User manual FXPANSION GURU

GURU User Manual: table of contents INTRODUCTION... Getting Started 6 Welcome to GURU! A word from Devine Machine Credits Installation Windows Installation 8 MacOSX Installation 9 6 6 7 8 Authorization 10 Instant gratification... 10 CHAPTER 1... GURU: Fundamental Philosophy 11 1:1 Engines, Pads, Patterns and Graphs 11 1:2 SmartSlice: GURU's enlightened approach to drumloop-slicing 13 1:3 Overview of the GURU interface 14 1:4 Control conventions and keyboard shortcuts 16 CHAPTER 2... Starting to use Guru: the Browser 17 2:1 Operating the Browser 17 Favourites Browsing and Preview tools Auto mode Preview tools 18 18 18 18 Using Auto mode 19 Slicing/Mapping tools 20 Score button 20 Slice mode context menu 20 Using Auto mode 21 Using component slices 22 Operating without Auto mode 22 More about the Score mode 22 Using REX files with GURU 23 Loading Patterns and Pattern Sets 24 Saving Patterns and Pattern Sets 25 2:2 Hit tab 19 2:3 Loops tab 20 2:4 Patterns tab 24 2:5 Kits tab 25 1 CHAPTER 3... Working with Pads & the Pad Edit view 26 Pad signal flow diagram 26 Pad Edit Keyboard modifiers 27 Waveform display 28 Utility controls 29 Gain, Pan, Tune/Fine, Cut/Rez/Type 30 Pad effect slot 31 Direct/Aux Controls 31 Amp Envelope 32 FX Envelope 32 Audition 32 Layers and Velocity Splits 32 Velocity Split 33 3:1 Pad Edit view 27 3:2 Automating Pad Edit view parameters in your host 35 Operating Pads 36 Pad context menu 36 Moving/Exchanging/Copying Pads 37 3:3 Other Pad operations 36 CHAPTER 4... Introduction to Patterns and Graphs 38 Patterns 38 Graphs 39 Sequencer Master 39 CHAPTER 5... Working with Patterns 40 Editing Patterns in the Pattern view 42 Draw mode 42 Select mode 43 Utility controls 43 5:1 Pattern view 40 Undo button 44 Pattern keys 44 Pattern context menu 45 Moving/Copying/Exchanging Patterns 45 Exporting Patterns as MIDI files 46 5:2 Other Pattern operations 44 2 CHAPTER 6... Working with Graphs 47 Graphs Select view 47 Graphs Edit view 48 Editing events in a sub-Graph 48 Instant Graph Recorder 49 6:1 Graphs view 47 6:2 Graphs reference 50 Level Graph type 50 Velocity · 50 Pan · 50 Pitch Graph type 50 Pitch · 50 Fine · 51 Filter Graph type 51 Filter Cutoff · 51 Filter Resonance · 51 Repeat Graph type 51 Repeat · 51 Shift · 52 Scrub · 52 CHAPTER 7... Sequencer Master section 53 7:1 Sequencer Master display 53 Naming Patterns 54 7:2 Tempo control & Tempo multiplier ratio 54 7:3 Recording Patterns 55 Record-arming 55 Click on Record 55 Quantized Record 55 Record mode 55 Commit/Undo 56 Record mode options 56 Groove controls 57 Groove and Shift Graphs 58 7:4 Using Groove 57 3 CHAPTER 8... Working with Engines 59 8:1 Engine controls in GURU toolbar 59 Engine selectors 59 Engine activity display 59 8:2 Aux Effects View 59 Engine channels 60 Engine insert effects 61 Master channel 62 Master insert effect 62 8:3 Mix View 60 8:4 FX Group automation 63 8:5 Scenes view 63 CHAPTER 9... Customizing GURU: the Options panel 65 9:1 MIDI Options 65 9:2 Audio Options 66 9:3 Browsing Options 68 9:4 Misc Options 69 CHAPTER 10... Effects reference 71 Compressors 72 Waveshaper Distortion effects 72 Ring Modulators 73 Bit crushing type effects 73 Oscillators (Oscs) 74 Equalizers 76 10:1 Pad Effects 72 4 10:2 Engine Effects 77 DELAY 77 FLANGER 78 CHORUS 78 COMPRESSOR 79 REVERB 79 DISTORTION 80 Filter LFO and ENV effects 80 Bitcrusher LFO and ENV effects 82 Ring Modulation LFO and ENV effects 84 Parametric Equalizers 86 TRANCEGATE 87 FREEZER 88 CHAPTER 11... Technical Reference 89 11:1 Signal Flow diagram 89 11:2 Keyboard shortcut reference 90 11:3 MIDI Keyboard layout 92 11:4 Host Automation Parameters 92 11:5 Loading and Saving in GURU 94 Registering and downloading the latest version of GURU 96 Obtaining technical support 96 11:6 Support and Troubleshooting 95 5 INTRODUCTION Getting Started... Welcome to GURU! Thank you for buying GURU ­ prepare to be inspired! That's exactly how we felt when our friends at Devine Machine showed us the first prototype, almost a year ago... inspired by what it could do and, just as importantly, by how much FUN it was to do it... ! Devine Machine and FXpansion joined forces to help GURU blossom ­ adding