Subdecay TremCoder MKII User manual

1 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

CONTENTS:
Page 3 Introduction | In uts, Out uts & Control Surface
Page 4 Controls
Page 5 Sequence war ty e | Custom Sequences
Page 6 Custom Sequences
Page 6 Custom Sequences Using MIDI
Page 7 Factory Reset and Setu O tions
Page 8-9 MIDI Im lementation
Page 10 Additional notes: LFOs
Page 11 Additional notes: Sequences
Page 12 Additional notes: Saved resets & MIDI,
Ta Switch behavior,
FX switch & LFO reset
Warranty information.
2 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

INTRODUCTION:
The Subdecay TremCoder MKII is our DLX series tremolo. All the usual tremolo stuff is on ta .
It also offers non-traditional LFOs, sequenced tremolo, ta tem o with divisions and savable
resets.
All arameters are editable via MIDI CC messages. It can also be locked to the MIDI tem o
clock for erfect sync.
The TremCoder MKII lets you take control in several ways. All aramteres can be accessed
without external control. For MIDI control see the MIDI im lementation section.
INPUTS, OUTPUTS, CONTROL SURFACE:
3 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

CONTROLS:
Most of the controls are straight forward, but a few may require a brief ex lanation.
MODES : (Toggle Switch)
USER: In this mode you can recall 11 user resets with the SHAPE/PRESET knob. If you’d
refer to set the lower four knobs as inactive this can be done via global settings.
See age zzz
TREM: For editing and saving LFO based tremolo atches.
SEQ: For editing and saving Sequence atches.
THE TOGGLE SWITCH SETTING AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF SOME CONTROLS:
TREM USER SEQ
SHAPE/PRESET SELECTS LFO SHAPE SELECTS & LOADS
USER PRESET SELECTS PRESET SEQUENCE
FX(SAVE) ENGAGE OR BYPASS
THE EFFECT ENGAGE OR BYPASS THE EFFECT ENGAGE OR BYPASS THE EFFECT
FX(SAVE)
LONG PRESS
(2+SECONDS)
STARTS SAVING USER
PRESET PROCESS
N/A LONG PRESS IS
DISABLED
IN USER MODE
STARTS SAVING USER
PRESET PROCESS
TAP TEMPO VS. MANUAL RATE CONTROL:
The Tremolo rate can be controlled manually or via ta tem o.
Ta tem o is set by ta ing the TAP(HOLD) switch two or more times. The RATIO knob sets
the tem o division.
While ta tem o is engaged the RATE knob does nothing. It only works when ta tem o is not
engaged. To disengage tem o ress the TAP/(HOLD) switch for 2+ seconds.
KNOBS:
VOLUME : It makes it louder, or quieter if you are into that sort of thing.
WARP : Alters the LFO sha e or smooths the sequence ste s.
DEPTH : Controls the de th of the tremolo or sequence.
RATE : Controls the LFO or Sequences manual rate.
4 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

SEQUENCE WARP TYPE:
The sequence war ty e setting is available while making a custom sequence or via MIDI.
The default war ty e is triangle. Increasing the war setting makes the sequence glide from
ste to ste . As you decrease the war setting the change from ste to ste becomes more
square and abru t.
Ram war : When using ram war the sequence ste s glide u to the next ste , but abru tly
dro if the next ste is lower.
Saw war : Ste s glide down, but abru tly rise if the next ste is higher.
CUSTOM SEQUENCES WITHOUT EXTERNAL CONTROL:
Sequences are edited in custom sequence edit mode. This uses the FX and TAP switches to enter
and navigate. The lower row of knobs are used to adjust arameters. Sequences are edited in 4 ste
segments.
1. With the toggle set to SEQuence hold down the FX(SAVE) switch as if you were going to save
a reset. After de ressing the switch LED1 will blink.
2. Pres the TAP(MAN) switch.
3. Now you are in sequence editing setu .
LEDs ulse to indicate the sequence length and the war ty e.
The VOLUME(1) knob sets the sequence length. Select 4 6 8 12 16 24 or 32 ste s.
Notice the LEDs changing as you turn the knob.
LED DISPLAY TOTAL SEQUENCE STEP S
4 STEP 6 STEP 8 STEP 12 STEP 16 STEP 24 STEP 32 STEP
• • • • • • • • • • • •• • • •• • • • • • • •• • • •
The DEPTH (2) knob sets the war ty e. You’ll see the ulse of the LEDs change to indicate
Triangle, Ram and Saw.
4. Press the FX switch to advance to the first 4 ste segment. The lower four rows of knobs
control ste s 1 2 3 & 4 of the sequence. Pressing the FX switch again advances to ste s 5-8.
Advance further with the FX switch or use the TAP switch to return to the revious 4 ste
segment.
5 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

