Posted
Clarification, please?
I know how to import a basis sketch and save it as a template.
I know how to import directly to an instrument in the rack in the song window.
Is it possible to create a template directly from the current instruments in the rack?
If so, how?
Thanks.
Prado
Wed, 2012-10-17 - 12:24 Permalink
Playback >> Play Current Section Live
Playback >> Edit Current Sketch
File >> Save as Template
Wed, 2012-10-17 - 13:41 Permalink
Yes, you can play live the sketch with the pallette ( try out chords ) and make from this a template with more parameters changed of your liking.
Note: interesting is the chord inversion feature.. HN2 comes up with chords that sounds good .. you can always chance that by pressing the number keys on your keyboard ( 1 , 2 and 3 are standing for the first ,second , third inversion of a chord as i correct remember me )
Wed, 2012-10-17 - 19:13 Permalink
Thanks, Supertonic!
I must say that for a very obvious program feature the implementation seems convoluted and less than intuitive. I would have thought those functions would be or also be in the context menu. i.e., right click on an instrument and open the menu, with intruments in the song window.
And, with imported phrases to instruments currently in the song rack, why is there the 'play live' step when the instruments in the rack are already playing 'live?'
Is this documented in the manual? I searched, but did not come across it.
At any rate, I am gratified to have discovered it.
Prado
Wed, 2012-10-17 - 20:45 Permalink
Play "Live" refers to playing a palette in real-time. Only a Sketch can do that.
Most users will want to do that with their current song instruments in order to find new chords. Converting a section permanently to a new Sketch file is done less frequently. Going via the Sketch editor is ok, I think.
Wed, 2012-10-17 - 21:17 Permalink
Okay, that is clearer, but not what I was asking about.
I was interested in having opened a sketch, importing some different midi pharases to the individual instruments and then saving the modified sketch as a new sketch template.
There could be a direct link to 'Sketch Save as template' from the context menu in song/ instruments and/ or from the main Instruments menu. This would be user friendly.
I see how the modified sketch is logically part of the current song, but it still seems more like a 'save' than a 'save as' operation for the hosted sketch.
There are clearly some GUI design philosophy issues here. Every developer has the legitimate right to design how the software works. But from the user view, the more consistently a program works with respect to the organization of menus/ functions with other programs, the easier it will be to learn ... and the more likely favorability of the potential customer.
HN and SynFire are brilliant programs demanding more from the user to fully benefit, but in my opinion, at every opportunity the developer should strive to make operations as straight forward and intuitive as possible to ameliorate that learning curve.
You didn't answer whether the saving of a modified sketch from instruments in a song is documented. Is it?
Thank you.
Prado
Wed, 2012-10-17 - 21:43 Permalink
You can do that, although not as a single step. You need to
- Play the selected section "Live" (which creates a sketch)
- Edit that sketch and save it as a template
If two steps can achieve something, adding a new menu item only to save one step would not be helpful. Imagine what happens to the user interface if we did so for the other 50 or 100 operations users might want to do.
Wed, 2012-10-17 - 22:41 Permalink
But it is confusing ... so I do need to first select "Live" ... even though the sketch is already playing in the song and i am hearing it?
This is three steps, i think: Playback/ select live; Playback/ select edit sketch; and, Edit/ save template as.
I'm not trying to 'micro manage' how many steps are required ... just suggesting that work flow is considered from the viewpoint of what is intuitive for a user. This is mainly about what menu things are found/ available within. I am suggesting this going forward.
It is difficult to see why a sketch is not equally as logically nested under Instrument as Playback.
I've asked twice and you have not responded, so I must assume this is not documented in the manual. I certainly couldn't find it.
Supertonic, you are a much appreciated fountain of patience ... and responsive, helpful information. Please understand my comments as intended as not only helpful to myself, but potentially benefitting other users, and thereby the developers.
I wouldn't be bothering if I could find this information in the documentation.
I think the manual needs an appendix list of window by window, menu by menu concise definitions/ explanations of every menu item. Many are obvious and known to all, e.g., save, but many are obscure and only pertinent to Cognitone's products.
Such a chart/ listing would save you a lot of grief.
Prado
Wed, 2012-10-17 - 23:38 Permalink
Ok, I understand your confusion a bit better now. The problem lies within the simplified user interface of HN2 compared to Synfire. In Synfire sketches and arrangements are completely separate things and that is obvious from the GUI.
In HN2 a song uses a basis sketch and is therefore perceived similar to a sketch. A user may not understand why a conversion from song -> sketch would be necessary.
Some menu items and buttons could certainly be named differently to make things more clear. Therefore thanks for your feedback.
Save as Template works for progressions and sketches, although it is not mentioned in the manual.