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3-1 Using Rhythm Convertor


square.gif Rhythm Converter has 4 main functions:



A .
To load the SMF (and extract parameters if they exist)


B .
To create or edit the settings for each track of each Element and create a Parameter file that contains those settings


C .
To create the One Touch Preset registration for the pattern


D .
To merge the SMF, Parameters and One Touch Preset data to create an  accompaniment pattern file.


Rhythm Converter Directory and the main desktop of the Rhythm Converter will appear as follows:



The upper part of the desktop includes:


A .
File and Edit menus

B .
Name, Tempo and Beat settings for the pattern

C .
Information about the current SMF and Parameter (PRA) Files

D .
Details of the Split points in the SMF between pattern Elements
(See 2-2 How To Use Markers)

E .
Information about the SMF data

F .
Tabs to select the Element Editor and OTP editor


Before you load an SMF the lower part of the desktop (SMF Track Info) is blank, just showing the different pattern parts and their Midi channels. After loading an SMF the lower part of the desktop will change to show where data exists on each track. Each bar that contains data is highlighted with a colored rectangle:



Click on the "Element Editor Tab" and the lower part of the desktop will change. (See 4-1 Using the Element Editor). If you click on the different Elements down the left side (Intro 1, Intro 2, Var 1 etc) you'll see the color of the different Element buttons change, and the highlight bar over the top of the Parameters (Tone, Bank, Volume etc) change accordingly. This is to show you that the Parameters refer to the selected Element. For example, in the following picture the Parameters are for the Intro 1 Element.



If you click on the OTP Editor tab the lower part of the desktop will change to the One Touch Preset Editor as in the following: (See 5-1 Using the OTP Editor)




3-2 File & Edit Menus


These menus are where you start the pattern creation process by loading your SMF and where you finally save your an accompaniment pattern file (CKF).



square.gif 3-2-1 The File Menu:






Open SMF :
Opens your SMF data in Rhythm Converter. (To create the SMF follow the guidelines in 2-1 Making the SMF)


Open Parameter :
You can load just the Parameters of a pattern into Rhythm Converter. This means that you can use Parameters from a previous pattern for your new pattern. As it is unlikely that you would want to use all of the Parameters of a previous pattern you can load individual parts of the Parameters file. For example you might not want to load the Tone selection, but you might want to use the Chord settings or Main Settings.


Here are the five Parameter load options:



All :
Loads all Parameters

Only Main :
Loads just the Tempo, Beat and Split Point Settings

Only Tone :
Loads just the Tones settings
(Tone, Bank, Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus)

Only Chord :
Loads just the Chord Setting

Only OTP :
Loads just the OTP settings


Save Parameter:
Save just the Parameters of your pattern in a PRA file (If you do this you can use these Parameters as the basis for future patterns, saving some time).


Convert To Pattern:
Saves your final pattern as a CKF file, the accompaniment pattern file for the keyboards.


After loading the SMF and loading or creating the parameters (and OTP settings if desired) select "Convert To Pattern" and Rhythm Converter will combine all of the components to produce the final "CKF" file. When you select "Convert To Pattern" the normal file save window will appear as follows:




Convert :




From CPT to CKF: 
This function allows you to convert from the CPT or EPT format (used by models such as the CTK731, CTK811 and WK-1800) to the current CKF format. Select "Convert / From CPT to CKF" and the Rhythm Converter will ask you to select the CPT file you want to convert, and then to name and save the new CKF file.
If you want to convert the CKF file into the EPT file, please set the file type in the open file dialog to "EPT".


From CKF to SMF:
This is a useful utility that allows you to load an existing CKF (accompaniment pattern) file and separate out the SMF and Parameters (PRA) files. Select "Convert / From CKF to SMF" and you will be asked to select a CKF file. Rhythm Converter will then ask you to name and save the SMF and name and save the Parameters file. This is useful (for example) if you want to edit the SMF data in an existing pattern, or to extract the Parameters file from an existing pattern to use in a new pattern.


square.gif 3-2-2 The Edit Menu:





The Edit menu offers some shortcuts in creating the Parameters for an accompaniment pattern.


Copy:




Copy Element  :
This useful feature copies all of the settings for the currently highlighted Element (Eg: Intro 1) to all of the other Elements.

Just select the Element you want to copy from, select Copy Element and click OK in the confirmation box.


Copy Tones
:
You can also just copy the Tones used in the currently highlighted Element to all the other Elements. Useful if you want your pattern to use the same sounds in all Elements.

Simply set the Tones in one Element (Eg: Intro 1) and select Copy Tones and click OK in the confirmation box.

Parameter From SMF
:
If you put the Parameters in your SMF, you'll need to click on Parameter from SMF to load them into Rhythm Converter. 

It is probable that you needed to set this data in the SMF anyway so that you could hear the finished sound of the accompaniment pattern when you composed it. So this function saves a lot of time in letting you import that data in Rhythm Converter, and also ensures that the final accompaniment pattern will sound like your original SMF.

If you use this function you will also notice that the Name, Tempo and Beat boxes change to the data in the SMF. It is good practice to load these settings from your SMF so that the end result is the same as your original.

Note :
When you load the SMF, if it contains Parameters Rhythm Converter will ask you whether you want to load them at that time.




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