Native Instruments Reaktor Prism Manual
Native Instruments Reaktor Prism Manual

Native Instruments Reaktor Prism Manual

Software for computer-based audio production and djing

Advertisement

Manual

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Summary of Contents for Native Instruments Reaktor Prism

  • Page 1 Manual...
  • Page 2 No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or record­ ed, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Native Instruments GmbH, herein­ after referred to as Native Instruments. All product and company names are ™ or ® trade­ marks of their respective owners.
  • Page 3 Contact Germany Native Instruments GmbH Schlesische Str. 29 D-10997 Berlin Germany info@native-instruments.de www.native-instruments.de Native Instruments North America, Inc. 5631 Hollywood Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90028 sales@native-instruments.com www.native-instruments.com © Native Instruments GmbH, 2010. All rights reserved.
  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Installing REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX ..............9 Activating REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX ..............9 How to Use REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX ..........11 How to Open REAKTOR PRISM ..................... 11 Exploring Snapshots ........................11 4.2.1...
  • Page 5 Output Meter ..........................45 5.14 Diagram on View B ........................45 Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface ............. 47 Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface ................47 Overview of REAKTOR PRISM FX Signal Flow ................52 REAKTOR PRISM FX Diagram on View B ..................54 Sending MIDI to REAKTOR PRISM FX ...................
  • Page 6: Welcome To Reaktor Prism

    Welcome to REAKTOR PRISM Welcome to REAKTOR PRISM Thank you very much for purchasing REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX. On be­ half of the entire NATIVE INSTRUMENTS team, we hope these products will truly inspire you. On the voyage of sound exploration REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX utilize the latest REAKTOR technology and open the door to new sonic possibilities, presenting a very playable, responsive polyphonic synthesizer, and a unique effects processor.
  • Page 7 ▪ References to keys on your computer's keyboard you'll find put in square brackets (e.g., "Press [Shift] + [Return]"). ► Single instructions are introduced by this play button type arrow. → Results of actions are introduced by this smaller arrow. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 7...
  • Page 8: What Is Reaktor Prism And Reaktor Prism Fx

    REAKTOR PRISM FX is a six-note polyphonic effect version of the powerful REAKTOR PRISM synthesizer to be used with REAKTOR PLAYER and REAKTOR 5.5. REAKTOR PRISM FX takes advantage of the Modal synthesis engine from REAKTOR PRISM to apply complex sets of partials and overtones to incoming audio signals. REAKTOR PRISM FX comes with 50 professionally designed presets that are best used on non-me­...
  • Page 9: Installation And Activation

    REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX. It will connect your computer to the Internet and activate your REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX installation. In order to acti­ vate your copy of REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX, you have to perform the fol­ lowing steps within the Service Center: 1.
  • Page 10 Installation and Activation Activating REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX 4. Download updates: When the server has confirmed the activation, the Service Center au­ tomatically displays the Update Manager with a list of all available updates for your in­ stalled products. Please make sure that you always use the latest version of your Native Instruments products to ensure they function correctly.
  • Page 11: How To Use Reaktor Prism And Reaktor Prism Fx

    REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX. Exploring Snapshots If you loaded REAKTOR PRISM play some notes on your MIDI keyboard to get an idea of how the synthesizer sounds. Then, let’s change the sound completely by loading a differ­...
  • Page 12: Loading A Snapshot From The Sidepane

    How to Use REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX Exploring Snapshots Fig. 4.1 REAKTOR PRISM interface with Snapshot list in the Sidepane. ▪ [1] Sidepane Button ▪ [2] Snapshot drop-down menu ▪ [3] Snapshot Banks ▪ [4] Snapshots 4.2.1 Loading a Snapshot from the Sidepane If not already visible after startup, you need to open the Sidepane.
  • Page 13: Loading A Snapshot From The Main Bar

    REAKTOR PLAYER, so you can tweak a sound perfectly for your song. All parameter settings made in REAKTOR PRISM and REAKTOR PRISM FX will be saved as part of your DAW project. Please read the RE­ AKTOR documentation for more information on plug-in mode.
  • Page 14: Overview Of Reaktor Prism Ensemble

    Depending on the chosen frequencies, the sound can be a clear tone or a more disharmonic sound like percussion instruments. In addition to the Exciter and Modal Bank, resonator REAKTOR PRISM has a few addition­ al components that can be used for creative purposes: ▪...
  • Page 15 LFO to the macros as an internal source of periodic movements. Due to feedback loops and extreme sound coloring be aware that REAKTOR PRISM can some­ times produce sounds which may result in high amplitude. For your safety and comfort Native Instruments recommend you do not edit parameters at high volume levels.
  • Page 16: Overview Of Signal Flow

    Overview of REAKTOR PRISM Ensemble Overview of Signal Flow Overview of Signal Flow Fig. 5.1 Signal flow in REAKTOR PRISM REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 16...
  • Page 17 The feedback loops (highlighted red in the signal flow diagram) allow some of the most interesting behaviors of REAKTOR PRISM. The output signal is used to excite the Modal bank, and instead of a decaying signal there will be continuous oscillations, which depend very much on the processing in the feedback loop and of course on the filtering behavior of the Modal Bank.
  • Page 18: Overview Of Reaktor Prism User Interface

    Overview of REAKTOR PRISM User Interface Overview of REAKTOR PRISM User Interface Fig. 5.2 Overview of REAKTOR PRISM User Interface ▪ [1] MACRO CONTROLLERS: Set real-time musical control and modulation of parameters. ▪ [2] GLOBAL CONTROL: Set global synthesizer controls such as Polyphony, Tuning and Key Tracking.
  • Page 19: Macro Controller Section

    Soft Clipper, which prevents hard clipping at the sound card. Macro Controller Section REAKTOR PRISM has two Modulation Macro Controllers. These are most conveniently used with remote controllers, in a keyboard setting roughly corresponding to a volume or expression pedal, and the modulation wheel.
  • Page 20: Prism - Modulation Targets For Each Controller

    Cabinet: Hi Cut 8P Filter: Center 8P Filter: LR 8P Filter: Gap 8P Filter: Mix 8P Filter: Balance 8P Filter: Reso Flanger: Time Flanger: FB Flanger: Rate Flanger: Depth Flanger: Mix Echo: Time Echo: LR REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 20...
  • Page 21: Prism Fx - Modulation Tagets For Each Controller

    Cabinet: Hi Cut 8P Filter: Center 8P Filter: LR 8P Filter: Gap 8P Filter: Mix 8P Filter: Balance 8P Filter: Reso Flanger: Time Flanger: FB Flanger: Rate Flanger: Depth Flanger: Mix Echo: Time Echo: LR REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 21...
  • Page 22: Macro Controller Parameters

    (to change the symmetry of the ramp, drag your mouse holding the button and move across the area.): ◦ +1: falling sawtooth ◦ 0: symmetric triangle ◦ -1: rising sawtooth REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 22...
  • Page 23: Global Control Section

    Global Control Section The Global Control section provides access to the global parameters of REAKTOR PRISM. Here you find settings for Voice polyphony, Partials, Tuning, Tracking, Unison Spread and Random detuning. In addition, you will also find the Velocity Target dropdown menu for note-on velocity modulation.
  • Page 24: Modulation Targets For Note On Vel Target

    Modulation Targets for Note On Vel Target Note-On Velocity Modulation List Exc: Noise Exc: FB Exc: Timer Exc: Max P Exc: Lo Cut Modal: Bend Modal: Multi Modal: HP Modal: Time Modal: Hi Amt Modal: Release Modal: Slope REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 24...
  • Page 25: Exciter Envelope Section

    Exciter amplitude envelope determine how the amplitude of the sound evolves over time when a note is played. Note that the Impulse portion of the signal is very short and can easily be accidently removed by a long attack. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 25...
  • Page 26 ▪ [8] VEL►LEVEL: Influence of the keyboard velocity on the peak and sustain levels of the envelope. 0: no influence and constant levels. 1: full linear control by velocity, dynam­ ic range 43 dB. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 26...
  • Page 27: Modulation Envelope Section

    Fig. 5.6 Modulation Envelope section ▪ [1] VEL►LEVEL: Influence of the key velocity on the peak and sustain levels of the enve­ lope. 0: no influence, constant levels. 1: full linear control by velocity, dynamic range: 43 dB. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 27...
  • Page 28: Exciter Section

