@DATABASE OctaMED Soundstudio Help @REM Features Guide: Writing a Song [part 1 of 2] @$VER: 2.0 (24.07.96) for Soundstudio V1.01 @AUTHOR Ed Wiles (e.d.wiles@dur.ac.uk) @HELP OctaMED.guide/Help @REM T R A C K E R E D I T O R @REM Tracker Editor Control @NODE f1_tredco "Writing a Song / Tracker Editor Control" @TOC OctaMED.guide/f1 HOW TO... @{" Move around a block " LINK f1_tredco_1} @{" Enter a note " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 0} @{" Enter a chord " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 43} @{" Set what happens after entering " LINK f1_tredco_4} @{" Set up and use the mouse " LINK f1_tredco_5} OVERVIEW The Tracker editor is the main method of writing a song in OctaMED, used to enter and display notes. Knowing how to control the Tracker editor - entering notes, moving around a block, using the mouse - is fundamental in composing with OctaMED. An introduction to the Tracker editor can be found in the opening chapters of the printed manual. We recommend you read the section for new users before consulting this help guide. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_tredco_1 "Tracker Editor Control / How To Move Around A Block" HOW TO MOVE AROUND A BLOCK @TOC f1_tredco INTRODUCTION In the Tracker editor, the current line in the block is highlighted with a horizontal bar which is usually white. On that bar, there is a small rectangular patch in the background colour; this is the cursor. The track on which this cursor resides is called the current track. Both current line and cursor position can be moved. STEPS 1) EITHER Use the two scroll bars. > Drag the vertical scroll bar, along the right side of the window, to scroll the block up and down OR > Drag the horizontal scroll bar, along the bottom, to scroll the block left and right (mainly for blocks with many tracks) OR Use the cursor movement keys. Here is a selection: @{" More " LINK PCKS.guide/key_cumo} > Use the cursor keys to move the cursor in single steps OR > Press one of F6 - F10 to move to the start/middle/end/etc. OR > Press Alt- or Alt- to move across tracks NOTES * All keyboard shortcuts, including cursor movement keys, can be @{" More " LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_3} redefined through the Keyboard Shortcuts window. * The F6 - F10 keys can be set to move to the first five highlighted lines in a block, rather than their usual positions. @{" More " LINK f1_otedfe_3} Switch on Keyboard Options window -> F6-F10 = Highlights. @{"Where?" LINK Qc.guide/w_keop 58} * Space mode affects cursor movement as well as note entering. When @{" More " LINK f1_tredco_4 29} Keyboard Options -> Auto-Round Spacing is on, cursor movement is @{"Where?" LINK Qc.guide/w_keop 53} restricted to lines divisible by the spacing value. These are the lines on which notes are usually entered in space mode. * Another way to position the cursor is simply to click on a new position, using the mouse button set to Position Cursor in the @{" More " LINK f1_tredco_5} Mouse Options window (if any). * To hear the block's notes as you move around the block, switch on Keyboard Options -> Advance with sound. @{"Where?" LINK Qc.guide/w_keop 40} @ENDNODE @NODE f1_tredco_2-3 "Tracker Editor Control / Entering Notes And Chords" @TOC f1_tredco HOW TO ENTER A NOTE INTRODUCTION An introduction to creating a song, including entering notes, is provided in the printed manual. We suggest you read it, if you haven't already done so. STEPS 1) Move the cursor to the desired note position. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 2) Select the required instrument. @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_1} 3) Select the required keyboard octave range. > Set Main Control window -> Oct cycle gadget appropriately OR @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 61} > Press F1 to F5 @{" More " LINK PCKS.guide/key_ot 15} 4) Ensure that Edit mode is on. > Switch on Main Control window -> Edit @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 46} 5) Press the desired note's key. @{" More " LINK F3.guide/f3_in_1} NOTES * To delete a note, press the Del key in step 5 above. To delete @{" More " LINK PCKS.guide/key_ed} the note and its player command, press Shift-Del. * To enter an instrument at its default pitch, press the F key (for @{" More " LINK F3.guide/f3_in_6} deFault). * A note can only be entered if the Main Control, Tracker editor @{" More " LINK F5.guide/f5_wi_3} or Information window is currently `active'. * Another way of entering notes is through the programmable keys. @{" How? " LINK f1_thprke_2} * When Edit mode is on, an E appears in the Information window's bottom-right information box. * In some countries, the note between A# and C is called H, rather than B. To display H's instead of B's, switch on Miscellaneous Options window -> H -> B. @{"Where?" LINK Qc.guide/w_miop 45} ALSO SEE @{" How To Enter A Player Command " LINK f1_plco_1} HOW TO ENTER A CHORD STEPS 1) Follow steps 1 to 4 of How To Enter A Note. @{"Where?" LINK f1_tredco_2-3 0} 2) Switch on Chord mode. > Switch on Main Control window -> Chord 3) Select or deselect any tracks, as appropriate. Chord notes will @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_5 23} only be entered on selected tracks. 4) Hold down the keys of the chord's notes together. @{" More " LINK F3.guide/f3_in_3} 5) Release the keys. NOTES * When Chord mode is on, a C appears in the Information window's bottom-right information box. TIPS * This method takes up several tracks. By using the Sample Editor's @{" More " LINK F2b.guide/f2_adef_7} Chord Creation facility, the chord can take up only one track. This is recommended if the chord is used often in the song, or if you have enough memory to create a separate chord for every chord type needed. There is a loss of sound quality, though. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_tredco_4 "Tracker Editor Control / How To Set What Happens After Entering" @TOC f1_tredco HOW TO SET WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ENTERING INTRODUCTION These settings are used after entering a note, @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 0} player command or @{" How? " LINK f1_plco_1} chord. