D16 Group Drumazon User manual

User Manual
Drum Machine

1
Overview •Interface
Overview
Interface
The graphical interface of the Drumazon is divided into two main parts:
 • Control panel – Used for main plug-in, preset, pattern and audio output management.
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Control panel

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Overview •Interface
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 • Drum machine module – Essential part – responsible for editing sequence patterns and generating the sound.
Drum module

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Work modes
Drumazon works in two modes:
 • Internal – The drum patterns are entirely stored in the internal sequencer of the plug-in.
 • External – Drumazon acts as a sound module playing drum sounds. Patterns are played by sending Midi notes
from host sequencer.
Audio outs
Drumazonisamulti-outputplug-in.Ithas12stereo(ormono–congurable)outputs.Instrumentscanbefreely
mapped to each of those available outputs according to their individual volumes setting.
By the default, outputs are set to be stereo. That can be changed in a Optionspanel(describedlater).
WhenDrumazonisloaded,the11individualdrumsounds(+1extratriggeroutsounddescribedlater)aremapped
torstoutput.Tochangetheoutputassignment,justclickanddragontheLEDabovethedrumsoundsettings.
Soundscanbemappedtoanyavailableoutput(oneof12).Forexample,theOpenandClosedHiHatscould
beassignedtoasingleoutput2togetherortheClapcouldappearonoutput1etc.Itisfullycongurable.
Note: drum
sound mapping
is compatible
with General
Midi Standard.
However,
mapping can be
changed by user.
Note: Being
able to change
the above settings
may depend
on the host
sequencer.
Audio outputs conguration
Overview •Work modes •Audio outs
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WhenDrumazonisplaying,itispossibletoturnonorturnoffindividualchannels(instruments)usingtheMute / Solo
LEDswitches:
These stop the triggering of the instruments but allow the sounds to play until the end of the envelope. This stops
a rapid cut in the sound making the transition sound more natural.
Preset management
Alltheparametersettings(level,tuning,decayetc)foracompleteDrumazondrumkitarestoredinaPreset.
Drumazon can store a total of 128 presets.
The Preset browser tool is provided to simplify the organization and use of Presets.
The Preset section on GUI is used for navigation through the preset bank. To read more
about preset management go to chapter Preset Management.
Mute/Solo switches
Sound parameters
Preset section
Overview •Audio outs •Preset management
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Play modes
External sequencer mode
ClickingtheInt.Seq diode in the Seq box will switch it off:
Drumazon will now act as a sound module. MIDI Notes corresponding to the Instrument(drumsound)notenumbers
are sent from the host sequencer to play drum patterns. The mapping follows the General Midi standard, the same as
the original 909.
Note velocity is used to determine how loud notes are played. To play back accented notes in this way, set the velocity
to127.Fornormalparts,setthevelocitytoalowervalue(e.g.100).Although,notescanbeplayedbackwithany
velocity from 0 to 127.
In External mode, only the controls from Synthesis section and Control module functions work.
Step buttons located on Drumazon’s GUI serve only to trigger individual sounds in this mode.
Play mode settings
Step buttons
Play modes •External sequencer mode
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Howeverfromthehostapplication,Wearen’tabletodecideabout,whichonenotewillbeplayedaccentedandwhich
one won’t. It depends on the velocity value of each midi note. As the result of it, We obtain smooth transition between
notaccentedandaccentedinstruments(127levels).
Internal Sequencer mode
Internal Sequencer (Int.SeqLEDturnedon)modeallowsDrumazontoactasafullyfunctioning
drum machine within the host sequencer. Pressing Play on the host sequencer, or Start
on Drumazon, will start play back of the default internal patterns.
Drumazon can be set to synchronise perfectly to the host tempo (by setting the Int.Sync. led
tooff)ortoplaytoitsowntempo(setbyturningtheInt.Sync.ledon).
