Aeros Firmware 5.0.x

[All_Ears]

I use lots of other software. I’m partial to Sonar for MIDI editing, Mixbus 32 for tracking and mixing, Audition for 2-track editing and mastering, and the list goes on. But I still wish that Singular would give us a decent computer interface for Beat Buddy. It would make a lot of things more convenient, reduce importing and exporting MIDI files, and could, in conjunction with the excellent loops and sounds of Beat Buddy, give us whole new ways to compose and perform. Oh well, maybe some day. Meanwhile I’ve got plenty to keep me busy.

[LaurentB]

Looks like Xmas ! A long time since I’ve been login in for the last time…

But it looks like the two main features I have been requesting back in April 2020 are finally now implemented! I was not expecting anymore.

• Start recording only when starting playing (Auto Record)
• New hybrid mode between freeform and quantized (AutoQuantize)

My Aeros was still in 4.0… for quite a while, and clearly 5.0 seems to be a giant leap, with not only the two aforementioned features implemented, but a ton of other goodies.

I quickly tested those two, and for the first one at least, it looks like fully implemented (I will tag my initial request as implemented).
For the second, although it seems to work, I didn’t find a way to make the BeatBuddy align with the tempo deduced from the initial recording in auto-quantize mode…

It may be a connectivity issue (I am no Midi wizard), a setting that I may have missed on either the Aeros or the BB or even maybe due to the fact my BB has not been updated for quite a while too…

If someone can point me to a comprehensive explanation or a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this, it would be pretty awesome. Thank you in advance.

Thanks again @BrennanSingularSound, @DavidPackouz and of course the whole team for releasing this !

PS: I join my voice to the others regarding the fact the whole BBM story is really painful… but that’s another problem.

[mdb]

Hi,

Great upgrade, haven’t had time to test everything yet.
I hope the next one will concern the mixer with a pan, possibly a low cut, and routing management.

Thanks

[BFRedrocks]

It’s a great update, but it seems that some of the MIDI messages either changed or no longer work, so there will have to be some reconfiguration of those at some point. For example, my “Song Select” MIDI message no longer works, although it is easy to do now on the Aeros itself.

I am really happy with 5.0 for what I use the Aeros for.

[dwilson17]

Is there an updated Google Doc of midi commands for 5.0?

[chrismcc]

Just got around to installing the 5.0 update. The installation worked flawlessly using a Mac and Safari under macOS Monterey.

I converted my old songs using the process described in the initial post (including backups first!). Worked flawlessly also.

This update is impressive and delivers great new features. I have not tested all of them yet.

I tried to use backing tracks without success. I connected the Aeros to the Mac with a USB cable. The internal memory of my aeros is not seen by the Mac’s finder. Only the SD card is seen. This might be normal? But the SD card is only readable and I cannot change this using the standard Mac Get Info window option to change access privileges to the SD card while it is in the Aeros. I was able to transfer a backing track by inserting the SD card directly in the Mac…

I used a WAV file and an MP3 as I did not find any instructions on what type of file format was compatible as a backing track except “The Aeros will only support files that are 44.1kHz and 24bit. They can be mono or stereo.”

The instructions say:
To load a backing track:

• Edit the song
• Select Load File
• Choose a file from the list using the Right Aeros button
• Once selected, click save

I tried this on a new song in 2x2 and another in 6x6. I could not find the Select Load File option…

Any help on this would be appreciated as this is a feature I have been waiting for.

Best Regards

[BFRedrocks]

Yeah, the file type (WAV, .mid, .mp3, etc) compatibility is the info missing. I know .mp3 files don’t work, but I got one type to work fine but can’t remember if it was a WAV file (I think it was) or a .mid file. SS needs to weigh in on this for the correct file extension for backing tracks. @BrennanSingularSound

Don’t forget, I’m pretty sure your “new” empty song has to be in Freeform mode and not quantize mode.

[Steve606]

@chrismcc

“The Aeros will only support files that are 44.1kHz and 24bit.

*.mid files are not audio files.

*.mp3 files quality are measured in kb/s, and sample rate 44.1kHz

The attributes mentioned only apply only to PCM files, ie, *wav files. So only wav files, I would presume wav.

[chrismcc]

Thanks Steve your re quite right! That should have come to me as well!

[chrismcc]

BFRedrocks, thanks. That may be the problem! I think I was using a quantize mode new song. Will try a freeform and revert.

ps and addendum: Yes that was it. The Load File option shows up just below the mode selection menu item when you select Freeform Mode. It is working perfectly now.

This is a great new feature!

[BFRedrocks]

Awesome! Happy to help.

[chrismcc]

It seems the file type accepts 16 bit or 24 bit Wav files… Both worked for me…

[IanF]

Great update, had another quick play with it.

Setting the temp precisely with slider is a bit frustrating could with a +/- button to fine tune.

