The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

FYI - there's a Press Release on Harmony Central regarding
Yamaha's OPT
http://www.harmony-central.com/News/2002/Open-Plug-In-Tech
nology.html

I don't quite understand what benefit this offers that isn't already
accounted for via MIDI, VST FX and VSTi's? Hmm...

Jon

From: "jondl_2000" <jondl_2000@...>

> FYI - there's a Press Release on Harmony Central regarding
> Yamaha's OPT
> http://www.harmony-central.com/News/2002/Open-Plug-In-Tech
> nology.html
>
> I don't quite understand what benefit this offers that isn't already
> accounted for via MIDI, VST FX and VSTi's? Hmm...

What I don't like about it is that using COM precludes the word 'Open'.
Phrases like 'industry standard' also make me fret.

- Peter

VST/VSTi and DXi formats are primarily Audio plugin formats. Their
handling of MIDI is actually quite limited.

OPT is primarily designed to provide MIDI plugins to third party
sequencers. i.e. it is not competitive to VSTi/DXi, but complimentary.

From Yamahas viewpoint the overall aim is to simplify the integration of
external hardware into third party sequencer environments i.e. to make
external hardware as seamless to use as softsynths.

OPT provides access to client sequencer MIDI services (including direct
access to events stored within sequencer tracks, timing information,
MIDI ports and transport/status functions etc).

OPT is divided into 3 levels of support:

Level 1 - Panels: Basic control panels that can transmit data via client
sequencers MIDI ports. e.g. simple device editors/librarians etc

Level2 - Processors: Access to client real-time and offline event
queues. Allows automation of Level 1 panels plus real-time/offline MIDI
effect effects (arpeggiators, tempo delays, auto-accompaniments etc)

Level3 - Views: Direct access to client track, block event structures
(including master track and selections etc). This allows editors to be
written that can do almost anything a native sequencer editor can do
(e.g List views, Piano rolls etc). However it is intended that views be
supplied that augment the features of existing client editors (for
example Yamaha has a list view that utilises an OPT database component,
to interpret all Yamaha device sysex, NRPNs, RPNs etc into plain English
parameters. So instead of seeing F0 43 4C.... etc you see: Variation
Effect: Amp Simulation). In this way you can edit the parameters in a
more intuitive way, rather than attempting to perform rocket science on
meaningless bytes! Furthermore the view can perform search back, such
that it can interpret data contextually (e.g. come up with the correct
parameter name and values for a given effect program).

Similarly you can write complex device editors that can both extract and
insert MIDI setup data directly to client tracks etc. Essentially I
could write a version of XGedit/An1xEdit that runs within your sequencer
and stores all data directly to the sequencers tracks. No need for Hubi
pipes or import/export of MIDI files!

In the limit, using OPT can you can produce a totally modular sequencer,
where you can pick and choose which views/editors you want and tailor
them to your setup!

The OPT SDK is available under a royalty free license from Yamaha. For a
copy contact: sibazaki@...

Regards

Gary Gregson

Email:gary@...
http://www.yme.co.uk/yme


-----Original Message-----
From: jondl_2000 [mailto:jondl_2000@...]
Sent: 03 April 2002 16:56
To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AN1x] OT: Yamaha Debuts New Open Plug-in Technology

FYI - there's a Press Release on Harmony Central regarding
Yamaha's OPT
http://www.harmony-central.com/News/2002/Open-Plug-In-Tech
nology.html

I don't quite understand what benefit this offers that isn't already
accounted for via MIDI, VST FX and VSTi's? Hmm...

Jon

In a message dated 3/4/02 6:14:52 pm, peterk@... writes:

I guess Gary's down wit' OPT. :)

Yeah you know me,
Elson



- 30 -
: . elson trinidad, los angeles, california, usa
: . elson@... : www.westworld.com/~elson
: . groove to the futurethnic beats of e:trinity at www.e-trinity.org and
www.mp3.com/etrinity

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "Gary Gregson" <gary@y...> wrote:

> VST/VSTi and DXi formats are primarily Audio plugin formats.

Their

> handling of MIDI is actually quite limited.
>
> OPT is primarily designed to provide MIDI plugins to third party
> sequencers. i.e. it is not competitive to VSTi/DXi, but

complimentary.