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 43} STEPS 1) Open the Keyboard Options window. > Settings menu -> Keyboard Options 2) Set the direction of line advance, under Advance Line. @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ot 38} > Click Don't advance [doesn't move to a new line] OR > Click Up [moves up a line] OR > Click Down [moves down a line] 3) Set the direction of track advance, under Advance Track. @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ot 40} > Click Don't advance [doesn't move to a new track] OR > Click Prev track [moves left a track] OR > Click Next track [moves right a track] 4) Set the direction of cursor advance, under Advance Cursor. @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ot 39} > Click Don't advance [doesn't move to a new cursor position] OR > Click Left [moves left a cursor position] OR > Click Right [moves right a cursor position] * Only used after entering a player command or instrument digit. In other words, the cursor must be on one of the five digits beside a note. 5) Switch Space mode on/off, and set the Space value. > Switch Main Control window -> Space on or off THEN @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 52} > Set the Space Value slider appropriately. For example, a value of 4 will allow notes to be entered every 4th line * Space mode allows notes to be entered every so-many lines. @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ed} Intervening lines are skipped after entering, leaving a space. This is especially useful when entering slow pieces of music. The default Space value 2 is usually used. 6) Set Chord Reset appropriately. When on, the cursor moves back to the first chord note after entering a chord. @{" More " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 43} > Switch Chord Reset on or off. NOTES * When Destructive Spacing is on, any notes lying between the lines used for entering spaced notes will be deleted when a note is entered. * When Space mode is on, an S appears in the Information window's bottom-right information box. * Try clicking on the Space check box with a Shift key held down. The Keyboard Options window opens, with a view to changing the Space Value slider. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_tredco_5 "Tracker Editor Control / How To Set Up And Use The Mouse" @TOC f1_tredco HOW TO SET UP AND USE THE MOUSE INTRODUCTION When you click inside the Tracker editor, OctaMED can do one of four tasks. Use the Mouse Options window to assign each mouse button to a task. 1) Open the Mouse Options window. > Settings menu -> Mouse Options 2) By setting the three cycle gadgets appropriately, assign a task (or No Operation) to each mouse button. Possible options are: a) Track On/Off: Click on a track with the mouse button to switch that track on/off. Equivalent to clicking the track's @{" More " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_5} number button at the top of the Tracker editor. b) Selected Track: Click on a track with the mouse button to select/deselect that track. Equivalent to clicking the track's S button at the top of the Tracker editor. * Selected tracks are used in a handful of editing operations. By default, all tracks are selected: the S buttons along the top of the Tracker editor are all on. c) Position Cursor: Click on a note or digit with the mouse button to move the cursor to that position. d) Select Range: Hold down the mouse button and drag along a @{" More " LINK f1_maara_1-2} section of notes/digits to mark a range. e) No Operation: The button has no effect. NOTES * Of course, if you have a two-button mouse, the Middle Button cycle gadget is of no use to you! ALSO SEE @{" Marking A Range " LINK f1_maara} @ENDNODE @REM Marking A Range @NODE f1_maara "Writing a Song / Marking A Range" @TOC OctaMED.guide/f1 HOW TO... @{" Mark a range with the mouse " LINK f1_maara_1-2 0} @{" Mark a predefined range " LINK f1_maara_1-2 25} OVERVIEW A `range', in the Tracker editor, is a rectangular area of notes highlighted in white (in the default colour scheme). This area is used in many editing operations, such as cut/copy/paste, transpose and note echo. Usually, a range is marked by holding down the left mouse button and dragging over the required area of notes. This behaviour can be changed through the Mouse Options window. A couple of `preset' ranges also exist. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_maara_1-2 "Marking a Range / Marking A Range" @TOC f1_maara HOW TO MARK A RANGE WITH THE MOUSE STEPS 1) If necessary, assign a mouse button to Select Range. Usually, @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_5} the left mouse button selects a range, but you may have changed this behaviour. 2) Move the mouse pointer to the top-left corner of the area to be marked. 3) Holding down the assigned mouse button, drag the mouse to the bottom-left corner of the area. The area should be highlighted. NOTES * A range can be larger than the area of notes visible in the Tracker editor. For example, to extend the range to lines further up in the block, drag the mouse off the top of the window. The Tracker editor will scroll downwards, revealing more lines. * To cancel (remove) the range without affecting any notes, simply click the assigned mouse button anywhere on the Tracker editor. * To bring back the most recently marked range, select Edit menu -> Re-mark Range. HOW TO MARK A PREDEFINED RANGE STEPS 1) EITHER Mark a range over the entire block in one go. > Edit menu -> Range Current Block @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ed 50} OR Mark a range over the whole of the current track. > Move the cursor to the required track THEN @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} > Edit menu -> Range Current Track @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ed 50} @ENDNODE @REM Rearranging Blocks/Tracks @NODE f1_rebl "Writing a Song / Rearranging Blocks/Tracks" @TOC OctaMED.guide/f1 HOW TO... @{" Move or copy a track to another track " LINK f1_rebl_1-3 0} @{" Move or copy a block to another block " LINK f1_rebl_1-3 16} @{" Move or copy an area to another area " LINK f1_rebl_1-3 37} @{" Clear everything in a block, track or area " LINK f1_rebl_4} @{" Swap two tracks " LINK f1_rebl_5-6 0} @{" Swap two blocks " LINK f1_rebl_5-6 21} OVERVIEW Rectangular sections of notes, whole tracks and whole blocks can be moved around at will. The cut, copy and paste operations familiar to wordprocessor users are available in OctaMED, together with clearing and swapping facilities. Most of these operations are achieved by way of a `copy buffer'. This is a temporary storage area, in which sections, tracks or blocks are placed en route. For example, the method for moving a track is to transfer the track's contents to the copy buffer, then to `paste' (insert) the copy buffer's contents in the desired new track. NOTES * There are three different copy buffers, a separate one for blocks, tracks and areas. Some `hidden' copy buffer operations, including the interchange of notes between the three buffers, are available through ARexx. @{" More " LINK App.guide/app_ocarco_v2_3 48} * All Cmd Pages is an item in the Block, Track and Edit menus, that affects cutting and copying. When on, Cut and Copy affect all command pages. When off, only notes in the current command page are cut or copied. If there is only one page in a copy buffer, pasting the copy buffer pastes it to the current page. If there are several pages in the buffer, they are pasted to their respective positions, starting from page 1. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_rebl_1-3 "Rearranging Blocks/Tracks / How To Move Or Copy Block Parts" @TOC f1_rebl HOW TO MOVE OR COPY A TRACK TO ANOTHER TRACK STEPS 1) Move to the track whose contents are to be moved or copied. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 2) EITHER Remove the track's contents [to move the track]. > Track menu -> Cut @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} OR Copy the track's contents [to copy the track]. > Track menu -> Copy @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} 3) Move to the track where the contents should be placed. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 4) Insert the copy buffer contents. > Track menu -> Paste @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} HOW TO MOVE OR COPY A BLOCK TO ANOTHER BLOCK STEPS 1) Select the block whose contents are to be moved or copied. @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} 2) EITHER Remove the block's contents [to move the block]. > Block menu -> Cut @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} OR Copy the track's contents [to copy the block]. > Block menu -> Copy @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} 3) Select the block where the contents should be placed. @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} 4) Insert the copy buffer contents. > Block menu -> Paste @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} NOTES * Pasting a block changes the dimensions of the current block to that of the block in the copy buffer, so that the pasted block is an exact replica of the copy buffer. HOW TO MOVE OR COPY AN AREA TO ANOTHER AREA STEPS 1) Mark a range over the required area. @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} 2) EITHER Remove the range's contents [to move the range]. > Edit menu -> Cut Range @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ed} OR Copy the range's contents [to copy the range]. > Edit menu -> Copy Range @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ed} 3) Move to the top-left corner of the place where the range should @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} be inserted. 4) Insert the copy buffer contents. > Edit menu -> Paste Range @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ed} TIPS * Instead of Paste Range, try Paste To Selected Tracks. This pastes consecutive tracks in the copy buffer to consecutive *selected* tracks in the current block. Usually, all tracks are selected, but if you want to prevent OctaMED from pasting in a particular track, deselect the track. @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_5 23} @ENDNODE @NODE f1_rebl_4 "Rearranging Blocks/Tracks / How To Clear A Block Part" @TOC f1_rebl HOW TO CLEAR EVERYTHING IN A BLOCK, TRACK OR AREA STEPS 1) Mark a range over the block, track or area. Remember the quick @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} way of marking a range over a block or track, in the Edit menu. 2) Clear the range. > Select Edit menu -> Erase Range NOTES * Another way of clearing a block or track is to `cut' it, i.e. select Block or Track menu -> Cut. The old block or track contents are stored in the appropriate copy buffer, so this consumes a bit of memory but you can later retrieve the contents if necessary. ALSO SEE @{" How To Clear A Block " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_4} @ENDNODE @NODE f1_rebl_5-6 "Rearranging Blocks/Tracks / How To Swap Two Blocks Or Tracks" @TOC f1_rebl HOW TO SWAP TWO TRACKS STEPS 1) Move to one of the tracks to be swapped. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 2) Copy the track to the copy buffer. > Select Track menu -> Copy @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} 3) Move to the other track to be swapped. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 4) Swap the copy buffer with the current track. > Select Track menu -> Swap w/Buff @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} 5) Move to the first track again. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 6) Paste the copy buffer to the current track. > Select Track menu -> Paste @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} TIPS * This is an ideal function for an ARexx script! HOW TO SWAP TWO BLOCKS STEPS 1) Select one of the blocks to be swapped. @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} 2) Copy the block to the copy buffer. > Select Block menu -> Copy @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} 3) Select the other block to be swapped. @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} 4) Swap the copy buffer with the current block. > Select Block menu -> Swap w/Buff @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} 5) Move to the first block again. @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} 6) Paste the copy buffer to the current block. > Select Block menu -> Paste @{"Sh'cut" LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_1} TIPS * As always, this is so much easier if the two blocks are named... @{" More " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blnaandi_1} @ENDNODE @REM Transposing And Changing @NODE f1_tranch "Writing a Song / Transposing And Changing" @TOC OctaMED.guide/f1 HOW TO... @{" Transpose notes " LINK f1_tranch_1} @{" Change or swap notes of a particular pitch " LINK f1_tranch_2} @{" Change or swap notes' instrument numbers " LINK f1_tranch_3} @{" Change player commands " LINK f1_tranch_4} OVERVIEW `Transposition' is the changing of the pitch of a group of notes, so that they all sound higher or lower together. OctaMED can transpose a group of notes, change or swap particular notes or their instrument numbers, or change player commands. In fact, OctaMED can change any note `pattern', including a note, instrument number and player command, into any other pattern. Particular parts can be ignored, so that (for example) all notes played on instrument 06 and having player command 0442 should have their player command changed to 0445, regardless of the actual note name. This ignoring is called `transparency', and this facility is provided in the Replace Notes window. While the whole song can be affected if desired, transposition, changing and swapping can be restricted to certain parts of the song; namely, the current block or track, selected tracks or a marked range. Either all instruments or just the current instrument can be affected. For a fuller description of the Replace Notes window, including several examples, turn to part 14.1 of the printed manual. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_tranch_1 "Transposing and Changing / How To Transpose Notes" @TOC f1_tranch HOW TO TRANSPOSE NOTES STEPS 1) Decide on the area to be affected by the transposition. Possible areas are the current song/block/track, selected tracks or a marked range. 2) Select this area appropriately. > Select the current song (if there is more than one) OR @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_mu_1-4 49} > Select the current block OR @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} > Move to the current track OR @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} > Select/deselect tracks as necessary OR @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_5 23} > Mark a range @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} 3) Open the Transpose window. > Edit menu -> Transpose 4) In the window, select the area to be affected by the transposition. > Click Song, Block, Track, Selected Tracks or Range. 