1010music Blackbox User Manual
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1010music Blackbox User Manual

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USER MANUAL

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  • Page 1 BLACKBOX USER MANUAL...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Table of Contents Welcome Overview Setup Blackbox Control the Volume Test Your Setup Connect an Audio Input for Sampling Working with a Battery Explore a Preset Explore PADS Explore KEYS Explore Sequences Explore Song Sections Song Mode and REC | STOP | PLAY Buttons Create a New Preset Create and Name the Preset Work With PADS Select WAV Files and Assign Pad Modes Set up a Sample Pad Work with a Clip Pad Work with Slicer Pads Use Slices to Synchronize Playback of Clip Pads Record a New WAV File Managing WAV Files Working with WAV Files on the microSD Card...
  • Page 3 Apply Effects Adjust the Mix To Adjust the Sound Level and Pan of a Pad: To Mute and Unmute Pads: Manage Presets Save Changes to a Preset Load a Preset Delete a Preset Rename a Preset Save Current Changes as a New Preset Work with Preset Files on the MicroSD Card Use Tools to Customize Your Blackbox Use MIDI Devices with Blackbox Powering MIDI Devices MIDI Channel Precedence MIDI Program Change Advanced Features Use MIDI Modulation to Control Playback Use MIDI Notes to Play Slices Synchronize Playback with a Clock Reset the Clock Update Firmware, Audio Files and Presets...
  • Page 4 BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Connect with Other Blackbox Users Contact Us 4/10/19 6:08 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2019 Page 3 of 49...

  • Page 5: Welcome

    USB power block, from the seat of your train or the park bench. You can also use blackbox to create materials to play in the background while you sing or perform with other instruments.

  • Page 6: Overview

    In this manual, we will first briefly make sure you have blackbox set up correctly and can make some sound with it. Next, we will explore one of the built in presets so that you can see what blackbox is capable of doing. After that, we will quickly create a new preset so you have a blank slate to use as we next walk through the basic use of the screens behind each of the navigation buttons.

  • Page 7: Setup Blackbox

    Connect an Audio Input for Sampling Blackbox assumes Eurorack level audio is coming in to the audio input jack at +/-5V. If you are using a line level signal of +/- 1V you may need to adjust the input gain on the recording screen. You could also use a mixer or pre-amp with your microphone or other input to adjust the level of the incoming signal.

  • Page 8: Explore A Preset

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Explore a Preset Blackbox comes with a number of presets preinstalled on the microSD card. Let’s explore one to see how blackbox works. We will dive into more detail later. We will start by loading a preset: Push the white PSET button to see the preset loader screen.

  • Page 9: Explore Song Sections

    PLAY to start recording a sequence. After the 4 beat count down, tap some pads to create a sequence. By default, the sequence is one bar long. Blackbox will play the sequence in a loop as soon as you finish recording it. If you tap some more pads, you will add more pad triggers to the sequence.
  • Page 10 If you want to save the work you have done so far, push PSET, touch File and then touch Save or Save As. If you choose Save As, you will have a chance to save to a new preset so you don’t overwrite the original preset. Note that blackbox does not automatically save changes as you work.

  • Page 11: Create A New Preset

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Create a New Preset A preset is the master file that stores a blackbox composition. It holds the pad assignments, sequences, song sections, FX settings, Mix settings and the detailed parameters for each of these. Blackbox does not automatically save your work. You will need To Create and Name a Preset: First, you will create a new preset that will be used to store your creation.

  • Page 12: Work With Pads

    Work With PADS Each pad in blackbox can be assigned a WAV file. You can configure playback options, such as trigger mode and looping, individually for each pad. Once a pad is loaded, you can touch the pad on the main Pads screen to trigger it. You can also use the Keys screen to play the currently selected pad.
  • Page 13 Touch Play to preview the highlighted file. The Play button will turn blue to show that auto- preview is enabled. Blackbox will play each WAV file once when you pause on it while scrolling. If you have a sequence or a MIDI input trigger playing for this pad, blackbox will play the selected WAV file whenever a trigger is received for this pad.
  • Page 14 The WAV file is playing when this menu item is highlighted blue. As you push INFO, blackbox will cycle through the Pad Parameter screens and the WAV screen. Some of the pad parameters are the same for all Pad Modes, while others vary by mode. Touch the control knob closest to each of the parameter to set its value.
  • Page 15 Trigger: Activate the Pad by touching the pad or Mode affects the playback of a pad. through MIDI note on. Blackbox will start playback of the WAV file and play through to the end. Gate: Begin the WAV file playback in the same manner as Trigger mode.
  • Page 16 BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Parameter Description Range of Values Target? MIDI Specifies a MIDI channel to be Default, Ch1 through Ch16. used to play this pad pitch The GlobalMIDI channel configured in Tools is used shifted and to modulate to trigger all pads by mapping a note to each pad.

