User Controls

Source Tab

The controls on the source tab relate directly to the audio track you choose:

Pick Source:

Click this button to pick a new audio track to import into MetaMix.

MetaMix will show you an open file dialog box to choose your audio track. The import process may take a few minutes.

MetaMix supports all audio file formats supported by Quicktime, which include: AIFF, AU, Audio CD (Mac only), AVI, DV, MPEG-1, MP3, MPEG-4 (Quicktime 6 only), MOV, and WAV. MetaMix can also import the audio track from videos in any of these formats.

Start From:

By default, MetaMix starts mixing from the beginning of your audio track. By using this slider, you can tell MetaMix to start from any position within your audio track.

Because many of the integer sequences MetaMix uses are so repetitive, MetaMix often lingers on just a few seconds of music for a very long time. By manipulating this slider, you can quickly jump to another section of music.

MetaMix will never play music from before the start position you choose.

Show Import Audio Settings Dialog (Advanced):

This feature is intended for advanced users who want to customize the tradeoff between CPU usage and sound quality. By default, MetaMix uses CD-quality audio (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo). If you have a slower computer, you may wish to use lower audio fidelity. The lower the sampling rate and/or bit rate, the less the CPU usage and the less the hard disk usage.

When this option is selected, MetaMix presents you with a special dialog box each time you import an audio track, giving you complete control over audio settings.

Note: Always leave the compression level in this dialog set to "None." Otherwise, MetaMix will actually need more CPU power in order to constantly decode the audio file.

Form Tab

The form tab lets you choose which mathematical integer sequence MetaMix uses as a basis for remixing your audio track.

To view more information about a particular integer sequence, simply click its name in the scrolling list. (The currently selected integer sequence has an arrow before its name.)

Some of the information about the integer sequences can get pretty technical. Don't worry if you don't understand it; it's not necessary to understand how the sequences are constructed in order to enjoy using MetaMix.

When you click the "change" button, the integer sequence highlighted in the scrolling list becomes the new basis for remixing your audio track.

Each time you change to a new integer sequence, MetaMix starts from the beginning of that sequence.

Mix Tab

The integer sequence you choose in the form tab is the overarching musical structure MetaMix uses to remix your audio track. The controls on the mix tab set the specifics of how that integer sequence translates into the music MetaMix generates.

New chunk every...:

For a complete description of chunks, see "How it Works" above.

This setting determines how often MetaMix moves to the next integer in the integer sequence and triggers a new chunk to play. In turn, then, this setting also affects how MetaMix parses your audio track into chunks.

Simultaneous Layers:

This is the maximum number of layers which can be playing simultaneously. Each layer of audio fades in and out gradually. For a full description of layers, see "How It Works" above.

The greater the number of layers, the more complex and chaotic the musical texture. Individual chunks lose their own identity and become part of one big texture. Gradual changes over large amounts of time become more audible, but small changes from moment to moment are hidden.

The greater the number of layers, the more CPU time MetaMix needs. On slower computers, MetaMix may not work well in the background with several layers, or audio playback may even become jerky and unreliable. If this happens, simply reduce the number of layers.

Changing the number of layers doesn't change the way MetaMix parses the audio track into chunks, it simply makes each chunk last longer. For instance, if the chunk length is set to 5 seconds and there is only one layer, chunk 1 would start at 0:05 and last for 5 seconds. If there were 2 layers, it would still start at 0:05 but last for 10 seconds. If there were 6 layers, it would start at 0:05 but last 30 seconds.

Reverse Play:

If "integer is negative" is selected, then MetaMix will play a chunk in reverse whenever the number from the integer sequence is a negative number. For instance, -4 in the sequence would trigger chunk 4 to play in reverse. (If this option is not selected, it would simply trigger chunk 4 to play forwards.) This option is only relevant to the integer sequences which include negative numbers.

If "next integer is smaller" is selected, then MetaMix will play a chunk in reverse whenever the next number in the integer sequence is smaller than the current number. For instance, in the sequence "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 2, 3," the two numbers in bold would play in reverse.

When a chunk plays in reverse, it starts from where it would normally end and ends where it would normally start.

Slower Counter Animation:

When this option is selected, the mix counter on the main controls is updated less frequently, conserving CPU power on slower machines. Only select this option if your audio playback becomes jerky or unreliable.

Main Controls

Source and Form Indicators:

These simply display the current audio file and the currently selected integer sequence.

The form indicator also shows the next chunk to be triggered for playback, like this:

f(n)=x

This simply means that MetaMix is looking at the nth number in the integer sequence, which is x. So MetaMix will trigger chunk x to play next.

Mix Counter:

This unique animated counter provides a visual indication of how MetaMix is mixing the audio track.

All layers currently playing are shown in the counter. New layers start on the left and scroll to the right side of the window. Each layer is represented by its chunk number and its exact location in the audio track (in minutes and seconds). The darker the text, the louder a particular layer. Layers playing in reverse appear in red.

Volume and Mute Controls:

Let you change the overall volume and mute the sound.

Play (), Stop (), and Pause ():

Self-explanatory. But note that when you hit stop, MetaMix rewinds to the first number in the integer sequence. Pause lets you pick up right where you left off.

Rewind () and Fast-forward ():

Each time you press rewind or fast-forward, MetaMix skips backward or forward into the current integer sequence. How far it skips varies with each integer sequence. For self-similar sequences, it usually moves by powers or 2 or 3, depending on the sequence. For others, it usually skips ahead or back 10 numbers at a time.

When you press these buttons, the music will not change immediately, but rather with the next new chunk to play. You will notice, though, that the information about the next chunk (on the form indicator) changes immediately.

Note that these buttons have no effect when the form is set to "Random."

Thanks to Naomi Taylor for her input regarding this feature.

About and Help:

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