1. Tap Play Mode
This is a screen just after starting application. It shows piano keyboard and 40 buttons. When you tap the button, you see piano key hit and hear piano sound.
*First several sound, you may experience some delay. So tapping all button before play music is recommended.
On buttons, single note can be set as well as chords. For example, "C3sn" is single note button, "C3" shows pitch name C on 3rd octave. Commonly, "C3" is used in computer music. However we may confuse with "C♭5" which is chord name, TapPiano uses "C3sn" instead of "C3".
Default setting, 40 buttons are shown. If you want larger button go to Preference Mode and select "Large" on "Button size" settings. You can choose 28 larger button set.
When you touch on the piano keyboard, it disappears and some buttons are shown.
"-" and "+" buttons on the upper right are transpose buttons. They make whole button transpose by semitone pitch up to one octave which is 12 semitone.
To show piano keyboard, tap between transpose buttons.
2. Button Set Mode
When touch on the keyboard in Tap Play Mode, the keyboard disappears. Then tap "CHORD" button, entering Button Set Mode.
In this mode, you can set up to 40 buttons. Roll the picker, which is shown at the bottom of the screen, select chords or single notes. First select the combination that you want to set on the picker, then tap the button that you want to set. Button title changes what you select.
There are four rows in the picker.
The left row is pitch name. From C to B, pitch name for one octave is shown.
The second row from left is octave sign for single note and chord name.
First five, from 1sn to 5sn, is octave sign for single note.
Chord name starts from "♭5". If this second row is blank, it shows major triad chord that has root pitch name of left row.
The third row is chord variations.
From "v1" to "v3" illustrates inversion of chord. If this third row is blank, it shows root is base note. If v1 is add the third note becomes base and v2 is add the fifth note becomes base. And in the case of v3, sixth or seventh note becomes base.
Also, "-" illustrates one octave lower chord, "--" means two octave lower chord and "+" means one octave higher chord. And each of them could have inversion if it combined with v, for example "v1--".
The fourth row shows title color when the selected chord is on button.
BK is black, WH is white, Red is red, GRN is green, BLU is blue and YL is yellow.
If you want to the button blank, set all four row blank and tap the button that you want to make blank.
By tupping "Set Mode" button, it turns "Play Mode". In this mode, you can tap button and play just like on Tap Play Mode. To come back Set Mode, tap "Play Mode".
Also, if you tap between transpose button the keyboard appears. You may check the note with the keyboard.
"Copy" button
When you tap this button, it changes "CopyMode". In this mode, you can copy button settings that you tap to memory. When you done, tap "CopyMode" or "Paste" button.
"Paste" button
After the copy is done, and tap this "Paste" button (then it changes "PasteMode"), button settings that you copied is pasted to the button that you tap.
"Progress" button
By tapping this button, some samples of Chord Progression are shown.
These are just brief list of many chord progression patterns, and some of major scale, minor scale and so called cliche patterns are listed.
Each sample has a index of C in major scale and Am in minor scale, when you tap index the list which has the other key transposed is shown.
To com back tap "EndPlog".
"Diatonic" button
By tapping this button, lists of Diatonic Chord are shown.
To com back tap "EndDia".
To end Button Set Mode, tap "Done" upper left.
3. Record/Playback Mode
If you tap between "CHORD" and "-"(transpose button), you can enter Record/Playback Mode.
The button is, from left to right, "●" Record, "●▶" Overdubbing, "×▶" Double Track Playback, "▶" Playback and Done.
When you tap Record button, the keyboard is shown along with Stop button (upper right) is blinking with tempo count sound. Then you can start recording.
To end recording, tap Stop button.
By tapping Playback button, you can playback just you recorded.
When recording, keyboard hit signs are not shown. But they are shown on Playback.
If you want to try Overdubbing, you have to copy recorded data to Track-P, which is Playback only track.
Tap "i" button on upper right corner, and show Preference Mode screen.
**When you go to Preference Mode, it may take a little time first time after starting application because it loads necessary data. Therefore, from the second time changing mode becomes much faster.
First, check if Source Select butt
on (TR-0 to TR-P) which is bottom of the screen is set TR-0, and Destination Select button (TR-0 / Main Track to TR-P / Overdub) is set TR-P. Then tap "TrackCopy" button. Data is copied from TR-0 to TR-P, and makes overdubbing possible.
