README for Seq66 0.98.10

Chris Ahlstrom 2015-09-10 to 2022-07-18

Seq66 is a MIDI sequencer and live-looper with a hardware-sampler-like grid-pattern interface, sets and playlists for song management, a scale and chord-aware piano-roll interface, song editor for creative composition, and control via MIDI automation for live performance. Mute-groups enable/disable multiple patterns with one keystroke or MIDI control. Supports NSM (Non Session Manager) on Linux; can also run headless. It does not support audio samples, just MIDI.

Seq66 is a major refactoring of Sequencer64/Kepler34, rebooting Seq24 with modern C++ and new features. Linux users can build this application from the source code. See the INSTALL file; it has notes on many types on installation. Windows users can get an installer package on GitHub or build it with Qt Creator. Provides a comprehensive PDF user-manual.

Support sites (still in progress):

*   https://ahlstromcj.github.io/
*   https://github.com/ahlstromcj/ahlstromcj.github.io/wiki

Major Features

User interface

*   Qt 5 (cross-platform).  A grid of loop buttons, unlimited external
    windows.  Qt style-sheet support.
*   Tabs for management of sets, mute-groups, song mode, pattern
    editing, event-editing, play-lists, and session information.
*   Low-frequency oscillator (LFO) for modifying continuous controller
    (CC) and velocity values.
*   New. An editor for expansion/compression/alignment of note patterns.
*   Each pattern slot can be colored; the color palette for slots and
    the piano rolls can be saved and modified.
*   Horizontal and vertical zoom in the pattern and song editors.
*   A headless version can be built.

Configuration files

*   Separates MIDI control and mute-group setting into their own files.
*   Supports configuration files: ".rc", ".usr", ".ctrl", ".mutes",
    ".playlist", ".drums" (note-mapping), ".palette", and Qt ".qss".
*   Unified keystroke and MIDI controls in the ".ctrl" file; defines MIDI
    controls for automating Seq66 and for displaying Seq66 status in grid
    controllers (e.g. LaunchPad).  Basic ".ctrl" files are provided for the
    Launchpad Mini.

Non Session Manager

*   Support for NSM, New Session Manager, RaySession, Agordejo....
*   Handles starting, stopping, hiding, and session saving.
*   Displays details about the session.

Multiple Builds

*   ALSA/JACK: `qseq66`
*   Command-line/headless: `seq66cli`
*   PortMidi: `qpseq66`
*   Windows: `qpseq66.exe`

More Features

*   Transposable triggers to re-use patterns more comprehensively.
    Works with Song Export.
*   Improved non-U.S. keyboard support.
*   Many demonstration and test MIDI files.
*   SMF 0 import and export.
*   See **Recent Changes** below, and the **NEWS** file.

Internal

*   More consistent use of modern C++, auto, and lambda functions.
*   Additional performer callbacks to reduce the need for polling.
*   A ton of clean-up and refactoring.

Seq66 uses a Qt 5 user-interface based on Kepler34 and the Seq66 rtmidi (Linux) and portmidi (Windows) engines. MIDI devices are detected, inaccessible devices are ignored, with playback (e.g. to the Windows wavetable synth). It is built easily via GNU Autotools, Qt Creator or qmake, using MingW. See the INSTALL file for build-from-source instructions for Linux or Windows, and using a conventional source tarball.

Recent Changes

*   Version 0.98.10:
    *   Revisited issue #83, improved GUI editing of control/display
        automation.
    *   Fixes for issue #87: segfault due to mute-group on larger set-sizes,
        inability to modify some usr options in Edit / Preferences, and
        related bugs found during these fixes. Made performer the owner of
        mutegroups.
    *   Fixes for issue #88: 4/16 pattern not shown/played properly until
        opened in editor.
    *   Fixed minor issue with port-naming, port-lists.
    *   Many tweaks to documentation, vim files, midibytes....
*   Version 0.98.9.1:
    *   Added files needed for ./configure.
    *   Documentation and tutorial updates.
*   Version 0.98.9:
    *   Fixed nasty issue #85 which was recreating the slot buttons, and
        in a different thread, leading to a seqfault.
    *   Fixed issue: Preference / MIDI Input port check did not change
        Apply state.
    *   Fixed mute/record/thru state display between live grid and a
        pattern editor.
    *   Updated/cleaned the tutorial.
*   Version 0.98.8:
    *   Fixed issue #84, now able to build Qt and CLI version in one pass.
        Also fixed out-of-source builds and removed function call tracing.
        Streamlined the bootstrap script; it was always "configuring".
    *   Changed the Apply button from Edit / Preferences to a Restart
        button.  Further tightening of change detection.
    *   Moved midibyte/midiboolean functions from strfunctions to midibytes
        and mutegroup. Much header-file cleanup. Do a --full-clean!
    *   Added Ctrl-Home and Ctrl-End support to the song editor.
    *   Added an initial HTML tutorial and commands to access it.  Add
        shellexecute module to replace the ill-performing QDesktopServices.
    *   Important configure.ac/Makefile.am upgrades.
*   Version 0.98.7:
    *   Fixed issue #80 where some MIDI controls were getting recorded.
    *   Fixed issue #81, adding <stdexcept> to code catching
        std::invalid_argument.
    *   Fixed issue #83 where parsing 'rc' port lines failed with a
        port name having a trailing space. Also fixed short-port-name
        detection.
    *   Added a "Pattern Fix" dialog to allow a whole pattern to be shifted,
        quantized, and changed in length all at once. Useful for fixing a
        badly played pattern or scaling the duration.
    *   Fixed the issue of leftover child windows of qseqeditframe64.
    *   Removed odd beat-widths from time signature dropdowns.  Can
        still enter odd values manually, but unsupported by MIDI format.
    *   Refactored drop-down lists to use the settings module.
    *   Tightend string_to_xxx() functions and replaced the std::stoxxx()
        functions to avoid throwing exceptions.
    *   Trying to get rolls, time, data, and event panes to line up no
        matter what the Qt theme is. Difficult.
    *   Tightening the setting/clearing of performer modification re
        sequence changes to reduce unnecessary prompts to save, flag
        modification via the asterisk change marker, and enable/disable the
        File / Save option in the correct way.
    *   Tightened the saving of WRK and MIDI files.
    *   Major refactoring to replace seq::pointers with seq::refs in many
        places.
    *   Updated the bootstrap script to make 'release' the default, and
        fixed the portmidi automake build process for Linux.

See the "NEWS" file for changes in earlier versions.

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