Not sure if I’m missing something but in 2 x 2 mode the new pop out side bar is difficult to use. If when you open the side bar and it is set to bottom track and mute but you actually want top track reverse you will end up muting the top track or reversing the bottom track. As soon as you select either track or option the change is applied

Edit: This is using the touch screen, can use the scroll wheel to select option then select the track , didn’t think of that

[NYHC]

Agree with you for the slide the +/- excellent idea

[NYHC]

Aeros looper V5.0 BETA . THE BACKINGTRACK (FR/ENG)

[dwdavedw]

Update worked fine for me. Got a backing track installed. Discovered that after getting one track working, I could add a second track by repeating the process in the same song. (Much thanks for that long video a user supplied on how to) So I have a separate Piano and Bass track going in a backing track song. Doesn’t seem to be a way to change volume on individual tracks. Have not tried it yet in 6 track song.

[Quad]

@dwdavedw

Doesn’t seem to be a way to change volume on individual tracks.

Press and hold the left button and bring up the Mixer…?

[Quad]

Can you add ways to change the timing of various actions via the Play Menu?

For example Mute Now, at EOM, and at EOL. Would be good to add for all types of “delayed” action commands.

The default timing per Settings can be the easiest (and perhaps leave out the timing text from the menu “label” for the default timing).

This could be a long press action on one of the buttons to bring up more choices … or these could be extra commands at the bottom of the menu (which users can remove/sort).

[BrennanSingularSound]

@Thovy64

What’s coming next : Panoramic for each tracks ?

We are still not set in stone what will follow, but most likely we will be implementing moe robust MIDI commands

@guitarspace

Bug report:
If Behavior Play/Stop All set Release and Clear song confirmation set off.
When I press and hold “Play/Stop All” ,after clear song ,it will auto play empty song track.

I do see this on my end, we will work on it!

Thanks for reporting

@Thovy64

impossible to put something on the backing track folder “this disc is write protected”

Is this when you are using the USB? Please make sure the SD is not locked.

@Todd_M

It would be great if SS would put together more demonstration videos for the improvements that have been made the last couple of years.

Working on it!

@NYHC

What I don’t like at the first impression is the loop screen, to many things on screen. but I Know I can switch with a press on the left switch. but after a few seconds it comeback. could be fine to make the option that it stay until I press the switch again;

We are not currently looking into any changes to how this works, but are open to suggestions, I believe if anything we could add a Slide Out option to close it

You can also close it without it reopening using the X onscreen

@NYHC

Second point. sometimes I make a loop and have no sound. I need to erase again?
Gonna investigate more.

Please send a video of what you mean and if possible have the Active Logger on so we can look into what may have happened. Make sure you aren’t in ROP mode with Decay set to 100%, then once you commit the first track and immeidately start overdubbing, what you recorded will decay completely

@NYHC

What this option calling “Multi Meter” ? I don’t understand this one

This is the proper musical term for multiple time signatures in a song

Not to be confused with Polymeter which means multiple time signatures at once

@Thovy64

If the sd card is into the aeros and the aeros is connected with USB, you can’t load the file.

Thank you for pointing this out, we will look into it

@p_bellefeuille

would it be possible to have a perfect midi communication between the BeatBuddy and the Aero, I mean when I load a prerecorded song session into the Aero, there the Aero should be able to act as a master toward the BeatBuddy, firstly by communicating the right tempo that was used during the recording and secondly being able to find automatically the beat that was used on the BeatBuddy.

This is now possible on 5.0.0!

Simply go to the song settings and scroll to the bottom to enable MIDI Out Control

You can then set any combination of MSB, LSB and PC to be sent every time the Aeros song opens!

The Aeros can also now be Transmitter (Master)

Hooray!

@Michel_TAYEB

so I tried several times to make this update.
I downloaded the file, I renamed it “aeros.bin”, I tried with several SD cards (4 and 32 G) which I formatted in FAT 32.

This is an odd issue and we are looking into it

Please make sure that you do not insert the SD and then turn off the Aeros
You must turn the Aeros off before you insert the SD card

Inserting the SD card with an update file while Aeros is on and turning the unit off could cause this issue

Thanks for reporting!

@Steve606

Words do not suffice to express my elation at discovering the new menu system!

It will cut by 90% the amount of aspirin I need to purchase!

Same hahahaha

@johngale77

I installed the new firmware (twice actually) and had some problems… It had trouble loading songs. It would either give an error message or just load forever. And it didn’t want to open any of my converted old songs, it would just open a blank song.

Hi there, what version of the Aeros were you on before?

Did you back up your content?

Could you please send us the content before you converted and also after you converted so we can analyze what may have happened?

Thank you

@MBKFHB

Since the new 5.0.0 version provides the option for the Aeros to be the midi master, can someone advise as to what midi settings need to change (if any) in the BeatBuddy for the BeatbBuddy to be the midi slave?

Hey there, you definitely do not want to turn off the MIDI clock, that is what synchronizes the devices

On the Aeros:

MIDI Out settings:
MIDI Mode Transmitter
MIDI Out Merge
Start, Transition, Stop enabled
Clock Sync Always on

Song settings:
Song Grid Mode Quantized

On the BeatBuddy:

(Using 4.1.3) Enable Transition Forgiveness (without this setting on, transitioning will not work correctly)

@pat1

Totaly agree with this statement I also requested this to be looked at 2 years a go to get around it I recorded the BB ont one of the tracks to eatch song.

