Looking for State of the Art sound tools.

Alternatively titled “A Noobs Second Project!”

Ok, my first project got as far as I wanted. (I made a burning bush, wohot!) I could spend my time refining it to much more interesting, but I think Ill move on.

My next project will be a SL recording studio. Now, I know that sound mixers exist in SL, but I think my vision will bring a LOT to the table. My RL hobby is sound recording and mixing, I hope that I can bring some of my personal experience to this project. However, I want to do more than just create a copy of reality, I want to tweak it, bend it and just have a lot of fun. Also, I plan on becoming FILTHY RICH! Muwhahha….

I already have a design (on digital paper) of a 99% in world mixing/recording system, along with a separate stand alone play back device. (I say 99% as the base samples still have to come from RL as audio uploads) I’m just now in the discovery/prototype functionality testing phase. This is where I “test” basic assumptions about how this will work in SL, such as how to implement llPlayLoopMaster, test my theory on creating a messaging buss between objects, etc.

What Id like to do is see what people are already doing with in game UI for music performance. If anyone wants to IM in game (or post here) locations where I can see and use existing instruments, playback devices, etc. Id be mightily obliged.


Thanks
Wheatgrinder

I dont really understand what you're talking about but since you mentioned a scripting command I assume you're aware that basically the only things you can do with sounds here is upload them and play them.
I will be interested in a more intelligible explanation of what youre trying to pull off if we can meet in game.

Not trying to be rude or smart-alecky.. but.. all you can really do with a piano is trigger an event and “play” a sound.

My idea is basically to create a SL loop based music instrument. Similar in function and feature set as the common sound forge “Acid” line of products. The challenge is NOT so much in the creation of a scripted object that can play loops in time with each other; the challenge is to make a “graceful” interface for doing so. My approach to UI is that it need not be simple, intuitive, etc, but it MUST be graceful. (consider a violin, a violin is NOT easy to play, its NOT intuitive, but it IS graceful.)

Oh, and as I mentioned my studio will allow people to “record” performances and play them back latter. (not unlike the MIDI protocol that simply captures performance data, the “sound” is not part of the MIDI protocol, it is up to the “sound module” to reproduce the actual sound using, samples or synthesis.)

This would require the creation of a suite of products in SL.
Recorder, Instruments, and Play back devices…

oh, and it will make me (and any partners) fabulously rich!
Muwahhaaaa!!!

Thanks
Wheatgrinder

Hmm... That actually sounds like it has potential. The main reason I haven't tried too hard to create more complex sound ordeals is the lack of pitch in playback. I probably mentioned it 20 times before, but here we go again (any Linden's listening???)

llPlaySample(key sample, float frequency, float volume).

Would begging help, Lindens?

Anyways, I would be interested in talking to you about it, Wheatgrinder Song. I feel I have a pretty strong foothold on UI posibilities in SL along with modular programming elements (i.e. being able to have the instruments talk to each other and the master tracker)

Heh, good luck wheat. No offense, but have you ever used one of the existing "instruments"? The lag in SL makes any sort of realistic musical instrument nearly impossible. Keep in mind that the sound has to actually download to your computer and then play. Everything is always stored on the servers at all times, and while there is a cache, it is temporary and unpredictable.
So unless you want to play a really slow tune, one note at a time... The only way to get remotely close to playing music note by note in SL would be to have several people click the appropriate strings or piano keys or something, simultaneously.
If all you want to do is take some drum loops, some bass loops, some guitar loops and put them together, jesus, everyone's got one of those, it's called the mixmaster and it was at the old disco in Da Boom... I can show you my copy if you would like.
It can play sounds once, loop them continuously, adjust their volume, switch between the various sound clips in the objects inventory, display their name, and you can actually whip up a few half decent "tunes" on it with a little practice and decent sound loops.
It doesnt have recording capabilities presently because there is no way to store useful amounts of data permanently in LSL.
But I could add some temporary recording capabilities to it in 5 minutes and then manually make a backup onto a notecard which can be read later by a script to reproduce semi-accurately the original "music".
Heck we've already got the code for that in the "radio station" project.
With the current set of LSL features there is just not an awful lot of stuff you can do with sounds here.

Is there ANYTHING that hasn’t been done yet! LOL…


Hum, well my idea does not appear to bring anything “new” to the technology, however there may be some utility in providing loop jamming/recording products in a nicely packaged set of products.

This makes me think that the Lindens should just support unlimited MP3 and be done with it! LOL.. but seriously, still charge 10$ for 10 seconds, sure $240 bucks for one song might seem a bit steep, but this could be a “distribution” opportunity for someone with enough L$ invest, with the advance permissions features coming, you could even do what RIAA has failed to manage, guarantee copy protection..

Well Wheat, I just want to say that I hope you get your dream up and running..I have music in probably a bunch of different areas and the thought of making my own is really exciting.. I wouldn't even dream to squelch your ideas or be a sinic in what you plan to do..It is true about the lag..I hate it when the music I have playing cuts out when I am alone only to catch up with my computer or the lag or well little evil gnomes stealing notes here and there.. So if you do get your idea up and running, I would love to see it or hear it..

Remember that your imagination is your only limitation here..

Good luck,

Soren

(still working on more post)

I am also working on a similar project. Instead of being a 'mixer' or sampler based instrument, its more of a sequencer. You load ~<1s samples into the device, assign them to the bank, and manipulate a 16 step sequence pad to assign at what point during a run a sample is triggered. There is a 'rate' paramter stored on the parent object which determines the rapidity of the steps. The sequences are stored as strings, using a type of nerdy short hand naming conventions to denote sample placement and parameters. Im really not sure how feasible it is, but I simply refuse to accept any 'it cant be done's from the masses ^_^

If the sequencer proves to be too inaccurate so far as timing is concerned, I plan on producing a sort of loop studio, similar to what you are talking about. I already have a drum machine/sequencer, sampler, and other such instruments in RL, so recording loops is pretty easy for me to do. Wheat, if you'd like to join forces in this pursuit, let me know =)

...And then there's the Marimball, which uses the physics engine to play music... If you want out-of-syncness, come give it a try!

Rose 234,157