Real time input via tapping triggers
Curtis
Once a BPM has been chosen, instead of the current way of entering notes into the grid, the user selects the option of real-time input. GUI changes to show a grid of button triggers. Each trigger corresponds to a different sound on the kit. User can trigger playback and can record. While recording, trigger buttons can be tapped in real time to input another note. Tapped notes snap to the nearest beat subdivision per the measure setting (16ths, 32nds, etc).
Derek Lee
Hi Curtis, thank you for creating this feature request and categorizing it under Music Input, which makes things even easier for me! 👍🏻
I have considered this style of music input and several others. Some are, and others are not, tracked on this public-facing roadmap, so I'm very happy to see you create this request. It gives it more weight to actually come from you directly and helps me to validate whether this kind of feature would actually be useful.
Creating any input method for music is incredibly involved and time-consuming, so it's important for me to validate the need and usefulness of it before embarking on that journey.
You mention a grid of button triggers - I imagine this is similar to a physical drum-machine style (image #1). I can also see a graphical interface similar to some other apps on the App Store that allows you to play drum beats on what looks like an actual drumset (image #2). How does this align with what you had in mind?
Regarding quantization and determining subdivisions, I think I could determine the subdivision based on what you're tapping without you setting a specific subdivision (e.g. 16th notes), assuming it's reasonably close to being tapped in time. I expect I'd have to do quite a bit of experimentation with this to get it dialed in at a high quality.
Curtis
Derek Lee: That is exactly what I was thinking. This feature seems to be lacking entirely from any apps - the ability to play the rhythm that will be notated. I was trying to find an app that could do this, and the search brought me to Beat Note.
Lack of this feature seems to be a gap in the market. Apps allow rhythm performance or music notation, but not notation by performance.
I think this feature would be most useful if the note entry were cumulative. So the user could play only the hi hat on first pass, then play bass next (and snare if coordinated enough).
If this feature were in the app, and then if drum line instruments could be added (marching snare, quints, bass drum line), then this app would fit another niche - drumline cadence creation (high school, college, DCI).
But in the near term, just being able to enter notes by playing them would be awesome. The BPM could be set slow enough to perfectly play syncopation even with thumbs. Then after notes are in, increase tempo to the actual goal.
I do think that some limitation on the rhythmic precision would be needed as a quality of life feature so that slight imprecisions in rhythm do not create extra work for the user. Let me specify that I am playing 16th notes (or triplets or whatever) so that a slightly early or late hit doesn’t become a weird 64th tuplet or some nonsense.
Derek Lee
Curtis: Thanks so much for the valuable feedback!
Re: cumulative note entry - Say for a single measure (or a pre-defined length of music), the record function would continuously pass from beat one through the end of the beat as you "layer" different instruments on top. I've used some similar drum machine-style apps in the past, and as you mentioned, I'm unaware if there's an app out there that would produce notation from it. That said, if you haven't already discovered it, Beat Note supports swiping across the grid to add multiple notes to an instrument. I find this to be a very quick way to add 16ths to the hi-hat or snare drum.
Re: adding marching instruments - I marched many years in the past, including HS, college, and DCI, and adding support for marching instruments and scores is a part of my vision for the app. I needed to start somewhere, so I started with drumset, but I intend to expand to marching and possibly percussion ensembles (and who knows what else) in the future as well. It's just an insane amount of work, and I'm only one person, so I'm literally trying to move as quickly as I can.
Re: limiting rhythmic precision - that's a great point that limits would need to be implemented. That said, the music notation in Beat Note is 100% custom - I'm literally calculating and drawing every note, every stem, every beam, and every articulation. I have complete control over the notation, which is both beneficial (completely customizable) and has its drawbacks (it's a TON of work with a high probably for error). Besides the subdivisions you see in the app, the only other subdivisions I intend to support are 32nd notes (soon), 5's, and 7's (planned for the future, which would be particularly helpful for marching).
It's still early times for BN and I really appreciate your support and contributions to the community! Please keep it coming!! 👍🏻
Derek Lee
Hi Curtis - I had some inspiration for this idea and wanted to share it with you for your feedback.
Given the layout of the screen (as it is on the iPhone - I'm starting here because it's more challenging to design for the smaller screen size), it seems to make sense to me to swap out the grid for triggers as you suggested (since this is where sticking and voicing and other future edit modes are swapped out).
I had a few ideas:
- Mockup #1: It seems I could comfortably fit about eight trigger pads in this area.
- Mockup #2: I started wondering about having symmetrical pads, given you mentioned "playing with thumbs." This has a giant pad in the center.
- Mockup #3: Along the lines of the previous idea (symmetry), this one gives access to four instruments equally on both sides with two larger pads in the center.
Additionally, I changed the "play" button to a "record" button. There is an indicator moving across the screen as well to show where the record location is. Tempo and click would be adjustable as usual. (Probably can't do this without a click track, right?)
I'm curious what you think of these ideas and have some further questions for you:
- What instruments would you want trigger pads for? Do you want the ability to configure what instruments are available? Do you want the ability to configure the location of each instrument?
- What do you think of these layouts and configurations? What other ideas do you have for layout or configuration?
- Would one layout be sufficient for this or would you want the ability to customize the layout?
- What did I forget?
(FYI these are just mockups created with design software for the purpose of getting feedback and quickly iterating on various ideas.)
Curtis
Derek Lee: The top mockup looks the most versatile. I imagine users would want to be able to use a default setting or change each pad to a preferred instrument.
I figure that all instruments could be trigger pads. I envision a setup mode where a long press on a pad shows a dropdown/scroll to choose the instrument for the pad.
Once the pads are setup to the user’s preference they will probably not change it much (or else they may just stick with the default layout and not mess with customization at all).
If there happen to be more desired instruments than available pads, the first pass could use what is available, then the user could pause and switch pad to different instrument(s).
Click track would be needed for sure initially. Though it would be nice as a toggle to turn it off if desired.
I think functionality wise, Garageband nailed it - except the drumset layout is not rearrangeable and sheet music can’t be produced. There is a count in click and toggle click track. Record your playing and then it loops. You can record in multiple passes or all at once. There are also quantization options for making the hits more precise.
It would also be cool if there were a color or icon to indicate what pad is assigned to what instrument.
Derek Lee
Curtis: Thanks for the detailed feedback! This is pure gold! 🏆
I hear you and agree with your points about:
- Preferring the top mockup which maximizes the # of pads
- Using a single layout would be ideal (no need to support others, and simpler for me to develop lol)
- Long press (or some gesture) to change the instrument associated to a pad
- Click track capabilities would remain the same as they are now (and if you haven't seen the mockups for the improvements planned for the click track/audio settings, please check here: https://roadmap.beat-note.app/bugs/p/click-track)
I imagine:
- There will be more instruments than pads (especially as more instruments and percussion instruments are added), so iPhone will be limited (maybe 8 pads max?) and iPad could have more for sure. I can play around with the design here.
- If the user wanted to use the same instrument on multiple pads for easier input (two thumbs), then that should be possible for them to configure
Re: "It would also be cool if there were a color or icon to indicate what pad is assigned to what instrument" - I'm first and foremost a software engineer and slowly trying to develop my design skills, so I'll do my best here but may need to tag a professional designer in for the final product. 👍🏻
Thanks for the tips on GarageBand - I've played with it before but it's been awhile, so I'll do a refresher there and see what kind of inspiration hits.
I think I forgot to include the quantization options in the mockup - so I'll have to find a place for those.
Let me know if any other inspiration strikes you!