BEATSyndrome - User Manual

Introduction

Welcome to Beat Syndrome! This document will guide you through its features and controls, helping you create unique glitch beats and warp sounds.

Core Sequencer Features

• Playback Control: Start and stop playback via a central button.
• Tempo: Adjustable tempo (BPM) via a number field and a slider (Range: 20-300 BPM).
• Tracks: 5 dedicated tracks for different drum elements (Kick, Snare/Clap, HiHat, Low Perc, Hi Perc). Each track functions as an independent sequencer.
• Step Input: 16 steps per track (default). Activate/deactivate steps by simple clicking.
• Visual Feedback:
  • Active steps are highlighted (based on track color).
  • The currently playing step is visually marked.

Interface Overview

The main interface consists of several key areas:

• the track lanes where you build your patterns,
• the step buttons within each track,
• global controls for tempo, swing, master volume, and playback,
• the preset display area (showing name, author, and rating), and
• main action buttons for saving, loading, and exporting your work.

Track Settings (Per Track)

For each track, you can control:

• Mute Button: Toggle to mute or unmute the individual track.
• Volume: Individual volume control per track.
• Pitch: Global pitch shift for all samples in the track.
• Sample Start: Adjusts the start point within the sample for the track.
• Decay: Adjusts the decay time for samples in the track.
• Step Count: Customizable number of steps per track (1 to 16), allowing for polyrhythms.
• Sample Selector: Choose a default sample for the track from a predefined list (from samples-manifest.json).
• Custom Sample Upload: Option to upload your own samples per track.
• Randomize Functions: Buttons to randomize:
  • All parameters of the track
  • The step pattern (active/inactive)
  • Velocity values of the steps
  • Pitch values of the steps
  • Step dividers
  • Sample start points of the steps
  • Sample selection per step
  • Decay values of the steps
  • Probability of the steps
• Reset Functions: Buttons to reset the respective parameters to default values.
• Clear Pattern: Button to delete the entire pattern and reset all step parameters of a track.

Using the Step Sequencer

The grid of buttons represents the steps in your sequence (up to 16 steps per track, configurable per track).

• Activate/Deactivate Step (Left-Click/Tap): Click or tap on a step to turn it on (it will light up) or off. The color intensity of an active step can indicate its velocity.
• Edit Step Parameters (Right-Click on Desktop / Double-Tap on iOS): Access the Step Submenu for detailed adjustments to that specific step.

Step Settings (Per Step - via Right-Click/Double-Tap)

When you access a step's settings, a submenu appears allowing you to fine-tune its properties:

• Velocity: Set the hit strength per step (Max, Med, Low), visualized by a pattern overlay.
• Pitch: Individual pitch shift per step (in addition to track pitch), with a reset button.
• Step Divider (Ratcheting): Subdivide a step into smaller rhythmic units (e.g., 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/12, 1/16), creating a "ratcheting" effect.
• Sample Start: Individual start point per step (overrides track setting).
• Sample Selection: Choose a specific sample for this step (overrides track default).
• Decay: Individual decay time per step (overrides track setting).
• Probability: Set the likelihood (0-100%) that an active step will actually play, visualized by the step's opacity.
• Randomize/Reset Step: Buttons to randomly set or reset all parameters of the selected step.
• Waveform Preview: Visual representation of the sample with markers for start and decay points in the submenu.

Global Functions & Controls

• Play/Pause Button: Starts or stops the sequence playback.
• Tempo: Adjust the master tempo (BPM) using the input field or slider.
• Swing: A slider (0-100%) to adjust the swing feel, which delays the timing of even-numbered steps (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc., in a 16th note grid). 50% is no swing.
• Master Volume: A slider to control the overall output volume of the sequencer.
• Randomize All: Button to randomize all parameters of all tracks and steps for a completely new groove.
• Randomize Lite: Button to subtly randomize only pattern, velocity, decay, and probability across all tracks, preserving pitch, samples, and other core settings for a less drastic variation.
• Reset Preset: Button to load a predefined "Init" preset from the cloud, providing a clean starting point.
• Clear All Patterns: Button to clear all step activations and step-specific parameters across all tracks, effectively resetting all patterns.
• Preset Display: Shows the current preset name, author, and average rating if loaded from the cloud.

Preset Management & Export

• Fantasy Names: Automatic generation of a creative name (e.g., "Cosmic_Groove_a4f1"), used for exports and optionally for server presets. The name is displayed in the title and changes upon the first modification after loading/saving.
• Save/Load (Local):
  • Save the current state (including master volume, tempo, swing, all track and step parameters, mute states, background pattern, and preset metadata like name/author) as a .json file on the local computer.
  • Load a previously saved preset from a local .json file.
• Save/Load (Server):
  • Button to open a modal to save the preset with a custom name and optional username on the server.
  • Button to open a modal displaying a list of presets stored on the server (sortable by date, rating, etc.). Users can rate presets here.
  • Load a selected preset from the server.
• User Rating of Presets: Users can rate presets loaded from the server through the Preset Manager. Average ratings are displayed.
• Share via Link:
  • Generation of a unique link containing the complete preset (including metadata like name/author and the background pattern).
  • Share modal with a copy option and buttons for common social media platforms/messengers.
  • Optimized link preview through meta tags (Open Graph & Twitter Cards) for better display when sharing.
• Unique Background Pattern per Preset: The unique and randomized background pattern is stored within the preset data when saved (locally or to the cloud) and restored when the preset is loaded.
• Export:
  • Export the current sequence as a .wav audio file.
  • Export the current sequence as a .mid MIDI file.

Visuals & User Interface

• Welcome Modal: Information window on first start.
• Notification System: Feedback for actions like saving, loading, errors, etc.
• Dynamic Background: Randomly generated background pattern on each page load and upon the first change after loading/saving (via pattern.js). This is disabled in Performance Mode and the pattern is stored with presets.

Performance Mode

• Toggled by the "Enable/Disable Performance Mode" button.
• Switches to a simplified, high-contrast stylesheet optimized for live use, offloading some visual styles.
• The animated background pattern is replaced with a plain gray background to reduce distractions and potentially improve browser performance on less powerful devices.
• Your preference for performance mode is saved locally in your browser settings.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Use these shortcuts to control the sequencer more efficiently: