Add Timing Track Interval Option for Single Strand Effect Cycles

[SopherConklin]

As a newbie I have watched a few videos on the Single Strand Effect. There always seems to be a lot of beats counting, or trying different numbers of cycles to get something good. I think we could add an option that would make this easier.

We could add an option to the Cycles Field on the Chases tab This option would be something like "Get cycles from Timing Track" and then a Timing Track could be selected. This would have a number of advantages:

1. No more counting beats for many instances- select the Beats Timing Track and the number of Intervals on that Timing Track over the length of the effect would be put into the Cycles field
2. If you change the length of the effect the Cycles field would be repopulated with the Intervals from the Timing Track for that length
3. If you moved the effect to somewhere in the song where the tempo was a bit different, the Cycles field would be updated.
4. Michael in his video makes the point that sometimes you don't want just the beats - and I agree with him. In this case the user can reference a different Timing Track - it might be the Measure track, it might be the Measure track subdivided into thirds or some other customized Timing Track. Once people get used to this concept, the reward for making a customized Timing Track is, once again, if you change the length of the Single Strand effect or add it somewhere else in the song, the cycles will be updated appropriately.
5. It's an option - nobody is forced to use it.

Here is a video of a typical use of a Single Strand effect by Michael of ShowStoppers Instructional Video. It demonstrates the manual counting of beats and the just trying different numbers https://youtu.be/ktLpsFavsCQ

[keithsw1111]

Why dont you just use VU meter sweeps. They were I think designed for this?

[SopherConklin]

So, I've watched some of the best professional sequencers out there as they count bars and keep trying different cycle counts until they get something that's "close". I remember in one video Clyde says something like "stretch the effect out until you get the speed you need" - never mind that you then have to re-size the effect to where you actually want it, and then the speed will change. I think counting timing marks is the perfect application for a computer and a waste of Clyde's and Michael's time. Besides, can you explain to me like I'm five how to use VU meter sweeps to generate swirls and blossoms and other complicated patterns in my spinner? I am a newbie, but it seems all the "good stuff" is done with single strand effect. I'm just suggesting there is a possible improvement. I did my duty by making the suggestion, I understand it may not happen.

[SopherConklin]

The other option is to offer a Speed option instead of Cycles - this at least fixes the speed changing every time you change the length of the effect.