Lab:One Recordings EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 User manual

EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 DJ MIXER Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason v1.0.1
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EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 DJ MIXER Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason v1.0.1
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Contents
Page Subject
3: Thank You, Acknowledgements & Dedications
4: Introduction
5: A tour of Executioner
6: How to connect up audio
7: Working with Executioner
9: The Input section
9: The Channel section
10: The Master Section
11: The Send FX section
12: CV inputs and controls
13: How to ‘latch’ your own MIDI via Remote Overriding
14: Licence Agreement

EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 DJ MIXER Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason v1.0.1
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THANK YOU
Thank you very much for expressing your confidence in our products by purchasing one of our Rack Extensions,
the Executioner 4:4:2 Dj Mixer. This 4-input/4send-and-return/2+2-output high-quality mixer was designed with
our experience of both djing needs and requirements in the digital realm as well as the crafting of audio for all
types of users; producers, engineers, artists and djs alike.
We hope you continue to enjoy using Executioner in your projects for now and for future.
Lab:One Recordings © 2014
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to the Executioner betatesters for helping with this product;
Testers:
Timo “Shokstar” Schönbeck (Diploma Audio Engineer)
Navi Retlav
Niel “Bonkhead” Duran
Juan “synclab” Pablo
Jörg Künnemeyer,
William “White Noise Bleed”,
Nicola “NADesign” Alexandra Hadju,
Kim “Equinoxz” Bleus,
Jonny McCupCake
…plus many more (you know who you are, and thanks for participating)
Propellerhead Software (for Reason, the SDK and the concept of the Re)
Promotional video testimonials:
Jason “Shokstar” McKean appears courtesy of
Juan Pablo appears courtesy of synclab
Andrew Skelton appear courtesy of Andrew Skelton Productions
Andrew “DJ EQ” Cox appearance for scratching demonstration
DEDICATIONS & ACCOLADES
To my wife Alicia who after waiting for me to code this up is now a happy bunny (again) :D
This Re is dedicated to all the Propellerhead Reason users & forum threaders, friends, & colleagues we have spoken
to over the years.
Dj Fresha: Thanks goes out to my studio buddies; DOS aka ORCO, Dj EQ, for the support & feedback, all the
betatesters and conception team & individuals for the amazing work and betabug smashing, shouts go out to all
who know me, including FLAVAUNIT crew, REBIRTH massive & SUBTRONIK crew, and of course the Propellerheads,
and the Reason Users & Community
Now let’s get into the Executioner….

EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 DJ MIXER Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason v1.0.1
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Introduction
The Executioner 4:4:2 Dj Mixer is a dedicated rack unit, built as a Rack Extension for the Propellerhead Reason
environment. This device has a maximum of what would be 3U space in the real world. Being a Rack Extension
(Re), this gives you various options of versatility within your projects.
The Executioner features 4 true stereo input pairs of sockets, 4 true stereo send-and-return pairs of sockets, plus 2
true stereo master output sockets and 2 true stereo cue output sockets. Additionally, the mixer has 4 input gain
control knobs, an input routing selection to each channel, 4 return-channel toggles with return gain controls, plus 2
dedicated channel controls (input selection/balance, level, balance, mute, EQ section, kill switches and not
forgetting the dual-mode filter with own frequency, resonance and mode-mix controls)
All these controls are adjustable to suit your application, and these settings can be stored as your own presets
within a Combinator preset. As Executioner is a utility device, you cannot save presets directly within Executioner.
Executioner is designed to be a transparent effect, meaning that if no adjustments are made on the device, the
audio passing through the effect is ‘clean’ and has not been affected by the equalisation filters or the low pass or
high pass filters. This is the ideal, so that no coloration is applied to the sound.

EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 DJ MIXER Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason v1.0.1
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A tour of Executioner
Executioner is based on real-world DJ mixers.
The Front Panel
[1] FOLD-UNFOLD –To allow the RE to be maximized or minimized
[2] TAPE STRIP –Used to identify the RE. Double click to edit
[3] INPUT SECTION –Input source level controls, Input metering, customisable labels, Deck assigning controls
[4] CHANNEL SECTION –Dedicated 3 band EQ gain controls (Bass / Mid / High) & corresponding Kill switches
Dedicated multi-mode filter with filter mix (between types), resonance and frequency controls, plus
Filter activation button
Channel level control, pan control and metering, Cue active buttons, FX active buttons, Mute
buttons
[5] MASTER SECTION - Cue gain control, Cue input selection, Master gain control, Crossfader Curve, Master Output
metering, Channel 1 Deck Balance, Channel 2 Deck Balance, Crossfader
[6] SEND FX SECTION - Return source level controls, source+destination toggle controls, Return metering, customisable
labels
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The Back Panel
[1] FOLD-UNFOLD –To allow the RE to be maximized or minimized
[2] TAPE STRIP –Used to identify the RE. Double click to edit
[3] INPUT AUDIO SOCKETS Used to allow input audio to any of the Input Source locations
& CV SOCKETS & TRIMS –and use CV signals to modulate the gain controls
[4] SEND & RETURN AUDIO SOCKETS
& CV SOCKETS & TRIMS - Used to send audio from and return audio to the designated channel via the
Designation toggle, and use CV signals to modulate the gain controls
[5] ADDITIONAL CV SOCKETS & TRIMS - Used to allow external Control Voltage signals to affect various controls for
additional modulations
[6] MASTER & CUE OUTPUTS - Master audio outputs & Cue audio output sockets

EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 DJ MIXER Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason v1.0.1
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How to connect audio
To connect Executioner you can use Reason’s own auto-connection system, and Executioner will decide the best
way to auto-wire. Alternatively, you may want to use Executioner as a true DJ mixer for live performance mixing –
ideally for this case you may require a multi-channel soundcard (at least 4 outputs is best suited), but there are
workarounds possible if you only have 2 channel basic soundcard.
1) Create a Mix Channel Strip.
2) Shift-create an Executioner DJ mixer –this allows you to freely wire up Executioner.
3) Flip the rack to the back by pressing the TAB key, to show the back of the units. Take the MASTER OUTPUT
sockets and connect them to the Mix Channel
4) Create two sound modules or audio tracks, as points of source audio. Take the outputs of the sound source
(main outs of the rack sound modules, or DIRECT OUT of Mix Channels / Audio Channels) and connect them to your
chosen input audio sockets pair on Executioner (ie Dr.Octorex into Input 1 left & right, ReDrum into Input 2 left and
right).
This is a basic setup, ideal for loop manipulation and sound design. You can expand further on this by adding extra
input sources as well as effects chains using the send and return channels and the various routings (see Using
Effects with Executioner section)

EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 DJ MIXER Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason v1.0.1
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Working with Executioner
So now you know the controls, how to connect Executioner up; now you would want to put your new RE into
action. Primarily, Executioner may be seen as a djing tool, and you’d be correct. But, since we’re talking about a
Rack Extension, the possibilities are way more productive than your everyday dj mixing too.
So what else can we use Executioner for instead of djing? Well, you can use Executioner to create fluid sound
collages and foleys to blend your sounds into one another using all the available controls. Or maybe you want to
get creative with just one stereo signal, split it into two of the input channels and have the crossfader being your
pan while riding the channel faders to have full stereo control…Feel free to explore more of Executioner for your
own projects.
Ok, so let’s start from the beginning to what a dj mixer actually is.
A dj mixer is a simple sound levelling device that allows the user to control commonly two sources (the channels,
usually channel 1 and channel 2) and mix between them by means of a crossfader. The crossfader is the key
‘channel blending’ control, allowing the user to determine when the channel will be heard by the audience.
As djing became more popular and club music began to snowball, the dj mixers got progressively more complex to
allow for ‘on-the-fly’ edits like bass cuts and filter sweeps on transitions, aiming to achieve the best possible impact
on the dancefloor.
Executioner allows these features to be used by means of separate channel controls (levels & gains, pans, eqs,
filters, input selection), Master controls (crossfader, crossfader curve control, master-FX activation, master output
gain, cue output gain and cue source selection), and a dedicated ‘hotswappable’ send-and-return style section to
incorporate stock effects and other Rack Extensions into the mix.
What more advantageous with Executioner is the ability to record your performance as MIDI and audio data in
Reason’s sequencer, allowing you to edit and further manipulate to perfection.
Now we’ll go through a simple setup to create a ‘broken beat’ type of loop.
Recipe:
1 x Mix Channel
1 x Executioner
2x Dr OctoRex’s
Reason Factory Soundband
1) Create a Mix Channel in the Rack
2) Create Executioner in the Rack, via the ‘SHIFT-CREATE’ option, so not to autowire
3) Create 2 Dr OctoRex units directly under Executioner –they should patch into Inputs 1 & 2 of Executioner
4) Flip the rack to the back, and patch the Master Outs of Executioner to the Mix Channel inputs