With internal synchronization turned on, each of the internal patterns has its own Tempovalue,whichcanbeadjusted
bytweakingtheTempodial(OnlyinthePattern writemode,describedlater):
Start, stop buttons
Note: If a pattern
is started using
the Drumazon’s
Start button
and the host
sequencer has not
been started then,
playback can only
be stopped using
the Stop button
on Drumazon.
Play mode settings
Tempo dial and lcd display
Play modes •External sequencer mode •Internal Sequencer mode
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Internal Pattern Storage
The patterns for the internal sequencer are stored in 8 banks with each bank holding 12 patterns. This gives a total
of 96 patterns which can be stored in Drumazon’s memory at any one time.
Patterns can be selected using the notes on a connected Midi keyboard (Hostmodedescribedlater).Bank1
pattern1startsatnoteC-1.Thepatternsarestored1bankperoctave(thatgives12patternsperoctaveandcover
8octaves=96).TheStep buttons(below)canalsobeusedtoselectpatterns(Nativemode).Therst12buttons
correspondtoallthehalf-tonesinanoctave(notesareunderthebuttons).Thelast4buttonsareusedtoselect
thebank.Thebuttonstogglebetweenthelowerbanks(dimlylitredLED)andtheupperbanks(brightlylitredLED).
The currently selected pattern is shown on the Drumazon’s interface:
AfterloadingDrumazon,thepatterncorrespondingtotheC-1noteischosen(rstinabank).Thecurrentpattern
ismarkedbyablinkingLEDononeoftherst12Step buttons.ThebankismarkedbydarkorbrightredLEDonone
ofthelast4Stepbuttons.
Step buttons
Pattern display and navigation
Play modes •Internal Pattern Storage
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When the Startbuttonispressed,theLEDontheStep Buttons will indicate the current step in the pattern. To select
another pattern whilst playing, select it using the combination of Step Button and Bank button or select it using
the keys on a connected MIDI keyboard. The next pattern will start when the current pattern comes to the end of its
nalstep.
Internal sequencer has two internal Play modes:
 • Native mode – available when the Host modeLEDisturnedoff:
 • Host mode–whenthisLEDisturnedon.
Native mode
Drumazonisinthismodewhenitisrstloaded.Thisisthedefaultmode.Itallowsarangeofpatterns(orsingle
pattern)tobeselectedandforDrumazontocontinuallycyclethroughthesepatterns.
To select the start pattern, press the appropriate Step button with the mouse. To select the last pattern in the range,
selectanotherpatternWHILSTholdingdowntheCTRLkeyonthekeyboard(OnMacOS use Apple CMD key instead
of CTRLkey).Drumazonwillnowcycleupthroughtherangeandrepeat.AMIDIkeyboardcanbeusedtoselect
a range to play. To do this, press the two notes on the keyboard, which cover the range, at the same time. Drumazon will
now cycle through this range and continually loop.
Whilst playing back in Native mode, selecting a different pattern (either using a Step key on the interface will cause
Drumazon to play that pattern next after coming to the last step in the currently playing pattern. It will then continue
to play the new pattern until stopped.
Play mode settings
Play modes •Internal Pattern Storage
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The currently playing pattern is shown on the Drumazon interface:
In format:
[BANK NUMBER] – [PATTERN IN BANK NUMBER]
Below it is displayed the pattern name (in Pattern nametextbox).
Host mode
In Host mode, patterns are triggered using a MIDI keyboard. A Note on causes the corresponding pattern to play.
This mode is recommended for creating drum line arrangement in host application. Releasing the key and sending
a Note off will eventually stop the pattern. It depends on whether the Note Off Mode Stateissetincongurational
panel is checked. To change Note Off ModeopencongurationalwindowbyclickingOptions button:
Go to Sequencer tab and check or uncheck the Note Off Mode State checkbox in Current Settings group.
Pattern display and navigation
Options button
Play modes •Internal Pattern Storage
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The pattern will play back at the tempo of the host sequencer (if internal sync turned off – Int.Sync.)oratthetempo
which Drumazon’s Tempofunctionissetto(ifusinginternalsync).Thishappenswhileakeyispressedandheld.
