What is Song Section pre-roll?
Song Section Pre-roll is an optional setting in Playback, that allows a one-measure count-in to any song section in the Playback app; allowing a smooth and clear ramp-in to any point in a song.
Example: Imagine a pianist underscoring a moment in your service or set, and the band decides or knows they want to go into a big chorus of a previous song in the set. The Playback operator can queue up the chorus in Playback and press play:
Without Song Section Pre-roll Enabled: Pressing play starts all tracks immediately, it's a loud/harsh audio transition, and the band has to search for the tempo to all get in time.
With Song Section Pre-roll Enabled: Playback starts one measure before the queued song section, all audio out of Playback is slowly faded in across the measure, and a one-measure guide count-in locks the band into the tempo; so the band can come in together and big, back into the Chorus.
How to Setup Song Section Pre-roll
Song Section Pre-roll can be toggled on or off in the "General" tab of the Playback settings: Select the three-line menu in the top-right of the Playback app, then "settings" > And then "General" tab where you'll find a line for "Song Section Pre-roll."
Using Song Section Pre-roll
Using Song Section Pre-roll is simple, but requires two things:
The Playhead in Playback needs to be stopped (no songs playing). The Pad Player can be playing audio, but the playhead can't be actively moving and playing a song in the timeline.
The Playhead needs to be on the downbeat, in the first measure of a song section.
It may seem logical to start the playhead one measure before the song section you want to go into, but doing this will not trigger the fade in and count-in included in Song Section Pre-roll. Setting the playhead at the start of the measure you want to count in to will initiate the song-section pre-roll behavior (as long as the setting is enabled).