Question about phrase preview

[tonedef71]

In the screenshot above, I have a generator preset selected (notice the "Regenerate" button present). Regardless of which of the playback buttons circled in red that I press, I hear the exact same phrase played back by RC.

So, what should the playback behavior be for each of the following when selected in the phrase browser?:
1) a generator preset
2) a rendered phrase consisting of all relative notes
3) a rendered phrase consisting of all absolute notes
4) a rendered phrase that is a mixture of relative and absolute notes

My personal opinion is that the playback should be fairly consistent:

e.g. RC could make a copy of the selected phrase in memory; convert it to the absolute chord notes based on the settings of the selected transposition and selected chord scale degree (or key/harmony, if scale degrees is unchecked); and then play the converted phrase; the phrase would need to be re-converted to memory every time the user selects a different chord and/or transposition.

[musicdevelopments]

Good question. The short answer is that the playback buttons circled in red changes the preview chord, which won't have an effect if the phrase consists of only scale notes.
Similarly when a phrase has chord notes only, clicking on the bottom (scale) notes will have no effect.

Both a scale and a chord must be supplied to the phrase so that it can render itself. It depends on the note kind, if it is relative to a scale note or a chord note.

The colors reflect the note kind (chord note: green, scale note: blue, absolute note: orange) although the color sometimes cannot be seen when the note is too narrow (less than 3 pixels). This has to be fixed.

1) a generator preset
2) a rendered phrase consisting of all relative notes

In these cases both the scale and chord will be used. For a 'scale' note only the scale is used for calculating the final MIDI note, for a 'chord' note only the chord is used, but when a note is expressed as Nth chord note+X scale steps, both are needed.

3) a rendered phrase consisting of all absolute notes

The phrase will sound the same, no matter which preview button you press.

4) a rendered phrase that is a mixture of relative and absolute notes

Relative notes are adjusted to the preview chord and scale, but absolute notes remain the same.

e.g. RC could make a copy of the selected phrase in memory; convert it to the absolute chord notes based on the settings of the selected transposition and selected chord scale degree

Yes, but this is how it works now

Thanks,
Attila

[tonedef71]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I am still wrapping my head around it, but it sounds logical. Is it possible/sensible to disable buttons that make no difference to the playback? Or alternatively, color the buttons that are relevant to altering the playback to a different color (e.g. green)?

Also, for those times when the "edit" button is available, would it be possible after clicking the Edit button to have the version of the phrase being played back to be what appears in the phrase editor, instead of the original phrase. Very often, one wants to work from the phrase he/she just listened to. Perhaps two "Edit ..." buttons would be more appropriate: one button to edit the version being previewed, and one button to edit the original phrase.

One button to edit them all...

No, Sauron, you stay out of this; I am sure there are more suitable matters that you could focus your eye on.