D16 Group Redoptor User manual

User Manual
Vintage Tube Distortion

1
Overview
Overview
Redoptor is a distortion effect with tube emulation.
We can distinguish two sections there:
 • Congurationandpresetmanagement
 • Signalprocessingcontrolsectionconsistsoftheallremainingcontrols.
1
Redoptor graphical interface
Conguration and preset selection section

2
Signal ow •Basic modules
2
Signal ow
This chapter describes the signal path through Redoptor. It explains the basic components of the unit and its control
parameters.
Basic modules
Internally Redoptor consists of a few basic components. These correspond to the sections on the graphical user
interface:
Preamp
Thisampliestheincomingsignal.Whenitgoesabovethethresholdvalue,the(tube)clippingstartstowork.Shaping
of the input signal can be performed using the Hi Cut and Lo Cut controls.
Preamp section

3
Preamp is controlled by four parameters:
 • Preamp gain–Valueofsignal’samplicationindecibels–inrange: [0 dB … 100 dB].
 • Lo cut–It’sahi-passlter’sfrequency–inrange:[0 Hz … 300 Hz].
 • Hi cut–It’salow-passlter’sfrequency–inrange:[1.5 kHz … 8 kHz].
 • On / Off–Turningoffalow-passltercompletely(Hi cut).
Lo cut and Hi cut control the bandwidth of the input signal which passes through the preamp.
Signal ow •Basic modules
2
Low and Hi cut combination’s frequency response

4
Tube distortion
This section emulates the tube distortion.
There are three controls in this section:
 • Tube bias–Thiscontrolstheamplitudeoftheoddharmonicsappearingindistortedsignal.Thegreatervalue
ofthisknob,themoreharmonicsinthesignal.
 • Tone–ThisisacrossfadebetweentheoutputfromthexedHi-passlterandthedrysignalafterthetube
distortion.
 • Brightness – Number of harmonics that emerge in the tube. This could also be described as the control which
givesasmoothtransitionbetweentubedistortionanddiodeclippingdistortion.
Tube distortion section
Diagram representing Tone parameter
Signal ow •Basic modules
2

5
Parametric equalizer
Parametricequalizersectionwithfourfrequencycontrols.
 • Bass – For boosting or cutting range [40 Hz … 300 Hz].
 • Middle – For boosting or cutting range [300 Hz … 2 kHz].
 • Treble – For boosting or cutting range [2 kHz … 5 kHz].
 • Presence – For boosting or cutting range [5 kHz … 12 kHz].
Each band is controlled by following parameters:
 • Frequency–Centrefrequencyofapeak.
 • Gain–Gainvalueforaband[−24 dB … 24 dB].
 • Band width – Width of the band [4 octaves … 0.5 octave].
Equalizer section
Signal ow •Basic modules
2

6
Master section
Controlsoutputsignallevelandthesignalwet/drymixbalance.TheFxknobcontrolsthewet/drysignalmix
and Output volumeknobcontrolsthenalamplication.
Path of the signal’s ow
Thepicturebelowshowsthesignalowthroughtheplug-in:
Signal ow •Basic modules •Path of the signal’s ow
2
Master section
Signal ow

7
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
to particular groups in the Preset Manager.Groupscanbealsodenedbytheuser.
Controlsavailableinthepresetselectionsection:
 • Preset name–Displaysthenameoftheselectedpreset.Allowseditingofthepresetnamebeforesaving
thepreset.Clickingonthecontrolcausesashiftintoeditmode.Afterapplyingchangesthroughthekeyboard,
conrmthenewnamewiththeEnterbutton.
 • Prev / Next–Buttonsusedtonavigatethroughthepresetbank.Nextbuttonmovesthebrowsertothenext
preset.Ifthecurrentpresetisthelastpresetinagroup,pressingNextmovesthebrowsertotherstpreset
inthesubsequentgroup.Prevbuttonmovesthebrowsertothepreviouspreset.Ifthecurrentpresetistherst
presetinagroup,pressingPrevmovesthebrowsertothelastpresetintheprecedinggroup.
 • Prev + CTRL – Prev button pressed while holding CTRL copies the edited preset to the buffer.
 • Next + CTRL – Next button pressed while holding CTRLpastesthebuffertothecurrentpresetwithpostx
“_copy” added to its name.
 • Browse – Opens a Preset Browser menu in the bottom part of the GUI.
Preset Management •Browsing presets
3
Conguration and preset selection section
Note: On MacOS
use Apple CMD
key instead
of CTRL key.

