LoopMangler Manual
(click to enlarge)
Content:
1.
General
1.1
Overview & Features
1.2 Limitiations & Specifications
1.3 Installation
1.4 Legal Stuff
2.
Audio Path Section
2.1
Sample Insert Slots & external Input
2.2 Key Settings
2.3 Bit Chop & Distortion/Exciter Stage
2.4 Mono/Stereo Inserts
2.5 Mixer
3.
Gate Sequenzer Section
3.1
Slices and Switches
3.2 Sync to BPM
3.3 Timing Settings
3.4
Envelope Settings
3.4 Preset List
4.
Filter Section
4.1
Filters
4.2 Modulation
4.3 Unload DSP
4.4 Preset List
5.
Modulation Section
5.1.
LFOs
5.2 Destinations
5.3 Preset List
6.
Preset Lists in general
7.
Tips
1.
General
1.1
Overview and Features
LoopMangler
gives you extensive control over four mono sample loops (or ext. input)
at your fingertips.
Due to a streamlined interface most functions are obvious so you can start
right off tweaking existing loops.
The
device features a new "unlock main preset list" handling, which
disconnects the main preset list from the different sections, so you can
change the main and the sections preset list independant from each other,
which gives you a wide control range over preset handling.
The loops
are divided in 16 to via ext. or int. Mididclock syncable sections, which
you can switch on/off. So you can easily determine, when a loop part should
be hearable or not. Each section can alter the start/end point and therefor
its duration, while start and end point are tied together.
Additionally
you can put a high, low or band pass on every section, modulated by a
sync'ed LFO. This way you can e.g.remove a hihat just for the choosen
section.
The distortion stage features different kind of distortions due to some
special prefiltering and includes a sound enhancement / exciter section.
Due to
the massive amount of controls there are some additional windows available,
where not frequently used controls are placed. These contain e.g. controls
for the LFO, the envelope for the gates, settings for the filters and
the distortion stage.
To get your setup better organized, there are four additional preset lists
provided for separate sections.
Although
there are many features included, the dsp consumption is actually quite
low due to intelligent dsp usage guidelines. E.g. each unused filter section
unloads from dsp automatically as well as there are switches to unload
the distortion stage from dsp.
You can
even use this device as an insert effect, just drag it in an insert and
switch to external audio. Of course all the retriggering, which is dependant
on the midi note on signal, won't work in this case as well as the third
and fourth sample insert slot.
[top]
1.2
Limitiations & Specifications
As you
might have expected, this device works only with the Scope Fusion Platform
developed by creamw@re .
Minimum requirement is sfp 3.x.
XTC
as well as Mac OS9 functionality isn't tested yet, therefor no guaranty,
that it works.
If there's anyone brave enough to check it out for me, please contact
me .
Other
than that the device should work as expected on Win98/2k/XP .
[top]
1.3 Installation
Installation
Windows :
Copy the Presets-
and Devices folders found within the zip-archive, into the sfp directory
found on your harddisk.
Then the device will be listed in the Sampler Section of the sfp menu
or the live bar context menu.
Installation
Mac :
Unzip with StuffIt
and copy the device and preset lists to the appropriate directories, where
sfp is installed ( /sfp/devices/sampler for the device and /sfp/presets/
for the preset file).
[top]
1.4 Legal Stuff
Don't
distribute or deliver this device on any media without my agreement. The
software is delivered "as is", damage or harm to your gear are
your own responsibility. Blablabla ...
[top]
2. Audio Path Section
2.1
Sample Insert Slots & external Input
 |
Just
drag&drop audio files from the explorer/finder into the sample
inserts slots to load them into the device. You can also use the
little LEDs on the right to open a file browser dialogue.
For removing
the samples out of the slot, hit the delete (not backspace) key
on your computer keyboard.
Instead of using
ready made loops you can also use external audio (e.g. from your
sequenzer). Just switch the buttons below "Ext." on.
The yellow LED
on the top is for the "unlock main preset" feature explained
later in this manual. |
The
slots can load mono 16bit audio files of the format wav, aiff and the
akai/pulsar format (with the extension *.s). Of course you can also load
stereo files, in this case only the left channel is played back.
[top]
2.2
Key Settings
| |
Hit
the button "Key Settings" below the sample slots to set
up the keyboard range for each sample "lane" |
 |
The transpose key sets the key, where the sample is played at its
original tune and speed (often also called root key).
Min/Max sets
the limit of the key range for each sample lane.
