New VirtualBass Application

Fredde · #1 04-04-2011, 04:41 AM

Hi,

I work as a web developer, and thought to try out the new audio-tag in html5. Since I sometimes want to try out basslines while at work, I thought a virtual bass could be a useful experiment. It actually turned out pretty decent, so I'd like to share it with you here on TB in hope that someone else might find it useful!

Check it out at http://subsite.tilaa.eu/virtualbass

The app is still pretty basic, but feel free to use it! Apart from being a way to try out bass lines, it can also write tabs as you play.

Note that html5 audio does not work in all browsers. Tested and works: Firefox 3.6 and Google Chrome 10.0, tested with some good results but might not work in all circumstances: Safari 5.0.3 and IE 9

UPDATE: Version 0.5 - 5-string version and tempo selection added

Regards,

MalcolmAmos · #2 04-04-2011, 08:14 AM

Can not turn it on. Little help. I have Windows 7.

Fredde · #3 04-04-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Can not turn it on. Little help. I have Windows 7.

Ok, which browser (brand and version please)?

jbednarski · #4 04-04-2011, 08:19 AM

Love this! Doesn't work on Safari but great on Firefox. How does one play back a line that's been input?

Jonathan1990 · #5 04-04-2011, 08:20 AM

Nice work, a playback function and a rest button would be handy, though.

Fredde · #6 04-04-2011, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbednarski

Love this! Doesn't work on Safari but great on Firefox. How does one play back a line that's been input?

Well you don't, sorry

Not yet anyway.

I've thought of this myself and it would indeed be a nice feature. Requires a good bit of programming though. But I'll add it to the roadmap!

HTML5 audio should basically work on safari, but I've only tested with Firefox and Chrome so far. I'll try and get it to work on safari as soon as possible.

Thanks for your feedback!

MonetBass · #7 04-04-2011, 08:28 AM

Does this work in IE 9?

manbass · #8 04-04-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan1990

Nice work, a playback function and a rest button would be handy, though.

Same here...cool app I will use it. Playback and a BPM adjustable timer would get me to pay you for it.

Fredde · #9 04-04-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonetBass

Does this work in IE 9?

I honestly don't know. Html5 audio is supposed to work in IE 9 but I'm getting mixed reports. I rarely use IE myself since I don't use windows much. But feel free to try it out with IE 9 if you like, and report back how it worked out!

Supporting IE is however not a big priority with this app, for two reasons:

1. IE is notorious for not following established standards in web languages, so you usually end up writing lots of IE hacks and workarounds to make things work.
2. As long as I develop this app on my free time, I can't motivate myself to put up a big effort to support a non standard platform. I want to have fun writing it

But in the future, if IE 9 proves to be complete rebirth some people think, and MS will finally start to acknowledge web standards, sure!

No disrespect to those who use and like IE, my issues with it are mostly from a developer's point of view.

Fredde · #10 04-04-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manbass

Same here...cool app I will use it. Playback and a BPM adjustable timer would get me to pay you for it.

Ok, I guess I'll have to implement it then...

I don't believe in direct user payment for web applications, so you'll have to put up with using it for free

Joseph4325 · #11 04-04-2011, 12:14 PM

Really cool app. Any chance you could add keyboard support?

dmrogers · #12 04-04-2011, 02:00 PM

Knowing how time consuming programming is, I want to say "THANKS".

That is a nice app!

MalcolmAmos · #13 04-04-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredde

Ok, which browser (brand and version please)?

Internet explorer. Windows 7 and then what ever Bing may have done.

Fredde · #14 04-05-2011, 08:47 AM

Hi!

Version 0.2 is online!

The main improvement is ability to playback you tabs. Very basic at this point still, and a bit buggy (for not completely clear reasons), but still better than no playback.

Regards,

Robotsatemygma · #15 04-05-2011, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredde

I honestly don't know. Html5 audio is supposed to work in IE 9 but I'm getting mixed reports. I rarely use IE myself since I don't use windows much. But feel free to try it out with IE 9 if you like, and report back how it worked out!

Supporting IE is however not a big priority with this app, for two reasons:

1. IE is notorious for not following established standards in web languages, so you usually end up writing lots of IE hacks and workarounds to make things work.
2. As long as I develop this app on my free time, I can't motivate myself to put up a big effort to support a non standard platform. I want to have fun writing it

But in the future, if IE 9 proves to be complete rebirth some people think, and MS will finally start to acknowledge web standards, sure!

No disrespect to those who use and like IE, my issues with it are mostly from a developer's point of view.

I hear you about IE. When I was freelancing I would often get asked about IE. I would tell them, plain and simple, if your client market uses IE, I'll have to bill you for the extra work I'd have to do to make it compatible with IE. A lot of people didn't like that, and soon converted to Firefox and the other alternatives. Eventually I stopped even considering IE. It's BS.

Fredde · #16 04-05-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Internet explorer. Windows 7 and then what ever Bing may have done.

Ok, no it does not work with Internet Explorer. See post #9.

Regards,

Fredde · #17 04-05-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph4325

Really cool app. Any chance you could add keyboard support?

Interesting idea! Could be difficult though to find a solution that is intuitive enough. Do you have an idea about how the keys should be mapped?

It's a lot easier with a piano app, since the keys (on the computer keyboard) are offset and in a way more like a real piano.

I'm open for suggestions! (but no promises, keyboard support in a web environment is always a bit tricky)

VirtualBass is also not, and will never be, a full fledged tabbing software. There are much better apps for that (like TuxGuitar). The idea was to create a practical interface for trying out bass lines when you don't have your real bass with you.

Regards,

MelodiousThump · #18 04-05-2011, 05:31 PM

Fun to play around with, Fredde. Using Safari 5.0.3

ironrat · #19 04-06-2011, 09:51 AM

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!

Fredde · #20 04-06-2011, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironrat

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!

Thanks! Be sure to recommend it to bassists in need