User Manual - fabriziopoce
Contents
1. Enter the Unlocked amp Programming state by selecting clicking on any of the steps This will open the lock with the following effects Modulation is temporary stopped Each step you selected clicked on is selected as a destination step for new locks and becomes red StepLocker is now able to learn new parameter values from Live for locking more on this in a few lines Go into the Unlocked amp Bypass state by clicking directly on the lock sign This will open the lock and temporary stop modulation In the bypass state you can essentially use Live as StepLocker would not be present s From the Unlocked amp Programming state lock sign open mi step selected in red you can O Commit changes adding new parameter locks by clicking on the button which is placed just underneath the Lock sign This will save the parameter values lock them to the steps you selected This will also close the lock move StepLocker back into the Locked state with a new configuration and restart modulation Move back to the Locked state no changes modulation active by clicking on the lock sign s From the Unlocked amp Bypass state lock open no step selected for programming you can O O Remain in Live for usual operation as if StepLocker would not be there Move back to the Locked state modulation active again by clicking on the lock sign J74 StepLocker Page 7 The state machine for StepLocker is defined by the follo2. features like random playback still apply this can deliver original results A few editing control are available for quick actions e The all values up down arrows on the bottom left portion allow you to raise or decrease all the locked modulation values Please note that only the locked modulation values colored bars will be affected not the return values e The random button allows you to create a random set of values to replace the locked modulation values Again only the locked modulation values colored bars will be affected not the return values e The copy paste section buttons allow you to copy and paste blocks of 16 steps for the selected parameter from one block to the other e g the first block 1 16 can be copied into the third 33 48 e The commit button is a bit of a special It turns all the return values into locked modulation values This is something you may like to do in case you want to perform random value generation e The erase button does the reverse of what the commit does It deletes the locked modulation values and turns the view to all return values but still keeps the parameter for editing purposes e The set return value field top center of the view allows you to change the Return value for the parameter currently selected this is a quicker way then going into the Unlocked amp Bypass state J74 StepLocker Page 16 The Step View The Step View offers the alternative view t
3. J74 StepLocker Page 1 J74 StepLocker A different approach to modulation in Ableton Live U74 StepModulato E ff U74 Stepview E Restart StepLocker Clear All 16 32 playback speed Glide ZN nr steps 64 48 64 Forward Close Sequencer View normal e amount 1 A Reverb Kick Decay J74 StepLoc O i 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Open StepLocker 9 10 Latency ms 10 Compensation Target Parameter Direct Lock Impulse d EE Parameter gt Track Panning Cy all values up down copy paste section commit erase section Refresh List User Manual J74 StepLocker Page 2 Table of Contents ee Ee 3 How tonsili start up 74 Ste plOC e enr ar e E E A TN 4 The Mant W TA OW ossimori 5 TO LOCK EE 6 Step Selectors and displayed color mformatton 8 Progtaminine Parameter LOCKS die ete hi cai wernt ween 9 Impulse vs Hold modulation S ieS tot m Ee 11 Direct vs Glide modulation envelones eene 12 pequencine controls m The Main MIER eae 13 Editing controls 1n the Mam VIEW costo dee dee 14 The Segu neer TE 15 TESEI Ee 16 Other Teatres OF Step LOCKET oiiae E E EN on ME 17 J74 StepLocker Page 3 About J74 StepLocker StepLocker is a hybrid sequencing and modulation device for Ableton Live Max for Live based on the concept of parameter locking whereby each sequencer step can be associated wi
4. Sequencer View use the button located at the top center of the Main window Close Sequencer View To open the Step View use the little button underneath the Step Selectors These buttons show View if you move the cursor over them J74 StepLocker Page 15 The Sequencer View The Sequencer View allows you to edit the locked parameter as you would with a linear Step Sequencer Each locked parameter is listed in the Selection Menu on the right top of the view and can be selected Parameter set return value to 0 57 JE A Reverb 4 F all values up down random copy paste section erase section Refresh List In the middle of the view all 64 values are shown Values shown in gray are the implicit Return values they are not locked parameters but it is handy to see them displayed Values shown in color are the actual locked modulation values Note for practical reason the locked modulation values use a few colors This is just to visually display their position with colors repeating in blocks of four steps This is meant for easing counting You can freely edit any value in this view as you would do with a usual sequencer Changes will be used as new parameter lock values Note editing a gray bar a Return value will turn it into a locked modulation value colored for the step Tip this view is meant for fine tuning and complex automation Anyway as the concept of locked vs return value plus
5. beat of a Live bar These are handy to use after messing up with the step numbers for poly rhythm and syncopation e Playback Mode is a toggle to switch between the traditional forward mode sequencing from the first to to the last step linearly and the random mode Tip random mode is fun Try this out As this only randomizes the order of playing for the steps but not their locked values and the fact several parameters may be locked together at the same step it produces chaotic but still effective results e Playback Speed is a menu which allows you to change the length of the step By default this is set to normal which is the reference length of 1 16 Other settings include 50 1 8 7596 1 8 dot 150 1 16th dot and 20096 1 32 e Restart this simply restarts the playback from step 1 J74 StepLocker Page 14 Editing controls in the Main View Two simple editing controls are available in the Main view e The c p little buttons on the right side offer per group of 16 steps copy and paste commands This way you can copy every locked parameter from one block to the other e g from the first 1 16 block to the third 33 48 block e The Clear All button does what you expect it to it erases everything from StepLocker s memory and virtually restarts the device from ground zero Clear All e From the Main View you can open the two other windows of StepLocker To open the
