The Song Editor has two different interaction modes. The default Select mode allows pattern blocks to be set, cleared, selected, moved and copied. The Draw mode instead allows pattern sequences to be drawn freehand.
In both modes, you can perform basic editing: clicking an empty square activates the pattern in that time slot, and clicking again will deactivate it.
They keyboard can also be used for editing. The arrow keys ↑|↓|←|→ will move the keyboard input cursor, and pressing Return will activate or deactivate the pattern in the current column.
In addition, there are two major playback modes, Song mode and Pattern mode, with two minor submodes, Single Pattern mode (covered in the Pattern mode section), and Stacked mode. These will determine which parts of the song you will listen too during playback.
![[Note]](../img/admonitions/note.svg) | Note |
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While Select mode, Draw mode, Single Pattern mode, and Stacked mode are activated via the Main Controls of the Song Editor, Song mode and Pattern mode are activated via the Transport Control section of the Main Toolbar. |
This mode allows you to select multiple patterns in the Song Editor and delete/move/copy them.
Once you have selected a part of your song you can delete it by pressing Delete. You can move it by simply dragging your selection to another location with your mouse, or by cutting (Ctrl + x) and pasting (Ctrl + v) using your keyboard. You can also copy your selection by either holding Ctrl while dragging it to a new location, or by copying (Ctrl + c) and pasting (Ctrl + v) using your keyboard.
Selections can be modified by holding Ctrl while clicking to select additional blocks, or to remove selected blocks from the selection.
The arrow keys on the keyboard can also be used, along with Return, to select, move and copy parts of the song:
Shift + ↑|↓|←|→ can be used to make selections using the keyboard
Return over a selected block will begin a move or copy
↑|↓|←|→ to move the selected cells into position
Return to move the selected blocks into place
Ctrl + Return to copy the selected blocks into place
Pressing Esc will cancel an editing operation that's in progress, or clear any selection.
This mode allows you to insert patterns by drawing - holding the left button while moving the mouse - blocks on the song canvas.
Clicking a square on the song canvas will add a pattern (the square will turn blue) and clicking it again will remove it. Holding the mouse button down will continue either adding or removing patterns from under the mouse cursor.
Using the arrow keys on the keyboard, and the Return, will also add and remove patterns from the song.
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The keyboard input cursor is usually hidden unless you press one of the keys listed in Chapter 3. You can alter this default behavior in the General tab of the Preferences. |
When Song mode is selected Hydrogen will play the sequence of patterns you have created in the Song Editor from left to right until it reaches the end of the song.
![[Tip]](../img/admonitions/tip.svg) | Tip |
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By enabling Loop mode in the transport control, the playback will move seamlessly to the beginning again after reaching the end of the song. |
When Pattern mode is selected Hydrogen will play the pattern that is currently selected in the Song Editor and displayed in the Pattern Editor. This usual behavior is also called Single Pattern mode.
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By enabling Loop mode in the transport control, the playback will move seamlessly to the beginning again after reaching the end of the pattern. |
Normally when composing a pattern and editing it, you'll listen to that single pattern looping over and over again while working on it. Sometimes, however, it's useful to hear that pattern in the context of other patterns (for example, other instrument parts) while working on it.
Stacked mode will play multiple patterns simultaneously, on a loop. You can select which patterns play using Ctrl + left click on the pattern's name. Selected patterns are all marked with a triangle.
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Hydrogen's playback mode must be set to Pattern rather than Song for Stacked mode to take effect. |