Ultrabeat not finding samples (Final Answer)

Question

Level 1

25 points

Ultrabeat not finding samples (Final Answer)

Greetings all,

After quite a bit of searching and a few projects later I have come to love and hate Ultrabeat. For the record, I have not seen a definitive final answer on a general workaround for Ultrabeat's sample loading problem.

So far, my only work around for creating my own kits is to consolidate my project immediately after creating my kit for that particular project by saving ultrabeat samples to project.

My only question is, if any of you managed to create your custom kits (with external samples) or EXS import samples and still have it load properly without asking for the first sample and then not loading the rest. Specifically if you choose to only create kits and not your save projects. For example, during my off non-production time, I like to create and save my own kits and presets for later use, without saving any projects.

To add, I am on 10.6.1 and LP9. Which seemed to get worse once I plunged into the update.

Please advise, thanks

LGK

Intel 3.0Ghz, Mac OS X (10.6.1), 8GB RAM - 1.5TB HD (Total) - FW410 - Logic Pro 9

Posted on Sep 22, 2009 10:39 AM

Reply

Answer 1

immo

Level 4

2,381 points

Sep 22, 2009 6:06 PM in response to logikal

logikal wrote:
My only question is, if any of you managed to create your custom kits (with external samples) or EXS import samples and still have it load properly without asking for the first sample and then not loading the rest. Specifically if you choose to only create kits and not your save projects. For example, during my off non-production time, I like to create and save my own kits and presets for later use, without saving any projects.

To add, I am on 10.6.1 and LP9. Which seemed to get worse once I plunged into the update.

Please advise, thanks

LGK

Hi there,

that's how it works for me..(if anyone has a better way ..would be great to hear it )

You can create a folder in *~/Library/Application Support/Logic* and name it *Ultrabeat Samples* where you can place the audio files you use to constract the kits.
Drop the files from there into a new Drag and Drop Samples preset and save the preset/rename etc in *~/Library/Application Support/Logic/Plug-in Settings/Ultrabeat*

You can drag & drop folder aliases to the Ultrabeat samples folder if your audio files are located on an external drive.

Plus with the LP 9.0.1 update Ultrabeat stays visible and you can drag and drop samples as in the previous versions of Logic Pro.

Hope this helps

A

Reply

Answer 2

logikal Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 23, 2009 9:53 AM in response to logikal

I installed 9.0.1 immediately after reading the response as I was not aware of the update. I looked over the update log, but no mention of Ultrabeat fixes. Regardless of the fact, I must say that I did discover a bit of random unstable character out of UB. I did however find a few differences in how Snow handles sample searching qualifiers. For example: I CDXtracted Spectrasonics Burning Grooves Drums CD to AIFF. All of the samples on that CD have identical names separated only by folders. The names are as follows: -16 HAT 1.aif

One thing I found is that Spotlight or Logic's sample search has trouble locating samples or file names with a "-" before it, because of its qualifier function. Minus, so to speak.

This was not much a problem in 10.5 and Logic 8.

Just a heads up, to those who have a oddly named samples. Make sure you don't have a "-" before your file names, to avoid spotlight issues within Logic. Especially when importing EXS patches into Ultrabeat.

LGK

Reply

Answer 3

immo

Level 4

2,381 points

Sep 23, 2009 11:23 AM in response to logikal

logikal wrote:

One thing I found is that Spotlight or Logic's sample search has trouble locating samples or file names with a "-" before it, because of its qualifier function. Minus, so to speak.

Use an alternative Search app like *Find Any File* etc (google it)

Especially when importing EXS patches into Ultrabeat.

I don't have any problems with drag & drop .exs patches named " - " in Ultrabeat .

A

Reply

Answer 4

Hyntus

Level 1

15 points

Sep 23, 2009 11:29 AM in response to logikal

I'm still having issues with about 1/3 of my custom Ultrabeat kits after the update to Logic 9.0.1. They load with blank sample bays.

Naming doesn't seem to be the issue. For example, I have an Ultrabeat kit which consists of clap samples.

The samples are located in:
Dedicated Sample Hard Drive > Logic Samples > Drums > Percussion > Handclaps > Chapel Claps

Each sample is a .wav and named:
Chapel Claps 1.1
Chapel Claps 2.2 etc.

This kit loads fine in Logic 8. In Logic 9, it loads with empty sample bays.

I have tried re-indexing Spotlight. Not sure what else to try.

