EFFECTS

NewTime

Newtime is a time manipulation editor. Slice, warp, time-correct, edit vocals, instrumentals and other recordings.

Time Warp Editing

  • Downbeat Marker - Set: (Right-click) an existing Warp Marker. Any downbeat Markers will be used to determine the start of a bar and then Warp Markers will be automatically placed at beat boundaries that are detected in the sample. NOTE: Markers are normally stripped from the sample when using the Drag selection and Send to playlist icons. If you save the sample to a file, then Markers are preserved. In this case the Downbeat Marker will automatically align with the start of the nearest Bar when the sample is dragged or sent to FL Studio. NOTE: To add a Downbeat or Warp Marker where no Marker currently exists, first add a Warp Marker, then change its type.
  • Groove (Markers & Knob) - This Marker type snaps (auto quantizes) the audio to an underlying Groove Template grid and allows continuous control of the position of Groove Markers via the Groove Knob. Depending on their position relative to the underlying Groove Template, the Markers may move in opposite directions as the Groove Knob is used. Groove Markers are not added directly but are set when loading a Groove template. For more on creating Groove templates see here. Load a groove to quantize or shuffle an existing beat, for example.
    • Load (groove pattern) - Once a Groove Pattern is loaded the Groove knob will allow you to move active Groove Markers. A Groove Pattern is a set of (user defined) locations on the beat-grid where Slices (if present) will be snapped to that position and their Slice Markers will move in responde to the Groove knob.
    • Save (groove pattern) - Saves the current Groove Pattern to file. The current placement of markers will be saved as a Groove Pattern. It is possible to create customized Groove Patterns by manually placing or moving markers in the audio. Normally its best to create Groove Patterns with a 1/16th beat audio loop, so that the changes are relatively in sync to the beat grid. Groove Markers move in response to the Groove knob allowing you to 'shuffle' audio, for example.

      To make a Template - Load a 1-Bar audio file or time-select the firt bar from a longer clip. Then add or edit Warp Markers where you want them and Save. When this .groovepat file is loaded as a Groove Template, the 1 Bar pattern will be applied to all bars in the file. Existig Warp Markers falling near these markers will be set as type 'Groove' to come under the control of the Groove Knob.

  • Shift (Markers & Knob) - Set: (Alt+Click) any existing Marker type OR double click the Marker to remove it. Shift Markers are similar to Warp Markers but the position of all Markers of this type are under the control of the Shift Knob. This allows groups of Markers to be moved in unison and time-stretch the sample data either side of them when moved. This makes Shift Markers a highly versatile tool for sound design, creative effects and particularly useful for re-timing the rhythm of melodic sample loops. Particularly suitable is any audio with on-the-beat 1/8th or 1/4 note rhythm.
  • Warp Marker - Set: Hold (Shift+Click) to Add Warp Markers OR double click on the location to Add/Remove Markers. Warp Markers will time-stretch the sample data either side of them when dragged. They are similar to Shift Markers, but are individually and manually moved and controlled.
  • Select multiple Markers / Regions - Use (Ctrl+Click & Drag) to select Markers or a region. You can release the Left-Mouse button while (Ctrl) to Click and Drag elsewhere to select non-consecutive Regions/Markers.
  • Delete multiple Markers - Aside from double-clicking Markers to delete them, you can (Ctrl+Click & Drag) across the Marker/s and tap (delete).
  • Move Markers - With time stretching: Place your mouse cursor over the Marker's top-flag or anywhere in the middle of the vertical line and click to drag when you see the double-headed left/right arrow appear. Without tine stretching: Double click to remove the Marker and then (Shift+Click) to add a Warp Marker (changing the type afterward if desired).
  • Move regions - Click and drag between Markers. Hold (Alt) to disable Snap. This will move the region, warping the sample data either side.
  • Set BPM (F2) - Click the disk icon and select 'Edit properties'. Enter the desired BPM. NOTE: Using this feature will make sure the Edit > Markers Tempo option will sync the loaded sample to the project tempo. You can also access this control by (Right-Clicking) the Tempo value or Sample Title
  • Preview Scrub - Click the time-ruler above the slices and drag.

General Editor Functions

These operations apply to the editor:

  • Scroll horizontally - Use the scroll-zoom bar along the bottom of the editor window.
  • Zoom horizontally - Drag the edges of the scroll-zoom bar handle OR Mouse wheel) over the editor area.
  • Zoom Selection / Zoom Full Make a selection and (Ctrl + Right-click). If nothing is selected this will Zoom Out to full view.