    The resulting signal is shaped by the Exciter Envelope. The resonance of these filters can play a huge role in the resulting sound—even on just the impulse. For that reason, there are also keyboard and velocity tracking amounts for the cutoff. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 28...
  • Page 29 ▪ [5] TIMER: The feedback signal is converted to a pulse signal with adjustable minimum pulse-width. This parameter crossfades between the original feedback signal and the pulse-shaped signal. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 29...
  • Page 30: Lfo Section

    This is really powerful for creating per-note vibrato and fade-in effects. The LFO has two selectable tar­ gets with their own amounts. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 30...
  • Page 31: Lfo Parameters

    ▪ [6] SYM: The symmetry of the two ramps of the triangle waveform can be set here. Posi­ tive values increase the speed of the rising ramp (To change the symmetry of the ramp, drag your mouse holding the button and move across the area): ◦ +1: falling sawtooth. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 31...
  • Page 32: Lfo Targets

    Exc: FB Exc: Timer Exc: Max P Exc: Lo Cut Exc: Hi Cut Modal: Bend Modal: Multi Modal: HP Modal: HP Slope Modal: Cutoff Modal: Time Modal: Hi Amt Modal: Fund Modal: A Modal: B REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 32...
  • Page 33: Envelope Amounts Section

    The Modulation Envelope Amounts section allows you to significantly affect the way the sound evolves over time and gives it a more lively character. The Envelope Amount deter­ mines how certain parameters of REAKTOR PRISM are modulated by the Modulation En­ velope Section.
  • Page 34: Env Amounts Modulation Targets

    5.9.2 Env Amounts Modulation Targets Env Amounts Modulation Targets Exc: FB Exc: Timer Exc: Max P Exc: Lo Cut Modal: Bend Modal: Multi Modal: HP Modal: Time Modal: Hi Amt Modal: Fund Modal: A REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 34...
  • Page 35: Modal Bank Section

    (or Q) of the filters are controlled to deliver a shorter or longer decay for impulse signals. ▪ Amplitudes Section: The amplitude factors for the partials have the same effect as a fil­ ter. We have implemented the equivalent of a lowpass filter, and comb filter. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 35...
  • Page 36 AMP: Decay time for higher partials. At the right end of the scale the higher parti­ als have the same decay time as the fundamental. The value shows the amount of damping (log Time/partial) that shortens the decay time for higher partials. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 36...
  • Page 37 H: Amount of the second and other even harmonics in the Saturator signal and by this it influences the (internal) feedback behavior. ▪ [19] A/B Invert Buttons: Invert the partials of the A/B segments. In the display they turn red. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 37...
  • Page 38: Voice Processing Section

    The second unit in the Voice Processing section is the polyphonic saturation unit behind the delay, which works as a limiter for the feedback loop. You find an identical (mono­ phonic) saturator in the external feedback loop. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 38...
  • Page 39 ▪ [4] TRACK: Keyboard tracking amount of the phase shifting allpass. Reduces the phase shifting for higher notes. ◦ 0.0: No tracking ◦ 1.0: The center frequency of the allpass is proportional to the frequency of the note. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 39...
  • Page 40: Effects Section

    The Cabinet effect works as an amp/speaker simulator. Cabinet Parameters Fig. 5.12 Cabinet from the Effects section ▪ [1] DRIVE: Gain (dB) for the input signal. Higher gains will increase the amount of dis­ tortion/saturation. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 40...
  • Page 41: 8-Pole Filter

    LR OFFSET parameter. The CENTER pa­ rameter is used to set the mean value of the cutoff frequencies of the two channels. 8-Pole Filter Parameters Fig. 5.13 8-Pole Filter from the Effects section REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 41...
  • Page 42: Flanger

    Flanger produces a spacey whooshing sound due to a mix of the original signal and one processed with a constantly varying delay time. Flanger Parameters Fig. 5.14 Flanger from the Effects section ▪ [1] DEPTH: Relative amount of the LFO modulation applied to the delay lines. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 42...
  • Page 43: Echo

    REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 43...
  • Page 44: Reverb

    ▪ [2] MIX: Crossfades between the dry signal and the reverberation signal. ▪ [3] CUT: Cutoff of the filter that damps the lower frequencies of the reverberation sig­ nal. ▪ [4] CUT: Cutoff of the filter that damps the higher frequencies of the reverberation signal. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 44...
  • Page 45: Output Meter

