Latest revision as of 20:33, 11 July 2023

Pattern Editor

The Pattern Editor is the main editor used to create music in Renoise and is opened with the Edit tab at the top left of the interface. Instruments are recorded by entering notes onto lines in the order that they are to be played, from top to bottom. This is done with the Tracker Interface, so if you're unfamiliar with this method of working, you should read through that section of the manual before continuing here.

A pattern can contain multiple tracks, typically one for each different instrument and each with their own separate set of effects. Songs are created by arranging a sequence of patterns with the Pattern Sequencer and the Pattern Matrix. So, a pattern is normally used to represent a specific section of a song that may be repeated again in future. The length and speed of a pattern can be changed, so the exact nature of a specific pattern can vary wildly depending on the whims of the composer.

You may find it useful to watch a video about the various track types.

Track Types

There are four different types of track in the Renoise Pattern Editor:

Tracks

These standard tracks are where you record notes onto the lines of a Note Column. Each track also features Effect Columns, which are used to apply Effect Commands to instruments and to control Track Effects.

Group Tracks

Used to group together similar Tracks, such as all percussion, all synths etc. The child tracks have their output automatically routed through the parent track, though you can change this with the Pre Mixer. This means that Track Effects, Automation and Effect Commands used in the Group Track will affect the audio coming from the regular Tracks contained within it. Notes cannot be entered into Group Tracks and so they only feature Master FX columns.

Send Tracks

Send Tracks are fed audio from other tracks using Send Devices and are typically used to apply the same set of Track Effects to multiple tracks at once, though there is a whole range of possibilities for creatively complex routing. Notes cannot be entered into Send Tracks and so they only feature Master FX columns.

You may find it useful to watch our video covering the subject of Send Tracks & Devices.

Master Track

The Master Track is where all audio produced by the other tracks finally ends up, so effects placed here will therefore affect the output of the entire song. To help manage the master signal, the Post-Mixer device in the Master Track has a few more options than the other tracks. Notes cannot be entered into the Master Track and so it only features Master FX columns.

Track Options

Muting Tracks

An individual track can be muted by left-clicking on the 'Play' text underneath its name. Clicking again will un-mute it. Right-clicking a track's 'Play' text will solo it, muting all of the others so that only the audio from that track is heard. Right-clicking again will un-mute the other tracks. Similar operations can be performed on the Track Scopes.

Organising Tracks

Any track can be renamed by double-clicking on its name and typing in a new one. This is also true for Note Columns.

To add or remove tracks, you can use the "Edit->Insert Track" (Left Control/Command + T) and "Edit->Delete Track" (Left Control/Command + Left Shift + T) commands from the menu in the Upper Status Bar. If the currently selected track is a regular Track, then a new Track will be added to the right of it. If the currently selected track is a Send Track or the Master Track, then another Send Track will be added.

To add a group track, use the "Edit->Insert Group" (Left Control/Command + G) command or drag one track onto another while holding down Alt. This will create a new group and add both tracks to it.

To reposition a track left-click and hold the button on its name, then drag the track to either side. This can be done in both the Pattern Editor and the Mixer. You can also move tracks by using the Ctrl/Command + Alt + Left/Right shortcuts.

To duplicate tracks, you can use the "Edit->Duplicate Track" (Left Control/Command + D) command from the menu in the Upper Status Bar.

Collapsing Tracks

To collapse a track, press the small arrow to the left of the track's name. This just hides most of its information; the track will still play as normal. You can collapse a Group of tracks in the same way and also collapse the Group's Master FX column using the arrow to the right of its name.

Using Single Track Edit Mode will cause all of the tracks and groups to collapse, except for the track that the cursor is currently in. Moving the cursor to other tracks while in this mode will automatically expand those tracks and collapse the one you were previously in.

Changing Track Colors

To change the color of a track, left-click on the color slot above the track name. Using the color picker you can move around the grid to choose a color, while the left-hand slider controls the saturation value. You can also pick colors from the available swatches or right click on a swatch to save the current color to it. The "Background Blend" slider controls the amount of color present in the track's background. Enabling "Apply to all tracks" will apply the slider value to all of the tracks at once.

