D16 Group PunchBOX User Manual
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D16 Group PunchBOX User Manual

Bass drum synthesizer
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User Manual
23 June 2016,

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Summary of Contents for D16 Group PunchBOX

  • Page 1 User Manual 23 June 2016,...

  • Page 2: Overview

    Overview Punchbox is an advanced monophonic Kick generating instrument that utilizes overlaying sound sources to produce final kick tone; 4 generators that can play samples or synthesized sounds. In addition, it offers a number of effects for further processing. The instrument is supplied with a substantial factory sample and preset content developed exclusively by Sounds of Revolution and CFA Sound labels.

  • Page 3: Control Panel

    Used to manage Master Presets (presets of the entire device) namely their loading and saving. It also manages presets import / export to exchange them between the users. It controls the default plug-in configuration, exporting current setting to a wave file and the parameter randomization. Generators Section Generators section Controls the section that produces the sound in Punchbox. www.d16.pl...

  • Page 4: Effects Section

    • Overview effeCts seCtiOn Effects Section Including the Master/Limiter block, which processes the signal produced by generators before it’s sent to the plug-in’s output. FX section...

  • Page 5: Description Of Operation

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Description of operation 4 generators that produce the Kick tone components are the heart of the instrument. Their outputs are mixed and sent to the effect cascade (series), and then to the plug-in audio output. The instrument is monophonic and may respond to the pitch and/or velocity of the MIDI tones depending on the settings.

  • Page 6: Click, Tops And Tools Generators

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Click, Tops and Tools Generators Clicks, Tops and Tools generate the auxiliary/side components of the Kick tone. Each generator has almost indentical interface; Click, Tops and Tools generators And it is controlled with the following set of parameters: •...
  • Page 7 • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn • St. Spread – Wider or narrower stereo image of the played sample. The central position (Normal) is a neutral setting that plays the sample without processing. • Panning – (Stereo) panning. • High Cut - Low-pass filter cut-off frequency. The parameter operates from 2 [Hz] up to 22 [kHz]. •...

  • Page 8: Kick Generator

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn The subsection contains the following controls: • Sample Name – A display with the name of the currently loaded sample, “---“ – if no sample is currently loaded. • Prev / Next - Used to navigate through the generator sample bank, load the next or previous sample from the bank. •...
  • Page 9 • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn A Kick generator with “Sample”, a selected generator engine Mode allows you to select the generator engine: Mode parameter www.d16.pl...
  • Page 10 • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Below Mode you can find the Preset/Sample Management section Preset / Sample Management section of the Kick generator Used to browse the factory / User content (samples or presets) for the currently selected generator engine. This section contains the following controls: •...
  • Page 11 Master / Limiter. For 100% the signal is sent only to the effect cascade. • Velocity – A switch that decides on whether Punchbox should respond to the velocity of the incoming MIDI notes. It is a global parameter that affects all generators including Tops, Tools and Click. •...

  • Page 12: Generation Engines

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Generation Engines Kick generator allows you to select one of a few available generator engines. You can select them with Mode parameter. When a generator engine is selected the interface part that refers to the generator engine is changed: Generation engine highlighted in the Kick section...

  • Page 13: Sample

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Sample A Sampler allows to use the samples as a sound source for Kick. To use it select Sample for Mode. The Sampler contains the following parameters: • St. Width – Wider or narrower stereo image of the played sample. The central position (Normal) is a neutral setting that plays the sample with the stereo image unchanged.
  • Page 14 • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn 909 is a generator engine that is a faithful TR909 kick emulation - a classic bass drum used in techno since 1990s. The panel contains all knobs used in the original device and two additional knobs expanding its sound shaping capabilities: •...
  • Page 15 • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn 808 is a generator engine that is a TR-808 bass drum emulation - a classic electro sound. The panel provides the following parameters • Level – Output volume • Tone – Bass drum attack characteristics •...
  • Page 16 • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn 606 is a generator engine that is a TR-606 bass drum emulation - a typical short electro/hip-hop bass drum. The following parameters are used to shape the sound: • Volume – Output volume • Decay –...

  • Page 17: Sine

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Sine Kick tone body generator based on amplitude and frequency modulation of the sine waveform. The first row provides the parameters to control the amplitude envelope: • Attack • Hold - From 1 [ms] up to 1[s] •...

