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<A NAME="CHILD_LINKS"><STRONG>Subsections</STRONG></A>
<UL>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html409"
HREF="node6.html#SECTION00610000000000000000">Creating A Groove</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html410"
HREF="node6.html#SECTION00620000000000000000">Using A Groove</A>
<UL>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html411"
HREF="node6.html#SECTION00621000000000000000">Overlay Grooves</A>
</UL>
<BR>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html412"
HREF="node6.html#SECTION00630000000000000000">Deleting Grooves</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html413"
HREF="node6.html#SECTION00640000000000000000">Library Issues</A>
</UL>
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<HR>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00600000000000000000"></A>
<A NAME="sec-grooves"></A>
<BR>
Grooves
</H1>
<P>
Grooves, in some ways, are
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> 's answer to macros...but
they are cooler, easier to use, and have a more musical name.
<P>
Really, though, a groove is just a simple mechanism for saving and
restoring a set of patterns and sequences. Using grooves it is easy to
create sequence libraries which can be incorporated into your songs
with a single command.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00610000000000000000">
Creating A Groove</A>
</H1>
<P>
A groove can be created at anytime in an input file with the command:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>DefGroove SlowRhumba </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
Optionally, you can include a documentation string to the end of this
command:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>DefGroove SlowRumba A descriptive comment! </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
A groove name can include any character, including digits and
punctuation. However, it cannot include a space character (used as a
delimiter) or a '/'<A NAME="tex2html32"
HREF="#foot2578"><SUP>6.1</SUP></A>, nor can consist solely of digits<A NAME="tex2html33"
HREF="#foot2662"><SUP>6.2</SUP></A>
<P>
In normal operation the documentation strings are ignored. However,
when
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> is run with the -Dx command line option these strings are
printed to the terminal screen in L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X format. The standard library
document is generated from this data. The comments <I>must</I> be
suitable for L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X: this means that special symbols like ``#'',
``&'', etc. must be ``quoted'' with a preceding `` \''.
<P>
At this point the following information is saved:
<P>
<UL>
<LI>Current Sequence size,
</LI>
<LI>The current sequence for each track,
</LI>
<LI>Time setting (quarter notes per bar),
</LI>
<LI>``Accent'',
</LI>
<LI>``Articulation'' settings for each track,
</LI>
<LI>``Compress'',
</LI>
<LI>``Direction'',
</LI>
<LI>``DupRoot'',
</LI>
<LI>``Harmony'',
</LI>
<LI>``HarmonyOnly'',
</LI>
<LI>``HarmonyVolume'',
</LI>
<LI>``Invert'',
</LI>
<LI>``Limit'',
</LI>
<LI>``Mallet'' (rate and decay),
</LI>
<LI>``MidiSeq'',
</LI>
<LI>``MidiVoice'',
</LI>
<LI>``MidiClear''
</LI>
<LI>``NoteSpan'',
</LI>
<LI>``Octave'',
</LI>
<LI>``Range'',
</LI>
<LI>``RSkip'',
</LI>
<LI>``Rtime'',
</LI>
<LI>``Rvolume'',
</LI>
<LI>``Scale'',
</LI>
<LI>``SeqRnd'', globally and for each track,
</LI>
<LI>``SeqRndWeight'', globally and for each track,
</LI>
<LI>``Strum'',
</LI>
<LI>``SwingMode'' Status and Skew,
</LI>
<LI>``Time Signature'',
</LI>
<LI>``Tone'' for drum tracks,
</LI>
<LI>``Unify'',
</LI>
<LI>``Voice'',
</LI>
<LI>``VoicingCenter'',
</LI>
<LI>``VoicingMode'',
</LI>
<LI>``VoicingMove'',
</LI>
<LI>``VoicingRange'',
</LI>
<LI>``Volume'' for tracks and master,
</LI>
<LI>``VolumeRatio''.
<P>
</LI>
</UL>
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00620000000000000000">
Using A Groove</A>
</H1>
<P>
You can restore a previously defined groove at anytime in your song
with:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Groove Name </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
At this point all of the previously saved information is restored.
