D16 Group Nepheton User manual

User Manual
Drum Machine

1
Overview •Interface
Overview
Interface
Nepheton’s interface is split into two parts:
 • Internal Sequencer – Responsible for editing patterns in Int.Seq. mode.
1
Internal sequencer section

2
 • Synthesis Module – This part is designed for a controlling the sound synthesis.
 • Control Module – Used for Nepheton presets, patterns and settings management.
Work modes
Nepheton works in two modes:
 • Internal – The drum patterns are played using Nepheton’s internal sequencer.
 • External – Nepheton acts as a sound module playing drum sounds. Patterns are played by sending Midi notes
from host sequencer.
Note: Drum
sound mapping
is compatible
with General
Midi Standard.
However,
mapping can be
changed by user.
Synthesis section
1
Overview •Interface

3
Audio outputs
Nephetonisamulti-outputVSTiplug-in.Ithas12stereo(ormono–congurable)outs.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menu(describedlater).
WhenNephetonisloaded,the17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.
WhenNepheton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.
Note: Being
able to change
the above settings
may depend
on the host
sequencer.
Audio outputs conguration
Mute, solo switches
1
Overview •Audio outputs

4
Preset management
Alltheparametersettings(level,tuning,decayetc)foracompleteNephetondrumkitarestoredinaPreset.Nepheton
can store a total of 128 presets.
The Preset browser tool is provided to simplify the organisation 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.
Sound parameters
1
Overview •Preset management

5
Play modes
External sequencer mode
ClickingtheInt.Seq. diode in the Sequencer Settings box will switch it off:
Nepheton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 – it is possible
to change mapping.
Note velocity is used to determine how loud notes are played.
 • 48–Correspondstothenon-accentedstep.
 • 96–Correspondstoaccentedstep.
 • 127–Correspondstostepwithtotalaccentset.
In External mode, only the controls from Synthesis module and Control module functions work.
Sequencer settings
2
Play modes •External sequencer mode

6
Internal sequencer
Internal Sequencer mode allows Nepheton to act as a fully functioning drum machine within the host sequencer.
Pressing Play on the host sequencer, or Start on Nepheton, will start play back of the default internal patterns.
Nepheton can be set to synchronize 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knob(OnlyinthePattern Writemode,describedlater):
Start, stop buttons
Note: If a pattern
is started using
the Nepheton’s
Start button
and the host
sequencer has not
been started then,
playback can only
be stopped using
the Stop button
on Nepheton.
Sequencer settings
Tempo knob
2
Play modes •Internal sequencer

7
Internal pattern storage
There are two internal Play modes:
 • Native mode – Available when the Host modeLEDisturnedoff:
 • Host mode–WhenthisLEDisturnedon.
Eachofthesemodeshasitsownpatternstoragesystem.
Native mode
Nephetonisinthismodewhenitisrstloaded.
Thereare16availablepatterns.Eachpatterniscomprisedof4parts.Eachpartcanbeupto16stepsinlength(that
is,anysizefrom0to16steps).Thepartshavenames:A1,A2,B1,B2.Eachcompletepatterncorrespondstoone
of the Step buttons:
Sequencer settings
Step buttons
2
Play modes •Internal pattern storage

8
Therst12patternsarecalledRegular patterns.Theremaining4patternsareFill In patterns. When a Regular
patternisselected,theLEDaboveitwillash.WhenaFill in patternisselected,theLEDwillstaylit.
Pressing the Start button will cause the chosen Regular pattern to play.
The Measures auto ll in knob:
The default setting is Man.(Manual).Toplaythell-inpattern,theTap button is used. After pressing the Tap button,
the currently playing Regular pattern will play to the end and then chosen Fill in patternwillplay.Whenitnishes,
the Regular pattern plays again continuously.
Setting the Measures auto ll in knob to any of the other values will cause the Regular pattern and Fill in pattern
toplayinacycle.Forexample,settingthevalueto16willcausetheRegular pattern to repeat 15 times and then play
the Fill in pattern. The cycle will then repeat. The Total length of the cycle corresponds to the selected knob value.
Measures auto ll in knob
Fill in button
2
Play modes •Internal pattern storage

9
As mentioned earlier, every Regular patterniscomprisedof4parts.TheBasic variation switch determines how
the parts are played within the pattern.
There are 3 possible settings:
 • Position A – Parts A1 and A2 (if exists – that is if the length of A2isgreaterthan0)areplayed.
 • Position B – Parts B1 and B2 (if exists – that is if the length of B2isgreaterthan0)areplayed.
 • Position AB – Parts A1, A2, B1 and B2 are played.
Play mode of the Fill in patterns is set by I/F Variation switch:
Fill in patterns consist of A1, A2, B1, B2 parts. The I/F Variation determine which play.
Basic variation switch
I/F variation switch
2
Play modes •Internal pattern storage