14. Edit of Interval properties
Figure 14.1
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Figure 14.1 shows an Interval box's properties being edited. In this case, we have set up an Interval of Duration 0.5 (seconds), which is relative to the Previous sound. For example, if the first Sound box (i.e., the one just to the left of the Interval box) is played at 2 seconds from the start of the track, the second Sound box (i.e., the one just to the right of the Interval box) would be played at 2.5 seconds from the start of the track. It is quite normal when using Kangas Sound Editor for a sound not to have finished playing when the next one starts.
We have also entered a relative-pitch numerator (Rel. Pitch Numer field) value of 2, and a relative-pitch denominator (Rel. Pitch Denom field) value of 3; in other words, the fraction 2/3 has been entered for relative pitch, so the second sound will be played at a pitch, or frequency, that is 2/3 of the pitch of the first sound, whatever that pitch happens to be. Those of you with a music background may recognise this ratio (2/3) as a perfect fifth. Notes separated by an interval whose relative-pitch fraction is composed of small numbers such as this often sound good together, whereas fractions with higher numbers (for example, 7/5 which is a tritone) are less likely to do so; this is why the program uses a separate numerator and denominator rather than just have a Relative pitch field, where the number 0.66666666 would be more verbose and more likely to suffer from rounding problems reducing the quality of the sounds.
A relative volume (Rel. Volume field) value of 1.1 has been entered; consequently, as the volume operator (Vol operator field) is Multiply the second sound will be played at a volume 1.1 times the volume of the first sound. So if the volume of the first sound were 5, the volume of the second sound would be 5.5, which can make an appreciable difference in volume. Our experience with this parameter has been to keep the change in volume (0.5 in this case) fairly small for best results. If there is too much volume difference as a result of this parameter having too large a value, it is quite possible that some sounds would not be heard at all as they are so quiet relative to the louder sounds. Kangas Sound Editor always tries to accommodate the loudest sound, making other sounds quieter in order to do so. If the volume operator is Add (the default), a similar effect could be obtained by inputting 0.5 into the Rel. Volume edit field, also with a starting volume of 5. Using Add has the advantage of a more consistent effect irrespective of the starting volume; whereas, Multiply would have a greater effect the greater the starting volume, and no effect at all if the starting volume were zero (for example, 0 × 1.1 = 0).