  • Page 18: Generator Signal Routing - Send

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Generator Signal Routing - Send By using Sends you can determine the proportion of the signal to be sent from each generator to the effect cascade or bypassed, i.e. Sent directly to Master / Limiter. The Send parameters act as a cross-fader that determines the proportional relation between the signal sent to the effect block and the signal that bypasses this block.
  • Page 19 • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Signal flow from Generators through the FX chain red line refers to the sent signal flow to the effect cascade. The blue line refers to the unprocessed signal flow (with the cascade bypassed) directly to the Limiter. The cascade point where the direct signal (blue flow) is joined may be changed to obtain more complex topologies but it is not the subject...

  • Page 20: Randomization

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn GeneratOrs seCtiOn Randomization If you lack of inspiration some of the parameters in the Generators’ section can be randomized. To open Randomization dialog click the Random button in the top Control panel: Random button...

  • Page 21: Effects Section

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn Effects Section The available Effects section is used to further shape the bass drum tone. 5 available modules are responsible for cascade (in series, one after the other) signal processing. The cascade signal flows from left to right (from the extreme left effect to the right Master / Limiter effect).

  • Page 22: Available Effect Block Specifications

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn You can control the effect activity by clicking Label – the effect status is shown by a LED (active/inactive, toggle). Effects section – Labels with the activity LEDs Available Effect Block Specifications The effects section provides the following algorithms: •...

  • Page 23: Bitcrusher

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn Bitcrusher Bitcrusher is controlled with the following set of parameters: • Preamp – Input signal’s amplitude gain from 0 [dB] up to 48 [dB] • Lowcut – Cut-off frequency of the passive high-pass filter that processes the signal before it is sent to the quantizer. The filter operates from 3 [Hz] up to 300 [kHz].

  • Page 24: Distortion

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn Distortion Distortion is controlled with the following set of parameters: • Shape – Clipping curve selection • Tanh • Atan • Hard clip • Crossover • Asymmetric hyperbolic tangent • Mixed Tanh and linear hard clip •...

  • Page 25: Multimode Filter

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn Multimode Filter The Multimode filter is controlled with the following set of prameters: • Cutoff – Filter cut-off frequency from 1 [Hz] up to 22 [kHz]. • Resonance – Filter emphasis • Mode – Filter slope: 12 [dB] or 24 [dB] •...

  • Page 26: Equalizer

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn Equalizer The equalizer is controlled with the following set of parameters: • High – High frequency gain (5 [kHz] and higher) from -24 [dB] up to +24 [dB] • Middle – Medium frequency gain (parametric equalizer) from -24 [dB] up to +24 [dB] •...

  • Page 27: Master / Limiter

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn Master / Limiter The final processing block consists of the optionally activated limiter with the built-in auto-makeup. When the limiter is active Threshold determines the value of the amplitude that should excite the compressor whereas Output determines the amplitude value the signal should be gained to.

  • Page 28: Changing The Cascade Effect Sequence

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn Changing the cascade effect sequence The cascade sequence of the first 4 section effects can be determined by using the drag’n’drop technique. Drag’n’drop activity areas in the effects section At the bottom of each effect, on both sides, you can find active areas marked with spots that you can use to grab, drag and drop any of the 4 effects at the desired position.

  • Page 29: Mixdown After

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn effeCts seCtiOn Mixdown After The Send parameters of the Generators section decide on the signal proportions sent to the effect cascade and directly to Master / Limiter. Audio Mixdown in the Effects section Mixdown After can modify the position where the generator signal joins (mixes with) the processing path in the effects section. Signal effects section flow diagram with Mixdown After By default, Mixdown After is set to FX4.

  • Page 30: Punchbox Signal Flow

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn PUnCHBOx siGnal flOw Punchbox Signal Flow The diagram below presents the whole signal flow in the instrument (with the joining direct generator output controlled by Mixdown After). Punchbox signal flow...

  • Page 31: Exporting Plug-In's Setting To A Sample

    • DesCriPtiOn Of OPeratiOn Exporting plug-in’s sEtting to a samplE Exporting plug-in’s setting to a sample To preserve processing power of your CPU you can save current sound setting as a sample and it use instead in your music project. If you’re satisfied with your kick sound, click the Export button in the top Control panel: Export button to open Sample export dialog.

