Getting Started

1. Logging in to Caedence

Go to app.caedence.io (or the URL provided by your organization), enter your email address and password, and click “LOGIN”.
Read the Terms and Conditions, Privacy Notice, and confirm that you are 13 years or older, and then click “AGREE”. Note- you will only need to agree to these statements once–unless there are updates to the Terms and Conditions and/or Privacy Notice, at which point you will need to re-read and agree to them again.
Click “LAUNCH”.

2. The Home Menu

The first thing you will see after clicking “LAUNCH” is the Home Menu. The Home Menu is where you will begin creating, managing, and navigating to your Bands and Songs – along with managing settings and your User Profile. Tabs, buttons, as well recent songs and bands allow for quick navigation.

NOTE: You can always navigate to the Home Menu from the Main Interface by clicking the Caedence icon in the upper left corner.

3. Settings

Settings allow you to shape your overall Caedence experience and optimize for specific devices. As such, settings are device-specific. You can navigate to the Settings either from the Settings tab, or the button in the bottom left of the Start tab.

Global Audio Offset MS

Global Audio Offset MS (milliseconds) causes audio playback to be scheduled ahead or behind the normal timing. Computers and audio devices all introduce latency in different amounts.

Adjust this setting on the Band Members’ device to tighten up the click. In cases where a video projector has high latency the Band Leader can delay the audio to compensate.

MIDI Output Auto-Enable

To newly connected MIDI devices, meaning a device where no selection has yet been made. This means MIDI ‘just works’ when you are getting started and have a single interface or instrument. Using channel assignment can be adequate to target multiple MIDI devices connected to a single output.

Set MIDI Output Auto-Enable to “no” if you want to select specific destinations for each command and track. When you have a complex setup with multiple MIDI outputs or virtual instruments you may not want every command or track routed to every destination.

In both cases, you can select or deselect specific devices and your preference will persist when the device is reconnected. Be aware some interfaces and software instruments will report a changing device ID or duplicate names. This can cause preferences to not apply reliably.

File Load Progress View

The media files (audio, MIDI, image, video, etc.) in your Caedence songs are stored in “the cloud.” As such, each time you load a song or set to be played in Caedence, any media files will be “loaded” into your browser session. The File Load Progress View setting lets you determine the level of detail of the downloading progress of files after clicking the File Load Progress icon from the main Caedence user interface. You can choose between “Slim” and “Detailed”.

Max Audio Minutes

Caedence attempts to preload all the media needed to play through an entire set so you know a temporary network interruption won’t disrupt playback. System RAM determines how much memory is available to the browser. If the browser uses too much memory files could fail to load or the browser may crash.

In cases where a set has more audio than can be reliably stored in memory, the Max Audio Minutes setting limits the amount of audio that is loaded at any given time. Caedence prioritizes any audio needed for the current song, then loads audio for subsequent songs. When a song is over and later audio is waiting to be loaded, more memory is freed up by automatically removing previously played audio.

Choosing a Max Audio Minutes Setting

In the loading panel under ‘MEM’ you can see how much memory the browser is using and the maximum available, in Megabytes. Audio is stored in buffers which use 10Mb per minute. MP3 encoding or mono wavs will save cloud storage and download time, but doesn’t reduce buffer size.

We recommend setting Max Audio Minutes so that half of the available memory can be allocated to audio. For example a MacBook Air with 4Gb RAM provides ~2GB to the browser. Half of that is 1000 Mb of so 100 would be the recommended Max Audio Minutes.

Caution: If a song has more audio minutes than the Max Audio Minutes will allow, the song will not load completely and playback will be unpredictable.

Load Files During Playback

This setting lets you allow or disallow the loading of media files during playback. File loading can cause temporary memory or CPU peaks. Visual and/or audio “stuttering” in playback may be prevented if file loading during playback is disallowed.

MIDI Piano

Caedence can automatically route MIDI note information to a system “piano” for reference when no other MIDI outputs are available.

UI Scale

The UI (user interface) Scale setting lets you choose the size of the Caedence interface. We recommend “Normal” for larger screen sizes, and “Big” for smaller screen sizes.

