schemes have been slightly changed.
New icons.

Version 1.326

Bug fixes:

The normal bug fixes.
You can now define where to save VST effects settings: in the Arrangement or in the SynthFont.ini Configuration Settings file (for common use).
Lots of other minor improvements.

Version 1.325

Bug fixes:

The normal bug fixes.
In version 1.322 a not so good change was made: tempo changes in all other tracks but track 1 were ignored. In this version all tempo changes are moved to track 1 instead.

Version 1.324

Bug fixes:

A silly bug introduced in version 1.323 made Live Input Mode inoperable.

Version 1.323

Bug fixes:

A silly bug introduced in version 1.321 made program changes sometimes come too late.
Fixed a large number of other bugs.
The Karaoke Lyrics form was made useless in version 1.316.
In Pianoroll, Batch edit, Change note length section: when selecting a "Standard lengths" value, the value "Change to" was not always correct.

New feature:

Introduced the first Custom Feature supported by Viena: "Always play sample to end". When checked, note off events will not have any effect, the sample will play to end. Loops are not supported. Custom features are supported by ALL products in the SynthFont series. Other programs should be capable of ignoring these features.

Version 1.322

Bug fixes:

Fixed a bug causing an exception when closing Live Input mode.

Other issues:

By default track 1 is the Tempo track. SynthFont has up to now also accepted tempo changes in all other tracks. This has been changed.

Version 1.321

Bug fixes:

Some bugs related to the Live Input mode, for example, you can now change both SoundFont and Preset for a temporary track.
A few other reported bugs fixed.

New feature:

When drawing in the Controllers window in Pianoroll, the first mouse click will "snap to the grid" if the "Snap to grid" button is checked.

Version 1.320

Bug fixes:

Tried to fix a few bugs related to the Bank Manager for SoundFont Banks and the SoundFont Pool.
A few reported exceptions fixed.

Version 1.319

Bug fixes:

When playing a song, pushing the pause button and then the stop button, SynthFont would hang.
Some SoundFonts in a multi-program track were not found when opening an Arrangement.
A number of reported exceptions fixed.

Version 1.318

Bug fixes:

Converting a list of MIDI files to WMA wasn't allowed.
When opening an arrangement, the VST effects always default to the mix option, even if saved as "replace".
Since a few versions back SynthFont hasn't handled track layers correctly.
Tried to fix a few more reported exception bugs.

Version 1.317

Bug fixes:

Improved handling of VST effects and instruments.
Fixed the faulty behavior of CC Pedal Hold introduced in 1.316.
Fixed some Karaoke Lyrics window bugs.
MIDI Program 127, Gunshot, was not accepted.
The "I want to pay my fair share and become a registered supporter." button did not work.
Tried to fix a few more reported exception bugs.

Version 1.316

Bug fixes:

The Tuning Scale offsets in Setup could not be edited correctly.
Changed the behavior of CC Pedal Hold to avoid piling up notes.
Recording to an audio track fixed.
Tried to fix a few more reported exception bugs.

Version 1.315

Bug fixes:

A major flaw fixed: SynthFont could not find the home folder.

Version 1.314

Bug fixes:

All versions since 1.300 have failed to respond correctly to MIDI Program Change events.
The very strange MP3 conversion bug now finally(?) fixed.
Editing of MIDI Program Change events in the Events List not working correctly.
Tried to fix a few more reported exception bugs.

Version 1.313

Bug fixes:

The fix for 24 bit GIGA files in 1.312 made the program unable to read standard 16 bit stereo GIGA files.
Made one more attempt to find the reason for the elusive MP3 encoding error randomly popping up. There are now two alternative MP3 encoding libraries "lame_enc.dll" and "bladeenc.dll". If you do not need MP3 encoding capabilities, you can safely remove both files.
Tried to fix a few reported exception bugs.

Version 1.312

Bug fixes:

The version number in 1.311 was scrambled (was 1.3.1.1).
Toontrack Ezdrummer, and possibility some other VST instruments did not work.

Version 1.311

Bug fixes:

On some systems the program would get stuck in an infinite loop at start-up.

Version 1.310

Bug fixes:

Improved handling of VST effects. In some case the VST window would be lost.
SynthFont can now read 24 bit GIGA files.
Fixed a VST Instrument bug when starting to play from the middle of the song.
Removed some reported exception bugs.

New features:

Added some minor MIDI editing features.
You can now also change the Time Signature in the Events List.
You can copy and paste events in the Events List.
In Pianoroll, the "Change time (position) of events" function on"Edit Track" has been extended.

Version 1.309

Bug fixes:

Removed some reported exception bugs.

Version 1.308

Bug fixes:

Removed some reported exception bugs.
Fixed a few buffer overruns.
Minor user interface improvements.

Version 1.307

Bug fixes:

Version 1.306 had a very BAD BUG making it impossible to use in Live Input Mode.

Version 1.306

Bug fixes:

On some systems the program would enter into an infinite loop during start-up and never show the main window.
When resuming playback after a pause the the Playback Progress showed the wrong, still running, value.
Full support for Windows XP/Vista themes.
Fixed a number of other user interface glitches.
When opening a MIDI file "AAA", the arrangement file "AAA" was also read even if it referred to a different MIDI file. Fixed.
Fixed quite a few reported exceptions.

Version 1.305

Bug fixes:

In version 1.304 some notes with low velocities became inaudible when using the standard SoundFont SYNTHGMS.
Fixed quite a few reported exceptions.
Improved the new mechanisms for handling VST Effects and Instruments.
Fixed the "Edit Track" / "Change time positions of all events" in Pianoroll.
Changed the open SoundFont/preview Preset function ("Play a sample") to "play on keyboard".

Version 1.304

Bug fixes:

Fixed some reported exceptions.
Completely new mechanisms for handling VST Effects and Instruments. I recommend that you rescan your VST folders if you feel that SynthFont has not been able to find some VST files before.

Version 1.303

Bug fixes:

Fixed some reported exceptions.

Version 1.302

Bug fixes:

Fixed some reported exceptions.

Version 1.301

Bug fixes:

Version 1.300 seemed to have a problem with the WMA library on startup if you had installed the update only. Always on Linux/Wine systems as well.
Fixed some other bugs reported since launch of 1.300.

Version 1.300

Bug fixes:

Versions 1.200-1.202 did not always initialize correctly at startup.
Sometimes the Mixer faders did not update the correct track.
Removed some "Cannot focus a disabled window" errors.
Fixed a DLS-file read bug.
Some Non-registered Parameter Controllers were incorrectly interpreted.
Would not scan for VST effects in sub-folders if the main folder was empty.
Note length will again change while note is sounding as Beats per Minute change.
Looping is now much more accurate.
Better sync with VST instruments.
Fixed a few Pianoroll editor bugs (e.g. move note up/down).
Smoother Pianoroll scrolling.
No lyrics for some Karaoke files - or ordinary MIDI files with lyrics.
The program caption would not always display the name of the current arrangement file.
Track layers and audio tracks were not read back from the arrangement file.
The toolbar above the tracks list was not activated after playing to a file.
The SoundFont generators ModEnvToPitch and ModEnvToFilterFc did not always work as expected.
You could not change the MIDI Out Port state for more then one track at a time.
MIDI Out exception when stopping rendering engine.
Fast forwarding with MIDI Out active wasn't really doing so well.
Playing a Preset sample to the MIDI Out Port from the Preset and File Open dialogs did not work - preset did not change.
A few other minor bugs reported by Eurekalog.

Features:

A much improved Karaoke feature.
Option to select "Cancel" and return to the application when quitting then program and SynthFont asks to save the arrangement.
Added a "Clear row" button to the SoundFonts Override dialog.
Added a confirmation dialog when SynthFont wants to use a SoundFont bank from the list of User Banks.
Play Control window can be made transparent.
Playing order for the two Playlists (Favorites and Folder) is now saved. Many other changes in the Playlist feature.
In File Open dialog a now switch: "Read data from Arrangement file". Uncheck to avoid reading a bad arrangement and only the MIDI file.
You can use the mouse wheel to scroll Pianoroll up/down.
Pianoroll editing functions updated. If you click on an existing note while inserting new notes, then move note function will be activated. if you click in an empty space with the move note function activated, a new note will be inserted.
New button in the Tracks list header: "MIDI Program". Use this to change the actual MIDI program number in the MIDI file, and not in the arrangement.
New button in Pianoroll, above list of markers, to start playing from the selected marker.
Plus many more minor improvements.