PSP Rhythm

PSP Rhythm
General
Author	Louie, Billy Iturzaeta
Type	Music
Version	8.0
License	Mixed
Last Updated	2008/07/02
Links
Download
Website

RHYTHM is an audio sequencer for the Sony PSP. It was created to entertain and inspire the end user (producer) by allowing the user to create music with a high level of artistic freedom.

RHYTHM is a single player game where the user organizes sounds into rhythmic and melodic patterns, and then organizes the patterns into complete, exportable songs. Up to 16 sounds can be simultaneously sequenced with a precise degree of control in up to 64 patterns.

These patterns can then be arranged into a song which can consist of up to 999 song steps. The user can then export the completed song as CD quality PCM wave files.

Installation

Copy the Rhythm folder and paste it into your GAME folder on your PSP.

User guide

About Rhythm

The heart of RHYTHM is its sample based audio engine aptly named the RHYTHM ENGINE. The RHYTHM ENGINE enables the user to chop, pitch-shift, time-stretch, and effect digital audio files.

The graphic user interface (GUI) is designed to be a highly efficient visual aid to the creative process of producing electronic music. RHYTHM clearly displays the basic building blocks of audio sequencing, musical notation, sound editing, effects processing, and song arrangement in a well defined and organized manner. The GUI is easy to navigate while still providing detailed information and control over the user’s music.

RHYTHM uses four pattern mode views (PATTERN, TRACK, WAVE, & EFFECTS) and one song mode view (SONG) to display all song information. Each view has similar control and data input. Each view displays a specific type of information. PATTERN VIEW displays an overview of each pattern. TRACK VIEW displays sound specific pitch information. WAVE VIEW displays sound specific sample information. EFFECTS VIEW displays an overview of the effects applied to each sound.

The control scheme and button implementation is designed to be simple and easy to understand. Button functions are intuitive and require little guidance to learn. Control functionality is consistent throughout each view.

RHYTHM's simple and intuitive interface gives the user access to an otherwise complex music process. Producing music is streamlined which keeps creative ideas flowing instead of being interrupted by a bombardment of programming features and a cascade of menus and sub-menus. With beat templates and instrument sequences, RHYTHM will instantly bring out the music producer in everyone.

Specifications

Pattern Mode:

• Pattern View.
• Wave Audio sample playback.
• Realtime reverse sample playback.
• 64 Patterns.
• 1 measure 32 step or 2 measure 16 step sequencer.
• Mute/Solo.
• Individual sound level meters.
• Tempo control (30-300 beats per minute).
• Tap tempo input.
• Master level meter.
• Realtime sequencing input.
• audio output oscilloscope.
• Parameters.
• Volume.
• Balance.
• Filter cutoff.
• Filter resonance.

Track View:

• 6 octave piano roll.
• Transpose.
• Shift pattern.
• Parameters.
• Volume.
• Balance.
• Key.
• Tune.

Wave View:

• Visual display of sample waveform.
• Parameters (sample & loop mode).
• Start time.
• Attack time.
• Release time.
• End time.
• Parameters (synth mode).
• Attack time.
• Decay time.
• Sustain level.
• Release time.

Effects View:

• 2 Realtime effects per sound.
• High pass or low pass filter per sound.
• 3 Playback modes (Sample, Loop, & Synth).
• 2 editing modes (Standard & Advanced).
• Effects.
• Time stretch.
• Slicer.
• Distortion 1.
• Distortion 2.
• Delay 1.
• Delay 2.

Song Mode:

• 999 step pattern sequencer.
• Mute sounds per song step.
• Volume adjustment for each triggered sound.
• Edit features.
• Copy Step.
• Paste Step.
• Insert Step.
• Delete Step.

Main Menu:

• New Song.
• Load Menu.
• Save Menu.
• Options Menu.
• Exit.

Options Menu:

• Copy track.
• Copy pattern.
• Erase pattern.
• Swing time.
• Pattern scale (1 measure @ 32 steps or 2 measures at 16 steps).
• Pattern steps (1-32).
• Master volume gain.
• Erase song.
• Tap input quantize (for realtime sequencing).
• Free RAM info.
• Free Memorystick info.

Save Menu:

• Save song file.
• Save Pattern as wave audio.
• Save Song as wave audio.

