Version 0.0.31 of Polymeter introduces a new feature called Offset modulation. This new modulation type allows a track's time offset to be changed by another track. This is useful for making the track periodically slow down and then catch up again, which helps emulate the feel of a live performer. Offset modulation is customizable per track, unlike tempo modulation which is global and affects all tracks the same. An offset modulator track's step values are interpreted as unsigned delays from 0 to 127 MIDI ticks. Note that by default this scheme only allows events to be delayed, not made earlier. To make events earlier, set the target track's Offset parameter to a negative value, e.g. -64, which is roughly an eighth note using the default time division of 120 PPQ. Because offset modulation is added to the track offset, this shifts the offset modulation range to -64 to +63 ticks, so that the target track's events can be made up to an eighth note early or late. For offset modulation to work properly you may need to set the "Note Overlaps" Master property to "Prevent."
Version 0.0.31 also enhances voicing modulation. In previous versions, voicing modulation could only lower voices an octave, but not raise them an octave. This was sufficient for common chord voicings such as drop 2 and drop 3, but more esoteric chord voicings exist that require some voices to be dropped and others raised. Consequently the voicing value can now be negative, in which case the specified voice is raised an octave instead of lowered an octave. Yes, it's inverted which is a bit annoying, but since lowering is by far the more common case it gets to be positive. In either case the numbering is still one-origin relative to the top voice, i.e. the voice with the highest pitch. An example for a tetrachord:
| Voicing modulation value | Result |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2nd voice from the top is lowered an octave |
| 3 | 3rd voice from the top is lowered an octave |
| -2 | 2nd voice from the top is raised an octave |
| -3 | 3rd voice from the top is raised an octave |
Lowering or raising multiple voices is achieved by assigning multiple voicing modulators to the target track.
Offset modulation demo files are available here.
