Arranging

Arranging generally refers to the adaptation of a composition. Most often we are adapting an existing composition to an instrumentation-orchestration differing from that for which it was originally written. Arranging can also refer to the algorithmic re-use of data generated in one Track by another Track.

Canon Algorithm

The Canon algorithm, located on the ‘Arrange’ tab of the Algorithms Palette, is one of the most useful algorithms for Arranging. The Canon algorithm basically copies the contents of a target track into one or more tracks with programmable delay, transpose, and accuracy. (see Advanced Topic 4 for an example using the Canon to harmonize a melody). The Canon can be used to copy tracks as they are being generated or used with existing tracks.

Producing Arrangements from MIDI files

ArtSong automatically converts MIDI files into ArtSong project files and provides several algorithms which can be used to algorithmically generate arrangements. The algorithms most often used for arranging can be found on the ‘Arrange’ tab of the Algorithms Palette.

Load a MIDI file by selecting the ‘File Open’ button or menu item, select the MIDI file type (*.mid), select a file. And click OK. Loading a MIDI file automatically converts it into an ArtSong Project file as it is opened; each MIDI track is converted into an ArtSong Track component or Tempo Track (only one allowed) component.

In the figure below ArtSong has been launched (creating a default blank composition) followed by loading a a single track MIDI file (test.mid). The Window menu -> Tile Vertically menuitem has been selected so that both projects are visible in the Main Workspace.

Please note that the MIDI track’s Instrument Button is colored RED; this indicates that the Track’s composition mode is turned off. Accidentally pressing the Compose button will not erase and recompose over the contents of the track. Component in the ‘OFF’ state are completely ignored/unmodified by the composition engine.

You can toggle a component through its composition states either by clicking on its Instrument Button or using its Property Editor. There are four (4) basic composition states 1) Normal, 2) Merge, 3) Use – sometimes called Arrange, and 4) Off – Lock. Some component do not support all four states.

We can create our arrangement project either within the new project created by loading the MIDI file or we can import the MIDI track into an already existing ArtSong project. We import the MIDI track into an existing project by dragging.

Drag the MIDI track into another project by clicking on the track in the component pane of the MIDI file project and drag the track to the component pane of another project.

You can algorithmically harmonize the track using the techniques discussing in Advanced Topics 4 and 5. There are a few procedural differences when working with existing note data. When using the Duration or Algorithmic Duration Group algorithms it is necessary to put the track into ‘Arrange’ mode as shown below. Tracks in ‘Arrange’ mode have yellow colored Instrument Buttons as shown below. In Arrange mode the data is not changed but the data synchronization signals (needed by the Duration Group algorithms) are generated.

You can also use the Attack Group or Algorithmic Attack Group algorithms to generate ‘complementary’ parts. The Attack Group will use the note attack times in the existing track to synchronize new attacks in one or more new tracks. The existing track must be in the first position of the Attack Group as shown below and the existing track must be in ‘Arrange’ mode as shown below.