How To Sync to an AudioFile
This explains how to sync to an AudioFile that will be played by this program.
Load a Project
This should contain at least a ChordFile (*.chp) and an AudioFile ( *.mp1, *.mp2, *.mp3, *.wav, *.riff, *.aiff, or *.ogg).
The AudioFile should be an approximate match to the ChordFile. This means it should have the same rhythm and structure, but doesn't need to be in the same key.
The ChordFile can be created from a MidiFile (see How To Generate Chords from a MidiFile), or an external source (see How To Insert Chords from an External Source.
Setup the Sync SwitchKey
Goto PlayMap Menu > Configure > SwitchKeys/Pedal.
Set the Sync dropdown box to a SwitchKey or Pedal.
Position the ChordFile to a Cue Point
You can use the TrackMap or ChordMap to do this. However, you will need to cue to somewhere you will recognise in the song (e.g. when a solo or vocal starts) that is on a barline.
If you have created a lyric file (*.chl), you can use the TrackMap or ChordMap to show the lyrics, and use them to help find a good cue point.
Otherwise, it's usually easier to use a solo track on the TrackMap to find a cue point.
Set the current cursor (vertical bar) in the TrackMap (click in any Track pane) or ChordMap (click in body of Midi pane) to wherever you want the song to start playing (usually at the start). The bar will be highlighted in red.
Click inside the Bar Pane of the TrackMap or ChordMap with the left mouse button to set the cue position. This is where you will start synchronising from. This must be somewhere after where you set the song to start playing from.
Sync to the AudioFile
Click the Record Audio Button on the TrackMap or ChordMap to start playing the AudioFile. Then hit the Sync SwitchKey (or Pedal) when the cue point is reached.
Continue to hit the key on every beat until the end.
Hit the Stop Play Button to end the sync.
The sync data will be saved in the AudioSync Record Track. The Play Track will not be updated until you use Copy or Merge from the AudioSync window.
Save the Sync Data
The AudioSync Record Track contains the last sync that you recorded.
If you want to save or play this, you will need to merge or copy it into the AudioSync Play Track.
Open the AudioSync window from PlayMap Menu > File > Show AudioSync Window
Click the Merge Record To Play Button. If you get an error message, it means you are trying to merge data that is not in sequence. You will have to either use Copy Record To Play or re-record the sync data.
You can the use the Save Play to File Button to save the sync data to a .chtc file.
Partial Synchronisation
If you want to synchronise from somewhere other than the start (e.g. to correct a mistake, or continue from where you left off), you can set the current cursor on the TrackMap or ChordMap to a bar that has alreay been synchronised. You should then set the Bar Pane cursor (left mouse button) to somewhere after this, but in a region that has still been synchronised. Then click the P & R Audio Button on the TrackMap or ChordMap.
This will start playing from the current cursor position, but pause when you reach the Bar Pane cursor to allow you to use the synchronize switch key to start synchronising.
Bar Pane Cursors
This is normally set by clicking the left mouse button over the Bar Pane in the TrackMap or ChordMap. However, you can also use the right mouse button to set a different cursor.
If set, this will be used to set the set the position in the MidiFile after hitting the Sync Switchkey during playing with P & R Audio. This has the effect of jumping the MidiFile posiion during audio play. This is useful if there are bars in the MidiFile that are not present in the AudioFile.