  • Page 17: Set Up A Sample Pad

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Set up a Sample Pad Use a sample pad when you only want to play or loop through a WAV file with no slicing and no synchronization within the playback. This Pad Mode supports reverse playback, along with forward and bidirectional looping. For example, you might use Sample Mode with a melodic sample.

  • Page 18: Work With A Clip Pad

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Parameter Description Range of Values Target? LpStr Point where the looping will begin when 0 to number of samples in the file playing forward, or looping will end when playing in reverse. Expressed in samples.
  • Page 19 WAV file might contain a 2 bar drum riff. For a clip pad, blackbox will make some assumptions about where the beats in your file occur. In Clip mode, blackbox will play the whole 2 bar riff when the note is triggered. But the beats in the WAV file might not be playing at the same tempo as the clock speed.

  • Page 20: Work With Slicer Pads

    The manual process may also be used to refine the results after you use auto scan or slice to grid. When you use auto scan, blackbox uses an internal algorithm to decide where to place the splits. You can control the sensitivity of the algorithm.

  • Page 21: Use Slices To Synchronize Playback Of Clip Pads

    You can use slices in a clip pad to synchronize playback of the beats in the clip. When the value of the Sync parameter for a clip pad is set to Slice, blackbox will use the location of the slices in the WAV file as the location of the “beats” for Sync purposes in order to prevent timing drift.

  • Page 22: Record A New Wav File

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Record a New WAV File Blackbox comes with a set of over 800 WAV files preloaded on the microSD card. You can also record new WAV files to create your own custom sound. Here’s how: Start by plugging an audio signal source into the Audio In jack.
  • Page 23 .WAV file extension. If you have the Tools setting RecToPlay set to ON (Push TOOLS, then push INFO to see this setting), blackbox will automatically start to play the new sample when recording ends if the Length parameter was used for recording.

  • Page 24: Managing Wav Files

    To Delete or Rename a WAV File: When you use blackbox to delete a WAV file, that file is removed from the microSD card. This file will no longer be available for use by presets. This means that any presets that previously used this WAV file will no longer include this WAV file. To delete a WAV file: Touch a loaded pad on the Pads screen to display the Waveform Screen.
  • Page 25 (“ / \ ? * < > : |). File names must be less than 256 characters, including the path name. Files that do not conform to these naming constraints will not be recognized by blackbox. 4/10/19 6:08 PM...

  • Page 26: Use Keys To Play Pitch Shifted Wav Files

    The Keys screen provides an alternative way for you to play WAV files that have been configured on the PADS screen. When you select a sample or clip pad to play with Keys, blackbox will pitch shift the sample. The native sample will play with middle C, and it will shift up or down the appropriate number of semitones based on the note you play.

  • Page 27: Work With Sequences

    Touch a cell to toggle the active state of the sequence. The context display at the top of the screen (e.g. Seq 3 or Section 1) displays the current recording context for blackbox. When not in Song Mode, this context display will indicate the sequence that you are recording or editing, and the blue progress bar in the top right displays the current playback state of the sequence that has context.

  • Page 28: To Play Sequences

    You can use the INFO button with a selected sequence cell to view and edit the sequence. Touch a sequence cell to select it. Push the INFO button to drill into that cell. Blackbox will display the sequence editor screen. If you recorded the sequence using KEYS, the piano roll view will have a keyboard representing the scale along the left side of the screen.

  • Page 29: Edit Sequence Settings

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Action Result Turn the bottom right control knob Moves the currently selected note up or down through the piano scale. (Only works in KEYS view) Two finger pinch or stretch Zooms the piano roll in or out...

  • Page 30: Use Sequence Quick Action Buttons

    Defines precisely when to start the 1/64, 1/32T, 1/32, 1/16T, sequence. When a sequence is activated 1/16, 1/8T, 1/8, 1/4T, ¼, or deactivated, blackbox will wait until 1/2T, ½, 1 bar, 2 bars the start of the next Quant Size interval (T= Triplet) to start or stop the sequence.

  • Page 31: Work With Song Sections

    When you create a new preset, by default Song Mode is turned off. This means that blackbox is recording and playing sequences. Song sections are ignored in this mode. When you enter Song Mode, you can now record into and playback song sections. To toggle Song Mode on or off: Push the SONG button below the screen.
  • Page 32 Otherwise, blackbox will play all subsequent song sections in order. Push the PLAY button and blackbox will start playing the selected song section along with any active sequences. You can jump around between song sections by touching the next section you want to play. That section will start to play at the beginning of the next bar.
  • Page 33 The default is 120 BPM. To Add Swing to a Song: Swing is a feature that makes electronic music sound more like a live performance. The swing setting in blackbox controls the relative timing of even numbered 16 notes compared to the notes on either side of them.

