Sonicware SmplTrek User manual

User'sManual
TRK-010-UM-01-EN

2
Thank you very much for purchasing a SONICWARE SmplTrek.
The SmplTrek is a battery-powered hand-held sampler that can easily
capture sounds whenever and wherever using the built-in mic, audio
inputs and USB audio sources, for example.
A single song (project) can have up to 16 scenes, and each scene
has a 10-track sequencer. In addition, 3 Global audio tracks support
long recordings of vocals and instrumental performances.
A choice of 36 eects, including mastering eects, can be used for
music production with various track types (loop, one-shot, instru-
ment, drum and MIDI).
Sampling can be done with the built-in mic, the line inputs and smart-
phones, PCs and Macs connected by USB. The built-in eects can
also be applied while sampling.
Sampled sounds can be played back using various types of tracks
prepared in scenes to produce music.
These are designed for sampling phrases played on drums, guitars
and other instruments and looping them in single scenes.
Use these to play one-shot samples, such as sound effects and
crash cymbals, once. Sequence patterns can also be made using
one-shot samples.

3
Use these to play phrases in scales on the keyboard with samples of
single notes from pianos, guitars and other real instruments.
Use these to make drum patterns with bass drums, snares, hi-hats
and other drum sounds.
These are piano-role type sequencer tracks for creating phrases to
use with external MIDI equipment.
These are independent audio tracks that can span multiple scenes.
Use these for recording vocals and other performances that contin-
ue through a song, for example.
Compact and weighing only 550 grams, the SmplTrek is easy to car-
ry around.
With battery power, music production and streaming are possible
anytime anywhere.
By connecting a smartphone or PC/Mac and using the audio inter-
face functions, you can quickly livestream music you have made.
Multiple devices, including external synthesizers and drum machines,
can be connected to the MIDI and SYNC connectors, allowing them
to be synchronized and used together.

4
Preparing a power supply……………… 11
Starting up ………………………………… 11
Direction, OK and CLR buttons ……… 12
Control and VALUE knobs …………… 12
Relationship between built-in speaker and
mic …………………………………………… 13
Turning LED pad LAUNCH mode on/o 13
Relationship between scene and clip
lengths ……………………………………… 14
Selecting projects ……………………… 17
Saving projects ………………………… 18
Naming and saving projects ………… 19
Selecting the recording source ……… 20
Sampling the source …………………… 21
Sampling in time with a metronome or
backing track ……………………………… 23
Using the tuner ………………………… 24
Resampling ……………………………… 25
Opening the sample pool ……………… 26
Sample pool basic operations ……… 27
Loading samples ………………………… 28
Folder structure on cards …………… 29
Importing loops from PC/Mac computers
…………………………………………………… 30
Supported WAV formats ……………… 30
Recommended format ………………… 30
Making scene settings ………………… 31
Copying scenes ………………………… 32
Clearing scenes ………………………… 33
Track types ……………………………… 34
Setting track types …………………… 35
Copying entire tracks ………………… 36
Clearing entire tracks ………………… 37
Setting the length of the current clip
(LENGTH/NOTE) ………………………… 38
Copying clips ……………………………… 39
Clearing clips ……………………………… 40
Overview …………………………………… 41
LOOP Track Editing Screen ………… 42
Loading samples
(SELECT SAMPLE) ……………………… 43
Recording in real time ………………… 47
Adjusting sample intervals
(LOOP POS) ……………………………… 48
Looper recording ………………………… 49
Overview …………………………………… 51
Switching between sequence and pad per-
formance modes ………………………… 52
SHOT Track Editing Screen ………… 53
Loading samples
(SELECT SAMPLE) ……………………… 54
Adjusting sample intervals
(POSITION) ………………………………… 57
Recording in real time ………………… 59
Step recording …………………………… 61
Recording pad performances
(SHOT REC) ……………………………… 62
Overview …………………………………… 63
Loading samples
(SELECT SAMPLE) ……………………… 64
Setting intervals used and loop points for
samples …………………………………… 65
Setting envelopes ……………………… 66
Setting the base note ………………… 67
INST Track Editing Screen …………… 68
Real-time recording …………………… 69
Step recording …………………………… 70
Setting the keyboard scale …………… 71
Importing SMF les ……………………… 72