a sophisticated premium-quality effects suite, hundreds of workflow enhancements, a mountain of exciting, usable audio content and more ­ so that today you can enjoy performing / producing / exploring the multitude of new sonic possibilities GURU offers. We hope you'll find GURU to be a breath of fresh air in helping you to reclaim your creative freedom, both in the studio and when playing live. ­ The FXpansion team A word from Devine Machine A reviewer from Computer Music once said about Devine Machine that "We eat our own dog food", because we use our creations on stage. This has been the case for GURU too. We sincerely hope you will enjoy it, and appreciate the joining of forces with the talented FXpansion team. We'd like to thank them, and thank you very much for buying GURU. ­ Link & Steve from Devine Machine · Pour la version Française de ce manuel, veuillez suivre ce lien : · Die deutschsprachige Version der Bedienungsanleitung ist unter folgender Internet-Adresse erhältlich: · http://www.fxpansion.com/product-guru-manuals.php 6 Credits Concept and Lead Programming: Devine Machine Effect Algorithms: Additional Programming: Interface Design: Web site: Additional Graphics: Manual: Packaging Design: Sound Content: Andrew Simper Paul Chana, Angus F. Hewlett, SKoT McDonald, Andrew Simper Devine Machine Andreas Schnetzler, Adam Ferns Alex Akers, Joel Zimmerman, FXpansion Team Mayur Maha Adam Ferns, Rhiannon Bankston-Thomas Dave Spiers, Gareth Green, Gearshift, Groove Criminals, Groove Monkee, Angus F. Hewlett, Nu Skool Breakz, Paul Chana, Q Up Arts, Red Shift Audio, Mayur Maha, Steve Duda, Wizoo Sound Design, Yellow Tools, John Bradshaw Angus F. Hewlett, Rhiannon Bankston-Thomas Project Management: Link from Devine Machine would like to thank... Veronique, Steve Duda, the entire FXpansion crew, Numa, Arash Khalatbari, Paul Wannebroucq, Peter Freeman, Rory Dow, Jerome Noel, Tristan Delizy, all Devine Machine customers, respective families, and finally a big kiss to my sweet daughter Melodie. FXpansion would like to thank... The entire beta-testing team, Steve Duda, Sascha Franck, Matt Hooper, Rory Dow, Frank Gough, Charlie Norton, Bob Oxley, Mephistoff Ellis, John Bradshaw, Joel Zimmerman, Pink Pigeon, Jacob Talkington, Dan Waldman, Joe Hoe, Samba, Matthew Broadstreet, The one true Bean, and our Long Suffering Significant Others. www.devine-machine.com www.fxpansion.com © 2005 Fxpansion Audio UK Ltd. All Trademarks Acknowledged. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc. The "Built for Mac OS X" graphic is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc. used under license. RTAS is a trademark of Digidesign. ReWire is a trademark of Propellerhead Software. VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies AG. Windows XP is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other trademarks mentioned are held by their respective owners. 7 Installation Installation of GURU is very simple, involving two separate procedures: 1. Installation of the program files (plugins & standalone) 2. Installation of the included audio content Before installing GURU, always check to see if there is a newer version available on our website. This requires you to register your copy of GURU1. Please check the GURU webpage for details of updates to the program, or look at the continuously updated GURU FAQ: http://www.fxpansion.com/product-guru-main.php The audio content bundled with GURU occupies approximately 4 GB of disk space. You should ensure that there is enough free space on the drive to which you choose to install this content. If you don't have enough free space, you can choose not to install the content and simply use your own existing sounds with it. If you have any problems with the installation or authorization, consult the Support & Troubleshooting section of this manual (section 11:6) for details of what to do next. 1 See section 11:6 for details on registering GURU. Windows Installation Installing program files on Windows · Insert the GURU DVD into your DVD drive. · Navigate to your DVD drive in My Computer (if you have autoplay enabled, the DVD drive will appear automatically). · Run the Guru Setup.exe file located on the DVD. · The installer program will guide you through the installation process. 