A headache no longer!

@Mad

I updated Eros to FW 5.0.0 and it was ok. But in the first tests I did, my MIDI commands for song selection no longer work, besides crashing Eros.

This is a known issue! Always review forum posts before updating to a beta!

@Joelstanfield

Beat Buddy will cause the Aeros to transition to the next song part in 6 x 6 mode without having to select the next song part on Aeros using the Aeros itself?

This is not yet the case, we added auto song part changes but have not made CC102 behavior any different

@meadowbrook

That is the ability to limit the 6x6 to 6x4 or 4x4 any other other configuration of parts to lesson the unnecessary tap dancing one must do if they need less parts and don’t have midi.

We are still considering this feature

Thanks for the feedback

@collider

I’m excited to give this another try.

Happy to have you back

@jamrcat1

Got it to work. Changed computers, downloaded file, renamed it, and wa la! Used an old HP from 2008, may need to keep it around. Still has Windows 7 and had to charge it up to use it. New program looks like a new looper. Looking forward to learning all the new quirks. However, it does look like an awesome improvement!!!

Very odd thanks for the updates

@Michel_TAYEB

In my opinion, there is a boot problem on this .bin file at startup, since it displays well at the beginning, that it will do an update (see photo), but a few seconds later, I so the second message that stops the update process.

Because this is a more particular issue we cannot say that this is the cause

We are investigating, thanks

@MBKFHB

If you have the Aeros set up to transition at the End Of Loop (EOL) like most live looping performers do, using the method described above, the transition must be initiated within the last measure of the Aeros loop

It does this

@MBKFHB

SS has identified a bug in how the new Aeros CC commands work and I don’t understand the details

This only is for MIDI Song Select, all other commands work fine

@MBKFHB

I don’t know what I need to do to the Beat Buddy MDI settings in order to configure it as a slave.

Please read my reply to a similar question in this very post

@kleodnine

How is Aeros 5.0 working / configured to work with with Midi Maestro?

No change to the behavior with MIDI Maestro, the only change in MIDI was the addition of two new commands to open Next or Prev song in the current Aeros album.

@Gibson

How would it work with a BeatBuddy?

With the Aeros as Transmitter (master) the BB would automatically follow tempo changes. Time signature cannot be changed on the fly in the BB, that is based on the loaded MIDI file in the song part.

@Gibson

I convert existing files, and everything is working great, but I have no Backing Tracks folder on my SD card.
How can I fix this?

Interesting, could you try to turn off and on one more time while SD is inserted?

Let me know if that did it

@Manupti

One suggestion about FADES : I would like the BB to fade along with the Aeros. One solution would be to plug the BB OUT in the AUX IN and to be able to define that the fade applies to the LOOP + AUX. Would it be possible ?

Not easy to accomplish and impossible to do so at this time using the Aeros.

Something to brainstorm!

@LaurentB

For the second, although it seems to work, I didn’t find a way to make the BeatBuddy align with the tempo deduced from the initial recording in auto-quantize mode…

Please try again, sometimes it is not perfect but if you see a repeatable issue please do report it!

Thanks!

@BFRedrocks

For example, my “Song Select” MIDI message no longer works, although it is easy to do now on the Aeros itself.

This is the only known MIDI message not working, have you found another?

@dwilson17

Is there an updated Google Doc of midi commands for 5.0?

The online doc will be edited once it is live

@chrismcc

I used a WAV file and an MP3 as I did not find any instructions on what type of file format was compatible as a backing track except

44.1kHz, 24bit, .wav file in a PCM format (common wav format)

@DavidPackouz

To import a file, you must be in an empty song or create an empty song that is in freeform mode (we plan to make backing tracks compatible with Autoquantize and Quantize mode soon). If you wish to import multiple tracks per part, you must turn Sync Tracks off. If you wish to have sync tracks on, you can only import one backing track per part into the first track.

Backing tracks must be loaded sequentially starting with the first track.

@chrismcc

It seems the file type accepts 16 bit or 24 bit Wav files… Both worked for me…

16 bit is not supported at this time, we cannot say the quality is unaffected

@dwdavedw

Doesn’t seem to be a way to change volume on individual tracks. Have not tried it yet in 6 track song.

You can go to the mixer using the slide out or turn off the slide out completely to always open the mixer using the Hands Free settings

@Quad

Can you add ways to change the timing of various actions via the Play Menu?

For example Mute Now, at EOM, and at EOL. Would be good to add for all types of “delayed” action commands.

May be a taaad too complicated, we toyed with the idea in some ways but don’t want to add hidden actions

Thanks all for the feedback!

[NYHC]

@NYHC

What I don’t like at the first impression is the loop screen, to many things on screen. but I Know I can switch with a press on the left switch. but after a few seconds it comeback. could be fine to make the option that it stay until I press the switch again

That was my first impression.
My second impression is . Damn is so handy. well done guy’s