Metron's beat editor.
Beat Chooser
In the beat chooser you select the beat within the time signature that you want to edit. Tapping a beat takes you to the beat editor.
Beat Editor
The beat editor allows customization of the individual beats in a time signature. It can change the sound file used to playback the beat, it can change the volume of the beat, and it can change the color used to represent the beat in the LCD. In addition, it allows subdividing a beat into multiple sub-beats, to create rhythmic subdivisions, essentially turning Metron into a basic drum machine.
The beat editor and the beat customization feature are implemented very freely in Metron. You can make beats sound much longer or shorter than their normal length. Metron makes no attempt to check for, and limit to, rhythmical correctness.
The Rhythm Pattern View
The rhythm pattern view is where you create your rhythmic patterns. At the left end of the view the nominal value of the beat is shown, with an arrow pointing toward the customization that replaces the nominal value. When a beat has not yet been customized the pattern view shows a copy of the nominal value on the bare canvas:
An unselected rhythm element has a white background. The active element a sand colored background, and selected elements have a lavender background (a selected and active element has a darker lavender background):
To customize a beat drag one of the available notes or rests into the pattern view. A rhythm element will be created. You can drag in as many elements as you like, although at some point space will get cramped. For most patterns though, you should have ample space to create them.
Within the pattern view you can shift existing elements by dragging them into place.
To create tuplets drag one of the tuplet numbers onto the relevant elements. By sliding over multiple elements with the tuplet you can quickly create a tuplet set out of several adjacent elements.
To create dotted values drag the dot over a note or rest. You can create double dotted values by repeating the process.
To remove an element from the pattern view drag it out of the view. It will evaporate.
Customizing Rhythm Element properties
Each element in the view can be customized with an individual sound, volume or color. To customize an element tap it once so that it becomes the active element. The three customization controls affect the active element and any selected elements.
Any rhythmic subdivisions of a beat, will be played using the default sound for the beat type (primary, secondary or unstressed). Assigning a custom beat sound to a rhythm element overrides the default beat sound type.
To remove a custom sound or color swipe across the relevant row and tap the delete button that appears.
The Reset Button
Tapping the reset button removes all rhythm elements (and thus all customizations) from the pattern view.
The Edit Menu: Copy, Paste
Tap and hold the pattern view to bring up the edit menu. Through the edit menu you can select, cut, copy and paste rhythm elements, both within the rhythm pattern view, and between beats. This allows for efficient customization of multiple beats, when the beat patterns are similar or equal.
Previous part: The Time Signature Editor: defining a time signature.
Next part: The Settings Editor: adjusting global application settings.
