Version

menu_open
Music Segment Editor

The Music Segment Editor is where you arrange and edit the tracks and sub-tracks that Music Segments contain. The basic component of a track is a clip, a rectangular area representing a single WAV file.

You can adjust when a clip plays by dragging it left or right along its track. You can move clips from one track to another by dragging them up or down. You can also overlap clips on a single track. You can make a clip shorter by dragging one of its handles inwards, or extend it by dragging the handle outwards. When you extend a clip, it repeats itself. Each repeat is called a loop.

[Note] Note

You must create at least one track before most options in the Music Segment Editor are available.

Cues and the play cursor are also part of the Music Segment Editor. Cues are markers appended to segments to indicate key points, such as its entry and exit points. You can also create custom cues to indicate when property changes or transitions should occur, or when Stingers should be played. The play cursor moves along as you play a segment, but you can also move it to control where playback begins.

[Tip] Tip

You can arrange clips and cues more precisely by selecting a “Snap to” increment that suits your segment. For example, if you select Snap to Bars/Beats, then move a cue, that cue will align itself with the nearest bar or beat.

Interface Element

Description

(Music Segment Name)

The name of the Music Segment whose tracks you are currently editing.

Snap to

Snaps a clip, cue, or cursor to the nearest example of the selected interval when you slide it horizontally. The three options available are:

Bars/Beats to snap to the beginning of the nearest bar or beat. These are indicated as pale gray lines on the music timeline.

Cues to snap to the nearest cue. This can be an entry, exit, or custom cue.

Clips/Loops to snap to the beginning of the nearest clip or loop. These are indicated by small blue triangles on the music timeline.

To move an object directly to a specified interval, hold Alt while dragging the object.

Envelopes

Enable envelope editing for the following properties:

  • Volume: Red curve

  • Low-pass: Dark Blue curve

  • High-pass: Light Blue curve

When envelope editing is enabled, the associated curve can be modified in each music clip.

[Tip] Tip

When a curve is enabled, double-click a curve to add a point in a segment. Right-click a curve segment to change the segment shape.

(Music Timeline)

(Play cursor)

When a segment is playing or paused, indicates current playback position within the segment. When a segment is stopped, indicates the point at which playback will begin.

(Entry cue)

Defines the entry cue of the segment. The area to the left of the entry cue is the pre-entry area of a segment. The pre-entry area may or may not be played in game, depending on transition settings.

[Tip] Tip

When moving the entry cue, the whole segment will move with the entry cue (including clips and other cues). When holding the CTRL key and dragging the entry cue, only the entry cue will move.

(Exit cue)

Defines the exit cue of the segment. The area to the right of the entry cue is the post-exit area of a segment. The post-exit area may or may not be played in game, depending on transition settings.

(Custom cue)

Defines a custom cue for the segment. This cue may be used for defining transitions, locating where Stingers will play, or specifying where state changes will occur.

[Tip] Tip

Shift+Click the segment editor ruler to quickly create custom cues at a specific time.

[Tip] Tip

Cue names can be retrieved using callbacks in your game. This can be useful receive metadata in sequence when the music is playing.

Double-click the custom cue to set its name.

(Track Editor)

(Music track name)

The icon and name of the music track you are currently editing.

(Force Usage)

Forces the current sub-track to be played in the Transport Control or Soundcaster. Only one sub-track in a track can be forced at a time.

This applies to random step or sequence step tracks only.

(Track)

(Clip handle)

Shortens or extends a clip. When you extend a clip, you create loops.

(Clip separator)

Indicates the boundary between individual clips in a loop.

(Fade handle)

Shorten or extend a clip fade-in or fade out.

By default, the music clip fade-in and fade-out are set to automatically fade when crossing or overlapping.

  • When the fade handle has a disabled look, the fade is automatic and will have a duration equal to the overlap duration. Just move the handle to fall in manual mode and set the duration manually.

  • When the fade handle has an enabled look, the fade duration has been set manually by the user. Right-click the handle to open the shortcut menu and select Automatically fade when crossing to go back to automatic mode.

[Tip] Tip

Right-click a fade curve to open a shortcut menu allowing to change its shape.

(End cursor)

Shortens or extends all the music tracks in a segment within the Music Segment Editor. Shortening or extending music tracks does not affect the length or playback of clips on these tracks.


Was this page helpful?

Need Support?

Questions? Problems? Need more info? Contact us, and we can help!

Visit our Support page

Tell us about your project. We're here to help.

Register your project and we'll help you get started with no strings attached!

Get started with Wwise