IDEA : Musicians Random File Selection

[Beth UK]

As a musician I sometimes like to work with sample sounds (mostly found sounds) to use within an improvised music project. Music software is a bit lacking in this area. I use usb midi interfaces and control surfaces to trigger sounds. The control surfaces I use provide options for up to 64 sounds.

I wonder if it is possible to create a basic script or app with simple GUI that allows random selection of common music files (wav, ogg, flac) from a single directory and copies the file into a sub-folder. An option say to select the number of files is important. Also, perhaps, the ability to read file tags and comments would be fantastic.

Why random files? It helps avoid repetition of choice, and is often inspirational. Also, working through 35,000 files can be very dull!

[publicdomain]

... working through 35,000 files can be very dull!

-Beth UK (January 26, 2022, 06:29 PM)

Wowie! That's a lot of files! I have code for this (half-baked, sort of) thanks to "Random Sounds App":

https://github.com/p...main/randomsoundsapp

I'm staying home finishing several DC releases during the next few days. I'll give it a shot to yours!

P.S. please list *ALL* file extensions you're targeting/filtering (wav, ogg, flac...).

P.P.S. first version is likely a minimalist GUI. File tags and comments can be added later. Let's focus on the random functionality for v0.1.0.

[Beth UK]

That would be fantastic publicdomain! My curated sample collection consists purely of wav, flac, ogg and very rarely mp3. The ability to be able to preview files before committing to a sub-folder would be very useful but can imagine that will possibly be problematic - especially as my sound uses an external sound interface using asio. Thank you for your interest!

[publicdomain]

That would be fantastic publicdomain Vic! My curated sample collection consists purely of wav, flac, ogg and very rarely mp3. The ability to be able to preview files before committing to a sub-folder would be very useful but can imagine that will possibly be problematic - especially as my sound uses an external sound interface using asio. Thank you for your interest!

-Beth UK (January 27, 2022, 03:45 PM)

Alright Beth, RandomSampler repo is open @ https://github.com/p...domain/randomsampler, I've cloned it locally to begin adding code

Regarding the GUI: thinking about a directory selection dialog, ListBox with all loaded samples as found in the directory AND a secondary list holding selected random files to preview with a play button.

Also, a "RANDOM SAMPLES" button with a text box alongside for changing the number of random files to select on each press.

Stay tuned! I'm home & "smashing keys" during a big chunk of the day; currently aiming at making a N.A.J. "New Apps for January" mini event

Cheers!
Vic

[Beth UK]

  Fantastic!

[publicdomain]

Fantastic!

-Beth UK (January 28, 2022, 02:08 PM)

Yeah, think at least three (3) releases for the month can be worth a "New Apps" thread in the section.

Oh! One last thing. How many random files should be selected by default? (your personal preference )

Cheers!

[Beth UK]

Oh! One last thing. How many random files should be selected by default? (your personal preference )

-publicdomain (January 28, 2022, 05:39 PM)

Ideally, option to select 16, 32, 48, 64. This is because the hardware I use (Novation Launchpad, Atom SQ and Atom) are all based on a grid where multiples of 8 are the norm. However, "8" is rarely enough for me! Depending on the musical context either 16 or 64 are most common.

Edit: Let's say 16 as default, with option for 64

[Beth UK]

Vic, maybe this idea for basic GUI

- Option to select number of files to be randomly selected
- Display list of selected files with preview for each file
- Option to keep or discard file
- Option to re-random (run again) unmarked files
- Option to save final selection in sequentially numbered folder in source folder

Thereafter all processing  and organising done within additional software

[publicdomain]

Vic, maybe this idea for basic GUI

- Option to select number of files to be randomly selected
- Display list of selected files with preview for each file
- Option to keep or discard file
- Option to re-random (run again) unmarked files
- Option to save final selection in sequentially numbered folder in source folder

Thereafter all processing  and organising done within additional software

-Beth UK (January 28, 2022, 07:00 PM)

Got it!



It's coming

[Beth UK]

Looking great Vic! 

[publicdomain]

Looking great Vic! 

-Beth UK (February 01, 2022, 03:32 PM)

Today's release should have most of your requirements implemented:

➤ Download: RandomSampler_v0.1.0-ALPHA-20220206.zip

Please check & report so we can add and fine-tune features incrementally

[Beth UK]

Today's release should have most of your requirements implemented:

➤ Download: RandomSampler_ALPHA_2022-02-05.zip

-publicdomain (February 05, 2022, 08:57 PM)

Hi Vic

link "not found"  - I'll try again later when the link is working and give it a run through!

[publicdomain]

I'll try again later when the link is working and give it a run through!

-Beth UK (February 06, 2022, 04:58 AM)

Please retry! (Direct link has been updated).

GitHub release: https://github.com/p...0.1.0-ALPHA.20220206

Direct download: https://github.com/p...0-ALPHA-20220206.zip

RELEASE NOTES are shaping:

- Gets random samples by value.
- Deletes unchecked samples.
- Buttons for 8, 16, 32, 48 and 64 samples.
- Saves checked samples to sequential directory (auto) or manually.
- Uses settings data file.

...Next release enables some more options (i.e. Add checked, right-click on list for easy check-state toggling)

Stay tuned! This is the first alpha version for initial testing and incremental building.

It's pledged for a February release

[Beth UK]

Hi Vic

Initial trial of the alpha -

The app is fantastic. Some observations:

- Would be useful to have a "tick all" option for saving all files

- No audio for preview yet but that will come later (this is a key feature as it needs to play nicely with asio which runs permanently on my system)

I really like the data displaying at the bottom - e.g., how many files selected, how many files are eligible 


The need for asio is important as when I disengage it to use windows audio any other program still using asio then gets upset and has to be re-started - cubase and ableton live take a long time to restart

Lovely to see it running, and REALLY love the ability to delete files and re-select!

