FR: Linear Chaining Sequence Mode

[spuddle]

At the request of ohm to post ideas in their own thread, I give you:

Linear Chaining Sequence Mode

In this mode, there would be the possibility to click inbetween two arrangements and a little 'chain' icon would appear indicating those two arrangements are now tied together in linear time. This means that when you start the first arrangement (C1) playing, it would reach the end of that arrangement and then immediately switch to the next chained arrangement (C#1) and then after finishing the second arrangement, play back would jump straight back to the first arrangement (C1).

If you wanted to extend the chain, then you would just click inbetween arrangement C#1 and D1. Thus giving you a 3-arrangement chain of "C1>C#1>D1" that cycles upon reaching D1.

As extra functions, you could have a little number appear to the above right of each arrangement which you can drag up or down to set how many measures the play back is held on that arrangement before progressing to the next chained one.

Also to consider: Different icon for different types of chaining. E.g. As well as a standard linear chain, there could be a "change direction" chain, or a "jump to.." chain.

A last thing that would be nice is to have 3 seperate cycles (one for each line of chains you have on arrangement window at the moment (C1-G1, G#1-D#2, E2-B2), these can play back in 3 (maybe expand if can increase number of arrangements in the window?) polyphonic layers. Or there is the possibilty of just using all of them in one lengthy sequence.

Because diagrams explain more than in words:



Red sequence will cycle between it's '[' ']' start/end points. Note the 2 measures for 'C#1'.

Green Sequence cycles also betwen '[' and ']', however it runs at the same time as the red sequence and will start when the host sequencer 'play' button is hit.

I am aware this would take a long time to implement so am not too concerned if it doesn't come around for a while. It could make a nice 'big feature' for a bigger release perhaps?

[-{n8}-]

This idea has a lot of potential. Here is my spin on spuddle's suggestion..

Implementing it into the current interface would only require a few square number buttons (colored and assigned to each linear sequence) beside the current "play" button positioned over the arrangements section. I imagine that once you press the number, you will activate that linear sequence. But more than simply a play button, by activating a particular linear number your mouse could then be used to trace out the sequence with a click of any arrangement blocks. Each selected white arrangement block would then be filled in with a color, which corresponds to the color of the active linear number button (as displayed in the diagram above). It would be also useful to assign numbers 1-9 as keyboard shortcuts to activate each linear sequence manually without the mouse.

In regards to midi, I think it would still be useful to trigger the arrangements as normal but there could be an interesting twist in how the linear sequence responds. I have thought of two response scenarios where an arrangement is triggered during linear sequence playback. In one playback mode, if an arrangement is triggered either before or after its place in the linear sequence pattern, the one arrangement will play in loop mode as long as the note is held down .. but once released the linear sequence starts from the position it would have naturally arrived at had it not been interrupted. In the second playback mode, when an arrangement is triggered out of its position in the linear sequence, the playback will resume from the arrangement position that was triggered. This would allow for some interesting variation possibilities.

Just some additional thoughts,
1-0ne

[spuddle]

I like your ideas!