>
> From Yamahas viewpoint the overall aim is to simplify the

integration of

> external hardware into third party sequencer environments i.e.

to make

> external hardware as seamless to use as softsynths.
>
> OPT provides access to client sequencer MIDI services

(including direct

> access to events stored within sequencer tracks, timing

information,

> MIDI ports and transport/status functions etc).
>
> OPT is divided into 3 levels of support:

I don't mean to sound facetious but this appears to be similar to
the Environment in Logic Audio. Is this based upon the old CAL
language from Cakewalk?

>
> Level 1 - Panels: Basic control panels that can transmit data

via client

> sequencers MIDI ports. e.g. simple device editors/librarians

etc

>
> Level2 - Processors: Access to client real-time and offline

event

> queues. Allows automation of Level 1 panels plus

real-time/offline MIDI

> effect effects (arpeggiators, tempo delays,

auto-accompaniments etc)

>
> Level3 - Views: Direct access to client track, block event

structures

> (including master track and selections etc). This allows editors

to be

> written that can do almost anything a native sequencer editor

can do

> (e.g List views, Piano rolls etc). However it is intended that

views be

> supplied that augment the features of existing client editors (for
> example Yamaha has a list view that utilises an OPT database

component,

> to interpret all Yamaha device sysex, NRPNs, RPNs etc into

plain English

> parameters. So instead of seeing F0 43 4C.... etc you see:

Variation

> Effect: Amp Simulation). In this way you can edit the

parameters in a

> more intuitive way, rather than attempting to perform rocket

science on

> meaningless bytes! Furthermore the view can perform search

back, such

> that it can interpret data contextually (e.g. come up with the

correct

> parameter name and values for a given effect program).
>
> Similarly you can write complex device editors that can both

extract and

> insert MIDI setup data directly to client tracks etc. Essentially I
> could write a version of XGedit/An1xEdit that runs within your

sequencer

> and stores all data directly to the sequencers tracks. No need

for Hubi

> pipes or import/export of MIDI files!
>

Okay, now I'm beginning to see some separation but, again, this
reminds me of a 'universal' version of Logic Control. Perhaps I'm
conceptualizing this incorrectly. Thanks for the details - I'll read
up on this some more.

> In the limit, using OPT can you can produce a totally modular

sequencer,

> where you can pick and choose which views/editors you want

and tailor

> them to your setup!
>

Analagous to Screen Sets...?

> The OPT SDK is available under a royalty free license from

Yamaha. For a

> copy contact: sibazaki@e...
>
> Regards
>
> Gary Gregson
>
> Email:gary@y...
> http://www.yme.co.uk/yme
>

regards,

Jon

>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jondl_2000 [mailto:jondl_2000@y...]
> Sent: 03 April 2002 16:56
> To: AN1x-list@y...
> Subject: [AN1x] OT: Yamaha Debuts New Open Plug-in

Technology

>
> FYI - there's a Press Release on Harmony Central regarding
> Yamaha's OPT
>

http://www.harmony-central.com/News/2002/Open-Plug-In-Tech

> nology.html
>
> I don't quite understand what benefit this offers that isn't

already

> accounted for via MIDI, VST FX and VSTi's? Hmm...
>
> Jon

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Elson Trinidad <elson@w...> wrote:

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "jondl_2000" <jondl_2000@y...> wrote:

> --- In AN1x-list@y..., "jondl_2000" <jondl_2000@y...> wrote:
>> I don't mean to sound facetious but this appears to be similar to
>> the Environment in Logic Audio.
>
> That was my first thought as well...except, a version of AN1xedit
> that runs in your sequencer...hmmmmm :)
>
> Tom

It would be an overkill to operate the 2 timbre of AN1x through an ext.
sequencer.

Kamy

A version of any synth/Sampler editor you choose inside your sequencer
of choice is what appeals to me, no more hubis loopback devices to make
Midi ports multiclient, I like the idea of getting the same kind of
access to my 'real' synths as you get to a vsti. From what I can see,
OPT is a breath of life for 'hardware' midi devices. Now we just have
to wait for the programmers to come up with some neat stuff for us to
use.

it probably does sound a bit like logic environments, but then again
environments are a purely Logic thing, OPT is for everyone, and I'm sure
that a long hard look would have been taken at the architectures that
were available at the time of developing OPT, and the good bits would be
taken into consideration.

