AAS Tassman User manual

USER MANUAL

2
Information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on
the part of Applied Acoustics Systems DVM Inc. The software described in this manual is furnished under a
license agreement. The software may be used only in accordance of the terms of this license agreement. It is
against the law to copy this software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement.
No part of this manual may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, distributed or converted to any
electronic or machine-readable form in whole or in part without prior written approval of Applied Acoustics
Systems DVM Inc.
Copyright c 2007 Applied Acoustics Systems DVM Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.
Program Copyright c 2000-2007 Applied Acoustics Systems, Inc. All right reserved.
Tassman is a Trademark of Applied Acoustics Systems DVM Inc. Windows 98, 2000, NT, ME, XP
and DirectX are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh, Mac OS,
QuickTime and Audio Units are registered trademarks of Apple Corporation. VST Instruments and ASIO
are trademarks of Steinberg Soft Und Hardware GmbH. RTAS is a registered trademarks of Digidesign.
Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems incorporated. All other product and company names
are either trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owner. Unauthorized copying, renting or
lending of the software is strictly prohibited.
Visit Applied Acoustics Systems DVM Inc. on the World Wide Web at
www.applied-acoustics.com

Contents
1 Introduction 9
1.1 Systemrequirements ................................. 10
1.2 Installation ...................................... 10
1.3 Authorization and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.3.1 Step 1: Generating the challenge key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.3.2 Step 2: Generating the Response key and Registering your Product . . . . 12
1.3.3 Step 3: Completing the unlock process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.3.4 Obtaining your response key and registering by fax or over the phone: . . . 16
1.4 Gettingstarted..................................... 16
1.4.1 Using Tassman asaPlug-in ......................... 19
1.5 Gettinghelp...................................... 19
1.6 ForumandUserLibrary ............................... 20
1.7 AboutthisManual .................................. 20
2 Tutorials 21
2.1 Tutorial 1. A Simple Analog Synth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.2 Tutorial 2 Playing a Synth with a Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2.3 Tutorial 3 Using a Sequencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
2.4 Tutorial 4 Playing with Acoustic Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
3 The Tassman Builder 48
3.1 TheBuilderarea ................................... 48
3.2 Creatinganinstrument ................................ 49
3.3 SettingMIDILinks.................................. 52
3.4 Making Polyphonic Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
3.5 UsingSub-Patches .................................. 53
4 The Tassman Player 55
4.1 Introduction...................................... 55
4.2 The Tassman Player.................................. 55
4.3 Tweakingknobs.................................... 56

CONTENTS 4
4.4 AudioDeviceSettings ................................ 57
4.5 MIDISettings..................................... 57
4.6 LatencySettings.................................... 59
4.7 InstrumentsandPresets................................ 59
4.8 OutputEffectStage.................................. 60
4.9 Performances ..................................... 62
5 The Browser 63
5.1 TheInstrumentsfolder ................................ 63
5.2 ThePerformancesfolder ............................... 63
5.3 TheModulesfolder.................................. 64
5.4 TheSub-Patchesfolder................................ 64
5.5 TheImportfolder................................... 64
5.6 Customizingthebrowser ............................... 65
5.7 BrowserFilters .................................... 66
5.8 Exporting and Importing Instruments, Performances, Presets and MIDI maps . . . 66
5.9 Backuping Instruments, Performances, Presets and MIDI maps . . . . . . . . . . . 66
5.10 Restoring the Factory Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
6 Specifications for modules 68
6.1 ADAR......................................... 68
6.2 ADSR......................................... 69
6.3 AfterTouch ...................................... 70
6.4 And .......................................... 70
6.5 AudioIn........................................ 71
6.6 AudioOut....................................... 71
6.7 Bandpass2....................................... 72
6.8 Beam ......................................... 74
6.9 BowedBeam ..................................... 75
6.10BowedMarimba ................................... 75
6.11BowedMembrane................................... 76
6.12BowedMultimode .................................. 77
6.13BowedPlate...................................... 79