Quick guide

How to Load a sound:

• Move the cursor over the sound name, press Cross to access the sample folders.
• Navigate to the desired sound sample, press the Cross button to Load the sound.

How to Unload a sound:

• Move the cursor over the sound name, press Cross to access the sample folders.
• Press Triangle to unload the sound.

How to trigger a sound for sequencer playback:

• Move the cursor over the pattern grid, press Cross to activate a sound trigger on the current pattern step.
• Press Cross to make the sound playback in reverse (Sample playback mode).

How to record a sequence in real time.

• While the sequencer is playing, press the Square button to lay down beats in real time.

How to preview a sound:

• While the sequencer is stopped, move the cursor over the pattern grid.
• Press the Square button to preview the pattern sound.

How to select a parameter control:

• The currently selected parameter is highlighted in red.
• To select a different parameter, click the Left or Right Trigger buttons.
• This will cycle through the parameters including tempo.

How to modify the parameter controls:

• To modify any parameter control (including tempo) rotate the Analog stick in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
• You will notice that the position of the Analog stick will match the position of the virtual knob.

How to fine tune the parameter controls:

• Hold the Triangle button down and rotate the Analog stick in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
• You will notice that the controls will move very slowly at 0.1% increments.

How to change the currently selected pattern:

• Hold the triangle button and press Left or Right on the D-Pad.
• You will notice that the transport timer at the bottom-center of the screen will highlight yellow.
• The pattern change will not take effect until you stop pressing the triangle button.

How to change Pattern Mode views:

• Press and hold the Left or Right Trigger buttons to change the views.
• Available views are WAVE, TRACK, PATTERN and EFFECTS.
• An in-depth explanation of each view can be found in the users-manual.

How to enter Song Mode:

• Press the Select button to enter Song Mode (by pressing the Select button from Song Mode).

How to write a song in Song Mode:

• Song mode is designed to arrange the patterns in Pattern Mode into a song. See quick tips below.

How to activate a step in Song Mode:

• Press the Cross button. This will activate the currently selected sound to playback on that sound step.

To activate all of the sounds on a step in Song Mode:

• Press and hold the Cross button.

To erase a sound on a step in Song Mode:

• Press the Circle button.

To erase all of sounds on a step in Song Mode:

• Press and Hold the Circle button.

To change the volume of a sound on a step in Song Mode:

• Rotate the Analog stick clockwise or counter-clockwise.

How to change the pattern on a step in Song Mode:

• Press and hold the Square button. Then with the D-Pad, press Left or Right to select pattern number.

How to enter Main Menu:

• Press and hold the Select button to enter the options menu.
• You will be able to access these functions from there: NEW, LOAD, SAVE, OPTIONS, EXIT.

Please see the user’s manual for in-depth explanation on all of the features of RHYTHM.

Media

PSP Rhythm - "Take Point" (chaffXgrenade)

PSP Rhythm 8 - Techno (chabbles)

Making Music on a Sony PSP with PSPRhythm 8 (Introduction + Overview) (allmyfriendsaresynths)

Changelog

8.0 2008/07/04

• New User Interface, Optimized Audio Engine, ADSR Synth Mode.

7.1 2007/04/06

• Track Export/Pattern Loops-

7.0 2006/12/22

• Wave Synthesizer.

6.1 2006/09/22

• New Resampling Engine.

6.0 2006/07/26

• Enhanced User Interface.

5.0 2006/04/24

• Real Time Effects.

4.0 2006/03/10

• Bass Line Synthesizer.

3.0 2006/01/24

• Wave Out/Sample Adjustment-

2.1 2006/01/09

• Parameter Locks.

2.0 2005/11/16

• Sequencer Update.

1.0 2005/09/19

• PSP Rhythm 1.0 Released.

BETA 2005/08/12

• First public release. Proof Of Concept.

Credits

By The Rhythm Team - Louie and Billy Iturzaeta.

Thanks to:

• Jessica & Annie – For putting up with the madness.
• Isti – Rhythm Champion.
• Ethan of PSPSEQ, Ashley Richardson, Gion Kunz, Steveibe, Geoffrey Cox.
• nineTENdo, LotusStyle, Synaptic Flow, Clint Felker, George Isaacs, Syed Raza Shah.
• Meindert Kennis, Tom Davis, seterpellers, Hai, Antoine, Inflict3, Housemeister.

External links

• Official website - http://www.psprhythm.com/ (archived)