RapidComposer v4 beta feedback and discussion (locked)

[lulukom]

Hello Attila! Happy New Year !

Using sliders in the track header updates the same slider in the track inspector

From the Inspector to the head of the track it works, on the contrary - it does not work

[AxBC]

Hello Attila! Happy New Year!

Just want to double check and clarify. I currently have RapidComposer-4.03 installed. Does RapidComposer-4.1b2 replace v4.03?
Should I create a separate new installation for v4.1b2?

Thanks!

[lulukom]

You can put 4.1b2 right away. I did so yesterday)

[sj1]

Hi,

Consider the following picture of 3 drag-ins of the same MIDI file.

RC - Abs Scale Chord 01.jpg

First phrase has the absolute notes from the file.
2nd is a conversion to Scale Relative.
3rd is a conversion to Chord Relative.

Now observe the results of putting the phrases to the Master Track and compare the resultant chords to the stated chords in the title of the MIDI file.

1. The stated chords in the title of the MIDI file seem to make more sense than what RC came up with. Could/should the RC analysis be tweaked to better deal with this situation or others like it?

2. Given the composition as shown, what would be the correct way to proceed if the user's goal is to have the Master Track chords be i VII I V while having the phrase(s) still play back exactly as per the MIDI file (because it's actually a nicely voiced progression)?

[BluGenes]

just wondering why are you using a major scale for a minor progression?

[sj1]

just wondering why are you using a major scale for a minor progression?

That's my oversight. Good eye BluGenes!

Redid the setup to get this:

RC - Abs Scale Chord 02.jpg

which is different, and better I'd say (!).

Still though, I wonder why the third chord, which does analyze as a slash chord, doesn't analyze as the I chord (which it clearly is) over an altered bass note (Ab).

And I would also tend to hope that the fourth chord, with the 1, 3, and b7 of V7 being present, would analyze as the altered dominant (V7#5#9) that it clearly is.

Though my observations are hardly comprehensive, it seems to me that RC analysis is "aware" of classical harmony but not so aware of modern or jazz harmony.

Things that occur to me for possible future implementation:

1. Having new choices for analysis (in it's multiple places, incl. 'Convert to Relative Form' for phrases) to include a specific 'Use Jazz Harmony' choice.

2. Having an analyzed chord object carry with it alternate analyses (alternate symbology) that could be chosen instead by the user on a chord-by-chord basis.

3. A 'Prefer Altered Dominants' switch for analysis. The idea here is that such would have definitely gone with V7#5#9 for the fourth chord.

[lulukom]

it seems to me that RC analysis is "aware" of classical harmony but not so aware of modern or jazz harmony.

+1

[BluGenes]

Also note that it all depends on your choice of chord rules as well. Be sure to set a correct rule definition, or define one your self.

[sj1]

Also note that it all depends on your choice of chord rules as well. Be sure to set a correct rule definition, or define one your self.

I see that certainly if, for example, the user is using Dice to create chords in the Master Track w/o relation to phrases that might or might not be present in the composition along the same section of the timeline.

I would not have thought the Chord Rules were implicated when doing a Convert to Relative Form on an Absolute phrase along with 'Replace Master Track Chords'.

RC - Convert to Relative 02.jpg

Are the input notes in the phrase and the Chord Rules melded together in this case? (or not)

If so, what's the algorithm for such melding like?

Offhand, I'd think a Convert to Relative Form on an Absolute phrase along with 'Replace Master Track Chords' would be going strictly by the notes present in the phrase. (And if this is not possible, I suggest it would be a helpful option to have.)

[sj1]

In the Melody Editor, I suggest:

1. A playback option which causes playback to restart from the beginning immediately upon the user clicking Generate or Mutate (Lightning or Dice).

2. The new chord following feature is Great! I suggest having selected chords from the Master Track come into the Melody Editor when it is opened. You could still default to Chord Track disabled, but when enabled by the user, there they would be. (Of course, if no master track chords are selected, then nothing would come in.)

3. Being able to select Progressions from the Progression browser for the Melody Editor would be nice.

[lulukom]

+++1 !!!

[lulukom]

Hello Attila! Please speed up the addition of the phrase converter to the Percussion Generator! Thank you !

[sj1]

Hi,

Scenario: You select a portion of the Master Track. The Dice and Pencil icons pop-up ready to use. Perfect! Then you click away to a Phrase or whatever. The MT remains selected as previously selected. Good!

However, it seems to be necessary to destroy and then remake the MT selection in order to get the Dice and Pencil back.

I would like to be able to come back to the MT, as previously selected, and continue with the Dice and Pencil. Exactly how, I'm not sure.

Currently, neither a right-click nor a left-click on the MT lets me do this, and I don't see a keystroke shortcut for popping up the Dice and Pencil.

So, perhaps some sort of alternate click on the MT in order to leave it as previously selected but re-invoke the D & P? Or else a an available keystroke shortcut to re-invoke the D & P?

If I have missed a way this can currently be done, please advise. Thanks!

[BluGenes]

Is it possible that you could add a label somewhere next to the empty space in the track header that could show what CC key is being played? Something that could be turned on and off with a check box .. This would be a very very fast way of figuring out an instrument piano key range by clicking the keyboard of the VST (or whatever instrument).

Example would be, I have a violin VST in Kontact that has a limited piano keyboard range. Kontact doesn't show the values of those keys, so, by clicking on the lowest playable key in Kontact, it sends that note to RC. So, in RC, it would be nice to see what that value is so I could adjust maybe the envelope range for that track.

Even nicer would be a quick wizard to set that range. wizard would ask for the lowest note, then the highest note, then set the envelope based on that. This could also be reused for keyswitch articulations. (kind of the idea I was working on for my utility before I gave up on it.)

The track header label idea would be great place to start, then you could add functionality to that later..

[musicdevelopments]

RapidComposer v4.1b3 is available!

Thanks for the excellent suggestions!

Improvements:

• Chords can be on 'beat' boundaries by default which is the denominator of the signature. No need to enable 'Use Snap For Chord Positions' anymore.
• Vector graphics is used for the buttons in the track header so they will look good with big font sizes
• Idea Tool UI layout fixed/improved when used with big font sizes
• Fixed a MIDI dragging issue when the same file was dragged with different contents, RC cached the first MIDI file
• Fixed possible crash because of a race condition
• Fixed a small issue with the chord progression rule menu
• Other stability improvements