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Overview …………………………………… 73
Selecting kits (SELECT KIT) ………… 74
DRUM Track Editing Screen ………… 75
Real-time recording …………………… 76
Step recording …………………………… 77
Setting MIDI note numbers for individual
pads ………………………………………… 78
Importing SMF les ……………………… 79
Overview …………………………………… 80
MIDI Track Editing Screen …………… 81
Real-time recording …………………… 82
Step recording …………………………… 83
Setting MIDI CC numbers …………… 84
Setting the scale ………………………… 85
Importing SMF les ……………………… 86
Overview …………………………………… 87
GLOBAL Screen basic operations … 88
Recording ………………………………… 89
Splitting regions ………………………… 91
Switching take assignments ………… 92
Joining regions …………………………… 93
Adjusting individual region levels … … 94
Overview …………………………………… 95
Connecting a smartphone, PC or Mac to
the SmplTrek by USB ………………… 96
Playing audio from a smartphone, PC or
Mac ………………………………………… 97
Sampling audio from a smartphone, PC or
Mac ………………………………………… 98
HOLD/GATE ……………………………… 99
Clearing settings ………………………… 100
Overview …………………………………… 101
Setting the input source ……………… 102
Selecting audio les …………………… 103
Making audio le settings …………… 104
HOLD/GATE ……………………………… 105
Cross-fading with the project level … 106
Clearing settings ………………………… 107
LoFi (LOOP, SHOT) ……………………… 108
LoFi (INST, GLOBAL) …………………… 109
PITCH (SHOT) …………………………… 110
PITCH (INST) ……………………………… 111
Basic mixer screen operation
(level meters) …………………………… 112
Basic mixer screen operation
(PRM VALUE) …………………………… 113
Making specic EQ settings ………… 114
Insert eects ……………………………… 115
Send eects ……………………………… 117
Side-chain compression
(SC COMP) ………………………………… 119
Master eects …………………………… 120
Chopping (automatic slicing) ………… 122
Chopping (manual slicing) …………… 124
Trimming …………………………………… 126
Time stretching ………………………… 128
Normalizing ………………………………… 130
Mono mixing ……………………………… 131
Renaming samples ……………………… 132
Copying samples to projects ………… 133
Copying samples to the sample pool 134
Deleting samples ……………………… 135
Copying projects and saving with new
names (SAVE AS) ……………………… 136
Renaming projects ……………………… 137
Deleting projects ………………………… 138
Mixing down ……………………………… 139
Exporting stem les …………………… 140
Setting project parameters ………… 141
Changing LED pad colors
(TRACK COLOR) ………………………… 142
Copying tracks (COPY) ……………… 143
Clearing tracks (CLEAR) ……………… 144
Changing how many times scenes repeat

6
(REPEAT) ………………………………… 145
Copying scenes (COPY) ……………… 146
Clearing scenes (CLEAR) ……………… 147
Editing ……………………………………… 148
Adjusting individual instruments on LED
pads (INST PRM) ……………………… 149
Adjusting drum kit levels and LoFi settings
(KIT PRM) ………………………………… 151
Adjusting drum kit LED pad colors (PAD
COLOR) …………………………………… 152
Checking drum kit sounds with reverb 153
(SEND FX FOR CHECK) ……………… 153
Deleting drum kits (DELETE) ……… 155
Renaming drum kits …………………… 156
Connecting as an audio interface … 157
Setting quantization …………………… 158
Connecting with other devices ……… 159
Setting the clock ………………………… 160
Setting track MIDI channels ………… 162
Setting MIDI channels for the unit … 163
Making other MIDI settings ………… 164
Pad sensitivity setting ………………… 165
Battery setting …………………………… 166
Automatic power o function ………… 167
Resetting the unit to the factory default
state ………………………………………… 168
Checking system version information 169
Card reader mode ……………………… 170
Formatting ………………………………… 171
Updating the rmware ………………… 172

