VG-99FloorBoard editor (for guitar)

Started by gumtown, April 11, 2021, 02:59:28 AM

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gumtown

Yup, it had to happen, I landed a VG-99 recently and tried the official Roland VG-99 Editor, and it seemed a PITA, especially on Windows 10 where it is a small window box that can't be resized, the look is confusing, and the controls sometimes awkward to practically use.

So roll on in "VG-99FloorBoard editor, a work in progress, but mostly there to be demo'ed with preview version 0.00.
So far it can read patches from the VG-99, write patches to the VG-99, real time edit most Amp/modelling/effect parameters.
Still yet to add more controls for functions and assigns, some of the alt tuning and 12 string to add, chain drag'n'drop to add.

So far there is a Windows and a Mac 64 bit version, the Mac requires a compatible USB driver, or use a USB-Midi device adapter.
but here they are to download, look at, try out, and comment if you wish.
Always open to suggestions, I have tried to layout the functions in a more logical and practical manor.

download link >>>  https://sourceforge.net/projects/sy1000floorboard/files/VG99FloorBoard/


Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

gumtown

#1
For file loading/saving, at the moment it will save and load a native *.syx format,
I was working on the *.mid file loading translation, but had a brain meltdown after working on the editor too much for the past 2 weeks,
a few days at 18 hours straight coding.
The *.mid file format save/load will be completed soon though.

I posted the source code too, if anyone is interested, it can be built using Qt5 framework & IDE.

Windows and Mac versions are up,
The Linux version preview should roll out tomorrow.

Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

gumbo

...you probably need to go outside and count sheep for a while... ;D
Read slower!!!   ....I'm typing as fast as I can...

gumtown

#3
Quote from: gumbo on April 11, 2021, 04:33:04 AM
...you probably need to go outside and count sheep for a while... ;D

Yeah, going to take a few days time out..
believe it or not, don't see so many sheep around here these days, mostly dairy/cattle,
although I could tell you the joke about a Kiwi and an Aussie walking along the road and they come across a sheep with it's head stuck in the fence.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Vaultnaemsae

Quote from: gumtown on April 11, 2021, 04:43:58 AM
Yeah, going to take a few days time out..
believe it or not, don't see so many sheep around here these days, mostly dairy/cattle,
although I could tell you the joke about a Kiwi and an Aussie walking along the road and they come across a sheep with it's head stuck in the fence.

Saw a doco on that recently...kiwi dairy farmers, nitrates, destruction of the delicate ecosystem...particularly rivers. Sad.

The joke on the other hand! A classic...especially when told by an Aussie!  ;D

Gonna check this editor ASAP. Thank you for your diligent efforts.
Vaultnaemsae's SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/vaultnaemsae

philjynx

Quote from: gumtown on April 11, 2021, 04:43:58 AM
...
although I could tell you the joke about a Kiwi and an Aussie walking along the road and they come across a sheep with it's head stuck in the fence.

Surprised Gumbo 'liked' this as you're talking about his girlfriend! (this from a Welshman...)

alexmcginness

VG-88V2, GR-50, GR-55, 4 X VG-99s,2 X FC-300,  2 X GP-10 AXON AX 100 MKII, FISHMAN TRIPLE PLAY,MIDX-10, MIDX-20, AVID 11 RACK, BEHRINGER FCB 1010, LIVID GUITAR WING, ROLAND US-20, 3 X GUYATONE TO-2. MARSHALL BLUESBREAKER, SERBIAN ELIMINATOR AMP. GR-33.

Vaultnaemsae

Keep in mind I cannot get the SY1000FloorBoard software to connect to my SY-1000 which has the driver running correctly on Big Sur.

The VG99FloorBoard is connecting and populating the user preset list but I get an error 95% of the time when trying to load a preset. I get the attached error rmessage.

Also, I'm on Big Sur so there is no advanced driver available for the VG. I'm using a USB MIDI interface to connect the devices. Had to reboot the software 4 times to get it to connect and once during that it forgo that I'd told it not to auto-connect to VG-99.

Vaultnaemsae's SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/vaultnaemsae

gumtown

Quote from: Vaultnaemsae on April 11, 2021, 10:06:19 AM
Keep in mind I cannot get the SY1000FloorBoard software to connect to my SY-1000 which has the driver running correctly on Big Sur.

The VG99FloorBoard is connecting and populating the user preset list but I get an error 95% of the time when trying to load a preset. I get the attached error rmessage.

Also, I'm on Big Sur so there is no advanced driver available for the VG. I'm using a USB MIDI interface to connect the devices. Had to reboot the software 4 times to get it to connect and once during that it forgo that I'd told it not to auto-connect to VG-99.

