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twisted electrons BLAST BEATS User Manual

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USER MANUAL
Updated February 21st 2025
Thank you for choosing Blast Beats!
Please visit our website to stay up-to-date with the latest firmware updates. As
the feature set is expected to evolves on a regular basis, we highly recommend
checking the website for updates to this manual.
We highly value any feedback or ideas you may have, so please do not hesitate
to contact us at info@twisted-electrons.com.
BlastBeats User Manual
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  • Page 1 USER MANUAL Updated February 21st 2025 Thank you for choosing Blast Beats! Please visit our website to stay up-to-date with the latest firmware updates. As the feature set is expected to evolves on a regular basis, we highly recommend checking the website for updates to this manual.

  • Page 2: Features Overview

    flexibility when it comes to multi- tracking and instrument routing. Blast Beats features 10 voices, which include 6 drum voices: kick, SD, tom, closed hat, open hat, and cymbal; as well as 4 synth voices. Each synth voice can be dual or quad-operator, depending on the chosen algorithm.
  • Page 3 The YMF262 FM chip synthesises drum sounds using several FM operators. Some operators are shared between instruments. As a result some of Blast Beats’ faders affect several instruments at once: -Hats and Tom share the same pitch modulation; -The multiplier of the snare will also affect the pitch of the hats & tom.
  • Page 4 Synth Algorithms The synth voices of Blast Beats comprise up to four oscillators, which are referred to as operators. The algorithm icons display numbered boxes that represent the operators, and the arrows represent the modulation signal path. When an operator receives the signal from a previous operator, its frequency is modulated by it, also known as frequency modulation (FM).
  • Page 5 by operator 1. Algo4 Operators 1 and 4 are carriers with no operators modulating them, while operator 3 is a carrier modulated by operator 2. Algo5 In this final setup, all operators are carriers singing along together as individuals Note: When selecting a synth track and moving some of its faders, the algorithm used by this instrument is shown as a reminder by a blinking LED (top row LED's 1-5, to reflect algorithms 1-5).

  • Page 6: Step Edit Mode

    Refer to the "Length Mode" section of the manual to learn how to add pages. Selecting an instrument Blast Beats includes 10 voices, comprising of 6 drum voices and 4 synth voices. To edit a specific voice, press any of the top10 voice buttons. If the sequencer is stopped, selecting a voice will trigger it, allowing you to preview its sound.
  • Page 7 1 semitone. The synth will play the new note. Real time drum input With REC armed and Blast Beats running press top10 buttons 1 to 6 to punch in a drum beat. Real time synth input When REC is armed and Blast Beats is running the 16 bottom buttons can be used to punch notes into the sequencer in real time.
  • Page 8 When activated, the bottom LEDs of the Blast Beats will represent the keys of a piano, with the lit LEDs indicating the white keys. This feature is a useful tool for honing your skills before recording, and can be easily disabled by double-tapping the top buttons once again to resume normal operation.
  • Page 9 Undo/redo Whenever you press REC before recording some changes, Blast Beats creates a snapshot of the current pattern. You can undo (and redo) the changes by holding function and pressing REC in step mode.
  • Page 10 Key / Scale Change Mode In this mode, you can modify the key and mode of your pattern, which will affect all synth tracks simultaneously. To access the key change mode, hold the step button and press run To exit this mode and return to the previous mode, press kit, step, or function depending on which mode you wish to enter.
  • Page 11 6 Mixolydian - A major scale with a flattened seventh, known for its intervals: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole. 7 Blues - Characterized by its use of the flattened third, fifth, and seventh, the Blues scale provides a unique sound with intervals: minor third, whole, half, half, minor third, whole.
  • Page 12 About Kits and Variations (previously referred to as Banks) Blast Beats Kit Management Overview: - Each song in Blast Beats can utilise up to 10 unique drum kits, with each kit offering 4 variations. This means you have access to 40 variations per song.
  • Page 13 Changing Kit Press a top10 button at any time to change the kit assigned to the current pattern. You can automate kit changes per step: simply change the kit with REC lit! To clear kit automations hold kit/patt and press clear. Kit Reload You can reload a kit from the SD card at any time.
  • Page 14 However, if the sequencer is running, Blast Beats will cue the next pattern and make the change when it reaches the last step of the last page of the current pattern. In this case, the next pattern will be indicated by a blinking bottom 16 LED.

  • Page 15: Song Mode

    - press REC to arm Blast Beats, - press bottom16 button1, - press REC again to un-arm Blast Beats (before pattern 1 reaches the end of its cycle if the sequencer is running). Add or replace patterns in the chain Start the song by pressing run.

  • Page 16: Function Mode

    The current folder and location are lit when you enter save mode. It is important to note that Blast Beats will only write to the SD card when the sequencer is stopped. If the sequencer is running, it will wait until the next instance that it is stopped (by pressing "run") to save any updates to the SD card.
  • Page 17 Selecting Number of Pages: - To set the number of 16-step pages for across all tracks simultaneously, use the first four buttons at the top. This action sets the same number of pages for every track. To apply changes to the selected track only, press and hold the function button while choosing the number of pages.

  • Page 18: Clear Mode

    Clear Mode -Single fader automation: Hold clear and move a fader to erase its automation. -Track Automation, Pattern Automation: Hold clear and press REC a first time to clear all automation associated with the selected track. Press REC a second time (without releasing clear) to clear all the automation associated with the current pattern, including tricks, tremolo, vibrato, kit change, volumes and routing automation...
  • Page 19 Wiggle Mode This function adds randomness to any fader. To assign the wiggler to a fader, hold wiggle and move a fader. Set the depth of the wiggler: press any of the top10 buttons once to apply the wiggle depth to the current pattern.