7
Sample using the
built-in mic and
inputs.
Create new projects and manage exist-
ing ones, including selection, renaming
and deletion.
Adjust the level, pan-
ning and other parame-
ters of each track.
Each scene can
have 10 sequenc-
er tracks and
3 global audio
tracks.
Uses of these
velocity-sensi-
tive pads with
full-color LEDs
include track
playback and
keyboard per-
formance.
The SmplTrek can be used as
a 2-in/2-out audio interface
by connecting it by USB to a
smartphone or PC/Mac.
Along with SYNC IN/OUT jacks, MIDI IN/
OUT connectors can be used with external
MIDI devices. Other connectors include IN-
PUT jacks with switchable impedance and
a built-in mic that is convenient for sam-
pling with just this unit.
Up to 3 of the
36 built-in ef-
fects can be
used simultane-
ously.
A single project is
made of up to 16
scenes.
Manage all sam-
ples and trim,
normalize, stretch
and otherwise edit
them in the sam-
ple pool.

8
Adjusts input gain of
built-in mic
Select items shown at
bottom of screen
Adjusts head-
phone/speaker
level
Adjust items A –
D on screen
Changes values
on screen
Move up, down,
left and right to
select items
Adjust gain of
INPUT L and R
Change octaves
when playing
LED pads
Play tracks and play notes as a
keyboard, for example
Press the func
button with other
buttons to switch
to submenus
Play projects
Move playback
position back-
ward
Use for sample and
sequence recording
Open the SAM-
PLING Screen
Stop playback
Move playback
position forward
Open the PROJ-
ECT MENU
Open the POOL
Screen
Open the MIXER
Screen
Open the EF-
FECTS Screen
Open the Home
Screen
Open the SYS-
TEM MENU
Open track edit-
ing screens
Open the INPUT
SETTING Screen
Play scenes
and specify se-
quence steps

USB
9
OUT
SYNC
IN
OUT
MIDI
OUT
LINE
IN
IN
OUT
LINE
IN
OUT
MIDI
IN
SYNC
OUTIN
DC9V
21 3 4 65 7 8 109 11 12 1413 15 16
stutter
RANDOMFXPRMLOCK 1/3 2/4
VALUE
LINEIN DUCKING FXAMOUNT PTN BPM VOL
velo ptnlevel global
save prmrec
PTN
MIXER
func
shift
MEMORY KITEDIT COPY PASTE UNDO REDO BASS PTN DRUM CLOCKMETRO MIDICH MIDI DATA SYSTEM GAIN
fxtype
bank
MEMORY
speed sweep
ASSIGN1
range
ASSIGN2 DIMENSION
sweep
OCTAVEBASS
BASS
fx
glide tie
DRUM
fx fx
EX6EX5
KICK1 CYMBAL1 EX2EX1 EX3 EX4
CYMBAL2 CLAP STICK KICK2 SNARE2SNARE1 HAT1 HAT2
kick1
KICK
snare1 tune
SNARE LEVEL
hat1
HAT OTHERS
PITCHRATE DEPTH RELEASE&GATE M.GUN
SN1/ /KICK1/ HT1/ ex4ex3tuneex1 ex2 EX1/
pad muteselect
DRUM STEP
kit
hat2
TIME

