AUM windows switching and closing all windows

skrat

Hello there,

I always had an idea of having an easy way to switch window groups for specific channel by a simple hit of a button on a MIDI controller, or even from some MIDI AU (or even via built-in keyboard).
For example, imagine having e.g. Rusimaker fed by Rozeta XOX with e.g. some distortion effect. If you want to focus on this part of your song, you usually want to see all 3 windows at once (mostly if you're on bigger iPad and there's enough space for it). On the other channel you may want to see Troublemaker and Rozeta Bassline feeding it, so again you want to see both windows at once.
In youtube videos, you see people furiously closing, opening and dragging windows around to switch between what I'd call "contexts" - a group of plugins that make a single layer in your song (they don't have to be single channel, but usually they're a single audio channel + effect and some MIDI plugin feeding it).

Fortunately, for some time AUM allows to MIDI map opening the window of an app, which will either open it if it was closed, bring to foreground if it is behind some window(s) or close if is already opened.
Unfortunately, if you use this way to populate windows, you'll quickly end up with many windows opened on top of each other, so then if you want to see the mixer part, you need to close all of them. This is not ideal, it would be nice if there is a way to close them all at once, ideally via MIDI command.
I have tried to send MIDI note off message to all other windows but that doesn't work, AUM handles on/off messages the same, so both of them just toggles one of open/move to foreground/close.

Now I have a bit crazy idea of having a Mozaic script where I would first manually close all windows and then e.g. hit a button on Mozaic to let it know to start "recording" which windows are opened and closed. Then you'd know to which windows you'll send MIDI twice - first to bring it to foreground and second to close it and then you'll send normally just single MIDI message for the window you want to open. Or to show the mixer, you'll send the "doubled" messages to all that are in background and single message to the one currently in the foreground.

This should work, although it's a bit fragile, as it would be confused if you'd open something manually (but for that, you'll manually close all and again let manually Mozaic know it has a "clean table").

And last but not least, mapping manually every openable AU is PITA, I can imagine something like "open next/previous window within this channel" and "switch to other channels windows", without having to map them manually. Combined with "close all windows", this would pre pretty powerful tool to switch window groups / contexts.

Anyway, I may be missing something important here, as this is just based on some experimenting, this is why I ask if by any chance someone solved this in better way. Also I am curious, what are your ideas on this switching windows and contexts in AUM?

cc: @j_liljedahl In case you're into something new that could improve my experience, I would be very happy to know If there's nothing, the "smallest" feature request I can come up with is introducing the MIDI mapping for "close all windows". Then I'll just always send this "close all windows" message first and after that the note/cc to open respective window(s).
I remember we had some discussion about this "layouts" or "contexts", but not sure if you're still fan of this idea, however this could be related to it.

j_liljedahl

@skrat said:
Hello there,

I always had an idea of having an easy way to switch window groups for specific channel by a simple hit of a button on a MIDI controller, or even from some MIDI AU (or even via built-in keyboard).
For example, imagine having e.g. Rusimaker fed by Rozeta XOX with e.g. some distortion effect. If you want to focus on this part of your song, you usually want to see all 3 windows at once (mostly if you're on bigger iPad and there's enough space for it). On the other channel you may want to see Troublemaker and Rozeta Bassline feeding it, so again you want to see both windows at once.
In youtube videos, you see people furiously closing, opening and dragging windows around to switch between what I'd call "contexts" - a group of plugins that make a single layer in your song (they don't have to be single channel, but usually they're a single audio channel + effect and some MIDI plugin feeding it).

Fortunately, for some time AUM allows to MIDI map opening the window of an app, which will either open it if it was closed, bring to foreground if it is behind some window(s) or close if is already opened.
Unfortunately, if you use this way to populate windows, you'll quickly end up with many windows opened on top of each other, so then if you want to see the mixer part, you need to close all of them. This is not ideal, it would be nice if there is a way to close them all at once, ideally via MIDI command.
I have tried to send MIDI note off message to all other windows but that doesn't work, AUM handles on/off messages the same, so both of them just toggles one of open/move to foreground/close.

