{"id":5095,"date":"2024-08-03T12:34:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-03T03:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.criware.com\/?p=5095"},"modified":"2024-08-14T10:58:02","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T01:58:02","slug":"adx-beginners-guide-13-interactive-music-with-block-playback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.criware.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/03\/adx-beginners-guide-13-interactive-music-with-block-playback\/","title":{"rendered":"ADX Beginner\u2019s Guide #13 \u2013 Interactive Music with Block Playback"},"content":{"rendered":"

After learning how to implement interactive music with ADX<\/a> by using AISACs and Selectors, we will this time examine another related feature: Block Playback.<\/p>\n

What is Block Playback?<\/h1>\n

It is possible to arrange the sequence of a Cue into several sections called Blocks. The order and conditions in which these Blocks are played back can be predetermined, randomized, and\/or triggered by in-game events. Unlike a regular Cue, the sequence can be completely non-linear. Although this can be used for any type of audio assets (e.g. dynamic dialog), it is especially useful when implementing interactive music.
\nFor example, you can create a Cue where each Block corresponds to a specific section of a song: introduction, verse, chorus, break, and conclusion. Because Block Playback allows you to specify what transitions are possible between the blocks, you can easily configure the verses to play in random order, to always play a break after a chorus, or to have an in-game event trigger the conclusion of the song (or any other block), etc.<\/p>\n

\n\"01<\/p>\n

The goal is to create a relatively coherent structure for the music while allowing it to adapt to game states and keeping it from becoming too repetitive.<\/p>\n

How to use Block Playback?<\/h1>\n

As the Blocks divide a Cue sequence into vertical sections, they are especially useful with Polyphonic Cue<\/strong>s. <\/strong>Whenever a Block is played back, all the Waveform Regions it contains (on any of its Track) will be played. Objects outside the Block will not be played, so you have to make sure that the length of the Block matches that of your assets. The order of the Blocks can be changed on the Timeline, and all objects within a Block will also be moved. In order to easily organize the structure of the song, you can switch the TimeBase<\/strong> to Bar\/Beat<\/em>, as explained in the previous post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, to take full advantage of Block Playback, you should design your music assets as short phrases or segments. Then you can build the Cue to your liking. If your memory budget allows it, you can create a full multi-track song with one instrument per track. If it does not, keep your track count to a minimum by premixing each segment of the song.<\/p>\n

To add Blocks to a Cue:<\/p>\n