The Rhythm Events are available in the Rhythm track.  They are placed into rhythm segments.

There are seven different rhythm event types, and each one has a tool which creates the events on a rhythm segment sheet.  The first is for simple chord events, while the others add special effects or Midi controllers.

Some of the advanced events can be formed by Songtrix when importing Midi files or recording from a Midi keyboard, based on the controllers found.

Each event has a set of properties, which appear and can be edited in the Event Properties table of the segment sheet, when the event is selected.  You can change properties for more than one event at the same time with a multiple selection.

When a segment tool is active, but no events are selected, the Tool Defaults table appears instead.  This displays, and allow you to change, the default properties that will be applied when new events are created.

Properties

All rhythm events, regardless of type, have the following properties in common.  There are also some type-specific properties, as described in the sections below.

Rhythm events are unique in that they can optionally span multiple segment lines to play several tones at once in chords.  So instead of a single property like Note in melody events, they have two properties that specify the High Tone (top line) and Low Tone (bottom line).

Because several notes may be played at once in the chord, you can adjust the relative loudness of each note, using the Equalize and EQ Depth properties.

Equalization is a balanced effect that both lowers and raises the velocities of the notes, but it may strike lower or upper limits if the velocity of the event is close to the minimum or maximum.

Type	One of the seven event types shown above.  Events can easily be converted from one type to another.
Location	The starting location (left hand edge) of the event, in bar.beat.tick format.
Duration	The time length (visual width) of the event, in qtn.tick format.
Velocity	The strength, or loudness, of the event, shown as a Midi value or percentage.
High Tone	The upper segment line covered by the event.  Usually this is also the highest pitched.
Low Tone	The lower segment line covered by the event.  Usually this is also the lowest pitched.
Equalize	The type of variation in loudness between the tones in the chord. Flat (no equalization) Low (low notes louder) High (high notes louder) Mid (middle notes louder) Outer (outer notes louder) Human (random variation for realistic effect).
EQ Depth	The depth of variation between the softest and loudest tones in the chord, as a percentage.

Chords

The Chord is the standard rhythm event.  It is placed across lines (High Tone and Low Tone), it starts and finishes at specific locations (Location and Duration) and is played at a particular strength (Velocity).

As with all rhythm events, a darker color overall indicates a higher velocity.  If equalization is applied you will also see horizontal stripes of different shades, where darker shades indicate a louder tone.

You can move or stretch rhythm events in any direction, by placing the mouse over the event, or the handle blocks on each side or corner.

Strum Chords

The Strum Chord is similar to the standard Chord event, but it allows the leading (left) edge to be angled to represent the staggered starting times you hear in the strum of a guitar or similar instrument.

The speed of the strum can be adjusted to be fast or slow, or even angled backwards to produce a reverse strum.  This can be done by dragging the top-left or bottom-left handles horizontally with the mouse, or editing the Timing property.

Timing

Specifies the length of time between the start of each tone in the chord, in qtn.tick format.  A positive value makes a forward strum (low tone first), and a negative value makes a reverse strum (high tone first).

Human Chords

The Human Chord is similar to the standard Chord event, but adds a random effect to the leading (left) edge of the event.

This simulates the variation in starting times usually heard with chords played by ensembles or instruments such as the piano.  Sometimes the simple chord is just too perfect for the ear to believe.

Timing

Specifies the average variation of starting time of each tone from the event Location, in qtn.tick format.  Events covering more tones will usually have a wider absolute variation in starting times.

Slide Chords

The Slide Chord offers the ability to slide to the specified tones from other pitches at the start of the event.  It is similar to a trombone effect, and applies to all tones in the chord.

It is implemented in Midi using the Portamento controller.  You can visually see the slide effect as a line (or double line) drawn over the top of the event.

Interval	The pitch to start the slide on, expressed as a positive or negative interval from the pitch of the event.  For example, an Interval of (-) b2 starts the slide from one semitone below. If set to From Prior, the slide will begin with the pitches allocated to the tone lines by the previous chord, and a double slide line is displayed.
Slide Rate	Specifies, as a percentage, how fast the slide effect should be.  Low values may never reach the final pitch, and high values may make the slide unnoticeable.

Vibrato Chords

The Vibrato Chord adds a vibrato effect, which is a low frequency variation in pitch.  This is very effective for realism and to soften the monotony of long chords.

It is implemented in Midi using the Modulation Wheel controller.  You can visually see the vibrato effect as a wavy line drawn over the top of the event.

Dynamic	The variation of vibrato depth over the duration of the note. • Flat (constant) • Rise (increases) • Fall (reduces) • Peak (increases, reduces) • Valley (reduces, increases)
Dyn Depth	The maximum depth of the vibrato effect, as a percentage.

Bend Chords

The Bend Chord adds a flexible mechanism for varying the pitch of the tones across the duration of the event.

A bend line appears on top and can be stretched to your desired shape, by dragging its manipulation handles vertically with the mouse.

It is implemented in Midi using the Pitch Bend controller, and can create impressive brass ensemble, or guitar slide and whammy bar effects, as well many others.

Bend Limit	The maximum pitch bend of the event, expressed as an interval.  Normally (±) 2 (ie. 2 semitones up or down) is adequate, but this can be increased to an octave.
Precision	The number of manipulation handles on the bend line.  More handles give better control, but take more effort to adjust.

Sustain Chords

The Sustain Chord adds the Sustain Pedal controller to edges of the event.  The pedal movements are indicated on the event with black triangles (for pedal down) and white triangles (for pedal up).

Sustain allows the sound of the event (and other events played at the same time) to continue even after they have ended.  Instead of sustain events, you can also use automatic sustain at each chord change, with the Auto Sustain option of the track setup.

Sustain

There are six options which control how the sustain pedal is operated at the start or end of the event: • On At Start • Off At Start • On At End • Off At End • On Then Off • Off Then On

Combinations

You should use caution when placing events with effects vertically above each other (that is, at the same location) on the segment sheet.

The Midi controllers used to implement most of the effects apply to the whole track, so events may interfere with each other.  This applies to Vibrato Chords, Bend Chords and Sustain Chords.

There is a handy trick if you want to apply more than one effect to a single event.  By setting a zero velocity for an event, you effectively remove the sound, leaving only the effect.  This is indicated by a transparent event with only the frame and effect drawn.

By placing it above or below another event you can add its effect only.  The example above shows bend being applied to a Strum Chord event, adding a whammy bar effect.