Tracks on TapPiano
You can use TR-0 to TR-5 and TR-P, seven tracks.
All recordings are stored to TR-0. If you record next data, the data on TR-0 moves to TR-1 then new data is recorded on TR-0. The data moves up to TR-5, therefore you can have five takes without saving as a file.
TR-P is playback only track and playback on overdubbing.
Main tracks are TR-0 and TR-P.
These two tracks are played when Double Track Playback, and edited these at the same time.
When you load and save files, o
nly data on TR-0 is saved, and loaded data goes to TR-0. Therefore, the rest of tracks are copy destination.
However, if you just want playback, you can playback any track.
Exceptionally, Merged data goes to TR-1.
4. Preference Mode
If you tap "i" button on upper right corner, you can move to Preference Mode screen.
To go back to Tap Play Mode, "♪" button down right corner.
Timing for chord play
A slider that is located top of the screen with "ms" sign. If it is set zero, chord is played same timing, but increasing numbers makes timing late and plays arpeggio.
Tempo
A slider with "bpm" sign.
You can set tempo when you record your play. Tempo count sound interval changes.
Playback Speed
A slider with "x" sign.
"x1.2" means playback 20% faster, and "x0.8" means 20% slower.
Button size
Tap Play button size.
Tempo sound
Tempo count sound.
Note value
If you tap on small window, setting screen is shown. In Note Input Mode, you can enter six kind of notes by button. You can set two user preference note button here.
"File" button
Look at File Mode.
"×▶" Double Track Playback button
Track-0 and Track-P are played at the same time. You can change playback speed by Playback Speed.
"▶(blue)" Track Playback button
A track which set on Source select button is played. You can change playback speed by Playback Speed.
"▶(red)" Track-P Playback button
Track-P is played. You can change playback speed by Playback Speed.
"Edit" button
Look at Edit Mode.
"Source" select button
Select playback source by track. Source select for TrackCopy.
"Destination" select button
Destination select for TrackCopy.
"TrackCopy" button
Copy tracks. Data is copied from Souce track to Destination track.
"Quantize" button
Correct timings of data on Tra
ck-0 following the tempo that is set Tempo.
"Playode" button
Look at Playback Mode
5. Edit Mode
By tapping "Edit" button, entering Edit Mode.
In Edit Mode, you can edit Track-0 and Track-P at the same time. You can edit each track separately or copy data between tracks.
On Edit Mode screen, data is shown upper side. Blue sign indicates Track-0 and red sign indicates Track-P.
Each track data structure is following:
Line A.
Numbers starting from zero is data unit which is almost same as steps in sequencer application. However, chord and single note are the same in TapPiano, if the data is entered as chord one chord constructs one step.
Line B.
Upper window, pitch names or chord names are shown.
Line C.
Lower window, the numbers which indicates duration of notes or rest are shown in mili-second ( ms, 1/1000 sec). In accurate, it's time up to play next sound.
Line D.
This line is not shown if there is no data. Duration between the beginning of the song and the step is shown in ms.
Each of Track-0 and Track-P has these four line data. "▶" button moves forward by step, "▶▶" button moves forward by page.
In Edit Mode, if you tap on a window on Line A, you can enter memo with keyboard. You can add bar number or any other memo. These memos are shown in red overlapping with pitch names or chords.
If you tap on a window on Line B, you can enter the number directly.
"Check" button
When you tap this button, it changes "ChkMode". In this mode, if you tap the window, pitch name or chord name is shown at the center of this screen where normally track name is shown. This is for long chord name.
Tap "ChkMode" to exit.
"Insert" button
When you tap this button, it changes "InsMode". In this mode, if you tap the window, a blank window is inserted before where you tapped. If you enter data step by step from song sheet, use this to expand steps.
"Delete" button
When you tap this button, it changes "DelMode". In this mode, if you tap the window, the window where you tap is deleted and the rest of data move backward.
Tap "DelMode" to exit.
"Note" button
Look at Note Input Mode.
"×▶" Double Track Playback button
Track-0 and Track-P are played at the same time. You can change playback speed by Playback Speed.
