ZS3 sustain issue [SOLVED]

Software
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Hi everyone,

First of all, I’d like to say how much I’m enjoying Zynthian. I love the idea of turning a small computer into a real musical instrument, and I’ve been having a great time building a live setup.

While experimenting with ZS3, I noticed something: Before opening a bug report, I’d like to check whether I’m simply overlooking something.

Setup

  • Zynthian V5.1

  • Oram 2601.1

  • using an Sfizz

  • USB keyboard with sustain pedal

Test

  • Create two identical ZS3 states, only 1 Chain with an Sfizz-Sound (tried various Presets, but also ZynAddSubFx)

  • For both ZS3 the recall options have none of the CBs checked, so nothing should change.

  • Play a note.

  • Release the key while holding the sustain pedal.

  • Recall the second ZS3.

Expected: The sustained note keeps playing.

Actual: The sustained note stops immediately.

If I keep the key physically pressed instead of relying on the sustain pedal, the note continues normally. So the issue seems to affect only CC64 (sustain).

Is this expected behaviour, or have I overlooked a setting? Has anyone else seen this?
I can create an issue in the bugtracker.

Background story, why i’ll need this often:

Summary

As a good old Live-Rompler Keyboardist (Roland D-50, Juno-DS, Ensoniq Ts-10, Yamaha SY etc.) I use variations of layered sounds inside a song. Let’s say Robbie Williams’ Angels:

Verse: only Piano (much Sustain usage)

Chorus: switch on a layered choir while sustaining the pianos chords.

Back to verse: Switch off choir layer while holding it with sustain. (I will solve this with a MIDI filter, so the following keypresses don’t produce new sounds, but the holding sound is still hearable and the later sustain release will be recognized)

But now, when changing the ZS3 every sustained sound is stopped.

Thanks in advance, and thanks to everyone involved in this fantastic project!

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A very warm welcome @MrQuarc. That is an interesting observation. It sounds like unexpected behaviour so I would suggest raising an issue using the webconf “Report Issue” button. We are most unlikely to fix in Oram but if it persists in Vangelis we would look at it.

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If anyone else is struggling with the same problem, here’s the workaround I came up with:
For the chain i want to toggle, i added a MIDI event filter.
In Webconf > Hardware > Wiring, i changed Button 8 from Action Release to “Midi CC Switch”, set it to Channel 1 (or whichever MIDI channel your setup uses), and assigned CC 47 (just because it’s a free CC number).
On Zynthian, I opened the MIDI Event filter control view, pressed the encoder next to “Block Notes” to activate MIDI learn, and then press P1.
Now P1 arms/disarms the chain for incoming notes, while sustained notes and reverb tails continue naturally without being interrupted.

Looking forward to Vangelis… :slightly_smiling_face:

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Sorry, my way didn’t work well :grinning_face: For sustain pedal it behaves right but then if you hold keys down and then press P1 to enable “block notes”, then the sound lasts forever.
New way: instead of toggling “block note”, i now toggle “block custom message” (ctrl#2 page) with P1. On ctrl#3 i set message type to “note on”. This works now perfectly.

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Hi @MrQuarc !

I couldn’t reproduce the behaviour you described on Vangelis, so probably it’s fixed.
Could you try and confirm?

Regards

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Hi @jofemodo ,

I just installed Vangelis. Damn, what a nice UI :star_struck:
I created an instr. chain with sfizz Salamander. Created directly ZS3-1 (assigned to PGC 1) and ZS3-2 (PGC 2).
But, same behaviour there, sorry: When i play a note, hold sustain pedal, release note, then press P2 (activates ZS3-2) the sound stops.

Cheers

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OK! I see now. You are right.
We will fix this ASAP.

Regards

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I hope it’s fixed now. Please update and test (Vangelis).
The fix was not trivial. I doubt we are fixing this in Oram.

Regards

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@jofemodo Great, just tested, yes, it’s fixed and working great! :+1: Thanks so much!

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