Lab:One Recordings ZPLANE User manual

Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
Rack Extension for Reason
Instruction Manual
MORPHING
FILTER

Page 2
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
Contents
Page Subject
3: Thank You, cknowledgements & Dedications
4: Introduction
5: brief guide to ZPlane
9 : Working with ZPlane
11: Using the Dual Function Display
12: CV Inputs & controls
13: MIDI Implementation chart
14: How to ‘latch’ your own MIDI via Remote Overriding
16: Licence greement

Page 3
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
TH NK YOU
We thank you for expressing your confidence by purchasing one of our effect units; in this case the
ZPlane Morphing Filter. This 2-channel high-quality effect unit was designed with our experience of
creating in the digital realm as well as the crafting of audio for all types of users; producers,
engineers and artists alike.
We hope you continue to enjoy using ZPlane in your projects for now and for future.
Lab:One Recordings © 2017
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to all of the Lab One lpha Team for all the testing, comments, suggestions and feedback, as
well as aiding us to bring our products to you.
Propellerhead Software (for Reason, the SDK and the concept of the Re)
Presets designed by:
DEDIC TIONS
This Re is dedicated to all the Propellerhead Reason users & forum threaders, friends, & colleagues
we have spoken to over the years.
DjFresha: Thanks goes out to my studio buddies; Dos aka Ocro, Dj EQ, for the support & feedback,
shouts go out to all who know me; Ben ‘Devious’, ndy ‘Ruthless’, Scott ‘Sniper’, the REBIRTH crew
and SCHTUM massive (Pete C, Kalist, ybee), and all who continue to work with and support us.
lso not forgetting my family for the support, and last but by no means least, my wife licia who
now enjoys the fact that we can bring products to your guys faster is now a happy bunny :D
Now let’s get into ZPlane….

Page 4
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
In
InIn
Introduction
troductiontroduction
troduction
ZPlane is a dedicated rack unit, built as a Rack Extension for the Propellerhead Reason environment.
This device has a maximum of what would be 1U space in the real world – the classic 19in rack unit.
Being a Rack Extension (Re), this gives you various options of versatility within your projects.
ZPlane features at a glance:
Two Full Frequency Range Filter bands
Independent Frequency controls
Independent Resonance controls (with tightness control)
Independent Gain controls (with double gain control)
Independent Invert Filter band (audio signal inversion)
Central Filter balance control (Morph / Mixing)
Mixing and Morphing modes
7 Independent Filter modes
Dual Function Display
‘Ears only’ mode to disable the display
ll these controls are adjustable to suit your application, and these settings can be stored as part of
a Combinator preset (when combined) as well as settings stored within your project. Due to the
minimal amount of controls needed, the need for presets is not required due to the efficiency and
speed you can dial in your settings.
ZPlane features two audio inputs and two audio outputs, which are processed independently; this
allows you to have two totally separate signals being processed together at the same time using
one set of controls. Mono operation is also an option (see ‘How to connect audio’ section).
For reference, the key groups of controls are:
FREQUENCY: To set the frequency of the chosen filter
RESON NCE (Q): To set the Q(uality) of the filter – higher resonance = more audible
‘spike’. Double resonance can create sonically loud frequency points.
G IN: To set the gain of the filter – only affects Shelving and EQ filter modes.
X2 mode allows for double gain level (from +-18dB to +-36dB)
MORPH: Balance between the two bands: Morphing incorporates filter frequency,
resonance and gain (where relevant) levelling. Mixing only balances
filter outputs and does not interpolate between frequency / resonance /
gain
MODE: Determines whether you are morphing or mixing the filters
FILTER TYPES: Selection of filters including Low Pass, High Pass, Band Pass, EQ, Band
Reject, Low Shelf and High Shelf modes.
Zplane is designed to be a transparent effect depending on the filter type in action. Shelving filters
as well as EQ filters set to zero dB gain should have no apparent effect on the audio signal and
would appear ‘dry’ to the user / listener.

Page 5
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
brief guide of ZPlane
ZPlane is based on Red Queen 3-Mode 10-Band Equalizer’s Zplane function.
The Front Panel
] Bypass Switch (Bypass effect / Enable effect / Disable effect)
B] Frequency control
C] Resonance control trim & double resonance toggle
D] Gain control trim & double gain toggle
E] Invert phase of audio filter (to output)
F] Filter mode selector
G] Morph control
H] Dual Function Display (meters, filter curve plot)
K] Device Label
The folded front view includes the Bypass switch ( ) and the Device Label (K).
A D H K
B BC CD DE EGF F J

Page 6
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
The filter frequency controls set the frequency centre of the filter – this can range from 20Hz to 22000kHz
– the full frequency spectrum of human listening (at most).
The filter resonance controls determine the ‘sharpness’ of the filter. Low resonance settings can create
‘smoother’ sounding filters that roll off gently making it a little harder to hear differences across small
frequency ranges (good for tonal shaping). Higher resonance can introduce ‘ringing’ at the frequency
centre (which may be desirable for riser effects). Experiment to find the right setting for you & your
sounds.
The gain controls are used to effect the shelf filters and the EQ filters (all other filters are not affected by
gain). djusting the gain will determine the amount of the shelf / EQ filter that will affect the processed
signal.
The INV toggles will take the result of the filtered audio and invert it. Reason for using this may be that
when morphing / mixing the filters you may find an inverted filtered audio sign combined with a regular
filtered audio signal can sound better / different from both being the same polarity. Experimentation is
key here to get the best results (there’s no right or wrong way, just ‘different’ methods).
The Morph control allows you to balance between Band 1 and Band 2. Used in conjunction with the Mode
control, you can decide if you want to mix the filters or morph between the filters. Used with the
previously mentioned filter controls you can create different types of effect purely with just the filters
themselves.
The Dual Function Display allows you to see the metering before and after filter processing, plus an
additional mode to view the two filter bands (depending on the separate filter controls as well as
the Morph control setting). Yellow indicates Band 1 filter curve, Blue indicates Band 2 filter curve.