CONTENTS 5
6.14BowedString ..................................... 80
6.15BreathController ................................... 81
6.16Comb ......................................... 82
6.17Compressor ...................................... 84
6.18Constant........................................ 84
6.19 Control Voltage Sequencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
6.20 Control Voltage Sequencer with Songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
6.21Damper ........................................ 87
6.22Delay ......................................... 88
6.23DualGateSequencer ................................. 89
6.24 Dual Gate Sequencer with Songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
6.25Flanger ........................................ 91
6.26Flute.......................................... 94
6.27 Gain, Gain 2, Gain 3, Gain 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
6.28Highpass1....................................... 95
6.29Inlets(1-12)...................................... 95
6.30Inverter ........................................ 96
6.31Keyboard ....................................... 97
6.32Knob ......................................... 98
6.33LESS ......................................... 98
6.34Level ......................................... 98
6.35 LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
6.36LinGain........................................100
6.37Lowpass1 .......................................100
6.38Lowpass2 .......................................100
6.39Mallet.........................................101
6.40Marimba........................................102
6.41MasterRecorderTrig.................................103
6.42MasterSyncInput...................................104
6.43Membrane.......................................105
6.44 Mix2, Mix3, Mix4 and Mix5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
6.45ModulationWheel ..................................106

CONTENTS 6
6.46Multimode.......................................106
6.47Multi-sequencer....................................108
6.48Nand..........................................111
6.49Noise .........................................111
6.50Noisemallet......................................111
6.51Nor ..........................................112
6.52Not ..........................................112
6.53 On/Off, On/Off2, On/Off3, On/Off4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
6.54Or ...........................................113
6.55Organ .........................................114
6.56Outlet(1-12) .....................................114
6.57Panpot.........................................115
6.58Phaser.........................................116
6.59Pickup.........................................118
6.60PitchWheel......................................120
6.61Plate..........................................120
6.62Player .........................................121
6.63Plectrum........................................123
6.64Polykey ........................................124
6.65Polymixer.......................................125
6.66Polyvkey .......................................126
6.67Portamento ......................................126
6.68Recorder........................................128
6.69Recorder2.......................................129
6.70Reverberator......................................130
6.71RMS..........................................132
6.72Sample&Hold ....................................133
6.73Sbandpass2 ......................................134
6.74 Selector2, Selector3 and Selector4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
6.75Shifter.........................................135
6.76SingleGateSequencer ................................136
6.77 Single Gate Sequencer with Songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

CONTENTS 7
6.78Slider .........................................139
6.79StaticDelay......................................139
6.80StereoAudioIn....................................139
6.81StereoAudioOut ...................................140
6.82StereoChorus.....................................140
6.83String .........................................142
6.84Syncdelay.......................................143
6.85SyncLFO.......................................143
6.86SyncPingPongDelay ................................144
6.87Toggle.........................................146
6.88Tonewheel ......................................146
6.89Tremolo........................................147
6.90Tube..........................................148
6.91Tube4 .........................................150
6.92TubeReverb......................................151
6.93VADAR........................................152
6.94VADSR ........................................153
6.95Vbandpass2......................................153
6.96 VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
6.97 VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
6.98VCS..........................................157
6.99Vhighpass2 ......................................158
6.100Vkeyboard.......................................159
6.101Vlowpass2.......................................160
6.102Vlowpass4.......................................161
6.103Volume ........................................161
6.104Xor ..........................................162

CONTENTS 8
7 Toolbar 163
7.1 InstrumentDisplay ..................................163
7.2 PerformanceDisplay .................................163
7.3 PresetDisplay.....................................163
7.4 MIDImap.......................................163
7.5 Polyphony.......................................163
7.6 Channel ........................................163
7.7 CPUmeter ......................................164
7.8 ValueDisplay.....................................164
7.9 MIDILED ......................................164
7.10 Builder and Player Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
8 Quick references to commands and shortcuts 165
9 License Agreement 171

