- New
Creates a new empty Xx document.
- Close
Closes the Xx main window & current document.
- Open
Opens a Xx sequence or a Standard Midi File within the current document. The "Songs" menu keep track of all the recently opened files.
- Save (COMMAND S )
Saves the current document.
- Save As
Saves a newly renamed Xx document.
- Export to MetaSynth (COMMAND E )
Displays a dialog box where you can set up the difference parameter for Midi to Pict conversion. Not all the MetaSynth options are available here, but you can still preview the sound (with sines), and set the frequency map, the picture size, etc. The harmonic maps let you choose between several MetaSynth presets to specify the harmonic/envelope content of the notes for low velocities and high velocity events (intermediaries will be interpolated). If you plan to use an instrument for final synthesis, it is best to keep the amount of harmonic low. You can actually edit this preset library with MetaSynth itself.
The Export to MetaSynth dialog:
You can also use Midi controllers to control several conversion parameters in various ways. The envelope SHIFT modifies the envelope behavior, the harmo gain adds or subtracts harmonics, the volume sensitivity controls the amount of Midi velocity changes that are translated into volume changes. When you are satisfied with your settings, you can either copy the result, save it to disk as a series of pict files, or create a preset library (in which case Xx will translate all tracks for the entire piece independently). Each track might then be synthesized with a different instrument.
If you choose stereo mode, panpot controllers will be converted to MetaSynth red-green balance
Note : Export to MetaSynth is sensitive to the current time range, So be sure to Select All (COMMAND-A) or the region you want to export before calling the function.
- Export Midi File
Exports/Saves a Xx document as a standard Midi file, type 1. Note that the save icon only saves Xx formatted sequence.
- Pict to Midi
With Pict to Midi you can import a picture from a file, or paste a picture from the Clipboard, and Xx will convert it to Midi notes in a similar way than MetaSynth does. Luminance values are converted to velocities. Notes are triggered when the luminance value is above the limit given in the "skip pixels below 8" (white for a gray scale picture is 255)
When the option RGB as multitracks is ON, color pictures will be converted in three different consecutive tracks, the Red channel in the current track, the green in the next and the blue in the second next .
The conversion algorithm just deals with 64 or 128 vertical sized pictures (bigger pict will be downsized) and assumes semitones for 128 and major/minor scales for 64. When importing a MetaSynth picture, only the semitones or Major scale Frequency mapping will produce consistent corresponding notes (Midi cannot deal with micro scales and custom tunings)
Tips: if the result has too many notes you might use the duration dialog with the option clip durations to MIN 30 MAX 120 on.
- Presentation Play (or F5)
Presentation play removes all the grid and UI items and displays the music graphical representation during the playback . It will always go back to first measure, unless OPTION key is pressed (in that case it will start to whatever current measure is set).
To stop the playback just hit the spacebar.
- Export as picts
Will create as many pict as needed to fit the whole sequence. It draws on a white background for printing
- Quit (COMMAND Q )
To quit Xx
- Undo (COMMAND Z )
Reverses the last operation.
- Cut (COMMAND X )
Cuts selected info and places it in the Xx private Clipboard.
- Copy (COMMAND C )
Copies selected info and places it in the Xx Clipboard. Copy will place both selected notes and controllers.
- Paste (COMMAND V )
Pastes info from the Xx private Clipboard into tracks starting at the current insertion line. In Poly mode, note data are kept in their original tracks. If you need to paste to a specific track, switch to Mono and all the data will be pasted to the single selected track.
To paste from one track to another : - go to Mono mode - copy - select destination track - paste
Note that paste does not remove the existing notes.
- Clear (or backspace key )
Clears selected events. "Clear" does not place the selected events into the Clipboard and, contrary to "Clear Measure", does not delete the corresponding measures.
- Clear Measures
Deletes selected measure and all datas within.
Backspace + OPTION will call Clear Measures.
- Smart Paste
Pastes data from the Xx private Clipboard. Unlike Paste, Smart Paste analyses the music and fixes any possible dissonance.
- Insert
Insert pastes data into the tracks immediately after the insertion line (the beginning of the current time range ) Contrary to Paste, Insert will add additional measures. The amount of inserted measures and beats will be set to whatever duration the Xx private cliboard content has.
- Select All (COMMAND A )
Selects all notes within all tracks and sets the current time range to the full time length of the piece. In Mono mode, only the current track notes are selected.