10
One project cor-
responds to one
song.
Each project has 16
scenes.
Each scene makes a
somewhat unified sec-
tion, such as an intro,
verse A, verse B, cho-
rus and ending.
Even when the scene
changes, the track
type does not change.
For example, if Track
1 is an INST track, it
will always function as
an INST track in every
scene.
A phrase on a specif-
ic track in a specific
scene is called a clip.
The SmplTrek has settings
and functions that work on
entire scenes, settings and
functions that work on en-
tire tracks, and settings and
functions that work only on
specic clips.
Load samples from the sample pool
to use them in LOOP, INST and SHOT
tracks.
The three GLOBAL tracks
can be used to record
over multiple scenes. Use
these for lead and back-
ing vocals, for example.
Each project can
have up to 10 tracks.
Each track corre-
sponds to a part in
the song, for exam-
ple guitar, bass or
drums.
The five types of
tracks are LOOP,
INST, SHOT, DRUM
and MIDI.

Press and hold the POWER switch until SmplTrek appears on the
display.
Press and hold the POWER switch until the display turns o.
11
An AC adapter is included.
6 AA batteries
“Low Battery” will appear on
the display if the remaining
battery charge is low. Replace
the batteries immediately.
When using nickel-metal hydride bat-
teries or lithium batteries, change the
battery setting. ( →P.166)
DC12V

12
To keep this manual from becoming too complex, not every item
that can be operated using the direction, OK and CLR buttons is ex-
plained.
On many screens, the direction, OK and CLR buttons can be used in
addition to knobs.
Use these to change/adjust parameters shown on the screen.
These knobs are also switches. They are mainly used in the following
two ways.
Turning knobs for parameters that have many steps will change the
value by 10 or 100 steps at a time, for example. (PITCH is one such
parameter.)
Precise adjustments can be made by
.
When a downward pointing arrow is shown for a parameter,
will open that menu.
Turn normally Turn while pressing
PITCH
0
PITCH
100
PITCH
0
PITCH
1

13
When the built-in mic is selected as the input source, the built-in
speaker will automatically be turned o. ( →P.20)
Built-in speaker on
Built-in mic o
Built-in speaker o
Built-in mic on
By default, pressing an LED pad will that track and
it simultaneously. To select a track without playing it, press
the left button to turn LAUNCH mode o.
LAUNCH mode on/o

14
Scene lengths are given priority over clip lengths.
For this reason, clips will be adjusted to match the scene length. The
playback of clips will be looped if the scene is longer or cut o if the
scene is shorter.

15
Project name
Track type
Track with input data
Turn LAUNCH
mode on/o
Set tempo
Select with direction
buttons
Tempo
Scene number
Master level
Speaker/built-in mic status
Current location
This plays the
project.
Press the right
selection but-
ton to open the
TEMPO Screen.
Use or
(tap) to change
the tempo.
This stops playback of the project/scene. Press again to
return to the beginning of the project.
Press the STEP button for a scene to
start playing it in a loop. Press it again to
stop.
If another STEP button is pressed during
playback, that scene will start playing af-
ter the current scene nishes.
Press the LED pad for a track to start
playing it. Press it again to stop.
(The track will not start playing.)
Open the Home
Screen

16
Selected Lit white
Playing Blinking white
Recording Lit red
Recording standby Blinking red
Playback standby/
paused Blinking green
Playing Gently blinking green
Data loaded Lit in set color
Empty Unlit
Data loaded Lit yellow
Playing Lit green
Selected Lit orange
Unavailable/empty Unlit

17
Press .
In the PROJECT MENU, select .
Turn to select a project, and press or .

18
Press .
In the PROJECT MENU, select .
Select .

19
Press .
In the PROJECT MENU, select .
Select , and press .
Input the name, and press the right utton.

20
Press + . (The button lights orange.)
Turn to select the input source.
Explanation Connectors
used
Built-in mic
Hi-Z with guitar,
bass, etc.
Gain
control INPUT L
Dynamic mic Gain
control INPUT R
Stereo line input PAD
ON/OFF INPUT L/R
Mono line input PAD
ON/OFF INPUT L
USB USB
Resampling Track
selection
Press to turn on monitoring.
When monitoring is on, use to adjust the monitoring level.
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