Reply

Answer 5

logikal Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 23, 2009 2:31 PM in response to Hyntus

Greetings,

I am beginning to think this is more than simply a spotlight search issue. Every time I repair or verify disk with Disk Utility, my freshly created Ultrabeat patches lose their sample paths until the next restart. Sometimes even that does not work. Specifically Ultrabeat loses connection with samples if the disk is unmounted/mounted.

I'm not even sure where to go with this issue. I will continue to experiment until I find an answer, or someone else already has.

Keep in mind, this is not for consolidated projects. This is strictly for patch creation without saving projects, only presets.

LGK

Reply

Answer 6

immo

Level 4

2,381 points

Sep 23, 2009 2:34 PM in response to logikal

have you tried to create aliases in the path's I mention on my 1st post?

A

Reply

Answer 7

logikal Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 23, 2009 3:03 PM in response to immo

immo,

I tried the aliases, but to no avail. I had a perfectly working session of patch creation on Ultrabeat, and I decided to see how I can break it. Just to see how easy it might be.

I created a few basic kits with samples on my internal WD hard drive. Everything always saves and recalls during the session. Again, without saving project. I quit Logic, and launched again, all UB presets load perfect. I quit Logic again, verified disk and repair, unmounted and mounted. When I launched Logic again, this time it asked for my samples again. This is without restart and only 3-4 minutes from when I created the patches. This is with aliases in the proper "applications support/logic/ultrabeat samples directory. I tried both in Library and User respectively.

Don't know what's going on, but I'm going to try quite a few more times before going with something that always works. Usually that's Reason. Specifically ReDrum/ReWired.

I would switch to EXS for drums, but that's a few steps backwards if you ask me. Considering I paid good money for what is supposed to be good software.

I continually submit to the apple feedback and bug reports. Yet some of us are still here.

Any help is appreciated

LGK

Reply

Answer 8

immo

Level 4

2,381 points

Sep 23, 2009 3:06 PM in response to logikal

logikal wrote:
immo,

I tried the aliases, but to no avail.

..it works for me....

A

Reply

Answer 9

Hyntus

Level 1

15 points

Sep 23, 2009 3:31 PM in response to logikal

logikal wrote:

I'm not even sure where to go with this issue. I will continue to experiment until I find an answer, or someone else already has.

Yes, this is the frustrating thing. It's hard to follow what might be going wrong exactly.

For me, it's unpredictable - I scroll through the list of my custom Ultrabeat kits. Many load just fine, but some load with blank sample bays. They all refer to samples stored on the same drive. The "missing" samples are found in Spotlight easily enough and the kits all load in Logic 8 without fail.

I can't find anything in common amongst the kits that are problematic - at least, nothing that makes them any different from the kits which load successfully. I'm really not sure what might have happened in the transition from Logic 8 to 9 that could cause this issue.

Spotlight can find the sounds. Logic 8's Ultrabeat can find the sounds. Logic 9's Ultrabeat can't.

Anyway - it's good to know that I'm not alone with the problem! From posting about this issue on other forums, I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one who uses Ultrabeat regularly since I was struggling to even find people who were saying "it works fine for me".

"Preview sample in Ultrabeat voice" is also broken, of course. Perhaps the two issues are connected somehow? Something has certainly changed with regards to Ultrabeat's handling of samples.

Reply

Answer 10

logikal Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 23, 2009 4:03 PM in response to Hyntus

I think for the most part, people saved their presets in consolidation with the project. Most of my project songs and Ultrabeat presets load up no problem. Its the custom kits without projects that really ruin a great plugin. Its very unpredictable when it comes to both EXS imports and samples from another drive.

Perhaps when everyone updates and runs face first into this problem, we'll get some results. This is not uncommon, however this bug came back to haunt me in LP9. I love Ultrabeat, and hate it at the same time. Hate it because its the only instrument in Logic that does this. Love it, because otherwise, it rocks.

It important to me to be able to add filters, and minimal EQ from within my drum plugin. ReDrum doesn't allow it without Combinator cable clutter, and EXS definitely doesn't do it. As I mentioned before, my cash went into this application, I expect a little love back.

Logic 9 is like meeting a pretty lady with a great smile, but then she kicks you in the guts and then apologizes. Very confusing, awkward and uncomfortable.

The difference here is that I actually paid for it.

Cheers

LGK

P.S. I love Ultrabeat with all of my hate. and hate it with all of my love.

Reply

Answer 11

Oct 5, 2009 9:09 PM in response to logikal

I'm just now cracking open Logic 8 after having it for sometime. I cannot figure out how to import Goldbaby's DMX606 etc .wav samples. The Import function finds the samples, but they are greyed out. A Google search found me this topic, but not much else. Any suggestions?

Reply