Pattern Editor Control Panel

At the bottom of the Pattern Editor is the control panel:

Single Track Edit Mode: When enabled, all tracks will be collapsed except for the currently selected track.
Pattern Wrap Mode: Toggle what will happen upon reaching the end of a pattern when entering notes step-by-step in Edit Mode. When enabled, the cursor will move to the top of the next pattern in the sequence. When disabled, the cursor will move back to the top of the current pattern.
Pattern Automation Recording Mode: When enabled, right-clicked and MIDI mapped parameters are recorded into Automation instead of the track's Master FX Column.
Quantize Controls: Toggle live quantization. The value box to the right specifies the quantization value in lines. Use the drop-down menu next to the value box to manually quantize a selected area of the current pattern after recording. Quantization is covered in-depth in this video.
Edit Step: Set how many lines the cursor will skip down in the Pattern Editor when entering a note or effect.
Vol/Pan/Dly/FX: Toggle the volume, panning, delay and Local FX sub-columns for the currently selected track.
FX Drop-down Menu: Quickly show and insert Effect Commands.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 = Pattern Editor =
-The Pattern Editor is Renoises main editor: Here you will basically create all music in Renoise. As the name implies, the Pattern Editor is all about patterns: You can think of a pattern as a single notation page in a score.
+[[Image:3.2_tab-edit.png]]
-Lets take a look how a song is structured in Renoise, to understand what patterns are about, what they do and what they do not. We do start from the top (song) to the bottom (beats, lines and notes):
+The Pattern Editor is the main editor used to create music in Renoise and is opened with the Edit tab at the top left of the interface. Instruments are recorded by entering notes onto lines in the order that they are to be played, from top to bottom. This is done with the [[Tracker Interface]], so if you're unfamiliar with this method of working, you should [[Tracker Interface|read through that section]] of the manual before continuing here.
-== Sequences ==
+A pattern can contain multiple tracks, typically one for each different instrument and each with their own separate set of effects. Songs are created by arranging a sequence of patterns with the [[Pattern Sequencer]] and the [[Pattern Matrix]]. So, a pattern is normally used to represent a specific section of a song that may be repeated again in future. The length and speed of a pattern can be changed, so the exact nature of a specific pattern can vary wildly depending on the whims of the composer.
-Multiple Patterns make up a sequence, which can be chained to a song. This is how you create songs in Renoise: by chaining patterns in the [[Pattern Sequencer]].
+You may find it useful to watch [https://youtu.be/L1Ytodmo1OA a video about the various track types].
+[[Image:3.2_patterneditor.png]]
-== Patterns ==
-Horizontally, a pattern consist out of multiple tracks. Tracks have their own unique set of [[Track DSPs]] and a subset of columns. In columns you do place notes or effects for each tracks.
+== Track Types ==
-Vertically, patterns are divided into lines. Lines are the time axis in patterns; you write down notes and effects vertically. Every pattern can have a varying number of lines.
+There are four different types of track in the Renoise Pattern Editor:
+=== Tracks ===
-== Tracks ==
+[[Image:3.2_patterneditor-track.png]]
-There are three different types of track in Renoise:
+These standard tracks are where you record notes onto the lines of a [[Tracker Interface#Columns|Note Column]]. Each track also features [[Tracker Interface#Columns|Effect Columns]], which are used to apply [[Effect Commands]] to instruments and to control [[Effect Chains|Track Effects]].
-=== Sequencer Tracks ===
+=== Group Tracks ===
-[[Image:vvoois_renoise_note_track.png]]
+[[Image:3.2_patterneditor-group.png]]
-Sequencer tracks are tracks which can play instruments, thus they contain note columns to play and edit them.
+Used to group together similar Tracks, such as all percussion, all synths etc. The child tracks have their output automatically routed through the parent track, though you can change this with the [[Effect Chains#Pre_and_Post_Mixer_Effects|Pre Mixer]]. This means that [[Effect Chains|Track Effects]], [[Graphical Automation|Automation]] and [[Effect Commands]] used in the Group Track will affect the audio coming from the regular Tracks contained within it. Notes cannot be entered into Group Tracks and so they only feature [[Tracker Interface#Columns|Master FX]] columns.
-They also have effect columns to apply effect command for the instruments and to control a Tracks DSP chain.
 === Send Tracks ===
-[[Image:vvoois_renoise_send_track.png]]
+[[Image:3.2_patterneditor-send.png]]
