Simon Sez Musician's Riff Master Help

Installing

Download and run the trial version's EXE file and follow the instructions.

Main Frame

The primary purpose of the drop down menu on the main frame is to switch between Riff Master and Scale Master modes using the Program Mode menu item.

Selecting Tuning Note generates an oboe pitch, reminiscent of orchestal tuning. You can select between a concert A or B flat. Press the Stop button or the ESC key when you're done.

Choosing Setup brings up the Setup dialog so you can adjust various global parameters.

The Help menu provides access to this online help file, as well as a link to the product website, and About information, which can be used to determine the program version.

Riff Master Panel

The New Sequence of X Notes generates a series of random notes corresponding to the current settings as well as the Instrument Range setting. The X is replaced with the current sequence length you have selected. If you check the Autorepeat box the sequence will play over and over again until you tell it to stop (or generate a new sequence.)

The Same Sequence Again button plays the last random sequence you generated. If Autorepeat is checked, this sequence will also play over and over again until stopped.

If you give up and cannot match the current sequence, press the Show Me the Notes! button and the program will display the notes in concert pitch/piano key notation.

You may chose the scale/mode and key signature. This limits the pool of notes that may be in your random sequence and can change the mood/tone of the generated melodies. If you just want to practice with ALL the notes available, choose Chromatic and any key signature. After picking a scale/mode and key signature you can listen to the corresponding scale by pressing the Play Scale button.

The sequence length specifies the number of notes in your randomly generated sequence, which can range from 1-20 notes. The biggest note jump sets the maximum interval between two adjacent notes in a sequence. The autorepeat delay is the time in seconds between when the playback of a sequence ends and then starts again. Autorepeat mode is enabled by checking the autorepeat box.

Scale Master Panel

Choosing scale mode and key signature which determines what scale you get. If Autorepeat is checked, this scale will also play over and over again until stopped.

Scales can be played in the up or down direction, or in both directions, using the Direction box.

Multiple octave scales are selected by changing the Octaves Max setting, however if you pick a number of octaves that is larger than the Instrument Range defined in the Setup dialog, your scale will automatically be limited to the number of octaves available.

Repeating a Sequence/Playing a Scale dialog

While autorepeat mode is enabled (by checking Autorepeat in the main dialog) the current sequence or scale will play over and over again. There is a delay between the repeats: this can also be adjusted while repeating, by changing the Autorepeat delay setting.

For scales, the number of octaves in the scale will be displayed in the caption bar.

When you want the sequence repeating to stop, press the Stop button or the ESC key. For seqences, if you would rather just jump right into a new random sequence, press the New Sequence button

Setup Dialog

You can limit the pitch of the notes used in your random sequences and/or scales by setting the lowest note and highest note in concert pitch: the notes are represented in standard piano key notation, A0 is the lowest, C8 is the highest, C4 is middle C.

Pressing the Defaults button with reset adjustments in the boxes to their default settings.

After you make any changes, press OK to accept those settings, or Cancel to reject them.

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