Release Notes

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V.r 3.13

Sunday, October 18, 2015
• .Net Framework 4.6 upgrade - With this release, the program has been migrated up to .Net 4.6 (latest version). This should provide improvements in RAM memory management and performance (especially on 64bit OS versions). It also expands the capabilities for future program feature additions and improvements. .Net 4.6 comes preinstalled on most Windows 10 systems. If you are on Windows version 8/7/Vista, you may need to install it.
• Windows XP, End of Development - .Net 4.6 cannot be installed on Windows XP. Therefore, there will be no new development for XP. Sound Mill X3 V.r 3.12 is the last release that can be installed on XP and will remain available to customers with XP machines. See the Program Information for Windows XP page for further details.
• New option - Fade-In on Play, Always Start from 0% Volume - A new Sound Item Option is added for default Play behavior when using Auto-Fade-In on Play. This will greatly simplify the use of Auto-Fade-In. Before this option, you needed to manually set the Volume of each Sound Item to zero if you wanted it to fade-in. So swapping between auto-fade mode and standard (no fade) mode was a manual chore (pain). This ensures that all Sound Items fade in from silence, regardless of the Sound Item's Volume setting. (Learn more )
• New feature - Automator Insert Announcements - You can now set the Insert Frequency for how often Announcements are inserted into music programming. Example: Insert an announcement after every music track; after every two music tracks; every three, and so on. (Learn more )
• New feature - Automator Sort List - Sort the Scripts list displayed in the Automator list panel (by Name or by Most Recent Edit). Added under the View menu. (Learn more )
• New feature - Master Maximum Volume for All Sound Items - You can now set a master setting that will limit playback Volume on all Sound Items to a maximum value. Previously this had to be set on individual Sound Items. There are separate master settings for Announcements/Preemptive and non-Preemptive Sound Items; useful for making your Announcements louder than a music playlist. (Learn more )
• Feature CHANGE - Maximum Volume on Single Sound Item - A new Enable Maximum Volume checkbox has been added to the Play Modifiers panel. If you are currently using the Maximum Volume setting on any individual Sound Item, you need to check the Enable checkbox. This setting will override the Master setting (above) when enabled. (Learn more )
• New feature - Manually set Audio Length for Streaming Media - Streaming Media, such as Web Radio, may not have a known time length. You can set it manually from this menu item. (Learn more )
• New option - Default Streaming Media Time Length - When Sound Mill cannot acquire a time length from a Streaming Media web link, this time will be used. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Scheduler Report now lists a summary of Scripts that will be added to the Schedule Plan when the Scheduler is started. Provides an 'at a glance' view of Scripts that are enabled to run.
• Enhancement - Automator - You can now Enable/Disable Script Schedules on multiple scripts with a few clicks from the Edit Script > Script Schedules menu items. When disabling, your Schedule customizations are NOT lost. Makes it easier to revise what gets added to the Scheduler when it is started.
• Enhancement - Auto-Fade-Out on Stop - When this option is checked, the audio will now fade-out when playback reaches near the end of the audio. Previously, Fade-Out only applied when clicking the Stop button.
• Enhancement - Play Position Scrubber Bar - Improved user control. Play position is not changed until the mouse button is released or if using keyboard right/left arrow keys when the key is released. Scrubber Bar time position readout is updated as the mouse is dragged.
• Enhancement - Scripts Validation - More error and warning checks were added to Scripts Validation and the Script Editor.
• Enhancement - Scripts - Loop continously, Repeat after Offset Time setting can now be combined with this setting.
• Enhancement - NAudio library updated to 1.7.3 release level for latest fixes and enhancements.
• Enhancement - UI Improvements - Several miscellaneous minor user interface improvements.
• Removed - Announcements - Pre-Delay and Post-Delay Defaults were removed from the Automator Options. Announcements now use the Announcements/Preemptive Play - Delay Defaults. The simplifies management of Preemptive delays. Since Announcements are treated as Preemptive, the separate settings were mostly redundant. To override the Default values, simply set a unique Pre-Delay and/or Post-Delay for an individual Sound Item in its Play Modifiers. (Learn more )
• Removed - Allowed Audio Types was removed from the Sound Item Options. This has outlived its purpose based on advances in codecs. If you introducing a new media format to your Soundlist, simply click the Play button to see if your codec configuration supports the media type. If not you will get an error message, "File Open failed or timed out".
• Bug fixed - Automation Scripts - Sequential Play Steps which play a Preemptive Sound Item, caused unpredictable results when the Step is a sequential step (ie not a timed or scheduled step). The automator now detects this condition and plays the step as a non-preemptive step instead. Script Validation and the Script Editor also flags the condition with a warning.
• Bug fixed - Automator - When executing Announcement Steps or Preemptive Steps, the Step name of the executing Step was not always displayed above the Automator progress bar.
• Bug fixed - Web Links - Streaming media links (ie http://...) were getting a File Not Found error message when used in the Automator.
• Bug fixed - Clear Announcements Step was not always firing at the right offset when the Step is Offset Timed.