8 NOTE: Various options will be presented during installation: 1. Customize which plugin formats are installed. GURU comes in VST, RTAS, ReWire, DXi and standalone versions. During the installer, deselect any formats you don't need (if you're not sure, leave them all selected!). When you hover your mouse over an option, information about it will appear to the right of the installer window.1 1 2. If you selected to install the VST plugin during the plugin format selection, you will be asked to choose the location of your VSTplugins folder. This defaults to any VSTplugins path found in your registry, although you can navigate to any folder that you choose2. Installing audio content on Windows · Once the program installation has completed, click the `Finish' button. The audio data installer should then be automatically launched. Follow the on-screen instructions. · During the audio data installation, you will be asked to specify a location for the audio content. This can be anywhere you like, including removable drives. However, please ensure the chosen location has 4 GB of free space available. · When you have chosen a location, click `Install' to begin the audio data installation. There is a lot of data so this may take a while... please be patient! Choosing options during install · 2 Choosing VSTplugins folder location · MacOSX Installation Installing program files on MacOSX · Insert the GURU DVD into your DVD drive · Navigate into the newly mounted disk, and run the Guru Setup.pkg file. · The installer program will guide you through the installation process. · The GURU program files must be installed on the system drive3. 3 Install the program to the system drive · 9 Installing audio data on MacOSX · Once the program files installation is complete, navigate back to the DVD drive and run the Guru Data Setup.pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions. · You will be asked to choose a location (a drive and a folder) for the audio content1. This location can be anywhere you like, including removable drives. However, please ensure the chosen location has 4 GB of free space available. 1 · Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the audio data installation. There is a lot of data so this may take a while... please be patient! Select destination for the audio content · Authorization When you run GURU for the first time after installation, you will need to authorize it by entering your serial/license number. You will find this number on the DVD packaging. Your serial number is proof of your license to use GURU. A lost serial number cannot be replaced. Therefore, please make sure to register GURU as soon as possible. · If you have any problems with the installation or authorization, or if you want to find out how to register your copy of GURU, see section 11:6. Instant gratification... Okay, you've just installed GURU and want to have some fun with it before you sit down to the serious business of reading this manual, it's a good idea to load one of the supplied example GURU bundle files. Start GURU (either the standalone version or as a plugin within your host). Hit the Load button on the GURU toolbar and navigate to the `Example Bundles' folder within the Guru data folder. Hit the Play button on GURU or on your host sequencer after loading one of these bundles, and have a play around with the interface to get a feel for how it works: we tried to make GURU as intuitive and quick to learn as possible. However, it does include some innovative features so it is highly recommended to thoroughly read this manual as soon as possible. 