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Polyend Play User Manual
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Polyend Play User Manual

Sample and midi-based groovebox
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Polyend Play
Play
Version: 1.0.1
Sample and MIDI-Based Groovebox
Index:
First Steps
Quick Guide
Basics
Enhanced Playability
Tips & Tricks
Introduction
Interface
User Interface
Back Panel Connectors
Audio Port Specifications
Project Management
Project Naming
Sample Pool
Sample Pack
Audio Sequencer
The Grid
View Controller
Variations
Step Edit
Quick Copy
Knobs
Live Recording
Master FX
Fill Tool
Pattern Mode

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Summary of Contents for Polyend Play

  • Page 1 Polyend Play Play Version: 1.0.1 Sample and MIDI-Based Groovebox Index: First Steps Quick Guide Basics Enhanced Playability Tips & Tricks Introduction Interface User Interface Back Panel Connectors Audio Port Specifications Project Management Project Naming Sample Pool Sample Pack Audio Sequencer...

  • Page 2: First Steps

    Device Dimensions Polyend Play Battery Powering Credits Polyend Play Licences First Steps Quick Guide Play is a pattern and performance-based Audio and MIDI groovebox, capable of great complexity while remaining easy to operate. Play offers an inspiring workflow for both...
  • Page 3 If this sounds like a lot to take in, rest assured that Polyend has made Play’s interface so user-friendly that you’ll be up and running with barely a glance at this manual. However, we suggest that you take a look at the following First Steps section to get started, and then come back when you’re ready to dig a little deeper.
  • Page 4 Press the Play screen button to start and stop playing the current pattern. When the sequencer is active, it will turn orange. Use Shift + Play while playing a pattern in a loop to continue playing arranged patterns sequentially. Use Shift + Play while stopped to start playing arranged patterns sequentially.
  • Page 5 You can load your own too, but the bundled packs are more than enough to create high- quality music right out of the box. Play’s workflow relies on sample packs that have been prepared in a specific way, with samples categorized in folders. Some of the instrument’s algorithms are based on these packs.
  • Page 6 View note input controller – Hit this key to transform Play’s button grid into a keyboard or grid controller. When using Play in this way, the function pads on the right side of the grid will change color to orange. The upper row of pads allows you to change the octaves and indicates if you’re in audio or MIDI mode.
  • Page 7 Master Volume knob. Portability – Polyend Play runs on 5V/1A and can be powered from a power bank. Tracker integration – Go to the Main menu > MIDI > CC Mapping ->  Channel and select Set Values for Polyend Tracker to enable integration mode for the Polyend Tracker Standalone Audio Workstation.
  • Page 8 Flexible sequencing with 8 audio tracks and 8 polyphonic MIDI tracks for controlling your outboard gear – Polyend Play really wants to be at the centerpiece of your studio. This is quite possibly the most fun groovebox ever created.
  • Page 9 The Polyend Play user interface is divided into four sections. Starting from the left side: A – High-resolution screen accompanied by five dedicated mechanical screen function buttons (the current description of each button is displayed on the screen) and a multifunctional clickable encoder.
  • Page 10 The MicroSD card must be formatted to a FAT32 MBR partition. This is the only file system supported by Play. The MicroSD card needs to be inserted into the port in order to make the Polyend Play operational. Use the included MicroSD card to USB type-A dongle adaptor to access the SD card from a computer.

