ALM Squid Salmple User manual

ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Manual Version: 0.12 (firmware:71)
ALM022
SQUID
SALMPLE
USER
GUIDE.
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ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Introduction 3.......................................................................................
Features 4--------------------------------------------------------------------
Technical Specifications 5-----------------------------------------------------
Operation 6...........................................................................................
Panel Layout 6----------------------------------------------------------------
Getting Started 7-------------------------------------------------------------
Channel Parameters 8---------------------------------------------------------
Assigning CV Control 11--------------------------------------------------------
Channel Operations 12--------------------------------------------------------
Recording Samples 13----------------------------------------------------------
Saving & loading Banks 15-----------------------------------------------------
Key Combos 18----------------------------------------------------------------
Patch Ideas 19.......................................................................................
Limited Warranty 20.............................................................................
Support 21.............................................................................................
APPENDIX 22.........................................................................................
I. Calibration / System info 22-------------------------------------------------
II. Firmware Updates 23-------------------------------------------------------
III. USB Support 23------------------------------------------------------------
IV. Included Sample Banks 24------------------------------------------------
VI. Thanks 24-----------------------------------------------------------------
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ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Introduction
The ‘Squid Salmpler’ is a Eurorack 8 channel audio & CV sampler. It is designed
for immediate real time sampling, editing and mangling within a modular context.
Taking influence from early hardware samplers,The Squid Salmple focuses on
usability & instinctive operation, incorporating a proven Pamela’s Workout style
user interface for minimal screen dependance & a fun, hands on experience.
With support for sampling and playback for both audio and CV, as well as CV
control of all parameters, on-the-fly bank loading & saving to USB, The Squid
Salmple brings a unique take on old school sampling into the modular realm
The Squid Salmple comes with a USB Stick containing approximately 90 banks
of original carefully curated royalty free samples.This includes a wide range of
sounds from classic drum machines & weird synths to field recordings & CV
modulations. Banks are provided by both ALM and some of our favourite artists and
friends including Mumdance, Solid Blake, Russell Haswell, Lauren Flax, Dave
Burraston (NYZ), Sue Zuki, Dungeon Acid, Sasha Lewis and Andrew Duff.
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ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Features
•8 independent channels, 4 DC coupled outputs (2 channels per out) and a mix
output (ac coupled)
•1 mono record input handling both CV and audio input signal from line to
modular level.
•Each channel has approx 11 seconds of 16 bit / 44.1Khz CD quality sample
time stored in low latency RAM.
•Each channel can have various parameters edited all in real time; bit depth,
rate, lo fi playback speed/pitch, amplitude level with a simple envelope, looping
with crossfade, playback direction, start, end and loop ‘cue' positions, multiple
cue groups and more.
•Three CV inputs allow for CV control to be assigned to any & multiple
parameters. Channels 6, 7 & 8 have dedicate 1v/oct input for control of pitch
(expect crunchy aliasing!).
•Sample record and channel destination can be controlled either by automated
patching or manually via UI controls.
•Save and load samples to USB keys as regular Wav format files arranged in
quick-to-use banks of 8 (Up to 99 per key).
•Easy firmware update via USB key.
•Skiff friendly with reverse power protection.
•Made in England,
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ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Technical Specifications
•Supply: +12V 300mA Max / -12v 35mA
•Size: 21 HP
•Depth: 38mm
•AKM audio codecs with 44.1khz / 16 bit quality audio (in & out)
•1-2ms trigger response time
•Approx -75db noise floor.
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ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Operation
Panel Layout
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Cues
Loop
Freq
Reverse
USB Func
1+2 Out 3+4 Out 5+6 Out 7+8 Out
V/Oct
V/Oct
V/Oct
Mix Out
Trigger
Level
Assign Assign
Clip!
Env
Quality
12345678
Signal
Rec
Trigger Inputs
Program
Outputs
CV Control
Sample In
CV 3
CV 2
Assign
CV 1
Chan
!"#$%&!'()*(+&
AC Coupled mix output
V/Oct pitch controls for
Channels 6,7 & 8.
Channel trigger inputsActive Channel selection
CV input and assigment
USB Flash Drive
slot
Program knob and
param selection buttons
DC Coupled output pairs
Sample signal input, activation and level controls
+5V Trigger output.

ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Getting Started
The Squid Salmple works with a bank of 8 independent samples each having
their own channel and trigger input to initiate playback. Outputs are shared in both
fixed pairs and all together via an AC coupled mix output. The panel allows for the
user to quickly navigate between channels (via the program knob encoder or
channel selection button), preview channel samples (click program knob) and edit
various sample parameters (accessed via controls in centre and right of module).
Many of these parameter can also have CV control assigned.There are also controls
for populating channels either via loading from USB or via sampling an input signal.
The Salmple powers on to the channel selection screen. Firstly to load a sample
bank, with the supplied usb stick inserted, press the USB button and then turn the
program knob to select a bank, then click and select 'Load' from the menu clicking
the program knob again. The bank’s samples will load and then you will be returned
to the channel screen.
To cycle through and select a different channel, press the 'Chan' button or turn
the program control knob. Clicking the program control knob will play any sample
loaded for the currently selected channel. You can also start a channel’s sample
playing by patching a trigger into its associated input. Playback will come from the
mix output or the channel’s associated pair output (a cable patched in here will
remove from the mix output).
You can adjust various parameters for the current sample channel by repeatedly
pressing one of the relevant blue buttons to cycle through related grouped
parameters. Parameter values are then adjusted by turning the program knob. You
can return to the channel screen by pressing the channel button. Parameter
screens explained in next section.
Connect an audio source to the ‘Signal’ input and adjust the level control until
just before the red ‘clip’ LED lights. Press ‘rec’ once to arm the sampler and then
again to start sampling. Wait a few seconds and then press rec again to stop
sampling. Press program knob to play back the sample. Press ‘Cues’ to see the
waveform of your captured waveform. See the “recording Samples’ section for more
info on sampling. !
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ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Channel Parameters
This section covers editing parameters for the currently selected channel. You
can select a channel via pressing the ‘Chan’ switch, cycling the encoder whilst the
Channel screen is active or by patching a trigger into the Channel input.
You can move to the same parameter screen but for another channel by holding
the channel button down and turning the encoder.
Each of the blue button sections has the following parameters;
Quality - Bits
Adjust bit depth of played back sample.
Quality - Rate
Adjust the playback rate of the sample in khz.
Quality - Speed (not present on chans 6,7 & 8)
A linear playback speed control.
Quality - Quant (only present on chans 6,7 & 8)
This is a basic quantisation control for the playback speed.
Possible settings are;
•'NO' - No quantisation
•'12' - Quantisation to Chromatic 12 tones
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Parameter Name
Parameter Value
Active
Channel
LEVEL 8
30

ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
•'OT' - Full per octave quantisation - this is useful for easily matching original
sample speed with controls.
Env - Level
Adjust the playback volume of a sample. At 50 is unity gain. below will attenuate,
above increase.
Use this setting to avoid digital clipping when mixed. Value defaults to 30 as to
conservatively avoid digital clipping.
Env -Decay
Add a simple decay envelope to the sample when set to less than 99.
If a sample is set to loop the envelope will effect the loop as a whole (rather than
single sample) with max decay time being 10 seconds.
Loop - Loop
The arrow indicates the current looping mode for the sample. A single forward
arrow indicates usual forward playback. An arrow with loop sample indicates basic
looping between sample loop and end points.
Both back and forward arrows indicates 'zig zag' type looping where sample
playback goes alternatively forwards then backwards between loop and end points.
Loop - X-Fade
Adds a simple cross fade between the sample end and loop points as to smooth
out loops.
Reverse - Reverse the sample.
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ALM-022 - ‘Squid Salmple’
Cues - Start, End & Loop
Set the samples start, end and loop points
Repeatedly pressing the ‘Cues’ button will cycle between the channels samples
start, end and loop ‘cue’ points - i.e. where sample playback begins, ends and loops.
Twist the program knob to adjust selected cue point. Hold Func and twist
program knob to zoom in and out of the sample centred around the current cue
point. How far the cue point moves will be dependent on zoom level and encoder
acceleration.
The zoom level and position within the sample is indicated at the bottom of the
display. At maximum zoom level the actual sample offset value (in samples) is also
displayed.
Moving a start point beyond the loop point will also move the loop point forward.
Bringing the end point behind the loop point will bring the loop point backwards.
Cue Sets
Cue sets allow for multiple different sets (up to 32) of start, end and loop points
for the same channel. They can also overlap.You can then switch between them
both manually and via CV control.
Press Func + Cues button to access the 'cue sets' screen. Select 'Add' and click
program knob to add a cue set. Hold Func and click program knob to remove a set.
Select 'Split' to cut all sets into equal halves (useful for quickly cutting up loops
etc).
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Cue type
(start, end or loop)
Waveform
Cue set number (if sets)
Active
Channel
Cues
(solid - selected)
Zoom
level/position
START 8
2