Page 7
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
The Back Panel
] State indicator
B] Frequency CV + trim controls
C] Resonance level CV + trim controls
D] Gain Frequency CV + trim controls
E] Morph CV + trim controls
F] Device Label
G] udio Input & Output sockets
The udio Inputs & Outputs [G] are used to connect ZPlane to various modules within the
Propellerhead Reason environment, in a form of either an insert or a send effect.
Connecting up the audio sockets can be done automatically by Reason, or can be manually done to
your own requirements. Mono devices, when connecting a new ZPlane to them, can automatically
route their mono signal in to the left channel, and the left output of ZPlane is connected to the
originally wired socket of the mono device, closing the audio loop. Stereo devices can automatically
connect their outputs to the left and right inputs of ZPlane, and ZPlane completes the audio chain by
connecting its outputs to the originally connected stereo pair sockets.
Each audio socket processes the audio separately from each other within ZPlane. Left and right
channels never mix within ZPlane. This ensures that if you have two separate mono devices
connected to ZPlane, the settings on ZPlane affect both channels at the same time with the same
amount of effect.
The State Indicator allows you to see if the unit is CTIVE (green), BYP SSED (red) or OFF (black, off).
This helps when cabling up what the signal chain is actually doing.
B BC CD DE G
F
A

Page 8
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
How to connect audio
To connect ZPlane you can use Reason’s own auto-connection system, and Stim ZPlane ulant will
decide the best way to auto-wire; if you have a mono-output device (Subtractor, for example), and
you wish to add ZPlane to it, ZPlane will auto-connect the Subtractor output to the Left input, and
then continue to route the Left output of the ZPlane to the Left input of the mix-channel (or next
device in your processing chain).
You can do any of the following to create ZPlane;
a) right-click (Win) / CTRL-click (Mac) on the device, select ‘Create Device’, choose sub-menu ‘Studio
Effects’, and select ‘ZPlane Morphing Filter’ from the listing.
b) with the device selected, use the ‘Create’, select ‘Create Device’, choose sub-menu ‘Studio Effects’
and select ‘ZPlane Morphing Filter’ from the listing
c) using the Tool Palette in Reason (F8), select ‘Studio Effects’ when in the ‘Devices’ tab, and locate
the ‘ZPlane Morphing Filter’ device, click on the icon and drag it to the device you wish to add it to.

Page 9
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
Working with ZPlane
ZPlane is designed to be a flexible device, allowing it to be used however you see best fit. Only
typical applications will be listed in this manual.
) Using ZPlane as an insert (mix channel setup).
In setup ( ), this would use ZPlane as an insert effect. This means that whatever control you adjust
on ZPlane, it will affect the total sound coming out of the sampler / synth module. If ZPlane is in
bypass mode, the audio playing would still sound ‘clean’ and unaffected.
Reason sampler /
synth module
Reason
Mix Channel
ZPlane
Right Input
ZPlane
Left Input
Right Output
Left Output
ZPlane
Right
Output
ZPlane
Left Output
Mix Channel
Right Input
Mix Channel
Left Input
Reason
Master Channel

Page 10
Z
-
PLANE
Instruction Manual
V1.0
B) Using ZPlane as a send effect (mix / audio channel setup).
In setup (B), this would use ZPlane as a send effect. This means that whatever control you adjust on
ZPlane, it will affect the sound coming from the Master Section at a set amount, determined by the
Send Effect dial on that specific Mix / udio channel. This means you can have a clean sound mixed
with an altered equalized sound. This is known as Parallel Processing, and may be desired in some
cases.
gain you can adjust ZPlane as mentioned in setup ( ) above, with the addition of the SEND dial
located on the Main Mixer in Reason. Full left setting of the SEND dial has no effect on the sound,
while full right setting of the SEND dial will send a maximum level possible to ZPlane. This means
you can have one ZPlane as a send device for all your audio channels. For best practice, enable
MONITOR mode, when used as a Send effect (to prevent ‘doubling’ of source audio).
lternative setups
For devices which have multiple outputs (ie NN-XT, Redrum, Thor, Spider udio), then if required
additional ZPlane units could be added as either mono-devices (only connecting left audio input &
output sockets), or as stereo devices. This in turn allows you to edit specific sounds within a preset if
you so wish (ie split zone instrument patches may have a bass guitar for one half of the keymap,
while a synth lead is using the other half, and you wish to effect the sounds independently). See the
next page for more examples of setups.
nother possible option would be to use one instance of ZPlane, and have 2 mono devices linked
into it (ie guitar lead and guitar bass), and process both inputs in parallel, and output the two
signals to two separate mixer channels. This may be desired to help use the same settings on two
mono devices at the same time.
Reason sampler / synth module
Reason
udio Channel 1
Mix channel 1
Right Input
Mix channel 1
Left Input
Right Output Left Output
ZPlane
Inputs
Reason Master Section
Reason
Mix Channel 1
ZPlane
Outputs
Return inputs
Send
Outputs
udio Clips
on sequencer