Song Composer

Overview

The Song Composer is used to make an arrangement, to make a song.

You can create simple or complex song-structures like intro, verse, chorus, break, bridge, build, climax,...

The basic building block for a Composition is a Part, which is an object that plays a Sequence from point A to point B and routes its Events to a Player.

Different Parts can play the same Sequence, but at different positions, and with different parameters.

If a Part's length is longer than the Sequence length, the Sequence will automatically repeat.
Of course, a Sequence's length can be changed at anytime via the Sequence menu:Length.

How it works :

Mouse Tools

A full range of composition tools are available :

   Arrow
The Arrow is used for selecting and moving Parts.

When holding [Control] : Copy the Part

When holding [Alternate] : Copy the Part & Duplicate the Sequence

And a doubleclick jumps you to the sequence's default editor.
(read more about this : "About Sequence Editing")

   Pencil
The Pencil is used to draw and lengthen Parts :
  • When you've clicked in the free space : Draw new Part.
    • [Clean] : you will be asked for a Sequence for that Part. So, the Sequence pool appears.
    • [Control] : Draws a new Part with the same Sequence as the current Part. If there is not a current Part, the Sequence pool pops up.
    • [Shift] : Immediately creates a new Sequence

  • When you've clicked upon a Part : Changes start/end.
    • If you click before the middle -> start point, otherwise end-point.
    • When more than one Part is selected, Muzys will ask whether all those selected Parts should be changed to that new start/end position.

Tip : When you just touch a Part with the pencil, this Part becomes the current Part, without changing. So you can draw directly a new Part (with [Control]) which will play the same Sequence.

   Gum
The Gum is used for deleting. You can lasso multiple Parts at once.
You may also use the [Delete] or [Backspace] keys to delete the selected Parts.

Note that if you really want to delete a Sequence, you also have to hold [Shift].
Otherwise the Sequence may stay in the Sequence pool.

   Scissors
Cuts a Part in two separate Parts. Eventually a new Sequence is created.

When holding [Alternate], it cuts out a loop of the Sequence. Very handy to create a variation in a loop !

   Glue
Exactly the same as Compose menu:Merge Selecteds : It merges all Events of the selected Parts into a new Part and Sequence.

When holding [Control] : When the next Part on the same track is starting where the Part you clicked on ends, and those two Parts play the same Sequence, it becomes 1 Part.

   Magnifying Glass
The Magnifying Glass is used for zooming in a section of the editor.

The Magnifying Glass works horizontal/vertical depending on the rectangle you specify.
If this rectangle is more horizontal, the Magnifying Glass is zooming horizontally;
If this rectangle is more vertical, the Magnifying Glass is zooming vertically.

   Mute
The Mute inverts the mute-state of the lassoed Parts.
   Global Cutter
The Global Cutter can be used to delete a section out of the Composition.

Note that when no Parts are selected, this tool works on all Parts. But when at least one Part is selected, it works only on the selected Parts.

   Global Inserter
The Global Inserter can be used to insert a section into the Composition.

Note that when no Parts are selected, this tool works on all Parts. But when at least one Part is selected, it works only on the selected Parts.

Options

Current Part Parameter Box

At the bottom of the Composition area, there is a box that contains the parameters for the current Part.
You can click the values to change them.

By clicking the little icon at the right of the Sequence name, you'll immediately jump to the appropriate Sequence editor.

If a track is set to "Part's Player", every Part on that track can have it's own Player.
By choosing "Event's Player" for such Part, every Event in that Part's Sequence can have its own Player !

And by clicking the little icon at the right of the Player name, you'll immediately jump to the appropriate Player editor.

Need a Tempo Track ?

If you want to work with a so called "Tempo Track", just create a (long) Sequence, and place it on the first track.

Since Muzys only chases Tempo Events on the first track.
Tempo Events on other tracks are also played, but won't be taken into calculation when changing the play position.

You can record your tempo changes via The Tempo Controller and put them in that 'Tempo Track'.
The Part can thus also be edited just like any Part, since it is a normal Part.

Next : The Play Room Table Of Contents