Regions

Regions

A track can consist of any number of regions. There are some advantages using several shorter regions on a track compared to a long single region:

• Reuse an audio file in several regions to save memory and download time
• Make seamless transitions for instruments with transients and audio tails i.e. drums
• Make random patterns using regions and Random Variations

Use this syntax to create a loopTrack with four regions: Note: Set fadeTime="0" and bounce the audio files with audio tails to make all regions play their full length and blend smoothly with each other.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<imusic version="1.0" tempo="60" timeSign="4/4" audioPath="audio" suffix="mp3" loopLength="4">
  <arrangement>
    <track fadeTime="0">
      <region src="dr_bar1"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar2"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar3"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar4"></region>
    </track>  
  </arrangement> 
</imusic>

Length

A region is one bar by default one bar long but this can be changed with "partLength" on the track element or "length" on the region element.

i.e. every region is two bars:

    <track partLength="2">
      <region src="dr_bar1"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar3"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar5"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar7"></region>
    </track>

Different regions with different length

    <track>
      <region length="1" src="dr_bar1"></region>
      <region length="2" src="dr_bar2"></region>
      <region length="2" src="dr_bar4"></region>
      <region length="1" src="dr_bar6"></region>
    </track>

Position

A region can be placed on any position. The format is bar.beat.division.

i.e. "1" = bar 1 "1.3" = bar 1, beat 3 "1.3.50" = bar 1, beat 3, second eight note (50% of a beat if the time signature is set to quarter notes)

<region pos="1.3" src="SN"></region>

Upbeat and audio tail

A region can contain any audio before the barline (upbeat) and any data after the length (audio tail). The best result for a drum track is to make sure the decay of the drum sound from the last beat is inluded in the audio file. To make sure the audio tail is played back correctly, please set the fadeTime to 0

i.e. a track with four regions (three repeats plus a fill) with a preroll of 1/16th note and the audio tail being played back correctly (without crossfading):

    <track loopEnd="4">
      <region upbeat="1/8" src="dr_bar1"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar2"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar3"></region>
      <region src="dr_bar4"></region>
    </track>