Xx Tutorial 4: Using Patterns and Add Chord By Len Sasso and Eric Wenger

We will start with the first movement of the previous tutorial and apply some of Xx's automatic arrangement features to enhance the music.

Step 1: Setup

• A: Open the file "pattern.step1" or double-click the blue track box to set the programs for tracks 3 and 4. Set track 3’s program to 1 (General MIDI piano), and set track 4’s to 88 (Fantasia).
  

Step 2: Use Repeat Pattern

• A: To add piano arpeggios, select the piano track (blue) and the measures to process (measures 1 to 10.)
  
• B: Choose Repeat Pattern from the Pattern Menu. When the pattern dialog appears, select the one of the simpler presets, like “Arpeges basic 6:6” (from the xx.patterns lib.). Keep the speed set to “Original speed,” and make sure that "Avoid dissonances" is on.
  

  
  
   

  
  

• C: Click OK (the green check mark) to have Xx create a piano sequence which follows the underlying melodies.
  

Step 3

For measures 11-19, we want to use the same motif at twice the original speed.

• A: Select measures 11-19 and choose “Repeat Pattern” again. This time set the speed option (at the dialog's top) to “2x faster” and again click the green check mark to create the pattern.
  

  
  
   

  Notice that when generating new notes, Xx leaves them selected so you can transpose them or modify their velocities or even delete them (delete key). The Play Selection button (yellow play icon  ) can be used to play back only the newly created notes.
  

Step 4

• A. Select the pink track to add another pattern. Choose “Repeat Pattern.” Select the pattern, “Arp 4:4” at the original speed. Click the green check mark.
  

  
  
   

  Your sequence will now look like :

  
  

Step 5: Add Some Automatic Chords

The Patterns->Find & Add Chords feature can be used to enrich the piano track further with some sustained chords.

• A. Click on the blue track again, and select all (COMMAND-A). Find & Add Chords is grid sensitive. To keep a minimum of quarter note chord spacing, set the grid to 240.
  
• B. Choose “Find & Add Chords” from the Patterns menu and select the “Full Chord” option. When you click the green check mark, Xx analyzes the music and creates a series of chords (appearing in yellow).
  

  
  
   

  Since the new notes overlap the previously entered piano notes, transpose them down one octave by pressing the Page Down key.
  (pattern.step5)
  

Step 6: Change the mode

The result is rather melancholy, very classical and a bit kitsch. It is easy to try different tunings to obtain a more contemporary result.

A. Select the Mode "Modern4" with the Mode (tonality and scale) Selector. To remap all notes to the new mode, simply select all (COMMAND-A), and use Transform menu->Force tonality (or COMMAND-L).

B. Play the result (pattern.step6)

Conclusion
You can use Xx's automated features to quickly compose elaborate arrangements. Usually you will want to do some manual editing to obtain more musical results.

As an additional exercise, try the Fractal Patterns feature.