  • Page 20: Mute Mode

    Mute Mode In this mode use the top10 buttons to mute/unmute a channel Mute Pages (or skip page playback) You have the option to skip certain pages within a pattern by muting them. You can mute up to three pages simultaneously. To mute a page, press and hold the Mute button.
  • Page 21 Hold function during a bend to spin up! Freeze When freeze is held, the communication between Blast Beats and the FM chips is suspended leading to sustained notes and glitches (can be combined with bend and stutter)
  • Page 22 Vibrato Use the top10 buttons to set the vibrato speed (each pattern has its own vibrato rate). This function will modulate the pitch of the operator. A different vibrato rate can be assigned to each pattern. You can also automate the vibrato rate.
  • Page 23 Automation of Waveform Changes: Waveform changes can be automated within your sequence. With the REC function active, adjust the waveform selection as desired. Phones Use the top10 buttons to set the phones level (recalled at startup). You can automate this parameter per step, just change it with REC lit. Use the top10 buttons to set the mix level (recalled at startup).
  • Page 24 Note: MIDI clock is read/handled but not sent by Blast Beats. Setting The Tempo (Master Mode) Tap tempo Press a tempo button at least 3 times to tap the tempo. If Blast Beats isn’t running it will start on the third tap. Manual a.k.a BPM tempo Press and hold the Tempo button, then press the Top 10 buttons to manually input the tempo in beats per minute using three digits.
  • Page 25 Fader Automation When in step mode you can record and automate the faders. Note: fader automation also transmits MIDI CC Recording a fader To record a fader simply press the REC button in step mode (the REC LED will flash). Now the sequencer will record and repeat the fader movements.
  • Page 26 16 buttons will turn the trick on or off for any step. Enable / Disable Bend and Freeze automation When you first power Blast beats on bend and freeze automations are enabled. Hold function and press bend or freeze to enable or disable them respectively.
  • Page 27 To enter MIDI channel routing mode: Power on the unit and press and hold the route button shortly after startup (when the LEDs begin to blink). MIDI Channel Assignments: Blast Beats listens and transmits on five MIDI channels, which can be customized: Drums – Default: CH10 •...

  • Page 28: Factory Reset

    Power-cycle Blast Beats to resume normal operation. Factory reset Hold clear at startup to reset the settings to factory default. This can be useful if Blast Beats isn’t behaving as expected after an accidental setting change. These are the default settings:...
  • Page 29 LEDS will blink twice every second until the card is inserted. From a single SD card Blast Beats can load up to 160 songs (10 bank folders X 16 song folders). There are 3 main folders on your card labelled KITS, SONGS & VGM.
  • Page 30 We've developed a set of script files—one batch file for PC users and one shell script for Mac users—that simplify the process of duplicating your KITS folder across all the song folders on your card. This functionality allows you to effortlessly create a copy of your kits folder within every subfolder of your card.

  • Page 31: Firmware Updates

    Beats is revision 2 Update procedure for R1 ONLY: Connect Blast Beats to your computer with a standard USB type A to type B cable (the kind typically used by a printer). PLEASE DO NOT USE A USB HUB! Some hubs may prevent communication between the PC and BlastBeats -Hold the run button and power on Blast Beats.
  • Page 32 -The disk will automatically eject from your computer and Blast Beats will reboot with the new firmware installed. Note: If blast beats doesn’t restart after a while, turn it off and on again. The firmware file will be removed from the card after the update is complete.
  • Page 33 IMPORTANT: press the Write button to save any changes or they will be lost! A MIDI interface and 2 MIDI cables are required to connect Blast Beats to the editor. The editor cannot communicate with Blast Beats directly over USB at this time.

  • Page 34: Midi Implementation

    Visit twistedelectrons.com/tool for more information. Drum voices MIDI NOTES Drums will transmit MIDI notes out of the MIDI port when triggered by the internal sequencer allowing you to use Blast Beats as a MIDI drum sequencer! Here are the factory default note assignments: INSTRUMENT...
  • Page 35 PARAMETER MIDI CC# RANGE Bass drum carrier attack 0-127 Bass drum carrier decay 0-127 Bass drum modulator volume 0-127 Bass drum modulator waveform 0-127 Bass drum modulator multiplier 0-127 Bass drum modulator multiplier fall 0-127 Bass drum modulator attack 0-127 Bass drum modulator decay 0-127 Snare volume...
  • Page 36 Synth voices MIDI CC Below is the MIDI control change implementation for the synth parts Volume OP1 0-127 Waveform OP1 0-127 Feedback OP1 0-127 Algoryhtm all operators 0-127 Multiple OP1 0-127 Attack OP1 0-127 Decay OP1 0-127 Volume OP2 0-127 Waveform OP2 0-127 Multiplier OP2...
  • Page 37 Blast Beats will choose the first 16 files in alphabetical order. To start playback, press any lit bottom button. Blast Beats will play the selected song and continue to loop it if a loop point is present within the song. Otherwise, it will stop and return to the menu.

  • Page 38: Troubleshooting

    fine on some older motherboards but some devices, but there may be issues with some USB devices including Blast Beats. If available please try another computer. Problem: I’m unable to save my patterns or kits.

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