Virtual Instruments Sequencer
Compose songs with the Virtual Instruments sequencer: from input of notes to sound generation the sequencer provides all functions. This manual explains the individual functions.
By default, the sequencer's demo version is included in the Aubade Audio Studio. In the full version of Aubade, however, you can unlock the full functionality of the sequencer by means of an in-app purchase.
Overview
A song consists of one or more patterns. The notes of a pattern are entered via the Piano Roll Editor.
In the Playlist, the song is composed of the individual patterns.
When you leave the Virtual Instruments sequencer, the audio signal is generated on the track that you used to call the sequencer.
Pattern
Tap a pattern tab to open the pattern. There you see the input grid of the Piano Roll Editor, which is described below.
Piano Roll Editor
Add a Note
You can insert a new note by tapping into the grid at the desired location.
The note is created according to the snap settings. For example, if the snap is set to 1/2 beat and you have a 4/4 beat (1 beat = 1/4 note), then an eighth note is generated, which is aligned to the eighth note grid.
The velocity of the newly created note is equal to the Default Velocity set in the main menu.
Move a Note
By touch & hold you can release a note from the grid, then move it. So, touch the note until its color changes to green and then move it without releasing the note. Once the note is ready to move, haptic feedback is generated (some devices do not support this function).
While moving, you will be shown which grid point the note would be placed on if you were to release it now. If the note intersects with another note in the grid, it is displayed in red and can not be placed there. If you still release it, the note jumps back to the initial position.
Resize a Note
Tap a note to highlight it for editing. Around the note appear different input elements.
Use the handles on the left and right of the note to change the note length. The currently set snap raster also applies here.
Edit the Velocity of a Note
Tap a note to highlight it for editing. Around the note appear different input elements.
Then tap the button with the percentage (the current velocity value is displayed here) and use the number picker to choose a new velocity value.
Remove a Note
Tap a note to highlight it for editing. Around the note appear different input elements.
Tap the button with the trash can icon to remove the note.
Snap
At the top right is the snap button. The snap value set there determines the grid for the notes. The length of newly set notes is determined by the current snap value, and when changing the note length, the length snaps to the raster.
Chord
On the right edge of the screen, below the snap button, is the Chord button for selecting a chord. Tap the button and then select a chord from the list.
In the input grid, tap on the root note of the chord. The remaining notes of the chord are then automatically generated above the root.
However, the chord will not be created unless all required notes are free. You must clear the notes in question to create the chord.
Note: The chord generator is only available in the full version of the Virtual Instruments Sequencer.
Scale the Grid
With the usual two-finger gesture, you can zoom in or out of the Piano Roll Editor.
Column Width
The current column width is displayed as an orientation aid at the bottom left.
Preview
At the bottom right is a preview button which allows you to listen to the pattern in advance.
The preview quality is not as good as the quality of the final audio signal, because for technical reasons different instrument samples are used.
Keyboard
A stylized keyboard is located to the left of the Piano Roll Editor.
The keyboard serves on the one hand as an orientation on the octave and the note within the octave; on the other hand, the note can also be played with the respective instrument by tapping on a key.
Note: Not every instrument has the full octave range. Some keys will not produce any sound.
Playlist
In the Playlist you define the sequence of the patterns.
To be able to generate an audio signal, the playlist must contain at least one entry.
Add an Entry
In the lower right corner of the screen is the button for adding list entries. Tap the button, then select a pattern and the number of repetitions. Instead of a pattern, silence can also be inserted.
Edit an Entry
Tap a list entry to edit it. You can then select a different pattern as well as change the number of repetitions.
Move an Entry
With Touch & Hold, you can release an entry from the list so that it can be moved to another list position by drag & drop.
Remove an Entry
You can remove an entry from the list with a swipe gesture to the left or right.
App Bar
The App Bar is located at the top of the screen. Here, various elements are summarized, which are described in the following.
Menu Button
The menu button (three horizontal lines) is located in the upper left corner of the screen. By tapping the menu button, the main menu opens from the left. You can also open the main menu by swiping from the left side of the screen to the right.
Song Title
In the upper line of the app bar, the current song title is shown next to the menu button.
Undo/Redo Buttons
In the upper line on the right are the undo and redo buttons. Allows you to undo or redo all actions in the Piano Roll Editor.
Tabs
You can access the Playlist and the patterns via the tabs in the second line of the App Bar. Use the rightmost tab to add more patterns.
Only in the full version of the Virtual Instruments sequencer can an unlimited number of patterns be created. In the demo version, the maximum number is limited to two.
When you tap the active tab, a pop-up menu opens with the following entries.
Delete notes
All notes of the Piano Roll Editor are deleted, so you can find an empty editor again.
Rename pattern
You can enter a new name for the pattern in the input field.
Delete pattern
The pattern is completely removed.
New pattern left
A new pattern is created to the left of the current pattern.
New pattern right
A new pattern is created to the right of the current pattern.
Main Menu
To open the main menu, swipe from the left edge of the screen to the right. You can also open it by pressing the menu icon at the top left.
The individual menu items are described below.
Generate & Quit
The instrument sequencer is terminated and the surface of Aubade appears again. All settings and notes are saved automatically.
The audio signal is then generated in the selected track.
In the DEMO version of Aubade, a maximum of 30 seconds of the song is generated. Likewise, in the full version of Aubade, unless you purchased the instrument sequencer via an in-app purchase, only 30 seconds of the song will be generated.
Quit
The instrument sequencer is terminated and the surface of Aubade appears again. All settings and notes are saved automatically.
New
A new song will be opened.
All settings and notes of the previous song will be saved automatically.
Open
Open a saved song. Select the desired song from the list.
Rename
Rename the current song. Enter the new name in the input field.
Make a copy
A copy of the current song is stored under a new name, with the current song still being active. A name for the song to be saved is suggested in the input field. You can accept this name or enter a different name.
Delete
Select the song you want to delete from the list. A security prompt will then appear asking if you really want to delete the song.
Instrument
Select the instrument for this song. By default two instruments are available, but you can download other instruments for free.
Level
Adjust the level of the generated audio signal. In the event that many notes are played at the same time, the audio signal may be overdriven. Conversely, the generated audio signal can also be too quiet.
The default setting for the level adjustment is 0 dB. This means that the audio signal is neither amplified nor attenuated. Positive dB values increase the level, negative dB values weaken the audio signal.
Default Velocity
The Default Velocity determines the velocity of the subsequently entered notes.
You can change the velocity of the individual notes afterwards by tapping the note, then tapping the note's Velocity button and setting the new value.
Tempo
Here you can set the tempo of the song in BPM (beats per minute).
Time Signature
You have a large selection of possible Time Signatures available. The set Time Signature applies to all patterns of the song.
Start Delay
The start delay is used to insert a certain amount of silence at the beginning of a track so that the audio signal does not start immediately after you pressed the play button.
More Instruments
By default two virtual instruments are included in the app. You can download additional instruments free of charge at this menu item.
In the selection dialog, select the instruments you want to download.
If you remove the already selected marking of an instrument, the instrument is deleted from your device. You can always download it again at any time.
Buy full version
The in-app purchase of the full version of the Virtual Instruments sequencer is only possible in the full version of Aubade. In the DEMO version of Aubade and also in the full version of Aubade, as long as you have not yet purchased the Virtual Instruments sequencer, the function of the Virtual Instruments sequencer is restricted. You can then edit a maximum of two patterns and generate an audio signal with a maximum length of 30 seconds.
Online manual
The menu item opens this online manual in your Internet browser.