Boundaries and Segment Alignment
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DirectMusic Producer enables segments to be started and stopped at appropriate rhythmical points, called performance boundaries. When a segment is cued to play, it can play from the beginning, or from another predefined start point. The start point can begin playing at the soonest appropriate moment, or it can be aligned with a past boundary so that the segment can start playing immediately but still be in time with the music. When a segment is stopped, it can either stop immediately or continue playing to the next suitable boundary.
Boundary, alignment, and timing options are set in the following places:
Boundary Tab of the Segment Properties window
The inherent settings for a segment, used as the default for the segment, whether it is used as a primary segment, as a secondary segment, or as a component in a transition. These settings are saved as part of the segment file.
Boundary tab of the Motif Properties window
Settings for a motif, which is usually played as a secondary segment.
Segment/Motif Trigger Properties window of a trigger in a Segment Trigger Track.
Settings for segments cued by the Segment Trigger Track. These settings override the inherent segment properties.
Secondary Segment Audition Options
Temporary settings used for experimentation. These settings override the inherent segment properties while the segment is being played in the DirectMusic Producer environment.
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Temporary settings used for experimentation with transitioning between components. These settings override the inherent segment properties while the source, destination, and transitional segments are being played in the DirectMusic Producer environment.
The following section contains information about boundary, alignment, and timing properties common to segments, segment triggers, and secondary segment audition. Information about transition options is similar but is documented separately in the Transition Options Dialog Box topic.
The Boundary tab of the Segment Properties window, shown in the following figure, contains boundary, alignment, and timing options.
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The Secondary Segment Audition Options dialog box and the Segment/Motif Trigger Properties window are similar, but Segment's Default is included in the drop-down list, in place of a separate Use Segment's Default option. The Secondary Segment Audition Options dialog box also contains a Controlling Segment check box.
Options are organized into the following groups: