missing samples function
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:05 am
An open request for tech support:
Hi there:
I am finding the missing samples function needlessly complicated, as well as ineffective in many ways. Please consider the remarks in capitals to be emphasis rather than shouting.
So: I open a live set (created in an earlier version of Live, which will open with all samples in the right place in said earlier version). All the samples are missing. I "click here to learn more". The list of samples with question marks appears in the "Missing Files" column on the right, with magnifying glass icons to the left.
For each sample, I have to single click (but not, for god's sake double click, or the list of candidates disappears), and a list of canditates appears on the left. I figure out that clicking the bright orange icon will PREVENT the sample from being loaded, and instead click the grey icon which looks like a sound file to load the sample.
A dialog pops up asking if Live should "try and resolve all missing samples" from the same location. I click yes, because I can see from Windows Explorer that all the samples are in the same folder, where they were PUT BY AN EARLIER VERSION OF LIVE. Whew - I'm finally done, I think. Nope! After a brief search, I get notice saying "no new candidates found". But all the samples are in the same folder!
What should happen after I click "yes" is that it finds and loads the samples. I really do not understand what is so difficult about this part of the programming. Other software I have used (e.g. Orion) does this simple task dependably if I have changed the location of samples. It does not need to do it for samples which are bundled by an earlier version of the same program, which were not moved.
Back to the grind of adding the samples back. For each missing sample, all of which are in the same folder that (another version of) Live put them in, I have to select the icon with the magnifying glass, and click "automatic search" (if it's 'automatic', why do even see it, never mind click it).
I repeat the process outlined above - and even then the behaviour is inconsistent. I have to click "no" on the useless dialog which promises to resolve the missing samples. If I save the set, (because I sure as hell don't want to go through this again), I lose the missing files column on the right, more annoying clicking to get it back. I again select the magnifying glass, this time NO SAMPLES APPEAR ON THE LEFT! Instead, the name of the sample appears on the column on the left and I have to click "Go" for some reason. I though I already "Went". I click "Go" - and NOTHING HAPPENS. I try the deceptively named "Automatic search" again, several candidates found (any of which would suit me more than wasting time at this), I have to click "OK" on a modal dialog ("n # of samples found) which provides NO NEW INFORMATION (I can count the number of samples if I really want to). But at least my files are there right?
NO! (And this has to be a bug); I have to click two times on the question mark icon to the left of the sample in the missing files column, before the samples appear in the column on the left. I select the sample (which is in the SAME FOLDER AS THE LAST ONE), and I got the sadistic dialog offering to load all the other files which are in the same folder, say "NO" because I've been hurt by this dialog in the past , save my work, lose the find samples column, go back to the "samples are missing notice, and start again, with the next file.
It seems there are several issues at work here:
Bugs:1)why is it not finding the samples which are in the same folder?
UI design:1) please disable the pointless dialog saying how many files have been found; also 2) either make the search automatic (vastly preferable), or call it something else.
The way missing samples works in other programs is:
1) there is little need for it, as subsequent version can perfectly well find samples associated with a project
2) if I have moved samples, I point the search to a top leve folder - it doesn't matter how many levels above, I click search, it finds the folder with the samples, offers to load them all - and they load!
Thank you in advance for your response to this request for help. I have posted a copy of it in the Forums for reference by other users who may be experiencing the same issues, or for help from other users if they have some pointers.
Regards,
Hi there:
I am finding the missing samples function needlessly complicated, as well as ineffective in many ways. Please consider the remarks in capitals to be emphasis rather than shouting.
So: I open a live set (created in an earlier version of Live, which will open with all samples in the right place in said earlier version). All the samples are missing. I "click here to learn more". The list of samples with question marks appears in the "Missing Files" column on the right, with magnifying glass icons to the left.
For each sample, I have to single click (but not, for god's sake double click, or the list of candidates disappears), and a list of canditates appears on the left. I figure out that clicking the bright orange icon will PREVENT the sample from being loaded, and instead click the grey icon which looks like a sound file to load the sample.
A dialog pops up asking if Live should "try and resolve all missing samples" from the same location. I click yes, because I can see from Windows Explorer that all the samples are in the same folder, where they were PUT BY AN EARLIER VERSION OF LIVE. Whew - I'm finally done, I think. Nope! After a brief search, I get notice saying "no new candidates found". But all the samples are in the same folder!
What should happen after I click "yes" is that it finds and loads the samples. I really do not understand what is so difficult about this part of the programming. Other software I have used (e.g. Orion) does this simple task dependably if I have changed the location of samples. It does not need to do it for samples which are bundled by an earlier version of the same program, which were not moved.
Back to the grind of adding the samples back. For each missing sample, all of which are in the same folder that (another version of) Live put them in, I have to select the icon with the magnifying glass, and click "automatic search" (if it's 'automatic', why do even see it, never mind click it).
I repeat the process outlined above - and even then the behaviour is inconsistent. I have to click "no" on the useless dialog which promises to resolve the missing samples. If I save the set, (because I sure as hell don't want to go through this again), I lose the missing files column on the right, more annoying clicking to get it back. I again select the magnifying glass, this time NO SAMPLES APPEAR ON THE LEFT! Instead, the name of the sample appears on the column on the left and I have to click "Go" for some reason. I though I already "Went". I click "Go" - and NOTHING HAPPENS. I try the deceptively named "Automatic search" again, several candidates found (any of which would suit me more than wasting time at this), I have to click "OK" on a modal dialog ("n # of samples found) which provides NO NEW INFORMATION (I can count the number of samples if I really want to). But at least my files are there right?
NO! (And this has to be a bug); I have to click two times on the question mark icon to the left of the sample in the missing files column, before the samples appear in the column on the left. I select the sample (which is in the SAME FOLDER AS THE LAST ONE), and I got the sadistic dialog offering to load all the other files which are in the same folder, say "NO" because I've been hurt by this dialog in the past , save my work, lose the find samples column, go back to the "samples are missing notice, and start again, with the next file.
It seems there are several issues at work here:
Bugs:1)why is it not finding the samples which are in the same folder?
UI design:1) please disable the pointless dialog saying how many files have been found; also 2) either make the search automatic (vastly preferable), or call it something else.
The way missing samples works in other programs is:
1) there is little need for it, as subsequent version can perfectly well find samples associated with a project
2) if I have moved samples, I point the search to a top leve folder - it doesn't matter how many levels above, I click search, it finds the folder with the samples, offers to load them all - and they load!
Thank you in advance for your response to this request for help. I have posted a copy of it in the Forums for reference by other users who may be experiencing the same issues, or for help from other users if they have some pointers.
Regards,