Site moving

DrumKit now has an official website. All the content from this blog will be moved to the new site, and any new updates will be put on the official website.

Update: Drumkit 2.2 now released

Drumkit 2.2 is finally here.

To download, you can find it here:

Web store | Windows 8 store

Troubleshooting: Drumkit 2.2

Here are some fixes for problems that could appear in the version 2.2.

Application gives error at the loading page

There is a number of problems which can cause an error message to appear at the loading page, like the corruption of configuration files, or missing assets.

If the problem you are experiencing started after installing a drum package, deleting it may solve the problem

1. Close the application. You can do this by dragging it from the top edge (when you see the hand cursor) to the bottom of the page, and waiting for a few seconds, or using the task manager.
2. Open Explorer, and type in the address bar: %appdata%\..\Local\Packages
3. Locate the DrumKit package, in my case it is 35555TiberiuChibici.DrumKit_rpr4x2y6afkpe
4. Go inside the RoamingState folder
5. Go inside the DrumKits folder
6. Delete the folder which contains the drum package causing the problems.  

A last resort solution is to force the application to reset to its original state when it was installed (if it worked then). This will delete all preferences, and drum packages installed. To do this, follow these instructions:

1. Follow steps 1-4 above.
2. Delete the installed.xml file.

Drums are off the screen

The easiest method to fix this issue is to create a new layout. In a new layout, all the drums are by default in the top left corner, and they can easily be placed.

A more advanced method of fixing this issue is to edit the configuration xml file, which can be found in the application's AppData folder (look for instructions above).

Lag when hitting the drums

This is a common problem, which cannot be fixed from a developer point of view. The lag exists because the operating system itself, and the underlying libraries have slower response times, which cause the lag. There is not much I, as a developer, can do about it, although I am still investigating and doing any optimisation I can.

One thing you could try is disabling animations which would slightly improve the response time, although in most cases it will not make any difference. Also, reducing the polyphony may help, because it would use fewer system resources.

Sound of previously hit drum is cut, when a new drum is hit

The most likely problem is that the polyphony is set too low. I recommend setting it to at least 32.

The problem is not listed

You can request support by commenting on this page, or sending an email to chibicitiberiu@outlook.com.

Update: Drumkit 2.2 almost here

A new version of DrumKit is about to be released.

New features in Drumkit 2.2:

• Volume can be changed for every drum
• Polyphony is now configurable

Improvements in Drumkit 2.2:

• (Slightly) improved lag.

Update: Drumkit 2.1 now released

Drumkit 2.1 is finally here.

To download, you can find it here:

Web store | Windows 8 store

Update: Drumkit 2.1 almost here

The new version of DrumKit has been submitted to certification, and will be released in a few days.

The new and improved stuff in this version:

New features in version 2.1:

• Layouts, the application now supports multiple layouts, and every time the screen size changes, the application picks the best layout available. The layouts can be edited in the new layout manager.
• Settings page.
• Drumkits manager, now you can create and import your own drum packages (the specification is available here).
• Drum editor, where you can enable and disable drums, and change the keyboard bindings
• Logs can be accessed through the application (when debugging mode is activated).

Improvements in version 2.1:

• Revamped drum editor, now you can modify the size and rotation as well as the position of the drums.
• Better support for snapped view, as well as support for portrait view

Coming soon: Drumkit 2.1

After some hard work, Drumkit 2.1 is getting closer and closer.

This version will bring many changes. Among the new features:

Improved layouts, now supporting "snapped" view.

Added settings page

Now you can import drum packages, and in future versions you will be able to create your own.

The layout manager page. Here you can add layouts, and set up when they will be used. In this case, the "Standard layout" will be used in any view mode (all the modes are checked) which don't have a layout assigned to. For example, there is no other layout for "Landscape" and "Filled" view modes.

Other features planned (not necessarily for this version, but soon) include:

• improved layout editor, so you can also modify scale and rotation
• new drum packages (drumkits), rock, electric and others

Troubleshooting: Drumkit 2.0

Here are some easy fixes for problems that could appear in the version 2.0.

Application gives error at the loading page

There is a number of problems which can cause an error message to appear at the loading page, like the corruption of configuration files, or missing assets. A possible solution is to force the application to reset to its original state when it was installed (if it worked then). To do this, follow these instructions:

1. Close the application. You can do this by dragging it from the top edge (when you see the hand cursor) to the bottom of the page, and waiting for a few seconds, or using the task manager.
2. Open Explorer, and type in the address bar: %appdata%\..\Local\Packages
3. Locate the DrumKit package, in my case it is 35555TiberiuChibici.DrumKit_rpr4x2y6afkpe
4. Go inside the RoamingState folder
5. Delete the installed.xml file.
6. Open the application.  

Drums are off the screen

Same steps as the previous problem.

Lag when hitting the drums

This is a problem really hard to investigate, test and fix, since the only Windows 8 device I own is my laptop, and the app works well on it. The only thing I can really do without devices is to minimise the number of calculations done from the moment the drum is hit to when it is played. One thing you could try is disabling animations which could improve the response time.

The problem is not listed

You can request support by commenting on this page, or sending an email to chibicitiberiu@outlook.com.

Update: Drumkit 2.0 now released

Drumkit 2.0 is finally here.

To download, you can find it here:

Web store | Windows 8 store

Update: Drumkit 2.0 almost here

The previously announced release is ready, and is being submitted right now for certification. Once it passes certification, which should take up to a few days, you will be able to download.

The new and improved stuff in this version were already announced, haven't changed since, and they are:

New features in version 2.0:

• Animations: drums will animate when pressed
• Configuration persistence: settings and layouts will be saved, in the previous version these would reset every time the program was restarted.

Improvements in version 2.0:

• Better touch and mouse handling
• Improved latency
• Loading screen

Coming soon: Drumkit 2.0

A new update is going to be released in the upcoming weeks: version 2.0.

The biggest new thing is the totally different way of managing the drums. Previously, the application would use predefined sounds and images, and there was no way of changing that. Starting with this update, a new format based on XML will be introduced. In the upcoming 2.x versions, users will be able to create drum packages themselves, export, share and so on.

These features will not be introduced all at once, but one by one in the upcoming versions.

I would also like to make a (sad) announcement, the application may introduce ads in one of the upcoming 2.x versions, and introduce a payed/donation version. However, I assure you that version 2.0 will still be free.

New features in version 2.0:

• Animations: drums will animate when pressed
• Configuration persistance: settings and layouts will be saved, in the previous version these would reset every time the program was restarted.

Improvements in version 2.0:

• Better touch and mouse handling
• Improved latency
• Loading screen