1010music BLACKBOX 1.5 User Manual
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1010music BLACKBOX 1.5 User Manual

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BLACKBOX 1.5
USER MANUAL

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Summary of Contents for 1010music BLACKBOX 1.5

  • Page 1 BLACKBOX 1.5 USER MANUAL...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Work with a Clip Pad ........................................24 Work with Slicer Pads ........................................26 To Manually Create or Remove Slices: ................................28 To Use Auto Scan to Create Slices: ..................................28 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 1 of 70...
  • Page 3 Record and Play Song Sections ................................43 To Record a Song Section: ..................................... 43 To Play Song Sections: ......................................44 To Edit Song Sections: ......................................44 To Reorder Song Sections:..................................... 44 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 2 of 70...
  • Page 4 Work with MIDI Outputs..................................59 To Send MIDI Notes from a Sequence to an External MIDI Device: ....................59 To Send MIDI Notes from a Pad to an External MIDI Device:....................... 59 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 3 of 70...
  • Page 5 Pin Mapping for Mini TRS Jack to MIDI 5 Pin DIN Connectors ....................68 STAY UP TO DATE ........................... 69 Demonstration Videos and Latest Documentation ........................69 Connect with Other Blackbox Users ..............................69 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 4 of 70...
  • Page 6 BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 1.5 Contact Us ........................................69 APPENDIX A - SUMMARY OF CHANGES ................... 70 Changes in V 1.5 ......................................70 Changes in V 1.4 ......................................70 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 5 of 70...

  • Page 7: Welcome

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 1.5 Welcome Blackbox by 1010music is a compact sampling studio. With blackbox, you can record and play samples, sequence those samples into patterns and riffs, and then record those sequences into sections, which together can form a song.

  • Page 8: Overview

    Lastly, we will delve into managing blackbox firmware and files, touch on a couple of technical specs and finally tell you where you can find more information about blackbox and other 1010music products. This manual was written for version 1.5 of the blackbox firmware.

  • Page 9: Set Up Blackbox

    Blackbox will not give you a warning when power is low. So be sure to save your presets before the power bank runs out. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 8 of 70...
  • Page 10 BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 1.5 Some batteries may not be sufficient to support a USB MIDI device in addition to blackbox. See Powering MIDI Devices below for more information. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 9 of 70...

  • Page 11: Quick Start

    Key and Scale that will be used by the grid keyboard. Now Keys you can play without worrying about hitting an off-key note. Grid Keyboard 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 10 of 70...

  • Page 12: Explore Sequences

    Let’s talk about Song Mode and the transit buttons. When Song Mode is disabled, the PLAY, STOP and REC buttons generally control the sequences. The one exception is when you are recording a new sample on the Sample 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 11 of 70...

  • Page 13: To Save A Preset

    Hopefully, that’s enough to give you a feel for what blackbox can do. We will dive into more detail about each of the functional areas of blackbox next. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 12 of 70...

  • Page 14: Create A New Preset

    Push the PADS button to start working with your new preset from the Pads screen. Preset File Menu Note: • When blackbox first starts up, it loads the last preset you used on this microSD card. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 13 of 70...

  • Page 15: Work With Pads

    Press the INFO button. If the pad was empty, the WAV Load and Record screen will be displayed. If the pad already had a WAV file assigned, the Waveform screen will be displayed. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 14 of 70...
  • Page 16 If the pad is a Slicer you will see pink bars that indicate the position of the slices. If a wav has slices embedded in it, you may also see slices when the pad is in Clip mode. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 15 of 70...
  • Page 17 Range of Values Target? Adjusts the loudness level of the pad -96.0 to +12.0 dB Level Adjusts the pitch of the pad up or down -24.0 to +24.0 semitones Pitch 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 16 of 70...
  • Page 18 Loop End point in loop mode, or the Start + Len point when not looping. In Trigger mode for Clips and Slicers, the release has no effect. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 17 of 70...
  • Page 19 MIDI In tab of the Tools page. See the section Use MIDI Devices with Blackbox below for more information about how all of these MIDI parameters interact. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 18 of 70...

