ReD Drum Manual

RD Drum Instructions

Dear User,

Thank you for purchasing the RD Drum! This concept follows on from my earlier 'semi-modular' devices, such as the Red Dwarf (hence the RD name). If this is your first experience with the RD concept, here's the idea:

All synths and sound making devices have some basic building blocks. In the case of a drum machine, the most important are the various sound sources, such as kick drum, hihat, snare, etc. Since many people have a different idea as to what sounds should be used, plus my wanting to make a more 'open' system, I've used this RD module concept, which allows the user to load any type of sound module in any channel. The concept is that the main 'host' device has insert slots for its basic building blocks, but is essentially an empty 'shell' waiting to be filled. There's a number of modules included in the RD Drum Zip package, and other third party developers will be bringing out their own versions of sound modules which will be compatible with the RD Drum 'shell'. I've also included 4 useful modules from the RD series II (which is a set of some 77 modules, sold separately).

Also, a special thanks to Wolfgang Rüter, who contributed the bulk of the factory presets, as well as several suggestions to improve the functioning and structure of the RD Drum. Also to Stephen Hummel, who put together a 3MB file of samples from his TR-808 along with presets for use in the RD Drum. These are listed in the preset list folder as 'wavelength808'. Finally, thanks as well to the other beta testers who supported this effort!

Installation

The RD Drum Zip file contains the following:
1) The device itself
2) A folder of all the presets
3) A folder of all the drum modules
4) A folder containing 4 RD series II modules
5) This README file

A folder of 808 samples, courtesy of Stephen Hummel (wavelength)sample file is delivered in a separate Zip file, for easier downloading.

Since the RD concept uses stereo effects insert slots, all of the presets use the "Reference Resolver" in SFP to find things, if the modules are not where the presets expect them to be. For ease of use, here are the locations that the factory presets expect the folders to be:

C:\SFP\Devices\Effects\Stereo\RD Drum Modules
C:\SFP\Devices\Effects\Stereo\RD II modules
C:\SFP\Samples\808

Of course, you can set up the reference resolver to find things where you prefer to locate them. In the floating 'Live Bar', look under 'Set' for 'Search Options'. There you can direct the Scope software to find things as you like.

The presets should go in whatever directory you normally use. (I have mine in C:\SFP\Presets\Synths\, but this you set in your Scope Settings/Default Directories menu).
Likewise, you can put the device where you like. Some use the Devices/Synths folder, some set up a Zarg folder in the Plugins folder (C:\SFP\Devices\Plug-Ins).
I have a Zarg folder set up like this: C:\SFP\Zarg RD. This brings up a separate menu bar location in SFP...but do as you like!

(In the future, there may be a special folder for the files. We are in discussion with some of the other third parties who are developing compatible RD Drum modules, and there is a strong possibility we will agree on a standard folder location. The main reason is to make easier the right-click option of selecting modules for the insert slots; a standardized folder location would allow for less menu searches when right-clicking over the insert slot.)

RD Drum Description

Here is a basic description of the unit: you have 8 insert slots, with a delay on each slot. On the sequencer page you have 8 rows relating to these slots, with a control row for Gates and another for Velocities. In the sequencer, you also have variable step length and time division selectors for each row, allowing for some fun polyrhythmic creations.

Each channel on the Main page has the following (from top to bottom, left to right):

1) Insert Slot to load RD modules
2) LED to show active gate input (will not show anything if there's no module loaded in the slot)
3) A MIDI note number field to set as the channel's note
4) Enable WAV Pitch&Gate button - a button to switch the pitch and gate type of the slot, used primarily for the Wav Osc+Amp modules
5) Mute Group 1 and 2 buttons (MG1, MG2)
6) Delay Bypass
7) Delay MIDI tempo division/Time value switch
8) Division value popup, or Time knob (depends on switch)
9) a Practice button. When this is on, no signal is fed to the delay line.
10) a Reset Loop button. To use as a looping delay (default application), delay feedback is set to 127; this will clear the delay
loop (feedback to zero) and then reset the feedback value to 127. to set it otherwise, please use the 'D' button to access the Feedback parameter
11) 3 stereo effects insert slots
12) An RD Module slot for Pan Modulation (typically a gated LFO, from the RD series II group. The Gated Triangle is included in your RD Drum package)
13) The Midi beat division popup for the Pan Mod slot
14) Initial pan knob
15) Solo and Mute buttons
16) Channel level
17) 'D' button - Display button to view the delay line parameter details (see below)
18) 'P' button - Pre/Post button affecting individual outs (see below)
19) 'R' button - Routing button to place the Mute switch pre or post effects (see below)
20) Green LED button to enable/disable the whole channel. This will offload the channel from the DSP calculation.