Now I have a bit crazy idea of having a Mozaic script where I would first manually close all windows and then e.g. hit a button on Mozaic to let it know to start "recording" which windows are opened and closed. Then you'd know to which windows you'll send MIDI twice - first to bring it to foreground and second to close it and then you'll send normally just single MIDI message for the window you want to open. Or to show the mixer, you'll send the "doubled" messages to all that are in background and single message to the one currently in the foreground.

This should work, although it's a bit fragile, as it would be confused if you'd open something manually (but for that, you'll manually close all and again let manually Mozaic know it has a "clean table").

And last but not least, mapping manually every openable AU is PITA, I can imagine something like "open next/previous window within this channel" and "switch to other channels windows", without having to map them manually. Combined with "close all windows", this would pre pretty powerful tool to switch window groups / contexts.

Anyway, I may be missing something important here, as this is just based on some experimenting, this is why I ask if by any chance someone solved this in better way. Also I am curious, what are your ideas on this switching windows and contexts in AUM?

cc: @j_liljedahl In case you're into something new that could improve my experience, I would be very happy to know If there's nothing, the "smallest" feature request I can come up with is introducing the MIDI mapping for "close all windows". Then I'll just always send this "close all windows" message first and after that the note/cc to open respective window(s).
I remember we had some discussion about this "layouts" or "contexts", but not sure if you're still fan of this idea, however this could be related to it.

I'll try to get a MIDI action for "close all windows" into the next update!

Sometime in the future I'd love to revisit the ideas about switchable "layouts", or "scenes" I might call them. They could include which plugin windows are visible and their location, as well as the current mixer scroll position.

Philippe

If I may, a "snap to grid" for window resizing and location would be pretty handy too to help with layouts.

skrat

@j_liljedahl said:

@skrat said:
Hello there,

I always had an idea of having an easy way to switch window groups for specific channel by a simple hit of a button on a MIDI controller, or even from some MIDI AU (or even via built-in keyboard).
For example, imagine having e.g. Rusimaker fed by Rozeta XOX with e.g. some distortion effect. If you want to focus on this part of your song, you usually want to see all 3 windows at once (mostly if you're on bigger iPad and there's enough space for it). On the other channel you may want to see Troublemaker and Rozeta Bassline feeding it, so again you want to see both windows at once.
In youtube videos, you see people furiously closing, opening and dragging windows around to switch between what I'd call "contexts" - a group of plugins that make a single layer in your song (they don't have to be single channel, but usually they're a single audio channel + effect and some MIDI plugin feeding it).

Fortunately, for some time AUM allows to MIDI map opening the window of an app, which will either open it if it was closed, bring to foreground if it is behind some window(s) or close if is already opened.
Unfortunately, if you use this way to populate windows, you'll quickly end up with many windows opened on top of each other, so then if you want to see the mixer part, you need to close all of them. This is not ideal, it would be nice if there is a way to close them all at once, ideally via MIDI command.
I have tried to send MIDI note off message to all other windows but that doesn't work, AUM handles on/off messages the same, so both of them just toggles one of open/move to foreground/close.

Now I have a bit crazy idea of having a Mozaic script where I would first manually close all windows and then e.g. hit a button on Mozaic to let it know to start "recording" which windows are opened and closed. Then you'd know to which windows you'll send MIDI twice - first to bring it to foreground and second to close it and then you'll send normally just single MIDI message for the window you want to open. Or to show the mixer, you'll send the "doubled" messages to all that are in background and single message to the one currently in the foreground.

This should work, although it's a bit fragile, as it would be confused if you'd open something manually (but for that, you'll manually close all and again let manually Mozaic know it has a "clean table").

And last but not least, mapping manually every openable AU is PITA, I can imagine something like "open next/previous window within this channel" and "switch to other channels windows", without having to map them manually. Combined with "close all windows", this would pre pretty powerful tool to switch window groups / contexts.

Anyway, I may be missing something important here, as this is just based on some experimenting, this is why I ask if by any chance someone solved this in better way. Also I am curious, what are your ideas on this switching windows and contexts in AUM?

cc: @j_liljedahl In case you're into something new that could improve my experience, I would be very happy to know If there's nothing, the "smallest" feature request I can come up with is introducing the MIDI mapping for "close all windows". Then I'll just always send this "close all windows" message first and after that the note/cc to open respective window(s).
I remember we had some discussion about this "layouts" or "contexts", but not sure if you're still fan of this idea, however this could be related to it.

I'll try to get a MIDI action for "close all windows" into the next update!

Sometime in the future I'd love to revisit the ideas about switchable "layouts", or "scenes" I might call them. They could include which plugin windows are visible and their location, as well as the current mixer scroll position.

That's awesome news! I was kinda unsuccessful with my Mozaic script - it's currently overly complicated and quite brittle for multiple windows. "Hide all windows" would help to make it easier and more predictable, even if you mix MIDI & touch input. With layouts/scenes, I believe AUM would be killer. It's already THE host, but better navigation would unleash its power for more complex projects.

Crossed fingers for the development going smoothly!

Lorichs

@j_liljedahl said:

@skrat said:
Hello there,

I always had an idea of having an easy way to switch window groups for specific channel by a simple hit of a button on a MIDI controller, or even from some MIDI AU (or even via built-in keyboard).
For example, imagine having e.g. Rusimaker fed by Rozeta XOX with e.g. some distortion effect. If you want to focus on this part of your song, you usually want to see all 3 windows at once (mostly if you're on bigger iPad and there's enough space for it). On the other channel you may want to see Troublemaker and Rozeta Bassline feeding it, so again you want to see both windows at once.
In youtube videos, you see people furiously closing, opening and dragging windows around to switch between what I'd call "contexts" - a group of plugins that make a single layer in your song (they don't have to be single channel, but usually they're a single audio channel + effect and some MIDI plugin feeding it).

Fortunately, for some time AUM allows to MIDI map opening the window of an app, which will either open it if it was closed, bring to foreground if it is behind some window(s) or close if is already opened.
Unfortunately, if you use this way to populate windows, you'll quickly end up with many windows opened on top of each other, so then if you want to see the mixer part, you need to close all of them. This is not ideal, it would be nice if there is a way to close them all at once, ideally via MIDI command.
I have tried to send MIDI note off message to all other windows but that doesn't work, AUM handles on/off messages the same, so both of them just toggles one of open/move to foreground/close.

Now I have a bit crazy idea of having a Mozaic script where I would first manually close all windows and then e.g. hit a button on Mozaic to let it know to start "recording" which windows are opened and closed. Then you'd know to which windows you'll send MIDI twice - first to bring it to foreground and second to close it and then you'll send normally just single MIDI message for the window you want to open. Or to show the mixer, you'll send the "doubled" messages to all that are in background and single message to the one currently in the foreground.

This should work, although it's a bit fragile, as it would be confused if you'd open something manually (but for that, you'll manually close all and again let manually Mozaic know it has a "clean table").

And last but not least, mapping manually every openable AU is PITA, I can imagine something like "open next/previous window within this channel" and "switch to other channels windows", without having to map them manually. Combined with "close all windows", this would pre pretty powerful tool to switch window groups / contexts.

Anyway, I may be missing something important here, as this is just based on some experimenting, this is why I ask if by any chance someone solved this in better way. Also I am curious, what are your ideas on this switching windows and contexts in AUM?

cc: @j_liljedahl In case you're into something new that could improve my experience, I would be very happy to know If there's nothing, the "smallest" feature request I can come up with is introducing the MIDI mapping for "close all windows". Then I'll just always send this "close all windows" message first and after that the note/cc to open respective window(s).
I remember we had some discussion about this "layouts" or "contexts", but not sure if you're still fan of this idea, however this could be related to it.

I'll try to get a MIDI action for "close all windows" into the next update!

Sometime in the future I'd love to revisit the ideas about switchable "layouts", or "scenes" I might call them. They could include which plugin windows are visible and their location, as well as the current mixer scroll position.

Wow @j_liljedahl Layouts and scenes sounds really cool. Great idear 😊👍🏼

[Deleted User]

please please please implement sticky midi assignments and parameters for channels!!!

I'm forever trying different apps to find the right sound, and losing my midi input. It's even worse when there are keyboard splits involved.

Thank you!

Emanresu

double tap on an empty space closes all windows

skrat

@Emanresu said:
double tap on an empty space closes all windows

Yep, I’ve suggested that long time ago but found out it’s implemented only after last update. Maybe it was there already for longer time, but I found it out only recently

Poppadocrock

@j_liljedahl said:

@skrat said:
Hello there,

I always had an idea of having an easy way to switch window groups for specific channel by a simple hit of a button on a MIDI controller, or even from some MIDI AU (or even via built-in keyboard).
For example, imagine having e.g. Rusimaker fed by Rozeta XOX with e.g. some distortion effect. If you want to focus on this part of your song, you usually want to see all 3 windows at once (mostly if you're on bigger iPad and there's enough space for it). On the other channel you may want to see Troublemaker and Rozeta Bassline feeding it, so again you want to see both windows at once.
In youtube videos, you see people furiously closing, opening and dragging windows around to switch between what I'd call "contexts" - a group of plugins that make a single layer in your song (they don't have to be single channel, but usually they're a single audio channel + effect and some MIDI plugin feeding it).

Fortunately, for some time AUM allows to MIDI map opening the window of an app, which will either open it if it was closed, bring to foreground if it is behind some window(s) or close if is already opened.
Unfortunately, if you use this way to populate windows, you'll quickly end up with many windows opened on top of each other, so then if you want to see the mixer part, you need to close all of them. This is not ideal, it would be nice if there is a way to close them all at once, ideally via MIDI command.
I have tried to send MIDI note off message to all other windows but that doesn't work, AUM handles on/off messages the same, so both of them just toggles one of open/move to foreground/close.

Now I have a bit crazy idea of having a Mozaic script where I would first manually close all windows and then e.g. hit a button on Mozaic to let it know to start "recording" which windows are opened and closed. Then you'd know to which windows you'll send MIDI twice - first to bring it to foreground and second to close it and then you'll send normally just single MIDI message for the window you want to open. Or to show the mixer, you'll send the "doubled" messages to all that are in background and single message to the one currently in the foreground.

This should work, although it's a bit fragile, as it would be confused if you'd open something manually (but for that, you'll manually close all and again let manually Mozaic know it has a "clean table").

And last but not least, mapping manually every openable AU is PITA, I can imagine something like "open next/previous window within this channel" and "switch to other channels windows", without having to map them manually. Combined with "close all windows", this would pre pretty powerful tool to switch window groups / contexts.

Anyway, I may be missing something important here, as this is just based on some experimenting, this is why I ask if by any chance someone solved this in better way. Also I am curious, what are your ideas on this switching windows and contexts in AUM?

cc: @j_liljedahl In case you're into something new that could improve my experience, I would be very happy to know If there's nothing, the "smallest" feature request I can come up with is introducing the MIDI mapping for "close all windows". Then I'll just always send this "close all windows" message first and after that the note/cc to open respective window(s).
I remember we had some discussion about this "layouts" or "contexts", but not sure if you're still fan of this idea, however this could be related to it.

I'll try to get a MIDI action for "close all windows" into the next update!

Sometime in the future I'd love to revisit the ideas about switchable "layouts", or "scenes" I might call them. They could include which plugin windows are visible and their location, as well as the current mixer scroll position.

That be cool.