RapidComposer v5 beta feedback and discussion

[tommyzai]

I've been out of the loops for a while, but excited to be back. Wow! RapidComposer is really developing into a beast. I can't wait to check out what I've missed and patiently await the new stuff.

[lulukom]

deleted

[lulukom]

Can anyone tell me how to search and possibly group phrases in the browser by tags?

[lulukom]

Hello. I have a request for new features. Now, when looking vertically at phrases in all tracks, one chord and one scale act on the master track. Regarding the use of chords from the master track, we talked with Attila that a second master track might appear. But what if I want the bass to play on one scale and the melody to play on another scale, if all phrases are subject to the scale set in the master track? Yes, of course, I can set a different scale in the phrase inspector in the Chord tab, but then I would like to have the option "Collect scales for the selected chord" in this same tab. Further, there are several ideas on the topic of the influence of one track on another. The first is, of course, the influence of one track on another by velocity, since the adjustable side chain compressor works. For example, a kick drum suppresses the bass track in those notes that match in positions. In this way, many tracks can be well aligned in sound.
Next, I suggest making automation... I think everything is clear with the automation of midi controllers (as in all DAWs). But what if we automate Variations? Now they are static for the entire length of the phrase, and if it is possible to draw with a pencil the curves of the effect of Variations on the phrase, then this will revive the phrase and give it movement and life). Thank you.

[musicdevelopments]

RapidComposer v5.5b2 is available!

Something creative to play with during the holiday season... This update will let you use a rhythm from any other track. This feature introduces new compositional capabilities to RapidComposer.

For phrase generators you can select "Follow Track" from the rhythm menu. Use the non-destructive rhythm processing to slightly change the 'source' rhythm, increase or decrease the number of notes (Break Notes, Join Notes), or just slightly offset a few notes. It is possible to 'sample' a few beats or bars from the rhythm track, and use it as repeated.

For normal phrases you can add the new "Rhythm Mapper From Track" variation.

If the rhythm track changes, the rhythm is automatically updated in phrases using the rhythm track. I did my best to test this, feel free to report bugs.

I wish all of you Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays, and thanks for your suggestions and contributions that you provided me.

Improvements:

• New rhythm generator: 'Follow Track' to use another track as the rhythm track. This can be used in phrase generators to set up the rhythm.
• New variation: 'Rhythm Mapper From Track' to map the rhythm of another track to the current track. This can be added to any phrase, not just generators.
• Pitch bend sensitivity setting added for soundfonts in the track inspector
• 56 soundfont channels can be used
• Melody Editor: alternative scales can be selected after importing without modifying the imported notes
• Melody Editor: fixed: the notes are centered after dropping a MIDI file

[foster911]

Is it possible to add notation to RC?
RC in midi side is superb and notation support can make it perfect. Almost all tools have this feature and notation in RC will remove the needs to switch between RC and other tools.
Thanks!

[sj1]

Is it possible to add notation to RC?

Offhand, I think that's the hugest ask for RC I've ever seen here!

I say this because teams of very good developers work for years and years to produce high-end notation-oriented software programs - and the cost of licensing them reflects that too.

To add notation to RC I think would be a fundamental alteration in the nature and scope of the product. Better, I think, for RC to be very robust wrt. exporting capabilities, even to the point of perhaps accommodating some idiosyncratic specifics/options (if necessary) to make sure the exported MIDI or XML imports nicely into specific notation programs for the purposes of notation display and printing.

IOW, I think the current division of labor wrt. notation makes sense, all things considered.

Holistic consideration of total workflow in a multi-program environment would be my guiding recommendation, keeping RC itself focused on doing and evolving what it does best (Rapid Composition), while accommodating/enabling any reasonable suggestion(s) for importing/exporting to cooperate with others.