    5.14 Diagram on View B By selecting the entry from the context menu of the Panel of REAKTOR PRISM you View B get to a second view of the instrument that provides a diagram of the signal flow. To return to the normal view, select from the context menu.
  • Page 46 Overview of REAKTOR PRISM Ensemble Diagram on View B Fig. 5.18 Signal flow diagram on REAKTOR PRISM's B View. REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 46...
  • Page 47: Overview Of The Reaktor Prism Fx Interface

    Overview of REAKTOR PRISM User Interface above. To hear sound from REAKTOR PRISM FX you must play notes via a MIDI instrument or toggle notes on for at least one voice in the NOTES section. Please also check the THRESH (thresh­...
  • Page 48 Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface Fig. 6.1 Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface ▪ (1) E.F.: Activates the Envelope Follower to control the destinations of Macro Controller 1 and Macro Controller 2.
  • Page 49 Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface ◦ GATE OPEN LAMP: This lamp indicates if the GATE is open. It does not show the ef­ fect of the (Attack) and (Release) times. ◦ GATE/NOTES ATT: Attack time for the...
  • Page 50 LEVEL INDICATOR to identify when the EXCITER gate is open. REAKTOR PRISM FX contains the following different parameters: ◦ EXCITER IN GAIN: Gain (dB) for the input signal used as the EXCITER signal.It has no influence of the levels at the ENVELOPE FOLLOWER and the detector of the Gate.
  • Page 51 Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface To hear sound from REAKTOR PRISM FX you must play notes via a MIDI instrument or toggle notes on for at least one voice in the NOTES section. Please also check the THRESH (thresh­...
  • Page 52: Overview Of Reaktor Prism Fx Signal Flow

    Overview of REAKTOR PRISM FX Signal Flow Fig. 6.2 Overview of REAKTOR PRISM FX Signal Flow The signal flow diagram of REAKTOR PRISM FX reflects the many different functions of the effect. Highlighted in red are the differences between the REAKTOR PRISM and RE­...
  • Page 53 Note states and the state of the Gate. If they are both off the Exciter and Sum levels are not attenuated. The Notes section imparts a very musical edge to REAKTOR PRISM FX further enhancing it’s unique approach. This is achieved by it’s ability to receive MIDI note on/off messages just like a polyphonic instrument.
  • Page 54: Reaktor Prism Fx Diagram On View B

    TUNE field. This can be useful for playing full chords with a single note of the keyboard. As with REAKTOR PRISM, if you activate the feedback path you can explore a wide range sounds from subtle signal coloring to extreme experimental effects. In some cases the ef­...
  • Page 55: Sending Midi To Reaktor Prism Fx

    Overview of the REAKTOR PRISM FX Interface Sending MIDI to REAKTOR PRISM FX Fig. 6.3 Signal flow diagram on REAKTOR PRISM FX's B View Sending MIDI to REAKTOR PRISM FX By holding notes on your MIDI Keyboard it is possible to change the tuning of the effect applied to the incoming signal.
  • Page 56: Ableton Live

    Sending MIDI to REAKTOR PRISM FX To hear sound from REAKTOR PRISM FX you must play notes via a MIDI instrument or toggle notes on for at least one voice in the NOTES section. Please also check the THRESH (thresh­...
  • Page 57: Fl Studio

    6.4.4 FL Studio In FL Studio, add REAKTOR PRISM FX as an insert to the channel you want to process. In the plug-in window, on the arrow next to the folder icon on the left in the header, select from the drop-down. A new green area appears on the right of the plug-in Show MIDI Port wrapper’s header.
  • Page 58: Credits

    Sound Design: Robert Linke, Adam Hanley, Stephan Roemer, Tasmodia, Simon Stockhau­ sen, Matt Jackson, Peter Prestl, Martin Backes, Jeremiah Savage, Colin Fraser, Klaus-Diet­ er Pollack, Uwe Hoenig, Antonio Blanca, Dietrich Pank, Klaus Baetz, Matthias Fuchs, Mar­ in Vrbica, Stephan Schmitt REAKTOR PRISM - Manual - 58...

Table of Contents