10 CHAPTER ONE GURU: Fundamental Philosophy 1:1 Engines, Pads, Patterns and Graphs These concepts are crucial to the way that GURU works, so it's very useful to read through the following descriptions. Engines GURU is made up of 8 `Engines'. Each of these Engines contains 16 Pads. Although these Pads can be sequenced from your host sequencer using MIDI notes, they can also be controlled by each Engine's advanced step sequencer system. There are sequencers for Pads (the Pattern view) and for modulating certain sound parameters (the Graph view). An Engine is essentially an independent entity with its own MIDI channel (they respond to channels 1-8), although the tempo of all Engines is locked to multiples of Engine 1's tempo. Each Engine also has 3 Aux effects and an Insert effect. There is also a Master Insert effect which affects the entire Master output. Pads The 16 Pads inside each of GURU's Engines are categorized into Kicks, Snares, Hihats and Percussion, with 4 Pads assigned to each type. This is central to SmartSlicing: GURU's intuitive new approach to loop-slicing. Each Pad is a sophisticated sampler with a substantial array of parameters that can be adjusted in the Pad Edit view, which is a tweaker's paradise. You can layer (either stacked or velocitylayered with crossfades) up to 8 samples on a single Pad, adjust start/end points, gain, pan, pitch and filtering, add one of the built-in effects or adjust send levels to any of the 3 Engine Aux effects. There are also 2 envelopes to play with in the Pad Edit view: one for amplitude and one for filter cutoff, pitch and certain effects destinations. The Pads are mapped to MIDI notes C1 to D#2 by default. Patterns The Pattern view is for step-sequencing Pads. The sequencer can have up to 4 pages, each with up to 32 steps, giving a total of up to 128 steps. Each sequence is called a Pattern: each Engine in GURU has 24 Patterns, assigned to MIDI keys from C3 to B4. Click on the Pattern keys, or hit the corresponding MIDI key, to access any of the 24 Patterns for each Engine. 11 While all the Engines are tempo-synchronized, Engines 2-8 have a tempo multiplier setting which adjusts the tempo for each Engine relative to the main tempo (which is used for Engine 1). By using multiple Engines with different tempo multipliers, you can create complex multi-layered polyrhythms with ease. GURU contains the ability to intuitively record Patterns, so you can use it as a complete workstation environment. This can be a breath of fresh air if you find yourself constrained by fiddly audio/MIDI sequencers, which have too many possibilities that sometimes get in the way of creativity. GURU even provides a Scene view, where you can store `snapshots' of the state of all 8 Engines together, and change between them by using MIDI note input. Graphs Graphs are graphical step-automation lanes which control sound-altering parameters of Pads, synchronized to the Patterns in an Engine. There are 4 Graph types: Level, Pitch, Filter and Repeat. Each type contains the following sub-Graphs: Level · Velocity · Pan Pitch · Coarse Pitch · Fine Pitch Filter · Filter Cutoff · Filter Resonance Repeat · Repeat Repeats a note a variable amount of times within one sequencer step. · Shift Shifts play position of a note forward or backwards between neighbouring steps. · Scrub Increases the start point offset for all samples on the Pad. 12 Graphs are very closely linked to Patterns ­ each of the 24 Patterns in each Engine has individual Graph layouts. All Pad lanes in each Pattern can have individual Velocity, Pan, Coarse Pitch, Fine Pitch, Filter Cutoff, Filter Resonance, Repeat, Shift and Scrub Graphs. 1:2 SmartSlice: GURU's enlightened approach to drumloop-slicing GURU introduces SmartSlice... a novel, efficient way to slice drumloops. As well as performing a transient-based auto-slice on loops, GURU also analyzes the frequency information of the slices and categorizes them into kick, snare, hihat and percussion hits. The best-matching 4 slices in these categories are then mapped onto the corresponding Pads. This intelligent slicing and mapping means you can experiment with different audio loops effortlessly, instead of having to painstakingly re-categorize the slices of new loops manually. Finally there's no longer any need for the tedious process of building a manually-categorized drumsound library with uniform keymapping ­ any audio is usable in GURU within seconds! The procedure works as shown in the diagram to the right. The audio file is first analyzed for transients and sliced according to them. Then, each slice is frequency-analyzed, and the best 4 kick, snare, hihat and percussion samples are mapped to the relevant Pads, while any other slices are discarded. There are other ways to slice loops in GURU... you can perform a SmartSlice using Score mode, which also extracts the Pattern from the loop based on the SmartSlicing results. Alternatively, you can use the Equal-16ths slice mode, avoiding the SmartSlicing process altogether. 