RapidComposer v4 beta feedback and discussion (locked)

[BluGenes]

I'm considering switching to the beta version of RC (a little instability is OK with me), but I'm unsure what's been added since the 4.2.2 release. Is it worth doing?

Totally up to you, of course. The beta will always have something new, untested. Right now, there is loop regeneration of phrases, midi drop onto the Markov melody generator and a few fixes.

The loop stuff needs more work and there is probably more to come with the Markov generator as well.

You can _almost_ run both versions. I say almost, because the VST's will be installed into the correct directories, so, which ever version you install last, will have those installed as VST.

Just install the beta into a new location and use the production version in it's default install location.

Both will share the DB folder for the phrases, etc.

I always install the beta AFTER installing the production version so I can test the VST stuff.

You could manually set new VST locations, but, that means fixing all your DAWS with that location. I don't bother myself..

If a beta is so bad with crashes, I just roll back a version till the fixes come out. Just be sure and post anything that is bug, think is a bug, etc. or suggest better ways of using what's there..

[BluGenes]

Is there a settings parameter which globally scales the UI (font, graphical elements)? I personally find RCs UI to be overall too large, other may find it too small. In general proportions seem OK. A global settings parameter which simply scales the size without changing the proportions seems very helpful.

Setting -> User Interface -> Font

Thx, I am aware of this setting.
But it changes the proportions.

Ok, well, think that's all there is at the moment.. I think he was working on this too..

[Wabashprof]

Totally up to you, of course. The beta will always have something new, untested. Right now, there is loop regeneration of phrases, midi drop onto the Markov melody generator and a few fixes.

The loop stuff needs more work and there is probably more to come with the Markov generator as well.

You can _almost_ run both versions. I say almost, because the VST's will be installed into the correct directories, so, which ever version you install last, will have those installed as VST.

Just install the beta into a new location and use the production version in it's default install location.

Both will share the DB folder for the phrases, etc.

I always install the beta AFTER installing the production version so I can test the VST stuff.

You could manually set new VST locations, but, that means fixing all your DAWS with that location. I don't bother myself..

If a beta is so bad with crashes, I just roll back a version till the fixes come out. Just be sure and post anything that is bug, think is a bug, etc. or suggest better ways of using what's there..
 

This is very helpful! I wasn't aware that I could run both versions. Thanks for the clear instructions on how to do so.

[musicdevelopments]

BluGenes is right, I could not give better advice.
The sizes of UI elements are proportional to the font size, so the whole UI size depends on the font size.
There are some/very few places where this is not true.
Will you show me where you found that it changes proportions, so that it is disturbing? I'll try to fix these.

Thanks,
Attila

Is there a settings parameter which globally scales the UI (font, graphical elements)? I personally find RCs UI to be overall too large, other may find it too small. In general proportions seem OK. A global settings parameter which simply scales the size without changing the proportions seems very helpful.

Setting -> User Interface -> Font

Thx, I am aware of this setting.
But it changes the proportions.

[musicdevelopments]

RapidComposer v4.3b5 is available!

Improvements:

• Ctrl-drag the "Master Track" label to drag chords as a MIDI file (timeline selection, or all when there is no selection). Use Ctrl-Shift-drag for voice leading.
• Phrase variations: 'Remove' and 'Remove All' work for all selected phrases
• Phrase variations: setting a parameter works for all selected phrases
• Shortcut added for showing/hiding the browser (unassigned by default)
• Fix negative note handling when 'ignore non-existent chord note' is set (bug when applying Mirror Vertically on a Chord Generator)

[musicdevelopments]

Interesting discussion! These all could be implemented in 2-3 days.
As Mike suggested an 'R' button (or 'lightbulb' as used in the idea tool for the same purpose) could be added to phrases. Clicking would include/exclude the phrase from regeneration, right clicking would open a menu to select when you want to regenerate it.

The current loop option 'Regenerate all selected phrases at the end of the loop' will be removed because it is not needed anymore.

Thanks!
Attila

I've been using the "regeneration on loop" feature and it's another hugely powerful feature (It allows RC to produce generative music):

Just wondering if the phrases can be tagged individually for regeneration rather than the global setting currently (or as well as). This way phrases across multiple tracks could be regenerated.
Anyway, if anyone could have a look at the vid and give some feedback (on the idea of multiple track generation), that'd be great.
Cheers.

