It’s very nice to be able to implement “Tempo” and “Signature” changes within SV2, just in order to be always perfectly aligned with the DAW timeline whenever using the ARA plugin version. So far so good.
However, if you are working with DAWs, it’s not very uncommon that a so-called “bar offest” is applicable there. For example, in cases where external synth modules are to be used (which subsequently need some extra time in order to load sound presets, to process MIDI SysEx data, or simply to play the count-in before the song actually starts), such a “bar offset” comes into play. I’m personally using Cubase 14 Pro, and that’s a very neat option I frequently need.
Now, as a song is usually supposed to start at “bar No. 1”, such a “bar offset” can be adjusted in such a way that the DAW song already contains bars prior to that mark (like “bar No. -2”, “-1” and “0”). In other words, it is a pure display-related setting to make life easier and to have a clear indication on when the song really starts; even if some bars are available prior that actual song start.
Unfortunately, SV2 always starts with “bar No. 1” exclusively, no matter what. Due to that missing feature, bar numbers between DAW and SV2 will always deviate from each other. This leads to confusion when re-positioning the song locator, depending on the choice if this is done within the DAW or via SV2. Both displays will always show a different bar number which is a bad thing.
@SV2 Development Team: Therefore, could you please implement a (purely display-based) “bar offest” option in one of your next SV2 releases, as this would really help to have the same barline/timeline available in both synced instances (and not two parallel-universes). I guess such a simple add-on won’t need more than 15 minutes to be actually implemented, but would massively raise the usability of your SV2 application/plugin.
Thanks a lot in advance for listening!