Synthstrom Audible Deluge Instruction manual - firmware version 3.0.0 This manual is a work in progress and will be updated as we add new features. This document is best navigated using “Document Outline”. If you cannot currently view the chapters to the left hand side, switch this mode on via Tools > Document Outline For users of Deluges produced before February 2019, we have changed some terminology, ​ which will clash with some of the labelling on your Deluge’s top panel: what we previously referred to as a “track”, we now call a “clip”. Your Deluge’s “TRACK” button is what this manual is referring to when it mentions the “CLIP” button. This is simply a matter of language, and your Deluge’s user interface remains unchanged aside from the new features which the V3.0 firmware provides. Warning about power: any 9 - 12V DC power supply used with the Deluge must be ​ centre-negative, not centre-positive. Using an incorrect power supply may cause damage to ​ ​ ​ the Deluge. New sections 3.0 ● Recording count-in ● Audio clips ○ Audio clip length editing and changing of waveform loop points ○ Grabbing tempo from an audio clip ● Recording notes or audio into an arrangement ● Audio track names ● Audio track input sources ● Changing a clip’s instrument, and creating audio clip ● Recording into clips, and live looping, in song view ○ Input sources for recording ○ Arming clips to record ○ Recording a clip / loop ○ Overdubs - regular ○ Overdubs - continuous layering ○ Setting the tempo with the first-recorded loop ○ Further notes on overdubs ○ MIDI control of looping ● Saving and loading songs ○ Alphanumeric keyboard ● The file browser and loading audio files ○ Deleting audio files ● Saving sound presets ● Loading sound presets ● “Cloning” sound presets, to add an additional instance ● Deleting sound presets ● Renaming sounds within a kit ● Audio clip / loop recording with extra “margins” ● Audio Thru ● MIDI control of functions and sounds ● USB host mode for MIDI devices ● Settings menu New sections 2.1 ● Arrangement recording from song view ● Waveform view ● Samples and multisampling for melodic “synth” instruments ● Sample pitch detection ● Single-cycle waveforms ● Collect-media tool ● Audio and synth engine ○ Signal flow ○ Sample interpolation / pitch ● Applying FX at the song level ● Factory reset ● Importing a whole folder of samples as a kit TABLE OF CONTENTS New sections 3.0 New sections 2.1 Instrument clips, and clip view general Sequence editing basics Synth and kit presets Kit clips Sound parameters Scrolling and zooming Editing clip length Shifting clips’ contents horizontally Scales Notes of different length Editing note velocity Note probability and iteration dependence Triplets view Recording notes Recording count-in Copying and pasting notes Parameter automation and recording Copying and pasting parameter automation Clear clip Cross-screen edit mode MIDI and CV clips Audio clips Audio clip length editing and changing of waveform loop points Grabbing tempo from an audio clip Song view (basics) Stopping and launching clips via arming Soloing clips Changing a clip’s instrument, and creating audio clips Deleting, cloning and re-ordering clips Access to clips in song view Applying FX at the song level Song sections Recording into clips, and live looping, in song view Input sources for recording Arming clips to record Recording a clip / loop Overdubs - regular Overdubs - continuous layering Setting the tempo with the first-recorded loop Further notes on overdubs MIDI control of looping Arranger view Arranging clip-instances Inserting / deleting “time” Clip-instances unique to the arranger “Dragging” clips between song view and arranger view Arrangement playback Switching between arrangement and song-view playback Managing tracks in arranger view Recording notes or audio into an arrangement Audio track names Audio track input sources Clear arrangement Arrangement recording from song view Keyboard view Undo / redo Saving and loading songs Alphanumeric keyboard Switching song during playback Collect-media tool The file browser and loading audio files Deleting audio files Adding samples / sounds to an existing kit Renaming sounds within a kit Importing an entire folder of samples as a kit When multiple clips use the same kit Samples and multisampling for melodic “synth” instruments Sample pitch detection Single-cycle waveforms Slicer Recording samples Recording additional samples to an existing kit Resampling / recording the Deluge’s output The sound editor Sound editor shortcuts Sound editor nested menu Decimal values Applying changes to all sounds within a kit Modulation Modulation to control the depth of another patch “cable” Assigning knobs to parameters Saving sound presets Loading sound presets “Cloning” sound presets, to add an additional instance Deleting sound presets Sound editor for MIDI and CV clips Audio and synth engine Signal flow