As requested previously by others (ie @auxilix @tonedef_scaler), it would be great to be able to edit, “save as” Motions and create own ones. Indeed, Motion list is definitely cool but huge and it would be probably quicker for me to draw exactly what I need.
For example, when I press notes in Sketch 1, I may want a Rhythm with Chord/Triad and Bass notes on beat 1, Chord/Triad only on beat 3 and nothing special on beat 2 and 4. And in Sketch 2, I may test a variation with Bass in Beat 1 and 3. Even if Expressions-Rhythm-Common 9 isn’t far, I wasn’t able to find what I need in the list.
Would show a bit like this in Scaler Motion list :
I definitely know that I can create an Expression track in the Arrange page and adapt it but what I need is to use it in the Sketch Page so I can test the different motions, trigger different Sketches with automation Bind Zone, use it directly on other projects, etc.
Also, even if the Motion list is great, the drawing of the list may deserve “une pincée” of clarity because initially I though Expressions-Rhythm-Common 12 would be almost ok but the motion is actually cut between beats 1/2 and 3/4. Even when zooming, these cuts are sometimes hard to see.
I think we can all agree on your feedback points. There’s a few challenges we need to get through before we allow (which will happen at some stage) editing and saving Motions. The main issue we have is knowing where to anchor a motion and allow the modifiers to still respond as expected when changing the main track chords. We’ve got some solid ideas but need to solve some other challenges first!
It wouldn’t be the end of the world if there was a reduced set of modifiers for user motions, or even no modifiers, if that makes it easier to implement.
How about having limited editing capability of existing motions? So we could split, join, lengthen, shorten, add or delete notes but be limited to using only the notes that already exist. For example if a motion only has root, root+4 and root+7 notes we can do anything we like on those “lines” but nothing on the others. So the motion keeps its anchor and, presumably, the existing modifiers will still work.
The second of these would probably keep me working in S3 for longer rather than moving to DAW-land. I quite often want to swap or adjust the length of a couple of notes at the end of a 4 bar sequence to make a turnaround or to lead into the next bit. I do it in the DAW but that is prone to error (although I still have ears…)
Yes @boingy indeed we are thinking along those lines. Once we have 3.2 released this is a puzzle we would like to solve - so the focus for 3.3 can be detection improvement and detached / editable motion improvement. That’s the plan!
To be able to create your own motions is essential for the way Im using scaler.
When Im creating a song, at the beggining I dont use the arragment timeline. I just select a bunch of chord candidates that i like but still is not clear and i need to test them together.
Im using the motions (activating the performace option in the piano keyboard) with several Scaler instances, so i have one instance making the bass, i.e. other instance taking care of the rythm piano chords, … All of them follows the single key press (keys lock activated) on the fly. In this way I have nearly the whole ‘virtual’ band following the chord dictated by the master instance on the fly. This helps me a lot to decide about the chord progression I want to use for the song.
Very frequently Im limited by the motions that comes with Scaler, that are a lot, but sometimes are not exactly what I need. It would be amazing to be able to create a custom bass line, or a custom guitar rythm pattern and make them follow the chord.
With this, Scaler could be my ideal composition tool.