  • Page 32: Preset And Sample Management

    Preset and Sample Management Preset Structure and Types Punchbox is based on the multi-level preset structure which means that the presets are arranged in the instrument according to a specific hierarchy. Thus, Punchbox provides the following types of presets: •...

  • Page 33: Browsing Presets

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt BrOwsinG Presets Browsing Presets Preset Management sections enable quick navigation and browsing the presets structure: Preset Management section for Master Presets Each Preset Management section (for each Preset type) contains following common controls / functions: •...

  • Page 34: Resources

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt BrOwsinG Presets A Preset Browser looks as follows: Preset Browser One can see three main sections: • Content – Sources from which presets can be read. • Filters – Configuration of presets Filters (non-active by default). •...

  • Page 35: Preset Filters

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt BrOwsinG Presets Preset Filters The plug-in enables classification of presets with the use of Categories and Tags system, whose aim is to facilitate the process of browsing the content by filtering. Preset Browser Categories Filters Categories and Tags Each preset is described by a few common Categories.

  • Page 36: Results

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt BrOwsinG Presets Presets from Factory resource were described by Categories and Tags during the stage of its creation. Categories and Tags are chosen in such a way so as to describe the content in the best possible way, taking into account the plug-in purpose. Edition of Categories and Tags in case of Factory content is not possible –...

  • Page 37: Preset Filtering

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt BrOwsinG Presets Preset Filtering Filters section columns represent particular Categories – Category filters, while rows in each of these columns represent Tags available within each Category. Preset Browser Categories Filters Filtering results have a form of a cascade (columns), from left to right. This means that all presets available in the selected resources are filtered as to presence of Tags from the first Category (first column from the left), next a set of presets being a result of filtering by the first Category is filtered by the Category represented by the second column etc., until it is filtered with the last active Category Filter.

  • Page 38: Reordering Categories

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt BrOwsinG Presets Basic Actions on Filters Tag buttons in Filters work in toggle mode. Click to activate/deactivate Tag (Grey color means that the Tag in inactive, teal blue means that the Tag is active). If at least one Tag in a column (Category) is active, then the Filter also becomes active. For example, if the first column represents Type Category with a set of the following Tags: {Acounstic &...

  • Page 39: Presets Editing - Edit Mode

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt prEsEts Editing – Edit modE Presets Filtering with the Use of Categories Tags Clicking the left arrow for the Category located on the far left does not change anything. The same is true for the Category located far to the right and right arrow (as the column has no predecessor/successor with which it could be replaced).
  • Page 40 • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt prEsEts Editing – Edit modE Edit mode button In this mode Preset Browser slightly changes its appearance (not only function): Preset Browser in Edit mode...

  • Page 41: Selection Of Presets For Edition

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt prEsEts Editing – Edit modE • The Filters section changes into the Edit Tags section, whose appearance is almost identical, but the function is different. The section is used not as a filter, but as an editor of Tags of chosen presets. •...
  • Page 42 • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt prEsEts Editing – Edit modE Filters’ tags Choosing a greater number of presets, in which the Tags were already defined, enables their re-edition. Consequently; in case when a specific Tag appeared in all selected presets, it will be marked with an intensive teal blue color. When a specific Tag is set only in a part of chosen presets, then it is codified with a pale teal blue.

  • Page 43: Presets Names Editing

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt prEsEts Editing – Edit modE with an Asterisk located to the left of the Tag buttons . Notification about Changes in Tags Status in Chosen Presets Elements / Tag buttons highlighted with pale teal blue color (meaning different values of a particular Tag buttons for the highlighted pre- sets) work in a three-state system;...

  • Page 44: Saving The Current Settings As Preset

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt savinG tHe CUrrent settinGs as Preset Saving the current settings as Preset To save plug-in parameters settings as a user preset use the Browse button pressed together with CTRL button in Presets Management section. This action automatically opens the Preset Browser with an active Edit Mode. Saving the Settings as Preset Additionally, at the bottom there will be a textbox into which you should enter a name of a newly created preset, and then confirm it by clicking Save or cancel by clicking Cancel.

  • Page 45: Samples

    Samples Arrangement of the Sample Resources in Punchbox Click, Tops, Tools and Kick (operating as a Sampler) provide separate (factory and user) sample resources. Each generator has access to its resource through its own Sample Management section:...

