Hi all.
Here's a little something I'm working on. It's designed for use on Touch Screen Tablet PC's. so this won't look right if you run it on a desktop or a laptop display. The view needs to be a portrait type view, not landscape at this moment in time.

Beta Setup.exe Download
11.4MB Download.
Windows XP,Vista, 7 and 8 compatible.

Image 1


Image 2


Image 3


Image 4





Image 1.
The list of songs stored in the program is displayed.
To select a song, touch it.
To load it, touch View Selected.


Image 2.
The Song Name is Displayed.
P1 to P12 are the pages in the song. A single song can contain a maximum of 12 pages.
The “Song List” button a the bottom of the screen calls up the song list in Image 1.
Previous Song loads the last song.
<<Page>> goes to the next page in the song.
“Next Song” goes to the next song on your list.


Image 3
When you are creating a new song, if you right click on the empty window, the options to add sheet music from a file or your scanner are displayed.
Use the P1 to P12 and the blank windows to add sheet music to your song.


Image 4
This is where you create songs and give them titles and categories.
“Add New” creates a blank song for you to add new sheet music.
The Text Window for lyrics operates the same as any Word Processing program.




This is a beta release of the full program, it's not a demo and it does not expire. So it has it's use even at this stage.

Regards
James

any iPad port James?

Dennis

Hi Dennis.
Sorry, I'm afraid not.

Regards
James

James very nice !

Thanks.
It's a start anyway.

Hope to have it playing mp3 files in the next release.

Very nice work James. It is looking like it is really coming along.

You do such a great job on developing these applications. I wish I didn't get so burnt out programming every day at work so I could follow your example. But the last thing I feel like doing when I get home is program some more. But when I see your apps I wish I did.

Thanks Nigel.
I've been fumbling around with this on and off, but I'm determined to get it to the point over the next two weeks where it does everything my friends asked me to write.

If others find it useful, that will be great too.



I know the feeling all too well, but funny enough I'd welcome it back right now. The recession has hit Ireland here extremely hard here and the company I worked for moved all their business under one roof and let a lot of people go in the process, including myself.

It's either one extreme or the other here right now.

Kind regards
James

I know what you mean James. I was laid off last year and was out of work for 5 months. Eventually I was rehired by the same company that laid me off as soon as they got some new contracts. Now I am working on slot machine software for Italian casinos. A little different from what I usually work on but I will program anything to pay the rent.

Yeah, it's tough going.
That sounds like an interesting project your on though. Certainly different from what you used to do. You were 3D modelling and coding for games I believe?

Update on my program, I have now implemented two more feature.

1: The program can now be controlled from any midi controller, arranger or workstation by using standard CC. Here's a little video I recorded last night on this http://youtu.be/qxXTrrkqL1k

Towards the end of the video the program became a little unresponsive, but I've fixed that this morning.

2: When scanning in your sheet music or importing files, you don't have to worry about resolution or file sizes. The program will resize everything to the optimal resolution and format all on it's own. If importing files, it will not modify your original files. It will simply create a copy at the optimal resolution and store that new copy within it's own database.

That leaves only the backing track function to be implemented now and will have done everything I promised my friends.

Once done I'll compile the program at that point and upload an exe for people to download.

Regards
James

Hi James

Looks really good.
For Android, yes... Programmed in Java, I suppose...
Better look more concentrated in this area...

Will be glad to test... when time comes...

Regards
Jørgen

Good work James...I am waiting on the new Microsoft Surface (full unit, NOT the RT version) which is out in about Feb '13...this software of yours might be perfect if I jump to it and abandon the iPad..

I certainly will be one who will look forward to a completed beta to try out

Cheers
Dennis

Hi Jørgen
This is Windows only.
There doesn't seem to be much intersting activity on Android for music because of latency.

I'm also betting that Windows 8 Tablets will pretty much dominate the music market. They are as slick as an iPad to operate but have none of their limitations. Plus they cost less.

Regards
James

Hi Dennis.
Congratulations, it's a smart move in my opinion.

I have a ACER W500 tablet running the full windows 8 right now. Tell you mate, it turned my tablet into one hell of a powerful VST HOST.