[lulukom]

I also think that there is no need to develop a notation yet, there are many other wishes))

[dopet]

Hi Attila! Thanks for sending the beta link to try out this new 'follow rhythm' feature. I just gave it a quick run through now (its pretty late here!) and I have to say this is a step in the right direction to have parts 'play off of' one another or to even get a sense of basic counterpoint between instruments. Prior to this, it always felt too random when trying to 'shoe horn' a violin and cello line (for example) together.

I found a lot of joy when just going into the Phrase rhythm processing tab after setting a track to follow the rhythm of another track. I just spent time clicking on 'offset notes', join notes, split notes, etc to make some ez variations that were different from the 'parent rhythm track', but still sounded like they were playing 'together'.

I also made the arpeggiator generator follow the bass/cello line.... again, I tweaked some rhythm processing items (break notes) to, well, break up some of the longer rhythm values to give back more of the arp feel ... again giving a sense of purposeful 'counterpoint flavor' to the proceedings.

Overall, quite like this addition.

[dopet]

Its me again... wanted to make a separate post for this..... Has anyone experienced some odd behavior using the Reason rack in Rapid Composer stand alone? I have been really enjoying Reason and all the synths and devices again! Every time I add a Reason rack to the project, a very loud and annoying buzzing sound happens. I have ot quickly pick an instrument to make it go away. That buzzing comes back in the short time it takes to overwrite that instrument with the one I want. Once the new one is loaded, the buzzing stops. I haven't noticed this behavior in any other DAW i have.

Another Reason thing I noticed.... after I load about 3 racks in the project, I start to get pops and clicks even if I increase my buffer size. I cant say whether the Reason patches I have used are CPU hungry (no way to tell CPU usage) or not, but Reason is pretty optimized and usually doesn't give me issues when I add 3 to any other DAW.... 3 seems to be a magic number here in RC....

Since I have you... can i ask that the menus for selecting synths and FX be changed from just long (slow) scrolling lists? I have a lot of both and it is painful scrolling thru to find what I want. Would love to be able to browse by vendor, be able to do a keyword search, etc.... Not sure what you can do about that? I know i don't have a helpful idea for you at the moment....

[galenkane]

Atilla can you help


size of phrase not worked I think

[dopet]

Hi All.... Just noticed... in Beta I tried to 'export as individual WAV' (under the file menu). I did get a wav file for each track in the project, but each track was just a full mix of the entire song. I had to solo each track and do a 'full export' to get each one by itself. Is this just a beta issue or is it an issue in the main build too?

[lulukom]

Rhythm Mapper from Track... It's a pity that in variations for regular phrases there are no such possibilities as in generators and in general this is a very good solution, but I would like much more possibilities in Phrase Variations for Rhythm Mapper from Track.

[dopet]

Hello! Just wanted to upload the very first example of using the rhythm mapper. This is short (30 seconds or so) and not very good song wise ... or anything-wise, really. I was just pretty pleased at how quickly I was able to get some lines that seemed liked they worked together.... at least easier than it has been.

the cello line was the main line that these other tracks followed:
Piano
Arp (though there is a ton of delay/reverb on the patch i picked... i assure you it was set to follow the cello track. )
Violin - not the most enticing melodic line, but it was fun to be able to get something derived from the cello rhythm 'quickly'.

I did a lot of random clicking in the rhythm property tab of each respective generator to thin out notes .... join notes, etc... possibly used a few variations? dont really recall.

Anyhow, i really like this new feature and felt something like this was missing for a while.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mQIK2- ... sp=sharing

[BluGenes]

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and hope the new year brings you good cheer..

Anyways, had some time to play with RC and I have a consistent crash every time, just meaning I can re-produce it.

If you drop a rhythm mapper from track variation on a recently cut absolute phrase, it can crash.

The video shows the exact steps, so watch for that. It is possible that the crash may only happen if certain steps are performed first, (e.g. making a cut in the phrase, etc. or something else, in case you can't crash it..), so, that's why I made the video.

The exact steps in the video consistently crash..

I am still tweaking the video stuff, so, the audio may be a little low..