Arranging with Subsections Let's create several variations of the music you've recorded in this tutorial. Thus far, you've recorded material into two separate Sections: a Theme and a Vamp. Now you'll create several quick variations of the main Theme. Each variation will require a dedicated Section. To copy and paste a Section: Within the Sections window (Command-Y), click the name of Section 1 to select it. Choose Copy from the Edit menu, or press Command-C to copy Section 1 to the Clipboard. Click the name of Section 3 select it for editing. Select Paste from the Edit menu, or press Command-V to paste the contents of the Clipboard into Section 3. Section 3 now contains the same data as Section 1. Let's create a quick variation of Section 1 by muting several tracks within the copied version: Within the Tracks window, click the Mute button next to the melodic or chordal track you recorded. This creates a version of the Theme that plays only the drums, percussion and bass. Double-click the name of Section 3 and type in the name 'Theme - sparse', then press the Return key to enter the name. Now let's create a sparse variation of the main Theme, this time only with drums and percussion: Click the name of Section 4 to select it for editing. Select Paste from the Edit menu, or press Command-V to paste the contents of the Clipboard into Section 4. Double-click the name of Section 4 and type the name 'Theme - drums only', then press the Return key to enter the name. Within the Tracks window, click the Solo button next to the Tracks titled 'Drum Loop 120' and '16th high hats'. This creates a version of the Theme that plays only the soloed tracks. You've now created three variations of the main Theme. These, together with the end Vamp, will be enough to put together your first Metro arrangement. We'll create final arrangement using Metro's powerful SubSection techniques. Metro allows you to make arrangements of different SubSections by dragging them to playback within a track. Let's try working with SubSections within the following example: Within the Sections window, double-click the name of Section 5. Type the name 'Arrangement', then and press the Return key. This names Section 5 and selects it as the active Section. Carefully drag the Selector Triangle next to the name of Section 4 into the track displayed within the Graphic Editor window. This drags the Section into a track. Drop the Section as close as you can to Bar 1. The Section will auto quantize to the nearest Bar boundary. Notice how the 4 bar Section is drawn within the Notes display of the Graphic Editor window. Within the Graphic Editor, click three times on the right Magnifying Tool to zoom out several levels. This Zooms Out and allows you to see more time across the current track. Within the Sections window, carefully drag Selector Triangle next to the name of Section 3 into Bar 5 within the Graphic Editor window. Within the Sections window, carefully drag the Selector Triangle next to the name of Section 1 into Bar 9 of the track displayed within the Graphic Editor window. Within the Graphic Editor, click the area representing Section 1 to open the SubSection Event Edit dialog box. Enter aduration of 8 Bars and click OK. The duration of the main Theme has been extended to 8 bars so that it repeats twice. Now let's add the Vamp as the last part to play after the main Theme. Within the Section window, carefully drag the Selector Triangle next to the name of Section 2 into Bar 17 of the Graphic Editor window. Press the spacebar to listen to your final arrangement. Notice how the audio file (Drum Loop 120) plays throughout most of the piece even though its original length is only 2 bars. Metro's SubSection techniques allow for flexible manipulation of Sections to create complex arrangements. You can even play multiple SubSections simultaneously, which accommodates yet another style of composition and arrangement. Save your file and continue on experimenting with Metro. You may want to explore the next tutorial: MIDI Recording Tutorial