-A send track is used to apply the same set of Track DSPs on multiple tracks at once. Thus they only have effect columns to control their DSPs. Send Tracks are feed from other tracks with “Send Devices”.
+Send Tracks are fed audio from other tracks using [[Routing_Devices#.23Send_Device|Send Devices]] and are typically used to apply the same set of [[Effect Chains|Track Effects]] to multiple tracks at once, though there is a whole range of possibilities for creatively complex routing. Notes cannot be entered into Send Tracks and so they only feature [[Tracker Interface#Columns|Master FX]] columns.
+You may find it useful to watch our video covering the subject of [https://youtu.be/jChkwB8b7to Send Tracks & Devices].
 === Master Track ===
-[[Image:vvoois_renoise_master_track.png]]
+[[Image:3.2_patterneditor-master.png]]
-The master track is the track where all other tracks sum up. So placing effects on the master track will appy the whole song, all tracks. Just like a send track it has no note columns, can not play notes, so it only has effect columns to control its Track DSPs.
-=== Adding / Removing / Duplicating and Reordering Tracks ===
-To add or remove tracks, you can use the “Edit” → “Insert New Track” (“Control/Command” + T) and “Edit” → “Delete Track” (“Control/Command + Shift” + T) commands from the main menu. When the current cursor is on the master of send track, a send track will be added, else a sequencer track will be added.
-To organize and reposition your tracks, you can simply drag them around in the Pattern Editor or [[Mixer]]. To do so, click and drag on a tracks name on top of the pattern editor, then move the track to the desired new position and drop it.
-To Duplicate tracks, you can again use the “Edit” → “Duplicate Track” options in the main menu.
-== Columns ==
-There are two types of columns in tracks:
-# Note columns, to place and edit notes and instruments.
-# effect columns to apply effects.
-Note columns have several sub columns: a column to place notes and instruments: a volume volume, a panning column and finally a delay column.
-Effect columns have two sub columns: The first one is used to address an effect, the other one to setup an effects value, like set cutoff to 100%.
-=== Adding / Removing Columns ===
-To add or remove note- or effect columns, you can use the small +/- icons on top of the tracks where also the track names are. Alternatively you can also use the shortcut CONTROL/COMMAND+SHIFT+ right or left arrow keys to either add/remove note or effect column depending where the edit cursor is placed.
-'''Pleae Note: All numbers in the sub columns (except notes) are notated in hexadecimal (we count from 0 to 16 instead of from 0 to 10).''' If this is the first time you hear about this, please make your self familiar with this [[Hexadecimal|here]] first. Why uses Renoise hexadecimal numbers? Because hexadecimal notation is very suitable for music, and once you've used it its actually not that hard to understand.
-=== Sub ''Note'' Columns ===
-* '''Note:''' such as: C-4 or A#3. The first letters are the musical note number, the last letter is the octave. You do not write down notes like in a text editor letter by letter, but with the virtual keyboard piano or a MIDI master keyboard.
-* '''Instrument Number:''' The instrument that should be triggered for the specified note. You can edit the instrument number by hand, but it will be .
-* '''Volume:''' a notes velocity, volume (0-80) or effects that apply to the notes next to it like retriggers, volume fades and so on. More about this can be found in the Patter Effect Commnds section in this manual.
-* '''Panning: '''the panorama for the currently placed note or again a set of commands which are applied to the notes left to it. Panorama values are valid from 0–80 (00=left, 40=center, 80=right). Please note that panning in pan columns only is applied to sample based instruments in Renoise. Note specific panorama values can not be transferred over the MIDI protocol that is used for external synthesizers or plug-in instruments.
-* '''Delay: '''This column can shift the notes left to it within a lines timing, delay it. Delays are specified in fractions of 255 (FF in hexadecimal).
-By default the panning and delay column are not visible in the tracks, because they are not so often used. To hide them or make them visible, you can use the keyboard shortcuts CONTROL/COMMAND + SHIFT '''+ V (Volume), P (Panning), D (Delay)'''.''' '''Or you can press the corresponding buttons in the pattern editors track control bar on the bottom of the editor: [[Image:vvoois_renoise_pc_track.png]]
-=== Sub ''Effect'' Columns ===
-* '''Effect Number: '''Two digits define the effect that should be triggered (like a cutoff parameter in a DSP effect or a sample effect like pitch glide). Please see [[Pattern Effect Commands]] reference for more.
-* '''Effect Value: '''The next two digits defines the effects value, amount. For a cutoff parameter change command the frequency, for a sample glide command how fast the glide happens.
