I'm pleased to advise that Synchromuse works!!!
The existing tutorial is almost okay, but omits a couple of vital details, and the latest Editor functions slightly differently.
References to the 'Enhance' step in the tutorial can be ignored with the latest editor.
As I don't want to write a full tutorial, I will refer to the existing one, just highlighting key steps.
Preparing a Synchromuse session consists of four distinct steps.
Step One - Analysing the music track
The existing tutorial explains how to use Audacity to establish the segment timing for your session. Apart from not mentioning that you have to add a Label Track before trying to use Ctrl-B to add markers, it is all just fine.
The spreadsheet provided as a sample is good, except that some of the segment times don't match those in the sample .PRW (Procyon Session) file. This doesn't really matter - it just means the synchronisation will be a little different.
There is no necessity to use Audacity or a spreadsheet - the sole purpose of this step is to end up with a bunch of numbers, accurate to 1/10 second, that will be the segment lengths in the session you are about to design.
Save your music file as a WAV. You might also want to save the Audacity Project in case you want to work with the timing markers, etc. later on.
Step Two - Creating the Session
This step can be completed without the Procyon connected.
If you do have the Procyon connected, the first thing you MUST do after turning on the Procyon and launching the Editor is go to Serial Communication and open the port. If this step is not done first, you will be liable to all sorts of misery later on!
Next, you will create your session using the segment lengths determined in Step One. An important point about Synchromuse sessions is that you will probably want the Procyon Audio disabled in every segment, however, if you wish to overlay beats with your music, there's no reason why you shouldn't use the Procyon audio.
For now, just load the Synchromuse Tutorial sample. If the Procyon is connected, you can set the Current Segment and Run To Segment and click Run Segments to see how it sounds and looks.
You will now click Edit Session Header and note the Session ID. You can add a description if you want, but it's optional and uses Procyon storage space.
Click Make ID Raw File. You will be given a path and filename for the Session Header. It should include exactly the name you've noted as Session ID. It will have a bunch of other characters as well - not important.
Click Okay and Okay again to get right back to the Editor.
Your work on Step Two is done.
Step Three - Uploading the Session to the Procyon
You will now need the Procyon connected.
The first thing you MUST do after turning on the Procyon and launching the Editor is go to Serial Communication and open the port. If this step is not done first, you will be liable to all sorts of misery later on!
Click Session Tools/Upload Session to Procyon.
You will be asked whether to append or replace. Append. The Procyon will change to dL2 and the session will be uploaded as the next session after your current highest numbered session. This session can be played freestanding on the Procyon just like any other session, except you may have chosen not to have sound.
That is step 3.
Step Four - Attaching the header to the sound file.
Procyon and Editor not required.
The purpose of this step is simply to put the Header File created in Step 2 at the beginning of the Audio File you analysed in Step One.
The tutorial explains how to do this with Audacity. Note that the RAW file must be imported in STEREO - the Audacity default is mono, so this will need to be set.
You can use any audio editor you wish. All that matters is that the Header File be inserted at the absolute beginning of the sound file, without overwriting any of the sound file - the final length of the sound file will be ther length of the header + the length of the original sound file. This is important, as any change to the length of the sound content will affect synchronisation.
Summary of this step - Open your music WAV file. Import the correct RAW file from Step 2 in Stereo. Edit/Copy the RAW tracks. Edit/Paste into the exact beginning of the WAV tracks. Save the whole lot as WAV.
Your work here is done.
You can now play the music file as you would any other background music through the Procyon, except that you will first select dAS mode.
dAS Mode must be selected BEFORE starting to play a Synchromuse sound file. It is the first little bit that tells the Procyon to use the particular session that you have uploaded for that music. If you start playing in any other mode, you'll have to stop the music, select dAS and start again.
By the way, the sample session is quite good!
Enjoy!!!!!
Craig
Bookmarks