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V.r 3.12

September 23, 2015
• Important release for Automator users - If you use the Sound Mill Scheduler for time of day events, Offset Timed Steps or Announcements, this release has an important fix. The bug could manifest itself in several ways depending on your automation design (see below).
• Enhancement - Script Editor and Step Editor - Disable of the Schedule will no not reset Schedule settings. So if you re-Enable the schedule later, your customizations are not lost.
• Enhancement - Automator and Script Editor - Some miscellaneous user interface enhancements.
• Bug fixed - Automator: When a Script is Repeated or in Loop mode, Offset Timed Steps were not firing at correct offset on each repeat sequence.
• Bug fixed - Automator: Scheduled Scripts and Steps were not firing at the scheduled time of day. This also affects Scripts that use the Announcements feature.
• Bug fixed - Automator: Announcements and Preemptive sound items would intermittently play twice concurrently. This might sound like a slight echo effect or slightly muddy sound.
• Notice to Windows XP Users - This will be the last release that will support Windows XP. The next release (coming soon) will require .Net 4.6 which will not run on XP.

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V.r 3.11

January 31, 2015
• New feature - Focus List Items menu item, Program cursor focus jumps to the listbox of Sound Items. Most useful when in Play On Double-Click mode. (Learn more )
• New feature - Automator - Step Advance menu items are added to the Actions menu. These functions provide much finer control of Step execution when operating the Automator manually (ex. DJ operation). Includes: Play Step (repeats current Step), Previous Step, Jump to Step, First Step, Last Step. Some of these functions are also added to the Run Controls toolbar. (Learn more )
• New feature - Automator - Run Script at Step(x) menu item is added to the Actions menu. Starts the selected Script to run at a selected Step that you pick via pop-up dialog. (Learn more )
• New feature - Automator - View Running Scripts menu item is added to the Tools menu. Pops up a window listing all currently running Scripts.
• Enhancement - Play On Double-Click - The Play On Click mode is CHANGED to Play On Double-Click (mouse double-click). This allows the operator to select a Sound Item in the listbox without starting a Sound Item playing. This is changed in both the Sound list Editor and the Automator. However, the Easy Player Play On Click remains the same since some remote controllers may depend on current behavior. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - NAudio library dll updated to latest release level. Includes miscellaneous fixes and improvements. NAudio is used when a Sound Item is set to use the Windows Audio driver.
• Enhancement - Maximum Number of Recent Files to show can now be set in the Options > General tab.
• Bug fixed - The Easy Player Cue Button Table caused a sizing error when creating a new playlist. Only occured in a rare condition.
• Bug fixed - Fade Markers Edit Panel - Fade markers did not order (sort) correctly after changing fade time position with the Set Time button (Stopwatch button). Caused some fade markers to be ignored.
• Known Bug - Fix is in development. There is a bug in the Scheduler that prevents scheduled preemptive announcements from firing as scheduled.

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V.r 3.10

August 04, 2014
• New feature - Scheduler - Start At Program Startup, this option auto-starts the Scheduler when the program starts. (Learn more )
• New feature - Restart Scheduler Daily At [Time] option, Scheduler will auto-restart each new day at a time you specify. This will stop the scheduler, rebuild the daily Scheduler Plan, then restart the Scheduler. Useful for unattended operation past midnight. (Learn more )
• New feature - Play First Cue when Auto-Load Playlist at Startup, plays the first cue in a Playlist when the Playlist is loaded at program startup. (Learn more )
• New feature - Program Start-Up by Batch File is available including passing parameters to: 1) Open a Sound List file; 2) To run a script; 3) To open a Playlist on start-up. KIOSKMODE start-up syntax is altered slightly for this feature. This facilitates auto startup when you boot up a computer. (Learn more )
• New feature - Time Format option, Schedule and Report times can be displayed in 12 hour AM/PM time or 24 hour time. (Learn more )
• New feature - Script Editor Productivity buttons added. You can set specific Step properties on multiple Steps with just a few clicks. Properties you can set: 1) Set schedule to the Favorite schedule; 2) Delete Schedules; 3) Set Offset Times; 4) Set Output Group Override. (Learn more )
• New feature - Automator Productivity menu items added. You can set specific Script properties on multiple Script with just a few clicks. Properties you can set: 1) Set schedule to the Favorite schedule; 2) Delete Schedules; 3) Set Offset Times. (Learn more )
• New feature - Scheduler Plan: Include Expired Items option will show items that are scheduled but were not executed due to schedule time has passed by (expired). (Learn more )
• New feature - Time Period Editor - Cycle 12s button, cycles the time between 12AM, Noon and Midnight. (productivity) (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Edit Output Groups, the Edit button to select devices for the group now pre-selects the current devices in the group. Previously, you needed to reselect all current devices.
• Enhancement - Schedule Editor, Start and End Times section, has a new combobox selector for type of time. (Learn more )
• Bug fixed - Offset Timed or Scheduled Script Steps would intermittently not execute at the expected time. Boundary condition is now handled.