-== Lines ==
-Every pattern can have its own length in lines. To setup or change this, you can do so with the small number on the top left of the Pattern Editor:
-[[Image:vvoois_renoise_pattern_editor_setting_pattern_length.gif]]
-As you see in the picture above, each 4th line gets highlighted in teh pattern. Those highlights do show you by default how many lines make up a beat in Renoise:
-=== Lines, Beats and Pattern Resolution ===
-How many Lines make up a beat, which resolution your patterns should have, is set up via the [[Transport Panels]] Lines Per Beat setting. The higher the LPB setting, the more notes or effects you can place individually for a beat, the higher the resolution. By default the LPB is 4, which means when placing a note on every highlighted line, you get a simple 4/4 beat in a pattern which is 16 lines long.
-When working with time signatures other than 4/4, it's useful to set your LPB to a factor of the time signature nominator. So for example, when working at 3/4 you should use an LPB of 6, 12 or 24. When working at 5/4 you can use an LPB of 5, 10, or 20, etc. This will allow you to place your notes on exact pattern lines without having to delay notes with the delay column.
+The Master Track is where all audio produced by the other tracks finally ends up, so effects placed here will therefore affect the output of the entire song. To help manage the master signal, the [[Effect_Chains#Pre_and_Post_Mixer_Effects|Post-Mixer device]] in the Master Track has a few more options than the other tracks. Notes cannot be entered into the Master Track and so it only features [[Tracker Interface#Columns|Master FX]] columns.
-How many lines should be used for a beat, actually is totally up to you. No one forces you to treat lines like beats at all. The only case where this actually is needed, is when Renoise interacts with other beat based instruments or sequencers, like plug-ins which use beat timings, or when syncing a Renoise song with other applications via ReWire.
-You can also customize the highlighting in the pattern editor to not show the LPB values. This is done in the [[Song Settings]] tab.
+== Track Options ==
+=== Muting Tracks ===
-== Editing and Navigating in Patterns: ==
+An individual track can be muted by left-clicking on the 'Play' text underneath its name. Clicking again will un-mute it. Right-clicking a track's 'Play' text will solo it, muting all of the others so that only the audio from that track is heard. Right-clicking again will un-mute the other tracks. Similar operations can be performed on the [[Track_Scopes#Mouse_Operations|Track Scopes]].
-!! Before anything can be written, recorded into the Pattern Editor, you have to tun on the global edit mode. This is done via the ESC key, or by hitting the record button in the Transport Panel.!!
+<!-- RENOISE_NO_PDF_START -->
+[[image:3.2_patterneditor-mutingtracks.gif]]
+<!-- RENOISE_NO_PDF_STOP -->
-=== Basic Shortcuts ===
+=== Organising Tracks ===
-To navigate around in the pattern you do use your keyboard. Basically it works like writing text in a text editor, so the right arrow key moves the cursor position to the right, left to the left, the page buttons to jump quarter wise and so on.
+Any track can be renamed by double-clicking on its name and typing in a new one. This is also true for [[Tracker Interface#Columns|Note Columns]].
-To quickly jump the the next note column, you can use the TAB key. SHIFT + TAB will jump back to the previous note column.
+To add or remove tracks, you can use the ''"Edit->Insert Track" (Left Control/Command + T)'' and ''"Edit->Delete Track" (Left Control/Command + Left Shift + T)'' commands from the menu in the Upper Status Bar. If the currently selected track is a regular Track, then a new Track will be added to the right of it. If the currently selected track is a Send Track or the Master Track, then another Send Track will be added.
-F9, F10,F11 and F12 will quick set the line to the beginning, first quarter, half, last quarter of the pattern.
+To add a group track, use the ''"Edit->Insert Group" (Left Control/Command + G)'' command or drag one track onto another while holding down Alt. This will create a new group and add both tracks to it.
-To select something you can hold down the SHIFT key while moving around in the pattern with the keys. This can also be done with the mouse. The selection also uses the the standard Cut/Copy/Paste keys you know from other applications: CONTROL/COMMAND + X (Cut), C (Copy), V (Paste).
+To reposition a track left-click and hold the button on its name, then drag the track to either side. This can be done in both the Pattern Editor and the [[Mixer]]. You can also move tracks by using the ''Ctrl/Command + Alt + Left/Right'' shortcuts.
-Alternatively to the shift key you can also start a selection with CONTROL/COMMAND + B and end it with CONTROL/COMMAND + E.
+<!-- RENOISE_NO_PDF_START -->
+[[image:3.2_patterneditor-orderingtracks.gif]]
+<!-- RENOISE_NO_PDF_STOP -->