Steinberg are giving SX buyers a load of Cakewalk midi plugins (Which I
am sure will be useful) but the thing that bothers me most is that while
VST is upgrading to version SX (at a price), while Sonar (Err, isn't
that CAKEWALK Sonar?) isn't upgrading to a new version (Or price), but
is adding support for OPT!

So, us steiny users will get a load of Cakewalk hand-me downs, while
sonar users get shiny new OPT Plugin support :-( (No doubt funded by
the sale of Cakewalk midi plugins to Steinberg, LOL)



In article <a8h195+1kbj@...>, tomfinegan <tomfinegan@...>
writes

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Kamy <kamy@e...> wrote:

> > --- In AN1x-list@y..., "jondl_2000" <jondl_2000@y...> wrote:
> >> I don't mean to sound facetious but this appears to be

similar to

> >> the Environment in Logic Audio.
> >
> > That was my first thought as well...except, a version of

AN1xedit

> > that runs in your sequencer...hmmmmm :)
> >
> > Tom
>
> It would be an overkill to operate the 2 timbre of AN1x through

an ext.

As a vst user I would favour OPT over nothing, because that is
effectively what we have in VST for external Midi devices at the moment.

At the moment we have to use Hubis and another external midi
application, which is a pain in the backside, and unnecessary. WE can't
use logic environments, but with OPT there is no need for external apps,
so it will keep the system/midi overheads to a minimum too, plus
providing more than just synth editing options.


In article <a8hol0+97l8@...>, jondl_2000 <jondl_2000@...>
writes

At 02:26 PM 4/4/02 +0100, Reggie wrote:

> but the thing that bothers me most is that while
>VST is upgrading to version SX (at a price), while Sonar (Err, isn't
>that CAKEWALK Sonar?) isn't upgrading to a new version (Or price), but
>is adding support for OPT!

What do you mean? Sonar 2.0 has just been released. That's a new version
right there.

>So, us steiny users will get a load of Cakewalk hand-me downs, while
>sonar users get shiny new OPT Plugin support :-(

I personally would end that sentence with a " : - ) "

Elson | e:trinity
Hardcore Sonar user


- 30 -
: . elson trinidad, los angeles, california, usa
: . elson@... : www.westworld.com/~elson
: . groove to the futurethnic beats of e:trinity at www.e-trinity.org and
www.mp3.com/etrinity

In article <5.1.0.14.2.20020404112521.00a24d90@...>,
Elson Trinidad <elson@...> writes

>At 02:26 PM 4/4/02 +0100, Reggie wrote:
>> but the thing that bothers me most is that while
>>VST is upgrading to version SX (at a price), while Sonar (Err, isn't
>>that CAKEWALK Sonar?) isn't upgrading to a new version (Or price), but
>>is adding support for OPT!
>
>What do you mean? Sonar 2.0 has just been released. That's a new version
>right there.

Sorry, I didn't realise it had been updated, do you have to pay for the
update?

>
>>So, us steiny users will get a load of Cakewalk hand-me downs, while
>>sonar users get shiny new OPT Plugin support :-(
>
>I personally would end that sentence with a " : - ) "

You must be a Sonar user.

At 09:15 PM 4/4/02 +0100, Reggie wrote:

>
> >What do you mean? Sonar 2.0 has just been released. That's a new version
> >right there.
>Sorry, I didn't realise it had been updated, do you have to pay for the
>update?

Yeah, in my case, it was $79, depending on the previous product I owned and
if I wanted the regular Sonar 2.0 or Sonar 2.0XL (with a couple extra
plugins I didn't personally really need).

> >I personally would end that sentence with a " : - ) "
>You must be a Sonar user.
>

But of course. :)

> >
> >Elson | e:trinity
> >Hardcore Sonar user

- 30 -
: . elson trinidad, los angeles, california, usa
: . elson@... : www.westworld.com/~elson
: . groove to the futurethnic beats of e:trinity at www.e-trinity.org and
www.mp3.com/etrinity

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Reggie <reggie@t...> wrote:

> As a vst user I would favour OPT over nothing, because that is
> effectively what we have in VST for external Midi devices at the

moment.

>
> At the moment we have to use Hubis and another external midi
> application, which is a pain in the backside, and unnecessary.

WE can't

> use logic environments, but with OPT there is no need for

external apps,

> so it will keep the system/midi overheads to a minimum too,

plus