Virtual Sound Canvas- Crashing

[steveb]

I run Virtual Sound Canvas on my P.C. But with some Midi Files my P.C. crashes (Blue screen) ether when I push the play button or when the Midi is finished playing. I can go back after a restart and play the Midi again and the P.C. again and (sometimes) the P.C. wont crash. Is it a problem with V.S.C. or the midi file or something else. It also happens on my friends P.C. as well
Regards
Steve

[themd21]

hi Stevie

I'm also using a VSC 3.2 and have had rare occasions when a midi has crashed the computer. I've rebooted and the same midi crashes again, so I feel that its down to specific midi files but again I can't put my finger on the reason.I've tried the file through different sequencers and the computer still crashes so I just delete the midi and search for different version.
Again I have to say that this is a rare event.

Cheers
Jimmy G.

[steveb]

Thanks Jimmy
Yes I think your right, it's a Midi problem. It appears that some crash and some don't.
I have even installed the latest patch to V.S.C. 3.2 and the same thing happens.
I don't think it affects any thing when it crashers.
The program itself is excellent and very easy to use and thats why I think I'll just put up with it.
Jimmy, do you know of another similar program at all???
Regards
Steve

[themd21]

Hi Stevie
There's a lot of VST instruments available free on the internet or come as plug-ins with sequencing software, such as Cakewalk or Cubase.
There's a lot of virtual soundcards for sale commercially,I've tried
and liked the Yamaha VS.
I've also got a Creative Soundcard installed on my computer,
but I guess I'm just hooked on Roland gear.

You could always connect a keyboard or midifile player to your computer using a USB midi connector and review your files that way.The better the keyboard/module the better the reproduction
of the sound.

Anyway cheers

Jimmy G

[steveb]

I don't belive it but I think I found the problem.

There was a couple of midi files that apparently weren't agreeing with VSC.
I've change the midi files and everything seams to be working OK.....I'll keep my fingers crossed

[a.j.]

Just for anyone else that has this crashing problem with VSC - maybe you could try this....

Steve sent me a couple of his 'problem' files to try on my PC - I also use VSC (either stand-alone, or I use it as the output device for Powertracks instead of a sounds card). I found that there were Sysex commands in the first bar of the file, which I thought might be causing a problem. I deleted them, and sent the files back to Steve to try - apparently the files play fine with the Sysex deleted.

The files Steve sent me didn't crash my version of the VSC, when I played them directly through it, but I found that if I played the files through Powertracks, all the sound fonts on the tracks reverted to piano only, until I removed the Sysex events, after which the files ran perfectly, and the sounds fonts worked. I have come across this before with some files, which work fine if you take out the Sysex events at the start of the file.

Hope this makes sense.

[ramon1108]

I agree with a.j. I've encountered the same problem before. Take out the Sysex.

[steveb]

I had this problem for some years before A.J. came to my rescue and I haven't had the problem since. EVERY file I get now I check it for Sysx Files...delete them ALL and everything works fine, but sometimes I forget to check it and my puter will crash, I check the file for Sysx and sure enough it's loaded with them.

[levi2]

I dont use VSC 3.2 but i have had it on me system and it crashed at different times the reason is my PC does hyperthreading and VSC 3.2 dosnt like hyperthreading so that could be one reason. If you pc has hyperthreading try switching it off in your bios then try the files again if it dont have hyperthreading itl be alike Aj mentioned about sysex

[steveb]

Hi Levi2
Can you tell me what hyperthreading is, and what does it do??

[levi2]

Steve
Go here it will explain it better than me lol
www.unixwiz.net/evo/evo-hyperthreading.html
Just read the 1st paragraph cause it goes into to much detail

Basically it will let you multitask with more ease

[rosetchfie]

Hi all
I am one of those using Roland VSC and affected by the crashes - several different threads on this now on the site
Anyway basically a question for aj from SA - can you tell us a bit more abou how you run Powertracks in conjunction with Roland VSC for gigs via laptop - I am interested in doing something similar
regards
Roy NZ

[levi2]

has nobody tried rolands hyper canvas it dosnt have its own player its dxi so you run it with another prog like sonar or whatever the sounds are very good sppecially the drums you can also edit each sound ie EQ different inst you can also EQ different drums in a kit if you think the snare is to loud you can turn it down also tune it. Also if you run it in bandinabox you can still render to wav
'
levi2

[axill]

I too use hyper canvas the sounds are excellent ,will post some recordings using hyper canvas so you can hear the sound quality
Vsc came as a dxi instrument in sonar and I never had a problem

axill