Tool-bar Options

  • Loop mode On/Off (L).
  • Play/Stop (Space Bar) To Pause (Ctrl + Space).
  • Icon Panel - File, Edit, Select, Snap, Undo, Create score, Save as, Drag selection, Send to Playlist. See below.
  • Groove - Markers of type Groove can be moved under user control. The Marker system works by comparing the existing Warp Markers to those in the Groove preset (.groovepat). Warp Markers within 1/4 beat of any Groove Template Marker are set to type Groove and turn yellow. Warp (Slice) Markers are generated by automated slicing upon loading, or if present in the sample, existing slices are used. Groove Markers then move when the Groove knob is tweaked. This allows you to adapt existing audio to any sort of 'groove'.
  • Sync - Syncs the loaded sample to FL Studio's project tempo. See also the File menu option 'Use project tempo on load'.
  • Length/Sel - Shows the length of the sample and any selection (in samples).
  • Tempo - Shows the detected or embedded Tempo of the sample. (Right-Click) the Tempo value, below the Tempo label, to open the sample properties to manually change this.

  • Slaved Playback (H or Link Icon) - Playback position will sync to FL Studio's transport controls (make sure FL Studio is in Song Mode). The bars in NewTime and the Playlist will also be aligned. To start NewTime from a point later in the FL Studio project make a selection in the Playlist from the point where you want NewTime to start. (Right-click) Options:
    • Ignore host selection - NewTime will always play from the start of the sample rather than FL Studio Playlist selections.
    • Ignore own selection - NewTime ignore internal time-line selections.
    • Ignore space bar key - NewTime will only play back when FL Studio playback is initiated, either through a space bar or transport action.
  • Auto scroll - The display will scroll when the play-head reaches the end of the Edit Window.

File

  • New - Opens a new (empty) editor window.
  • Load sample (Ctrl+O) - Opens a file browser dialog in 'load' mode.
  • Save sample as (Ctrl+S) - Opens a file browser dialog in 'save' mode. The pop-up dialog has two options under the 'Save as type' field:
    • Microsoft wave file (*.wav) Standard lossless .wav file at the bit-depth and sample rate set in the Sample Properties dialog.
    • Microsoft compressed wave file (*.wav) Lossy compression formats. After initiating the save a second dialog opens to save the sample in one of many compressed formats. MS compressed wave files simply wrap the selected compression type in a *.wav file, and put information in the wave header as to what decompression method the opening program should use (not all programs read this information). FL Studio will load and decompress MS compressed wave files automatically as long as you have the appropriate codec installed.
    • WavPack (*.wv) (or Right-click the 'Save as' button) Lossless or lossy, depending on settings, open-source compression (see the WavPack website for more details). After initiating save in this format you will be prompted for a bit-depth (lossless is the default, other settings are lossy compression modes). In 'lossless' mode expect between 30-70% reduction in file sizes, useful for archiving purposes. FL Studio will load and decompress WavPack files automatically.
    • MPEG 3 audio file (*.mp3) Mp3 is a Lossy compression format. It has gained world-wide popularity because it was one of the first on the market that provided good quality lossy compression. After initiating a save a second dialog opens to select the quality (bit-rate), this controls the tradeoff between audio quality and file size. Good listening quality on portable devices starts at about 160 kbps, use 224 kbps or 320 (max) if you want something probably indistinguishable from CD quality.
    • Ogg Vorbis (*.ogg) Lossy, open source compression format, similar in concept to mp3 (see the Vorbis or Ogg Wikipedia website for more details). After initiating a save a second dialog opens to select the quality (bit-rate), this controls the tradeoff between audio quality and file size. Use a setting of 0.50 or more if you want good quality. FL Studio will load and decompress *.ogg files automatically.

    NOTE: Do not use any of the lossy formats (Microsoft compressed wave file, MPEG 3 or Ogg Vorbis) to archive project samples or loops. Use Microsoft wave files or WavPack in lossless compression mode if you want to save space. Hard disk space is cheap, samples may be irreplaceable.