Runs the windows version of LinuxSampler like a dream. The latency with ASIO4ALL is impossible to feel, and my Poly count is extremely high.

Regards
James

Excellent...thanks for that James..The new Surface should do even better that the W500 I think..I also had a W500 some time back, not too shabby a unit really....issues with the touch screen operations but pretty good nonetheless..

Cheers m8

Dennis

Hi Dennis.


Surface Pro should run rings around it.
I posted this over on KORG FORUMS you might like to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhPpVqxEOEk
Turns the Tablet PC into a free V-Machine. Handy if your looking for a host that doesn't have to be touched during a live gig.



Yes the touch screen used to stop responding for a few seconds. Had that problem too. It would happen a few times a week. Just leaving it alone for 5 to 10 seconds it would start working again.

Since installing Windows 8 I haven't had that problem since.

Regards
James

Thanks for the link - I will check it..

Ahh yes VFX, I had forgotten all about that software..I have recently been mucking about with Cantabile Performer...but VFX may be a better option. I might re-download it and set it up again..

Cheers James

Dennis

Hi James

Thanks for the info. Windows 8 at Surface etc. Great...
Just my liking of development platform...

Regards
Jørgen

The backing track function has now been added.
Here's a screen shot of the updated GUI.


Many HOT Key functions have been added.
Add New Song CTRL+N
Delete Song CTRL+D

Display Lyrics CTRL+W

Play Backing Track CTRL+P
Stop Backing Tack CTRL+O

Next Song CTRL+>
Previous Song CTRL+<

Show Sheet Music CTRL+M
Show Song List CTRL+S

Jump to Page 1 CTRL+1
Jump to Page 2 CTRL+2
Jump to Page 3 CTRL+3
Jump to Page 4 CTRL+4
Jump to Page 5 CTRL+5
Jump to Page 6 CTRL+6
Jump to Page 7 CTRL+7
Jump to Page 8 CTRL+8
Jump to Page 9 CTRL+9
Jump to Page 10 CTRL+E
Jump to Page 11 CTRL+T
Jump to Page 12 CTRL+Y


Many bug fixes and new features added + enhancements.

The EXE in my first post has been replaced with the current version for anyone interested in testing it. Just remember, it's beta software and not for actual use yet. Almost there.

Regards
James.

James,
Apologies if this has been asked before, but does the program output midi notes? (Will it accept a .mid or .kar file, and then generate note on/off messages which correspond to the dots and lyrics, that can be used to drive a tone generator?)
Thanks, your skills are remarkable!
Ted

Hi Ted.



If windows is set to an external midi port, the program detects this and it will send all midi notes out whatever port you have set. Otherwise the program will just play back the midi file using your sound card.

So.. Yes.



At this moment in time....

.mid = Yes.
.kar = Yes... but you have to rename the file to .mid

Given time there will be no need to rename KAR files, but at this moment in time it is necessary.

WAVE and MP3 are no problem.

Regards
James

James, any idea of when the first final release beta will be available?

Dennis

Hi Dennis.
I'm on target to finish the program by this weekend, but something bad has happened.

There is a little separate freeware tool that must be installed on your PC that I didn't write. It a small program that runs in the background on your task bar. It listens to the midi port for the values I've programmed into it, and when it hears them, it sends out keystrokes to my software, allowing you to remotely control my software.

The open source solution I was using kept crashing the midi port so I had to stop using it. I've since started working with a commercial solution for developers which runs extremely well.

The only problem is, being a commercial tool for developers means I have to buy an OEM Licence to release it with my software.

Money is the one darn thing I don't have to throw at this right now.

Need to think what I'm going to do.

Regards
James

Windows 8 tablets are very expensive, I guess the prices will drop once the dust settles? but I don't think any time soon? anyone find a good price in the US?

James, what is the tool called? The freeware one?

Dennis

PS: send me an email, no need to go into it further publicly - I think you still have the addy

Hi Dennis.
Will do...

Regards
James

The ACER W700 costs less than an iPad of the same capacity.
There's going to be a lot more to choose from very soon too. Microsoft Surface Pro is out in January too I believe. Many will very likley be waiting for that one.

Regards
James

Yes indeed!