- Select by Rule
Selects by rule allows to select notes according to one or more rules :
-By velocity range : notes which have a velocity between the given min and max value will be selected. For example you may select only the notes that have a velocity from 100 to 128 to process them independently.
-By duration range : notes which have a duration between the given min and max value will be selected. This may be handy for example to remove very short notes (once the selection is made simply hit the delete key)
-By both
Note: To select by pitch simply use the keyboard or the selection tool.
- Deselect All (COMMAND D )
Unselects all notes.
- Duplicate (COMMAND R )
Duplicates selected regions. A dialog will prompt you how many repetition you need. The current time range is taken as the interval to be repeated. Duplicate, as Paste, wont erase data on the right so its better to have empty space after the selection.
- Find Tonality
Xx will analyze the notes present in the current time range and try to find the tonality /scale that most closely matches the given notes. Dodecaphonic (12 tone chromatic) will be returned if no known scale and key is detected. Note that Xx handles only 7 notes scales.
- All Notes Off (F8)
Turns off “stuck” Midi notes and resets all controllers.
- Preferences: (COMMAND "K" )
Displays the Preferences dialog box:- Ticks per quarter note:
This values defines the ticks resolution of a quarter note. Standard values are 384 or 240 but it may change depending on the Midi file settings. Note that the grid size is forced to be a multiple of this value to maintain proper measure alignment.
- Metronome track :
- Choose here which track to use for the metronome tick.
- Metronome Key :
- A non zero value will cause the metronome to play the beat when recording.
- Measure Steps :
- Defines how many steps are in a measure.
- Measure Mark :
- Each "nn" measures lines will be a little more brighter. Usually 4 but it may depends on the structure of your piece.
- Grid Style Option :
- Choose here the score background style : Standard, Dark, Lighter
- Record Controllers - (ON when “checked”.)
When OFF, Controllers and Aftertouch messages are not recorded. - Send Program Change
- When ON program changes are send whenever you start playing
- Midi Thru enabled - (ON when “checked”.)
-Incoming Midi in channel 0 will be redirected to the current selected track and resend to the corresponding device. Xx assumes that the external controller sends Midi on channel 0 (or 1 if you number them 1-16). Other channels, are mapped to corresponding tracks. That is if Midi comes in in channel 2 the data will be send to track 2. This allows multi track polyphonic input, a situation that usually happend only when you use another software to send midi to Xx.
IMPORTANT: The thru notes are filtered by the current tonality/scale settings so you should not have the source playing on its own to avoid dissonant effect. To remove any notes remapping just select dodecaphonic in the scale mode.
- Custom Harmonic Table - Lets you create custom user scales, based on a 7 notes scale.
- Scrolls measures when playing (ON when “checked”.)
- Auto-detect Scales
When this option is on, the current tonality/scale within the current time range is automatically detected when you select a couple of measures. This may prove to be handy when working on a multi-tonal piece, but so far it works mostly when the tonality changes are located at the measure start. If you select too many measures that have different tonality/scale, the dodecaphonic scale (12 tone chromatic) will be chosen and further transposes will be chromatic.
- Midi Driver : OMS or Midi Manager . You have to relaunch Xx to have the changes effective. Obviously Midi Manager or OMS should be properly installed. This choice will be ignored if only the Midi Manager (or only OMS) is present.
- OMS Input device (only valid when OMS) Use this pop up to select which of your input device will be used in recording and step entry.
- Ticks per quarter note:
- OMS Midi Setup
When OMS is used the Edit menu also features the standard OMS Midi Setup and studio setup calls.
- Quantize to Grid (COMMAND-G or F7)
Quantizes the time of the note data to the current Grid Size value, for both note ons and note offs.
- Time (COMMAND-T)
Brings up the Time Modification dialog box. The different chosen (checked) transformations will be applied sequentially to the current selection.
The choices are:
- Scale time by percent : 200 % will make the music twice as slow.
- Randomize time by "nn" ticks: This option will randomly offset the notes in time to achieve a less mechanical interpretation.
- Invert time
- Shift attacks: This option will randomly shift the attacks each "nn" beats to achieve a more human interpretation.
Time scale shortcuts:
"/" (divide key) scale the selection by 50% (twice faster)
"*" (multiply key) scale the selection by 200 (twice slower)
- Durations
Brings up the Durations dialog box. The different chosen (checked) transformations will be applied sequentially to the current selection.
- Set Durations to (# of Ticks)
-This will force all duration to be the given value.
