REWiki

adding_songs

2007-02-05T23:44:25-04:00

There are several different methods of adding song information into Rapid Evolution, each suitable for different situations. It is important to enter accurate information into the proper fields, not just for yourself, but because this information is shared with other DJs. You should try to verify and correct all song information you add.

advanced_theory

2007-11-06T02:32:22-04:00

This is a page for discussing more advanced keys and scales. Scales Scales are the foundation on which most music is based. A scale is made up of a series of tones arranged in a specific interval pattern. An interval is the distance between two tones, the smallest of which is called a half-step (H). A half step corresponds to the closest distance between two piano keys. A whole-step (W) is equal to the distance of two half-steps. The quality of a scale--whether it is major, minor, etc.--…

available_skins

2009-02-18T11:16:09-04:00

There are several skins which come with Rapid Evolution, below you will find a preview of each. Keep in mind, the exact appearance can vary depending on the look and feel setting. The “Metal” look and feel is currently the only one that is cross-platform consistent, and is recommended when using non-default skins. If you would like to create your own skin check out the skin configuration section.

border

2009-02-18T12:21:25-04:00

Border settings allow you to set a border for different types of components. Here is an example of a border setting definition: The following table lists all attributes for the border tag:

button

2007-02-04T22:06:01-04:00

A common “push” button is a clickable element which performs some function. The actual function is not controlled by the skin, just the button's appearance, properties, placement, etc. Here is an example of a button definition: The following table lists all attributes for the button tag:

change_log

2010-02-19T19:11:13-04:00

This page will describe the changes in each new release of Rapid Evolution. 2.13.13 Fixes * Fixed potential database save problem on Mac OS X 2.13.12 Fixes * Fixed temporary WAV not being deleted 2.13.11 Fixes * Fixed Quicktime decoder renaming long filenames unnecessarily * Disabled use of MIDI output devices on Mac OS X 10.6.x (was causing crashes due to a Mac bug)

change_log_2.10

2008-07-08T11:44:46-04:00

2.10.25 Features * Added support for the German language (thanks to Alex!) (not quite finished yet) Fixes * Made a few skin fixes to support longer German words 2.10.24 Features * Fixed a bug when using the JID3 tag writer which could result in failed tag writes and temporary files left behind

change_log_2.11

2009-09-01T03:15:55-04:00

2.11.6 Features * Added option to disable multithreaded detection * Added support to import latest Traktor Pro format Fixes * Fixed use of FAAD decoder in Linux to properly reference “faad” not “faad.exe” * Made a fix to the iTunes importer

change_log_2.8

2008-02-20T15:35:25-04:00

2.8.33 Features * Added “rating” as a filter choice Fixes * Fixed bug with filters and keys/key codes (introduced in recent versions) 2.8.32 Fixes * Fixed comboboxes losing selections when changing skins * Added an option to reset OS media player

change_log_2.9

2008-02-20T15:34:47-04:00

2.9.28 Features * Improved Mixshare server functionality 2.9.27 Features * Improved song trail/mix file format so that they continue to load even if songs have been renamed * Added the ability to CTRL-click a mixout to quickly edit it * Added the ability to use ESCAPE button as a quick shortcut to close the mixout editor dialog

change_log_archive

2009-09-01T03:15:00-04:00

This page describes the changes made in older versions of Rapid Evolution, for historical reference... New Versions * See the current Change Log 2.11.x * See the Change Log 2.11 2.10.x * See the Change Log 2.10 2.9.x * See the Change Log 2.9

checkbox

2007-02-04T22:07:02-04:00

A checkbox is an item that can be selected or deselected, and which displays its state to the user. Here is an example of a checkbox definition: ... The following table lists all attributes for the checkbox tag:

color

2007-02-04T21:54:59-04:00

Color settings are used to control the colors of different types of components without having to explicitly specify the colors for each individual component. The settings “default_foreground” and “default_background” apply to all, the rest apply to specific types of components. Here is an example of a color setting definition:

colorchooser

2007-02-04T22:07:59-04:00

A colorchooser provides a panel of controls designed to allow a user to manipulate and select a color. Here is an example of a colorchooser definition: ... The following table lists all attributes for the colorchooser tag:

combobox

2007-02-04T22:09:03-04:00

A combobox combines a button or editable field and a drop-down list. The user can select a value from the drop-down list, which appears at the user's request. If you make the combo box editable, then the combo box includes an editable field into which the user can type a value. Here is an example of a combobox definition:

