Five12

Overview

The DrumKit is an 8-part sample-based drum machine. It shares many features with the Audio Sample module, so you can think of it as eight AudioSample modules in one, with some additional tweaks specific to drum sample playback, including definable note ranges for each part, and a pair of choke groups.

As with the Audio Sample, the Drum Kit really starts to shine when you take advantage of its integration with Numerology. You an easily setup modulation over any of its parameters with just a few clicks , and each part has an individual output, so you can easily apply effects to specific sounds.

When you save a Numerology project that includes a DrumKit, you will have the option of copying its audio samples into the media folder of the project. You can also export a DrumKit module and its samples as a self-contained 'archive' using the 'Module Export' item in the module action menu (which is in the module header). If you want to share your kits, you can do so at five12.net, in the "File Exchange : Modules" forum.

Each part in the DrumKit has a full AHDSR amplitude envelope, which gives you extensive control over sample playback. You can also use the note range of each part to play tuned percussion (or any other type of sound).

The Attack, Hold, Decay and Release parameters have a very wide range from 0.0001 to 10 seconds. Their knobs use a log-based taper so that you get finer control with smaller values. When you use param mod on these parameter, the value range will appear as -40 to 10, which represents the value as a linear range in decibels. The decibel values are converted internally to values in seconds. The minimum dB value of -40 maps to 0.0001, the maximum value of 10 maps to 10 seconds. A value of 0 decibels equals 1 second.

To process the output of a DrumKit part individually, follow these steps:

• Click the 'm' (main out mute) button, next to the volume knob for that part. That will remove it from the main output mix.
• Add an audio effect module to your stack, placed anywhere after the DrumKit. Hold down the option key as you drag it, so that it does not get auto-connected to any other modules.
• Route the individual output for your part into that effect.
• Route the output of that effect into the audio input of the StackMix module (or anywhere else).

Although there is currently no set limit on the size of samples you can load, you should be cautious about using many long samples unless you have lots of RAM memory in your computer. As you start to fill the computer's RAM with samples, the operating system will 'page out' chunks of memory to disk, which negatively affects the performance of the computer and can cause glitches in the audio output. To help you judge how many samples you can load, use the "Activity Monitor" (in /Applications/Utilities). It has a "System Memory" report that will tell you how much free memory you have (in green). Try to keep that value well above zero -- the larger the buffer you have there, the more reliable your system will be.

Actions

Use this button to load samples for each part in AIFF or WAV format, either mono or stereo.

Use this button to play the sample with its nominal tuning.

Parameters

Sets where playback of the sample will begin for each note event. It is calibrated as a percentage of the total sample length. To make fine adjustments of the value, hold down the shift or option-shift keys while dragging the numeric value up or down. This parameter is constrained such that it is always less than or equal to the Loop Start parameter.

Sets the start of the playback loop of the sample. It is calibrated as a percentage of the total sample length. To make fine adjustments of the value, hold down the shift or option-shift keys while dragging the numeric value up or down. This parameter is constrained such that it is always less than or equal to the Loop End parameter.

Sets the end of the playback loop of the sample. It is calibrated as a percentage of the total sample length. To make fine adjustments of the value, hold down the shift or option-shift keys while dragging the numeric value up or down. This parameter is constrained such that it is always less than or equal to the Loop End parameter.

This parameter tunes the playback rate of the sample with a range of +/- 60 semitones (5 octaves in each direction).

This sets the minimum note range that will trigger this part. If the note range is greater than 1, then the part will play its sample tuned across that range.

This sets the maximum note range that will trigger this part. If the note range is greater than 1, then the part will play its sample tuned across that range.

Sets the sensitivity of the output level of each note relative to the MIDI Note On velocity. At its lowest value, all notes are played at their maximum level. At its highest value, the output level of notes are very sensitive to the velocity value of Note On events.

Use this button to turn looping on and off for the sample.

Sets the cross-fade amount of the looped portion of the sample. It ranges from 0.0 (no loop) to 1.0 (fully cross-faded).

Sets the attack time of the amplitude envelope. The range is from 0.0001 to 10 seconds, with a log-based taper so that you have finer control as the value gets smaller.

Sets the hold time of the amplitude envelope. The range is from 0.0001 to 10 seconds, with a log-based taper so that you have finer control as the value gets smaller.

Sets the decay time of the amplitude envelope. The range is from 0.0001 to 10 seconds, with a log-based taper so that you have finer control as the value gets smaller.

Sets the sustain level for the amplitude envelope. The range is 0.0 to 1.0.

Sets the release time of the amplitude envelope. The range is from 0.0001 to 10 seconds, with a log-based taper so that you have finer control as the value gets smaller.

For monophonic samples, this acts as a constant-power pan control, for stereo sources, it operates as a balance control.

Sets the output level with an progressive-log-taper volume control. The maximum gain is about 6 dB.

This little button, labeled 'm' and sitting next to the volume knob, mutes that part from the main output mix, but not the individual output for that part, making it easy to process a part individually.

This green 'power' button turns parts on and off individually, muting them both from the main output mix, and their individual outputs.

When this is on, notes received by this part will mute any notes being played on the adjacent part.

Ports

Send your MIDI notes here.

This is the main mix output for all DrumKit parts.

These are the individual audio outputs for each DrumKit part.