AudioTheory Piano Keys 1.3.0 – Performance Update

Update 3 arrives today for AudioTheory Piano Keys. This combines a set of performance optimisations to make the application run more efficiently. It's also the last (well, last currently planned) 'under the hood' update, meaning that the groundwork for future updates is now complete, with the intention being for these to be mostly focused on adding in new features.

Also, a quick side note, tomorrow it will be exactly one month since AudioTheory Piano Keys launched. That went fast! Thanks for taking the time to check it out.

Variable Render Rate

Ah, the solution to all of life's problems. This week I've made a fair few optimisations in the name of performance, but the most noticeable is a new variable render rate that means the display doesn't update when it doesn't need to.

This works well because there are many scenarios where you may find the software idling, it is after all reference material so it makes sense to leave it open up on screen. The software now looks out for these moments and greatly reduces the CPU overhead when possible, before seamlessly resuming to business as usual when any sort of input (or any action that results in a visible change on screen) is detected.

Run out of focus

I have also changed the default behaviour of the application so that it pauses running if the window is not in focus. This makes it a lot more practical to leave open in the background.

Originally this was not set because I imagined scenarios where it would be useful to poll for MIDI input when using the application alongside a DAW or other piece of software (e.g. you could be working in Logic on one screen and have AudioTheory running in the background on a second monitor). This may still be the case, so if your requirements do in fact mean that it's desirable for the application to run out of focus, then you can turn this back on in the settings.

That's all for today. Thanks for reading, and keep practicing.

Fraser