Rockbox Technical Forums

Rockbox Development => Feature Ideas => Topic started by: MajiKool Dragonâ„¢ on October 04, 2008, 05:59:18 PM

Title: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: MajiKool Dragonâ„¢ on October 04, 2008, 05:59:18 PM
i would find this useful on my e200R. Seeing as i'm a hiphop/rap beatmaker. 8)
possibly something similar to FL Studio.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: nls on October 06, 2008, 02:50:03 AM
There is an unfinished midi making plugin called beatbox in svn wich you could investigate. I have never tried it myself and it isn't built by default so you need to add it to SUBDIRS and build yourself.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: MajiKool Dragonâ„¢ on October 06, 2008, 05:42:12 PM
i saw that the other day when looking thru the source code. but...
could u or someone else compile it like this for me and send it to mrblingcash2@hotmail.com.
i read thru the compiling instructions and what you're telling me to do sounds really complicated. ???
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: Chronon on October 06, 2008, 05:46:53 PM
Take it in steps and it's really not bad.

1) Choose a build environment and set it up.
2) Learn how to get the code from SVN.
3) Learn how to "make" Rockbox from the SVN code.
4) Make any desired changes and "make" a custom version for yourself.

These topics are all covered in the docs index.  It can appear daunting at first, but if you separate the tasks a bit it's not so bad.  Plus, then you'll have the freedom to make your own builds and play around with patches any time you feel like it.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: MajiKool Dragonâ„¢ on October 06, 2008, 06:00:55 PM
i'd really appreciate if someone were to do it for me. i'm not at liberty to install anything on the machine i'm currently using and will be using for a quite while. :(
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: saanaito on October 07, 2008, 12:58:59 PM
MajiKool Blingâ„¢: I'm pretty much set up to build; I'm even a c250 user. If I can find out how to add beatbox to the SUBDIRS, I'll make a build for you and post it somewhere (not on the Rockbox site, though) or e-mail it to you.

Be aware that I have a few patches applied (but they have not been causing problems for me) and that to keep Beatbox working, I'll have to build for you every time you want to update.

EDIT: I believe I found the place: /rockbox/apps/plugins/SUBDIRS in the subverion folder:
Code: [Select]
#if !defined(IRIVER_IFP7XX_SERIES)

/* For all targets */
shortcuts
beatbox

However, when making, I got this output:

Code: [Select]
MAKE in beatbox
CC ../midi/midifile.c
CC ../midi/midiutil.c
CC ../midi/sequencer.c
CC ../midi/guspat.c
CC ../midi/synth.c
CC beatbox.c
beatbox.c:89:1: warning: "FRACTSIZE" redefined
In file included from beatbox.c:23:
../midi/midiutil.h:22:1: warning: this is the location of the previous definition
beatbox.c:99:1: warning: "MAX_VOICES" redefined
../midi/midiutil.h:37:1: warning: this is the location of the previous definition
beatbox.c:110:1: warning: "BUF_SIZE" redefined
../midi/midiutil.h:24:1: warning: this is the location of the previous definition
beatbox.c: In function ‘plugin_start’:
beatbox.c:270: warning: implicit declaration of function ‘beatboxmain’
beatbox.c:237: warning: unused parameter ‘parameter’
beatbox.c: In function ‘synthbuf’:
beatbox.c:310: warning: implicit declaration of function ‘synthSample’
beatbox.c: At top level:
beatbox.c:346: warning: function declaration isn’t a prototype
beatbox.c:358: warning: function declaration isn’t a prototype
beatbox.c:376: warning: function declaration isn’t a prototype
beatbox.c:408: warning: function declaration isn’t a prototype
beatbox.c:415: warning: function declaration isn’t a prototype
beatbox.c:431: warning: function declaration isn’t a prototype
beatbox.c: In function ‘drawGrid’:
beatbox.c:432: warning: unused variable ‘j’
beatbox.c: At top level:
beatbox.c:511: warning: function declaration isn’t a prototype
beatbox.c: In function ‘beatboxmain’:
beatbox.c:702: error: ‘BUTTON_ON’ undeclared (first use in this function)
beatbox.c:702: error: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once
beatbox.c:702: error: for each function it appears in.)
beatbox.c:716: error: ‘BUTTON_OFF’ undeclared (first use in this function)
beatbox.c:524: warning: unused variable ‘j’
beatbox.c:512: warning: unused variable ‘vol’
make[3]: *** [/home/michael/rockbox/build/apps/plugins/beatbox/beatbox.o] Error 1
make[2]: *** [beatbox] Error 2

This is definitely unfinished code, and it seems to lack c200 keymaps at that. I haven't tried testing the build yet, but I suspect Beatbox is too incomplete and out of date to be usable. :(