This is a very creative mode which, by recording the notes into the host sequencer, can allow very complex percussion
structures to be created using patterns in Drumazon’s internal pattern memory.
It should be noted that in Host mode the Start, Stop and Step buttons on Drumazon’s don’t function. Patterns are only
playedbackwhileakeyonaconnectedMIDIkeyboardispressed(andheld).
In this mode, currently playing pattern is indicated by display unit:
In format:
[TONENAME][–or#][OCTAVENUMBER]
Midi output
DrumazonhaspermanentlyactiveMIDIoutput,whichallowstocontrolexternalinstrument(virtualorhardware)
by Drumazon’s internal sequencer. It works either in Native or Host mode. Plug-in sends a midi note codes accordingly
tothecurrentdrummapcongurationtoitsMidioutput.VelocityvaluesofMidinotessentbyDrumazonare
calculated on a basis of Step attributes(accentedornon-accented)andvalueofGlobal accent.
When you set the Drumazon into Externalmode,itjustpassesMIDInotesthroughitselfunchanged.Sobasically
the same notes you redirect into a plug-in you will get on the MIDI output.
Note: In this
mode the pattern
structure is
the same as it is
in Native Mode.
96 patterns
mapped to midi
keyboard as
notes: C-1 to B-7.
Pattern display and navigation
Play modes •Internal Pattern Storage
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Sound editing
Instruments section is for sound editing in Drumazon:
There are available parameters for 11 drum sounds like:
 • BassDrum
 • SnareDrum
 • LowTom
 • MiddleTom
 • HighTom
 • RimShot
 • HandClap
 • ClosedHihats
 • OpenHihats
 • Crash
 • Ride
Sound parameters
Sound editing
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Foreachoftheseinstrumentsthereisonecommonparameter:
 • Level–Volumelevelofeachinstrument
Andspecicparameters:
 • BassDrum
– Tune – Release time of the frequency envelope,
– Attack – Amplitude value of the initial click sound,
– Decay – Decay time of amplitude,
– Pitch – Base frequency of the instrument,
– Tune depth – Range of the frequency envelope.
 • SnareDrum
– Tune – Release time of the frequency envelope,
– Tone – Noise amplitude release time,
– Tune depth – Range of the frequency envelope,
– Decay – Decay time of amplitude,
– Snapy – Amplitude value of the noise.
 • LowTom,MiddleTom,HighTom
– Tune – Base frequency of the instrument,
– Tune depth – Range of the frequency envelope,
– Decay – Decay time of amplitude,
– Tone – Noise amplitude release time,
– Tune decay – Decay time of the frequency envelope.
Sound editing
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 • RimShot
– Tune – Base frequency of the instrument,
– Decay – Decay time of amplitude.
 • HandClap
– Decay – Decay time of amplitude,
– Reverb – Reverb time.
 • ClosedHihats
– Tune – Base frequency of the instrument,
– Ch decay – Decay time of amplitude.
 • OpenHihats
– Tune – Base frequency of the instrument,
– Oh decay – Decay time of amplitude.
 • Crash
– Tune – Base frequency of the instrument,
– Crash decay – Decay time of amplitude.
 • Ride
– Tune – Base frequency of the instrument,
– Ride decay – Decay time of amplitude.
Sound editing
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Trigger out
There’s possible to make audible a trigger sound, which occurs in analogue machines. By default this signal is off.
Toturnitonyouneedtodecidewhichtrack(instrument)willbetriggeringthissound.Checkoutfurtherchapters
for the details.
Master volume
TochangetheDrumazon’soutputvolumejusttweaktheVolume knob:
Volume knob
Sound editing •Trigger out •Master volume
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Drumline editing
Pattern editing
To edit the currently selected pattern, press the Patt write button (it’s not
necessary in Host Mode, since Pattern writeistheonlypossiblemodethere).
