Rhythm Explorer Preferences

Rhythm Explorer Preferences Dialog

General Preferences Tab
Lead Generator Preferences Tab 1
Lead Generator Preferences Tab 2

General Preferences Tab

Patterns/Phrase/Lead Generator

Use the Pattern Density fields to tell Rhythm Explorer how dense or "busy" a rhythm you want. For example, if you want a percussion track to sound more energetic, you could try values between 80 and 100 percent. If you're after a more sparse feel, try values between 20 and 60 percent. Use the User Pattern field to choose the rhythmic placement of notes in the User Pattern choice in the Algorithms list. For example, if you select a quarter note in the User Pattern field and then choose User Pattern from the Algorithm list, all the notes in the User Pattern algorithm will start on a beat, instead of between beats.

Split to layer ratio

The split to layer ratio sets the chance that any given pattern (when the degree of variability setting is greater than 1) will be a split as opposed to a layer. Setting this field to 100 would guarantee that all multi-variability patterns will be splits. Splits are generated by applying the algorithm to portions of the selection and then combining those portions. Layers are created by applying algorithms to the entire selection a number of times depending on the degree of variability.

Limit inserted notes to between

This sets the range of pitches that will be inserted by the Rhythm Explorer.

Reduce velocity of pitches above

Any inserted pitch equal to or higher than the value entered here will have its velocity reduced.

Patterns/Arps/Lead Generator

In this section you can specify the articulation and the duration variability of the notes generated.

Arps/Lead Generator

This section allows you to finely control how the arpeggiator patterns or lead generator notes are generated. Use the note quantize pop-up menu to tell Metro which note grid lines are to be used. You can select more than one choice simply by choosing additional note values. Selected quantizations will display a checkmark. You can also control the velocity range and the chord probability respectively. Chord probability has no affect on arpeggiator 1 since it is a single line arpeggiator.

Lead Generator Preferences Tab 1

More information about the lead generator can be found here.

Generation Types

The lead generator uses several different generation types. Each will be chosen based on the weight specified here. The higher the weight the more likely the generation type will be selected. Currently the generation types are:

1.Normal

Rhythms are selected based on the 'use note:' field, Pitches are selected based on a multi-delta algorithm.

2.Alternate

Similar to normal, except rhythms are more confined to beat boundaries.

3.Preset

Patterns are generated from the current 'Artist Presets' file.

4.Chordal

Chordal patterns are generated.

5. Music Code

(Formerly called "LUT") The lead generator generates patterns by selecting code from a table entry. More info on music code can be found here.

6.Track Sync

Patterns are generated by synchronizing to a random playing MIDI track.

7. Scale Spiral

Patterns are generated using notes up and down multiple scales. Exotic rhythms can be optionally applied.

Type Specific Parameters

Parameters become available, change or are disabled depending on the current selection of the generation type.

1.Normal

2.Alternate

Polyrhythms. The percent specified here determines how frequently the polyrhythm algorithm is applied to the lead generator pattern. See "Polyrhythms" below.
Use notes popup, specified by percent, determines which note quantizations are used.

3.Preset

Polyrhythms. The percent specified here determines how frequently the polyrhythms algorithm is applied to the lead generator pattern. See "Polyrhythms" below.
Rhythm. This percent determines how often the rhythm extracted from the Artist Presets file is used.
Amalgamated. The lead generator combines presets based on the percent specified here.
Preset Range. You can specify the range of presets to be used from the currently selected Artist Preset file. if the 'to' field is set to 0, the preset range will include all presets from the start value to the number of presets in the file. Setting the 'from' and 'to' fields to the same value is useful after adding a preset to the Artist Presets file to verify the quality of the new preset.
Artist Presets. This button allows you to change the currently selected Artist Presets file at any time.

4.Chordal

Polyrhythms. The percent specified here determines how frequently the polyrhythms algorithm is applied to the lead generator pattern. See "Polyrhythms" below.
Use notes popup, specified by percent, determines which note quantizations are used.

5.Music Code

Polyrhythms. The percent specified here determines how frequently the resolving polyrhythms is applied to the lead generator pattern. See "Polyrhythms" below.
Duplication. The percent specified here determines how likely duplication will occur. Duplication causes the previous beat or few beats to be duplicated. Depending on the density setting, rests could be placed before the duplication.
Use Editor Data for Motif. When this checkbox is checked, the data in the Music Code Editor will be used wherever a motif is specified in the song. The editor buffer data is stored with the Metro document but may not necessarily be saved in the artist presets file.
Editor... This button leads to the Music Code Editor dialog.