I just fixed and updated the Mac version, using Osx 10.13, and a Roland UM-One mkii for a midi device, I eventually found that the VG-99 passes data from Midi In to Midi Out (THRU), so the reply data expected from the VG-99 was larger than it should have been (as it included the data the editor sent with the VG-99 reply data).
So I have installed a conditional filter on the midi input of the editor to remove any "THRU" data, and It seems to work correctly now.

Mac version is now at preview 0.01

I might have to also re-visit the SY-1000 FloorBoard editor mac version to look at this event too.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

gumtown

One odd thing I noticed with the VG-99,
since the effects are based on the GT-8 (x 2) that I had left some of the GT-8 effects choices in the MOD 1 & 2 effect type selection lists,
and the VG-99 actually lists these extra effects when chosen, but the effects have no associated parameters,
so they are most likely just there by name only.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

gumtown

Quote from: Vaultnaemsae on April 11, 2021, 10:06:19 AM
Keep in mind I cannot get the SY1000FloorBoard software to connect to my SY-1000 which has the driver running correctly on Big Sur.

The VG99FloorBoard is connecting and populating the user preset list but I get an error 95% of the time when trying to load a preset. I get the attached error rmessage.

Also, I'm on Big Sur so there is no advanced driver available for the VG. I'm using a USB MIDI interface to connect the devices. Had to reboot the software 4 times to get it to connect and once during that it forgo that I'd told it not to auto-connect to VG-99.

Let me know if the updated editor (preview 0.01) works any better for you, I would like to get the midi I/O system to work great on all platforms.
All the midi functions work flawlessly on Windows, but Mac and Linux require some time management tweaking,
my main machine is Windows 10, and all the other systems are VM-Ware virtual machines inside the Windows 10 system, which normally run OK, but the Mac Big Sur image drains the system resources a bit, so might skew my test results a bit.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

ronjacob

I'm trying out the Mac version...I am currently on 10.14.6 Mojave.
I can't get the software to see my VG-99... It is just flashing the green "Off-Line" button.
The original VG-99 editor is still connecting and running fine.
Not sure what I need to change to get it to connect.

Also, changing the preferences does not seem to stick.
Every time the app restarts the preferences go back to their original settings.

aliensporebomb

I'm having the same issue with Mojave but I had that issue with the floorboard for the SY-1000 until a few days later it just suddenly worked. 
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

Vaultnaemsae

Hey, Gumtown and everyone experimenting with VG99FloorBoard.

New version 0.01 installed on macOS 11.2.3.

Observations:
1) MUST delete preferences file in order to allow deactivation of auto-selecting MIDI ports.
2) 'VG-99' shows as a MIDI port despite there not being a VG-99 MIDI port present on my device. I'm connected via a 3rd party interface (UM-One connected to iCA4+ USB Host hub -- port's custom name is 'iCA4+ V-GUITAR').
3) As an experiment -- I tried 'Add external MIDI device' in macOS AUDIO/MIDI SETUP which I named 'VG-99' and connected via virtual patch cables to the iCA4+'s V-GUITAR MIDI ports. This causes the editor to see ports with imaginary names 'VG-99 DAW CTL/CTRL' depending on IN/OUT selection. Nice almost tip of the hat to the SY-1000's glaring typo  8)
4) App always reboots with a 2nd icon in the dock.
5) But...it now connects, goes 'On Line' and populates the preset lists.
6) Selecting a preset on the editor almost always triggers that patch on the VG-99 hardware. But it doesn't always get data to the editor. Usually, it gets data by the 3rd attempt to select a preset -- it's quite slow.
7) Still getting occasional messages about there being 'no device connected' or the same error message I mentioned in my previous post about the data.
8) There are many beachball moments while using the app.
9) App icon is greyed out.
10) By default the 'default patch folder' in preferences loads blank. It grabs the selected folder after the first-time it's allocated. Can't move that folder either or there will be a problem...I tried :)

That's all I can think of for now...

Another comment. I have the Roland VG-99 editor working like butter via the VM/Network MIDI now. Made a few discoveries and tweaks to make that super smooth, though running a VM at the same time as a DAW pushes my legacy MacBook Pro's fans a bit hard -- very noisy. The native editor runs fast even over network MIDI...I compared it to a direct connection in Mojave 10.14.6 and it's essentially the same speed. VG99FloorBoard doesn't seem quite as fast and certainly not as robust.

I like aspects of the interface on VG99FloorBoard though. It seems a bit more logical and approachable than the native editor. Thank you again for your hard work on this and looking forward to very stable release in the future!
Vaultnaemsae's SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/vaultnaemsae

gumtown

I poked and prodded the Mac version, and the midi I/O more stable now.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/sy1000floorboard/files/VG99FloorBoard/

Mac version "preview 0.02"

Works great on my 10.13 system, the Osx 11 system is a bit slower due to hardware limitations,
but still works on Big Sur, just a bit more 'beach ball' wait (about 3 seconds) as the GUI updates after a patch load.

I used my Roland UM-One mk2 midi adapter with the little switch on it set to Tablet (driverless)
although I see on the Roland site there is now a UM-One driver for Big Sur and M1 Macs. 
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Vaultnaemsae

Definitely improved with the MIDI I/O. Like the icon too ;)
Vaultnaemsae's SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/vaultnaemsae

gumtown

Have now updated the Windows version (so far) to preview 0.03 which does patch file loading and saving of *.mid files from the Roland VG-99 editor/librarian,
so you can swap patch files between VG-99FloorBoard and the Roland VG-99 editor.

More controls have been added, system data gets loaded, but more work still to do to make it fully complete.
Been rather difficult this one, and taking every waking moment these past 6 weeks to do. The VG-99 has a lot of stuff inside of it.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Kenmac

Gumtown, I've got Yosemite on my Mac and I was just wondering if it'll run on that?
"Let them brush your rock and roll hair."

gumtown

Quote from: Kenmac on April 27, 2021, 09:41:04 AM
Gumtown, I've got Yosemite on my Mac and I was just wondering if it'll run on that?

Yes, it should run on any version of Mac Os-X capable of running 64 bit programs.

I have had issues with the VG-99 USB-Midi when using Linux or Mac, where after a short while of excessive use, the VG-99 USB stops responding and the VG-99 needs to be power cycled,
but if using a USB-Midi adapter the midi keeps running forever.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

gumtown

#19
Just uploaded a Windows update to version "Preview 0.04" with some signal chain visual stuff going on including the Main and Sub out routing,
more controls added, and Patch to text.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sy1000floorboard/files/VG99FloorBoard/

I believe I have found the cause of the issues plaguing all of the Mac versions of FxFloorBoard, to do with midi port opening/closing vs open all the time.
When the midi port is opened for each data transaction, 6 bytes of time stamp style data gets mixed in with an incoming data packet,
and when the port is left open continuously, the buffer eventually overflows and stops the Roland USB device requiring a device reset.
Still have to fin a way around this, but I can make it work. 
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

artwar

This is fantastic news and amazing timing too! I just got a VG-99 and have been trying to figure out what to do about the software.
Thanks for designing the interface!  :D

gumtown

Mac version "preview 0.04" is also up and ready to try,
finding out more about the VG-99 all the time, seems he previous issues on Mac were due to the VG-99 being placed into 'editor mode' which stops the VG display from showing a message each time it receives an sends system exclusive midi data.

For now 'editor mode' is off as it sends loads of extra unwanted data if the VG-99 changes patch, the Windows version didn't seem to mind the extras, but the Mac version sees the flood of extra data before the process can move on with the already received patch data.
The slight differences between Win & Mac.

Hoping the Mac version is going to work for everyone, working for me on 10.13 using the VG-99 USB & Mac driver.

Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Vaultnaemsae

Just loaded it up on macOS 11.3.1.
Still seeing connection error messages. See the attached images.


Vaultnaemsae's SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/vaultnaemsae

gumtown

#23
Quote from: Vaultnaemsae on May 05, 2021, 04:19:35 AM
Just loaded it up on macOS 11.3.1.
Still seeing connection error messages. See the attached images.

Are you using a Roland UM-One mk2 to connect the VG-99?
does it show in the midi settings menu of the editor,
there is also a setting in the VG-99 for "midi thru" which needs to be switched 'off' too (somewhere in there).

Your process of connection would be...?
connect USB midi adapter,
switch on VG-99,
run editor,
open editor Preferences > midi settings page,
if UM-One is not already selected, select midi device for input and output, un-select "auto VG-99 ....", un-select 'deBug mode',
select "OK", editor restarts,
if things go well the "off-line" button changes to "on-line" and stays lit green,
if not, press the "off-line" button, patch names get read in from the VG-99 and current VG-99 patch is loaded,
life is good .... or it does not work .

When the editor is closed and run again,
and the Preferences settings are opened,
the last saved midi device should be showing as the current selected device.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Vaultnaemsae

Hi,

The VG-99 is connected via a UM-One Mk.2 in clas compliant (Tab) mode to the USB MIDI host hub on an iConnectAudio4+.

The MIDI ports are connected to macOS and are clearly visible in the Audio/MIDI setup -- they are always connected as I rarely unplug the interface.

These ports are selected in the editor and the selections are saved.

Auto Select and debug mode have always been deactivated.

DIN MIDI Thru is (and always has been) OFF in the VG-99.

USB MIDI is not active as the VG-99 is in 'Standard' driver mode.

...Anything stick out as weird here?
Vaultnaemsae's SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/vaultnaemsae