To edit another pattern other than the current one playing, use the Prev
and Next buttons. The playing pattern won’t change but the edited
pattern will be the newly selected one.
Every pattern comprises of 11 tracks, one for each instrument. The parts are edited using the Step buttons:
Pattern write button
Pattern display and navigation
Step buttons
Drumline editing •Pattern editing
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These keys work in toggle mode and for most instruments have 3 states:
 • Accented–LEDonthekeylightswithabrightredcolor
 • On–LEDonthekeylightswithdarkerredcolor
 • Off–LEDonthekeyisoff
The main difference between a non accented and accented sound is the volume but, it also causes subtle changes
to the sound character in other ways.
The Rim Shot, Hand Clap, Crash and Ride have only two possible step values: On or Off.
Toselectaninstrument(track)toedit,usetheInstr.Sel knob.
However,theLEDsbelowtheStep buttons can also be used:
We can select a single instrument by clicking on it in the Track selectorbar.However,toselectmorethanone
instrument(foreditingpurposes),pressandholdCTRL on the keyboard whilst clicking.
Instrument selector
Instrument LED selector
Drumline editing •Pattern editing
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Flam mode
In addition to the 3 states mentioned above, every step can also have another state
is a Flam. A Flam is a double triggering of a sound with a short delay between each trigger.
The delay value can be set using the Flam knob.
To enter Flam edit mode, press the Flam button whilst in Patt.Write mode.
The steps are entered as for normal parts mentioned above (with values Accented, On, Off).Alsonote,anysound
playing on a step as a normal sound will be overwritten if a Flamissetforthatmeasure(andviceversa).Forexample,
having a snare playing on step 5 and then putting a Flam on that step would delete the normal snare hit at that point.
Flam parts can be mixed with normal parts for a given instrument as long as they don’t occur on the same step.
Tap mode
Tap mode allows patterns to be TAPped in using the Step buttons.
Flam parameter
Note: The delay
is always shorter
than the duration
time of the whole
single step.
Pattern editing functions
Step buttons
Drumline editing •Pattern editing
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Each of Step buttons corresponds to particular instrument from a Instr.Sel. The bar below Step buttons:
E.g. Steps 1 and 2 correspond to Bass drumtrack.Firstveinstrumentsarerepresentedbytwobuttonseach(paired),
if you press the left one of pair, the tapped instrument is entered as non-accented, if you tap using the right button
of the pair, the sound will be entered as accented. The remaining six instruments have only two states (on or off),
so they’re represented by a single buttons.
The notes are quantized to the nearest step.
1. To enter Tap mode, press the Tap button whilst in Patt.Write mode.
2. Press Start button.
3. Pressing the Step buttons will trigger the Instrument listed below them.
Instrument LED selector
Pattern editing functions
Drumline editing •Pattern editing
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Editing functions
Standard editing functions (buttons in Pattern Editsection)
 • Shift left / right – Shifts steps on the selected track left or right. The shifting is cycled. This means if the last step
ontherightside(duringtheshiftingright)itwillappearontherststepontheleftside.Similarlyithappenswhile
shifting left. Pressed with CTRL key, shifts whole pattern.
 • Copy–Copiesselectedtrackstobuffer.Afterpressingthisbutton,LEDsinTrack selector start to blink
to indicate that there is data in the buffer. Pressed with CTRL copies whole pattern to a buffer.
 • Paste – Pastes buffer to the selected tracks. If do not change destination tracks, they’ll be copied in the same
place(inthesameorotherpattern).Butyoucanchangeit,byaselectingsomeothertracksontheTrack selector.
 • Clear–Clearsselectedtracks.PressedwithCTRL key, clears whole pattern.
Toselectthedestinationpattern(forcopying),usethePrev and Next buttons:
Note: Copying can
be also performed
for the tracks
assigned
to the different
instruments.
Pattern editing functions
Pattern display and navigation
Drumline editing •Pattern editing
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