8
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.
PresetscanbeselectedbyNext/Prevbuttons,whichnavigatethroughthestructureinalinearwayorbyusing
the Preset Browser. The Preset Browserisatoolwhichallowstoeasilymanagethepresetstructure.Toopenit,click
Browse in the preset selection section:
Preset Management •Browsing presets •Preset Browser
3
Conguration and preset selection section

9
The Preset Browser
will unfold under the
GUI:
Preset Manager
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
Preset Management •Preset Browser
3

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ActionsavailableinthePreset Browser:
 • Clickingonaslotinthepresetlistloadstheselectedpreset.
 • Clickingonaslotinthegrouplistselectsagroupofpresets.
 • Bothpresetsandgroupscanberenamed.Doubleclickingonaslottoggleseditmode.Afterenteringthenew
name,pressentertonish.
 • The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:
  –Changeitspositioninthegroupbydroppingitinadifferentslotinthelistofpresetsinaselectedgroup.
  –Movethepresettoadifferentgroupbydragginganddroppingitinthechosenslotinthegrouplist.
  HoldingCTRLorSHIFTandusingthemousebuttonallowstoselectmorepresets:
  –HoldingCTRLandclickingonpresetsselectssingleitems.
  –UsingSHIFTallowstoselectarangeofpresets.Therstclickmarksthebeginningoftherangeandthesecond
clickmarkstheend.
  Whenmorethanonepresetsareselected,itispossibletodragthemtoadifferentgroup.
Note: Changing
the order
of presets in
a group is possible
for a selected
single preset.
Changing the
order by dragging
several presets
in a group is
inactive.
Preset Management •Preset Browser
3

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On the left side of the Preset Browser there are function buttons located:
Preset Management •Preset Browser
3
 –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.Anemptygroupcanberecognizedbythelack
ofboldfontandthelackofapointerontherightfromitsname.
–Pastestheeditedpresettothebuffer;worksexactlylike
the combination of Prev and CTRL.
–Overwritestheselectedpresetwiththebuffercontent;worksexactly
likethecombinationofNext and CTRL.Thepostx“_copy”isadded
to the name of the preset pasted from the buffer.
–WorksexactlylikePrevonGUI;allowstomovebackwards
on the hierarchical structure of presets.
–WorksexactlylikeNextonGUI;allowstomoveforward
on the hierarchical structure of presets.
Function buttons of the Preset Browser
Empty group in the Preset Browser

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Loading and Saving presets
At the bottom of the Preset Browsertherearefunctionbuttonswhichallowtosave/loadpresetson/fromthehard
drive.
Fourbuttonsareavailable:
 • PresetLoad–loadsasinglepresetfromale(le.rdprs–Redoptorpreset).
 • PresetSave–savesthecurrentpresettoale.
 • BankLoad–loadstheentirebankofpresetsfromale(le.rdprb–Redoptorbank).
 • BankSave–savestheentirebankofpresetstoale.
Loading and Saving presets from the hard drive functions
Preset Management •Loading and Saving presets
3
Note: Before
saving the preset
to a le, save it
in Redoptor using
CTRL + Browse
when On demand
function
is selected
in the plug-in
conguration.
 Note: Files saved
by Redoptor are
compatible with
XML format,
which enables
their edition in
any text editor.