On the right side there is a text field to display the current preset at the top, buttons to Reset All Practice and Loops, and 4 Master Effects Inserts in the middle, with a Master Volume control (Mix) just below those.

D Button - Pressing the D button to display the Delay parameters, you will find:
FB = feedback
Damp = a damping effect that filters each successive feedback repeat
Dry and Wet = adjusts the levels of both the dry signal and the ongoing delay.

(If you want to use the delay without full feedback, just adjust the feedback amount here. Remember that the delay line will not get any input while the Practice button is lit.)

P Button - You will also notice on the device itself Left and Right Outputs and individual outs for all channels, in stereo (1L, 1R, etc.). These either tap a mono signal directly from the RD Module insert slot (prior to insert effects, panning or level control), or the panned post effects slots output and level control. This depends on the setting of the P button for each channel.

R Button - Pressing the R button will re-route the signal flow so that the Mute switch output is placed before the effects slots. This is a 'performance' feature, allowing you to mute the original signal while still having the effects' outputs producing sound.

The Sequencer Page

Here's a description of the Sequencer controls:

1) Reset for each row will turn off all gate buttons and reset the velocity control to full on (127). It also resets the steps to 16, and the Division Value to 16.

2) Steps allows you to select a step length other than the Master Steps value (in the bottom section below MIDI clock info). Enable by clicking on the button.

3) Same for Division Value (Division was too long a word to fit!). The Value parameter allows you to select a clock division value other than the Master Div value (in the bottom section to the right of the MIDI clock BPM info). Enable by clicking on the button.

4) Duplicated (from Main surface) Solo and Mute buttons are arranged here in each row for easy access.

5) a Gate button for each step in the sequence row. When lit it sends a note-on event.

6) A knob controlling Velocity for each step.

7) In the main Step Sequencer area, Int Clock is the default, and is not stored in preset. Switching this off looks to the incoming MIDI signal for clock events.

8) In the main Step Sequencer area, BPM is global, affecting all rows. This is stored in both MASTER and Local presets.

9) In the main Step Sequencer area, Steps is global, affecting all rows, unless the row's individual Step setting is enabled.

10) In the main Step Sequencer area, Div (clock division) is global, affecting all rows, unless the row's individual division Value setting is enabled.

11) Start on Gate - This requires the Sequencer's On/Off button to be ON to work. To guarantee row synchronization, this allows you to start the pattern from any MIDI note-on event. If you are using Key Settings to select banks and patterns, use the Split ON so that the 'Start on Gate' only reads MIDI notes from above the Split Point. Retriggering the MIDI Note on event will instantly reset the sequence pattern.

12) Bank and Pattern buttons can select one of the 16 patterns (Bank A:1-8, and Bank B:1-8). Note that the Play Pattern display can change the selected pattern, but the Bank and Pattern buttons will not reflect this change.

13) Copy and Paste - Pressing Copy takes all the current information for the pattern and puts it into a buffer. Select a new pattern location, then press Paste to copy data from the buffer to the new pattern location. NOTE: Even though the Steps, Div and Swing values are being copied, the displays cannot show the copied values until you select the new current Pattern button again.

14) Patt(erns) and Keys pages - As on Solaris, these buttons switch the display to give parameters with which one can select Bank and Pattern via MIDI note values. A Keyboard Split function is provided so that note events for pattern selection can be isolated from note values used to trigger sounds.

15) RESET ALL is attached to all rows' RESET buttons. Pressing this resets all rows, and takes a little bit of time, so you may not see the button move or change color (unless you hold it down for a bit longer). However, holding it down longer is not necessary to reset all rows.

Sequencer Presets

The Sequencer has its own Local Preset List. It will load sequence pattern presets from the Master Preset list, from this Local list, or both. Each track can be enabled to receive the Local preset list info, and/or disabled from the Master list. Both lists can be active - the default setting. (There is also a convenient All button for each of these.) This allows you to "mix and match" different sequence presets' individual track data to combine into new presets.

The MASTER List will change all 16 patterns, as well as the RD Insert Slots and Mixer parameters. The Local Sequencer Preset List will just change the sequence data for the 16 patterns, leaving the current RD Slots and Mixer settings.

IMPORTANT - All of the Gate buttons actually generate note values dependent on the current MIDI Note value. If you create a sequence row, and then later change the MIDI Note value for that channel, all row values will be lost!

Also important - You need to understand that a single sequencer preset stores values for all 16 patterns, so generally speaking, you don't need to save as many sequencer presets as you might ReD Drum presets. Loading and selecting 1 preset will fill all 16 pattern locations.

Sequencer Errata

Occasionally a row will play a step out of sequence. This will most likely occur when switching MASTER presets while the sequence is running. Other times you might notice it just when starting the sequencer with the Stop/Start button. To guarantee full synchronization, use the 'Start on Gate' function.