Introduction 9
1 Introduction
The Tassman is a modular software synthesizer based on physical modeling. The modular archi-
tecture of the software reproduces the very powerful features of vintage analog synthesizers letting
you construct instruments “` a la carte” by patching modules together. The module library includes
many analog-type objects but also modules simulating acoustic objects and instruments. The Tass-
man makes no distinction between different object types which means that you can reproduce your
favorite vintage analog synthesizer, recreate or invent acoustic instruments but also combine analog
and acoustic modules and create very innovative hybrid instruments.
The Tassman generates sound by simulating the different modules through physical modeling.
This technology uses the laws of physics to reproduce the behavior of an object. In other words
the Tassman solves, in real-time, mathematical equations describing how an object functions. The
Tassman uses no sampling or wavetable, it just calculates the sound as you play in accordance
to the controls it receives. For example, if you choose to hit a plate with a mallet, the Tassman
simulates (1) the impact of the mallet at a particular point, (2) the resulting displacement of the
plate due to wave motion (taking into account the geometry and physical parameters of the plate
related to its material), and (3) sound radiation at a particular listening point.
Physical modeling is a very general and powerful approach since the result is obtained by
reproducing how an object generates sound rather than trying to reproduce the sound signal itself
using, for example, wavetables, additive synthesis or samples. This implies that a module can
generate very different sounds depending on the driving signals it receives. For example, different
sounds will be produced by a plate of a given geometry and material, depending on the strength of
the mallet impact and its impact point. It will behave differently again if you hit the plate when it
is at rest or when it is already vibrating. Physical modeling takes all these parameters into account
naturally since it reproduces the behavior of the real object. This results in very natural and realistic
sounds and reproduces the control musicians have on real acoustic instruments.
The Tassman software is comprised of three tightly integrated views, in a single window. In-
struments are created in the Builder by patching together modules imported from the Browser.
Modules are just “building block” having inputs and outputs which you connect together using
wires. The fully modular architecture of the Tassman lets you expand the Browser library by letting
you define groups of modules as sub-patches for later inclusion in your constructions. Instruments
created with the Tassman can be exported as short text files, which means that you can very easily
exchange them with other users.
Once an instrument has been constructed, the Player is opened, displaying the instrument’s
controls. The Player interprets the files generated in the Builder and automatically generates the
playing interface and the computational code corresponding to a particular instrument. The panels
of the different modules were inspired by vintage hardware making them very easy to use. All the
controls appearing on the screen can be moved with the mouse and keyboard but can also be linked
to external MIDI controllers. As with sub-patches, and modules in the builder view, presets for
each instrument can be easily “drag and dropped” from the browser, which means you don’t have
to worry about searching through an endless stream of “load” dialog boxes to find the components

1.1 System requirements 10
you need.
Before discussing the Tassman in more detail, we would like to take the opportunity to thank
you for choosing an Applied Acoustics Systems product. We hope that you have as much fun
playing with the Tassman as we had developing it!
1.1 System requirements
The following computer configuration is necessary to run the Tassman:
Mac OSX :
•Mac OSX 10.2 (Jaguar) or later.
•G3 Processor (G4 strongly recommended)
•256 Mb RAM
•800 x 600 or higher screen resolution
•MIDI Keyboard (recommended)
•Ethernet Port
•Quicktime 4.0
PC :
•Win98SE/2000/XP
•PIII 500 or better processor
•128 Mb RAM
•800 x 600 or higher screen resolution
•Direct X or ASIO supported sound card
•MIDI Keyboard (recommended)
This computer configuration will enable you to play fairly elaborate instruments. Keep in mind
that the computational power required by the Tassman depends on the complexity of the patch you
are playing and the number of voices of polyphony. Although it is not absolutely necessary it is
strongly recommended to play the Tassman with a MIDI keyboard or controller.
1.2 Installation
Mac OS
Insert the Tassman program disc into your CD-ROM drive. Open the CD icon once it appears
on your desktop. Click on the Tassman Install icon and follow the instructions of the installer.
If you purchased this software online, simply double-click on the installer file that you have
downloaded and follow the instructions of the installer.

1.3 Authorization and Registration 11
Windows
Insert the Tassman program disc into your CD-ROM drive. Launch Explorer to view the content
of the CD-ROM and double-click on the installer file to launch the installer.
If you purchased this software online, simply double-click on the installer file that you have
downloaded and follow the instructions of the installer.
1.3 Authorization and Registration
The Tassman uses a proprietary challenge/response copy protection system which requires autho-
rization of the product. A challenge key is a long string of capital letters and numbers that is
generated uniquely for each machine during the registration process. In other words, for each
machine you install this program on, a different challenge key will be generated by the program.
The response key is another unique string of capital letters and numbers generated from the data
encrypted in the challenge key. In order to obtain a response key, you will need to connect to the
A|A|S website and provide the following information:
•A valid email address
•Your product serial number (on the back of the sleeve of your CD or in your confirmation
email for downloads)
•The challenge key generated by the program
Note that it is possible to use the program during 15 days before completing the authorization
process. This period can be convenient if you are installing the program on a computer which is
not connected to the internet. After that period, the program will not function unless it is supplied
with a response key.
In the following sections we review the different steps required to generate the challenge keys
and obtain the response key. The procedure is similar on Windows XP and Mac OS systems.
1.3.1 Step 1: Generating the challenge key
After launching the installer for the first time, a pop-up window will appear asking you if you wish
to authorize your product now or later. If you are ready to authorize Tassman now, click on the
Next button otherwise click on the Authorize Later button. If your computer is connected to the
internet, we recommend that you authorize your product now.
When you click on the Next button, a second window appears asking you to enter your serial
number. Type your serial number as it appears on the back of the sleeve of the Tassman CD-ROM.
If you purchased Tassman online, an email with your serial number will have been sent to you at
the address which you provided during the purchase process.
After entering your serial number, click on the Next button and your challenge key will appear
automatically in the next pop-up window.