- Scale Durations by (%)
-200% will makes existing duration twice as long. - Randomize Durations by (# of Ticks)
-simply randomizes the notes durations. - Add to Duration ("nn" each "times")
- This feature is analog to modifying the durations from the real time drag controllers but specific beats can be specified. - Clip Durations (Min/Max)
- If you set for example the Min to 60 and the Max to 120, the resulting notes will be no shorter than 30 ticks and no longer than 120.
- Set Durations to (# of Ticks)
- Key Transform (COMMAND Y)
Brings up the “Series & Key Transform” dialog box. Several transformations can be applied sequentially if you check more than one of the following transforms .
- Replace Note ("xx" to "yy" )
- To replace every occurrence of note "xx" to note "yy". - Chromatic Transpose ("xx" to "yy" )
- Transpose in semitones, independently of current scale and tonality. - Harmonic Transpose ("xx" to "yy" )
- Transpose within the current scale. - Invert Keys
- Inverts the pitches of note data around the middle key. - Scale Keys (%)
- Expand or contract the pitch range of the selection. Note that harmonic relation ships will be modified by Scale Keys. - Randomize Key Within (+/-)
- Remove Keys Each ("nn" beats)
- Repeat Transform ("nn" times)
- Complex serial manipulation can be achieved when the above steps are repeated more than once. The transforms will be applied recursively to each element of the serie. The current time range defines the duration of each repeated and transformed element.
note : There should be empty space after the selection to allow the Seri expansion
- Remap in current tonality
- Some of the above transform may create notes that are outside the current tonality/scale. If this option is on the result will be forced to match the current tonality.
- Replace Note ("xx" to "yy" )
- Harmonize (COMMAND H)
Harmonize compares the selected notes to all other tracks and tries to remove any dissonance.
- Replace Note
Maps one note to another.
- Map Tonality
If you know your starting key, you may use Map Tonality to transpose to another key.
- Force Tonality (COMMAND L)
Forces whatever tonality/scale you have chosen in the mode selector by modifying certain notes. The music is not remapped automatically after you change the mode. Select the part you need to remap and ask Force Tonality. Interesting results can be achieved by forcing different parts to different modes, but be careful of subsequent transposes since they always will remap data into the current mode (the option auto-detect scales in the preferences dialog might be handy for multi tonal pieces).
Note: the algorithm used tries to minimize the changes and won't simply transpose all the music.
- Velocities (COMMAND B)
Brings up the Velocity dialog box. One or more filters can be applied sequentially to the selection :
- Set Velocity to: (1-127)
-This will force all velocities to be the given value.
- Scale Velocity (%)
-To scale velocities by the given percentage. Result will always clip to 0-127. The feature is analog to modifying the velocity contrast from the real time drag controllers. - Randomize Velocity (+/-)
-Randomizing velocities may help to achieve a more "natural" human interpretation.
- Add to Velocity ("nn" each "times")
-When time is set to 1 all velocities will be affected and he feature is analog to modifying the velocity level from the real time drag controllers. Other times values will change velocities every "times" beats. This is useful to add accents. - Blend Velocity (from "nn"% to "nn"%)
-With values like 0-100 it will just perform a velocity fade-in
- Set Velocity to: (1-127)
- Fade-In ("<" or CMD-[ for english keyboards)
Menu access to the velocity fade-in command from the real time drag controllers.
- Fade-Out (">" or CMD-] for english keyboards)
Menu access to the velocity fade-out command from the real time drag controllers.
- Harder Short Notes (COMMAND K)
Some synthesizer patches have envelopes that take time to riech the maximum volume, for example strings pads. Consequently short notes will sound lower than longer notes. This feature is useful to compensate it by increasing the velocity of the shorter notes.
- Remove Duplicates
Removes duplicated or overlapping notes that causes an annoying flanging like effect.
- Range Mappings (Basse Range, Tenor Range, Alto Range, Soprano Range) those functions simply remap notes to ensure they lie in the specific given pitch range. Transpositions are done with octaves only to avoid changing the melodies.
Working with Xx is more than just using a multi-track Midi sequencer. You can have a real creative dialog with the computer where the machine will propose to you a variety of modulations, arrangements, or even theme ideas. Several key functions allow the software to generate music, and (if content exists) will always be constrained to any existing music and tonality/scale settings. Calling theses functions on an empty track will leave the algorithm totally free of decisions.