  • Page 20: Set Up A Sample Pad

    A sample pad loaded with a single sample supports reverse playback, along with forward and bidirectional looping. You can also use the Start and Len parameters to play a portion of the WAV file. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 19 of 70...
  • Page 21 Loop End to Loop Start pass. When Reverse is ON, the WAV file will play ON, OFF in reverse. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 20 of 70...

  • Page 22: Multi-Sample Pads

    Multi-sampling is a useful tool for improving the sound quality when playing samples pitch shifted, and when you want to map a number of different WAV files to different keys on the keyboard. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 21 of 70...
  • Page 23 80 wav files at a time. If you hit that limit, it won’t load any more wav files until you free up some slots by clearing out a pad. There is also a limit of 64 WAV files per pad. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 22 of 70...
  • Page 24 You will need to reload the files to change back to multi-sample mode. • Anytime you use File -> Load All to load a directory of samples into a pad the pad mode will automatically be changed to Sample. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 23 of 70...

  • Page 25: Work With A Clip Pad

    1 bar - a whole note assuming 4/4 time Quant Size is set to 1-bar and you press the pad, the playback will begin at the 2 bars start of the next bar. 4 bars 8 bars 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 24 of 70...
  • Page 26 Look at the BeatCount parameter when it is not Auto Look for a valid ACID Tag in the WAV file that includes the beat count Try to calculate it using the following assumptions: 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 25 of 70...

  • Page 27: Work With Slicer Pads

    For example, if the Quant Size is set to 1-bar and you press the pad, the playback will begin at the start of the next bar. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 26 of 70...
  • Page 28 When you use slice to grid, you define a fixed number of slices and blackbox will create splits that evenly divide the WAV file into the specified number of slices. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 27 of 70...

  • Page 29: To Manually Create Or Remove Slices

    In this mode, the sample is played back in small portions about 10 to 200ms in length, called grains. You can control the size, count, spread and playback speed of the grains. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 28 of 70...
  • Page 30 To start with something that is close to the original wav file, set the spread to 0, speed to 100%, Grain size to 1024 and grain count to 2. These settings are useful when you want to use granular mode to smooth out the cross-over points for your loops. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 29 of 70...

  • Page 31: Record A New Wav File

    The VU meters represent the level of the signal to Gain -96.00 dB to +20.00 dB be recorded. You can adjust the gain to get the desired level and avoid clipping. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 30 of 70...

  • Page 32: If You Are Recording Wavs For The Current Preset

    When you want to use these files in another preset, point to the WAV files you moved to the library folders. Then pack up those presets to preserve copies of the WAVs you used. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 31 of 70...

  • Page 33: To Record A Wav File While Sequences Or Song Sections Are Playing

    Now you are free to delete or move the original MyBank preset if desired, or leave it there for future re-use. Save and Load Parameters in WAV Files There are several pad parameters that blackbox can read from and write to WAV files. There parameters are: 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 32 of 70...
  • Page 34 WAV file, and then touch Enter to save. Blackbox will now load the newly modified WAV file into the pad. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 33 of 70...

  • Page 35: Trim Wav Files

    We recommend that you occasionally make backup copies of your WAV files, especially before upgrading to new firmware. Blackbox supports organizing WAV files into folders and subfolders. You can create your own folder structure on the microSD card. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 34 of 70...

  • Page 36: To Delete, Save As Or Rename A Wav File

    BLACKBOX USER MANUAL v 1.5 Blackbox 1.5 changes where new recordings are stored. When you create a new recording, it will be stored in the folder for that preset. For example, the first new recording for the My Kickin Grooves preset will be saved as \Presets\My Kickin Grooves\RC000001.wav.

  • Page 37: Packing Presets

    If you continue to add WAV files to your preset after you pack it, the preset will still point to these WAV files in their source folders. Pack the preset again to copy these files over. • If the Pack option is disabled, then the preset is fully packed already. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 36 of 70...

