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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for D16 Group Nepheton
Summary of Contents for D16 Group Nepheton
- Page 1 Drum Machine User Manual...
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Page 2: Overview
Overview • Interface Overview Interface Nepheton’s interface is split into two parts: I nternal Sequencer Int.Seq. • – Responsible for editing patterns in mode. Internal sequencer section... -
Page 3: Work Modes
– The drum patterns are played using Nepheton’s internal sequencer. with General • E xternal – Nepheton acts as a sound module playing drum sounds. Patterns are played by sending Midi notes Midi Standard. However, from host sequencer. mapping can be... -
Page 4: Audio Outputs
Overview • Audio outputs Audio outputs Nepheton is a multi-output VSTi plug-in. It has 12 stereo (or mono – configurable) outs. Instruments can be freely mapped to each of those available outputs according to their individual volumes setting. By the default, outputs are set to be stereo. That can be changed in a Options menu (described later). Note: Being able to change... -
Page 5: Preset Management
Overview • Preset management Preset management All the parameter settings (level, tuning, decay etc) for a complete Nepheton drum kit are stored in a Preset. Nepheton can store a total of 128 presets. Sound parameters Preset browser Preset tool is provided to simplify the organisation and use of Presets. The section on GUI is used for navigation through the preset bank. To read more about preset management go to chapter Preset Management. -
Page 6: Play Modes
Sequencer Settings box will switch it off: Sequencer settings Nepheton will now act as a sound module. MIDI Notes corresponding to the Instrument (drum sound) note numbers are sent from the host sequencer to play drum patterns. The mapping follows the General Midi standard – it is possible to change mapping. Note velocity is used to determine how loud notes are played. -
Page 7: Internal Sequencer
Play modes • Internal sequencer Internal sequencer Note: If a pattern Internal Sequencer mode allows Nepheton to act as a fully functioning drum machine within the host sequencer. is started using Pressing Play on the host sequencer, or Start on Nepheton, will start play back of the default internal patterns. -
Page 8: Internal Pattern Storage
Internal pattern storage Internal pattern storage There are two internal Play modes: • N ative mode – Available when the Host mode LED is turned off: Sequencer settings • H ost mode – When this LED is turned on. Each of these modes has its own pattern storage system. Native mode Nepheton is in this mode when it is first loaded. There are 16 available patterns. Each pattern is comprised of 4 parts. Each part can be up to 16 steps in length (that is, any size from 0 to 16 steps). The parts have names: A1, A2, B1, B2. Each complete pattern corresponds to one Step buttons: of the Step buttons... - Page 9 Play modes • Internal pattern storage The first 12 patterns are called Regular patterns. The remaining 4 patterns are Fill In patterns. When a Regular pattern is selected, the LED above it will flash. When a Fill in pattern is selected, the LED will stay lit. Pressing the Start button will cause the chosen Regular pattern to play. Measures auto fill in knob: Measures auto fill in knob Man. (Manual). To play the fill-in pattern, the Tap The default setting is button is used.
- Page 10 Play modes • Internal pattern storage Regular pattern is comprised of 4 parts. The Basic variation As mentioned earlier, every switch determines how the parts are played within the pattern. Basic variation switch There are 3 possible settings: • P osition A – Parts (if exists – that is if the length of A2 is greater than 0) are played. •...
- Page 11 Play modes • Internal pattern storage Basic Variation switch = A, I/F Variation switch = B, Measures auto fill in 4. With Length A2 Example 1: knob = set to 0, the following sequence will be played: • R egular – A1 • R egular – A1 • R egular – A1...
- Page 12 Pattern number and name Blinking LED on Step buttons mark the pattern position. The Part LED’s combined with the Basic variation switch indicate the part. Basic variation switch Part indication States of these LEDs give us all 4 possible pairs: A1, A2, and B2. When Nepheton is stopped in Native mode, the button allows the selection of Regular patterns Fill-in patterns (shown by a blinking LED in corresponding section on the chosen step button). If the blinking LED is in the Regular pattern area, then the chosen pattern will start to play when Start is pressed. If the blinking LED is in the Fill-in pattern...
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Page 13: Host Mode
This is a very creative mode which, by recording the notes into the host sequencer, can allow very complex percussion Note: In this structures to be created using patterns in Nepheton’s internal pattern memory. mode the pattern structure is quite different. - Page 14 In this mode, currently playing pattern is indicated by display unit: Pattern number and name in format: P.[TONE NAME][– or #][OCTAVE NUMBER] Nepheton has permanently active Midi output, which allows to control external instrument (virtual or hardware) by Nepheton’s internal sequencer. It works either in Native Host mode. Plug-in sends a midi note codes accordingly to the current drum map configuration to its Midi output. Velocity values of Midi notes sent by Nepheton are Step attributes (accented or non-accented) and value of Global accent.
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Page 15: Sound Editing
Sound editing Sound editing Synthesis module is for sound editing in Nepheton: Synthesis section There are various parameter settings for the 17 drum sounds: • B ass Drum • Snare Drum • Low Conga • Mid Conga • High Conga • Low Tom... - Page 16 Sound editing • Mid Tom • High Tom • Claves • Rim Shot • Maracas • Hand Clap • Cow Bell • Laser Gun • Cymbal • Open Hihat • Closed Hihat For each instrument there is one common parameter: • Level – Volume level of each instrument. And various instrument specific parameters: • Bass Drum: – Tone – Volume of the initial click. –...
- Page 17 Sound editing • Low Conga, Mid Conga, High Conga: Tunning – – Base frequency. Decay – – Amplitude release time. • Low Tom, Mid Tom, High Tom: Tunning – – Base frequency. – Decay – Amplitude release time. – Snappy – Crossfade between dirty and clean sound. • Claves: – Tunning – Base frequency. – Decay – Amplitude release time. • Rim Shot: –...
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Page 18: Trigger Out
Sound editing • Trigger out • Master volume • Laser Gun: – Depth – Frequency envelope modulation. Decay – – Amplitude release time. Sweep – – Release time of frequency envelope. • Cymbal: – Tone – Attack. – Decay – Amplitude release time. • Open Hihat, Closed Hihat: –... -
Page 19: Drumline Editing
Drumline editing • Pattern editing Drumline editing Pattern editing To edit the currently selected pattern, press the Patt.Write button (it’s not necessary in Host mode, since Pattern write is the only possible mode there). Pattern write button Prev Next To edit another pattern other than the current one playing, use the buttons. - Page 20 Drumline editing • Pattern editing Every pattern consists 18 tracks, one for each instrument + accent. Instrument selector Step buttons: The parts are edited using the Step buttons These keys work in toggle mode and for most instruments have 3 states: • Accented – LED on, the key lights with a bright red color. • On – LED on, the key lights with darker red color. • Off – LED is off The main difference between a non-accented and accented sound is the volume. However, accent also causes subtle changes to the sound character in other ways. Global accent (AC) track have only two possible step values: On or Off.
- Page 21 Drumline editing • Pattern editing Synthesis module The instrument names on the top of can also be used to select an instrument: Instrument names We can select a single instrument by clicking on it in the Instr.Sel bar. However, to select more than one instrument, press and hold CTRL on the keyboard whilst clicking.
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Page 22: Editing Functions
Drumline editing • Pattern editing Editing functions Standard editing functions: Editing functions S hift left right • – Shifts steps on the selected tracks left or right. The shifting is cycled. This means if the last step on the right side (during the shifting right) it will appear on the first step on the left side. Similarly it happens while shifting left. Pressed with CTRL key, shifts whole pattern. -
Page 23: Length Of The Pattern (Part)
Drumline editing • Pattern editing Length of the pattern (part) The length of the pattern’s part can be set to a maximum of 16 steps. It can be changed using Length function. Whilst Patt.Write mode, press the Length button – this will light up the LED’s above: Editing functions All LED’s above Step buttons indicate the number of steps in the pattern: Step buttons... -
Page 24: Global Accent
Drumline editing • Pattern editing Global accent track is used to accent instrumental tracks on a given step. AC Track on instrument selector The steps to accent are selected the same as any other track using the Step buttons. or Off. If an Instrument has an accent on a step and The value is either is added to that step, the two accents will be combined to give the loudest possible value for that... -
Page 25: Shuffle
Drumline editing • Pattern editing • Pattern follow Shuffle Shuffle is also called Syncopation or Swing, It is added by turning the Shuffle knob when in Patt. Write mode. Shuffle value is stored per “letter” part (A, B) independently in Native mode. For Host mode it is stored per Simple pattern. Shuffle knob Pattern follow Follow button works only when the Patt.Write mode is active. Pattern number and name With Follow button turned off, to choose a pattern to edit we need to navigate through all the available patterns using... -
Page 26: Loading And Saving Patterns
Just click on it and enter the name for the newly created pattern. Pressing enter ends the editing process. CTRL 2. To save pattern just click Next button with key pressed on keyboard. The menu should appear: Note: On MacOS use Apple CMD key instead of CTRL key. Saving patterns pattern option to show file save dialog. To save all patterns currently stored in Nepheton, choose C hoose the Save Save pattern bank option. -
Page 27: Loading Patterns
The menu should appear: Loading patterns Choose the Load pattern option to show file dialog. To load whole bank of patterns to Nepheton’s memory, choose Load pattern bank option. Following file types are saved and loaded by Nepheton: Note: Files saved by Nepheton are • N ative mode in standard XML format and can – .npptrbN – Bank consisting all 16 patterns. -
Page 28: Randomizing Drumlines
Randomizing drumlines • Randomize Randomizing drumlines Randomize To randomize a pattern, we need to select Rand. mode while in Patt.Write mode. In Rand mode, the GUI functionality changes slightly: Editing functions The Instr.Sel. LEDs select which instrument will be included in the randomization. Clicking will turn them on or off. The same principles apply as during instrument selection (using CTRL key on keyboard). Instrument selector Next Prev... - Page 29 Randomizing drumlines • Randomize The LEDs above the Level knob for each selected instrument will flash. This indicates that they are now assigned to Rand.Mode. They are used to determine the intensity of the randomization for that instrument. That is, how much randomization will occur across the selected steps. Instrument level knobs To accept the current randomized pattern, just press Tap button. Fill in button Undo key will remove the randomization.
