RapidComposer v5 beta feedback and discussion

[lulukom]

I like that Attila hasn't been letting through any posts lately, even old ones with suggestions!!! ))

[musicdevelopments]

RapidComposer v5.4b4 is available!

In this update you'll find the new non-destructive "re-structure" feature (press 'E' anywhere), as well as bug fixes.

Improvements:

• 'Set up structure' menu item added in the structure inspector and to master track inspector (with global keyboard shortcut: 'E')
• 'Export phrases as MIDI' added to track inspector
• When dragging selected phrases as MIDI, the file name is set based on the first phrase, as well as the title and track name will set to the same name
• When dragging a track as MIDI, the title in the MIDI file will be set to the track name
• Fixed "Split Phrases" and "Render Phrases With Variations" when track transposition was used

[sj1]

'Set up structure' menu item added in the structure inspector and to master track inspector (with global keyboard shortcut: 'E')

Very, very nice! Special shout-out to the 'Intro bars' setting!

From this point, there are some powerful things not very far away. Suggestions to follow.

[sj1]

Background - The big picture is to "complete the circle" on this recently enabled workflow:

Snag_4ef7407.png

Assuming we have a set of short chord progressions (as shown) then we can now generate .mid file chord chunks, which I will call Atomic Chord Progressions (ATPs), for use anywhere. This is huge!

What do I mean by "complete the circle"? Well, where do those short chord progressions come from? We have some already available by default, but how about being able to create an effectively infinite number of them simply and nearly instantly? That's where I'm going with this.

Now consider how this latest beta let's us go from this:

Snag_4f54c10.png

to this:

Snag_4f5881f.png

We are on our way!

Now we need two more things:

1. Divide that long phrase according to the structure. (As shown, it would become 9 phrases)

2. Name the new, short, phrases (choice of literal or Roman numeral names) to create a result that resembles the topmost picture here.

The 9 phrases are our new ATPs. We can (already) drag them out to .mid files and accumulate them and use them anywhere. (Fantastic!)

The huge gain is from using, for example, the 1460 Jazz Progressions as source material for this. (Other sources are of course possible.)

Snag_5065e2e.png

This way we can create "all" (well, a very substantial subset!) of the ATPs as used across an entire genre of music for using in looping, cycling, composing, etc.

The path described above goes "external" via .mid files.

A slightly different path would take the structural parts or lines (e.g. the 9 lines in the pics above), do the chordal analysis for the sake of names, and and let us deposit the results in a group in the Progression Browser. Now we are back to short progressions in the Progression Browser, where the discussion started. Circle complete!

[musicdevelopments]

I like that Attila hasn't been letting through any posts lately, even old ones with suggestions!!! ))

Thanks, lulukom!
Even if I cannot read the forum every day, when I do, I go back and read every single post, because your feedback is important. And your help with reporting bugs is amazing! If I don't reply that means I added the request to my to-do list (like marking favorite phrases with a heart or star...).

Thanks!
Attila

[lulukom]

Thanks Attila. When I wrote

instantly transform the master track chords from triads into 7/9/11/13 types of chords and vice versa from any type to any./quote]

I wasn't even thinking about

I was thinking of some master track chords processing

Indeed, it is possible to make a whole processor or something like variations for progressions in the master track.
I also think it would be right to make an optional "OK/Cancel" dialog box for the following cases: 1. Link replacement of progressions from the browser 2. Link replacement of phrases from the browser. This should work (as it is done in IZKeys 2)
When I select a progression in the browser with the link enabled, the progression is replaced and then the OK/Cancel dialog box appears and if I like the result, then I choose OK.

[lulukom]

Yes, I forgot to write that I would really like to have the "OK/Cancel" dialog for selecting scales in the "Possible scales" menu. Or maybe OK is not needed, but only CANCEL is needed? )) And it doesn’t work and it’s not convenient to use the system cancel (Command + Z)

[lulukom]

I tried to install beta 5.4 b4, but after several attempts I still have 5.4.b3. I even tried to delete the standalone version and plugins, then install b4 again and still have b3. Why? Thanks.

[musicdevelopments]

I am so sorry, I have no idea how this happened! An older version was built, not the one with the latest files. I deleted the macOS beta installer, and will post a note when beta4 is available for download for macOS in about 30 minutes.
Thanks for the notification, lulukom!
Attila

[musicdevelopments]

beta4 has been re-uploaded for macOS.

[lulukom]

Thanks Attila. Now everything is set. Except... I have an incredibly widely stretched program horizontally (for 3-4 screens) and if the vertical can be adjusted, then horizontal adjustment is impossible. If you need it, I can send a shortcut. Thank you.

[musicdevelopments]

Yes, please send me a screenshot. Although I won't be able to re-create such a wide screen.

[lulukom]

The browser itself is stretched, everything works, the browser turns on/off, and it itself is of normal size, but behind it on the right is a huge empty space that ends also normally even with the browser shutdown icon. I don't know how to make such a screenshot. There will probably be several of them. I'll try now.

[lulukom]

Well, that's how it is .
View screenshots from bottom to top

[musicdevelopments]

Now we need two more things:

1. Divide that long phrase according to the structure. (As shown, it would become 9 phrases)

This was added today with keyboard shortcut:



This works in all tracks or in the selected track only. A time selection on the timeline can be used.

2. Name the new, short, phrases (choice of literal or Roman numeral names) to create a result that resembles the topmost picture here.

Super flexible renaming of selected phrases has been implemented. You can use different tokens in the phrase name:



I hope you'll like it.

Thanks,
Attila