Topic by Zedd

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Topic: Wish List Item > MUTE button on GUI

I have PianoTeq set up to ALWAYS launch on start up of my computer.

That doesn't mean I always want it active and making sound because PianoTeq is always on, launched and ready, even when I am using my DAW or playing with other Standalone VIs in the interim periods.

As such, I have to pull down the volume fader of PianoTeq when I don't want to hear it's output. Turning it back up to the right level when activating PianoTeq's output again requires more care to raise it to the default level.

It would be very convenient if there were a MUTE button or checkbox on the front of the interface alongside all the other buttons (like Save and Freeze) or right beside the Volume Slider maybe. Much user to activate and deactivate the audio output that way, without always dealing with the Volume Slider to achieve this task.

Since volume information is loaded with the preset, it would be good if the MUTE function was separate from the preset information so that even if you load a new preset, the output remains muted until you deactivate the MUTE button or checkbox.

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Thanks for listening. I do have a few other suggestions, so please let me know if there is a better place to be posting these.

MacPro OSX 10.12.6 (Sierra)

Reply by brundlefly

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Re: Wish List Item > MUTE button on GUI

Zedd wrote:

That doesn't mean I always want it active and making sound...

In that case, the preferable solution would be to have a function that suspend's PTQ's processing so that it's not wasting CPU cycles.

In the mean time, using a DAW to host your instruments will address both of these needs, allowing you to mute or suspend/disconnect instruments as needed.

Reply by davidizquierdo82

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Re: Wish List Item > MUTE button on GUI

+1

I also think a "mute" button could be helpful, I use to compare pianos within Kontakt player and also among these and PTQ sometimes, and I constantly need to mute Kontakt pianos ot only hear PTQ but I cannot do it the other way round, I have to shut down PTQ when I only want to hear Kontakt pianos...

I can pull the volume bar down to minimum on PTQ too, but I then don't remember where it was once I'm back to playing on PTQ, left click on the instrument list won't serve as a solution because .it will reset all parameters which is not convenient either.

P85>Kawai CA97>Numa XGT>FP90X>LX706
Pianoteq 8 Pro (all instruments) + Organteq 2
i7 4790K W11 64bits + UMC1820 + MTM + DT770 pro X
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Reply by Zedd

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Re: Wish List Item > MUTE button on GUI

brundlefly wrote:

In that case, the preferable solution would be to have a function that suspend's PTQ's processing so that it's not wasting CPU cycles.

Indeed, this MUTE button should ideally disable the processing to reducethe CPU load (BUT ONLY IF it does not disable PTQ from continuing to capture all MIDI played on the keyboard).

brundlefly wrote:

In the mean time, using a DAW to host your instruments will address both of these needs, allowing you to mute or suspend/disconnect instruments as needed.

Using the DAW means launching my DAW, and I just want an active piano when I start up my computer, and I also like customizing sounds (and comparing them with other Standalone instruments like Kontakt, as davidizquierdo82 mentioned) without launching my DAW.

More importantly---as mentioned above---the idea to ALWAYS have PTQ launched is also to ALWAYS have the MIDI being captured. Not only does this capture MIDI demos for me with a time stamp to match recorded audio of anything played with any instrument on my keyboard, but it has also saved my ass numerous times. Even when working in my DAW and I realized I had lost a performance because the record button hadn't been activated, PTQ was listening in the background and captured the performance so I could drag it into my DAW.

The MIDI capture feature is so awesome. I plan to use it for at least a billion years.

MacPro OSX 10.12.6 (Sierra)

Reply by brundlefly

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Re: Wish List Item > MUTE button on GUI

Zedd wrote:

Indeed, this MUTE button should ideally disable the processing to reduce the CPU load (BUT ONLY IF it does not disable PTQ from continuing to capture all MIDI played on the keyboard).

Ah, okay; I had not realized that was the reason for having it open all the time. A lot of DAWs have that 'always recording' capability as well though my preferred one, Cakewalk, does not. I could have used it a few times over the years.

In any case I imagine it would be possible for Pianoteq to have its audio rendering engine turned off and still do background MIDI recording.

Reply by Zedd

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Re: Wish List Item > MUTE button on GUI

brundlefly wrote:

In any case I imagine it would be possible for Pianoteq to have its audio rendering engine turned off and still do background MIDI recording.

I hope so... though fortunately the burden of PTQ on my CPU is not enough to worry about too much... I often have PTQ and other Standalones launched and muted even while I am using my DAW.

The brilliant thing about PianoTeq as the capturer of all MIDI (versus a DAW that can do it) is that PianoTeq will capture everything even when your DAW is not launched or if your DAW crashes.

Also, it retains your MIDI for "a billion years". What DAW can boast that!?!?

Last edited by Zedd (04-05-2022 22:00)
MacPro OSX 10.12.6 (Sierra)