Set Metronome Pattern Default Behavior Change. Please consider!!!

vsthem · 01-18-2024, 03:59 PM

Currently, when you set your Metronome to 4/4, ABBB, and then you have a 6/8 Bar ABBABB, and then it goes back to 4/4. The suggested metronome default is ABBA. It is basing its metronome default after what came before it, but that is NEVER helpful.

I'm scoring a 3 minute animation, with approximately 35 meter changes. For every single one of these, I need to

Click Set Metronome Pattern
Erase the Current Pattern
Input a pattern that makes sense

A better behavior would be for the metronome to call back the metronome pattern used previously, FOR THAT TIME SIGNATURE. So every 4/4 would have the same metronome pattern until you changed one. Every 6/8 would have the same metronome pattern, until you changed one.

It seems like a minor thing, but it's a constant annoyance, especially since I'll forget to adjust the metronome pattern, and then have to go in and fix it later if it's bothering me.

Please consider changing this. Thanks!

schwa · 01-18-2024, 04:15 PM

FYI the previously-used metronome patterns are available as a dropdown, if you click the down-arrow to the right of the pattern, so that might save you having to erase and re-type the pattern when you change the time signature.

If we did make the change you are suggesting, when exactly would the metronome pattern change? Say you run "insert tempo/time signature marker", and it opens up with 4/4 ABBB. You change the 4/4 to 6/8. Would the pattern automatically change when you type the 6, or the 8, or.. ?

vsthem · 01-19-2024, 10:52 AM

Thanks so much for responding!

I thought a lot about that this morning, and realized that most of the time, you'll want 6/4 to follow the same pattern as 6/8. So, I would suggest that the default pattern be tied to the number of beats per measure, and that the 2nd number (note value) can be ignored by the metronome pattern. I think that this is how it currently functions.

There are a few ways to do this, and I think that all of them would be better than the current default, which adds to the pattern previously set. 4/4 ABBB becomes ABBBAA when you switch to 6/4. If you change the 6/4 to ABBABB, and then back to 4/4, it becomes ABBA. This results in a confusing metronome pattern that doesn't intuitively indicate where the strong beats are, or even the downbeat.

Option 1: When you type a 4 (1st number), it defaults to the last time a 4 was entered. When you enter a 6, it defaults to the last time a 6 was entered. Ignore the 2nd number (note value)

Option 2: Set standardized defaults that follow musical convention of beam groups of 2 and 3 (except for 4 and 8). Still allow the user to change it, but have it setup to call up the following every time

4=ABBB
5=ABABB
6=ABBABB
7=ABABABB
8=ABBBABBB
9=ABBABBABB

I may not always want 6 to be ABBABB for instance, but 99% of the time, I can live with that grouping since I can hear where the strong beats are.

Option 3: Create a text file with values listed (4=ABBB 5=ABABB), and let users load it from a file, similar to note and cc names in the MIDI Editor. I would suggest having a default text file exist that users can load or modify.

I think option 1 would be best, as I have a hard time imagining a situation where the current way of populating metronome patterns would be better for someone. Option 3 has the advantage of allowing users to continue with the current functionality uninterrupted if they want.

Thank you so much for considering and responding. Reaper has been such a boon to my work as a musician and a composer, and I'm so grateful that you and Justin are so active here in listening and engaging with your user base.

01-18-2024, 03:59 PM	#1
vsthem Human being with feelings Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 753	Set Metronome Pattern Default Behavior Change. Please consider!!! Currently, when you set your Metronome to 4/4, ABBB, and then you have a 6/8 Bar ABBABB, and then it goes back to 4/4. The suggested metronome default is ABBA. It is basing its metronome default after what came before it, but that is NEVER helpful. I'm scoring a 3 minute animation, with approximately 35 meter changes. For every single one of these, I need to Click Set Metronome Pattern Erase the Current Pattern Input a pattern that makes sense A better behavior would be for the metronome to call back the metronome pattern used previously, FOR THAT TIME SIGNATURE. So every 4/4 would have the same metronome pattern until you changed one. Every 6/8 would have the same metronome pattern, until you changed one. It seems like a minor thing, but it's a constant annoyance, especially since I'll forget to adjust the metronome pattern, and then have to go in and fix it later if it's bothering me. Please consider changing this. Thanks!

01-18-2024, 04:15 PM	#2
schwa Administrator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY Posts: 17,115	FYI the previously-used metronome patterns are available as a dropdown, if you click the down-arrow to the right of the pattern, so that might save you having to erase and re-type the pattern when you change the time signature. If we did make the change you are suggesting, when exactly would the metronome pattern change? Say you run "insert tempo/time signature marker", and it opens up with 4/4 ABBB. You change the 4/4 to 6/8. Would the pattern automatically change when you type the 6, or the 8, or.. ?

01-19-2024, 10:52 AM	#3
vsthem Human being with feelings Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 753	Thanks so much for responding! I thought a lot about that this morning, and realized that most of the time, you'll want 6/4 to follow the same pattern as 6/8. So, I would suggest that the default pattern be tied to the number of beats per measure, and that the 2nd number (note value) can be ignored by the metronome pattern. I think that this is how it currently functions. There are a few ways to do this, and I think that all of them would be better than the current default, which adds to the pattern previously set. 4/4 ABBB becomes ABBBAA when you switch to 6/4. If you change the 6/4 to ABBABB, and then back to 4/4, it becomes ABBA. This results in a confusing metronome pattern that doesn't intuitively indicate where the strong beats are, or even the downbeat. Option 1: When you type a 4 (1st number), it defaults to the last time a 4 was entered. When you enter a 6, it defaults to the last time a 6 was entered. Ignore the 2nd number (note value) Option 2: Set standardized defaults that follow musical convention of beam groups of 2 and 3 (except for 4 and 8). Still allow the user to change it, but have it setup to call up the following every time 4=ABBB 5=ABABB 6=ABBABB 7=ABABABB 8=ABBBABBB 9=ABBABBABB I may not always want 6 to be ABBABB for instance, but 99% of the time, I can live with that grouping since I can hear where the strong beats are. Option 3: Create a text file with values listed (4=ABBB 5=ABABB), and let users load it from a file, similar to note and cc names in the MIDI Editor. I would suggest having a default text file exist that users can load or modify. I think option 1 would be best, as I have a hard time imagining a situation where the current way of populating metronome patterns would be better for someone. Option 3 has the advantage of allowing users to continue with the current functionality uninterrupted if they want. Thank you so much for considering and responding. Reaper has been such a boon to my work as a musician and a composer, and I'm so grateful that you and Justin are so active here in listening and engaging with your user base.