Setting for
each sample lane a different key zone as well as automating the
root key can enhance your performance experience dramatically. |
Hint: If
an audio file doesn't loop/repeat itself, after dragged in one of the slots,
open it in an audio editor of your choice and add loop start and end points.
Afterwards it should loop in the device, too.
[top]
2.3
Bit Chop & Distortion/Exciter Stage
 |
Directly
after the sample player stage the signal runs through a bit chop
(e.g. to emulate the famous sp1200 or other old machines with low
bit output). |
|
After
the Bit Chop it runs through a special distiortion / exciter stage,
its settings can be opened by a click on the grey button. The distortion
stage itself can be activated with the blue LEDs on the right. |
 |
Before
the distortion itself the signal passes a highpass, which filters
out low frequencies, so that just the higher frequencies of your
choice are distorted. Additionally a delayed and again through a
highpass sent version of the distorted signal can be added to the
final signal. The delayed signal cancels specific high frequencies
and therefor pronounces the bottom.
With this circuit
you can emulate e.g. mike - settings, tube distortions as well as
excite the signal to a certain degree. |
Deactivating a dist
stage will also unload it from the dsps. For this you can either use the
switch on the surface or the little LEDs on the right of the buttons to
open the surface.
2.4
Mono/Stereo Inserts
 |
For
each "sample lane" there is a mono insert provided. However
to be able to use also stereo inserts beside of mono inserts there
is a switch for stereo functionality provided. The routing of each
"loop lane" is easily seen on the surface, in case of
stereo the 2nd and fourth "loop lane" is routed through
the right channel of each stereo insert, while the others are routed
to the left inputs.
Switching from
mono to stereo and vice versa unloads the inserted fx, so there
is no need to unload it in a separate step before. |
|
The
"mixer" consists of a panning function and volume control
... that's it. Additionally there is a solo function provided for
each sample lane via the orange/red LEDs. |
[top]
3.
Gate Sequencer Section
This
will be the part of surface, where you are doing most of your setup work.
3.1
Slices and Switches
The heavy
amount of switches in the center of the surface can't be overseen. With
these switches it is determined, which sample should be audible at the
specific time / slice. Two switches at the same time can't be activated,
however via the envelope settings explained later the attack and deacy
times and therefor the duration of the slices can be set.
|
On
the left of the sequencer switch matrix you find little LEDs for resetting
each channel. Clicking on one will switch all slices of the whole
channel on. |
At
the top you find switches with numbers, clicking on them will switch
off the slice below.
|
|
Running
LEDs give an appropriate visual feedback, what slice is actually playing.
[top]
3.2
Sync to BPM
 |
On
the left top of the surface is a textfield, which can be set by drag&scrolling
the mouse up/down. This setting is responsible for the speed of scanning
in respect to the BPM signal. With "1/1" the audio signal
is tailored in 16 slices for one bar, "2/1" is again 16
slices, but this time for the durtation of two bars and with the setting
"1/2" the 16 slices fit in the half of a bar (you could
also say, it is now 32 slices for one bar), etc. |
If this explanation is
to complicated, just try it out and you'll see what I mean :-)
[top]
3.3
Timing Settings
Below
the switch matrix (on the lower LED line) there is a line with small faders.
These faders set the start point of each slice. Moving a start point also
moves the end point of the previous slice, so there will never be a gap
(you can easily achieve gaps by switching the desired slice off). Double
clicking on the small fader will reset it.
3.4
Envelope Settings
 |
When
klicking on the button on the right top side of the surface, the
envelope settings will be shown.
These determine
the attack/release time of every triggered slice. Both parameters
can be modulated.
Beside you find
settings for the behaviour of the envelopes (linear or logarithmic/exponential. |
[top]
3.5
Preset List
For
the Sequencer Matrix is a separate preset list provided (on the
left side of the on/off buttons). The preset list and espacially
the "unlock main preset" feature gives you further control
about your performance setup.
Please read below to get more information
about the preset list handling and which knobs are actually saved
in presets.
|
| |
[top]
4.
Filter Section
4.1 Filters
 |
Each
channel is routed through a filter. You can switch between lowpass,
highpass and bandpass filters with the textfader via click&drag
up/down or the knob. In case of lowpass / highpass the frequency
correlates to the cutoff frequency. When bandpass is switched on,
it is the center frequency.
In the signal
path the filter is located after all other effects and before the
mix/pan section. |
[top]
4.2
Modulation
 |
Each
filter can be modulated by a multimode LFO.
