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SEQUENTIAL/DSI => OB-6 => Topic started by: tarekith on November 17, 2019, 07:11:58 PM

Title: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: tarekith on November 17, 2019, 07:11:58 PM
Has anyone had any luck using the Soundtower editor when it comes to the OB-6 sequencer?  I can connect to it and edit notes fine, but no matter what I do I can't get them to save back to OB-6.  Send Patch to OB-6 via the editor, hitting save+preset location on the OB-6 itself, nada.  Any time I changes patches on the OB-6 and then go back to the one I was editing, the original notes reappear and my changes are gone. 

I've reached out to the Soundtower folks to make sure I'm not missing something super simple, but so far no reply.  Can anyone else do it successfully?  This is literally the only issue I have, everything else works great.
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: RobustAmerican on November 18, 2019, 04:51:41 AM
I tried a few times and got frustrated quick. Really don't use the editor much anymore at all.
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: tarekith on November 18, 2019, 06:40:01 AM
I really like the editor normally, like I said it works fine for me for everything else I need to do.  Just can't edit sequences, booo.
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: RobustAmerican on November 18, 2019, 02:03:40 PM
I guess I should clarify a little. The sequence editing was the only thing I had frustrations with as well. I record the sequences in manually and sometimes there's a bum note or something. Trying to fix that one note in the editor and re-save got me nowhere. On the flip side of that, the sequencer work flow is now part of my being.
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: tarekith on November 18, 2019, 03:40:27 PM
Ok, that makes more sense, thanks.
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: shmuelyosef on November 20, 2019, 12:58:24 PM
Has anyone had any luck using the Soundtower editor when it comes to the OB-6 sequencer?  I can connect to it and edit notes fine, but no matter what I do I can't get them to save back to OB-6.  Send Patch to OB-6 via the editor, hitting save+preset location on the OB-6 itself, nada.  Any time I changes patches on the OB-6 and then go back to the one I was editing, the original notes reappear and my changes are gone. 

I've reached out to the Soundtower folks to make sure I'm not missing something super simple, but so far no reply.  Can anyone else do it successfully?  This is literally the only issue I have, everything else works great.
I had the same frustration with the sequencer and gave up...I bought an Arturia Keystep which does polyphonic sequencing (probably the best $100 I've spent in my studio)...both the input and the editing of sequences is far superior. It drives the OB-6 fine and ports directly into Reaper if I want.

I have connected a couple of times with Soundtower, but it took multiple weeks each time...I feel your pain

My biggest frustration with the Soundtower editor is how easy it is to wipe patches on the OB-6. If you don't <Import> a bank before you click on anything in the library, the patches you click on get overwritten...
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: robertsc on November 23, 2019, 10:30:12 PM
Has anyone had any luck using the Soundtower editor when it comes to the OB-6 sequencer?  I can connect to it and edit notes fine, but no matter what I do I can't get them to save back to OB-6.  Send Patch to OB-6 via the editor, hitting save+preset location on the OB-6 itself, nada.  Any time I changes patches on the OB-6 and then go back to the one I was editing, the original notes reappear and my changes are gone. 

I've reached out to the Soundtower folks to make sure I'm not missing something super simple, but so far no reply.  Can anyone else do it successfully?  This is literally the only issue I have, everything else works great.

I just got both the OB-6 and Soundtower today, so naturally I'm stumbling around in the dark and ended up here. I am able to make the stand-alone editor work for editing sequences, but not the plug-in. Using the stand-alone, all changes to the sequence are sync'd live to the OB-6, thereby modifying the state of the OB-6 in more or less realtime. So, after you make edits in the stand-alone editor, just be sure to "write" the changes to a preset slot on the unit. But, again, this simply doesn't work for me in the plug-in version, which has various problem too numerous to get into.

Cheers
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: tarekith on November 23, 2019, 11:49:38 PM
I don't even have the plug in version, I only use the standalone version.  You're saying that if you write the preset, select another one, then reselect the written one the changes are still there?
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: robertsc on November 24, 2019, 12:32:08 AM
I don't even have the plug in version, I only use the standalone version.  You're saying that if you write the preset, select another one, then reselect the written one the changes are still there?