  • Page 46: Auto-Play

    • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt samplEs As you can see at first sight there are almost no differences between the Sample Browser and the Preset Browser and it is also true when it comes to their functionality. These browsers have the same components which operate exactly in the same manner, e.x.: Content to select the browsed (User or Factory) resources.
  • Page 47 • prEsEt and samplE managEmEnt samplEs Import Samples in the Sample Browser This button opens the file browsing system dialogue box. Acceptable file formats are: .wav, .aif and .aiff. both mono and stereo. There are no restrictions as to the sampling frequency of the imported sound clips. The dialogue box allows you to import more clips at the same time and not just single clips.

  • Page 48: Configuration

    • COnfiGUratiOn paramEtEr sEttings Configuration Parameter settings Right-click any plug-in parameter to open the context menu Closed Context Menu It allows for: • Checking the name and current value of a parameter, • Checking if the parameter is attributed to MIDI CC controller, and if it is – to which number, • Linking the parameter to MIDI CC controller.

  • Page 49: Midi Learn

    • COnfiGUratiOn paramEtEr sEttings Clicking the arrow in any area of the menu expands it and displays all available options. Next right click on the parameter or left-click outside the menu area closes it automatically MIDI Learn MIDI Learn function enables a quick assignment of physical controllers (from MIDI controller) to plug-in parameters. The assignment can be divided into a few steps: Right-click the parameter which you want to attribute to physical MIDI controller in order to expand the context menu.

  • Page 50: Midi Unlink

    Current settings are relevant to a specific instance of a plug. They are initialized with the Default settings, when the plug-in is loaded (see the next chapter). At the bottom of UI there is a status bar that enables the change of Current settings, in a case of PunchBOX it’s Saving / Loading the MIDI CC Map.

  • Page 51: Plug-In's Default Settings

    • COnfiGUratiOn plug-in’s dEfault sEttings Saving / Loading the MIDI CC Map Plug-in’s default settings The Options panel allows us to change the Default settings of the plug-in. Every time the plug-in is loaded in the host application (new instance is created). Default settings are used for initialization of the Current settings. Default settings are stored within a configuration file of the plug-in.

  • Page 52: Plugin Default Settings

    • COnfiGUratiOn PlUGin DefaUlt settinGs The Options panel operates as an accordion where you can click a specific section to expand it: Options Panel Plugin default settings • MIDI • Presets...

  • Page 53: Midi

    • COnfiGUratiOn PlUGin DefaUlt settinGs MIDI Default MIDI Map Choice Section This section allows for setting of a path to a file with a default MIDI Map that was prepared before. Clicking MIDI CC Map check box activates load of MIDI Map and the possibility of pointing it (Browse button). www.d16.pl...

  • Page 54: Thanks

    Thanks Goes to: • Laurent Bergman - For his help with preparing French versions of manuals for D16 products and beta testing. • manuel Brehs - For beta testing, additional work and translation. And for the beta test team for their contribution to development: •...

  • Page 55: About

    /www.d16.pl D16 Group Audio Software officially launched in 2006 with the aim of producing virtual instruments and effects for producers and musi- cians who required top quality and inspiration in their music. Today, D16 Group have become a premium audio plug-ins vendor.

  • Page 56: Sounds Of Revolution

    Sounds of Revolution http:/ /www.sounds-of-revolution.com In search of the latest and greatest sounds of tomorrow, Oliver Schmitt works hard to make the slogan Quality made in Germany shine. Nowadays mostly known for his high-end sample series, it’s probably safe to say that numerous musicians worldwide already got the spe- cial SOR touch on their hard drives, ready to be infused into the latest dancefloor smashers.

  • Page 57: Cfa Sound

    CFA Sound http:/ /www.cfa-sound.com CFA-Sound is operated by the german sound designer Martin Breuhahn. Following first soundset releases on Vengeance-Sound and Sounds of Revolution under the alias Cyforce, he founded in spring 2008 his own sound label CFA-Sound -this step opened the doors for establishing his very own sound and style.

  • Page 58: Table Of Contents

    Saving the current settings as Preset ..............44 606 ......................16 Samples ........................45 Sine ......................17 Arrangement of the Sample Resources in Punchbox ....... 45 Generator Signal Routing - Send ..............18 Auto-Play ..................... 46 Randomization ....................20 User samples Import ................. 46 Effects Section ......................

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