Timers
SonicMood uses four types of
timers. The first type controls the note timing. That is,
the length of notes (sustain) and the space between notes
(pause). The second type measures elapsed time and (when
running) determines the time interval over which a Mood
plays (or a Scene displays) before going to another Mood
(or Scene). The third type is the sleep/wake timer that
controls when SonicMood goes to sleep or wakes up. Finally,
the fourth type will play a Mood at a specific day, hour,
minute, and second. There are actually a few other timers
running, but they control things like the scrolling of
messages and can't be changed by the user so we won't talk
about them here.
Note Timing
Mood and Scene
Timers
The Mood and the Scene timers
operate in essentially the same way. What follows describes
both.
Each Mood or Scene can have its own timer interval setting. You are adjusting the timer interval for the item highlighted, unless you check the box labeled "Change All". The interval (in minutes or seconds) for each is displayed in its list, next to the checkbox.
Another way to change the timer interval is by direct editing of the value displayed in the list. This works the same way as editing a Mood/Scene name. Highlight the item and use "click-pause-click" on the value, or select "Edit List Item" (⌘E) from the "Edit" menu or the contextual menu that appears when you right/control-click on the list.
While running, the timer displays a "progress bar". At the left of the bar is the elapsed time and at the right is the total time interval (both in mm:ss). The next Mood/Scene starts when the time has elapsed.
If a row is highlighted in the list, you can toggle its checkmark by pressing "⌥-spacebar".
If "✓Marked" is the "Order" selected (only do Moods/Scenes marked by a checked box) and the timer is running, then clicking the "back" and "forward" buttons (or using the shortcut keys ⌘← and ⌘→) will select the previous or next checked item.
Sleep and Wake
Timers
Selecting "Sleep Timer"
(⌘T)
or "Wake Timer" (⌥T),
or pressing the relevant toolbar button (if shown), will
drop down a sheet window where you can set a time of day
for SonicMood to pause (sleep) or resume (wake) playing.
When that time is reached, the volume will change slowly up
or down and after approximately one minute SonicMood will
pause or start playing, as appropriate.
To change a time setting click on a digit to select it, or use ← or → to move one digit, or ^← or ^→ to move between day/hour/min/sec. Use ↑ or ↓, click the up/down arrow buttons, or use the mouse wheel to change the highlighted value by one. You can also just type a new time in the appropriate places. You'll notice that the current digit is highlighted. You can use Tab and Shift-Tab to move between the three time entry fields and the schedule list.
Once a time is set the timer can be started by clicking the "On" radio button. To have the same event repeat, set a repeat time.
Click "Done" once the timer is set and running. The event time will be displayed under the timer's button.
Mood Play Time of Day
Timer
SonicMood will play a Mood at a
given time if it's been scheduled using the "Mood Play
Time" timer. Like the "Wake Timer", if SonicMood is paused
it will "wake" to play the scheduled Mood, and stay awake.
Select "Mood Play Time" (⌘U)
from the Timers menu (or click the "play times" toolbar
button if displayed) to open the scheduling window.
To change a time setting click on a digit to select it, or use ← or → to move one digit, or ^← or ^→ to move between day/hour/min/sec. Use ↑ or ↓, click the up/down arrow buttons, or use the mouse wheel to change the highlighted value by one. You can also just type a new time in the appropriate places. You'll notice that the current digit is highlighted. You can use Tab and Shift-Tab to move between the three time entry fields and the schedule list.
Click "Add" to make a new entry using the Mood in the "Play" menu, or click "Update" if you want to change the Mood highlighted in the schedule. To start the time of day timer, click the "On" radio button. If you need to, you can resize the window by dragging its “resize tab” at the lower right. To exit the window, click "Done"
In the Moods list you should see the time you've set for a Mood in the column "play times".
If the Mood timer (discussed in the "Mood and Scene Timers" topic above) is running when a time of day Mood is scheduled, the Mood that's playing will pause and the scheduled Mood will start playing. While it's playing, the "progress bar" will increment up to the minimum time (“For at least” slider) the scheduled Mood was allocated. When that time is up, the previously playing Mood will resume. Note that “volume fade down” and “volume fade up” times are observed (“preferences” window, “general” page), so there may be a delay before the volume is back up and the “progress bar” starts to move again.