Sequencer - when editing in Song Mode

[parametric]

This is about "focus" when editing in Song Mode . . . .

Just a little tale that might save some from doubting their sanity having taken your eye off the ball . . .

This is to do with doing stuff in the correct ORDER . . . . as will become apparent

The way I write is by improvising - and due to this, when I set up a song - I set its length way longer than I need.

Having "practiced" sufficiently, I try to record a perfect track in its entirety - I feel it produces a more "natural" result.

I had produced a Song using six "Synth" tracks - and having listened back to it several times, it became apparent that it needed an extra "verse" section added at the start - as I was effectively using the existing verse as an intro.

Going through the song, I carefully noted the precise position where the verse section needed to be inserted. I also noted the start and end of a suitable verse section from later on in the song - that could be copied and pasted.

The verse section in question is 8 measures long - so that much space needed to be made at the correct point.

At the planned insertion-point, I marked everything to the right (remembering to select ALL the tracks )

Having done so - I then used the <Slide> function to move everything to the right, by 8 measures.

After processing, I checked the Song and indeed there was an 8-measure gap across all the tracks in the correct place.

I auditioned the track to further confirm this.

I then navigated to the verse section I was going to copy and paste and duly selected it, copied it, and pasted it into the space.

Playing the Song back revealed - A Complete MESS

I repeated the above several times - each time, a mess resulted.

My first thought was that there was not enough space at the end of the Song to allow the slide (despite the Fusion having correctly made a space). I extended the Song by 10 measures anyway.

Repeated the above - still a Mess.

Then I twigged. (Doh!)

The act of SLIDING had (of course) moved the verse section I wanted to copy - RIGHT - by 8 measures

I re-located the desired section, marked and copied it and pasted it into the Song again . . . . Perfect result

I cannot say for certain if the Fusion is smart enough to "make room" for a <Slide> all by itself, if there is none spare . . . .

Likewise I am not sure if the copying of the required verse BEFORE the slide operation - would have resulted in a successful <Paste> AFTER having done the necessary <slide> operation. (i.e. does the slide operation USE the memory)

We are all mostly aware of the fact that the Large user-guide is sadly just a list of commands - with no amplification . . .

Stuff like the above has to be discovered by DOING . . . .

So I hope this might save someone from tearing their hair out or even swearing at their pride and joy . . . . ;D

Best Regards

parametric

[Jesse]

Thanks for sharing your experience and procedure working with the sequencer parametric.

As far as the Fusion Manual goes an Index in the back of the manual would have been nice.

From psionic's Fusion tips pg 6

Things that make you go ARGHHH....
(How to avoid these)

#1 ) Don't VERIFY in the middle of Song Creation if you've recently changed Banks or something... You might screw up the Bank Order, therefore confusing the Song with weird new sounds that weren't there before... :?:

#2 ) Don't forget to STORE, STORE, STORE... Since the UNDO is very limited in what it can UNDO, if you like where you are, STORE it!

[/u] Give it a new name, maybe a version number, and carry on with new experimental changes. Since you have nearly unlimited storage space, at least this way you'll have old versions to fall back to.

#3 ) "Enable Mixer Automation" is great for recording slow changes to a track over time, like fading in the volume or moving the pan position of a track that already has its notes recorded. Just remember to get OUT of "Enable Mixer Automation" once you're done, and ready to record other tracks... this mode of recording interferes with the main way of recording new notes for a track...[/quote]

[parametric]

May 21, 2013 14:22:33 GMT Jesse said:

#2 ) Don't forget to STORE, STORE, STORE... Since the UNDO is very limited in what it can UNDO, if you like where you are, STORE it!

[/u] Give it a new name, maybe a version number, and carry on with new experimental changes. Since you have nearly unlimited storage space, at least this way you'll have old versions to fall back to.[/quote]

This point is SO important.

Back at the Uni, I used to stress this to the students with their ProTools sessions. The session file is only about 30k.

One guy just used <save> repeatedly, and a computer glitch lost him a whole year's work in the blink of an eye . . . .

<SAVE AS>

Thanks for the tip about mixer automation too, I've not looked at that yet - but I surely will when I get back to the project.

Best

parametric

[riffbeeper]

Hi guy's I'm blowing up here with this Monsanto Song. Who Knew? And I one day hope to tell you guys the background story.
Enough about me.
I know I struggled with the Fusion'a seq. for a year or so but found it fiddly. After incorporating logic 8 express and my fusion (to do the workload in the sound Dept) My output went up sharply.
Keep the shinny silver faith!
Ron Riff Fuller Biff

[Jesse]

SAVE as is a very good point, I used to do that when I was programming, that way you can go back to different versions that may contain variations you eliminated in future versions and wish to re implement