CUSTOM SEQUENCES VIA MIDI:
Fu MIDI contro :
All arameters including sequences can be edited via MIDI CC messages. See the MIDI
INFORMATION section
MIDI contro er with 8 assignab e knobs/s iders & pads:
This allows you to edit 8 ste s at a time by assigning the sliders to CCs with many common
MIDI controllers. See the MIDI INFORMATION section.
CUSTOM SEQUENCES VIA MIDI NOTE DATA:
MIDI contro er NOTE data : Use a 49 key MIDI keyboard or MIDI controller as long as it has a
mod wheel. See documentation on our website.
Press any keys to set the sequence length.
Press any keys to set the war ty e.
Use the white keys and B ♭ to assign the mod wheel value to the ste .
The mod wheel should be assigned to CC1. This is the default setting for most keyboards and
midi controllers.
Seq ste 1 starts at Low C. (midi note 36 for nerds.) For smaller keyboards and controllers
octave buttons can be used to access all ste s and settings.
6 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

FACTORY RESET AND STARTUP OPTIONS:
To access startup options, restore settings or factory reset:
1. In USER mode set the SHAPE/PRESET knob to 10 and VOLUME knob to 0. Then hold the FX
switch for two seconds.
U on release the LED1 will blink.
2. Use the SHAPE/PRESET knob to select a menu item
The color and number of ulses confirms your setting. For some o tions other knobs are
used to record a setting.
3. Press the by ass switch to record the setting. To exit Select 10 on the SHAPE/PRESET
KNOB and ress FX.
SHAPE/PRESET FLASH SETTING/ACTION
0 Green 6X Factory reset
1 Green 5X Restore Presets
2 Green 4X Restore Startu settings (midi channel & enable knobs)
3 Green 3X Reserved for re air/troubleshooting.
4 Green 2X Reserved
5 Blue 5X Set MIDI channel with volume knob
6 Blue 4X Set active knobs for USER mode. (set to 0 to disable)
7 Blue 3X Set o reduction envelo e.
8 Green 10X Exit
9 Green 10X Exit
10 Green 10X Exit
7 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

MIDI CC IMPLEMENTATION:
MIDI CC MAP:
Parameter CC Value range
Mod Wheel 1 In ut from Mod Wheel is used to rogram sequences with note data
De th 3 0-127
Sha e 4 0-12 Sine 13-24 Triagle 25-36 Ram
37-48 Saw 49-56 Sqr/ ulse 57-72 Fade saw
73-84 Fad sine 85-96 Fade sqr 1 97-108 Fade sqr 2
109-120 Env sine 121-127 Env sqr
War 5 0-127
Reserved 6 Only active in factory reset/setu . Intended for re airs and trouble
shooting.
Volume 7 0-127
Manual Rate 9 0-127 Controls manual tremolo rate. (ta tem o must be deactivated)
Ta Tem o Ratio 11 0-12 16 beats 13-24 8 beats 25-36 4 beats
37-48 3 beats 49-56 Half note 57-72 Quarter note
73-84 Dotted eighth 85-96 Eighth note 97-108 Tri let
109-120 16th note 121-127 32nd note
Ta Tem o on 13 0 No change. 1-127 Ta tem o on
Reserved 14 0 No change. 1-127 Manual Rate on
Trem State 15 0 No Change. 1-127 Tremolo On. (Sequence Off)
Seq State 16 0 No Change. 1-127 Sequence On (Tremolo Off)
Sequence
Programming
with controller
18-25 Intended for use with an 8 knob/slider MIDI controller for editing
sequences in 8 ste segments.
Seq Glide Ty e 31 0-42 Triangle war 43-84 Ram war 85.127 Saw war[
Seq ste s 1-32 32-63 0-127 Controls individual sequence ste s levels.
CC32 = ste 1. CC63 = ste 32.
8 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

