Kontakt reopens with a blank screen (any VSTi)

[scorster]

Issue type

VST bug

Bug description

After setting a track to a Kontakt instrument, close and reopen Kontakt. Result: Get a blank screen instead of a functioning instance of Kontakt

Confirmed in v4.2 and 4.21 https://musescore.org/en/node/359455

Steps to reproduce

1. Add VSTi
2. Close VSTi window
3. Reinitiate the SAME VSTi by selecting it in pop-up list in Mixer (not just clicking on VSTs name in Mixer)

https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/assets/90187801/c489e899-dcc0-4e26-909a-cff12a56aa3b

Workaround is to close and reopen the score. Actually, maybe you have to restart MuseScore.

MuseScore Version

5.2.1 and 4.2

Regression

Yes, this used to work in MuseScore 4.1.1

Operating system

MacOS 13.5.2

[Apprisco]

<3 thanks for the report, got too lazy to do it myself. This is what happens whenever you reopen a Kontakt window after choosing 1 instrument. Makes it basically unusable as if you close the kontakt window you have to reopen Musescore and wait for everything to load again. ESPECIALLY when musescore takes 5 hours to load Kontakt. It's really great, honestly, because I can get some insane sounds on MuseScore with this now, but using it is a huge pain. This wasn't an issue back in 4.1 nightlies.

EDIT: issue reproduced in Windows 11.

[bkunda]

FWIW I cannot reproduce on macOS

[bkunda]

@zacjansheski pls investigate

[zacjansheski]

I did not reproduce this (Tried with Kontakt 5 and Kontakt 7)

https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/assets/69917893/98849ef4-1eff-40af-b517-6da8d865d5fd

[Apprisco]

Only explanation here is that we're using kontakt 7 portable. Can you try that instead?

[Apprisco]

Can reproduce with every instrument, every VST, every time

[scorster]

I don't know what Kontakt 7 Portable is.

I tested again today using the full version of Kontakt 7 with Picked Nylon and Stradivari violin and found no issue when closing and reopening a Kontakt Native Instruments instrument.

Well report back if I encounter the problem initially posted.

scorster

[Apprisco]

Portable is a non program files install- it goes in any folder and is a .exe. That's the version most commonly used now.

[DmitryArefiev]

@scorster I can repro with these steps. Are you using the same?

1. Add VSTi
2. Close VSTi window
3. Add the same VSTi (not just clicking on Kontakt name in the Mixer)

https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/assets/90187801/c489e899-dcc0-4e26-909a-cff12a56aa3b

[scorster]

Hi Dmitry,

Yes. Exactly.

On MacOS 13.5.2 in MuseScore 4.2.1, as you described: Step 3 provokes the empty Kontakt window.

scorster

[DmitryArefiev]

Cool. Thanks for confirmation! I'll add those steps to description

[scorster]

Thanks for working to ensure a solid MuseScore/Kontakt connection.

But now there's this: https://musescore.org/en/node/359683#comment-1229828

So presently I'm no longer able to test this issue raised in this thread.

[bkunda]

I can now reproduce this using Kontakt 6.8, following the updated repro steps above. @scorster it seems like there are issues with Kontakt 7, which are described here. It might be helpful to have your updated report about Kontakt 7.8 included there. @DmitryArefiev @zacjansheski @RomanPudashkin I think we need to push this as a priority for investigation and resolving, particularly if something has been affected since v.4.2.

[Apprisco]

This is very interesting. I cannot reproduce that issue anymore with a proper Kontakt 7 install, 7.8 to be clear- NON PORTABLE. Also portable instances took a whole minute to load the first time I opened MS4 and Kontakt each session. Now it's basically instant. I also cannot reproduce the instrument issue on kontakt 7.8 system wide install, portable has been removed.

[DmitryArefiev]

Strange.. It still happens on my side. Did you try these steps?

1. Add VSTi
2. Close VSTi window
3. Reinitiate the SAME VSTi by selecting it in pop-up list in Mixer (not just clicking on VSTs name in Mixer)

[Apprisco]

It happens for Kontakt 7 Portable. That's what I mean. It doesn't happen for 7.8 native, it happens for 7.8 portable. There is no pop up list for me, I need to load Kontakt not the vst.

[scorster]

MuseScore 4.2.1 freeze/abend issues persist with Kontakt 7.9

https://musescore.org/en/node/359683#comment-1235218

[bill0287]

I am going to chime in here too. I just downloaded "The Free Orchestra 1 and 2" with Kontakt 7.9. I am on MS4.2.1 on Windows 11. When I try to access Kontakt via VST, it "opens" the program and shows the libraries, but when I open a library, there are no instruments shown, No errors, just an empty screen. Standalone Kontakt works fine, and the VST works fine in a different notation program.

[bill0287]

I am seeing the same behavior when using Halion Sonic.

[bkunda]

@RomanPudashkin @DmitryArefiev did we perhaps make a change recently that might render this issue no longer as valid?

At least on macOS, I am unable to re-instantiate the VSTi window via the repro steps above (not just for Kontakt, but other VSTi plugins as well). Tested in both 4.3.1 and master.

This actually strikes me as unproblematic. I'd hazard a guess that clicking on the actual plugin name in the mixer slot is not just a far more convenient, but also a more obvious way of calling the currently-loaded plugin window. At least now nothing gets triggered by re-selecting the currently selected context menu item (as opposed to an empty window being loaded).

https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/assets/86290556/e8821370-3aff-4652-869e-7684391e42d6

[bkunda]

It seems that at some point the ability to trigger an active VST plugin's dialog by re-selecting it from the context menu ended up being disabled. Moreover, those of us who have tested this recently are unable to reproduce it. So I'll close it for now, but of course we should re-open it if the problem proves persistent.