Processing power and CPU management Sample interpolation / pitch Time stretching and pitch shifting Audio clip / loop recording with extra “margins” Live audio input Audio thru Wavetable synthesis (coming soon) Sidechain compression Reverb Sample and RAM management Waveform view CV, gate, and trigger clock Disclaimer CV / gate compatibility and settings Trigger clock Outputting CV / gate Outputting MIDI or gate in a kit Controlling and sequencing MIDI CC, pitch bend and channel aftertouch Tempo and syncing Setting tempo Swing Syncing Tempo magnitude matching Sync-scaling MIDI control of functions and sounds Settings menu Global MIDI commands Factory reset Hardware connections USB USB host mode for MIDI devices DC power socket (9 - 12V) Battery SD card slot L / MONO and R outputs Headphone output Line input Mic input CV, gate, and trigger clock (“CLK IN”) connectors MIDI implementation chart SYNTH PRESETS 2.1 KITS ARTIST PACKS Popular commands - quick reference Compliance information FCC compliance for United States CE compliance Environmental Protection Instrument clips, and clip view general Sequence editing basics Powering on the Deluge automatically creates a blank song with one blank clip with a synth assigned to it, and puts the device into clip view for this clip. ​ ​ In this view, the main 16x8 grid of pads represents a piano-roll-style view of the sequence of notes that the track contains. The leftmost column of pads represents the first beat in the sequence, while the columns further to the right represent increasingly later points (steps) ​ in time. Vertically, pitch is represented (except for kit clips) - the ​ ​ bottom row of pads represents the lowest note on display, and higher rows represent increasingly higher notes. Pressing the Deluge’s play button plays the entered sequence. With each row representing a different pitch, the user may wish to audition any of the available pitches before actually placing those notes in the sequence. This can be achieved by pressing the very rightmost pad (the “audition” pad) for a given row. Notes in the sequence itself may be created by pressing a pad in the main 16x8 group corresponding to a pitch and a moment in time. The pad will light up to indicate the presence of a note. If the Deluge is not in play-mode, ​ ​ the note will sound immediately, as an aid to the user. This will not happen if the Deluge is in play-mode, ​ ​ when the user might be in the middle of a performance and would likely prefer for their editing to be allowed without additional audible aids. Tapping a pad for which a note is already present will delete the note. Editing notes in this way may be undone or redone by pressing back or shift+back respectively - see undo / redo. ​ ​ The colour of the notes on display is arbitrary, and may be changed by the user. This is handy when the user has created multiple clips and wishes for them to appear as different colours in song view. ​ ​ Simply hold down the shift button and turn the ▼▲ knob to change the colour of a clip. To adjust the brightness of the Deluge’s LEDs, hold down the shift button and ​ the learn button and turn the ▼▲ knob. Synth and kit presets The Deluge comes with a variety of synth and kit sound presets for you to use. The user may also create, edit and save their own. Presets are stored on the SD card as XML files - if you remove the card or delete certain files from it, you will no longer have access to these presets. In clip view, simply turning the select knob cycles through ​ ​ synth or kit presets for the clip currently being edited. The current preset number / name is shown on the numeric display. Later, we’ll cover how to edit presets’ sounds. For now, it may be useful to at least know that you may create a new, blank synth or kit preset by pressing shift+”synth” or shift+”kit” respectively. Kit clips Instead of having a synth assigned, a clip may have a “kit”. For kit clips, each row of pads represents an entirely ​ ​ different sound, as opposed to a different pitch for the same sound as with synth clips. One of the obvious applications of this function is the creation of drum beats - one row of pads could represent the kick drum, another the snare, etc. To turn a clip into a kit clip, simply press the kit button. One of the supplied kit presets will take effect, and each row of pads will now correspond to a different sound. You may edit and audition notes exactly as with a synth clip. The Deluge comes with a number of kits consisting of drum sounds. It also comes with kits consisting of a variety of other samples. While drum sounds are typically short and sharp, many of these other samples are longer, and the user may wish to control how long a sample plays for. When adding a “note” of one of these longer samples, by pressing one of the 16 main pads on its row, a “longer” note will automatically be created, occupying multiple pads horizontally on the grid.