6.Scale Spiral

Polyrhythms. The percent specified here determines how frequently the resolving polyrhythms is applied to the lead generator pattern. See "Polyrhythms" below.
Exotic Rhythms. The percent specified here determines how frequently rational numbers are multiplied by the current quantize to create more uncommon rhythms. For example, quintuplets.

Polyrhythms

Every generation type contains a polyrhythms percent. Polyrhythms are generated by creating a portion of a lead generator pattern that uses a number of notes that are not native to their duration. These notes resolve after a certain number of iterations. For example, 3 16th notes, when repeated, resolve after 4 iterations.

PitchBend

The percent chance that pitchbend will be applied is specified here. For good results the pitch bend range must match the output instruments pitch bend range.

Trill

The percent chance that trills will be applied is specified here.

Derivation Range

The percent range that derivation will be applied is specified here. If the derivation range criteria is met, derivation is applied when a new lead generator pattern is created. Derivation takes an existing lead generator pattern and applies a derivation algorithm to it. The derivation algorithms are currently:

Change Fixed Position 1
Change Fixed Position 2
Change Fixed Position 3
Change Fixed Position 4
Change Fixed Position 5
Split
Join
Modify Bend
Add Members
Add Member
Subtract Member
Add Member Special
Subtract Member Special
Rotate
Reverse Direction
Copy Last Beat
Mirror
Change Pitch
Change Pitch 2
Change Pitch 3
Change Pitch To Octave 1
Change Pitch To Octave 2
Swap Pitches
Change Pitch To Sixth
Resolve Rhythm
Change Durations
Copy And Extend
Rebuild Durations
Expand With Random Rests
Modify Harmony
Shuffle Beats

Derivation Magic

Derivation magic specifies which derivation algorithms are used when the derivation criteria are met. The value specified here is a 32-bit bit mask. While not user friendly, any combination of the above derivations can be specified by shifting 1 by the derivation algorithm number above minus 1 and oring it into the bit mask. For example, if you wanted "Change Fixed Position 2" (which is 2) and "Copy Last Beat" (which is 16) the calculation would be (where << is a left shift and | is a logical or):

(1 << (2 - 1)) | (1 << (16 -1)) which equals 1 << 1 | 1 << 15 which equals 2 | 32768 which equals 32770. So 32770 would be entered into the derivation magic field.

When 0 is specified in this field, all algorithms are selected for derivation.

Controller Section

The controller section allows you to specify the likelihood, in percent, that a sequence of controller events will occur in a specified range. Each controller is independent of the other. Possible controllers include Aftertouch, Modulation Wheel (1), Breath Controller(2) and Volume Controller (10). In addition you can specify one of the following controller algorithms:

Vibrato
Filter
Smart Filter

Scales

The Lead Generator allows up to 8 override scales to be selected at one time. Each one can be assigned a weight. If all weights are specified as 0, the Lead Generator will select scales automatically based on a randomly selected algorithm, once per Rhythm Explorer pattern. Scales can be overriden by specifying a scale in the marker edit dialog.

Hovering the mouse over the Rhythm Explorer pattern will show which algorithm was selected. The possibilities are:

Abbreviation	Name	Description
"I.S.S"	Intelligent Scale Switching	Switch scales based on which scale has more notes in common with the currently chord.
"C.S.A"	Chord Scale Assignment	Each chord is assigned a particular scale.
"S.P.T"	Switch by Percent Threshold	Switch scales when a certain percent threshold is met.
"S.S.S"	Seldom Scale Switching by percent threshold	Switch scales when a certain threshold, that occurs seldomly, is met.
"E.P"	Every Pattern	Each Lead Generator pattern is assigned a random scale.
"E.P.S"	Every Pattern Shuffled	Each Lead Generator pattern is assigned a scale in order. The order of scales is initially shuffled.
"E.P.P"	Every Pattern Percents	Each Lead Generator pattern is assigned a scale based on the weighting. Only used if scales have weights.

Prefer 7th Chords

When this item is checked, the lead generator will be more likely to use 7th chord tones when creating chords.

Prefer chord root note

When this item is checked, the lead generator will choose the chords root note more often than not.

Predominant scales

Lead Generator Preferences Tab 2

Turnarounds are automatically detected by the lead generator. When a turnaround is found, based on the 'Find' parameter a turnaround will be generated.

A turnaround is generated based on the presets, amalgamated and repeat fields. If a preset is not selected, the lead generator will generate the turnaround internally based on the 'Non-preset Override Scale' or one of the override scales if none is specified.

The amalgamated setting determines if amalgamation is used in the generation of the turnaround when presets are selected. Amalgamation combines two or more presets to generate the turnaround.

The repeat setting determines whether to repeat the same turnaround or generate a new one, within the Rhythm Explorer pattern, when multiple turnarounds are found.