MOTUnation.com

I'm new to Machfive 3 and this particular 'bug' is driving me mad!

Can anyone help? Here's a copy of the messege I sent to MOTU tech support:

System information
Windows 7 32-bit
Intel CORE2Duo
RAM 4GB

When using Machfive, the resizing of the GUI is very inconsistent when using the medium zoom setting which is tthe ideal size for my screen. Either some parts aren't fully displayed (ie the mixer) or when I have the GUI set-up as I like it, it 'resets' or doesn't remember my preferences and I have to set it up again. This is very frustrating as I have to constantly keep resizing the GUI for it to show all of Machfive's parameters. Please fix this. This sort of thing wasn't a problem when I used Kontakt.

I would attach images but Im not sure how to...?

Also, on a side note, when I double click a part to open the browser, if I decide I dont want to choose a sound and want to return to the main screen, how do I? It seems that I can't close the browser without having to close the GUI from view and then show it again (not reloading the VST).

I'm honestly a little disapointed so far... this and the fact I can't dragdrop from my DAWS browser like I could with Kontakt5

I'm on OSX so I'm of little help with the resizing problem. but you need to let them know what DAW you're using. It could very well be a DAW specific bug.

[edit] OK the inability to drag and drop from your browser is an OS or DAW specific bug.
Works fine in OSX 10.8 using DP8.

[edit 2] Sorry, it works fine using the OSX browser. Trying to drag a Soundbite from DP8 does nothing. I'm not exactly sure why you would want/need to use your DAWs browser over the OS one or Machfives? at least in OSX I much prefer to use the Machfive browser mostly.

Regarding the GUI resizing, they (MOTU) confirmed with me that it's an issue and have forwarded the info to the development team. It must be my specific set-up of Windows 32bit, 4gb RAM. I mentioned I was using Studio ONE.

Regarding the dragdrop, in Studio ONE almost EVERYTHING is done via dragdrop. It's one of the best things about the DAW. The browser is very well thought out and is constantly open with my samples etc. In KONTAKT, I could select multiple samples and drag them to Kontakt to create a NEW instrument.

I wrongly assumed that Machfive would have this same ability. No demo so I couldnt try it. Had to find both issues out the hard way.

Small detail for some but a major part of my particular workflow.

It's been a while since I used a browser on windows, but Machfive 3's browser is far better than Kontakts, so that coupled with the fact that DP8 essentially doesn't have a built in browser, it becomes apparent why MOTU didn't think it was necessary to add support for Studio Ones' browser.
Like I said, not familiar enough with Windows browser to have an opinion, but I've always hated the built in browsers on DAWs and plug ins and generally prefer to use the one in OSX, so Mach five gets points for me not hating it's browser.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I can't select a handful of samples {like drums} from the Machfives browser & create a new 'kit' from them, can I? That's why my DAW browser would come in as it's always open with all my sample files..

Right now, I have to have a seperate windows explorer window open that I keep in the background, just so I can do simple dragdrop procedures to Machfive.

Just did it with OSX and the M53 browser. Actually I had never tried that so I'm glad you asked.
Hopefully it works the same in Windows? IMO the drag and drop procedure is maybe the only thing that Kontakt beats M53 with besides shear libraries. (the whole having to select Alt/Option at the end is meh!)

The reverbs, filters and time/pitch algorithms in M53 beat the crap out of Kontakt though.

BOOMXL wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong but I can't select a handful of samples {like drums} from the Machfives browser & create a new 'kit' from them, can I? That's why my DAW browser would come in as it's always open with all my sample files..

Right now, I have to have a seperate windows explorer window open that I keep in the background, just so I can do simple dragdrop procedures to Machfive.

There is two browser in M5, the one which is opened when you double click a part and a treeview one.
Use this second one to drag n drop samples.
Just click Browse on the left panel header ,then select the first folder icon in this sub header, you can then access your HD.
To change selected HD, just click the little star icon in the header.

Hope this helps.

I guess I'll have to drag from explorer or from M5's second browser.

I don't quite get why one browser can something the other can't..

Surely the main browser should have this functionality?

Anyway, thanks for the replies.

BOOMXL wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong but I can't select a handful of samples {like drums} from the Machfives browser & create a new 'kit' from them, can I? That's why my DAW browser would come in as it's always open with all my sample files..

Right now, I have to have a seperate windows explorer window open that I keep in the background, just so I can do simple dragdrop procedures to Machfive.

If I understand what you want to do, its easy to do this is by using M5's browser. Select "Browse" and click the folder icon in the left hand browser window. Navigate to the folder where you have the multiple samples you wish to import.

Select the samples you want to import in the browser, then option drag them onto the keygroup editor window. You will be given several options on how to map them (by key name, velocity, chromatically, white keys, etc.) Choose the one you want and away you go.

If you just click and drag them (no option key) onto the key group editing window, then where you position the samples will determine how they are mapped - you can map them chromatically one sample per key, or a few notes per sample, or even different velocities depending on where the cursor is when you release the mouse button.

If you want to drag samples from the OS into M5, then you need to use your OS browser to open the folder containing your samples, then select the samples you want and make sure that one of the selected samples can be seen once you bring M5's GUI to the front. Make M5 the active window, then can click and drag one of the selected samples onto the keygroup editor window and all your samples will map as in the paragraph above.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for your reply.

Initially (I'm still fairly new to M5), I was trying to do the same thing but from the main browser (when you double click parts). As someone suggested, I had to drag multiple samples from the mini browser instead. I'm also aware that you can drag from the desktop but I'd rather do it from within my DAW if it's possible...

..which it is in Kontakt 5. I can drag straight from my DAW's (Presonus Studio One) browser straight into Kontakt. My DAWs browser has the added benefit of letting me audition the sounds (auto play) before dragging them over.

Machfive doesn't

Thanks again!

OK, I see now, you are trying to load an audio file directly from your DAW into M5 while it is running as a plug-in.

I can't seem do this in DP either - I can't drag a soundbite from any DP GUI window into M5 running as a plug-in or in stand-alone, nor can I cut and paste. I can navigate to the audio files folder for the project and get them that way via the M5 browser, however.

That would be a handy little feature to have...