  • Page 34: Apply Effects

    Apply Effects Blackbox has two effects that can be applied to as many pads as you want. You apply an effect by routing a pad to the desired effect (FX1 or FX2) and then configuring the parameters for that effect. After the effect is applied, the wet signal is routed to Audio Out 1.

  • Page 35: Adjust The Mix

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 Adjust the Mix On the MIX screen you can independently adjust the volume and pan of each pad. The number on the pad represents the dB level of the audio output. The bar at the bottom of the grid cell represents the pan position for the pad.

  • Page 36: Manage Presets

    Blackbox stores a set of pad configurations, sequences and song sections as a preset. You can save as many presets as you want, as long as there is room for the files on your microSD card. When you turn on blackbox, it automatically loads the first preset in the list alphabetically.

  • Page 37: Delete A Preset

    Touch File to display the Preset File Menu. Touch Save As. Blackbox displays a touch screen keyboard you can use to enter a new name. Touch the enter button to save the changes and go back to the Pads screen with the renamed preset loaded.

  • Page 38: Work With Preset Files On The Microsd Card

    Preset files can be backed up on your computer or shared with other blackbox users. The presets are saved as XML files on the microSD card. The preset files must be stored at the root of the microSD card. Blackbox will not find preset files that are stored in subdirectories.

  • Page 39: Use Tools To Customize Your Blackbox

    MIDI channel, with the exception of those mapped to specific pads. Compressor When set to On, blackbox will apply a compressor to the signals sent to Out 1. RecToPlay If you have RecToPlay set to ON, blackbox will automatically start to play the new sample when recording ends if the Length parameter was used for recording.

  • Page 40: Use Midi Devices With Blackbox

    • If you need to use one of these lower power sources for blackbox, you may be able to use a separate power supply to power the MIDI device. If the power supplied is insufficient, the MIDI controller may not power up and blackbox may have unreliable behavior.

  • Page 41: Midi Program Change

    If you have the GlobalMIDI parameter set to Omni, the pad and sequence triggers will happen on any channel that is not mapped to a specific pad. You can have more than one pad mapped to a specific MIDI channel. In this case, blackbox will play both pads when a note is received on that channel.

  • Page 42: Advanced Features

    To Use MIDI Notes to Play Slices: Blackbox allows you to use MIDI notes to play individual slices within a pad. Here is a basic example of how to do this: Create a slicer pad and create 4 or more slices by either using the Scan feature or manually creating the slices.

  • Page 43: Synchronize Playback With A Clock

    Set the BPM on the Song screen to adjust the clock speed. Blackbox displays the current clock time in the top left corner of most screens in the format <measure>: <beat>. If more than one clock input is available, the highest priority clock signal (lowest priority number) will be used. Blackbox can delay the timing of the playback of a clip pad to synchronize it with a specified unit of musical clock time.

  • Page 44: Reset The Clock

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 running, which means you have to push the Play button before triggering the pad. Blackbox will then adjust the playback speed of the pad if needed to quantize it to the selected quantization unit. Note: The Clock input must use 4 pulses per quarter (PPQs), or a pulse per 16th note.

  • Page 45: Update Firmware, Audio Files And Presets

    When the upgrade finishes in about 15 seconds, the unit will restart with the new software. Reset Blackbox Presets to Factory Settings If you want to reset one or more of the blackbox presets to the original factory settings, you can copy individual preset files onto your microSD card.
  • Page 46 Find the *.xml file in the unpacked folder that has the same name as the preset you want to restore. Copy the .xml file onto the microSD card to replace the file on the card. Insert the microSD card into the MICRO SD slot of blackbox. Push the PSET button to display the Presets selection screen.

  • Page 47: Technical Specs

    Blackbox supports 4-note polyphony for pads in Sample Mode, and 2-note polyphony in Clip and Slicer Modes. Nothing in blackbox will prevent you from trying to play 4 voices on all 16 pads at the same time. However, the CPU can be overloaded if you play too many notes at once while also using sequencing and fx.
  • Page 48 BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 0.9.8 For more information on the use of adapters, read the blog post on our website Mini TRS Jacks for MIDI Connections Compatibility Guide at: https://1010music.com/stereo-minijacks-midi-connections-compatibility-guide 4/10/19 6:08 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2019 Page 47 of 49...

  • Page 49: Stay Up To Date

    There is a very active community of users of 1010music products at forum.1010music.com. If you have a question about blackbox that isn’t answered in this manual, this is your best source for help. We actively monitor the wish list sub-forums for ideas for future versions of our products.

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