A little searching revealed this alternative, a Game Boy sequencer: http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/

I will test the build shortly and report back.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: LambdaCalculus on October 07, 2008, 02:02:43 PM
The Beatbox code is outright decrepit at this point in time. No one has worked on it for quite some time now.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: MarcGuay on October 07, 2008, 02:18:52 PM
A little searching revealed this alternative, a Game Boy sequencer: http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/

My friend had this, or something similar, on his real-life Gameboy and it was quite effective.  Unfortunately, my understanding is that audio in the Rockboy emulator is not working properly, leaving a rather large gap in this game's usefulness.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: MajiKool Dragonâ„¢ on October 07, 2008, 03:36:58 PM
A little searching revealed this alternative, a Game Boy sequencer: http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/
i've also found this and have been trying it out for the past day or two. :)

Unfortunately, my understanding is that audio in the Rockboy emulator is not working properly, leaving a rather large gap in this game's usefulness.
this is very true... the output sound is very choppy and broken up. :(

The little sound dj is basically what i'm looking for(though i would also like the ability to use/add my own sampled sounds).
so... if beatbox no worky, could someone make a plugin like LSDJ.

Also keep in mind Strife89... i mainly use my e260R.(Though i would still appreciate having it built for my c250 so i could at least try it out :))
though if some thing like this were to be made or perfected(in the case of beatbox) it would need to be ported to other players such as your c250. sorry, this line wasn't necessary.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: saanaito on October 07, 2008, 04:38:03 PM
I built an e200 simulator, but Beatbox refused to show up. Given that it's ancient code anyway, I doubt it's worth pursuing the plugin any further unless someone wants to (and can) work on it.

I wish I could help you more. Sorry, man. :(
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: MajiKool Dragonâ„¢ on October 07, 2008, 04:53:46 PM
no problem man 8)... your help and input was appreciated. you did what you could. :)

now then... any one up to the task of making this thing work, or ... making an entirely new plugin to do what i'm looking for?

i think such a plugin is very necessary... if there are going to be things like the Recording Enhancements Pack(http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=2513.0) for people who make music like this http://www.myspace.com/martinscarratt then there should be some thing like what i'm requesting for people that make music like me.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: Llorean on October 07, 2008, 07:41:36 PM
Well, if people like you actually work on it, instead of just saying "It should exist", it'll happen.

The only way to be certain it'll happen is to put the time and effort into learning how, and doing it yourself.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: MajiKool Dragonâ„¢ on October 07, 2008, 07:52:00 PM
oh... come on. don't be so silly. ;D
i spend my spare time living my life and making my music plus i'm in high school so i have homework to do.
trust me if i had the time i would, and at some point i will, but that probably won't be for a while.
so... i ask people that actually know how and sort of for the most part have time to do this stuff instead.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: AlexP on October 08, 2008, 03:10:01 AM
So other people should waste their spare time that they could spend "living my life" making a feature for you that they will never need, because you have better things to do?  If you have better things to do and you want this feature, don't you think those that don't want it have even better things to do?

The recording enhancements pack exists because someone wanted it enough to sit down and code it.  The feature you want will only exist if someone wants it enough sits down and writes it.  The only sure way to do this is do it yourself.  Otherwise you will have to hope that someone who wants it enough turns up.

P.S.  Being at school I would have thought you had much more free time than those with full time jobs and families.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: MajiKool Dragonâ„¢ on October 08, 2008, 07:46:08 AM
ok... :'(
but that means its probably gonna take for ever before it actually ever happens. :(


oh and did i mention... i have a job... at a company that doesn't even pay me yet! because they don't even make money yet...
also i'm looking to get a second job as well.(that actually pays of course)




sorry if i sound all ass-ish and arrogant. i don't mean to... i'm a real nice guy.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: GodEater on October 08, 2008, 09:55:32 AM
The harsh fact of life is that if you want something done for free, then in the unlikely event that you get it at *all*, you certainly don't get to complain about how long it takes to arrive.

The only other way to get it, is to do it yourself - those are your choices.
Title: Re: a beat/MIDI maker/editor plugin.
Post by: Chronon on October 08, 2008, 02:03:39 PM
MajiKool Blingâ„¢ : I'm sure you're quite a nice person.   :)

They are just trying to urge you to put some effort in yourself if this matters to you.  I won't belabor it because I think they have gone through everything already.

Barring you taking the initiative to do it yourself, you can only present the idea (as you have done) and hope that someone decides to run with it.  I think it's a good idea for a plugin.  Maybe someone will take an interest.  Just don't expect it to happen.