RD Drum Modules

Like the step sequencer, the RD Inserts have their own Local Preset List. The MASTER List will recall all parameter settings, but sometimes you may want to change out the modules that make up your current drum kit, while leaving the Mixer and Sequence settings as they are. Use the RD Inserts Local list to do this. (The Local list stores all of the insert lots settings, as well as the Enable WAV Pitch&Gate status.) There's a blue LED 'button' next to the RD Inserts Local preset list icon, indicating this list is enabled/disabled.

In addition, each RD Drum module has its own preset list, so that you can select and create individual settings per drum module for later use. Loading these, then saving a MASTER preset, or RD Inserts Local preset, will save all parameters as they are at that moment.

There are currently 32 modules in the RD Drum series. These will be expanded and modified as time goes on. (Already one developer, Wolfgang Rueter, has contributed his fine ClapLab module, included in the RD Drum module series.) Most are self-explanatory, but some important points need to be mentioned regarding a few:

1) The Kick 1, Kick 1a, and Kick 3 AHD will need to use the WAV Pitch&Gate button ON for proper gating, especially in use with the sequencer. (Go to the Main page and switch on the Enable WAV Pitch&Gate button at the top.) NOTE: when you switch this, the velocity setting on the module itself is overridden, so it's best to set the velocity to zero value when using the WAV Gate.

2) There are several versions of the WAV Osc modules (similar to the RD series II Module 'Wav Osc II'), for specific use in the RD Drum. The Wav Osc+Amp provides a separate Amp Envelope insert slot for long decay/release times, as well as a pitch (Fine Tune) control and pitch modulation input slot. (RD series II modules are required). The Wav Osc+AD Env, the Wav Osc+ADSR, and the Wav Osc+AHD are variations of the same, with different types of envelopes hard-wired internally, instead of using an insert slot.

To properly use these modules, you must enable the WAV Pitch&Gate. You can use the included preset lists to save your favorite Wav files, envelope, and pitch mod modules.

3) Snares - The snares are pretty much the same circuit design, with varying waveshapes for the tonal center. Snares 1&2 use sine waves; Snare Tri uses a triangle wave, Snare Morphing Saw and Morphing Pulse use the waveshapes that vary from a sine to a saw or pulse; Snare Multimode Osc and Snare PWM use the multiwaveshape and Pulse Width oscillators. Any drum module with 'Sync' in the name means that the starting phase of the oscillator will be synchronized to a Gate On event.

4) Cymbal 1 - This module has 2 components, cymbal and noise. The first group (Cym+Noise Mix) combines these; the second group is just the cymbal component (this is constructed from a number of raw pulse waves). Each group has a bandpass filter (labeled 'Color'). The filter can be enabled/disabled via the small red LED in the center of the Color knob.

5) Custom1 and Custom2 - These are 'general modules' that can be fully defined by the user, providing you have the RD series II module set. You can save a particular grouping of modules as your default Custom Drum. RD II module users will be familiar with these - you can fully customize your 'drum sound' using any of the available RD modules. Custom1 has an oscillator slot with pitch and shape control, 2 pitch envelope slots (one called 'Snap'), and an Amp Envelope slot. Custom2 adds controls to the Snap Env to affect Pitch and Shape, a Filter slot, and a filter Envelope slot.

6) 8x Wav Oscs + Amp and 8x Wav Osc+Amp&Velocity Switch - These provide 8 slots to load sample files, and they also need the Enable WAV Pitch&Gate button to be ON. One provides simple layering of the 8 samples; the other allows velocity switching of the 8 samples. The High Keys of the first 4 and second 4 set of slots are connected to the next higher numbered slot's Low Key, so you can easily adjust the velocity ranges for switching.
You can set different velocities for all 8 sample files, or arrange two sets of 4 samples to velocity switch while still being layered.

Many of the modules terminate in a gain stage labeled, 'Drive'. At midpoint value of 64, you should get a clean signal. Levels higher than that will cause a certain type of (desirable?) distortion.

Using other RD Modules

If you have also purchased the extended RD series II module pack, then you will be able to make full use of the Custom Drum modules, as well as more elaborate modulations of the Pan Mod position. NOTE: when using a gated LFO in the Pan Mod slot, you need to set the frequency control to External, and put the frequency knob value to zero, to properly receive the MIDI Clocking control setting. When the Retrigger switch of the Gated LFO is ON, the gate is currently set by the initial start of the step sequencer. If no sequencer, then the gate will come from a note-on event.

Thanks again for your purchase...and please don't hesitate to email me if you have questions or comments!

Regards,
John Bowen

John Bowen Synth Designs
Zarg Music
www.zargmusic.com

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