AUv3 Pop-out LCD Window floats behind main plugin window (v0.9.0)

[mikej01]

macOS sequoia 15.5
Reaper 7.42
VMPC2000XL v0.9.0 release candidate 0

AUv3

Pop-out LCD Window floats behind main plug-in window and cannot be raised to float on top when clicked. I notice this window does raise on top when another application window has focus, yet returns to floating behind the main plug-in window when focus is returned. Not sure if this is a particular Reaper/AUv3 quirk. Window operation works as expected (ie floats on top) for VST3i and LV2 versions.

[izzyreal]

I'll have to dig into this. I'm not sure if it can be fixed, and, if not, what to do. The thing is that from a plugin point of view, this feature is violating the basic principle that the whole GUI should be in the window that is provided by the host. If you have any ideas, I'm happy to hear them.

[mikej01]

Gotcha.

This one isn't a major issue for me as such as I'll mostly be using the VST3i version. It's just something I happened to spot so I thought I'd log it incase it was an easy fix. I'd guess this one is not really a top priority as such.

Now you mention it you are right that most plugins that have "windows" do keep them within the bounds of the main plugin window. I do have one plugin that does have a pop-out window. I've just installed the AU version to check and it does float on top, so it might be possible. Perhaps this is framework dependent though.

I have no experience with JUCE or C++, I will have a go at looking into this though all the same.

Many thanks for taking the time to look at all these issues, it's all much appreciated, as is the plugin.

[izzyreal]

I do have one plugin that does have a pop-out window. I've just installed the AU version to check and it does float on top, so it might be possible.

Ah cool, which plugin is that? And is that AUv2 or AUv3?

[mikej01]

It's the MPC Beats plugin. It also has a pop-out LCD window :). I guess it could be an AUv2. Reaper just seems to show it as AUi. There doesn't actually seem to be an easy way to tell which version it is??

[izzyreal]

There doesn't actually seem to be an easy way to tell which version it is??

Yeah, that's why VMPC2000XL has several ways to tell :) It's in the name, and in the About window.

That said, you can do the following in the terminal:

auval -a

It will give you a bunch of info about your AudioUnits, for example VMPC2000XL has these entries just for the AUv3; one for the instrument, and one for the effect:

aumf 2kXL Izmr  -  Izmar: VMPC2000XL AUv3
aumu 2kXa Izmr  -  Izmar: VMPC2000XL AUv3

Once you have that info, you can get a lot more info about one AudioUnit as follows:

auval -v aumu 2kXa Izmr

The output is quite big, but it should have an entry like this near the top:

This AudioUnit is a version 3 implementation.

In any case, I'll try to install MPC Beats to check out that feature.

[mikej01]

Good idea to put that in the name. I'd figured that the AUv3 was part of the name, and not the way to tell.

Appreciate the info on the auval command. For MPC Beats -

This AudioUnit is a version 2 implementation.

[mikej01]

Forgot to mention - MPC Beats LCD window is under the tools menu.

[izzyreal]

Found it, and when I try VMPC2000XL AUv2, the auxiliary LCD also floats on top! It may be related to the fact that AUv3 instances run in their own process.

[mikej01]

There is an MPC 3 beta software out for those that have the full software version. There is no plugin version included with the beta yet, or an updated MPC Beats version as yet, so probably be some time until we could check.

I have found this discussion on the same topic: https://forum.juce.com/t/documentwindow-in-front/56935, not sure if it is of any help though.

[mikej01]

Ah ok, so the issue is setAlwaysOnTop(true) isn't working for AUv3.

vmpc-juce/src/main/gui/AuxLCDWindow.cpp

Line 63 in 799ee5f

setAlwaysOnTop(true);

[izzyreal]

Correct. I'll try in a plain AUv3 project if it's possible at all. If yes, I'll see if I can port that to a JUCE project.

[mikej01]

Having browsed the juce forums I now have a slightly better understanding of the comment you made previously #118 (comment) regarding AUv3. So I see it's more a case of being happy that the aux lcd window shows up at all.

Is it the case that the aux window is entirely managed by the parent, and it would only be the main plugin editor window that Reaper manages? One post I read reminded me that Reaper does add a pin to the title bar of the main plugin window, which sets it to stay on top.

[izzyreal]

Is it the case that the aux window is entirely managed by the parent, and it would only be the main plugin editor window that Reaper manages?

You may be right, at the moment I'm not sure. I'll have to dig in.