Is it possible to open two instances of Synthesia at the same time?
No explicit, hateful, or hurtful language. Nothing illegal.
There isn't a way to open two instances today. We specifically guard against it because it's dangerous to the data files: Synthesia writes all its data just as the app is closing. So whichever window is closed last would "win" and overwrite any new/changed information from the other window's data. Worse: if you closed them at roughly the same time, they might step on each other's toes and arbitrarily be denied access to some of the files or--in the worst case--introduce a bit of inconsistency (or even corruption) where one instance writes to certain files and the other instance is allowed to write to others.
As I start migrating Synthesia's data files over to something more robust (a SQLite database with the WAL-mode enabled), all of these problems disappear. Data will be written as it is changed so a crash doesn't lose anything. The format is inherently more robust against corruption. Everything will be transaction-based so multiple instances shouldn't be able to step on each other's toes.
I hadn't considered that we'd be able to relax the multiple-instances restriction afterward, but thinking about it just now, it should be safe to do.
As I start migrating Synthesia's data files over to something more robust (a SQLite database with the WAL-mode enabled), all of these problems disappear. Data will be written as it is changed so a crash doesn't lose anything. The format is inherently more robust against corruption. Everything will be transaction-based so multiple instances shouldn't be able to step on each other's toes.
I hadn't considered that we'd be able to relax the multiple-instances restriction afterward, but thinking about it just now, it should be safe to do.
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I've had two windows of Synthesia open by some miracle, I think it was because my computer had just started and everything was a bit laggy, then I clicked on the synthesia app button a ton of times and I opened two windows
Anyway, you could use that as the second visualizer.
Why don't you download Piano From Above and use that as the second program? It's definitely nowhere close to Synthesia quality but it's free (I think Brian Pantano wanted a free synthesia alternative or he just made it because he wanted to join in the popularity of this type of software)
Anyway, you could use that as the second visualizer.
It wasn't originally free and his reasoning for making it can be found at the bottom of this page.Piotr Barcz wrote: ↑10-21-21 9:34 am... but it's free (I think Brian Pantano wanted a free synthesia alternative or he just made it because he wanted to join in the popularity of this type of software)
I've noticed this, as well.Piotr Barcz wrote: ↑10-21-21 9:34 am I've had two windows of Synthesia open by some miracle, I think it was because my computer had just started and everything was a bit laggy, then I clicked on the synthesia app button a ton of times and I opened two windows
When Chrome starts acting up and using a lot of memory, if I'm a tad overeager on getting Synthesia to start, I have accidentally been able to get as many as three instances fully running and accepting input, at least until one inevitably crashes.
I actually like this dual screen display to see the free play chord names alongside the lesson, so it would be really helpful if this feature was an option.
I found it. If the time between launching the app and the window actually appearing was longer than four seconds or so, there was a loophole in my code that would allow more than one instance to start.
That is consistent with your description of a system under heavy load during start-up.
I just fixed it for the 10.10 release.
That is consistent with your description of a system under heavy load during start-up.
I just fixed it for the 10.10 release.