EXECUTIONER 4:4:2 DJ MIXER Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason v1.0.1
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5) Flip the rack back to the front, and load up a drum loop into each of the Dr OctoRex’s – can be any tempo &
style, as they will be beat-synchronized to the sequencer tempo
6) Move the crossfader of Executioner to the left –this makes Channel 1 the ‘actively heard’ channel for now.
Looking at the Input section you can see Input 1 is pointing to Deck A (see the A/C balance control position). Also
note Input 2 is pointing to Deck B (see the B/D balance control position).
This means that when the crossfader is far left, Input 1 > Deck A = Channel 1, while Input 2 > Deck B > Channel
2.
7) Turn on the LOOP option on the sequencer, and press PLAY. Whilst playing back, move the crossfader between
the two channels. If you find the channel levels are not loud enough or too loud, you can control the volume at
source by adjusting the Input 1 Gain and Input 2 Gain. Yellow LEDs on the metering is just about right.
8) All well and good. Now if you want to record your performance (ie the crossfader), right click on Executioner and
select ‘Create Track for Execute-Dj #’ where # is the unit number. A new sequencer lane will appear. Pressing
RECORD on the sequencer allows the automation to be recorded, so start to move the crossfader and the MIDI
information will record into the sequencer. This is beneficial when you want to edit certain crossfader actions –a
lot faster than trying two or more vertical faders.
You can also bounce the performance as audio, for more editing and effects
For deeper and more complex setups, see the Lab One Recordings Youtube Channel.

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The Input Section
Executioner has a dedicated re-routable input section, which allows up to 4 inputs and routes to 4 possible ‘Decks’.
Each Input has an Input Gain control, an Input to Deck assignable button, Input level metering and an editable
label.
The metering system shows how loud the input is. A single green LED indicates any level between -12dB and –
96dB (CD standard dynamic range). A yellow LED when lit indicates that the level is between -3dB and -12dB
(generally a great position for audio, not too quiet and not too loud). A red LED is your pre-warning : the level is
pretty loud, between -3dB and 0dB, and you could potentially start to clip if you’re not careful. 3 red LEDs is your
big warning –you’ve gone over what would be deemed as ‘digital headroom’, and if left as it is the audio can
suffer from hardclipping. When you see this, back down off the input for a better sound. This metering system
works in the same manner throughout Executioner.
The Channel Section
Executioner has two main channels that allow further control of your sounds. Each channel has a dedicated level
control, pan control, Deck balance control, Bass/Mid/High EQ gain controls and kill switches, Channel Cue, Channel
FX toggle, mute toggle, multi-mode filter and metering.
The level control aids you in setting the overall volume of the channel.
The pan control aids you to set the panoramic placement of the channel, using +6dB pan law (0dB gain at centre
point).
The Deck balance control is a means to level the assigned inputs before the level control –Deck A+C are for
Channel 1, Deck B + D are for Channel 2.
The Bass, Mid and High EQ controls allow you to lower or raise the bass, midrange, or high end signal of the
channel (+12dB to -48dB range). The kill switches completely remove that section of the audio (to –inf dB), for
those classic dj ‘bass-‘, ‘mid-‘ and ‘high-cut’ effects.
The Channel Cue toggle allows the listener to hear the channel through the CUE outputs. This button is used
specifically in PFL (pre-fader-listen) mode (see the Master Section), and has no effect in other CUE modes.
The Channel FX toggle allows you to activate the send-and-return configuration of Executioner so you can patch in
additional effects and signals to the corresponding channel (see the Send Effects Section).
The Channel Mute toggle allows muting of the channel –works well with reverb effect tails (see the Send Effects
Section).
The multi-mode filter is a specially designed filter made for Executioner. It allows you to Low pass to HighPass filter
the channel, and also allows you to Bandpass the channel too, and is determined by the Filter Mix control.
The Filter Mix control determines the balance between LowPass<>Highpass and BandPass modes.