Pattern Matrix

From Renoise User Manual
Revision as of 14:25, 19 February 2010 by imported>Achenar
Jump to: navigation, search

Pattern Matrix

Overview

To open the Pattern Matrix, click the "P<>M" button at the upper left corner of the Pattern Editor:

File:Vvoois matrix enable.png

The Matrix is a "bird's eye view" of the patterns and tracks in the pattern sequence. Patterns and tracks are divided into blocks that can be moved, copied and pasted, enabling you to manage the flow of the music quickly and easily.

The Pattern Matrix also allows the muting of different tracks in duplicate patterns (indicated with a cross in the picture below). This way it is possible to create a whole song (or song draft) from a single pattern. Starting with one pattern containing many tracks, you can repeat this pattern again and again in the sequencer, but then mute individual blocks to build up the song structure. Later on you can create new patterns from the original to add variations.

File:Vvoois matrix overview.png


Matrix Blocks

When you input data into a track in the Pattern Editor, a coloured block automatically appears in the current track and sequence position in the Pattern Matrix.

File:Vvoois matrix slot.png

The blocks can be re-sized by clicking the small and large square icons under the "P<>M" button:

File:Vvoois matrix resize.png

Left-clicking these icons changes the height of the blocks. Right-clicking these icons changes the width of the blocks.


Drag and Drop

File:Vvoois matrix drag drop.png

To move a block from one place to another, select a block by left-clicking and releasing, then dragging and dropping it into the desired place.

Hold down "Control/Command" while dragging to copy blocks instead of just moving them.
Hold down "Control/Command + Shift" while dragging to copy the blocks and place into a newly created pattern.


Selection & Mouse

To select multiple blocks at once, you can click on an unselected block, hold and drag. Alternatively, holding down "Shift" before clicking allows you to select a range of blocks. "Control/Command" + Click: removes/adds single blocks.

For example, with these key combinations you could select everything from Track 1 to Track 5, then exclude a single block in Track 2.


Muting Blocks

"Alt + left-click" or middle-click on blocks to mute/un-mute. This also works for muting/un-muting multiple selected blocks at once.

This key and mouse combination also works in the Track Scopes.


Basic Shortcuts

  • Clone selected blocks into new patterns with "Control/Command + K".
  • "Control/Command + I" instead of "Control/Command + V" to insert instead of pasting.
  • "Control/Command + SHIFT + Arrow Up/Down" to quickly select multiple rows.
  • "Alt + P" and "Alt + T" to select the whole Pattern or Track.
  • To bring Focus to the Pattern Editor, hit "ESC". To bring Focus back to the Pattern Matrix, hit "Shift + ESC".


Visualization Options

With the context menu you can chose to show or hide the Track Names, the colours, and the VU Meters. Right-click in the Pattern Matrix to view the context menu. Change the options to whatever you feel is best.

File:Vvoois matrix view options.png

Also, if you activate “Visualize Repeating Slots” in the context menu, a tiny icon indicating repeating content will be shown in the slot(s).

File:Vvoois matrix repeat.png

When the repeating content spans many slots, a gradation will be applied to the color of the slots.


Colouring Blocks

By default, blocks are coloured equally per track. To change a tracks colour, click on the small colour indicator on top of the matrix track.

File:Vvoois matrix colors.png

But each block can also be colourised individually. To do this select one or more blocks, then right click them and select "Set Custom Color..." in the context menu. These colours will be sticky to the blocks when copy pasting them or when copying.