<P>
A few cautions:
<P>
<UL>
<LI>Pattern definitions are <I>not</I> saved in grooves. Redefining
a pattern results in a new pattern definition. Sequences use the
pattern definition in effect when the sequence is declared.
<P>
</LI>
<LI>The ``SeqSize'' setting is restored with a groove. The sequence
point is also reset to bar 1. If you have multi-bar sequences,
restoring a groove may upset your idea of the sequence pattern.
<P>
</LI>
</UL>
<P>
To make life (infinitely) more interesting, you can specify more than
one previously defined groove. In this case the next groove is
selected after each bar. For example:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Groove Tango LightTango LightTangoSus LightTango </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
would create the following bars:
<P>
<OL>
<LI>Tango
</LI>
<LI>LightTango
</LI>
<LI>LightTangoSus
</LI>
<LI>LightTango
</LI>
<LI>Tango
</LI>
</OL>
<P>
Note how the groove pattern wraps around to the first one when the
list is exhausted. There is no way to select an item from the list,
except by going though it.
<P>
You might find this handy if you have a piece with an alternating time
signature. For example, you might have a <B>3/4</B> <B>4/4</B>
song. Rather than creating a 2 bar groove, you could do something
like:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Groove Groove34 Groove44 </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
For long lists you can use the ``/'' to repeat the last groove in the
list. The example above could be written:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Groove Tango LightTango LightTangoSus / </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
When you use the ``list'' feature of G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>s you should be
aware of what happens with the bar sequence number. Normally the
sequence number is incremented after each bar is processed; and, when
a new groove is selected the sequence number is reset (see S<SMALL>EQ</SMALL>,
<A HREF="node21.html#seqnumber">discussed here)</A>. When
you use a list which changes the G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL> after each bar the
sequence number is reset after each bar ...with one exeption: if
the same G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL> is being used for two or more bars the sequence
will not be reset.<A NAME="tex2html34"
HREF="#foot2663"><SUP>6.3</SUP></A>
<P>
Another way to select G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>s is to use a list of grooves with a leading value. This lets you select the G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL> to use based on the value of a variable ...handy if you want different sounds for repeated sections. Again, an example:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Set loop 1 // create counter with value of 1
<BR>
Repeat
<BR> Groove $loop BossaNovaSus BossaNova1Sus BossaNovaFill
<BR> print This is loop $Loop ... Groove is $_Groove
<BR> 1 A / Am
<BR> Inc Loop // Bump the counter value
<BR>
RepeatEnd 4
</B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
If you use this option, make sure the value of the counter is greater than 0. Also, note that the values larger than the list count are ``looped'' to be valid. The use of ``/''s for repeated names is also permitted. For an example have a look at the file <TT><B>grooves.mma</B></TT>, included in this distribution. You could get the same results with various ``if'' statements, but this is easier.
<P>
<H2><A NAME="SECTION00621000000000000000">
Overlay Grooves</A>
</H2>
<P>
To make the creation of variations easier, you can use G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>
in a track setting:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Scale Groove Funny </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
In this case only the information saved in the corresponding
D<SMALL>EF</SMALL>G<SMALL>ROOVE </SMALL>F<SMALL>UNNY</SMALL> for the S<SMALL>CALE</SMALL> track will be restored.
You might think of this as a ``groove overlay''. Have a look at the
sample song ``Yellow Bird'' for an example.
<P>
When restoring track grooves, as in the above example, the
S<SMALL>EQ</SMALL>S<SMALL>IZE</SMALL> is not reset. The sequence size of the restored track
is adjusted to fit the current sequence size setting.
<P>
One caution with these ``overlays'' is that no check is done to see if
the track you're using exists. Yes, the G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL> must have been
defined, but not the track. Huh? Well, you need to know a bit about
how
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> parses files and how it handles new tracks. When
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> reads
a line in a file it first checks to see if the first word on the line
is a simple command like P<SMALL>RINT</SMALL>, MIDI or any other
command which doesn't require a leading trackname. If it is, the
appropriate function is called and file parsing continues. If it is
not a simple command
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> tests to see if it is a track specific
command. But to do that, it first has to test the first word to see if
it is a valid track name like <I>Bass</I> or <I>Chord-Major</I>. And,
if it is a valid track name and that track doesn't exist, the track is
created...this is done <I>before</I> the rest of the command is
processed. So, if you have a command like:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Bass-Foo Groove Something </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
and you really meant to type:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Bass-Foe Groove Something </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
you'll have a number of things happening:
<P>
<OL>
<LI>The track <I>Bass-Foo</I> will be created. This is not an issue
to be concerned over since no data will be created for this new
track unless you set a S<SMALL>EQUENCE</SMALL> for it.