1.3 Authorization and Registration 12
Figure 1: Choosing to authorize Tassman now or later.
Figure 2: Enter your serial number in the pop-up window.
1.3.2 Step 2: Generating the Response key and Registering your Product
If your computer is connected to the internet, click on the link to the A|A|S web server appearing
in the pop-up window. This will launch your web browser and connect you to the unlock page of
the A|A|S web server. Enter your email address, serial number and challenge key in the form as
shown below and click on the Submit button.

1.3 Authorization and Registration 13
Figure 3: Challenge key appears automatically after entering the serial number.
Figure 4: Enter your registration information on the A|A|S webserver.
The next form asks you to provide additional information about yourself including your mailing
address and phone number. This information will be used to register your product. Note that
only a valid email address is required to register your product. We nevertheless recommend this
information be provided to ensure our support team is able to contact you to resolve any future
support issues, and notify you of product updates promptly. This information is kept completely
confidential. Registration of your product will entitle you to receive support and download updates
when available, as well as take advantage of special upgrade prices offered from time to time to
registered A|A|S users. Note that if you already purchased or registered another A|A|S product, the

1.3 Authorization and Registration 14
information that you have already supplied under the same email address will appear in the form.
Feel free to update this information if it is outdated. Click on the Submit button and your response
key will appear on-screen.
Figure 5: Generation of the response key on the A|A|S server.
If your computer is not connected to the internet, take note of your serial number and challenge
key and proceed to an internet connected computer. Launch your browser and go to the unlock
page of the A|A|S website at:
http://www.applied-acoustics.com/unlock.htm
Enter your email address, serial number, and challenge key, and click next. You will then
receive your response code on-screen as described above.
1.3.3 Step 3: Completing the unlock process
The response key corresponding to your serial number and challenge key will be printed in your
browser window. In order to complete the unlock process, copy the response key and paste it into
the corresponding field of the installer window of Tassman. If you obtained your response key
from another computer, type the response key by hand in the installer window.
Click on the Next button and a pop-up window will appear informing you that the authoriza-
tion process has been successful. Click on the Finish button to complete the process and launch
Tassman.
You will normally only need to go this process once for a given computer except for some
special cases. On Windows computers your will need to unlock again if:
•You change your computer
•You reformat or upgrade your hard drive
•You change or upgrade your operating system

1.3 Authorization and Registration 15
Figure 6: Final step of the unlock process. Enter your response key in the window.
Figure 7: Authorization has been successful.
On Mac OS computers, this will only be necessary if:
•You change your computer
•You change the motherboard of the computer

1.4 Getting started 16
1.3.4 Obtaining your response key and registering by fax or over the phone:
Should you not have access to the internet, A|A|S support representatives are available to assist
you in the unlock and registration process Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm EST. You may contact
us by phone at:
•North America Toll-free number: 1-888-441-8277
•Outside North America: 1-514-871-8100
•Fax Number: 1-514-845-1875
•Email: [email protected]
1.4 Getting started
There’s no mistaking it. Getting a new piece of gear is an occasion for excitement. At a time
when music technology is getting faster and more powerful by the day, however, the task of going
through the process of figuring out how your new toy actually works can be a little daunting to
say the least. Enter the realm of software and virtual instruments and you could be looking at
learning the “ins and outs” of the equivalent of an entire studio full of gear, in a single piece of
software! As is so often the case, the most important thing is to know yourself and the pace at
which you feel comfortable working. The Tassman has been developed with the needs of a very
wide spectrum of individuals in mind. Whether you’re new to the world of soft synths and computer
music production, or are a seasoned industry professional, the Tassman is sure to be a source of
creative inspiration, and offer up hours of virtual knob twiddling fun.
When you launch the Tassman for the first time you’ll be greeted with a familiar “file-browser-
like” interface, not unlike those your operating system generates to display the contents of your
hard disk, or your email program uses to organize your mail and address book. The left side of the
screen contains the Tassman’s browser, a “tree view” organization of all the relevant components
the Tassman uses, including:
•Imports - destination folder for imported instruments, presets and sub-patches.
•Instruments - ready to play, pre-configured groups of modules of all shapes and sizes in-
cluding physical modeled acoustic instruments, electro-mechanical emulations, analog, FM
synths, and more.
•Modules - The basic building blocks of the Tassman including Oscillators, Filters, etc.
•Sub-patches - smaller groups of pre-patched modules that are saved for use in various in-
struments such as your favorite effects, filter banks and EQs, etc.
This approach makes it possible for you to explore the Tassman at your own pace. From
scanning through the included instruments and presets, to constructing your own synths from the
ground up, the Tassman grows right along with you.