Connected Devices

This is a read-only display of the connected audio and MIDI devices that Caedence is currently connected to. This display will change in real time as devices are connected and/or disconnected.

4. Hotkeys & MIDI

There are many commands in Caedence that can be controlled by Hotkeys and/or MIDI (like note data and program changes). In order to change the default Hotkeys and/or assign certain functions to MIDI, click “ASSIGN HOTKEYS & MIDI”.

Note – MIDI Assignment is available only at certain tiers.

The Commands (functions) are grouped into four tabs: Editing, Mix, Transport, and View. From left to right, the top row of the table shows:

Command name
Whether the Command can be inserted into the Timeline with a Timeline Command
The Command’s default Hotkey
Whether the Command can be assigned to MIDI
A “LEARN” link to enter “Learn Mode” for both Hotkeys and MIDI (when allowed)

To edit/create an assignment, go to the Command you want to assign to a new Hotkey or MIDI and click “LEARN”. (For MIDI assignments, make sure your MIDI device is connected). While in Learn Mode, the “LEARN” link will say “LEARNING” until you hit a key on your keyboard or send a MIDI command. Once you do one of these actions, the assignment will display in the Hotkey and/or MIDI columns.

5. Basic Terms & Concepts

Although Caedence’s design, features, and workflow are reminiscent of other applications, there are several unique terms and concepts that you will want to become familiar with before you begin.

Terms

Caedence User – Anyone with a Caedence account. Each Caedence User has a unique email address and user name.
Band – A group of one or more Caedence Users. Each Band is created by one – and only one – Band Leader. Each Band also has one – and only one – Stage.
Stage – An online meeting that syncs device playback – as well as certain edits – between the Band Leader and all present Band Members. Whenever the Band Leader selects a Band to edit, manage, or play one of its Sets, that Stage is said to be “Live”. Any Band Members who click on that Band will be synced up with the Band Leader and any other present Band Members. The Stage stops being Live if the Band Leader selects another Band or a single Song from their Song Library – or if Internet connection is lost.
Song – A single Caedence session. A Song has one – and only one – Song Owner, but a single Song can be used in multiple Sets and Shows of Bands that the Song Owner leads. Band Leaders can grant Band Members certain Permissions to edit a Song.
Set – A collection of one or more Songs
Show – A collection of one more Sets

Roles – Band Leaders & Band Members

Each Caedence User can be both a Band Leader of one or more of their own Bands – and a Band Member in one or more Bands led by other Caedence Users. A Caedence User does not have to be a Band Leader or Band Member.

Here are some tasks that only Band Leaders can do with their own Bands:

Edit the Band’s name
Create, edit, and delete Shows and Sets
Invite and remove Band Members
Grant and remove Permissions to Band Members
Put the Band’s Stage in Live status
Delete the Band

Here are the tasks that Band Members can do for a specific Band:

Practice any Songs that occur in that Band’s Shows/Sets
Edit & save certain things in Songs owned by the Band Leader if Permissions have been granted
Add Private Notes
Control Transport, Click, Mix, and/or MIDI playback during a Performance if Permissions have been granted by Band Leader

Practice vs. Performance

Band Members are in Practice mode when they play a Band’s Set when the Band Leader is NOT managing that Band or playing any of that Band’s Sets. As soon as a Band Leader selects a Band to manage or play one of its Sets, that Band’s Stage is Live and is in Performance mode. Band Members who join the Stage will also be in Performance Mode and have their devices synced to the Band Leader’s – even if it’s only for a Band rehearsal.

Permissions

Similar to other collaboration platforms, Caedence lets Band Leaders grant and/or remove certain Permissions from Band Members. There are two main categories of Permissions: Playback and Editing. Playback Permissions allow Band Members to control Transport, Click, Mix, and/or MIDI playback when the Band’s Stage is Live. Editing Permissions allow Band Members to edit the different Track Types either during Practice or Performance modes.