  • Page 38: Use Keys To Play Pads Chromatically Or To Play Sliced Wav Files

    This will cause the WAV slice to play from beginning to end when a trigger is received. Other values will work, but let’s use this for the example. Loop Mode We will turn off looping for this example. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 37 of 70...

  • Page 39: To Select A Scale On The Grid Keyboard

    Root Note Selector Note: • To find the right key to match some music, tap a root note on the grid while turning a knob to scan through the root notes. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 38 of 70...

  • Page 40: Work With Sequences

    Any active sequences will play while you are recording. However, the notes from other sequences will not record into the currently selected sequence. Only the notes you play on PADS or KEYS will be added to the sequence. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 39 of 70...

  • Page 41: To Play Sequences

    Change the length of the currently selected note Turn the top right control knob Moves the note left or right to change the timing of Turn the bottom left control knob the note 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 40 of 70...

  • Page 42: To Edit Sequence Settings

    Push INFO twice to display the sequence parameters page. Push INFO again to cycle through additional parameter pages and the piano roll view. Use the control knobs to adjust the values of the sequence parameters: 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 41 of 70...

  • Page 43: To Use Sequence Quick Action Buttons

    REC will be removed from the sequence. Clears all notes and pad triggers from the selected sequence. Sequence CLEAR parameters remain untouched. This is a quick way to deactivate all sequences. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 42 of 70...

  • Page 44: Work With Song Sections

    When in Song Mode, the context display at the top of the screen shows the name of the active Song section, and the progress bar to the right of that displays the progress of this section. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 43 of 70...

  • Page 45: To Play Song Sections

    Deletes the selected song section Delete To Reorder Song Sections: Add a new song section where you want the section to be. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 44 of 70...

  • Page 46: To Change The Playback Speed Of A Song

    The default swing amount is 50%. Note: • Your sequence must have a step size of 1/16 or smaller for Swing to take effect. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 45 of 70...

  • Page 47: Apply Effects

    In real life, this is related to how close the source is to the walls. Note: • The same effect parameter values are applied to all pads that are sending signals to that effect. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 46 of 70...
  • Page 48 This option only applies when playing sample, multi-sample and granular pads chromatically. If you are not playing the pad chromatically, it’s best to leave it set to Normal. • Processor Management Tips below for more information about preventing sound artifacts. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 47 of 70...

  • Page 49: Adjust The Mix

    Mute might be handy if you want to use a pad to drive an external MIDI device when the device is available, but play a pad when it’s not. Muted pads still play out over MIDI. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 48 of 70...

  • Page 50: Manage Presets

    As of Blackbox 1.5, blackbox now stores all of the preset xml files in subfolders under the \Presets folder. Each preset has its own subfolder with the name of the preset, and a preset.xml file within that subfolder. E.g. the preset My Kickin Grooves will be stored as a file named preset.xml in the \Presets\My Kickin Grooves folder.

  • Page 51: To Save Changes To A Preset

    Any unmapped WAV files in this preset’s folder will be deleted. Blackbox will save the preset.xml file as part of this process. WARNING: this action cannot be undone. Touch anywhere besides OK to cancel this operation.. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 50 of 70...

  • Page 52: To Delete A Preset

    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. Each preset is saved in a preset.xml file in a folder with the name of the preset under the 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 51 of 70...

  • Page 53: Upgrading From Previous Firmware Versions

    When that is done, you may choose to delete the files that are stored at the root or safely move them to a subfolder for future use. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 52 of 70...

  • Page 54: Use Tools To Customize Your Blackbox

    MIDI Program Change messages received on this channel will be processed by the blackbox if the ProgChange setting (below) is set to 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 53 of 70...
  • Page 55 HP. If you choose any channel other than HP, the signal will not be included in the headphone output. Adjusts the volume level of the metronome in decibels. Gain 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 54 of 70...