Yes, btw I'm using OB-6 Sound Editor version 1.9.8 on macOS version 10.15.1. When I edit the sequence in the editor while it's playing, I can hear the changes right away. So doesn't it make sense that if you save/write those changes on the OB-6 to a preset, that they will be preserved?

EDIT: should also say I'm using OB-6 Desktop firmware 1.5.5
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: tarekith on November 24, 2019, 06:57:24 AM
That's the issue, it works in real time just fine, the changes are just not saved.  I'm using all the same versions as you too except I'm on 1.5.8, weird.
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: shmuelyosef on November 24, 2019, 06:16:56 PM
I have had enough issues with the Soundtower, that I pretty much exclusively use it as a Librarian in the standalone...however, if you recognize the 'flow' of Receive/Transmit patches, it works very well for that application and was worth the price
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: tarekith on November 26, 2019, 07:28:57 AM
Ok, I managed to finally get this to work.  I was missing a step in that I needed to receive the current preset after saving it on the hardware.  What was throwing me off was that the editor would update automatically to show any patches I selected on the harfdware EXCEPT when it came to the sequencer data.  That would only show correctly after doing the receive command again. 

Step 1: Receive all User Banks from OB-6 in the editor to make sure the editor has the correct and current patch data from the OB-6.
Step 2: Edit sequence data as desired.
Step 3: Transmit patch to OB-6.
Step 4: Save patch on hardware.
Step 5: Receive patch on editor to make sure sequencer data is correctly displayed.

Sweet, now I can release my new Sound Bank for the OB-6 finally!  Stay tuned....
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: robertsc on November 26, 2019, 09:01:05 AM
Stay tuned....

Nice!!
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: OliverNoah on March 16, 2024, 03:53:40 PM
I've been experiencing a frustrating issue with the Soundtower editor when it comes to the OB-6 sequencer. While I can connect to the editor and edit notes without any problem, I can't seem to get them to save back to the OB-6 itself. Even after sending the patch to the OB-6 via the editor and hitting save+preset location on the OB-6, the changes just won't stick. It's incredibly frustrating because every time I switch patches on the OB-6 and then return to the one I was editing, the original notes reappear, and my changes are lost. I've already reached out to the Soundtower support team to see if I'm missing something obvious, but I haven't received a response yet. I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered this issue and found a solution? It's the only problem I'm having, and everything else with the editor works perfectly fine. For more information must visit: https://apkyp.com/
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: Elric on March 16, 2024, 04:03:52 PM
Sequential needs new software/firmware developers.
Soundtower is just "okay".  I have heard other complaints.

Also, this "apkyp" thing OliverNoah posted gave me a "hackerwarning" from my antistuff-software.  :(
Title: Re: Using Soundtower app to edit sequences
Post by: EmmaSnow0022 on April 16, 2024, 09:05:09 PM
It sounds like you're encountering a frustrating challenge with the Soundtower editor for the OB-6 sequencer while trying to save changes back to the hardware. Though I haven't personally used this editor, troubleshooting MIDI communication issues is akin to debugging in an android game (https://haileystreasureadventure.net/) development scenario.

First, ensure that both your OB-6 synthesizer and the Soundtower editor are updated to their latest firmware versions. Just like in game development, outdated software versions can lead to compatibility issues that need patching.

Next, scrutinize your MIDI connections between the editor and the OB-6, making sure they're properly configured for seamless communication. In an Android game, debugging network or API connections is crucial for smooth gameplay; likewise, MIDI connections must be error-free.

When saving sequencer data from the editor back to the OB-6, ensure you're following the correct procedure, akin to saving progress in a game. Sometimes, a specific sequence of actions or button presses is necessary to finalize changes and update the hardware.

Consider backing up the entire patch from the OB-6 using the editor before making changes, similar to saving game progress before attempting a risky maneuver. This backup can serve as a safety net, allowing you to restore the original settings if needed.

As you await a response from Soundtower support, continue exploring other avenues for troubleshooting, similar to seeking advice from fellow gamers in online forums. Collaboration and shared experiences often yield creative solutions, much like in the gaming community.

By treating this challenge like debugging in an Android game development scenario, you can systematically address the issue and hopefully achieve a resolution that restores harmony between your OB-6 and the Soundtower editor.