1.4 Getting started 17
Audio and MIDI Configuration
Before you start exploring the included instruments and presets, take a moment to set up your
system configuration:
Edit menu - Preferences - This menu allows you to select whether exported folders from the
browser contain the contents of any sub-folders located in their branch of the browser tree, i.e.
when you export a synth, its presets and sub-patches will be included in the export with it if this
option is selected. For more details on import and export functions please refer to the browser
section of this manual. The General page also includes a slider which allows you to choose between
smoother graphical response or better audio performance. Save preferences and the default sound
file directory are also set from this menu. Finally, this menu lets you resize the window of the
different plug-in versions of Tassman by adjusting the height and width of the window. Note that
in order for these adjustments to take effect, you need to unload and then reload the plug-in.
Audio menu - Audio Settings - This menu allows you to select from the installed audio ports
on your computer, by driver type. If you have ASIO drivers available, these should be selected for
optimum performance. Multi-channel interfaces will have their outputs listed as stereo pairs.
MIDI menu - MIDI Settings - This menu lists all of the available MIDI ports installed on your
system. Select the port or ports you wish to use and click OK. Tassman can receive up to 16
simultaneous channels of MIDI data.
Audio menu - Audio Control Panel - This panel allows you to select the bit depth (16, 24, or
32 bit audio) sample rate (22.05, 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz) and buffer size, which affects how quickly
the Tassman responds to the control information it receives. The smaller the buffer size, the shorter
the latency, and vice versa. Why would you ever want to introduce more latency you might ask? In
some situations, such as large, self generating ambient synths and other stand-alone applications,
you may wish to ‘trade’ the resources Tassman normal utilizes to maintain low latency response
for more raw processing power. Note that the content of the dialog depends on the driver selected
in the Audio Settings menu.
ASIO Driver Configuration - Some sound cards provide their own ASIO control panel, in which
case the above information will differ from card to card. Some sound-cards also require that you
close all programs before making changes to the buffer size, sampling rate, or bit depth. If you
discover this is the case with your sound card, please refer to the manufacturer’s documentation
for details on configuring it for optimum performance. Most sound card manufacturers also update
their drivers regularly. It’s is strongly recommended that you visit your sound card manufacturer’s
website regularly to ensure you are using the most up to date drivers and support software.

1.4 Getting started 18
96k hz Sample Rate Support - It will literally take twice as much CPU power to process audio
at a sampling rate of 96 kHz as it would to process the same data at 48 kHz, simply because you
have twice the processing to do. As a result of this, 96 kHz support is only recommended for
powerful systems.
Exploring the Factory Instruments and Presets
The Tassman comes with 50 factory instruments and around 1000 presets right out of the box,
which amounts to a huge range of sounds before you’ve even turned a single knob. As you’d
expect, the best way of coming to grips with the possibilities each synth offers is simply to go
through them one at a time. Open the Instruments folder by clicking on the “disclosure” symbol to
the left. This will expand the browser to reveal the folder’s contents. Select the type of synth that
interests you (acoustic, analog, etc) and double click on the first synth in the list. The Builder, as
the name implies, shows all of an instrument’s included modules and internal connections, while
the Player displays its editing and performance controls. You can switch back and forth between
these views from the View menu. Clicking on the “disclosure” symbol to the left of any instrument
reveals its presets. You can switch between presets by double clicking on the preset of your choice.
If you fall upon an instrument you’re having trouble understanding, or would simply like to have
more information about how it works, choose Get Instrument Info from the Edit menu. For
detailed information on the functionalities of the Builder, Browser, and Player, please refer to the
dedicated chapters on each later in manual.
As was mentioned earlier, the Tassman has been designed to meet the needs of a wide range of
users. Similarly, the included synths and presets have been created to cover an equally wide range
of tastes. Once you’ve had a chance to explore the included synths in some detail, you may find
that some of them produce sounds you feel you will use very rarely in your work, or simply aren’t
quite your style. The Browser makes it easy to organize your synths and presets in whatever manor
you choose. Click in the browser, and choose New Folder from the File menu. Name this folder
“Archive”. You can now place all those “specialty” synths in the archive, freeing up space in your
instruments folder and making it quicker and easier to find the sounds you need while you work.
Building your Own Instruments
One of the Tassman’s greatest strengths is its modularity. As you explore the various factory
instruments and presets, ideas for your own creations are sure to come up. The tutorials section of
the manual provides an excellent basis for getting your ideas off the ground, and coming to grips
with the basic functionalities of the Tassman’s Builder. Regardless of your knowledge of synthesis
and previous experience with modular environments, we recommend that you at least scan the
tutorials to learn about the basic conventions of the builder. By answering a few key questions
before beginning your first constructions, you will be able to spend less time pondering the near
infinite possibilities the Tassman offers, and more time making music.

