Using Component Events

In addition to configuring properties and composition variables, many ArtSong components also have the capability to change settings or modify the composition environment at particular times during the composition process. These time-based data structures are collectively referred to as Component Events.

Component events are a unique and powerful feature of ArtSong. They enable us to assemble an almost infinite variety of different musical structures by using different combinations/orderings of the same basic components.

In this tutorial we will first learn how to create, edit, and manipulate component events. Then we will extend and develop our simple fractal piano etude from the previous tutorial using some additional components and component events.

The Advanced Topics sections provide much more information about using components/component events to achieve particular musical results.

ArtSong Workspace

This tutorial will involve the following Workspace controls.

A – Algorithms Palette: Tabbed Pages of available composition algorithms

B – Component Pane: TreeView display of components in project

C – Data Pane: Image Display of Component Events

D – Image Display Quantization: The time quantization applied to all events drawn into the Data Pane

E – Event Time: The location of the cursor in the Data Pane in musical time (Measures : Beats : Ticks)

F – Zoom: (+ = zoom in; - = zoom out) Adjusts the time resolution of the Data Pane

There are several Workspace controls that will be useful when working with component events; these are labeled in the Workspace figure above:

• Drawing resolution/quantisation determined by quantization (Figure 1 - D)
• Use Time Display to position start and stop times of Events (Figure 1 - E)
• Use Zoom (Figure 1 – F)

Adding Component Events

Working with component events begins by selecting a component that supports events:

1. Select a component by clicking on its name in the Component Pane or by clicking in the Data Pane; the selected components name will be highlighted.

2. Move cursor over the selected components data area in the Data Pane. A ‘pencil’ cursor will appear if the component supports component events.

3. When a ‘pencil’ cursor appears you can add data to selected component by left-clicking and dragging. The music time display, outlined in blue below, can be used to position the beginning and duration of the event; the start times and duration values are always quantized by the displayed value (outlined in red)

4. When the mouse is released at the desired component’s event end-point, a component event will be created and its data editor will open (Not Shown). Enter properties and click ‘ok’.

Selecting and Editing Component Events

1. Left-mouse click on an event to select it.
2. Right-mouse click on a selected event to open its data editor.

Changing the Start Time of a Component Event

To change the start-time of an existing component event:

1. Move the mouse over the beginning of the event.
2. When the ‘hand’ cursor appears you can slide that data to a new start time by left-clicking and dragging.
3. The event will be repositioned when the mouse is released.

Hold down the ‘CTRL’ key while sliding data to reposition all data following the selected event.

Changing the Duration of a Component Event

1. To change the duration of an event: Move the mouse near the current ‘end-time’ of the event until the ‘resize’ cursor appears.
2. When the ‘resize’ cursor appears you can left-click and drag the event ending to a new end-time.

Hold down the ‘CTRL’ key while sliding data to reposition all data following the selected event.

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