  • Page 56: Use Midi Devices With Blackbox

    MIDI to work through the TRS jack, please read the Mini TRS Audio Jacks for MIDI Connections Compatibility Guide at https://1010music.com/stereo-minijacks-midi-connections-compatibility-guide. You may need to use the MIDI adapter that came with blackbox. You can use MIDI inputs in a few different ways: •...

  • Page 57: To Play Notes And Use Common Midi Modulation Signals With A Specific Pad Or Pads

    MIDI notes. Select a different pad and play notes on the MIDI Device and you will see and hear the new pad respond. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 56 of 70...

  • Page 58: To Configure Midi Modulation For A Parameter Using Named Midi Sources

    Turn the top right knob to adjust the Amount of modulation you want to allow with this controller. Now play the pad and use the controller and you will hear the modulation. The Modulation box associated with this mapping will be labeled CC. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 57 of 70...

  • Page 59: To Remove Midi Modulation From A Parameter

    MIDI program changes by loading a preset. Blackbox will map the presets on the device in alphabetical order to program numbers. The first preset on the device will be mapped to program 1. Keep in 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 58 of 70...

  • Page 60: To Enable Or Disable Midi Program Changes

    MIDI device via the MIDI Out TRS jack. If you are having trouble getting MIDI to work through the TRS jack, please read the Mini TRS Audio Jacks for MIDI Connections Compatibility Guide on 1010music.com. You may need to use the MIDI adapter that came with blackbox. To Send MIDI Notes from a Sequence to an External MIDI Device: Connect your MIDI device to the blackbox MIDI TRS Output jack and configure it to use the desired MIDI channel.

  • Page 61: Use Midi Notes To Play Slices

    Synchronize Playback with a Clock Blackbox can either run on its own internal clock or follow an external clock. It can also provide a clock signal for other devices to follow. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 60 of 70...

  • Page 62: Configure Blackbox To Follow An External Clock

    If MIDI and CLOCK inputs are both used, Blackbox will select the highest priority clock based on the following order of priority: 1.) CLOCK Input; 2.) MIDI Input; 3.) Internal Clock. • 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 61 of 70...

  • Page 63: Send The Blackbox Clock Signal To External Devices

    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. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 62 of 70...

  • Page 64: Create Preset Templates For Re-Use

    • You can use the SEQs, SONG, FX and MIX screens to configure other elements as needed. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 63 of 70...

  • Page 65: Reduce Aliasing When Playing Pads Chromatically

    • This option only applies when playing sample, multi-sample and granular pads chromatically. If you are not playing the pad chromatically, it’s best to leave it set to Normal. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 64 of 70...

  • Page 66: Processor Management Tips

    For sample, multi-sample and granular pads, use Normal mode (at top of ADSR screen). The High Q mode uses more processor cycles. If you like crackly sounds, by all means do the opposite of what each of the tips above suggest. Have fun! 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 65 of 70...

  • Page 67: Update Firmware, Audio Files And Presets

    Here are the steps required: Download the desired firmware onto your computer. You can find the latest firmware images on the forum at https://forum.1010music.com. You must be a registered user of the forum to access the download files. Forum registration is free.
  • Page 68 Insert the microSD card into the MICRO SD slot of blackbox. Push the PSET button to display the Presets selection screen. Select any preset to load the updated presets. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 67 of 70...

  • Page 69: Technical Specs

    The diagram to the right shows the numbering of the pins on a MIDI connector and the labels of the connection components of a mini TRS jack. 1010music products are compatible with cables that use the following mapping of MIDI signals between female MIDI connectors and mini TRS jacks:...

  • Page 70: Stay Up To Date

    Connect with Other Blackbox Users 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.
  • Page 71 MIDI program changes. Added parameters on the Metro page to support new metronome controls. • Notes under “Work with MIDI Outputs": Specify that blackbox does not support outgoing Program change. 5/6/2020 8:54:00 PM Copyright 1010music LLC 2020 Page 70 of 70...

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