Harmony Navigator

Harmony Navigator 2.5.1
Feature Enhancements:

Improved support for external hardware synths

Ability to rename a phrase in a library

Added option to relocate a MIDI instrument to another port

Improved sound template browser behavior

Ability to drop a song section on library to save all phrases

Resolved Bugs:

Error when deleting a device description from disk

Palette printing crashed (regression) [AR1247]

Realtime-pattern playback in palette started with a hickup

SMF Export: Invalid infinite note durations in midi file [AR1244]

SMF Export: Ensure 16 unique channels, if multiple ports use same channel [AR1245]

MSB/LSB bank selection not copied when using sound template

Playback: Fixed a graphical glitch with playhead display in loops

Unused instrument should keep Null Sound until assigned [AR1240]

Other Changes:

Updated user manuals (PDF)

Library should only accept phrases and sections

Playback: Send sound selection once only per port & channel [AR1246]

Supply a default device name for MIDI instruments created from template sounds

Fixed a graphics glitch with level meters

Sound browser dialog: Remember and pre-select last used device

MSB/LSB bank selection info shown in inspector now

Show a warning when MIDI instrument conflicts with shared device on same port

Ensure program selection is sent on first playback [AR1220]

Harmony Navigator 2.5
Feature Enhancements:

Replaced entire MIDI subsystem

Made phrase library customizable by user [AR1120]

Red, orange green color indicator for current sound status

Instrument picker: Rewritten, fixed many issues

New installers, setup utilities and download procedure

Customized presets now saved to "Config" in user's project folder

Option to no longer use the built-in GM synth [AR1167]

Multiple instruments can now play to same port & channel individually

Added Alto Flute, Bass Flute & Bass Clarinet to instrument hierarchy

Added a working panic button

Progress notification bar in lower bottom for various actions

Option to select the Null Sound, if needed

Resolved Bugs:

Mute & solo switching was broken

Instrument preview and MIDI file import preview was muted

Mac installer had issues with file ownerships (broken installs)

(MacOS X) Mac installer had issues with file ownerships (broken installs)

Coloring scheme does not update during playback (regression) [AR1182]

Fixed a bug that caused songs to get corrupted

Recording hung if global metronome sound could not be found

Snow Leopard and later: "Save As..." dialog opens with suggested filename filled in

(MacOS X) Snow Leopard and later: "Save As..." dialog opens with suggested filename filled in

Loading a customized catalog caused a crash

Fixed bropken drag & drop rectangle shape offset

Connections lost when renaming device id

Incorrect sound allocation when device was already full

(MacOS X) Mac menu bar could get unresponsive

MidiSetup: Fixed display update issues

Fixed bug with pitch wheel SMF import and midi output

Fixed several bugs with midi file import

Some preference settings not remembered

Crash when exporting device to XML

Problem that caused accompaniments to break on load

File dialogs sensible to crashes or other oddities

Fixed a crash with figure recognition

Preview velocity setting of instrument not used for chords-only playback

Parameter and Vector menu not synced correctly [AR1231]

Playhead sometimes refuses to stop (graphics issue only) [AR1198]

Fixed issue with GM sound bank initialization

Fixed a bug when reloading all patterns

Fixed many issues with sound preview, solo, etc

Crash after deleting playing ranges of root instrument category

Various crashes in MIDI setup window

Fixed an error with sound allocation when original device absent

Menus happend to appear on the wrong monitor

Audio Setup: Sort order of sounds was inconsistent

Progression chord highlighting during playback was inconsistent

Instrument Browser: Ranges not accepted when they should

Track selection: Should not reset sound CCs and volume during playback

Fixed general issues with the Null sound

Menu item for undo was labeled wrong [AR1235]

Other Changes:

Devices: Multi-connector devices should show bank name per connector

Raise existing editors and config windows to the top when used

Made various windows toggle on/off state when buttons clicked

Reorganized installed product's directory structure

Ad-hoc created patterns go to a "Work" slot that is global

Streamlined many user interface details, tool tips, terminology, etc

Midnam files should also allow XML file extension

Renamed "Vector" menu to "Transform" [AR1227]

Last palette coloring should stay when playback stops [AR1183]

Switch to "Parameter" tab automatically when parameter is selected

Improved visual appearance of drag & drop from lists

Device editor: Now editable also when not connected

Don't show setup window on startup, if warnings were disabled

Instrument label should show original sound name even if replacement is used

Removed the instrument "Group" input field (no longer needed)

GM bank initialization should also work with empty prefix

Renamed methods of bank selection for more clarity

Changed misc default settings to better suit entry-level users

Cleaned up inspector layout for instrument & sound

Various cosmetic issues and user interface tweaks

Improved visual appearance of the keyboard widget

More contrast to Circle of Fifths colors [AR1228]

Fixed misc German translations [AR1236]

Fixed many minor graphics glitches [AR1237]

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We invested a lot of work in order to enhance the features of Harmony Navigator and make it more comfortable to draft of entire songs. The new song window is the most important achievement. It features multiple parts on a timeline, which also supports loop playback. You can now maintain your entire project in a single window:

Progressions (Chords)

Use the full-featured embedded progression editor to set chords and scales separately for each part. Drop chords from a palette here, or capture progressions played live on any number of open palettes in real-time.

Instruments (Mixer)

This is the place to insert the phrases that your instruments are supposed to play in each part. Phrases are shown as graphical thumbnails that you can cut and trim to suit your needs. In order to simplify and speed up things, a global basis accompaniment serves as a shared default template for all parts.

Harmony Navigator 2 Advanced Edition now supports pattern recognition and polyphony also for import and recording. Thus you can more easily build your own patterns from existing MIDI files.

Use protected instruments (red) to record your melodies. These tracks will not be replaced when switching to another basis accompaniment, for example, to try out the best accompaniment style for a given vocal melody.

Harmonizer

Switch to this tab to find the key signature and chords that best match a given melody. Move your way forward, step by step, picking chords from the suggestions list at any position on the timeline and listen to the result immediately.

Other Enhancements (Both Editions)

We added support for customized or uncommon string instrument tunings by means of simple XML files. HN2 generates all possible chord patterns for your instrument automatically.

Sound management has been much improved and simplified. MIDI ports are now referred to by name. External sound generators can be addressed directly via port name, channel and program change message. Setting up a device description in advance is no longer mandatory.

A general overhaul of the user interface made it easier to use, more intuitive and robust.

Feature Enhancements:

Much simplified online update procedure

Added device support for manual mixing (best for virtual instruments)

Added "Simple MIDI Cable" device template

Resolved Bugs:

Fixed issues with printing on PPC Macs

Updated MIDI frameworks for better performance

Closing all open windows could have caused crash

Time ruler selection did not change keyboard input focus

Picking a chord from a popup menu sometimes crashed

Midi device with no free channels could have caused deadlocks

Value slider controller crashed for undefined values

Other Changes:

Improved stability and UI performance

Now supports slash chords. Progression editing improved.