  • Page 11: Project Management

    Audio Port Specifications Sharing the same physical port: Line Output Output impedance: 10k. Output level: 9 dBu peak. SNR: 97 dB. Headphone Output Output impedance: 16. Output level: 17,6 dBm. SNR: 98 dB. Project Management...
  • Page 12 Each time you toggle the device on, Play boots to the last active project. All the currently active project changes are autosaved with each press of the Stop screen button. Projects can be loaded, and managed from the File menu level. Click the encoder to enter the file browser with the following options available: New Project –...
  • Page 13 Sample Pool The audio engine of the Polyend Play is sample-based. When starting a new project, you need to load some sounds into the sample pool from the SD card, so you can sequence them. Play’s workflow is powered by distinctively prepared sample packs. This approach was chosen to make it as playable and intuitive as possible.
  • Page 14 A sample pack with its folder structure will be recognized by the sample loader when placed in a Sample Packs folder on the SD card. Press the Load Pack screen button and Play’s sample loader will load a pack with its entire folder tree intact.
  • Page 15 The Main/headphones output is stereophonic. Sample Pack As mentioned in the previous manual section, Polyend Play’s workflow is based on an idea of a Sample Pack. Besides the available factory and extension packs, users can create their own. Two approaches can be considered here. The first one is arbitrary, up to one’s will, and can be just one folder full of random samples, as long as it works for the intended effect.
  • Page 16 Audio Sequencer The Grid The bottom part of Polyend Play is dominated by the grid of silicone pads. You’ll be using these pads a lot. That’s why we’ve made sure that these low-profile pads are smooth and as comfortable as possible.
  • Page 17 Deselect all the steps and tracks to get back to ‘work step’ editing. The Play will usually greet you with its multi-colored grid of pads. Step colors indicate their status: Off –...
  • Page 18 Orange – currently played step (track playhead). Red – currently played step when in Live Rec mode. Grid pads will be illuminated in different color sets when toggling between Play’s various modes and screens. Patterns are created by engaging steps, placing them accordingly on the tracks, moving, copying, deleting, etc.
  • Page 19 The function pads offer four default actions: Mute – allows you to mute each of the sequencer tracks separately by pressing these pads. Solo – allows you to solo each of the sequencer tracks separately by pressing these pads. Variation – gives you access to track Variation mode (explained in detail in a dedicated section below).
  • Page 20 Variations This tool allows you to create alternative versions of your tracks. These can then be switched manually during playback. Press one or more of the Variation function pads to make quick changes to the entire track. Each track has its own corresponding Variation pad. Use the Quick Copy function to duplicate the corresponding track pattern, including all of its steps and settings to create a new variation.
  • Page 21 A comfortable way to start creating your sequences by creating steps on the tracks is to use the Pick and Place method. Use the knobs to pick the ‘work step’ parameter values, their sample, note, volume, filter type, send Fx, MIDI properties, etc. When ready, start pressing the grid pads to place steps on the sequencer tracks.
  • Page 22 Recall (Shift + Save key combo) function to bring back the previously saved state of your pattern. Quick Copy The Quick Copy function was introduced to manage your actions with Play in a fast and efficient manner. This works for steps, step pages, patterns, and variations.
  • Page 23 The Quick Copy of an existing step copies its values to a ‘work step’ editing area. Copying large amounts of data, like in the case of the Patterns mode, may take a moment. When Play is processing such operations, complementary information will be displayed on the screen.
  • Page 24 Holding Shift while turning a knob will increase the speed of the knob’s effect. The way this is performed depends on the knob being used. For example, when used with the Note knob, the values will jump through entire octaves using the selected note as the root.
  • Page 25 The currently edited page is lit. Play Mode –  gives you access to 35 classic and custom play modes which determine the order in which track steps are played. This provides an option to shuffle and remix your existing patterns.
  • Page 26 Note – relative to the original pitch of the sample. By default, Play assumes a sample’s root note to be C4. Microtune – tunes your sample from -100 to +100 cents. Filter cutoff – Dj style filter. When you turn this knob left, it switches to the Low-Pass characteristic.
  • Page 27 Either none or all are played. Play N/Skip M – determines step playback in subsequent loops of the pattern. e.g. Play 2/Skip 3 will play the step twice. Then ignore the step in the next 3 loops, and then play twice again, and so on.
  • Page 28 Each step is affected separately in a random way as long as the Randomize screen is displayed. If you jump out of it by touching any other knob, modifications will get discharged immediately. Press the Save key to print/apply the desired randomization to your track steps. Use the Shift + Save key combo to Reset if you would like to draw randomization values over again.
  • Page 29 Using the Main Menu settings, you can toggle on/off the Live Rec note quantization and overdubbing. Polyend Play offers 8 monophonic audio tracks. This means if a triad chord is played while live recording, it will consume three of its 8 tracks. However, MIDI tracks are polyphonic and work on a different basis.
  • Page 30 Important: The limiter offers a sidechaining function routed from all the separate tracks. Sound and Saturation effects are the main output sound enhancers. Fill Tool The Fill function is a sophisticated sequence editing utility. It allows you to enter multiple- step values in a selected area with a single click.

  • Page 31: Pattern Mode

    When there are two folders containing the same string of characters required by the Beat Fill algorithm in the sample pool, samples will be drawn from the top one only. While on the previously selected Beat Fill genre preset, press the Fill button again to draw in a new set of your rhythm section samples.
  • Page 32 In Pattern mode, patterns occupy a single pad on the grid, and a pattern is chained to any adjacent pattern. You can make one long sequence and play it as a whole. Or make a few discrete, separate shorter pattern sequences representing different parts of your composition.

  • Page 33: Perform Mode

    The currently loaded pattern will play until the end of that pattern. If there is another pattern programmed into the next adjacent pad, it will play immediately after the previous pattern ends, and so on, until it reaches an empty pad, or until the last available pattern slot.
  • Page 34 In addition to its inspiring compositional tools, Play introduces an entertaining way to perform your music. To start, press the Perform screen button during playback, it will turn yellow when active. In this mode, you can operate most of the function knobs and use the punch-in effects. ...