13
Conguration
AfterclickingonOptionsinthepresetselectionandcongurationsection,acongurationpanelunfoldsinthebottom
section of GUI. The panel has three tabs:
 • Midi control–conguresMIDIcommunicationswiththeplug-in.
 • Presets–congurespresetsswitching;indicatespersonalresourcesloadedinsteadofdefaultpresets.
 • Quality–conversiontrackqualitysettings.
ClickingonOptions while holding CTRLopensawindowwithinformationabouttheversionandthelicenseowner.
Conguration
4
Conguration and preset selection section
Conguration panel tabs

14
Midi control tab
Redoptor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.
Controlsincludedinthetab:
 • Midi 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.
 • Default 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.
 Note: This feature
works only
in the VST version
of the plug-in,
due to the fact
that the AU
specication
does not include
a MIDI input
port necessary
to receive MIDI
messages.
Conguration •Midi control tab
4
Midi Control tab

15
Midi learn
AssigningaRedoptorcontroltotheMIDIcontrollerrequires:
 1. CheckingMidi Learn ModecheckboxintheMidi Control tab:
 2. InthestatusbarinthebottomsectionofGUIamessageshouldappear“waiting for a controller or parameter
movement…”:
  In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Redoptor.Theorderoftheseactionsisirrelevant.
  Duringtheabove-mentionedactions,thestatusbarinformsaboutthecurrentlychangingvaluesofcontrols
andprovidestheirnames.
Conguration •Midi control tab
4
Midi Learn Mode selection checkbox
Status bar

16
  WhenaMIDIcontrol<–>GUIcontrollinkisestablished,alineisaddedtotheMIDICClinklist:
  Whenalinkisestablishedforacontroller,itispossibletorepeattheoperationforthenextMIDICC
andparameterpairs.Subsequentlinkswillbecreatedandaddedtothelist.
 3. Whenalltheneededlinksarecreated,unchecktheMidi Learn Modecheckbox.
Inordertocreatenewlinks,itispossibletoreactivatetheMidi Learn Mode at any time.
ThelinksarealwayssortedinanascendingmannerinrelationtotheCCcolumnaccordingtotheMIDICCcode.
MIDI CC link list
Conguration •Midi control tab
4

17
Unlinking and midi link management
Ontherightsideofthelinklistthereare4functionbuttonslocated:
–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.
–Loadslinklists/MIDImapsfromle(.rdccmap–RedoptorMIDICCMap).
–Saveslinklists/MIDImapstole.
MIDI CC link list and function buttons
Conguration •Midi control tab
4
 Note: MIDI map
les are saved
in XML format,
which enables
their edition in
any text editor.

18
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le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le.
A default MIDI map is loaded each time when the plug-in is loaded.
Presets tab
Preset Storing
Using Prev,Next buttons or the Preset Browsernavigatesthroughthepresetbank.Anychangeinthecurrentpreset
canbestoredautomaticallyorondemand.Dependingontheselectiononeofthetwooptionsisactive:
Default MIDI Map selection
Conguration •Midi control tab •Presets tab
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Preset Storing ag

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 • Automatic – Any change of a parameter in the current preset is automatically stored.
 • On 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.
The Preset StoringagissavedintheRedoptorcongurationleandappliestoallnewinstancesoftheplug-in.
Whenremovinganyinstanceoftheplug-infromthehostapplicationthecongurationleissaved.
Changing Type
Changingbetweenpresetsmaycauseundesirablesonicartifacts.SwitchingtheChanging Typeagmaypreventthis
phenomenon.
 • Normal–Changingpresetstakesplaceinaclassicalmanner;allparametervaluesarerapidlychangedinto
newvalues.
 • Silent–Beforechangingthepresettheoutputsignalismuted.Next,theparametersaresettonewvalues
andthesignallevelisrestoredtoitspreviousvalue.Thisfeatureissignicantinliveperformances,duringwhich,
sonic artifacts caused by preset changes are undesirable.
TheagissavedintheRedoptorcongurationleandappliedtoallnewinstancesoftheplug-in.Whenremovingany
instanceoftheplug-infromthehostapplicationthecongurationleissaved.
Conguration •Presets tab
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Changing Type ag