shuffle

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elctbass

Hi, I'm trying to figure out how shuffle works - seems it only affects the rhythm of a device when scale is set to a tuplet. Even then, the effect is a bit mystifying. Is there an explanation anywhere? I found one that simply said the eighth note is lengthened (or shortened) depending on the setting's value away (+/-) from 50. Don't think this would result in a shuffle (e.g., dotted quarter/eighth or quarter triplet/eighth triplet). Maybe I'm missing something. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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    elctbass

    Thanks for the info - also, moving the post to the correct category. I think I get it now. The confusing issue here is to say 8th notes. Appears it's the second of two consecutive notes that will take move, as a percentage, before or after the mid point between the two notes. Less than 50% moves the note backwards in time. Greater than 50% moves the note forward in time. Anyway, this is a close (and hopefully helpful)...but not perfect description.

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      Jordi Moragues

      The best way to understand it is to use it: Just get a Beatbox 8, select the rim shot instrument, activate all 16 steps and switch on the shuffle function. Play with different values and see how they affect the timing of every other step (steps 2, 4, 6...) 50% produces no shift in time. Less than 50% shifts them earlier in time and more than 50% shifts them later in time. I agree that "8th note" can be confusing. It would be more accurate to say that it applies to every other 16th. note, starting with the second one in a bar. You usually use this to give a bit of "swing" or "groove" to an otherwise mechanical sounding rhythm. Try it on hi-hats for example.

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    Jordi Moragues
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    Jordi Moragues

    The classic shuffle in Flash simply shifts every second eighth note in regions and patterns with an active shuffle option. It is irrelevant of scale. The value is usually a percentage of displacement in respect to the middle point between the mid point between 8th notes. Therefore 50% produces no shift, less than 50% shifts backwards in time, and more than 50% shifts forward in time. There's another explanation here (see: "Global shuffle value"):