+To duplicate tracks, you can use the ''"Edit->Duplicate Track" (Left Control/Command + D)'' command from the menu in the Upper Status Bar.
-=== Column/Track/Selection/Pattern Shortcuts ===
+=== Collapsing Tracks ===
-To quickly edit copy and paste in the pattern editor, you should memorize the basic editing shortcuts for different sections of a pattern:
+To collapse a track, press the small arrow to the left of the track's name. This just hides most of its information; the track will still play as normal. You can collapse a Group of tracks in the same way and also collapse ''the Group's'' [[Tracker Interface#Columns|Master FX]] column using the arrow to the right of its name.
-* F1 + ''MODIFIER'': Transpose one Note Down
-* F2 + ''MODIFIER'': Transpose one Note Up
-* F3 + ''MODIFIER'': Cut
-* F4 + ''MODIFIER'': Copy
-* F5 + ''MODIFIER'': Paste
-* F6 + ''MODIFIER'': Flip
-* F11+ ''MODIFIER'': Transpose one Octave Down
-* F12 + ''MODIFIER'': Transpose one Octave Up
-Where ''MODIFIER is:''
+Using [[#Pattern Editor Control Panel|Single Track Edit Mode]] will cause all of the tracks and groups to collapse, except for the track that the cursor is currently in. Moving the cursor to other tracks while in this mode will automatically expand those tracks and collapse the one you were previously in.
-* '''ALT: '''Selection in the Pattern
-* '''SHIFT: '''Current Track
-* '''CONTROL: '''Whole Pattern
-* '''CONTROL + SHIFT: '''Current Column
-=== Drag & Drop of Selections ===
+<!-- RENOISE_NO_PDF_START -->
+[[Image:3.2_patterneditor-collapsingtracks.gif]]
+<!-- RENOISE_NO_PDF_STOP -->
-To quickly move and copy selection of notes or effects you can also use the mouse: First mark something in the pattern, the click and hold on the selected area with the mouse button. Then drag the selection to a new position. Holding down the CONTROL/COMMAND key while dropping will copy the selection instead of moving it.
+=== Changing Track Colors ===
+To change the color of a track, left-click on the color slot above the track name. Using the color picker you can move around the grid to choose a color, while the left-hand slider controls the saturation value. You can also pick colors from the available swatches or right click on a swatch to save the current color to it. The ''"Background Blend"'' slider controls the amount of color present in the track's background. Enabling ''"Apply to all tracks"'' will apply the slider value to all of the tracks at once.
-== Recording of Notes into Patterns ==
+[[image:3.2_patterneditor-colours.png]]
-Instead of editing notes step by step you can of course also simply record what you play. This is done by playing back the song, enabling edit mode and then recording the notes you play. For a more detailed description take a look at the [[Recording and Editing Notes]] section in this manual.
-== Recording of Effects ==
+== Pattern Editor Control Panel ==
-Just like notes, to quickly record DSP parameters changes into pattern, you can click and drag any slider in the Track DSPs with the right mouse button. Again have a look at [[Pattern_Effect_Commands#Recording_and_Editing_Pattern_Effects|Recording and Editing Pattern Effects]] for a detailed description of this topic please.
+At the bottom of the Pattern Editor is the control panel:
-== Applying Effects ==
+[[Image:3.2_patterneditor-controlpanel.png]]
-Finally, to get an overview of the available sample and other effects that are edited in the effect columns, have a look at [[Pattern Effect Commands]] please.
+* '''Single Track Edit Mode:''' When enabled, all tracks will be collapsed except for the currently selected track.
+* '''Pattern Wrap Mode:''' Toggle what will happen upon reaching the end of a pattern when [[Recording_and_Editing_Notes#Entering_Notes_Step_By_Step|entering notes step-by-step]] in Edit Mode. When enabled, the cursor will move to the top of the next pattern in the sequence. When disabled, the cursor will move back to the top of the current pattern.
+* '''Pattern Automation Recording Mode:''' When enabled, [[Effect_Commands#Device_Commands|right-clicked]] and [[MIDI Mapping|MIDI mapped]] parameters are recorded into [[Graphical Automation|Automation]] instead of the track's [[Tracker Interface#Columns|Master FX Column]].
+* '''Quantize Controls:''' Toggle live quantization. The value box to the right specifies the quantization value in lines. Use the drop-down menu next to the value box to manually quantize a selected area of the current pattern after recording. Quantization is covered in-depth [https://youtu.be/dGkoKWA-2Dg in this video].
+* '''Edit Step:''' Set how many lines the cursor will skip down in the Pattern Editor when entering a note or effect.
+* '''Vol/Pan/Dly/FX:''' Toggle the [[Tracker Interface#Columns|volume, panning, delay and Local FX sub-columns]] for the currently selected track.
+* '''FX Drop-down Menu:''' Quickly show and insert [[Effect Commands]].

Pattern Editor: Difference between revisions