vesion 1.0
I created two modular devices (one of them requires Flexor, but it is used only for the CC (continuous controller) manipulation
Basically, these devices permit you to play in real time four independent infinite delay lines (tracks), and to control them live. You can crate endless loops constituted by 2 bars (maybe more, or less!), and play over them, overdub, delete and re-record a single track on-the-fly and so on.
The process is not difficult, but it requires some practice... i didnt experimented a lot, but i think that there are a lot of possibilities
the included mp3 was completely improvised and played live by me. I used the MIDI keyboard splitter device to control three midi sources from the same keyboard and a guitar
The result is somewhat lo-fi... i didnt payed attention to the mix levels, the audio quality or the FX... it was one the first experiments. (encoeded at 64kbps because i'm at home with a 56K modem!!)
You need the following equipment:
up to four audio sources (as a first step i used my guitar, the EDS16i, the minimax for the bass and the B2003 for the “pads”, but of course you can use whatever you want)
Up to 5 trigger controls (CC). I used two on/off pedals and 3 push buttons from my masterkeyboard. The trickiest part is that i had only on/off switches, and not toggle pedals/buttons (like the guitar stomp-box one). Moreover, all my switches were in the “normally open” position, so that if i didnt pressed them they emit a CC=0 value, and the value switch to CC=127 when i presed the. Of course, i needed the opposite, i.e. To send a CC=0 when i depressed them and CC00 in the normal open position...
a masterkeyboard to play midi devices (if required!)
CONTROLLER PROCESSOR 1
connect your external midi input (masterkeyboard and midi CCs) to this device
For several reasons, i needed a second modular device to “process” the controllers, in order to crate the following controls:
1 toggle switch: it stays at CC=0 or CC=127 until i press them again. I used flexor “frequency divider” to do this task. Moreover, this controller will act of four different switches in the second modular device, so i had to “multiply” the controller from 1 to 4 (you will understand why!)
i enter in the modular with CC=65 (my pedal switch) and create CC=10,11,12,13 which are toggle controllers.
4 inverted on/off switches: i used the inverter for this task.
I enter with CC=61,62,63,64 and i create controllers 66,67,68,69 which are inverted on/off type.
Of course you are fre to change the CC numbers and to organize them as you like and as your hardware request. Just be sure to assign the right controller number in the second module (loop station)
LOOP STATION MODULE
this is the heart of the game.
You have to connect to the Controller processor 1 midi out to this device
connect also up to audio sources to input 1,2,3,4
now, connect the audio output 1,2,3,4 to 4 different mixer channel
unfortunately, only mono audio source will work. I tried a stereo version, but i think there is some problems in several modules, so i gave up... maybe version 2.0 will support also stereo mode...
you are almost ready to go.
INSTRUCTIONS
The device work as follows:
You will use the toggle switch to select between the “record mode” and the “play mode”
You will use one of the four on/off switches to mute the corresponing recorded part and erase it. You have to keep the switch “down” for the entire duration of the recording in order to fully erase the part.
The loop station module direct its audio input to four 1x4 switches (audio switch normal/loop mode - CC10-14). When the switches are in position 1 the audio in is directed immediately to the out throught the “normal/loop distribution line” and you will play all the audio sources normally.
When you press the toggle pedal you switch to the loop mode. All the switches are changed at the same time, and for this purpose they are connected to 4 different CC (10-14), created in the “controller processor 1” module from the single CC=64. Don't worry about the presence of the “loop line distribution”. I used it because sometimes the 1x4 switch commutes to the third position instead of the fourth, and so i had to mix the third and four output of the 1x4 switch.
Each line works in the same way.
The signal (in the loop mode) is directed to a mix2 module. The out is then donnceted to the xMod/FB module, a tempo delay, a 12 dB gain and finally back to the mix2 second input. The out is connected also to the “normal/loop distribution line” in order to be sent to the out.
The tempo dealys are stereo, and the L/R channels are independent, so they can be used for 2 separate loop lines. Keep them in the external mode, with feedback=0, Hidamp=0, dry=0, wet=max.
You can set the tempo with the midiclock, and the number of bars to record with the frquency divider modules (it is at the extreme right, if you dont' see it initially!).
The 12dB gain is used because, without it, the delay line will slowly fade out. I tryed to set them at a level which permit an endless loop, and you normally should not tough it... but it can very with your audio source, so be prapared to do a little “tuning”.
When you press one of the four on/off buttons (CC= 66,67,68,69 – crated for my purposes in the controller processor module) you will set the second channel of the mix2 to zero. In this way the delay line is interrupted, the delay doesn't receive anything anymore, and you can make a second recording.
There is also a simple metronome, which you can turn on/off and control its volume
AN EXAMPLE.
Turn on the metronome
Start with the toggle button to off (CC65=0) - (normal playing) and play something you like (i used the guitar – audio input 1).
When you have a good phrase, press the toggle button (CC65=127). You can to record now a two bars phrase. (you will see the 1x4 switch change their position!)
Stop playing immediately before the third bar start.
You will listen to your phrase playing in loop!!
now, if you press the toggle button off, you can improvise over your loop!
You can press the toggle button again, and play your second audio source (for me the drums, audio input 2) in order to ovedub a second line, in the same way as the first.
Play the third audio source (for me the bass – audio input 3) and record a loop also for this track.
Now, if you are tired of the first track, press the on/off button number 1 (CC66 , which i crated from CC64 in the controller processor). The first “track” will stop playing and it will be erased as the other loops will continue.
Of course, you can record a second “track 1 line” if your press the toggle button again.
CONCLUSION
i hope my discussion was clear... if you can survive to the controller mess, you will understand that the device works in a very simple way.
Maybe someone with the SDK could put this modular patch in a full device!!