"▶(blue)" Track-0 Playback button
Track-0 is played. You can change playback speed by Playback Speed.
"▶(red)" Track-P Playback button
Track-P is played. You can change playback speed by Playback Speed.
"EditEnd" button
Exit Edit Mode.
"Copy" button
When you tap this button, it changes "CopyMode" and "Tap window to select" sign is shown. Tap the window to start copy, then "Copy Track-0 from ## to" (## is step number that you tapped). Then tap the window to end copy.
"Copy Track-0 from ## to ##" and "OK" button are shown, when you tap "OK" steps are copied to memory.
Tap "CopyMode" to exit.
"Cut" button
Operate like Copy button. However, selected part is cut and after this part moves backward.
"Paste" button
When you tap this button, it changes "PasteMode". In this mode, if you tap the window, the copied or cut data is inserted before the window where you tap.
"Merge" button
Merge the data on Track-0 and Track-P and write to Track-1. So to check the data, copy from Track-1 to Track-0 or Track-P by TrackCopy.
"Ⅰ◀◀" and "▶▶Ⅰ" button
Move front or end of the track.
"CHORD" button
By tapping this button, the chord select picker is shown just same as in Button Set Mode. You can select from the picker and enter it by tapping window on Line A.
"Quantize" button
Correct timings of data on Track-0 following the tempo that is set Tempo.
"Replace" button
The data on Track-0 or Track-P is changed by following setting on Playback Speed. Track-0 or Track-P is replaced by new data.
6. Note Input Mode
By tapping "Note" button, entering Note Input Mode.
Upper side of Note Input Mode screen is similar to Edit Mode, but function is different.
Line B is for entering single notes from great staff that is located lower left. So you can't enter any chords.
When you tap on great staff, a note moves up or down, and by tapping △ or ▽ button it moves by half tone. When it's tone settles tap the window that you want to set on Line B.
Line C is for entering duration of notes. In Note Input Mode, you can use six note buttons and two user assigned button. When a note button is tapped, green number which is depending on tempo is shown above the buttons. Then tap a window on Line C, the number is entered.
The rest of buttons have the same functionalities as in Edit Mode.
Tap "NoteEnd" to exit Note Input Mode.
7. File Mode
By tapping "File" button, entering File Mode.
File name/data display window
Wide windows that is located on upper side is the windows that display file name or data.
And "BtTitle to DRecTitle" select button is to switch the windows.
"BtTitle"
These are button set files which is used for Tap Play Mode. You can save current button set with a file name. Or if you load the file, current button set is replaced by loaded button set.
"BtData"
If you save current button set or load button set, button set data is shown in this window in comma separated value (CSV) format. You can copy this data to Memo application to backup or to Mail application to send it to PC.
Or you can import the data by pasting to this windows and use import functionality.
"RecTitle"
These are text files when you save recorded or edited data.
"RecData"
When you save recorded or edited data as text, the data is shown in this window in CSV format. Therefore you can backup them by copying.
"DRecTitle"
If you create large data you may not be able to save as CSV. In this case, you have to save recorded or edited data as raw. Although you can sync with iTunes, you can't backup the other way.
To save data
First select the window. Select "BtTitle" to save button set, select "RecTitle" to save recorded or edited data as CSV or select "DRecTitle" to save recorded or edited data as raw.
Next, enter the fine name. Tap wide window, which is located under File name/data display window, then keyboard appears and enter file name.
Close the keyboard by "Done" button, and tap "Save" to save data.
If you have comma in file name, you get an error massage. Remove comma from fine name.
To load data
First select the window. Next tap small window, which is located upper left of windows select buttons. Numeric keyboard appears, enter file number, then file name is shown in fine name input window. Close the keyboard by "Done" button, and tap "Load" to load data.
Erase the file
You can erase unnecessary files.
Select file just like selecting to load data, then tap "Erase" button. Confirmation window is show, then tap "OK" to erase.
Import data that is saved outside of TapPiano
Select "BtData" for button set data, and "RecData" for recorded or edited data.
Set "WinEdit-OFF / WinEdit-ON" select button "WinEdit-ON". Then File name/data display window becomes editable and keyboard is shown, paste the data to the window. Tap "Done" to close keyboard.
By tapping "Import" button, the data is loaded.
