Linear panel

General

Most of the pattern based sequencers (that great stuff like Orion and FLStudio p.e.) let you choose between pattern and song mode.

In RaX'n'TraX both modes run independently.

If you want to improvise on your midi keyboard while some patterns are playing, just push [Numpad-Enter] to start recording.

Don't worry about punch-in or song locators; the line of inspiration should be short 'n' fast.

There are 4 independent (semi-hierarchical) linear sequencers. One can play p.e. some events in a loop, another can be used to record a midi part, yet another could be used for vst-automation try-outs.

In short:

Time ruler on top, [Left]- and [Right]-Click to set begin- and endpoints, [Control]+[Right-Click] to set markers (like renaming)
Track-pane on the left containing 'Init'-events
Grid pane on the right for events and clips
[Numpad-Enter] to start (loop)-recording
[Enter] to discard recording

You can also drop midifiles onto the panel. If you click on the linear panel, the browser shows the contents of the midi-path. This midi-path is updated when a midi file is dropped.

Tracks can be moved up/down by [Control-Click] and drag on the 'Init'-event.

Select events/clips : hold down [Control] and drag rectangle (=lasso-select)

->
Selected events get another border (see skins)
You can move or copy(=hold down [Control] while moving) the selected events

Zoom with mousewheel

cursor on grid pane: zooming starts at the cursor point
cursor on track pane : zooming restarts from the first bar.

Scroll the linear view while clicking and dragging on the scrollbars (both horizontally and vertically (=Indicator, higlighted=not all tracks are shown))

Events

Events ([Control-Click]-drag**) can be dragged from panels and dropped onto the linear panel or can be recorded.

The most common events are mutes and pattern changes. It would become quite boring when the same patterns were played continuously.

Same type of events will be grouped into one track. Every track has it's 'init'-event, that will be fired on (loop)-start.

Click on an event to move (snap to grid), use [Shift] to move freely, [Control-Click] to copy and [Right-Click] to delete.

Same applies for multi-selected events.

Implemented events :

Tempo changes (**)
- Tempo. Dial on number to change BPM.
- Tempo Ramp (click on to change to tempo ramp) and resize()
Key changes (**)
- Dial to change scale.
Enable/Disable/Reset (**)(recordable)
Mute/UnMute (All panels)(recordable)
- ** (All panels) OR **(Mixer panel (Mono/VST))
Pattern changes/ Mixer states (**) This event will also reset the panel.(recordable)
Velocity changes (Mono- and Poly-panels**) and Controller-strength changes (Ctrl-panel)
- 'Init'-event -> offset
- Click on Up/Down and Resize ()
Fades and (main)-volume (Main-panel** and Mixer panel**)
- 'Init'-Volume
- Volume fade, change length by resizing ()
- Fixed volume

Merged Events

Lasso-select the events you want to merge, [Right-Click] for menuoption "merge".
You can allways unmerge them later.
Merged events are like clips : resize, loop and split.
Merge 'n Keep : this option will merge the selected events but keeps the events on the grid. (usefull when building different variations)

Clips

There are three types of clips

Midi-clips (note, midi-cc, pitchwheel, aftertouch)
Automation clips (Vst-parameters)
Mixer clips (volume, pan, send levels)

Click on a clip to move (Snap to grid), use [Shift] to move freely.

Copy clips by holding [Control] and click. A copied clip is by default a ghost clip. Right before editing a clip, you can unghost it.

Split clips by holding [Control]+[Shift] and click.

Loop clips and edit clips : [Right-Click] for menuoptions.

Info on clip : {Number of loops}, [Length of the clip], "Description", (number of active events/total number of events)

Resize normal clips, repeat looped clips.

"Lasso" select clips, and merge the same type of clips. Like, after recording takes, splitting the best fragments and glueing them together.

If you merge looped clips, they will be unrolled. (all looped events will be duplicated the number of loops)

Midi-note clips can be dropped on [Mono]-panels. (all 32 steps per pattern will be used). A last step will be added to adapt the total length is neccesary.

Midi-note and automation-clips can be dropped on [Bez▓]-panels. Midi-note clip generates a free drawable curve, based on note length (x-axis) and velocity (y-axis). (a gated curve)

Loop Recording

Set the loop length
Activate loop and start recording [Numpad-Enter]
If you [Control-Click] the record button, recorded clips will be played back while recording
The recording will be presented in different clips spread over different tracks. (cfr. takes)
[Double-Click] a clip to edit.
Lasso-select to merge the good takes into one take. (disabled clips will not be merged)

Editing clips

There are two editors:

Piano-Roll (note clips)
- close editor | change grid to 3/4 or 4/4 | quantize to grid | undo
- Click to add note (last length and velocity will be remembered)
- [Right-Click] to delete
- lasso-select for multi-select
- [Click] to move (snap to grid), [Shift-Click] to move freely, [Control-Click] to copy
- Resize note length (default:Grid, [Shift] to resize freely)
- [Alt] and move up/down to change velocity
Free-draw (automation, midi-cc, mixer), hold [Shift] for line drawing

Grid

Mousewheel is very important here! It will not only zoom but also set the grid width.

Snap to grid is default on. Events and clips are moved "by grid width". Splits will occur "on grid", dropped events are aligned on nearest grid, idem dito for resizing clips.

If you want to move freely, hold down [shift]. You'll notice the difference by looking at the song position indicator.

This indicator has a resolution of 48ticks per beat, resulting in a grid range from "128th_triplet" to 1 measure.

However, this is not the minimum resolution of the sequencer. Internally, positions are kept in 960ticks per beat. (usefull when live recording midi data)

There are 36 zoom levels. You can choose grid widths based on 4/4th or on 3/4th (in the editors). (easy triplet note drawing).

Tips

Start with a mixerstate event, this includes all initial volumes and mutes.

One midi-note clip can play different Vst-Racks. (multiple destinations).
If you want one midi-note clip to play multiple instruments at different times in the song, [Right-Click]-> "Copy to new track".

Semi-hierarchical sequencer use** :
Instead of copying and pasting repeating blocks of a song, it's easier to mark them (give it a name) and sequence those blocks in the next, higher up linear.
If your arrangement is in the left-most (= highest) linear : [Right-Click] on selector ->menu->"move to..."
Now you can sequence those blocks like any other clip. Like making a clip from events, here you make clips from song blocks.

Slice up a beat loop (wave panel) and sequence them.
In the wave panel assign patterns to slices. Drag those pattern changes in a [linear] and start rearranging stuff. Once you're satisfied, merge the events in a clip and move it to your arrangement's [linear].