[Beth UK]

Managing sound in Windows is a bit painful sometimes. Asio improves the "lag" found in most music software on windows but also means some apps go "silent". Ableton Live in my experience "pushes" other apps off the sound - does not like to share (even with settings in windows changed to share audio). But it can be done - Sononym, for example, runs alongside anything else even though it runs as a stand-alone app rather than VST.

[Beth UK]

Hi Vic

Have been using this without any other software running so I am able to preview without sound sharing issues. I am wondering if it is at all possible to make it so that simply clicking on a file plays preview - this would make it much faster when building sets of sounds.

I am still not sure what "Seq" does 

Loving the possibilities of this app! 

[publicdomain]

Hi Beth! Glad to hear you're finding it useful.

"Seq" is for sequential. It is a button-styled checkbox. It enables saving to a numbered directory. If unchecked it prompts for a custom folder when saving the samples.

Feel free to brainstorm! Ideas end-up becoming features

Let's make RandomSampler be the best app it can be thanks to your input

[Beth UK]

I am really keen on the idea of "set length" for samples selected - so, choose from samples >=250ms , choose samples between 250ms and  800ms.

Why? Well, using tags to select a file range (e.g., all files tagged "dry, soft, cymbal") will always be tricky because of how music file tagging is implemented. However, my ears know I want a selection of sounds that are sustained, or shorter (crisp and dry). It also allows selection of much longer files that might be up to 20 seconds long - or more!

Another option is to select files from a range of specified folder. This works if a person puts sound and sample types into specific folder. E.g., all deep drum sounds in one folder, all natural ambient sounds in another folder. I gave up this system a long time ago because the amount of time spent on curating was not creative! It was a burden.

A fancy way of selecting random files I did try out using XYPlorer and a script that allowed me to specify as follows:

- select 16 sounds randomly
- Choose these random files (using tags) from files tagged with "dry" or "harsh" or "metallic" or "metal". 4 files would then be randomly selected from the files that met this criteria. Summing to a total of 16.

That script however did not have preview which became problematic. XYplorer also did not play nicely with asio.

[Beth UK]

Currently the app requires the user to select the folder from which samples will be selected. Would be useful if it used the directory in which it is located as the default folder - this saves a few clicks and makes the process faster!

Also, repeated clicks on "get samples" should generate a new selection, ignoring those files that have been "ticked" to keep

[publicdomain]

Hi Beth, new release:

Direct download: RandomSampler_v0.1.0-ALPHA-20220213.zip

GitHub tag: https://github.com/p...0.1.0-ALPHA.20220213

Cleaness: https://www.virustot...5e5ea3cf05c9705a1b66

Additions:

- File/Save all. Checks all files & triggers a save.
- Current folder as initial directory.
- Pressing "Get samples" button clears samples list (i.e. regenerates afresh).
- Right-clicking on samples list launches a context menu with check/uncheck/toggle/delete functionality.

Enjoy! 
Vic

[Beth UK]

  fantastic - going to try it now!

[Beth UK]

Hi Vic


-The versatility of the right click menu is very useful now!

Areas for possible improvement
- One click preview
- Remember last used directory
- Option to set "favourite" directory
- dark mode theme

And...
- Sample length selection (by range, set minimum and maximum etc)

Question - could embedded tags and comments ever be an option for refining search parameters?

[Beth UK]

Hi Vic

Sequential saving to folder seems broken, perhaps. In my way of thinking every time save is clicked all ticked samples should be exported (copied) into a new sequential folder (e.g., 1,2,3,4,5). Several times I have bumped into this error where a file is said to already exist. If a new folder is created, then this should be empty? Why would Random Sampler be finding existing files in an empty folder? As you can see frpm the pic "SEQ" is active.

IDEA : Musicians Random File Selection

[publicdomain]

-The versatility of the right click menu is very useful now!

-Beth UK (February 14, 2022, 06:39 AM)

Hi Beth, glad you liked it. If you need something else added to the menu, just "shout"

Areas for possible improvement
- One click preview
- Remember last used directory
- Option to set "favourite" directory

-Beth UK (February 14, 2022, 06:39 AM)

Being added to next version

- Sample length selection (by range, set minimum and maximum etc)

-Beth UK (February 14, 2022, 06:39 AM)

File size is easy to add but given the uncompressed/compressed/variable bitrate scenario, this particular feature may need a database or similar (persistent) sample length storage.

Question - could embedded tags and comments ever be an option for refining search parameters?

-Beth UK (February 14, 2022, 06:39 AM)

Yes, embedded tags can be implemented via taglib-sharp library. It supports the following:

Audio: aa, aax, aac, aiff, ape, dsf, flac, m4a, m4b, m4p, mp3, mpc, mpp, ogg, oga, wav, wma, wv, webm

Which one would you prefer to have first? Length or Tags?

Several times I have bumped into this error where a file is said to already exist. If a new folder is created, then this should be empty?

-Beth UK (February 14, 2022, 07:16 AM)

Correct. Perhaps it's a race condition by double-triggering the routine. Let me check to iron it out... that's what these initial alpha versions are for!

Cheers!

[Beth UK]

Yes, embedded tags can be implemented via taglib-sharp library. It supports the following:

Audio: aa, aax, aac, aiff, ape, dsf, flac, m4a, m4b, m4p, mp3, mpc, mpp, ogg, oga, wav, wma, wv, webm

Which one would you prefer to have first? Length or Tags?

Without a doubt - tags