5) If necessary, select the instrument(s) the notes played by which will be affected. > Click All Instrs or Current Instr THEN > If you've chosen Current Instr, select the current instrument. @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_1} 6) Choose the required transposition. > Click Octave Up OR > Click Halfstep Up OR > Click Halfstep Down OR > Click Octave Down NOTES * For British users, `halfstep' is the American word for semitone. * To transpose by more than one halfstep or octave, click on the appropriate gadget repeatedly. * The Out-of-Range cycle gadget determines what OctaMED should do with notes to be made lower than C-1 or higher than F#B, as a result of a transposition. Change Octave transposes the note name but leaves the octave number unaffected. Leave Intact leaves the whole note unaffected. Deleted removes the whole note. * Individual instruments @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_in_4} and whole songs can also be transposed, without actually @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_10} affecting the song's notes, using transposition sliders. OctaMED can perform necessary 2-octave transpositions for Mix mode when starting a new song or @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_stafi_1} when loading an old song. @{" How? " LINK F4.guide/f4_so_1} @ENDNODE @NODE f1_tranch_2 "Transposing and Changing / How To Change/Swap Particular Notes" @TOC f1_tranch HOW TO CHANGE OR SWAP NOTES OF A PARTICULAR PITCH STEPS 1) Decide on the area to be affected by the change or swap. Possible areas are the current song/block/track, selected tracks or a marked range. 2) Select this area appropriately. > Select the current song (if there is more than one) OR @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_mu_1-4 49} > Select the current block OR @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} > Move to the current track OR @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} > Select/deselect tracks as necessary OR @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_5 23} > Mark a range @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} 3) Open the Transpose window. > Edit menu -> Transpose 4) In the window, select the area to be affected by the change or swap. > Click Song, Block, Track, Selected Tracks or Range. 5) If necessary, select the instrument(s) the notes played by which will be affected. > Click All Instrs or Current Instr THEN > If you've chosen Current Instr, select the current instrument. @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_1} 6) Select the two notes involved in the change or swap. For changes, the source note is changed to the destination note. For swaps, it doesn't matter which note is the source or destination. > In the Change Notes area (bottom left), set the Source and @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_gainwi_9} Destination pitch boxes. 7) EITHER Change all Source notes to Destination notes. > Click Change (bottom-left) OR Swap all Source and Destination notes. > Click Swap (bottom-left) @ENDNODE @NODE f1_tranch_3 "Transposing and Changing / How To Change/Swap Notes' Inst. Numbers" @TOC f1_tranch HOW TO CHANGE OR SWAP NOTES' INSTRUMENT NUMBERS STEPS 1) Decide on the area to be affected by the change or swap. Possible areas are the current song/block/track, selected tracks or a marked range. 2) Select this area appropriately. > Select the current song (if there is more than one) OR @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_mu_1-4 49} > Select the current block OR @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} > Move to the current track OR @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} > Select/deselect tracks as necessary OR @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_5 23} > Mark a range @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} 3) Open the Transpose window. > Edit menu -> Transpose 4) In the window, select the area to be affected by the change or swap. > Click Song, Block, Track, Selected Tracks or Range. 5) State the two instruments involved in the change or swap. For changes, notes played by the source instrument are changed to be played by the destination instrument. For swaps, it doesn't matter which instrument is the source or destination. a) Select and state the source instrument. > Select the source instrument @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_1} > Click Source (bottom-right) b) Select and state the destination instrument. > Select the destination instrument @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_1} > Click Destination (bottom-right) 6) Ensure that Instrument Slots is switched off. > If necessary, click Instrument Slots (bottom-right) 7) EITHER Change all Source notes to Destination notes. > Click Change (bottom-left) OR Swap all Source and Destination notes. > Click Swap (bottom-left) NOTES * The Delete button (bottom-right) deletes notes played by the source instrument. * When Instrument Slots is on, actual instruments are affected @{" More " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_3} rather than the notes played by those instruments. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_tranch_4 "Transposing and Changing / How To Change Player Commands" @TOC f1_tranch HOW TO CHANGE PLAYER COMMANDS INTRODUCTION This how-to introduces the powerful Replace Notes window. For a fuller description of this window, we refer you to part 14.1 of the printed manual. STEPS 1) Decide on the area to be affected by the transposition. Possible areas are the current song/block/track, selected tracks or a marked range. 2) Select this area appropriately. > Select a song (if there is more than one) OR @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_mu_1-4 49} > Select a block OR @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} > Move to a track OR @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} > Select/deselect tracks as necessary OR @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_5 23} > Mark a range OR @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} > Move to a particular note @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 3) Open the Replace Notes window. > Edit menu -> Replace Notes 4) Set the source and destination player command. The source command will be changed to the destination command. > Change the player command digits of Source and Destination in @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_gainwi_10} the usual way OR > Move to an example of each player command in the Tracker @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} editor, then click Pick 5) Ensure that the note and instrument number of both Source @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_gainwi_10} and Destination full notes are transparent. In other words, the first five letters/digits of each full note should be xxxxx. This is especially important if you used the Pick method above. 