1 Transient analysis and slicing 2 Analysis of hit types Percussion samples Hi hat samples Snare samples Kick samples 3 Assign slices to pads 13 1:3 Overview of the GURU interface 1. Guru LCD 2. Guru toolbar 5. Pattern keys 3. Browser 4. MIDI Pads 6. Sequencer Master 1. GURU LCD The LCD is the main edit area in GURU. It can be in any of the following view modes: · Pattern view · Graphs view · Pad Edit view · Aux Effects view · Mix view · Scenes view · Options panel Each of these view modes have a corresponding button in the GURU toolbar. 2. GURU toolbar LCD view mode selectors The toolbar not only offers access to the different LCD view modes, but also to the Engine selectors and activity display. The toolbar also houses the Load/Save Bundle buttons. See chapters 8 & 11 for details on these features. Engine selectors & activity display Load/Save Bundle buttons 14 3. Browser This is where you load sounds and Patterns into GURU. See chapter 2 for an in-depth look at the Browser. 4. MIDI Pads There are 16 MIDI Pads, with 4 assigned to each drum category (kicks, snares, hihats and percussion). They can be played by clicking them on-screen or by hitting their corresponding MIDI notes (by default, C1 to D#2). The Pads light up blue (kicks), red (snares), yellow (hihats) and green (percussion hits) in response to being played. Pads are also selected for editing by clicking them. There is an Edit button just above the Pads for quick access to the Pad MIDI Pads Edit view, or you can use the Pad Edit button on the toolbar. C1 to D#2 Pad Edit button See chapter 3 for more details on Pads and the Pad Edit view. 5. Pattern Keys The Pattern keys are a way of selecting Patterns for editing when in the Pattern view, and also for playing them. They are mapped to MIDI notes C3 to B4. See chapters 4 & 5 for more details on Patterns. Pattern keys MIDI notes C3 to B4 15 6. Sequencer Master The Sequencer Master section houses a convenient display for the current Engine, Pattern and Pad, as well as global volume, tuning, mute, solo, tempo and Groove controls for the current Engine. It also contains the Undo button, and the Playback and Recording controls. 1:4 Control conventions and keyboard shortcuts The UNDO button GURU provides a one-level Undo function when editing Patterns. When there is something to Undo, you'll see the Undo button highlighted. Any operation which involves notes in Patterns can be undone ­ even loading Patterns from the Browser. The Undo button is also used in Record mode, in order to Undo the last take. When in Record mode, this button can be controlled by a MIDI note. Recording controls Undo Groove controls Play button Current Engine/Pattern/Pad display & Vol/Tune/Mute/ Solo/Tempo for Engine Keyboard shortcuts GURU is quite heavily dependent on keyboard shortcuts, in order to facilitate quick edits and fast workflow. One very important shortcut to remember is [CTRL]-click, which is used for numerous frequently used functions. · On Windows, [CTRL]-click in GURU is the same as the right mouse button. · On Mac, [CTRL]-click in GURU is the same as Apple-click. You should, therefore, whatever your OS, be able to use rightclick for [CTRL]-click operations (assuming, of course, that you use a 2-button mouse). It is also worth remembering that [ALT] is a key modifier which results in modifying all similar parameters. This depends in many cases on what is being clicked. Please see section 11:2 for a full list of GURU's keyboard shortcuts. 16 CHAPTER TWO Starting to use Guru: the Browser Browser tabs Auto button Favourites controls Preview tools Parent folder/drive Folders in the folders/ drives pane Files in the files pane Scrollbar Pane resizer The Browser is a very important part of Guru, as it is central to getting sounds into it! You will see 4 tabs in the Browser: Patterns, Kits, Hit and Loops. Before we examine them, it's essential to explain how the Browser works, and to explain its preview functionality. 