** When you Import data, the data is not saved as a file, you have to save it as a file.
** Also, when you Import, if data structure is wrong, "Incorrect file format" error message is shown. In this case check the following:
a. If there is unnecessary comma in the data, especially last part.
"TrackLoad" button
Data on Track-0 and Track-P are automatically saved when application is closed, Edit Mode ended or Note Input Mode ended. If you have some trouble when editing or terminate application by phone calls, you can recall the data on Track-0 and Track-P.
"TrackLoad" button is for this purpose. Tap this button, then confirmation windows pops up. Tap "OK" to load data.
However, if there is no data when last data is saved, the last data, which might be older, is loaded.
The rest of buttons have the same functionalities as in Preference Mode.
8. Playback Mode
By tapping "PlayMode" button, entering Playback Mode.
Screen changes landscape, a little dark view is shown. Tap on piano key, buttons are appeared. If you want the screen brighter, tap on the left candle to light the candle.
To exit Playback Mode tap "i" button.
"▶(yellow)" button
Like a long or complex song, if there are many steps in a song, normal playback may cause delay timing. This is the playback button for such a song. This playback method plays Track-0 only, it is suitable for track down data by Merge. However since it's different from normal playback, no button blink and no piano key touch available.
If you save a sample song Morzart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in DRecTitle window after merged is suitable for this button.
"▶(blue and red）button and "×▶" button are the same as in Preference Mode. You can change playback speed by Playback Speed.
Transpose button is the same as in Tap Play Mode, they make whole song transpose by semitone pitch up to one octave which is 12 semitone.
A slider above the piano keyboard is to set piano key touch timing. If you play fast song or chord , when key touch is not shown, increase the number makes release timing of piano key late, you can see piano key touch.
In this Playback Mode, there is hidden mode. When hidden mode reveals, whole atmosphere changes and a moving character is added.
About sample songs
All sample songs are made left hand and right hand part separately. So when you play, you may want to load both files and plays simultaneously. Here's how.
1. To tap "File" button, enter File Mode. Select "RecTitle" and select the file that you want to load. An an example, here select "Happy Birthday To You - Left".
Tap little window left below the file select window, then numeric keyboard appears. Enter "1" and "Happy Birthday To You - Left" is shown, close keyboard by "Done" and tap "Load" button. File is loaded on Track-0.
Let's check. Tap "Edit" button to enter Edit Mode. You can see data is in Track-0 windows.
2. Next, before we are going to load right hand part, we have to move left hand part data to another track. Because every data is loaded to Track-0, if we don't move left hand part data from Track-0, it is overwritten. So let's copy Track-0 to Track-P.
In Preference Mode, make sure Source selection button is set "Track-0" and Destination selection button is set "Track-P", then tap "TrackCopy".
3. Load right hand part the same way we did for left hand part. After loaded, check them in Edit Mode if we have both data.
4. To play both tracks simultaneously, tap "×▶" button. If it is the first play after application is started some delay may occur, it should be normal after second play.
When song gets longer, delay may sometimes occur. Since iPhone/iPod touch is based on single task and single thread, and memory limitation, we can't avoid this.
In sample songs, Morzart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is an example of this occurrence.
Therefore, when you play this song, merge right and left hand part first and playback with yellow playback button in Playback Mode.
Here's how to merge:
1. The same method up to 3 above, load data to Track-0 and Track-P.
2. Merge two tracks. Tap "Merge" button in Edit Mode, and tap "OK" on confirmation window, then merged data is on Track-1.
3. Copy data on Track-1 to Track-0. In Preference Mode, set Source "Track-1" and Destination "Track-0", then tap "TrackCopy"
Playback speed
In sample songs, Silent Night and Jingle Bells are little fast or slow without setting playback speed.
When entering data, it's easy to use round number. Since tempo or song speed can changeable anytime, we left data like this.
It's completely up to you to listen how fast or slow, we leave notes for ordinary speed.
Silent Night x0.7
Jingle Bells x1.8
Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In x1.8
Row Row Row Your Boat x1.8
If you want change data to some speed, use "Replace" in Edit Mode.
If there is song data in Track-0, Track-P or both, data is overwritten with new speed changed data. You can save data just same as normal way.