6) Change the player commands in the desired area. > Click Song, Block, Track, Sel. Tracks, Range or Note NOTES * Click Res to reset the full notes to xxxxxxxx. This is the `safest' setting, because all letters/digits are ignored; in other words, no changes are made to any part of the full note. TIPS * A quick way to `undo' the effect of clicking one of the area buttons (Song, Block, etc.) is to swap the source and destination, then click the area button again. To do a swap, click the Swap button between the two full notes. @ENDNODE @REM The Programmable Keys @NODE f1_thprke "Writing a Song / The Programmable Keys" @TOC OctaMED.guide/f1 HOW TO... @{" Define a programmable key " LINK f1_thprke_1} @{" Enter a programmable key " LINK f1_thprke_2} OVERVIEW The programmable keys, or `progkeys', allow music to be entered much more easily and quickly. You can assign notes or groups of notes, including their player commands, to 10 different keys. The assigned notes can then be inserted anywhere in the Tracker editor, by holding down Shift and pressing key 0-9. The real power of progkeys comes through `transparency'. For example, you can set up a progkey to insert a particular player command, but leave the note and instrument number untouched. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_thprke_1 "The Programmable Keys / How To Define a Progkey" @TOC f1_thprke HOW TO DEFINE A PROGRAMMABLE KEY INTRODUCTION There are two methods of defining a progkey. You can enter a note directly into the full note box in the Programmable Keys window. Alternatively, you can `pick' a note or range for the progkey. The note that the Tracker editor cursor is over, a marked range or the copy buffer can all be chosen as the progkey definition. You can define either the main keys Shift-0-9, or the Right Alt definition. A player command can be assigned to the Right Alt key; when Right Alt is held down while entering a note in the Tracker editor, that player command is inserted with the note. STEPS 1) If you intend to `pick' the progkey, ensure that the Tracker editor cursor is over the required note, the required range is @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} marked, or the copy buffer contains the required information. @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} 2) Open the Programmable Keys window. > Settings menu -> Programmable Keys 3) EITHER Select a key 0-9 to define. > Ensure that the top-left cycle gadget is set to Numeric > Move the top-right slider to the desired key number OR Choose to define Right Alt. > Set the top-left cycle gadget to Right Alt 4) EITHER Edit the full note roughly in the middle of the window. @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_gainwi_10} OR Pick the progkey. > Click Note [picks the note under the Tracker editor cursor] OR @{"Sh'cut" LINK PCKS.guide/key_ed} > Click Range [picks the marked range in the Tracker editor] OR > Click Buffer [picks the copy buffer] NOTES * The Clear button resets the current progkey to --- 00000. * Programmable keys can be saved and loaded, using the Save Keys and Load Keys buttons. They may be saved under any name, but if given the default name PROGDIR:Soundstudio.defprogkeys, they will be loaded on startup. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_thprke_2 "The Programmable Keys / How To Enter a Progkey" @TOC f1_thprke HOW TO ENTER A PROGRAMMABLE KEY INTRODUCTION After defining a progkey, it is a simple matter to enter it. To enter programmable key 4, for example, press Shift-4. To enter the Right Alt definition with a note, enter the note with Right Alt held down. STEPS 1) Move to the Tracker editor. 2) Switch Edit mode on. > Main Control window -> Edit button @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 46} 3) EITHER Enter one of the main keys 0 to 9. > Hold down Shift and press 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 (along the top row of keys, not on the numeric keypad) OR Enter a note together with the Right Alt player command. > Hold down Right Alt and enter a note @ENDNODE @REM Other Editing Features @NODE f1_otedfe "Writing a Song / Other Editing Features" @TOC OctaMED.guide/f1 HOW TO... @{" Insert or remove a line " LINK f1_otedfe_1-2 0} @{" Insert or remove a track " LINK f1_otedfe_1-2 17} @{" Highlight lines " LINK f1_otedfe_3} @{" Split a block into two blocks " LINK f1_otedfe_4-5 0} @{" Join two blocks together into one block " LINK f1_otedfe_4-5 24} @{" `Expand' or `shrink' a block " LINK f1_otedfe_6} @{" Spread notes across consecutive tracks " LINK f1_otedfe_7} OVERVIEW While the rearrangement of parts of blocks is an important editing facility, OctaMED provides many more tools to assist you in writing a song. There is a subtle difference between inserting/removing lines and tracks. Inserting a line really does add a new line at the current position, increasing the block's length by one. Inserting a track, however, blanks the current track and moves the following tracks one place to the right, without increasing the number of tracks so that the contents of the rightmost track are overwritten. Similarly for removal. Highlighting Tracker editor lines in bold is useful in marking the `beat' - the music's regular pulse - which is usually every 4 lines. In combination with F6-F10 = Highlights, it is also a way @{" More " LINK f1_tredco_1 24} of marking commonly moved-to lines. OctaMED can split a block in two or join two consecutive blocks into one. `Expanding' a block inserts one or more blank lines after every existing line, all the way down the block, while `shrinking' does the opposite. Finally, the Spread Notes window is useful if you wish to take advantage of a spare track or two. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_otedfe_1-2 "Other Editing Features / Inserting/Removing Lines/Tracks" @TOC f1_otedfe HOW TO INSERT OR REMOVE A LINE INTRODUCTION Unlike the analogous track operation, inserting or removing a line changes the block's length. Insert Line adds a new line at the current position, increasing the block's length by one. Delete Line removes the current line, decreasing the block's length by one. STEPS 1) Move to the appropriate line. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 2) EITHER Insert a new line before the current one. > Block menu -> Insert Line OR Remove the current line. > Block menu -> Delete Line HOW TO INSERT OR REMOVE A TRACK INTRODUCTION Inserting or removing a track does not alter the number of tracks in the block. `Inserting' a track moves the contents of all tracks, from the current track rightwards, one place to the right. The contents of the rightmost track are overwritten. `Removing' a track moves the contents of all tracks to the left of the current track one place to the left. The current track is overwritten. The result of inserting a track is that the current track is empty, while removing a track empties the rightmost track. You can insert/remove a track in just the current block, or (more rarely) throughout the entire song. In the latter case, the same track insertion/removal is applied to all blocks in the song. STEPS 1) Move to the appropriate track. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 2) EITHER `Insert' a new track at the current position. > Track menu -> Insert Empty -> Current Block OR > Track menu -> Insert Empty -> Throughout The Song OR `Remove' the current track. > Track menu -> Delete -> Current Block OR > Track menu -> Delete -> Throughout The Song @ENDNODE @NODE f1_otedfe_3 "Other Editing Features / How To Highlight Lines" @TOC f1_otedfe HOW TO HIGHLIGHT LINES INTRODUCTION Certain Tracker editor lines can be highlighted in bold text. Any line can be highlighted, by moving to it and pressing Tab, but more commonly lines are highlighted in a particular order. For example, highlighting every 4th line often marks the `beat' of the music (every four 16th notes). Use the Highlight Options window to highlight lines in order. STEPS EITHER Highlight a single line. 1) Move to the appropriate line. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 2) Toggle the highlighting on this line. > Press Tab * As usual, the key used to toggle highlighting can be changed. @{" How? " LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_5} (The relevant command is ED_HIGHLIGHTLINE.) OR Highlight lines in a particular order. 1) Open the Highlight Options window. > Block menu -> Highlight Options 2) EITHER Choose one of the preset highlighting spacings. For example, the 4 button highlights every fourth line. > Click 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 16 or 32 OR Enter a custom spacing not given by the eight preset buttons. > Type in a spacing into the Spacing box NOTES * The Clear button removes all highlighting from the current block. * Usually, highlighting starts on the first line (000). To make it start on a different line, enter the line number into Offset before following step 2 above. * Trying to highlight a line which is already highlighted removes the highlighting from the line. So if every 4th line in a block is highlighted, click 4 again to remove all highlighting. (Alternatively, click Clear.) By clicking several preset buttons, weird and wonderful highlightings can be created! @ENDNODE @NODE f1_otedfe_4-5 "Other Editing Features / How To Split And Join Blocks" @TOC f1_otedfe HOW TO SPLIT A BLOCK INTO TWO BLOCKS INTRODUCTION A single block can be split into two consecutive blocks, at any line. For example, block 002 can be split into block 002 and 003, with the split occurring at line 032. In this case, block 002 would contain the first 32 lines (000 to 031), while block 003 would contain the remaining lines (from 032 onwards). STEPS 1) Select the appropriate block. @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} 2) Move to the line at which the split should occur. The second of @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} the two blocks will have this line as its first line. 3) Split the block. > Block menu -> Split At Cursor NOTES * In the example in the introduction, all block 002 playing sequence entries are increased to 003. This may be useful in some cases, but the best course of action is to manually change the sequence. HOW TO JOIN TWO BLOCKS TOGETHER INTO ONE BLOCK INTRODUCTION The reverse of splitting a block, two consecutive blocks can be joined together into one block. For example, blocks 002 and 003 can be joined into one long block 002. STEPS 1) Select the first of the two blocks. @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} 2) Join the two blocks together. > Block menu -> Join With Next NOTES * In the playing sequence, all entries referring to the second of the two blocks are deleted. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_otedfe_6 "Other Editing Features / How To Expand/Shrink Blocks" @TOC f1_otedfe HOW TO `EXPAND' OR `SHRINK' A BLOCK INTRODUCTION Suppose that, somewhere in the block, these notes appear: C-2 10000 E-2 10000 You realise that a D-2 10000 should appear between these notes, but the C-2 and E-2 should be played in the same time as they do currently. What you need to do is insert a new empty line after every line in the block, then insert your D-2 and double the song @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 0} tempo. In effect, this halves the minimum note length available in @{" How? " LINK F3.guide/f3_so_3} the block, and also doubles the number of lines in the block. Expand Block exists for this purpose. OctaMED can insert a fixed number of new empty lines after each existing line in the block. This fixed number, or `factor', is chosen by you. In the example above, the factor should be 2. Expand's opposite number, Shrink Block, removes every nth line, where `n' is the factor. Shrink Block reverses the effect of Expand Block, and can remove unwanted lines if you underestimated the required minimum note length for a particular block. STEPS 1) Select the appropriate block. @{" How? " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blma_3} 2) Open the Expand/Shrink Block window. > Block menu -> Expand/Shrink 3) If necessary, adjust the expansion or shrink factor. > Type a new value into the Factor box. 4) EITHER Expand the block. > Click Expand OR Shrink the block. > Click Shrink NOTES * Factor may be 1 to 99, but the expanded block length must not exceed 3200 lines (the maximum allowed block length), and the shrink factor must be divisible by the number of lines in the block. TIPS * Rhythms that would otherwise require expansion can be created using player commands 0FF1 to 0FF4 and type 1F. Do consider these @{" More " LINK PCKS.guide/c_no} before expanding a block. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_otedfe_7 "Other Editing Features / How To Spread Notes" @TOC f1_otedfe HOW TO SPREAD NOTES ACROSS CONSECUTIVE TRACKS INTRODUCTION The Spread Notes window is used to spread the notes in the current range across several tracks. The number of tracks used for the spread - the `spread width' - can be adjusted. In the following example, assume that there is a range marked over the notes C-2 D-2 E-2 F-2 G-2, and that the spread width is 3. Track 0 1 2 3 Track 0 1 2 3 C-2 --- --- --- C-2 --- --- --- D-2 --- --- --- --- D-2 --- --- E-2 --- --- --- becomes... --- --- E-2 --- F-2 --- --- --- F-2 --- --- --- G-2 --- --- --- --- G-2 --- --- STEPS 1) Mark a range over the appropriate notes, in one track only. @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} 2) Open the Spread Notes window. > Edit menu -> Spread Notes 3) If necessary, change the spread width. > Adjust the Width slider 4) Spread the notes. > Click Spread NOTES * Click Spread with Shift held down to both spread the notes and close the Spread Notes window. * There can be spaces (blank notes) between the notes to be spread. If notes already exist in the consecutive tracks to the right of the range, however, the spread notes replace them. @ENDNODE @REM Player Commands @NODE f1_plco "Writing a Song / Player Commands" @TOC OctaMED.guide/f1 HOW TO... @{" Enter a player command " LINK f1_plco_1} @{" Make a pitch slide " LINK f1_plco_2-3 0} @{" Make a volume or other slide " LINK f1_plco_2-3 32} @{" `Echo' a note throughout a range " LINK f1_plco_4} @{" Set decimal or hexadecimal