  • Page 35: Midi Sequencer

    to turn it off. An enabled effect pad is brighter than the others. You can enable only one effect in a category, but simultaneous effects from multiple categories are possible. You can see the description of the particular effects and the per-pad preset name displayed on the screen while using them.
  • Page 36 In addition to working with its internal sample-based engine, Polyend Play is designed to be a powerful and immediate MIDI sequencer. It is designed to be the brain of your hardware and software-based setups. Each track can have a separate set of MIDI values. For example, one track can control your drum machine, while another controls a synthesizer.
  • Page 37 Chords that do not fit the current musical scale filter are marked with [-]. A single step can hold and play a note or a chord. Notes and chords on successive steps can overlap, so the one limitation here is the polyphony of the instrument on the other end of the MIDI cable.
  • Page 38 ‘work step’ (except the note, because this one is taken from the MIDI input information). In such a scenario, Play becomes sort of a MIDI hub, and its Smart Soft-thru mechanism redirects notes from input to any selected output and channel.
  • Page 39 Gives you access to the basic project management options. Here, you can create new projects, load existing projects, and save the projects you’re currently working on. The following options are available: New Project – initiates a new project. Open Project – reveals a list of available existing projects which you can open. Save Project –...
  • Page 40 A sample pack with its folder structure will be recognized by the sample loader when placed in a Sample Packs folder on the SD card. Press the Load Pack screen button and Play’s sample loader will load a pack with its entire folder tree intact.
  • Page 41 The internal engine is working with uncompressed 16bit mono PCM WAV files with different sample rates. Polyend Play will import WAV files in any sample rate, 16/24/32 bit mono/stereo, and will convert them automatically to the supported format. The converted sample files contain a mix of both L/R stereo sample channels.
  • Page 42 different playback rates, your sample pool capacity may vary.  The Main/headphones output is stereophonic. Scales In this menu, you can locate the musical scales filter settings. This filter has a global influence, both on MIDI output and input, but also on the View mode input controller. It gives you access to: Enabling the musical scale filter (see a list in the appendix).
  • Page 43 Set Values for Polyend Tracker – integration mode for Polyend’s Tracker audio workstation instrument. Clock In > Internal, MIDI In Jack, MIDI In USB. When an external clock is enabled, the displayed tempo value reflects the tempo provided by the MIDI source.
  • Page 44 The detailed version and build numbers are visible in the Firmware section of the Main Menu. To update the firmware > copy the firmware file to the Firmware folder on the SD drive. Go to Config > Firmware. Choose the desired version of the .ppf (Polyend Play Firmware) file. And confirm using the screen key.

  • Page 45: Warranty & Safety

    Power up the Play. In the Polyend Tool, choose the .ppf file you want to use to flash your device. Use a pin, needle, or similar object to press the hidden Reset button next to the Play’s USB C port.
  • Page 46 Important Safety and Maintenance instructions: Avoid exposing the unit to water, rain, and moisture. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or high-temperature sources for a long time. Do not use aggressive cleaners on the casing or on the screen. Get rid of dust, dirt, and fingerprints using a soft, dry cloth.
  • Page 47 Predefined MIDI Chords List Power 4th Power 5th Major Minor Diminished Augmented Sustained2 Sustained4 Major 6th Minor 6th Major 7th Minor 7th Minor Major 7th Dominant 7th Major 9th Minor 9th Major 11th Minor 11th Major 13th Minor 13th Musical Scales List Chromatic Minor Major...
  • Page 48 Dorian Lydian Lydian Minor Locrian Phrygian Phrygian Dominant Mixolydian Melodic Minor Harmonic Minor BeBop Major BeBop Dorian BeBop Mixolydian Blues Minor Blues Major Pentatonic Minor Pentatonic Major Hungarian Minor Ukrainian Marva Todi Whole Tone Diminished Super Locrian Hirajoshi In Sen Iwato Whole Half Kumoi...
  • Page 49 Randomize Types What values do the certain Polyend Play’s Randomizer tool types influence: Sample In Folder (Samples in selected folder). Sample in Pool (Samples from the entire sample pool). Sample Length (Sample Start, Sample End). Texture (Filter Cutoff, Resonance, Overdrive).
  • Page 50 Weight: 2.9 lbs / 1.3 kg (with accessories) 2.2 lbs / 1 kg (without accessories). Polyend Play Battery Powering Polyend Play runs on 5V/1A and can be powered up from a power bank. The best method to power up your instrument is to use the original AC adapter or any other stable wall charger.
  • Page 51 Scott Murray, Alex Cummings (ARC Noise), Alex Retsis (Qebo), Petr E.C. Rice, Julien Guillot (Stazma), Jerome Guiton (Renoizer), Paul Bohnencamp (Arcologies), Benn Jordan, Ziv Eliraz, Riku Annala (Recue), Martin Krajcir (Isobutane), Orchestral Tools Team. Polyend Play Licences Software licenses Sample sounds license agreement...