SplinterTap User Guide
Hover over the images to explore.
The user guide is built into the ensemble and is accessed by selecting the REAKTOR INFO button on the top right, by placing the mouse cursor over each Controller and Text Header of the ensemble, the user guide will pop up.
To use this guide select a page with the buttons above, and then move your cursor over the image, use the return arrow to go back to SplinterTap’s main page.
The user guide is built into the ensemble and is accessed by selecting the REAKTOR INFO button on the top right, by placing the mouse cursor over each Controller and Text Header of the ensemble, the user guide will pop up.
To use this guide select a page with the buttons above, and then move your cursor over the image, use the return arrow to go back to SplinterTap’s main page.
Beat Selector
The Beat Selector has three states, Sample, Start and Tune - the states are selected with the sequencer select buttons below the display.
If Sample is selected, clicking your mouse on the display will select the sample to be played at that beat point in the loop.
If Start is selected, adjusting the bar hight will alter the start point of the sample.
Tune will change the pitch of the sample at that point in the loop.
If Sample is selected, clicking your mouse on the display will select the sample to be played at that beat point in the loop.
If Start is selected, adjusting the bar hight will alter the start point of the sample.
Tune will change the pitch of the sample at that point in the loop.
Loop Start Timeline
Clicking your mouse pointer on the timeline will set the start point of the sequencer, the dial display will show the beat start point.
BEAT ON - OFF.
Disables the gate trigger at the beat point in the sequencer loop.
SAMPLE DISPLAY.
Displays the sample being played at each beat point in the sequencer loop.
SEQUENCER SELECT.
Changes the display and entry mode of the Beat Selector Window.
BEAT ON - OFF.
Disables the gate trigger at the beat point in the sequencer loop.
SAMPLE DISPLAY.
Displays the sample being played at each beat point in the sequencer loop.
SEQUENCER SELECT.
Changes the display and entry mode of the Beat Selector Window.
Play Loop
You can activate play with the Play Loop selector, this allows you to switch off the sequencer whilst you are recording a loop to capture the tail end of any effects being used.
LOOP LENGTH.
Set the length of the sequencer loop and can be set in steps of:
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 12 - 16 - 24 - 32 - 48 - 64
The second set of digits displays the beat point.
TIME BASE.
Sets the time base of the sequencer.
1/6 - 1/8 - 1/12 - 1/16 - 1/24 - 1/32
LOOP LENGTH.
Set the length of the sequencer loop and can be set in steps of:
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 12 - 16 - 24 - 32 - 48 - 64
The second set of digits displays the beat point.
TIME BASE.
Sets the time base of the sequencer.
1/6 - 1/8 - 1/12 - 1/16 - 1/24 - 1/32
Sequencer Jammer
The sequencer jammer is used to alter the order of the sequencer steps.
The Variation dial will cause the sequencer to slip in time, occasionally playing a trigger point more than once.
The Chance dial randomly changes the order of the sequencer steps, larger values will force the sequencer to play beats outside of the set window size to a larger degree.
The Variation dial will cause the sequencer to slip in time, occasionally playing a trigger point more than once.
The Chance dial randomly changes the order of the sequencer steps, larger values will force the sequencer to play beats outside of the set window size to a larger degree.
Gate Sequencer
* IMPORTANT *
Clicking on the Gate window will alter the sequencer data to ALL Snapshots that use the same patch.
The Gate Sequencer stores it's patch data as part of the Ensemble not the Snapshot.
Changing the step arrangement in the sequencer window will alter all snapshots that use the same patch.
If you are unsure if a patch is used elsewhere always use a blank patch before altering to avoid changing an existing snapshot.
There are 128 patches available.
The Gate Sequencer controls the Gate ADSR below the Filter Dynamics.
Higher steps is in the window will open the ADSR Gate to a higher degree and can be fine tuned with the Tweak dial.
GATE SEQUENCER LOCK.
When you use the ensemble for the first time the Gate Sequencer is locked, you will need to unlock it before you can change any settings.
TO REMOVE THIS WINDOW LOCK SELECT VIEW IN PROPERTIES (Reaktor needs to be in edit mode) AND THEN SWITCH VISIBLE OFF.
GATE ADSR.
The Gate Sequencer controls the Gate ADSR below the Filter Dynamics.
Higher steps is in the window will open the ADSR Gate to a higher degree and can be fine tuned with the Tweak dial.
Clicking on the Gate window will alter the sequencer data to ALL Snapshots that use the same patch.
The Gate Sequencer stores it's patch data as part of the Ensemble not the Snapshot.
Changing the step arrangement in the sequencer window will alter all snapshots that use the same patch.