  • Load groove pattern - Once a Groove Pattern is loaded the Groove knob will allow you to move active Groove Markers. A Groove Pattern is a set of (user defined) locations on the beat-grid where Slices (if present) will be snapped to that position and their Slice Markers will move in responde to the Groove knob.
  • Save groove pattern - Saves the current Groove Pattern to file. To make Groove Patterns (Ctrl+Alt+Click) slice Markers to set them to Groove enabled. Normally its best to create Groove Patterns with a 1/16th beat audio loop, so you can work relative to the beat grid. Groove Markers move in response to the Groove knob allowing you to 'shuffle' audio, for example. <

  • Slave to host playback - More options are available by (Right-Clicking) the Slave Playback icon:
    • Ignore host selection - NewTime will align its first bar to start at the beginning of Playlist selections in FL Studio.
    • Ignore own selection - Playback isn't limited to the selection in NewTime.
    • Ignore space bar key - Spacebar is ignored when New time is slaved to FL Studio's transport. This avoids the situation where you are editing something in sync with a song, and each time you edit, if New time is in focus, it plays alone instead of with the FL Studio project.
  • Use project tempo on load - When enabled, the project tempo will be used to sync (stretch the sample) instead of whatever tempo value is stored in the sample itself. When off, the sample tempo is used or an auto-detected tempo if necessary. You can also apply these same states by selecting the Sync button on the toolbar.
  • Edit properties (F2) (OR Right-click the sample name below TITLE or Tempo value displayed on the Toolbar next to the Sync button) - Opens a dialog to set BPM and Tempo-sync that causes the sample to stretch with changes to host BPM once imported.

  • About - NewTime version information.

Edit

  • Undo (Ctrl+Alt+Z) OR (Ctrl+Alt+Z) - Undo/Redo OR Undo many.
  • Delete (Del) - Delete selection.
  • Quantize time - Quantize warp Markers to the grid. See also Grooves above.
  • Snap to downbeat - Snaps the downbeat to the start of the bar.
  • Send to Playlist as audio clip - Sends the audio to the Playlist as an Audio Clip with Markers set for the note boundaries. When a Downbeat Marker is present, this will be snapped to the start of a Bar.
  • Marker detection - Choose how the sample is analyzed and warp Markers applied:
    • Transient - Peaks in the audio are used to estimate the beats. Works best for percussive sounds with level peaks on the beats in the audio.
    • Tempo - The tempo is auto-detected (or from meta-data) and Markers are applied.
    • None - No warp Markers are applied. You can also use this to clear all existing Markers.
  • Delete all Markers - Removes all Markers, because you want to.

Snap

Snap to ...

  • Beat - 1/4 note.
  • 1/2 beat - 1/8th note.
  • 1/3 beat - 1/12th note (triplet)
  • 1/4 beat - 1/16th note.
  • 1/6 beat - 1/24th note.
  • 1/8 beat - 1/32nd note.
  • Off (none) - Movement is limited only by the Project Timebase (PPQ) setting (F11). NOTE: Snapping can be temporarily disabled while holding the Alt key.

Select

  • Deselect (Up arrow) selection.
  • Select time around selection (Ctrl+Enter) - Selects the time-line range occupied by the selected notes. If no selection is made the Zoomed range will be selected.
  • Select before current selection - Selects the time-line before the current selection.
  • Select after current selection - Selects the time-line after the current selection.
  • Select all (time) - Selects the time-line.
  • Select all (slices) (Ctrl + A) - Selects all audio. Use this to move the audio relative to the grid.
  • Select all (time and slices) - Selects everything.

Undo

  • Undo - Undo if there is nothing to redo, (Ctrl+Z).

Create Score

  • Left-click - Sends the detected score to a Piano roll in the currently selected Channel & Pattern. Right-click Copies the score to the MIDI clipboard.

Save as

  • Left-click Save as a new file. Right-click Save the file as WavePack format (.wv). See the 'File > Save sample as' section for a detailed description of .wv format.

Drag selection

  • Drag this button and drop on a compatible location in FL Studio (Playlist, Channel window e.t.c,) to copy the selection to that destination. If nothing is selected the entire sample will be copied.

    NOTE: Markers are normally stripped from the sample when using the Drag selection and Send to playlist icons. If you save the sample to a file, then Markers are preserved. In this case the downbeat Marker will automatically align with the start of the nearest Bar when the sample is dragged or sent to FL Studio.

Send selection to Playlist

  • Sends the selection to the Playlist. If nothing is selected the entire sample will be copied. NOTE: See the note above about Markers, Time stretching and audio glitches.

NOTE: Markers are normally stripped from the sample when using the Drag selection and Send to playlist icons. If you save the sample to a file, then Markers are preserved. In this case the downbeat Marker will automatically align with the start of the nearest Bar when the sample is dragged or sent to FL Studio.

Credits

Time manipulation engine by: Zplane

Code & GUI: Miro & Frederic.