condition

2007-02-04T22:09:36-04:00

The condition element allows the skin to change based on the value of a checkbox. The condition's id value must match the name of a checkbox. When the value of the checkbox changes, the skin will automatically update. Here is an example of a condition definition:

configuration_options

2009-02-18T09:01:48-04:00

There are many ways to configure Rapid Evolution to meet your needs. Below is an explanation of the options menu items categorized by the tabs: * CPU Utilization This will control the percentage of CPU that is used for background tasks such as BPM/key detection, importing, autosaving, mix generating, etc. Lowering the value will provide better responsiveness in the application and less impact on other applications, but will require more time to complete the tasks.

detecting_from_files

2007-02-28T01:38:44-04:00

This section is for helping users who are having problems automatically detecting song properties from audio files, such as the key, BPM, beat intensity, etc. Supported File Types A common problem is the file type is not supported. Rapid Evolution currently supports the following audio file types:

detecting_keys

2009-02-18T08:56:26-04:00

In general there are 2 ways to automatically detect keys using Rapid Evolution. You can detect keys from files or use the live audio input key detector. This section will explain how to do both. While automatic key detection is convenient, it is not 100% accurate and it is recommended that you confirm your song keys by ear using the MIDI keyboard provided by Rapid Evolution. If you are unfamiliar with how to do this, you can read up on music theory and how to find a song's key. Automaticall…

dialog-message

2007-02-04T21:56:41-04:00

There are some dialog windows not defined with the dialog tag, because they are so simple. This includes informational messages, prompts, etc. The text for these dialogs is controlled by dialog-message settings. Here is an example of a dialog-message setting definition:

dialog

2007-02-04T22:10:29-04:00

A dialog is a window that is a child to the main frame. They are triggered by buttons that you define, or can be displayed automatically by the application. Here is an example of a dialog definition: The following table lists all attributes for the dialog tag:

djing_with_rapid_evolution

2009-02-11T10:03:57-04:00

Once you've added your songs into Rapid Evolution you're ready to start taking advantage of its main features. It is most useful if you have already entered the important song information, such as the bpm, key, styles, etc. However, the program is still useful without this information.

ear_training

2010-06-20T07:42:08-04:00

Some people are born with “perfect pitch”, or more correctly, “absolute pitch”, in which they can determine a note or chord just by listening and without using a reference note or keyboard. For those that aren't born with this gift (most of us!), there are ways to train our ear to try to obtain this skill.

editing_songs

2007-02-27T02:43:12-04:00

Once you've added your songs, you might need to modify or correct song information. There are many features to help you do this, and most are available under the right/option click menu from the search table. It is important to verify and correct all your song data. Not only will it help improve your own mixing, but it will improve the quality of information shared with other DJs.

f.a.q

2007-02-07T14:15:51-04:00

How do I install it? In a nutshell, you will want to run “re2_install.jar”, the executable for the installer. You must have Java installed. You can find more detailed instructions in the Installation section. How do I upgrade? Simply download the latest version from the Software section and run the installer. Select the same location you have Rapid Evolution installed, and when prompted choose to overwrite the files. Your song data will never be overwritten by the installer.

features

2007-03-26T18:10:52-04:00

* Runs on ANY operating system (PC/Mac OSx/Linux/more) * Fully featured song and mix database stores all DJ related information * Add digital (supports MP3/MP4/OGG/FLAC/AAC/WAV/AIF) and analog (vinyl) songs * Search songs based on audio properties: * BPM - Find songs within a compatible BPM range * Key - Find songs that are harmonically compatible * Time signature - Find songs with a compatible time signature * Styles - Find songs within similar styles

field

2007-02-04T22:11:56-04:00

A field allows the editing of a single line of text. Here is an example of a field definition: ... The following table lists all attributes for the field tag:

font

2007-02-04T21:58:07-04:00

Font settings are used to control the fonts of different types of components without having to explicitly specify a font for each individual component. The setting “default_font” applies to all. Here is an example of a font setting definition:

frame

2007-02-05T13:33:39-04:00

A frame is the main window for the application. All components and dialog windows are added to this component. Here is an example of a frame definition: ... add components here ... The following table lists all attributes for the frame tag:

free_beats

2007-03-03T23:31:15-04:00

Most percussion is essentially neutral musically, which means that drum beats will normally mix well together with any key. These percussive segments are referred to as “free beats”. Remix services use free beats for intro and outro segments due to the fact that they mix well with any key. When melodies are harmonically incompatible, then using free beats is a good choice.

general

2009-02-17T11:16:24-04:00

* CPU Utilization This will control the percentage of CPU that is used for background tasks such as BPM/key detection, importing, autosaving, mix generating, etc. Lowering the value will provide better responsiveness in the application and less impact on other applications, but will require more time to complete the tasks.

harmonic_mixing

2010-04-03T20:09:37-04:00

...is the natural evolution of beat mixing: mixing in compatible keys. By mixing harmonically, you can avoid sour mixes caused by clashing melodies and harmonies. You can mix long overlays without depending on percussion free beats. Harmonic mixing allows you to be more creative by artistically combining harmonies and melodies in ways that please even the most demanding ears. You can then achieve perfect sounding mixes which audiences crave! :-)

how_to_find_a_song_s_key

2007-03-17T19:48:44-04:00

You will first need access a properly tuned instrument that follows the Western music scale (usually a keyboard or guitar), and some good speakers. Rapid Evolution includes a built in MIDI keyboard which does the job quite well, and is useful for beginners because it displays the note/chord you are playing. You don't to be a skilled keyboard player to do this.

icon

2007-02-04T21:59:48-04:00

Icon settings allow you to override the default icons and use your own images. As with other settings, they apply to types of components rather than specific components. Here is an example of an icon setting definition: The following table lists all attributes for the icon tag:

installation

2010-02-19T19:11:41-04:00

Rapid Evolution has been tested on Windows (XP, Vista, 7), Mac OSX and Linux. It should run on any operating system which supports Java. It is freely available at Mixshare.com. Prerequisites Java You must have Java 1.5 or later installed on your system. If you do not have it, you can download it from Sun. You will want to download the “Java Runtime Environment” (JRE). Note: If you are using Windows, you can use the “re2launcher” install method below without having Java installed…

java

2007-02-04T23:44:51-04:00

...is a cross platform programming language, which you can find more about at Sun.com. You can download the latest version here. If you are using Mac OSX then Java should be integrated already.

key_notation

2007-08-30T18:34:11-04:00

Rapid Evolution supports basic and advanced key notation, as well as key codes. It also supports the ability to notate keys which have been shifted from the standard tuning. The general format is: For example:

label

2007-02-04T22:13:04-04:00

A label displays a single line of read-only text, or an icon. The text can be changed by the application, but a user cannot edit it directly. Here is an example of a label definition: ... The following table lists all attributes for the label tag:

list

2007-02-04T22:13:56-04:00

A list allows the user to select one or more objects. Here is an example of a list definition: ... The following table lists all attributes for the list tag:

live_audio_input_setup

2009-02-18T08:54:54-04:00

You will need to setup your soundcard properties correctly before Rapid Evolution will detect keys from the live input. Please note that the steps below may differ to what you see depending on your soundcard. Windows You can access the recording settings from the Volume Control which is often accessible from the taskbar. If not, you can access it via Control Panel->Sound and Audio Device Properties->Volume->Advanced:

managing_styles

2009-02-11T07:35:52-04:00

Styles (e.g. genres) play an important role in profiling your music. The more time you put into refining your styles, the easier it will be to find compatible songs to mix together. Well defined styles improve the accuracy of the “style similarity” statistic which is used in the generation of playlists and mix sets. A song can belong to more than one style.

margin

2007-02-04T22:00:52-04:00

A margin determines the space between a component's text and its border. Margin settings allow you to specify margins for types of components, rather than specific ones. Here is an example of a margin setting definition: The following table lists all attributes for the margin tag:

message

2007-02-04T22:03:14-04:00

Message settings control text that is not defined within a specific component. For example, this includes menu options, column titles, error messages, etc. Alter message settings when you want to change the language, wording or terminology of text. Here is an example of a message setting definition:

mixing_harmonically

2010-04-23T10:59:07-04:00

Introduction Most DJs have developed an ear for music, and when listening to a song or mix that is off-key, a mental alarm is triggered and it will sound noticably sour or unpleasant. Most DJs will ride beat-mixes for more than a few bars, but they don't often ride them for very long, because the same mental alarm activates when the melodies and harmonies start to overlay. At this point a DJ has 3 choices: forget riding melody segments and use only percussion segments, overlay incompatible k…

music_theory

2007-03-04T01:33:11-04:00

In order to mix harmonically you must understand a bit of music theory and know the keys of the songs you are mixing. Taking the time to do this will improve the quality of your mixing by allowing you to combine melodies and harmonies without clashing. It will also help you learn to play along with your music if you have any instruments.