1.5 Getting help 19
Does one of the included instruments contain some of the elements of the idea you have in
mind?
You can easily duplicate groups of modules used in one synth in another using the Copy and Paste
menu commands. If there is a group of modules you find you’re using quite frequently in your
constructions, copy and paste it to a new instrument, add the necessary inlets and outlets from the
In/Out folder of the browser, and save it as a new sub-patch.
Have you checked the sub-patch folder for elements you want to include in your synth?
The Tassman comes with a large collection of sub-patches ranging from various oscillator and filter
configurations, common output setups, and effects chains. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel
every time you sit down to build a new instrument. Save time, use a sub-patch. Is this synth going
to be used as a plug-in?
If you plan to use your synth as plug-in, a well thought out, efficient design will provide better
performance when it’s running along side several other audio and MIDI tracks. Even if you’re
using a top of the line system with the fastest processor on the market, efficient patch design means
your instruments will run more smoothly in plug-in mode, and take less of your system’s resources.
Does your patch really need 16 reverbs !?
For detailed instructions on building your first synths, please refer to the Tutorials section of
the manual. A detailed description of each module’s functionalities is also provided in chapter 6.
1.4.1 Using Tassman as a Plug-in
The Tassman integrates seamlessly into the industry’s most popular multi-track recording and se-
quencing environments as a virtual instrument plug-in. The Tassman works as any other plug-in in
these environments so we recommend that you refer to your sequencer documentation in case you
have problems running the Tassman as a plug-in.
1.5 Getting help
Applied Acoustics Systems technical support representatives are on hand from Monday to Friday,
9am to 6pm EST. Whether you’ve got a question regarding a new synth you are building, or need
a hand getting the Tassman up and running as a plug-in in your favorite sequencer, we’re here to
help. Contact us by phone, fax, or email at:
•North America Toll Free:1 888 441 8277
•Worldwide: 1 514 871 8100
•Fax: [phone]
•Email: [email protected]

1.6 Forum and User Library 20
Our online support pages contain downloads of the most recent product updates, and answers
to frequently asked questions on all AAS products. The support pages are located at:
www.applied-acoustics.com/faq.htm
1.6 Forum and User Library
The A|A|S community site contains the Tassman user forum, a place to meet other users and get
answers to your questions. The community site also contains an exchange area where you will find
presets for your A|A|S products created by other users and where you can make your own creations
available to other users.
http://community.applied-acoustics.com/php/community/
http://community.applied-acoustics.com/php/forum/
1.7 About this Manual
This User Manual begins with a tutorial to help you learn quickly how to create and play instru-
ments with the Tassman. Four examples are included in the tutorial and every patch presented
in the tutorial has been pre-constructed for you. You can find the corresponding files in the Tu-
torial folder of the Tassman browser. The Tassman comes with a certain number of pre-patched
instruments and presets. We strongly recommend that you have a look at these instruments as a
complement to the tutorial.
Chapters 5, 3 and 4 of this manual describe the Tassman Browser, Builder and Player respec-
tively. Chapter 6, a reference guide, contains a description of every module included in the Tass-
man. The toolbar of the application is described in Chapter 7. Finally, Builder and Player menus
and shortcuts are listed in Chapter 8.