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V.r 3.9

July 09, 2014
• New feature - M3U Playlist files can now be dragged and dropped into the Sound List. A Sound Item will be created for each audio file in the M3U Playlist.
• Enhancement - Media filename of the selected Sound Item can now be passed to an external program. Specify %MediaItemFilename% as the variable. (Learn more )
• Bug fixed - Script Editor and Visual Attributes Editor were sizing too large when Windows Scaling is set to 150% or larger. Now defaults to height of display window.

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V.r 3.8

June 14, 2014
• Enhancement - Time Remaining indicator is added to the Play Position progress bar. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Arrange Toolbars menu item added to View > Toolbars.
• Enhancement - Miscellaneous minor user interface improvements.

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V.r 3.7

March 28, 2014
• New feature - The Sound List Editor can now be transformed for touch screen devices as a Touch Enabled performance interface. (Learn more )
• New feature - Toolbars can now be scaled in size for easier mouse targeting or to enable a touch screen interface. (Learn more )
• New feature - A new toolbar is added with List Item Selection buttons. Use for navigation when using the program in touch screen enabled mode. (Learn more )
• New feature - Volume function buttons are moved to a separate toolbar. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Easier toolbar management to show or hide toolbars via selection list.

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V.r 3.6

March 21, 2014
• The pilot program associated with this release has been discontinued.

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V.r 3.5

March 18, 2014
• New feature - Options Import/Export functions are added to the Tools menu. This allows you to Export your current Options to a file and restore them to another computer by Import. Useful for Dongle Key use. (Learn more )
• Bug fixed - Program was getting an error when pinning the App icon to the Windows taskbar, then starting the program by right clicking the icon and chosing a recent Sound List file.

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V.r 3.4

March 12, 2014
• Attention: Customers on Version 3.3 (or earlier): With release 3.4, there are automation enhancements and some changes to automation editing that you should understand. Please see the knowledge base article on the Automation Redesign with Release 3.4 for details.
• New feature - New Script steps to Pause or Resume a script are added to the Script Editor. (Learn more )
• New feature - New View Scheduler Report menu item was added to the Automator. It lists all scripts and script steps that have schedules enabled. Schedules are no longer included in Sound List Design Report (Learn more )
• New feature - Validate All Scripts menu item was added to the Automator. Validation will detect and report errors in Scripts. (Learn more )
• New feature - Easy Player > Continuous Play Mode no longer adds temporary scripts to the Automator. (Learn more )
• New feature - The Step Editor can now change the step's target referenced item. It can also change the Variables being passed to an External Program. . (Learn more )
• New feature - Choose Scripts for Cue Buttons menu item was added to the Easy Player. (Learn more )
• New feature - Easy Player Ad Hoc Shortcuts can now specify a target script. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Sound Item types for Run-Script and Start External Program are eliminated. These functions are now edited as Script steps in the Script Editor.
• Enhancement - The Stop Script step can now specify which automation script to be stopped. Previously it could only stop the containing script.
• Enhancement - Automation Option > Run-Script Sound Items always play concurrent is renamed to Automator ignores the Sound List Editor 'Allow Concurrent Sounds'. It's function remains the same. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - The program now supports scaling of the user interface up to 200% on high-resolution displays (high DPI/PPI dots/pixels per inch). Choose scaling factor in Windows Control Panel > Display.
• Bug fixed - When a Script Step's Offset Time was not enabled but the Auto-Reset checkbox was checked, the Step was being ignored when running the Script.

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V.r 3.3

February 20, 2014

• Important! - Due to the Devices bug fix (see below), if you use Output Groups with the Windows Audio driver, you should review your Outputs and Devices . Go to Tools > Outputs and Devices > View. Make sure each Output Group lists the expected Devices. The fix should not change your current settings but this is a precaution.
• New feature - A Re-acquire Devices function was added. When used, the program will revise its internal list of connected devices (soundcards) without having to close and restart the program. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - IPC Sender External Program now has the option to Restore active window focus after starting. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Some changes made to common dialogs for more consistent pop-up location.
• Enhancement - Attributes dialogs updated in the Easy Player > Playlist Attributes editor.
• Bug fixed - Audio Devices (soundcards) were getting reordered in some cases at program start-up. This fix solves issues related to soundcards getting connected/disconnected from the computer ports (usually USB devices). View Outputs and Devices now lists all Devices that have been detected (currently and in the past) and current connection status.