panel

2007-02-04T22:15:20-04:00

A panel is a general-purpose container which you can add components to. By default, panels don't paint anything except for their background; however, you can easily add borders to them and otherwise customize their painting. Panels are a logical way to group related components.

performance_tuning

2007-09-08T23:18:30-04:00

There are a lot of features in Rapid Evolution, many of which are enabled by default. These features can sometimes use additional memory or resources that have a negative impact on performance for slower machines. This page will guide you through all of the settings under Options which have an impact on performance and what to set them to for optimal speed. It is often necessary to tune the performance of Rapid Evolution when using it in live performances. If changing these settings does not…

processing_audio_files

2009-08-28T01:46:03-04:00

This section is for helping users who are having problems related to the processing of audio files. This can include automatic key, BPM and beat intensity detection, as well as the built-in media player and time/pitch shift functions. Supported File Types A common problem is the file type is not supported. Rapid Evolution currently supports the following audio file types:

progressbar

2007-02-04T22:16:10-04:00

A progress bar communicates the progress of some work by displaying its percentage of completion and possibly a textual display of this percentage. Here is an example of a progressbar definition: ... The following table lists all attributes for the progressbar tag:

quick_easy_guide

2007-08-30T21:04:35-04:00

Rapid Evolution contains many features, and therefore can be complicated for new users. One of the more popular features is automatic key and BPM detection. This section is for users who don't want to spend time to learn Rapid Evolution, but merely want to add key and BPM information to their existing song tags.

radiobutton

2007-02-04T22:17:01-04:00

A radiobutton is an item that can be selected or deselected, and which displays its state to the user. Unlike checkboxes, they form mutually exclusive groups in which only one can be selected at a time. Here is an example of a radiobutton definition:

rapid_evolution

2009-02-18T09:08:29-04:00

...is an advanced harmonic music library tool for DJs, designed to be used while you mix. It helps profile your songs by saving important properties, such as the BPM, key, time signature, styles, comments, etc. You can then instantly see which songs are within BPM range, in key harmonically and in similar styles. More importantly, it lets you save comments and information about each individual mix you come up with. Use it to enhance your knowledge of your music and remember the important det…

rapid_evolution_3

2010-08-08T13:09:59-04:00

...is currently in BETA, which means it is not completely finished, and requires testing, but it is still very functional and useful. This section will be updated more with time, but a preview of RE3 can be found here: RE3 Preview Topics * Installation

re3_installation

2010-09-05T16:57:47-04:00

Rapid Evolution 3 will run on Windows, Mac OSX and Linux. Prerequisites Java You must have Java 1.6 or later installed on your system. If you do not have it, you can download it from Oracle. You will want to download the “Java Runtime Environment” (JRE).

screenshots

2007-02-07T13:55:14-04:00

Rapid Evolution's appearance can vary widely depending on the skin (see available skins) and the look and feel settings. Here are a few screenshots: Album Browsing Mixing with FinalScratch Default Mac Appearance MIDI Keyboard Editing a Song

scrollpanel

2007-02-04T22:17:49-04:00

A scrollpanel is similar to a panel, except if its size is smaller than the components within it, it will display scrollbars. ... add components to scrollpanel here ... The following table lists all attributes for the scrollpanel tag:

serato_scratch

2007-06-23T17:10:03-04:00

This page is to discuss how to achieve maximum compatibility between Rapid Evolution and Serato Scratch.

size

2007-02-04T22:04:26-04:00

A size setting refers to any parameter that has a numeric integer value. This includes shift offsets, icon gaps, widths, heights, rates, etc. Here is an example of a size setting definition: The following table lists all attributes for the size tag:

skin_configuration

2009-02-18T11:52:24-04:00

This section is for people who wish to create or customize their own skins to control the appearance and layout of Rapid Evolution. Introduction Everything you see when using Rapid Evolution is controlled by an XML configuration file called a “skin”. This configuration file lets you control many UI aspects:

slider

2007-02-04T22:18:41-04:00

A slider lets the user graphically select a value by sliding a knob within a bounded interval. Here is an example of a slider definition: ... The following table lists all attributes for the slider tag:

song_properties

2007-02-07T13:54:28-04:00

This is a experimental page for discussing the various properties of songs, their effect on the sound and mixing, and determining them (perhaps with computer algorithms). Measurable * BPM (beats per minute): Not only can this reveal a lot about the tempo and energy of a song, but it imposes very real restrictions on compatible songs when mixing. * Key: Most songs tend to have a dominant key, dance music tends to be mostly in minor keys. This information is necessary for harmonic mixing. …

spinner

2007-02-04T22:19:30-04:00

A spinner is a single line input field that lets the user select a number or an object value from an ordered sequence. Spinners typically provide a pair of tiny arrow buttons for stepping through the elements of the sequence. The keyboard up/down arrow keys also cycle through the elements. The user may also be allowed to type a (legal) value directly into the spinner. Although combo boxes provide similar functionality, spinners are sometimes preferred because they don't require a drop down list …

splitpanel

2007-02-04T22:20:27-04:00

A splitpanel is used to divide two (and only two) components. The two components are graphically divided horizontally or vertically, and the two components can be resized by the user. Here is an example of a horizontal splitpanel definition:

... add components here ...

Here is an example of a vertical splitpanel definition:

start

2010-08-08T13:05:25-04:00

Welcome to the Rapid Evolution wiki! This is under construction... Rapid Evolution is a powerful, advanced DJ library tool available from Mixshare.com. It offers comprehensive features for harmonic mixing, including the most accurate key detection available! It is designed to be flexible and customizable, with the power user in mind. It is the ultimate music profiling tool for DJs. This wiki will be the central location for information about how to use Rapid Evolution, as well as harmonic …

styles

2009-02-11T09:29:59-04:00

One of the powerful profiling features of Rapid Evolution is the ability to define custom, hierarchical styles. These styles generally correspond to musical genres, but are by no means restricted to this. This page is meant to be a central document where DJs can share and describe their styles, and unify them into a single master taxonomy. This information could eventually be utilized in the Mixshare server.

tabbedpanel

2007-02-04T22:21:25-04:00

A tabbedpanel allows you to display a set of panels controlled by tabs. Each tab can be customized like a panel, and only one is displayed at a time. Here is an example of a tabbedpanel definition: ... add components to tab here ... ... add components to tab here ... The following table lists all attributes for the tabbedpanel tag:

table

2007-02-04T22:22:07-04:00

A table displays a two-dimensional array of cells, which can be made editable to the user. Here is an example of a table definition: ...

The following table lists all attributes for the table tag:

testimonials

2008-04-02T11:50:30-04:00

Please add a comment here to share how Rapid Evolution has helped you... DJ Qualia (www.mixshare.com) “Thanks to Rapid Evolution, I've been able to remember the details of all the good mixes I've ever come up with.” Codec (www.FeedmeGoodTunes.com) “Time was four months ago, and this was the situation - here's me with no equipment, no practice, no ideas for a killer setlist - and one opportunity to perform a DJ set at a Brooklyn art space four months down the line, no questions asked…

textarea

2007-02-04T22:22:52-04:00

A textarea displays multiple lines of plain text, which can be made editable to the user. Here is an example of a textarea definition: The following table lists all attributes for the textarea tag:

toolbar

2007-02-04T22:23:34-04:00

A toolbar is useful for displaying commonly used actions or controls. It displays components sequentially either vertically or horizontally. When adding components to a toolbar, there is no need to define their location. Here is an example of a toolbar definition:

traktor

2007-06-23T17:09:22-04:00

This page is to discuss how to achieve maximum compatibility between Rapid Evolution and Traktor. Traktor is a software mixing tool created by Native Instruments. It is compatible with the digital mixing solution Finalscratch, and is very friendly to use with Rapid Evolution. It is recommended to search your music collection in Rapid Evolution and to drag and drop songs onto the decks in Traktor when mixing. You can position the windows as such:

using_the_midi_keyboard

2007-08-17T23:14:13-04:00

The MIDI keyboard/piano is a very helpful tool to find the keys of songs. It can also serve as a general purpose MIDI controller for those who don't have one. You can use it to play internal and external synthesizers, controlled by the computer keyboard and mouse.

western_music

2007-03-03T12:43:09-04:00

Taken from harmonic-mixing.com: Melody, harmony and rhythm are the elements of songs in Western music, as opposed to Eastern, tribal, or other forms of music. A song in Western music will have a key, and some songs may change keys (modulate), but most remain in the same key from beginning to end.