Design Techniques

There will be times when you might wish to write backwards from a set later in the drill. For example, imagine your second set of a drill is actually the opening formation, and the first set is a transition into the opening formation. In this case, it is easier to create the opening formation at the later count first, then chart backwards to the beginning of the drill.

As with the above example, Set #2 is the opening formation. In this case we need to create performers for the first time in the drill at Set #2. These performers do not exist anywhere else in the drill file. Place both editing anchors at Set #2. If you are charting backwards from a set of existing performers, skip this step. On the Count Track placing both anchors on top of each other is necessary for creating “first time” performers. Holding <Alt> key (option on Mac) while clicking on a page tab will force both Yellow and Red Anchors to move together to the tab. With the anchors setup, enter the new formations into the drill.



Using the above example, Set #2 is the start of the set we have just finished, and now we want to move “backwards” to Set #1 to design the ending count and transition between the two sets. Normally we would be thinking about the transition from the previous set (Set #1) to the current set (Set #2). To setup the anchors for the “backwards” design, set the editing anchors on the Count Track between Set #2 and the Set #1. Click on the small red right arrow on the Count Track appearing between the Yellow and Red Anchors. The Red and Yellow Anchor will swap locations. Editing of shapes and all transitions will now be written backwards.

Forward drill writing as indicated by the small red right arrow in the Count Track.



Backward drill writing as indicated by the small LEFT arrow in the Count Track and the red warning bar in the Count Track’s page tab area.



NOTE: Do not forget to return the small red arrow back to its normal direction when wishing to continue
writing forward.

A 3D drill file can be synchronized to one of three types of sound files:

• MID = MIDI file
• WAV = audio wave file
• OGG = audio file
  

To setup an audio file for use with a drill file do the following:

With a drill file opened, select the Preferences section of Document Options of the File menu.

Click Choose File for the audio file and select an audio file.

To indicate sound with animation, click on the Sound button under the animation controls of the Count Track.

After clicking on the Sound button, if there is no audio file selected, the following message will display.

If the selected audio file has not been synchronized to the drill file the following message will display.

When syncing audio to a drill, you will be asked to sync by count or page. If you opt to sync by page, when the audio starts, press the spacebar on the 1st count of every transition (excluding subsets). This will sync any marching data to music between the page tabs.

To synchronize an audio file to a drill by count, press the <spacebar> while the music is playing in tempo with the music. Each press of the <spacebar> will advance the drill one count. When completed click the Done button on the Synchronizing Window.

To re-synchronize the drill, clear the current synchronization by holding the <alt> key (<option> on Macintosh) while clicking on the Sound button. Another way to clear the synchronization is by clicking on Clear Synchronization To Drill in the Preferences section of Document Options of the File menu.

After the audio file is synchronized, each time you click on the Play button when the Sound button is depressed the music will be played.

Should you transfer the drill file to another computer, you will also need to transfer the drill's audio file. The location of the audio file is found in the External Files section of Document Options of the File menu.

External files can be saved in a drill file package called 3D Package. This option is available in the Save As dialog. This package is compatible only with the 3D version 2 or greater. Should you need the file to open on 3D Version 1, it is best to put
the external files in the same folder as the drill.

Audio Synchronization can be improted and exported between drill files. This a real time saver if you are working with multiple versions of a file. Importing an audio sync allows you to bypass syncing audio for a file, if the file you are importing into has the same audio sync data.

To Export an Audio Sync:

• Go to File, Document Options, Preferences.
• Choose Export Sync for the audio file.
• A Save Drill Sync File window will open; give the audio sync file a name, and specifiy where you want to save the sync file. Press Save when you are done.
• A 3D Audio Sync file (.snc file type) will be created with the name you gave, in the location you specified.

 

 

To Import an Audio Sync:

• Go to File, Document Options, Preferences.
• Choose the audio file you would like the drill to sync to, then press OK in Document Options
• Press the speaker button on the Count Track. A new window will appear, with various options to sync the audio file.
• Choose the Import button in the Audio File Synchronization window.
• Select the 3D Audio Sync file (.snc file type) you wish to use, then press Open. The drill file will then be synced to the audio file.

 

You can quickly assign colored borders to page tabs on the count track. This is a great way to organize sets, or make visual reminders of transitions you would need to quickly jump to.

Double-click on a page tab, then choose "Color" in the Page Tab Options window. Choose which color you would like to use in the color picker.