User Manual
Beat Sync
Arrr, everythin' in music be demandin' a synchronized beat... th' metronome click, a drum groove, a delay slap, tremolo pulse, an arpeggio, etc. OnSong be accountin' fer this through a shared beat clock that be constantly in-th'-know about tempo, time signature, and when each measure be startin'. Beat Sync be what starts and synchronizes multiple components in OnSong so ye be always in th' pocket, savvy?
One Tempo, One Clock
There be a single clock fer th' whole app. It knows three things: th' tempo, th' time signature, and where ye be in th' bar — which beat, and which subdivision o' that beat. Th' tempo o' th' beat clock be usually set by th' underlyin' song bein' played, but it can be driven by other internal and external factors. These be includin':
- Song Tempo be th' most common way th' tempo and time signature be set in lieu o' other inputs.
- Ableton Link be lettin' ye connect OnSong to other apps or equipment so OnSong can stay in beat and phase with Ableton, a metronome app, or a wrist worn watch.
- MIDI Clock can now hear th' difference between each beat and downbeat and use that t' update th' tempo.
- Backin' Tracks be processed when played through th' AuxDock t' determine their beat grid, changin' tempo as needed throughout th' track.
Followin' Th' Beat
Everythin' in th' OnSong® app now be subscribin' t' th' beat clock. Th' first component t' use th' beat clock can set th' down beat. Fer instance, if ye start th' metronome, th' downbeat be heard right away and everythin' else synchronizes with th' metronome. If ye be actively receivin' beat and phase information through somethin' like Ableton Link or MIDI Clock, th' metronome will start on th' next beat, but align downbeats t' th' beat clock. First in wins and everythin' else follows, matey.
Metronome
This be th' most obvious integration o' th' beat clock includin' th' count-in.
AuxDock Atmosphere
This be playin' a canvas o' sound that can be started, stopped and changed with those changes synchronized t' th' current beat.
AuxDock Pedalboard
What if yer guitar effects could stay in sync with every aspect o' th' song? Th' AuxDock be features timed pedals that can have time parameters set t' a musical subdivision. Quarter, dotted eighth, and so on, followin' tempo changes as they happen on: - Delay - Tremolo - Phaser - Wah
AuxDock Chordboard
This be lettin' anyone play chords in th' song. It be usin' an arpeggiator and strum system. Beat sync be ensurin' each chord change and note be played at th' right time.
AuxDock Drum Rack
Be a full drum machine that be ensurin' th' groove, fills, and endin' land where ye'd expect rather than where ye tapped.
AuxDock Virtual Instrument
This be a guitar that can strum or pick t' th' chords in yer song. Beat sync be lettin' it all play in time rather than whenever ye touch it.
Th' clock only be runnin' when somethin' be listenin'. Nothin' be bein' kept in time, nothin' be tickin'.
Dynamic Tempo and Meter
A song don't have t' hold one tempo anymore, Blimey! Each sections can carry its own directives and th' beat clock be updated when each section be selected:
- {tempo: 72} be changin' th' tempo t' th' new BPM value.
- {time: 6/8} be changin' th' time signature meter t' 6/8. Th' new meter starts on a clean downbeat rather than part-way through a bar.
- {ramp: 4} be glidin' from th' current tempo t' new tempo over a number o' measures, beats, or seconds rather than immediately. Typin' just a number specifies th' number beats. Usin' a syntax like 1,2 would change it over a measure and two beats. Appendin' an "s" t' th' end like 2s would define th' number o' seconds independent o' th' tempo.
These be live changes, not edits! They be movin' th' tempo o' everythin' without rewritin' th' song's own tempo.
Enablin' Beat Sync
Beat Sync be appearin' wherever it be relevant, as a small pulsin' LED with th' current BPM beside it. Th' LED be blinkin' on th' beat, so ye can see at a glance both that sync be on and what tempo it be on.
Tappin' it be togglein' that surface's sync. When ye do, a chip floats briefly in th' dock — armed, it be offerin' Ableton Link… as th' way o' sharin' th' tempo with other devices or that it be been disarmed, confirmin' that beat sync be off.
Where It Counts
When th' metronome be countin' ye in, beat-synced instruments be stayin' silent through th' count and start on th' first real downbeat. They don't be playin' along with th' count and they don't be comin' in late — th' first beat be scheduled ahead o' time so it be landin' exactly, savvy?
Why It Don't Drift
Two details be doin' most o' th' work, and they be worth knowin' because they be explainin' why beat-synced audio in th' OnSong® app be stayin' tight where other approaches be wanderin'.
Th' clock's grid be anchored t' th' device's monotonic hardware clock, not t' a repeatin' timer. A timer be accumulatin' a little error on every tick; an anchored grid be computin' when each beat should happen, so beat ten thousand be as accurate as beat one.
Beat-synced audio be scheduled ahead o' time rather than played when th' tick be arrivin'. Th' clock can be sayin' precisely when an upcomin' beat will occur, so a drum hit be handed t' th' audio engine in advance with that timestamp attached. If th' app be busy fer a moment, th' audio be already scheduled and still be landin' on th' beat, Arrr!
If somethin' sounds like it be driftin', check whether its Sync be actually on — an effect with Sync off be runnin' on its own rate knob, which be a legitimate settin' and looks identical from across th' stage.