Directly on the surface you can set the amount, start point and
a groove to sync it to an internal or external MidiClock to be in
time with the gate sequencer. Clicking on the buttons at the left
of the filter section opens additional settings for the LFOs like
retrigger option, fade in/out, etc.
Setting the
amount to zero unloads each LFO from dsp and therefor save dsp cycles. |
[top]
4.3
Unload DSP Feature
As just
mentioned the filter stage also has a dsp saving feature like the distortion
stage. The difference between the distortion stage is, here it works automatically
and under normal circumstances you shouldn't notice anything about it
beside a short flickering of the mouse.
When switching one kind of filter e.g. a highpass on, the other filters
(lowpass, bandpass) are automatically unloaded from dsp.
[top]
4.4
Preset List
Again
for the filters and their LFOs there is a separate preset list provided,
which features the same "unlock from main preset" function like
the sequencer section, so you are able to control its presets independant
from the main preset.
Please read below to get more information about
the preset list handling and which knobs are actually saved in presets.
[top]
5.
Modulation Section
5.1
LFOs
Basically
these LFOs are the same as the ones from the FilterLFO
Section. Additionally you will find an offset pot for adjusting the
LFOs shape to the several destinations. The LFOs will be unloaded from
dsp, when setting the amount to zero.
[top]
5.2
Destinations
You can
choose between 16 modulation destinations. These are pan 1-4, exciter
shape 1-4, envelope attack 1-4 and envelope release 1-4 . With these possibilities
it should be easy to add some groovy shapes to your sound .
There is an issue regarding modulation of the pan pot: when modulated
to fast there will be some zipper noise at low frequencies. This generally
can happen with fast level changes at low frequencies. I hope, I'll find
a solution in a next subrelease.
[top]
5.3
Preset List
Again
for the modulation stage there is a separate preset list provided, which
features the "unlock from main preset" function explained below.
Additionally a parameter will be set to its previous state, when switching
its modulation off.
[top]
6.
Preset Lists in general
For four
main sections is a separate preset list provided. The preset lists gives
you further control about your performance setup.
The yellow LED on its right side is actually a button and will "disconnect"
the main preset list from the sequencer sections settings. This e.g. allows
you to use the main preset list and sequencer preset list side by side
without destroying the sequencer settings by switching the main preset
list.
A nice
application for this feature is e.g. unlocking the sample slots, so you
can switch between presets without loading new samples.
To e.g.
extend your main preset list easily or transfer settings from the separate
lists, load a preset for one of the separate sections, switch on the unlock
feature, change main preset list and tweak all to your desire, switch
off the unlock feature and then save the result as new main preset.
Generally
speaking, when the unlock feature is on, presets aren't saved in the main
preset list (of course due to the missing disconnection), while the separate
presets always save the actual parameter state.
Following
parameters found on the surface are not saved with any of the preset lists,
as these are intended mainly for tweaking support. However they are saved
with the project.
[top]
7.
Tips
- If samples doesn't
loop, load them in a sample editor of your choice and add a loop start/end
point
- hitting a key
an octave below the root key will playback the sample at the half
of its original tempo (as well as an octave lower), The same in the
other direction.
- the groove or
speed changes exactly, when you release the mouse button
after you changed a setting, not while dragging the mouse.This is
quite handy when playing live.
- mute a sample
lane by switching to external; mute external by switching the external
input off, but having no sample loaded
- unload samples
and inserts by hitting the delete key (not backspace)
- when experiencing
clicks, have a look at the envelopes settings,which might be set to
zero accidently
- to have independant
control over the different sections, use the "unlock from main
preset" feature by switching on the yellow LED beside each preset
list on.
- "extraxt"
parts of a preset from the main preset by simply saving it in one
of the local prest lists, when having unlock switched off.
- set the phase
to 90° or -90° to achieve e.g. a ramp with a saw wave
- all text fields
accept keyboard or mouse input. For textfaders (click&drag) the
boxes look like this:
,
for text input with keyboard the input fields look like this:
- Switching from
mono to stereo and vice versa unloads an inserted fx, so there is
no need to unload it in a separate step before
- make arpeggio
patterns by loading samples from different key zones of one synth
sample library (see demo)
- keep the mouse
a while over the buttons to see descriptions of the functions, if
you don't remember them
- use the sequenzer
preset list to achieve nice breaks within the loops
[top]
|
)