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Page 30: Preset Management
Preset Management • Browsing presets Preset Management Browsing presets Presets in the plug-in are hierarchically organized in groups and, contrary to the linear structure, this setting is not compatible with the native methods used within the host application. The user can see the presets assigned Preset Browser. Groups can be also defined by the user. -
Page 31: Preset Browser
Preset Management • Browsing presets • Preset Browser Changes in the preset bank are not permanent. After removing and reloading the plug-in, the default preset bank will be loaded. However, saving the project within the host application will also save the status of the plug-in including changes in the preset bank. After reloading the project, all changes in the current parameter settings and in the preset bank will be restored. Preset Browser As it was mentioned, the preset bank in the plug-in has a hierarchical structure i.e. presets are organized in groups. Next Prev Presets can be selected by buttons, which navigate through the structure in a linear way or by using Preset Browser. - Page 32 Preset Management • Preset Browser Preset Browser will be displayed on the GUI: Preset browser...
- Page 33 Preset Management • Preset Browser The left side shows the list of groups in the preset bank: The right side shows the list of presets in the selected group: List of groups in the preset bank List of presets in the selected group...
- Page 34 Preset Management • Preset Browser Preset Browser: Actions available in the • C licking on a slot in the preset list loads the selected preset. • C licking on a slot in the group list selects a group of presets. • B oth presets and groups can be renamed. Double clicking on a slot toggles edit mode. After entering the new name, press enter to finish. • T he bank of presets has exactly 128 items. The number of presets cannot be changed. This means that there is no possibility of adding or removing presets. Only relocating them between groups or changing their order is possible. By dragging the preset you may: – C hange its position in the group by dropping it in a different slot in the list of presets in a selected group. ...
- Page 35 Preset Management • Preset Browser On the left side of the Preset Browser there are function buttons located: – Adds a new empty group to the preset bank. – Removes a group from the preset bank, but only if the selected group is empty. Before removing a group, remaining presets should be relocated to different groups.
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Page 36: Loading And Saving Presets
Loading and Saving presets from the hard drive function Four buttons are available: • P reset Load – loads a single preset from a file (file .npprs – Nepheton preset). Note: Before • P reset Save – saves the current preset to a file. saving the preset • B ank Load – loads the entire bank of presets from a file (file .npprb – Nepheton bank). -
Page 37: Configuration
Configuration Configuration Options button After clicking on Options in the upper-left corner of GUI, a configuration panel unfolds. The panel has several tabs: Configuration panel tabs utputs – configures audio outputs. • equencer – configures sequencer’s work mode. • P resets • – indicates personal resources loaded instead of default presets. • P atterns – indicates personal pattern banks loaded with every new instance of the plug-in in the host application. •... -
Page 38: Outputs Tab
Configuration • Outputs tab Outputs tab Configures audio outputs from the plug-in. Default output assigns Setting the default internal audio outputs mapping. Default output assigns If you have your favorite audio output configuration: Audio outputs configuration You may set it to be the default one, recalled after each time when you load the plug-in into host application. -
Page 39: Default Outputs Type
Default output assigns –selecting outputs Or map the output using the GUI accordingly to your preferences and then use Set from current assignations option. Then your map becomes the default one. The content of the Default outputs assigns group is saved in the Nepheton configuration file and applies to all new instances of the plug-in. When removing any instance of the plug-in from the host application the configuration file is saved. Default outputs type This is responsible for choosing the type of outputs. Default output type Stereo or Mono. -
Page 40: Trigger Output
Configuration • Outputs tab Trigger output There’s possible to make audible a trigger sound, which occurs in analogue machines. By default this signal is off - None -). To turn it on you need to decide which track (instrument) will be triggering this (Source combo box set to sound, by selecting it from Source combo box: Trigger output Chosen track (instrument) apart from regular role will also be responsible for controlling trigger out sound. -
Page 41: Sequencer Tab
Configuration • Sequencer tab Sequencer tab Current Settings Current Settings checkboxes: Current settings reflect the state of controls from the Seq.Settings section on GUI. Sequencer settings Note Off Mode state checkbox is an exception and it is not available on GUI. It is only available in this tab (Host mode – description available in earlier chapters). -
Page 42: Default Settings
It should start to play automatically. In some cases it doesn’t work. If this happens, choose By The lowest C Note option. Then, add a Midi track with output set to Nepheton and place the Midi note (lowest C note) in the Midi clip. As soon as the Midi Note On... -
Page 43: Presets Tab
• O n Demand – If any parameter is changed, the change is not saved in the current preset until the Store option is used (CTRL + Browse). Selecting a different preset from the bank causes irreversible loss to changes applied to the parameters, unless the Store option is used. Preset Storing flag is saved in the Nepheton configuration file and applies to all new instances of the plug-in. When removing any instance of the plug-in from the host application the configuration file is saved. -
Page 44: Default Presets
Patterns tab There’re included some default patterns and drum kits with Nepheton. These are loaded every time it is started. This can be changed to point to user default patterns and kits. - Page 45 Options available in the Default Patterns Native Host mode: section both for • F actory Patterns – Default value after installing Nepheton. Choosing this option loads the factory patterns with every new instance of the plug-in. • C lear Patterns – With every new instance of the plug-in an empty preset bank is loaded. • U ser Defined –...
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Page 46: Drum Map Tab
• Drum map tab Drum map tab External mode, Nepheton by default works with General Midi drum mapping, but it’s possible to load your own drum map using an options in this tab. Current Drum map In order to load or save the current drum map, use the Load/Save buttons from this group: Current drum map •... -
Page 47: Midi Control Tab
Configuration • Midi control tab Midi control tab Nepheton can assign its controls (on GUI) to any MIDI CC (Midi Control Change), allowing the control of the plug-in using external hardware or software. Midi control tab... -
Page 48: Midi Learn
M idi learn mode – Checkbox which activates Midi learn mode. • A list of active MIDI CC links containing pairs comprising of a CC code and the name of the plug-in parameter. • D efault Map – Checkbox which activates a default MIDI CC map. When the map is activated it will be loaded with creating a new instance of the plug-in. Midi learn Assigning a Nepheton control to the MIDI controller requires: Checking Midi Learn Mode Midi Control 1. checkbox in the tab: Midi Learn Mode selection checkbox or press the... - Page 49 2. In the status bar in the bottom section of GUI a message should appear “waiting for a controller or parameter movement…”: Status bar I n this mode the plug-in waits for any change in the parameter value (movement of any control on GUI) and for the movement of any MIDI CC control from the external MIDI controller, which operates on an active MIDI input channel directed to Nepheton. The order of these actions is irrelevant. D uring the above-mentioned actions, the status bar informs about the currently changing values of controls and provides their names. W hen a MIDI control <–> GUI control link is established, a line is added to the MIDI CC link list: MIDI CC link list and function buttons W hen a link is established for a controller, it is possible to repeat the operation for the next MIDI CC and parameter pairs.
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Page 50: Unlinking And Midi Link Management
– Removes a selected link; choosing any link from the list and clicking on it highlights the selected link. Using this button removes the selected link. – Removes all MIDI CC links. Note: MIDI map – Loads link lists/MIDI maps from file (.npccmap – Nepheton MIDI CC Map). files are saved in XML format, – Saves link lists/MIDI maps to file. which enables their edition in any text editor. -
Page 51: Default Midi Map
Configuration • Midi control tab Default MIDI Map Selecting a default MIDI Map: 1. Check the Default Map checkbox, which activates the Browse button on the right. 2. Click Browse and select a file with a saved MIDI Map. After selecting the MIDI map the text box on the left from the Browse button shows the path to the active map file. A default MIDI map is loaded each time when the plug-in is loaded. Default MIDI Map selection... -
Page 52: Table Of Contents
Contents Contents Overview ................Pattern editing ............... 18 Interface ................Editing functions ............21 Work modes ..............Length of the pattern (part) ........22 Audio outputs ..............Global accent .............. 23 Preset management ............. 4 Tempo scale ..............23 Shuffle ................ 24 Play modes ................Pattern follow .............. 24 External sequencer mode .......... - Page 53 Loading and Saving presets ........35 Midi control tab ............. 46 Configuration ..............36 Midi learn .............. 47 Outputs tab ..............37 Unlinking and midi link management .... 49 Default output assigns ..........37 Default MIDI Map ............ 50 Default outputs type ..........38 Contents ................51 Trigger output ............39 Sequencer tab .............. 40 Current Settings ............ 40 Default Settings ............ 41...
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