Hello! I now understand the difficulty of MIDI import - all grooves, swings and delays are quantised to the PB grid, and even after manually changing these settings - they are ignored by the smart randomisation. I see great potential in adding another tab like velocity, but for adding a timing shift for each step (or !!! fixing the triplets in the steps tab - because when I try to fill it, all three steps are filled in with one click - and perhaps adding a resolution for the 5th and 6th steps could fix the lack of extra timings). This is the key for really tasty grooves and unique rhythms.
Another problem I found is that when creating presets, the mixer settings are not saved with the track, and the smart random function (when changing sounds) does not apply the mixer volume to the track, resulting in loud sounds sounding very unbalanced.
And one more problem: when I try to import sounds by drag and drop through the main tab - they are not imported, now it only works for MIDI
Wanted to say this later but also I want to thank you for your work, even implementing such a simple MIDI import is a great addition along with the other ones!
Hi, Smart mode considers only the patterns marked as Smart, bypassing all other algorithms. Its behavior depends on the velocity and other settings within the Smart-marked presets.
Regarding mixer settings, these should definitely be saved with each preset and independently for each remix or variation. Can you please confirm?
Regarding drag-and-drop samples in the sequencer, does this occur when dragging from your DAW, another folder, or the desktop as well?
I think there might be a misunderstanding, so let me explain clearly. I’d like to transfer my XLN XO patterns into Playbeat to take advantage of its sound design and Smart pattern randomization features. A key element I want to preserve is the groove, particularly patterns with a shifted snare. For example, when I import a pattern from an XO preset, the off-grid snare snaps to the grid and shifts one cell earlier, completely changing the groove. This issue also affects other drum lanes.
Solutions for Preserving Groove During Pattern Import
I’ve identified three potential fixes:
Grid Merge Function with Triplet Timing
This feature saves with the preset and works with Smart randomization, which is great. However, when I use triplet timing, all three steps fill with one click, preventing me from shifting a single note. A solution could be allowing just one step of the triplet to be filled, enabling custom grooves. Even better, adding options for 5 or 6 steps-or best of all, automatically adjusting steps during MIDI import-would make this much more user-friendly. It’s not a perfect fix, but it’s an improvement.
Track Time Shift
This method adjusts timing, but the settings are saved with the preset, not per track. When I use Smart randomization, the time shift stays the same across all tracks, disrupting the groove. Since Smart randomization relies on presets I’ve imported and marked as Smart, this limitation undermines the feature’s purpose.
Additive Tab for Step Shifting (Best Option)
The ideal solution would be an additive tab for shifting each step individually. This would allow any groove to be created, save settings per track, and work seamlessly with Smart randomization (like the Volume tab does). This would make Playbeat a far more flexible and powerful groovebox.
Mixer Settings Issue
Next, let’s talk about mixer settings. When I import an XO pattern with its original sounds, the mix relies on specific volume levels. For instance, I use sound effects that need to stay quiet to avoid overpowering the mix - otherwise, they sound unbalanced. After saving the preset and marking it as Smart, Smart randomization doesn’t change the mixer levels. This causes the sound effect to become too loud, drawing unwanted attention and ruining the balance.
Solutions for Mixer Settings
Here are two ways to address this:
Recall Mixer Levels Per Track
I can manually fix the levels in the mixer tab, but when I use Smart randomization afterward, the levels don’t adjust as sounds and patterns switch, resulting in an unbalanced mix. If the Smart algorithm could recall mixer levels per track, this problem would be solved.
Velocity Offset Per Track
Adding a Velocity offset option per track would let me balance levels using velocity, with these settings saved and recalled alongside velocity data. It’s not a perfect solution, but it would work well enough.
Sound Import Issue
Finally, regarding importing sounds: In the standalone version, dragging and dropping samples onto the main window shows a visual animation, but the sounds don’t actually change (unlike MIDI imports). Dropping samples in the presets tab works fine, though. Drag and drop doesn’t function at all for sample imports in the standalone version, while everything works perfectly in the VST3 version.
wanted to chime in and also say that i am disappointed by the fact that apparently there’s no way around souless stiff, robotic patterns.
guys, let rhythms breathe! free them from grids, otherwise, as the OP said, whatever comes out of the plugin will never groove. there’s so much potential here already. it would be killer if the smart functions were sensitive to slight timing and velocity variations, like a genuine drummer’s brain. that’s where groove lives and what makes the body want to move.
i haven’t purchased playbeat 4 yet due to this. do you think that’s something you guys could fix in an upcoming update, or would that be an entirely new version altogether?