2:1 Operating the Browser The Guru browser is a dual-pane browser: the left pane is for folders, and the right pane is for files ­ Loops, Hits, Kits and Patterns. You can make either pane wider by clicking and dragging the button at the bottom of the divider. It's very easy to navigate around drives and folders... simply click on any folder or drive name to explore it. When you are in a folder, the parent drive/folder will appear at the top of the folder list, with the icon to its left. Again, simply click on the name to go up a folder level. Hard drive CD/DVD drive 17 If you are in a certain location in one Browser tab, you can make any other tab go to the same location, by clicking the other tab while holding down [SHIFT]. Favourites The Guru browser has a useful Favourites function for folder locations. When in any folder/drive, simply click the Add Favourite button to set up a Favourite ­ you will be prompted to name it. The Show Favourites button toggles the left pane of the Browser between a list of Favourites and the normal folder browser display. You can click on a Favourite while holding down [SHIFT] in order to remove it from the Favourites list. Add favourite Show favourites Browsing and Preview tools: Auto mode You will notice that all tabs of the Browser have the Auto button. Auto mode allows `preview in context': the elements which are selected in the Browser play in place of the elements you are replacing which are already loaded into Guru, while unaffected parts play as normal. Thus you can hear what the file you're thinking of loading onto Pad(s), Pattern(s) or an Engine will sound like within the context of your current Guru song. When the Auto button is activated in any tab of the Browser, any of the browsable elements within it can be auditioned in context before loading them. If Guru is not playing when you click on a previewable file, it will start playing1, and you will be able to hear the new element in context. You can then click the button in order to load it, or preview another. Preview tools · Play/Stop control When no elements are being previewed, the play/ stop control will show a `play' icon. When a file is being previewed, the control becomes a clickable `stop' icon. If it is clicked, the preview will be cancelled and no file will be loaded. · Other controls This button appears while previewing. Click it to load the currently previewed file. Use these buttons in order to browse through the contents of the current folder, sequentially. 1 This behaviour is controlled by the `Auto-play if Auto-previewing in Browser option in the GURU Options panel. If the option is disabled, you will need to hit play on Guru before using Auto mode. Guru will not start playing automatically. The descriptions in this manual assume that the option is enabled. 18 2:2 Hit tab The Hit tab of the Browser lets you load single-hit sounds ­ in other words, sounds which can be loaded onto a single Pad. · To load a sound onto a Pad, simply click and drag and drop a sample from the files pane to the Pad. Pads can contain up to 8 layered sounds: please see chapter 3 for details on loading multiple layers. · .WAV and .AIFF files of any sample-rate or bit-depth can be loaded. Using Auto mode Auto mode is designed to work with Patterns: you won't hear anything unless there's a Pattern playing. If you're just starting out with GURU, jump forward to section 2:4 and load a Pattern. · Engage the Auto button. · Click the Pad on which you want to load a sample and navigate to the desired sample in the Hit tab of the Browser. · When the sample is clicked, the Pad will start flashing. Guru will begin to play if it was previously stopped, with the selected sound playing whenever the relevant Pad is triggered by the Pattern. · When you're happy with the sound, click load it to the Pad. in order to · Otherwise, you can click another sample, or use the buttons to browse through the samples in the current folder. · If you change your mind and decide you don't want to load a new sound onto the Pads, click the button ­ the previewing will stop and the contents of the Pads will not be changed. 19