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V.r 3.2

January 09, 2014
• New feature - Integration with Video Mill - Send and receive automation commands between Sound Mill and Video Mill for a complete audio/visual tool suite. Provides split second timed automation of audio and video programming. The programs can reside on the same computer or separate computers on a wired or wireless network. (Learn more )
• New feature - Added Web Link button to Descriptors panel to enter the file location as text. This allows you to access Internet based streaming content and Web located media files. (Learn more )
• New feature - Paused Indicator added to Play Position Controls panel indicate when the media is paused. (Learn more )
• New feature - Streaming Media Indicator added to Play Position Controls panel. (Learn more )
• New feature - Added Set Streaming Media Indicator menu item. The program generally can determine when a file URI is a stream. This allows you to manually set it if the program fails to determine it correctly. (Learn more )
• New feature - Easy Player Play Controls buttons can now be scaled (up or down) in size. Useful when you want large buttons for touch screen displays. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Improved Sound List Validation.
• Enhancement - Miscellenous user interface improvements.
• Bug fixed - Volume fade was not working properly when 2 markers are at same time position and one is disabled.

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V.r 3.1

March 30, 2013
• New feature - Wait time was eliminated when dragging and dropping audio files into the Sound List. Previously there was a wait delay while audio metrics were calculated for dropped files. This work is now done on a background thread.
• Enhancement - Marker positions now displayed as time format (mm:ss.mls). It was previously displayed as total milliseconds. Set Position Buttons were added to the "Start, End and Fade Markers" panels to set Marker time position.
• Enhancement - Miscellaneous enhancements to common module user interface elements.
• Bug fixed - Filename case was converted to uppercase when starting the program by double clicking on a Sound List file.
• Bug fixed - Windows Audio driver, changes to volume slider were ignored while sound was muted.
• Bug fixed - Windows Audio driver, small volume artifact produced when volume slider was moved while a Sound Item was paused.
• Bug fixed - Media Player driver, small volume artifact produced when starting Play with volume at 0% and using Fade-In.

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V.r 3.0

February 24, 2013
• Sound Mill X3 Launch - Version 2 customers see the Sound Mill X3 - Upgrade Decision Criteria page to see what is changing and decide if you want to upgrade.
• DirectX driver was eliminated with X3. Any DirectX related functions were removed from the user interface.
• Enhancement - Sound Mill X3 runs in true 64-bit Mode on 64-bit Operating Systems improving performance and virtually eliminating memory limits. Version 2 ran in 32-bit mode on all OSes.
• Enhancement - Some tuning of the Automation engine for performance plus better detection and reporting of error conditions.
• New feature - New "Windows Audio" driver was added that supports directing audio output to multiple soundcard devices simultaneously. It uses the current Output Groups method to configure the outputs. It supports MP3, WMA, WAV and AIFF audio formats. (Learn more )
• New feature - A new drop-down selector is added to the Play Modifiers section of the Sound Item editor panel. You can chose from the two audio drivers for the Sound Item. (Learn more )
• New feature - A new Sound Item attribute is added for "Apply Output Groups". When checked, the audio will be piped to all the devices contained in the selected Output Group. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Output Groups and Devices management has changed slightly based on the new audio driver. (Learn more )
• Enhancement - Maximum limit on number of Output Groups you can create is eliminated.
• Enhancement - Better management of USB soundcard devices. Program restart is no longer required when adding/removing these cards -- just do a 'Tools > Devices > Reset'.
• New feature - New option to set a Load Time-out value. This allows the program to stop waiting for the audio system to load/open a corrupted audio file or one for which you do not have an audio codec. (On the Options > General tab)
• Enhancement - Dialog OK/Cancel buttons reordered to comply with standard Windows convention.
• Enhancement - Browse for Audio file dialogs now allow any known audio type. You will be prompted to continue if you select an file type not recognized as audio. Same function when you drag and drop files into the Sound List. Codecs are still needed for formats not supported by the Windows OS.
• Enhancement - 'Tools > Settings Validation Check' now list the recognized file extensions for known audio formats. You can add others via the 'Options - Program' tab.
• Enhancement - Play List Logging now creates a sortable file name, prefixed with year-mm-dd. And log entries are in comma separated values (CSV) format to facilitate import into databases or spreadsheets.
• Enhancement - Lots of miscellaneous user interface enhancements to common UI dialogs.

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Known bugs

• No known bugs at this time.

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Version 2

Version 2 change history is archived here.

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Version 1

Version 1 change history is archived here.

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