Orinj version 9.0.0

Most changes between version 8.0.5 of Orinj and this version 9.0.0 are around MIDI, VST, and automations.

MIDI and SoundFont support

• This version introduces a completely new way for user interactions with MIDI. This version is about what the user handles (notes, mix controls) rather than what the MIDI standard contains (note start and note stop events, volume and pan events)
• Notes are now added with a single click
• All notes and controls are added to one MIDI track
• Orinj assigns notes and controls to channels, so the user does not have to. All notes for the same instrument are on the same channel. Different instruments are on different channels. There is one instrument per channel
• Each MIDI file works with one SoundFont file and is translated to a WAV for playback. This means that playback in the MIDI roll view, the session, and the piano roll is consistent
• For the same reason, Orinj does not send MIDI data to MIDI devices, but sends SoundFont wave data to sampled audio devices
• Orinj remembers what SoundFont is used to create a MIDI file
• Each channel is assigned a single volume and a single pan control. When the user adds notes, each channel is assigned a single instrument bank (see MIDI Controller message) and an instrument (/wiki/midi-program-change-message)
• Orinj remembers the length and velocity of the last MIDI note added and uses those for the next note added (until the user chooses a different length or velocity)
• The user can now change the instrument for the whole channel and its notes
• Orinj now handles both coarse and fine instrument bank, volume, and pan
• Until the user changes these parameters, a new MIDI file in Orinj now specifies tempo at 750000 microseconds per quarter note or 80 quarter notes per minute, 4/4 time signature, channel pan in the center, and volume at -8 dB. There are no other controls. Banks and instruments are added when the user adds notes
• The new MIDI resolution in Orinj is higher than before for more precise positioning of notes
• The MIDI piano now will show the names of the actual SoundFont samples that will play for each note

VST support

• For Windows and Linux, the user can display multiple VST windows at the same time, including during playback
• VST bundles can be in any folder, including hidden ones on Linux, and do not have to be in one and the same folder
• Added generic VST windows for VST processors that do not have their own window
• Improved the handling of the VST processor tail (i.e., the remaining sound because of delays in effects like reverbs, echo, and so on)
• Added checks whether the VST system is available. Since VSTs are created by others, these checks help ensure that Orinj does not stop working if a VST crashes

Automations

• Added automations to most effect parameters. The previous version of Orinj automated only volume, pan, dry mix, and wet mix. Now, Orinj can automate almost anything, including effect delays and decays, compressor thresholds and ratios, equalizer gains, and so on

Other significant changes

• Added multiple take recording. If the user chooses to do so, each new take will destroy the previous take automatically
• Added mono playback
• Streamlined the track control panel to the left of tracks in the session to save space that can be used by the session
• Removed vertical zoom from the session
• Streamlined the track control panel to the left of loop tracks
• Moved the dry and wet mix controls to the effects to which they belong
• Removed playback pause and reduced the space used by the playback, view, and other buttons at the bottom
• Moved temporary files, preferences, and the Orinj license to the temporary orinj folder under the system user folder
• Added an option to install a license through Orinj
• Changed the MIDI grid to show the current time signature

Other changes

• Reduced the initial size of playback and recording buffers (approximately 5 milliseconds for two-channel, 44.1 kHz recording)
• Changed the layout of a few stock effects (e.g., chorus) so that many controls are properly grouped and easier to work with
• Removed the output gain from the Orinj Aural Exciter, since its effect is the same as that of the dry and wet mix
• Improved the precision of compression thresholds
• Optimized the Orinj Compressor
• Improving the drawing of effect graphs, various buttons, automations, and some controls, the MIDI grid, loop timeline
• Removed the session, view, and file times from the bottom of Orinj. Those are still accessible via the menu
• Added a new skin (Carbon)
• Ensured the user can exit Orinj while Orinj is playing
• Made sure Orinj remembers horizontal zoom levels on exit

Bug fixes

• Fixed the Orinj DC Removal. In many cases in the previous version, the effect would produce no changes
• Changed the release of SoundFont notes, as those were released too early
• Fixed an error when pressing MIDI piano keys twice
• Improved the handing of MIDI notes (i.e., a second note on the same key and the same channel should stop the currently playing note)
• Made sure that MIDI notes, when created, are properly set to round MIDI ticks
• Fixed the handling of SoundFont banks and selected SoundFont generators to make sure the right samples are played at the proper format
• When changing the tempo of a MIDI file, moved all notes accordingly. Even though this does not follow the MIDI standard, it is what the user will expect
• Fixed the undo for snapping notes to the grid
• Fixed undo in the single wave view when applying automations and effects
• Fixed errors when showing input and output device properties
• Fixed the handling of the user suggested input device latency
• Fixed the loading of ASIO driver names
• Fixed the playback sample rate sent to ASIO drivers
• Fixing computations in compressor attacks and release in special cases (e.g., zero attack or release)
• Fixed the rendering of the tree with loop samples on Linux to avoid the truncation of sample names. Fixed other drawing on Linux
• Made changes to the handling of temporary files to prevent potential loss of sound data (although, in our experience, we have seen only one case where Orinj lost one recorded track)
• Improved how Orinj handles sessions with loops that have samples no longer available