Segment Designer

The most important component in Microsoft DirectMusic Producer is the segment, which is a playable unit of sound data.

Segments can contain a variety of elements, including bands, tempos, time signatures, lyrics, script commands, and chord changes. Elements are organized in Tracks. Most segments contain at least one of the following tracks as a source of musical notes or other sounds:

• Style track

  To use styles, the segment must have at least one style track that causes styles to be applied at different points during playback. Each style contains patterns of notes with variations. The choice of patterns and variations is partly random and partly controlled by the application. Usually the segment has a Chord Track as well; the chords in the chord track modify the pitch of the notes in the patterns. A segment can also contain a Signpost Track and a Chordmap Track to vary the chord progression at run time*.*

  To create style-based content, use Style Designer and Chordmap Designer.

  In order for style patterns to be heard, their PChannels must be assigned to instruments by a band. Bands can be implemented in a band track. A band track containing the default band for the style is automatically inserted when you insert a style in a style track.

• Pattern track

  A pattern track contains a single pattern with variations. Patterns in pattern tracks work just like patterns in styles; the only difference is that style patterns are chosen dynamically when the segment plays, but a pattern track always plays variations of the same pattern.

• Sequence track

  To use sequences, the segment must have at least one sequence track containing a series of MIDI commands. Unlike style-based music, sequence-based music plays a fixed series of notes without variations or chord changes other than those contained in the sequence itself.

  To create sequence-based content, import MIDI files or enter notes directly into sequence track parts. See Importing a MIDI File as a Segment, Sequence Track, and Note Entry and Editing.

  In order for a sequence track to be heard, its PChannels must be assigned to instruments by a band. Bands can be implemented in a band track. A band track containing instrument assignments from the MIDI file is automatically inserted when you import a MIDI file as a segment.

• Wave track

  To use waves, the segment must contain at least one wave track. To create wave-based content, add wave files to your project and insert them into wave tracks. You can use Wave Editor to create variations of existing waves.

Segments generally contain a Band Track as well, but it is possible to play a segment that has no band track, provided the instrument assignments and other PChannel settings have been implemented by a band in another segment, or can be left at their default value.