In HeavyM, you can divide your projects in Sequences. They are like scenes in your mapping that allow you to create variety in your project. In each sequence, you are able to add different effects, shapes, or even play different media. They can be arranged to be easily triggered manually in a live performance, or playback can be automated for a show with precise timings.
Located at the bottom of the interface, the Sequencer hosts the modules related to Sequences and their playback, including a Timeline. Its height can be adjusted by hovering over the top of the title bars and dragging the resize handle.
Check out the introduction video tutorial below, or follow the written instructions after it for a more in-depth presentation of each module.
(created with HeavyM 2.12)
1 & 2 -
Sequences
The Sequences module & Sequence settings panel can be opened/closed by clicking on the associated buttonfrom the toolbar on the right of the Sequencer.
1. Sequences module
A Sequence is represented by a tile and organized in the grid in the Sequences module.
You can navigate inside of the matrix by using scroll actions (scrollbars, trackpad, mousewheel, mousewheel click & drag). Hold [Shift] during a vertical scroll action to scroll horizontally.
Learn more about it in "Module 1: Sequences module".
2. Sequence settings panel
This panel appears with the sequences modules. It gives you access to the settings of the edited sequence.
You'll learn more about all the possibilities throughout this guide, but know that you can set a different Map (a set of shapes), Transition (that is triggered when a sequence is selected/starts), or even shader effects (that apply on the whole output) on each sequence independently.
3 & 4 -
Timeline and Cues [⭐ Pro]
The Timeline module & Cue settings panel can be opened/closed by clicking on the associated buttonfrom the toolbar on the right of the Sequencer.
3. The Timeline module
The Timeline allows you to prepare a series of automated actions that can be programmed with precise timings or even be timed with an audio file. Actions are set up by placing Cues along the Timeline and configuring which event they should trigger once they are reached by the playhead.
The Timeline is divided in three tracks in its middle part:
- At the top, the time track, where the playhead runs.
- In the center, the cue track, where the cues that trigger playback events are positioned.
- At the bottom, the audio track, where the audio waveform is displayed if you’re using an audio file.
You can scroll along the length of the Timeline using the scrollbar, a mousewheel click & drag, or by holding [Shift] while scrolling vertically. A simple vertical scroll with a pad or mousewheel will perform a zoom centered on your cursor. (You can also zoom out/in with the -/+ buttons on the bottom right.)
When the Sequences module is also displayed, the height of the audio track can be adjusted by clicking on the double arrows button : it either has a minimal height or it takes half of the total height of the Sequencer.
Learn more about all of this in "Module 2: the Timeline [⭐ Pro]".
4. Cue settings panel
This panel appears with the Timeline and gives you access to the settings of the selected Cue (if there's one).
5 & 6 -
Audio analysis & Tempo
The Audio Analysis & Tempo module can be opened/closed by clicking on the associated buttonfrom the toolbar on the right of the Sequencer.
These modules give you tools to adapt your mapping to the atmosphere and stay in sync with other audio and/or visual performers.
They are contained in the same panel and can be folded if needed.
5. Audio analysis module
In HeavyM, you can make your effects sound-reactive, to adapt your mapping to the atmosphere. The Audio Analysis module contains the options that will help you select an audio source, adjust the gains and define frequency ranges to make your effects react to.
You can turn the module ON with the switch in its header bar and access the settings with the gear icon.
Find out how to manage audio settings and make your effects sound-reactive in “Audio & Tempo reactivity”. (You'll notice that the interface is a bit different from the article in 2.10, but the principles stays mostly the same, except frequency bands can now be overlapped.)
6. Tempo module
This module lets you manage the master tempo of your project in Beats Per Minute (BPM). You’ll see that you’ll be able to use this tempo throughout your whole project for different purposes, like the speed of an effect or duration settings, in the autopilot playback mode for instance.
Find out how to make your effects react to the tempo in “Audio & Tempo reactivity”.
Note: the module also hosts the toggle for the Ableton Link protocol, which lets you synchronize your tempo and autopilot with other apps. Please now that in 2.10 the behavior of the protocol will differ a bit from the current article and that Ableton Link sync, when ON, applies to the Autopilot playback option and not the Timeline at the moment.