If you are unsure if a patch is used elsewhere always use a blank patch before altering to avoid changing an existing snapshot.
There are 128 patches available.
The Gate Sequencer controls the Gate ADSR below the Filter Dynamics.
Higher steps is in the window will open the ADSR Gate to a higher degree and can be fine tuned with the Tweak dial.
GATE SEQUENCER LOCK.
When you use the ensemble for the first time the Gate Sequencer is locked, you will need to unlock it before you can change any settings.
TO REMOVE THIS WINDOW LOCK SELECT VIEW IN PROPERTIES (Reaktor needs to be in edit mode) AND THEN SWITCH VISIBLE OFF.
GATE ADSR.
The Gate Sequencer controls the Gate ADSR below the Filter Dynamics.
Higher steps is in the window will open the ADSR Gate to a higher degree and can be fine tuned with the Tweak dial.
Sample Selector
Sets the range of samples that the sequencer will play and has three modes.
In Sequencer Mode the Select, Stray Start and End dials are used to set the range of samples that the sequencer will play as part of the loops.
In Random Mode Stray will have a stronger effect on sample playback.
In Disabled Mode the sequencer has no effect on sample playback.
The Bias Sliders override and effect the Start, Length and Position of the sample being played.
In Sequencer Mode the Select, Stray Start and End dials are used to set the range of samples that the sequencer will play as part of the loops.
In Random Mode Stray will have a stronger effect on sample playback.
In Disabled Mode the sequencer has no effect on sample playback.
The Bias Sliders override and effect the Start, Length and Position of the sample being played.
Start Selector
Sets the start range of Samples and has three modes.
In Sequencer Mode the Offset and Variation are used to set the start point of each Sample that the sequencer will play as part of the loops.
In Random Mode Stray will have a stronger effect on sample playback.
In Disabled Mode the sequencer has no effect on sample playback.
The Bias Sliders override and effect the Start, Length and Position of the sample being played.
In Sequencer Mode the Offset and Variation are used to set the start point of each Sample that the sequencer will play as part of the loops.
In Random Mode Stray will have a stronger effect on sample playback.
In Disabled Mode the sequencer has no effect on sample playback.
The Bias Sliders override and effect the Start, Length and Position of the sample being played.
Tune Selector
Sets the pitch range of Samples and has three modes.
In Sequencer Mode the pitch is set with the sequencer window.
In Random Mode Stray will have a stronger effect on sample playback.
In Disabled Mode the sequencer has no effect on sample pitch.
If Stretch is on the pitch of the sample(s) will alter depending on Reaktor's master tempo.
The Bias Sliders override and effect the Start, Length and Position of the sample being played.
In Sequencer Mode the pitch is set with the sequencer window.
In Random Mode Stray will have a stronger effect on sample playback.
In Disabled Mode the sequencer has no effect on sample pitch.
If Stretch is on the pitch of the sample(s) will alter depending on Reaktor's master tempo.
The Bias Sliders override and effect the Start, Length and Position of the sample being played.
Wave Envelope
ATTACK.
Sets the attack time of the envelope being triggered by the Sequencer window.
DECAY.
Sets the decay time of the envelope being triggered by the Sequencer window.
SUSTAIN.
Sets the level the envelope.
RELEASE.
Sets the fade time of the envelope after it has reached the sustain level.
Sets the attack time of the envelope being triggered by the Sequencer window.
DECAY.
Sets the decay time of the envelope being triggered by the Sequencer window.
SUSTAIN.
Sets the level the envelope.
RELEASE.
Sets the fade time of the envelope after it has reached the sustain level.
Filter Dynamics
The Dynamic Filter is a 2 pole low pass filter with resonance followed by a 1 pole high pass filter.
The low pass filter can sense and respond to the input signal.
The LFO modulation is free running and adds variation to the cutoff.
The Drive control adds saturation (distortion) before sending the signal to the output gain.
The low pass filter can sense and respond to the input signal.
The LFO modulation is free running and adds variation to the cutoff.
The Drive control adds saturation (distortion) before sending the signal to the output gain.
Auto Panner
The Panner's are placed before the master outputs and can be bypassed with the small mute switch.
As this is the last stage in the signal chain, the gain and pan dials are useful for adjusting the overall balance of the stereo image, the auto pan will only have an effect on the signal if the depth controls are above zero. (setting the output pans to mono would hi-light any stereo phase problems, adding a small amount of auto pan may resolve this)
The LFO adjusts the movement speed of the panner and depth effects the width and placement.
The symmetry and phase dials adjust the waveform shape of the LFO.
The left and right outputs from the synth enter the panner as two mono signals, allowing you to adjust the stereo width or reposition each channel and adding different amounts of auto pan. (long evolving atmospheres will benefit greatly by adding different amounts of auto pan to each channel producing a slow phasing effect of the stereo image)
As this is the last stage in the signal chain, the gain and pan dials are useful for adjusting the overall balance of the stereo image, the auto pan will only have an effect on the signal if the depth controls are above zero. (setting the output pans to mono would hi-light any stereo phase problems, adding a small amount of auto pan may resolve this)
The LFO adjusts the movement speed of the panner and depth effects the width and placement.
The symmetry and phase dials adjust the waveform shape of the LFO.
The left and right outputs from the synth enter the panner as two mono signals, allowing you to adjust the stereo width or reposition each channel and adding different amounts of auto pan. (long evolving atmospheres will benefit greatly by adding different amounts of auto pan to each channel producing a slow phasing effect of the stereo image)
Matrix Patch Bay
The matrix patch bay allows you to route the post effects in any order and has a stereo bus.
The effects are simply chained together out to in.
You can swap the stereo signals and mono the effects, and they can be patched in parallel or series.
* WARNING *
It is possible to overload Reaktor by adding to many effects to a patch, you have to go with the CPU power that you have - Under no circumstances patch everything in the matrix with Reaktor's CPU power dial set to off and then save your ensemble, you may never be able to load it again. (reaktor starts up with the power on)
The effects are simply chained together out to in.
You can swap the stereo signals and mono the effects, and they can be patched in parallel or series.
* WARNING *
It is possible to overload Reaktor by adding to many effects to a patch, you have to go with the CPU power that you have - Under no circumstances patch everything in the matrix with Reaktor's CPU power dial set to off and then save your ensemble, you may never be able to load it again. (reaktor starts up with the power on)
Stereo LFO Filter Bank
The filter bank will sync to the Sequencer or free run with a choice of waveforms, plus the LFO can be switched off turning the filter bank into 8 variable bandpass kill filters. (all dials down no signal will get through)
The 8 stereo filters are made up from 32 single pole HP and LP combined filters (16 left and 16 right), the filters are equally spaced from low to high, the position that each filter sits is set by the Shift dial, so as the LFO travels through it's range the filters will move up and down the spectrum and across the stereo field.
When using the Sequencer as a sync for the filter bank the phase will sync to the beat point, pushing the phase on each pulse, so you need to set the phase and filters to suit the sound.
The Oscilloscope shows you the waveform phase only, and not frequency of the filters, for that you need a pair of ears.
The Vu meters show the amount of left and right gain for each of the 8 filters.
The 8 stereo filters are made up from 32 single pole HP and LP combined filters (16 left and 16 right), the filters are equally spaced from low to high, the position that each filter sits is set by the Shift dial, so as the LFO travels through it's range the filters will move up and down the spectrum and across the stereo field.
When using the Sequencer as a sync for the filter bank the phase will sync to the beat point, pushing the phase on each pulse, so you need to set the phase and filters to suit the sound.
The Oscilloscope shows you the waveform phase only, and not frequency of the filters, for that you need a pair of ears.
The Vu meters show the amount of left and right gain for each of the 8 filters.
Post Effects
No big description on how the effects work needed here, just a few pointers.
BOUNCE DELAY FLANGER
Stereo delay with variable left and right delay times, linked to a stereo flanger. (the flanger is actually 1st in the chain)
ATMOS SPACE
Stereo reverb with a pre delay and delay symmetry, low - mid - high eq followed by low and high cutoff filters, the pre delay, eq and filters give this reverb the ability to occupy a different space to the signal that it is receiving.
REVERB SPACE
Stereo reverb with independent control of the early and late reflections, plus modulation.
COMPRESSOR
The In dial sets the compression threshold, and the out dial sets the Master Output Gain.
LIMITER
The Automatic Clip Limiter after the Auto Panner is just doing it's thing, no need to worry about it.
BOUNCE DELAY FLANGER
Stereo delay with variable left and right delay times, linked to a stereo flanger. (the flanger is actually 1st in the chain)
ATMOS SPACE
Stereo reverb with a pre delay and delay symmetry, low - mid - high eq followed by low and high cutoff filters, the pre delay, eq and filters give this reverb the ability to occupy a different space to the signal that it is receiving.
REVERB SPACE
Stereo reverb with independent control of the early and late reflections, plus modulation.
COMPRESSOR
The In dial sets the compression threshold, and the out dial sets the Master Output Gain.
LIMITER
The Automatic Clip Limiter after the Auto Panner is just doing it's thing, no need to worry about it.