volumes " LINK f1_plco_5} @{" Set a player command to perform an ARexx function " LINK f1_plco_6} OVERVIEW No doubt you'll have noticed that each track in the Tracker editor is split into two distinct columns. There's a column of note names, and a column of five digits. The first digit on each line is the instrument number; the other four digits are the player command. Player commands add special effects to notes, and ask OctaMED to do certain things. They are divided into two pairs: the command `type' and the command `level'. The type is the sort of special effect or action, while the level controls the effect or action's intensity, depth, speed and so on, depending on the sort of command. For example, in the following full note: C-2 10C32 the player command has type 0C and level 32. As type 0C means `set volume', this player command sets the note's volume level to 32. Type 0C is unique in that its level can be specified in decimal. All other player command types have hexadecimal levels. Indeed, the @{" More " LINK App.guide/app_heva} type numbers themselves are in hexadecimal. Player commands are generally entered one digit at a time, although the programmable keys help, as do automatic slide creators. The often-used 0C command type can echo a note throughout a range, and its command level can be given in decimal or hexadecimal. Finally, the Soundstudio's new facility to perform (or `trigger') ARexx commands through type 2D opens exciting new doors, especially in multimedia presentations! @ENDNODE @NODE f1_plco_1 "Player Commands / How To Enter A Player Command" @TOC f1_plco HOW TO ENTER A PLAYER COMMAND INTRODUCTION The most straightforward way of entering a player command is to enter each digit separately into the track. The how-to describes this method; other methods are described in the notes. A block can have several `command pages', so that each note can be attached to more than one player command. The following example plays note G-2 at volume level 32 with a sample offset of $500 hex: Command page 1: G-2 10C32 Command page 2: G-2 11905 The block in which this note is entered needs at least 2 pages. @{" More " LINK F1b.guide/f1_blnaandi_2} STEPS 1) Ensure that edit mode is on. > Main Control window -> Edit button @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 46} 2) If necessary, select the appropriate command page. > Press Shift-Tab until the command page appears 3) Move to the leftmost player command digit, using the cursor keys. 4) Enter the leftmost digit. 5) Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other three digits. Step 2 will probably involve pressing arrow key then . NOTES * After entering a digit, OctaMED can move the cursor one place to the right for you. Select Keyboard Options window -> Advance Cursor Right. @{"Where?" LINK Qc.guide/w_keop 23} * Programmable keys can take some of the pain out of entering @{" More " LINK f1_thprke} player commands. * To enter an 0F (change tempo) command type, its level being the current Tempo, try clicking Tempo Operations window -> Insert Tempo Change. @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_teop 24} @ENDNODE @NODE f1_plco_2-3 "Player Commands / Pitch, Volume and Generic Slides" @TOC f1_plco HOW TO MAKE A PITCH SLIDE INTRODUCTION Player commands 01, 02 and 03 slide the pitch of a note up and down. Their levels are quite difficult to enter accurately, so OctaMED provides an easier way of making slides using the commands, through the Edit menu's Pitch Slide item. There are two types of pitch slide: Type 1, made with command 03, and Type 2, made with command 01 or 02 (the former slides up, the latter down). The difference is: on reaching the target note, Type 2 replays the target note, while Type 1 doesn't. Type 1 is often the smoother of the two. STEPS 1) Enter the starting note of the slide, in any track. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 0} 2) In the same track, enter the ending (target) note of the slide. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 0} 3) Move to somewhere between the two notes; this is where the pitch @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} slide will start. 4) Choose either type of pitch slide. > Edit menu -> Pitch Slide -> Type 1 (Cmd 3) OR > Edit menu -> Pitch Slide -> Type 2 (Cmd 1/2) NOTES * In Type 2 slides, the slide can start on the starting note; in other words, an acceptable place to move to in step 3 is the starting note of the slide. In Type 1 slides, an acceptable place is the ending note (but not the starting note). HOW TO MAKE A VOLUME OR OTHER SLIDE INTRODUCTION A common use of player command type 0C (set volume) is to fade a note in or out, by entering the command all the way down a track with gradually increasing or decreasing volume levels. This tedious entering can be done automatically with the Volume Slide item. In fact, a slide can be made with any command type. A tempo slide (command 0F) to gradually slow the song down, perhaps? This slide is created with Generic Slide. The two types of slide are made in much the same way. STEPS 1) Choose a player command type to be slid (or 0C for a volume slide), together with a starting and ending command level. 2) Enter the player command type with its starting level, in any @{" How? " LINK f1_plco_1} track. 3) In the same track, enter the type with its ending level. @{" How? " LINK f1_plco_1} 4) Move to somewhere between the two player commands. Unlike with pitch slides, it doesn't matter exactly where you move to. 5) EITHER Make a volume slide (type 0C), respecting decimal volume levels if appropriate. > Edit menu -> Volume Slide OR Make a slide of any type. The levels are always hexadecimal. > Edit menu -> Generic Slide NOTES * If a player command type expects a signed hexadecimal level, @{" More " LINK App.guide/app_heva} Generic Slide makes a signed hexadecimal slide. It also handles Mix mode's stereo separation slides properly. Also, some player commands take each level digit separately as different values. For example, type 04 (vibrato) the 1st command level digit represents speed, the 2nd depth. These commands have their level digits slid independently of each other, so that (here) the vibrato speed and depth can be slid in one go. Basically, Generic Slide works with each player command type in a way in which you'd expect. TIPS * One use of Generic Slide is to repeat a single player command throughout a track. Just make the starting and ending levels identical. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_plco_4 "Player Commands / How To Make A Note Echo" @TOC f1_plco HOW TO `ECHO' A NOTE THROUGHOUT A RANGE INTRODUCTION The Note Echo window takes a single note, and a marked range, and echoes that note throughout the range using player command type 0C. The volume is always halved with each echo, although the starting volume may be set. The distance in lines between each echo and the minimum echo volume are also variable. STEPS 1) Enter a starting note on any track. If the note's starting @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_2-3 0} volume should be different from its instrument's usual volume, @{" More " LINK F3.guide/f3_in_6} also enter an 0C player command type with a suitable level. @{" How? " LINK f1_plco_1} 2) Mark a range from the starting note to the end of the echo. @{" How? " LINK f1_maara} (The echo may not necessarily extend all the way down the range). Edit menu -> Range Current Track is useful here. 3) Open the Note Echo window. > Edit menu -> Note Echo (right at the bottom) 4) If necessary, change the echo distance (e.g. 4 echoes every 4th line) and minimum volume (the lowest volume level allowed in an echo). > Type a new value into Distance THEN > Type a new value into Minimum Volume 5) Create the echo. > Click Do Echo NOTES * In step 5, click Do Echo with Shift held down to make the echo and close the window. * Echoed notes are only placed in empty note positions throughout the marked range. * The range can span over one track, though this is rarely needed. In that case, ensure that there's a starting note on each track. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_plco_5 "Player Commands / How To Set Decimal Or Hexadecimal Volumes" @TOC f1_plco HOW TO SET DECIMAL OR HEXADECIMAL VOLUMES INTRODUCTION Well, if you're obsessed with thinking like a computer, love the 16 times table, and wouldn't recognise sense if it beat you to a pulp, you can even sacrifice the gift of one, just one, player command that uses a decimal command level and use hex levels with type 0C! Actually, using hex volumes can be handy if you often set the volume to a quarter, half or three-quarters of full volume. These levels in decimal are 16, 32 and 48; in hex, $10, $20 and $30. Perhaps the latter looks slightly neater. Whether OctaMED should read type 0C (set volume) levels in decimal or hexadecimal is set in the Set Options window. To save you going through your song painstakingly changing each decimal 0C level to hex (or vice-versa), OctaMED can convert levels for you. Finally, hexadecimal volume levels can set to be the default. STEPS 1) Open the Song Options window. > Song menu -> Set Options 2) Tell OctaMED whether the levels used with player command type 0C are in decimal or hexadecimal. > Set the cycle gadget under Other Options to Decimal Volumes or Hex Volumes 3) If necessary, convert existing volume levels of one type (decimal or hex) to the other type. > Click Convert THEN > Click Dec->Hex or Hex->Dec in the requester 4) If you wish, set hex volume levels to be the default. > Click Exit in the Song Options window > Settings menu -> Miscellaneous Options > Change Default Volume Mode from Decimal to Hex > Settings menu -> Save Settings [if required] @{" More " LINK F4.guide/f4_se_2} NOTES * Just for the record, my volumes are set in hex. I possibly qualify in all three areas mentioned in the introduction ;-) @ENDNODE @NODE f1_plco_6 "Player Commands / How To Set A Player Command To Do An ARexx Thing" @TOC f1_plco HOW TO SET A PLAYER COMMAND TO PERFORM AN AREXX FUNCTION INTRODUCTION Using the ARexx Trigger Setup window, OctaMED's ARexx commands can be executed while playing a song, by assigning a player command to an ARexx command. As in the Keyboard Shortcuts window and Input Map @{" More " LINK F5.guide/f5_usthke_3} Editor, ARexx scripts, other programs' ARexx commands, and even @{" More " LINK F6.guide/f6_wramiso_4} whole programs can all be executed by a single player command. The facility to execute other programs' ARexx commands from precise points within your song is potentially very powerful. In a multimedia presentation, for example, certain graphics created by another program could be synchronised with sound effects. The player command type that executes ARexx commands is 2D. 255 different ARexx commands can be assigned, as there are 255 possible command levels with type 2D ($01 to $FF), excluding level $00. STEPS 1) Dream up a great ARexx command (of OctaMED or another program), ARexx script or program to be executed by a player command. 2) Open the ARexx Trigger Setup window. > Display menu -> ARexx Trigger Setup 3) Select the appropriate player command, from 2D01 to 2DFF. > Move the slider at the top of the window * Let go of the slider knob to see the action currently assigned to that player command, if any. 4) Assign an action to that player command in the Action area. @{" How? " LINK F7.guide/f7_arfe_1} NOTES * Clear Current removes the action from the selected player command. Clear All removes the actions of all player commands. @ENDNODE @REMARK Real-Time Recording @NODE f1_rere "Writing a Song / Real-Time Recording" @TOC OctaMED.guide/f1 HOW TO... @{" Record in `real-time' " LINK f1_rere_1} OVERVIEW Real-time recording is a fancy name for entering notes while the block is playing. In this way, you can compose music as you go along, `in time'. For example, if you already have a rhythm track in a block, you could use real-time recording to add a melody quickly. When you've finished, you can stop the block and correct any mistakes you've made. OctaMED provides a couple of features to aid real-time recording. The most useful is the ability to reduce the song speed temporarily by a third or a half. @ENDNODE @NODE f1_rere_1 "Real-Time Recording / How To Record in `Real-Time'" @TOC f1_rere HOW TO RECORD IN `REAL-TIME' STEPS 1) Move the cursor to the track where notes should be entered. @{" How? " LINK f1_tredco_1} 2) Select the required instrument. @{" How? " LINK F2a.guide/f2_inma_1} 3) Select the required keyboard octave range. > Set Main Control window -> Oct cycle gadget appropriately OR @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 61} > Press F1 to F5 @{" More " LINK PCKS.guide/key_ot 15} 4) Ensure that Edit mode is on. > Switch on Main Control window -> Edit @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_maco 46} 5) Move to a few lines before the place where the first note will be entered, to give you a bit of introduction. * To enter notes from the start of the block, try pressing F9 to move to three-quarters of the way down the block. 6) Click Cont Block, and start entering notes in time to the music. NOTES * For those times when the music moves along too quickly to enter notes accurately, OctaMED provides a quick way of reducing the speed by a third or a half. Use the middle cycle gadget in the Tempo window. NRM plays at normal speed, while 2/3 and 1/2 play @{"Where?" LINK Qa.guide/w_te 14} at two-thirds and half the normal speed. * If you're quick off the mark, you might try the Delay feature. On clicking Main Control window -> D button (left of STOP), OctaMED waits for a note to be entered before continuing the block. TIPS * To ensure that your notes are entered in time, try creating a drum beat in an unused track. Just a bass drum every fourth line will do fine. * Real-time recording is especially useful with MIDI. Step 3 above is not required. You could write an ARexx script to set up real- @{" How? " LINK F7.guide/f7_artu} time recording with MIDI, then use the Input Map Editor to @{" How? " LINK F6.guide/f6_wramiso_4} execute this script without leaving your MIDI keyboard. @ENDNODE