- Repeat Patterns (COMMAND-P)
Repeat Patterns will loop the chosen pattern within the current time range. The pattern will not only be adapted to the chosen key, but will be transposed to the best match with the existing harmonic content of the tracks, so you can use this to quickly create arpeggios and accompaniments in your composition!. This features works best when the patterns matches a specific chord. Otherwise the option "Avoid dissonances" can still be used to force the pattern to adapt to the current music, but the initial melody might be changed beyond recognition.
Here the repeated pattern (yellow) has been transposed
to match the underlying notes (blue track )
The repeat pattern Dialog:
- Notes & velocity.
- Default setting when ON. Both pattern notes and pattern velocities are repeated. You may bypass pattern velocities and use the default velocity when velocity is set to OFF.
- Apply to Controller, Controller # :
- Advanced option where pattern velocities will be mapped to the chosen controller. - Avoid dissonances.
- Forces every notes to be consonant with existing music
- Add Pattern
Saves the current selection as a pattern in the current pattern preset library. The maximum size for a pattern is 256 notes.
If some events are smaller than the quantization limit (30 for 240 Ticks per quarter note) the pattern will be stored at a twice slower speed.
- Fractal Pattern
Uses a recursive algorithm that superposes several scaled and remapped versions of the original pattern . - Smart Random (COMMAND-$)
This is useful for inventing themes. It is sensitive to the existing content of the track(s) and will avoid dissonance when applied. Invoking it several times can produce very complex polyphonic structures.
- General Amplitude (%) - the higher you set that value, the wider the range will be between the lowest and highest notes.
- Duration ("nn") ticks - sets the tempo grid of the result in ticks.
- Never Repeat Notes (On/Off)
- Rhythmic map (4-32) You can constrain it with rhythmic flags and some general tendencies like the general variance.
- Feedback % (slider) The feedback increases the probability of repetition of element, yielding a more coherent result.
- Loop A /Loop B ("nn") Amount An of beats used by the feedback algorithm.
- Multi Track Random (COMMAND-F)
Uses fractal geometry random noises to generate an 'n' track polyphony. Can also be constrained to a specific rhythmic structure and to the note content of the tracks. Quite surprising results in "dodecaphonic (12 tone chromatic)" mode. Each new track is forced to remain consonant with previous ones, so the final result is always locally consonant. Like "Smart random", this function is sensitive to the current track content. You may use that property to constrain it to a specific theme or a chord series.
- Pitch range. Set the overall amplitude of the fractals curves. High value will cause the resulting music to jump fast from lows to highs.
- Frequency sets the frequency of the fractal curve. Small values will produces smooth curves were consecutive notes are very close. High value will be very chaotic.
- Preferred Pitch intervals. The slider increases the probability that the given preferred interval will be used. For example if you set it to 12 and set the slider to the maximum, all intervals will be one octaves (up or down)
- Start Duration. For nice and stable results you may set it to 960 (One measure) and use the option "divide durations between tracks"
- Variance. At zero all notes will be the same length. Higher values increase the probability to have shorter and longer durations.
- Beats Loop Used by the rhythmic map as the looping frequency.
- Other options are self explicit
Use the Preview button to get an idea of how the parameters influence the resulting music.
- Pitch range. Set the overall amplitude of the fractals curves. High value will cause the resulting music to jump fast from lows to highs.
- Evolve (COMMAND-J)
Uses random mutations to evolve an existing theme. A dialog box allows you to set mutation rates for each track in percentages.
You can set the number of cycles of the evolution process and force the algorithm to mutate just one note at each cycle.
- Find and Add Chord
Generates, within the current track, a suite of chords based on the analysis of the existing tracks content. When only one note is present, Xx assume it's a fundamental. If all tracks are empty, none will be generated. The current grid size serves to quantize both the analysis and the result. Set a smaller grid if notes are changing rapidly.
- Add Midi Echo
Simply repeats notes with some time offset and a velocity fading. The delay value is set to the current Grid Size, thus to adjust the echo speed you may need to change the grid size. Echo might create overlapping notes so its a good idea to use "remove duplicates" after using Add Midi Echo.
- Canonize -
Will transpose and offset in time the current selection according to the chosen settings. In Poly mode, the added voices will be inserted in the following tracks.
The Songs menu will display a list of all the recently opened files. Since these files load from disk there is no limitation as to the amount of files you can have access to in your current session. If you select one of the songs in the list, Xx will read it back into memory, within the current document.
To remove a song from the song menu, option select it (like with MetaSynth instruments)
