Each style has between one and four substyles defined within it.

Substyles are distinct arrangements based on a common musical rhythm and theme.  They are intended to be used in different sections of the same song to create more interesting dynamics.

Typically, you might use one substyle for the verse of a song, a slightly stronger variation for the chorus, and perhaps a third substyle (if available) for a reprise or instrumental section.

Using Substyles

Substyles are allocated letters (A, B, C and D) and are indicated in work sheets within a red box in the Control track area.  They are not indicated in staff sheets.

The available substyles may vary, depending on how extensively each style has been prepared.  The standard styles only contain definitions for substyles A and B.

If you try to use a substyle which is not defined in the style you are using, it will be shown in gray (instead of the usual red) and will result in events not being generated in the affected region.

If no substyle markers are present in a song, then Songtrix assumes that Substyle A will apply to (all autostyle segments in) the whole song.

Transitions

You can change substyles at different locations in the song using the Section Marker window.

Each bar can have a different substyle marker, but typically they are used to mark a change of dynamics with a new section.  You might use Substyle A with Verse sections and Substyle B with Chorus sections.

As you would expect, the events generated in sections using Substyle A will be different to those using Substyle B, but the mechanism is also more sophisticated than this.

Styles can define transitional passages which apply when one substyle is replaced by another, to improve the dynamic continuity of the music.

For example, there may be a build-up passage in a style specifically designed to transition smoothly from a moderate Substyle A to a more intense Substyle B.

In this case, adding a Substyle B marker will not only change the events from that point onwards, but also the events in the one or more bars leading up to it.

Transitions are also possible if you simply repeat a substyle marker that is already in effect.

For example, styles may define a passage to be used as dynamic decoration when a Substyle A marker is placed in a section already using Substyle A (eg. when Verse 1 in a song moves directly into Verse 2).

Endings

A song created with styles can finish rather abruptly if you simply let it run to the end of the last bar.

Instead, you can use a special substyle marker (with the letter X as shown) to indicate the ending of a song.

Depending on the completeness of the style design, this should produce a finale-type dynamic that resolves the song neatly to a satisfying ending.