<P>
</LI>
<LI>As part of the creation, all the existing G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>s will
have the <I>Bass-Foo</I> track (with its default/empty settings)
added to them.
<P>
</LI>
<LI>And the current setting you think you're modifying with the
<I>Bass-Foe</I> settings will be created with the <I>Bass-Foo</I>
settings (which are nothing).
<P>
</LI>
<LI>Eventually you'll wonder why
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> isn't working.
<P>
</LI>
</OL>
<P>
So, be very careful using this command option. Check your spelling.
And use the P<SMALL>RINT</SMALL>A<SMALL>CTIVE</SMALL> command to verify your G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>
creations. A basic test is done by
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> when you use a G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>
in this manner and if the sequence for the named track is not defined
you will get a warning.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00630000000000000000">
Deleting Grooves</A>
</H1>
<P>
There are times when you might want
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> to forget about all the
G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>s in its memory. Just do a:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>GrooveClear </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
at any point in your input file and that is exactly what happens. But,
``why,'' you may ask, ``would one want to do this?'' One case would be
to force the re-reading of a library file. For example, a library file
might have a user setting like:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>If Ndef ChordVoice
<BR>
Set ChordVoice Piano1
<BR>
Endif </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
In this case you could set the variable ``ChordVoice'' before loading
any of the G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>s in the file. All works! Now, assume that you
have a repeated section and want to change the voice. Simply changing
the variable <I>does not work</I>. The library file isn't re-read
since the exisiting G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL> data is already in memory. Using
G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>C<SMALL>LEAR</SMALL> erases the existing data and forces a re-reading of
the library file.
<P>
Please note that low-level setting like MIDI track assignments are
<I>not</I> changed by this command.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00640000000000000000">
Library Issues</A>
</H1>
<P>
If you are using a groove from a library file, you just need to do
something like:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Groove Rhumba2 </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
at the appropriate position in your input file.
<P>
One minor problem which <I>may</I> arise is that more than one library
file has defined the same groove name. This might happen if you have a
third-party library file. For the proposes of this example, lets
assume that the standard library file ``rhumba.mma'' and a second file
``xyz-rhumba.mma'' both define the groove ``Rhumba2''. The
<A HREF="node24.html#lib-use">auto-load</A> routines
which search the library database will load the first ``Rhumba2'' it
finds, and the search order cannot be determined. To overcome this
possible problem, do a explicit loading of the correct file. In this
case, simply do:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Use xyz-rhumba </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
near the top of your file. And if you wish to switch to the groove
defined in the standard file, you can always do:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Use rhumba </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
just before the groove call. The U<SMALL>SE</SMALL> will read the specified
file and overwrite the old definition of ``Rhumba2'' with its own.
<P>
This issue in covered in more detail on page <A HREF="node24.html#library-maint"><IMG ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="1" ALT="[*]" SRC="crossref.png"></A>
of this manual.
<BR><HR><H4>Footnotes</H4>
<DL>
<DT><A NAME="foot2578">... '/'</A><A
HREF="node6.html#tex2html32"><SUP>6.1</SUP></A></DT>
<DD>The '/' is reserved for future
enhancements.
</DD>
<DT><A NAME="foot2662">... digits</A><A
HREF="node6.html#tex2html33"><SUP>6.2</SUP></A></DT>
<DD><B>12345</B> and <B>2</B> are invalid; <B>11foo11</B> and <B>a2-2</B> are permitted.
</DD>
<DT><A NAME="foot2663">... reset.</A><A
HREF="node6.html#tex2html34"><SUP>6.3</SUP></A></DT>
<DD>Actually,
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> checks to see the next
G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL> in the list is the same as the current one, and if it
is then no change is done.
</DD>
</DL><HR>
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2007-03-07
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