Good video demonstration Mykyndryd, and good music from RC!

Clearly Regenerative Music is a major, fruitful area for further expansion.

Mutliple arbitrary (across tracks) phrase selection for regeneration (e.g. via a flag on the phrase as the video suggests) is a clear and powerful next step. I'll call this "static regeneration management". Why? To contrast it with ...

"Dynamic regeneration management", which could include things like:

1. Sequential or round-robin regeneration of designated phrases.
2. Random (sparse) regeneration of designated phrases.
3. Periodic regeneration of designated phrases. (i.e. every 2nd loop, every 3rd loop etc.)
4. Alternating regeneration of designated phrases (i.e. set A regen on odd loops, set B regen on even loops)

etc.

The field is wide open.

Personally, I'd love to see RC develop in this direction.

[BluGenes]

• Ctrl-drag the "Master Track" label to drag chords as a MIDI file (timeline selection, or all when there is no selection). Use Ctrl-Shift-drag for voice leading.

oh my.. the ease at which you can now populate EZkeys with just the chords.. lol

[sj1]

As Mike suggested an 'R' button (or 'lightbulb' as used in the idea tool for the same purpose) could be added to phrases. Clicking would include/exclude the phrase from regeneration, right clicking would open a menu to select when you want to regenerate it.

The current loop option 'Regenerate all selected phrases at the end of the loop' will be removed because it is not needed anymore.

Wonderful that these ideas are being viewed favorably!

I'd like to suggest some management options for the multiple selected 'R' phrases:

1. Ignore 'R' phrases (the 'R' is still set, but not acted on)
2. Activate 'R' phrases (opposite of ignore)
3. Clear 'R' phrases (clears all 'R' settings in all phrases, IOW a true new blank slate)
4. Restore last set of 'R' phrases (restores them from memory)

re: 1 & 2 -

The point is that if you have 'R's set all over the place, having to hunt them all down to disable them (maybe only temporarily) is potentially time consuming and error-prone. So just being able to say "stop all regeneration" when you want to without losing the selections is desirable.

But next, you might want to restart/restore the regeneration after having disabled it.

re: 3 & 4 -

#3 is the true "Start over fresh".
#4 is what you need when you do #3 by mistake! It's also the most complicated one, I think. So, it may be a number too far!

[sj1]

• Ctrl-drag the "Master Track" label to drag chords as a MIDI file (timeline selection, or all when there is no selection). Use Ctrl-Shift-drag for voice leading.

oh my.. the ease at which you can now populate EZkeys with just the chords.. lol

Likewise for Live and Bitwig!

[lovemusic15]

... and maybe a phrase reharmonize flag so that the regeneration can trigger a change in chords so it doesn't get too samey.

.. and whilst I've got my shopping list open:

- "Learn" function on other generators e.g. Generic etc.
- Manual rhythm "re-hash" so a supplied rhythm can be "anagrammed" as well as rotated (could be a variation like splice but for rhythm or an option on the splice variation).



100% WE NEED THIS .

[lulukom]

In addition to being able to drag and drop chords within the master track, I would really like to have a shortcut to immediately open the "Enter Chords from Midi Keyboard" window. And even better if this window is a separate window or even in the browser. And by the way, what does the "Open inspectors in a separate window" checkbox mean (Settings / Miscellaneous / Inspectors and browsers), if the inspectors always open as a separate window))

[lulukom]

And yes, Attila, please add a checkbox to enable / disable audio preview in the "Enter chords from midi keyboard" window. Now, when the keyboard icon is pressed in the head master track, the audio preview track master in this window does not work. And I really want to hear chords when I rewrite them from the midi keyboard on the master track. Thanks .

[lulukom]

Crash . When you save the selected chords the master track is as a progression.

[BluGenes]

hey Atilla, sent you a PM last week..

[sj1]

• Ctrl-drag the "Master Track" label to drag chords as a MIDI file (timeline selection, or all when there is no selection). Use Ctrl-Shift-drag for voice leading.

Hi,

Where do the octave and channel of these dragged Master Track chords come from?

I need to set these for a good ready-to-go matchup with my destination.