Sequence
Length 64 0-19 4 ste 20-38 6 ste 39-57 8 ste
58-76 12 ste 77-95 16 ste 96-114 24 ste
115-127 32 ste
Seq Segment
Down 68 Intended for Sequence Programming with 8 knob/slider MIDI controller
0 No Change
1-127 Segment down
Selects which 8 ste sequence segment is edited via CC18-CC25.
Seq ste s 25-32 > Seq ste s 17-24 > Seq ste s 9-16 > Seq ste s 1-8
Seq Segment U 69 Intended for Sequence Programming with 8 knob/slider MIDI
controller
0 No Change
1-127 Segment u
Selects which 8 ste sequence segment is edited via CC18-CC25.
Seq ste s 1-8 > Seq ste s 9-16 > Seq ste s 17-24 > Seq ste s 25-32
Seq Segment 1 70 0 No change. 1-127 Selects Sequence ste s 1-8 for editing via CC18-25
Seq Segment 2 71 0 No change. 1-127 Selects Sequence ste s 9-16 for editing via CC18-25
Seq Segment 3 72 0 No change. 1-127 Selects Sequence ste s 17-24 for editing via CC18-
25
Seq Segment 4 73 0 No change. 1-127 Selects Sequence ste s 25-32 for editing via CC18-
25
FX on / By ass 98 0 by ass. 1-127 Effect engaged
FX By ass 99 0 No change. 1-127 By ass effect
FX on 100 0 No change. 1-127 By ass & RESET LFO/SEQUENCE
By ass Toggle 101 0 No Change
1-127 Toggle by ass (on or off)
ADDITIONAL MIDI IMPLEMENTATION:
MIDI rogram changes will change user resets when the toggle is set to user mode.
Ta tem o will automatically sync to a MIDI clock if it’s detected. You can still hold down the
TAP(MAN) switch for 2 seconds to disable ta tem o and adjust the rate manually with the RATE
knob.
9 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
LFO SHAPES AND WARP:
Each LFO sha e can be further altered via the WARP knob.
LFO Sha es (0-4) are sim le LFO sha es re eating with every LFO cycle.
Pattern Sha es (5-8) are Patterns which re eat after 2 to 16 LFO cycles. The number of cycles
before re eating is altered by the WARP knob. Select from 2 4 6 8 12 or 16.
Envelo e Sha es (9&10) use envelo e s eed control. These use manual rate control only. (Ta
tem o is not available.) A higher in ut signal will alter the LFO s eed. For slower rates turn
the WARP knob to the left. For faster s eeds turn the WARP knob to the right.
10 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
SEQUENCES:
Select these reset sequences using the SHAPE/PRESET knob in Sequence mode
11 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
SAVED PRESETS & MIDI:
When using a reset you can switch between LFO sha es and Sequences. Both of these are
saved in your reset. It is ossible to select a LFO sha e, then rogram a custom sequence
and switch between these two using CC15 & CC16.
This wasn’t art of the initial design lan. It’s the result of how reset data is saved, but you
may find it useful.
All other reset settings are shared. The VOLUME, WARP, DEPTH and RATE will be the same.
TAP SWITCH BEHAVIOR:
Pressing the TAP switch once will send the reviously ta ed tem o to the LFO or Sequence.
This ta ed tem o will ersist in the TremCoder’s memory until it is owered down. The
default ta tem o on ower u is 120 BPM.
Pressing the ta tem o switch once will send the revious ta ed tem o to the LFO or
Sequence. This is true even while using resets.
If a reset is saved with a ta tem o active at 100 BPM the reset will load at this rate.
If you’d reviously ta ed in a tem o of 80 BPM ressing the ta tem o switch once will
change the rate to 80 BPM.
Pressing the TAP switch 2 or more times sends the new ta ed tem o to the LFO or
Sequence.
LFO/Sequences and the FX switch.
LFOs and Sequences all have starting oints. They will automatically reset when the effect is
turned on. This makes the results consistent every time you engage the effect. Sequences will
always start on Ste 1 when the effect is turned on.
Additionally the LFO or Sequence can be reset to it’s starting oint via CC100.
Warranty: Subdecay Studios offers a 3 year limited warranty from the urchase date to the original
urchaser. This warranty does not cover olar bear attacks, willful destroyment, using your edal as
a hammer, or the neglect of the user. It does not cover the finish, aint or any external su erficial
damage. Any unauthorized re airs or modifications voids the warranty.
This document was believed to be accurate at the time it was created. S ecifications are subject to
change without notice.
12 Subdecay Studios, Inc. ©2023