6. Syncing Devices

Caedence’s syncing technology uses the Internet. The software does not create a local wifi network or use Bluetooth between the devices. As such, cross-device syncing does not currently work in the absence of Internet. To be clear, if you don’t need to sync with other devices, Caedence can function in the absence of Internet AFTER a Set has been loaded into your browser. However, any edits made after Internet connection has been removed will NOT be saved.

Both Band Leaders and Band Members can customize their views of a Band’s Songs while on Stage (in edit or playback mode) without affecting anyone else’s view or experience. These view customizations are per user and per Song; they will persist even if you change devices.

Note – The first time Band Members view a Song that belongs to a Band Leader, they will inherit the view settings of the Band Leader (except for Private Notes, and taking into account Permissions and Track visibility settings):

Show & hide tracks
Choose a full-screen view
Set track height & zoom level
Tailor other Track display options
Add & edit private notes (only during edit mode)

How To Sync Devices

Band Leaders

Login to Caedence
Select your Band from the Start Menu or the Band Manager tab
Select a Show
Select and play a Set

As soon you select this Band, Band Members will see your Band’s Stage as “Live” in their Recent Bands list. Once these Band Members click on your Band, they join the Stage, and their devices become “synced” to yours. Transport moves and certain edits will be reflected on their devices.

As Band Members join and leave the Stage, you will see their initials appear and disappear at the bottom of the Set List Flyout. Clicking on a Band Member’s initials allows you to quickly manage their Permissions.

Note – Choosing a single Song from the Song Library WILL NOT cause a Band’s Stage to be “Live”.

You can stop hosting the current Band’s Stage by playing a single Song from your Song Library or by playing another Band’s Set. Once you stop hosting the Stage, any Band Members still on the Stage will automatically be put into Practice Mode.

Band Members

Login to Caedence
Click on the Band whose Stage you want to join from the list of Recent Bands (a red “Live” icon will appear next to the Band name).

Once you click on the Band, it will take a few moments for your device to sync to the Band Leader’s device. Once your device is synced, it will be cued to the same Song (and bar/marker) as the Band Leader’s device. Any transport moves, Song selections, or eligible edits made by the Band Leader (or Band Members with sufficient Permissions) will show up on your device.

If you want to leave the Stage, just play another Band’s Set or a single Song from your Song Library.

Note – You can still select another Caedence user’s Band as long as you’re a Band Member, even if the Band Leader is not hosting that Stage. This is known as Practice Mode.

Sync Best Practices & Troubleshooting

Restart all devices before syncing
Make sure all devices are connected to the Internet – it is not necessary for all devices to be on the same wifi network
It is best for the Band Leader to begin hosting the Stage BEFORE Band Members join it.
Whenever possible, Band Members should join the Stage when the Band Leader’s device is NOT in playback mode.
If there are sync problems with playback, Song selection, or eligible edits, 99% of the time the best way to achieve sync is for Band Members to reload their page, re-launch Caedence, and then choose the live Band again.

7. Data Storage and Media Management

Caedence offers different Data Caps depending on your subscription level. The following types of media can be uploaded into your Songs and will count towards your Data Cap:

Audio (.wav, .mp3, and .flac)
Videos (.mp4)
PDFs (.pdf)
Images (.png, .jpg, and .gif. Note – GIFs do not animate)
MIDI (.mid)

Other Data Storage Considerations

Once your Data Cap is reached, you will not be able to upload any more files to Songs that you own.
You may decrease your data usage by removing Blocks containing files and/or deleting Songs.
In order for a file to be removed from your Data Cap, EVERY Block containing that file in your account must be deleted.
Band Members with Track permissions will be able to upload files of that Track type (Video, Audio, etc.) to Songs in that Band, and the files will count toward your Data Cap.
Conversely, if you have Track permissions in another Caedence user’s Band, you will be able to upload files to the Songs for that Band, and the files will count toward that Band Leader’s Data Cap.

8. Help Center

You can always navigate to the Caedence Help Center by clicking “HELP” in the Start Tab of the Home Menu. The Help Center has user guides as well as links to report bugs and request features.