6. case use Live native preset saving capability by pressing the little save button on the top right title bar of the device in Live s track you will create a preset in the form of a adv file nie i M 10 You can drop this preset any time you need and get the StepLocker settings back Recording automation in Session view Clips It is possible to record StepLocker s modulation as automation in Live Session view clips As StepLocker virtually moves knobs buttons and faders around during modulation you just need to have a clip and arm the tracks you like to record automation into and hit Live s overdub button in the transport z TAP 135 00 iiM 4 a O0 1Bar al 15 3 1 Jm o e ew EASON z TAP 135 00 wi m a a Los Juge Mi 15 3 1 meo tid c StepLocker Close Sequencer View speed Glide 1 normal e amount d cip Target Parameter Direct Track Panning Impulse Note Overdub can only record into clips So automation will be recorded into MIDI and Audio tracks if they have clips and are armed but not on the Mixer and Return tracks which cannot have clips Tip Try recording multiple takes of automation performances made with StepLocker for instance combining classic looped parameter locking with more chaotic random experiments or variations done with the step number For this it may be useful to unlink the parameter automation length in the clip J74 StepLocker Pa
7. ch was just clicking on it first As you move the parameter depending from how quick you do it and from the resolution of you controller or mouse a series of values will be read by StepLocker The first value to be read by StepLocker will be used as Return value for this parameter As in this case you moved the parameter at once this immediately changes the value the parameter had before the programming procedure started The first value to be read would probably still be close to 64 but not exactly be 64 As you are moving up right the first value would be slightly higher Let s say it is 67 This is the value implicitly assigned to the parameter Return value in StepLocker Then you would continue moving the dial and StepLocker would track what you do updating the value read now as candidate modulation value Let s say you stop at 85 and then you hit the button At this point StepLocker will use the last value it read as the modulation value for the parameter lock Result modulation value is 85 return value 67 As modulation now re starts ON modulation values would be done using 85 what you intended it to be but the OFF values would be 67 slightly wrong off the place from what the parameter rest value should have been when not modulated 64 in this case Same thing when you bypass StepLocker at this stage StepLocker will re set all the value back to the return values as it learned them So this Panning would be reset the value
8. dulation values sending out only the locked modulation values This results in an envelope with modulation being hold until the next modulation occurs Using the same numeric example specified before Hold style will produce the following modulation envelope Modulation ON J74 StepLocker Page 12 Direct vs Glide modulation envelopes StepLocker has also two ways of sending values in output the Direct and the Glide envelope modes The Direct envelope mode is straight forward Values modulation and return values are sent out just as they are as numbers at once This produces the sort of squared envelopes as presented in the previous chapter Glide envelopes instead do time value interpolation Values are not allowed to change suddenly but they are interpolated with previous values already sent This produces a smoother curve The following picture show how Impulse and Hold style change their envelope shape respectively when Direct gray and Glide black envelope modes are used d Modulation ON D Return Value OFF Modulation ON tt You can switch between Direct and Glide envelope modes using the Direct Glide toggle on the bottom right of the Main View The amount of Glide can be set using the Glide dial which is available in the Main view on the top right portion of the window At the lowest setting Glide produces the same envelopes as Direct mode EE el Dm amount A If you a
9. e is no modulation or when a modulation action has been completed This is the value the parameter had in Live before the parameter was locked and it is defined when you first touch click on a parameter as done by action 2 in the procedure The Return value is used by StepLocker in the following two cases e When modulation is altogether bypassed in the Unlocked amp Bypass state In this state StepLocker returns to Live by resetting all the parameters used for locks to this their respective Return value e During modulation if modulation is done using the Impulse style The latter will become clearer when the Impulse style will be explained further on J74 StepLocker Page 10 Why is action 2 of the programming procedure important To understand why action 2 is important for the correct behavior of parameter locking and sequencing let s explain what happens if you skip this action during the procedure Let s say you wish to modulate a Left Right Panning of a track Let s also suppose that the original value for this parameter before starting programming the new lock was 64 which for a panning parameter signifies the perfect center 0 being full left 127 full right You now start parameter lock programming by selecting one or more steps in the Main View steps turn red lock gets open At this point you move at once the parameter to the value you wish to lock let s say 85 somewhere panning right ans skip action 2 whi
10. e provides the sequencing controls the 64 step selectors and the Lock which is the central element in StepLocker mul Restart StepLocker Clear All AA Lt I T playback spead Glide nr steps 4 AE EA Forward Close Sequencer View normal amount cip Target Parameter cx Direct Track Panning Impulse Let s now explain the concept of parameter locking the states the StepLocker operates into and go through these controls one by one J74 StepLocker Page 6 The Lock The Lock is the heart of StepLocker It defines the state StepLocker is into and which functions will be performed such as modulating learning or bypassing The Lock has essentially two main states represented by the Lock sign m Locked when the Lock sign is closed StepLocker is in the locked state and modulation is ON using the locked recorded parameter values and its sequencing features to perform parameter modulation Unlocked When the Lock sign is open StepLocker is in the unlocked state and its modulation is bypassed Two sub states are possible in this case depending on the state of the Step Selectors Unlocked amp Programming and Unlocked amp Bypass Lock sign Lock button Next will explain the difference between the two sub states and how you move among them Here an explanation of how you move between these states s From the Locked state lock sign being closed M you can O
11. e style can be selected by the Impulse Hold toggle in the Main window right bottom Impulse Impulse style uses impulses for modulation Let s say that a parameter P has been locked to a step N with a modulation value V Moreover let s suppose that such parameter P has return value being R In Impulse style at the beginning of step N StepLocker sends out the modulation value V as the ON modulation value Then StepLocker immediately looks forward to what is programmed in the next step N 1 If at such next step the same parameter is not present meaning it has not being locked to the next step so there won t be a new modulation value for it then StepLocker will send at the end of step N which is the beginning of step N 1 the return value R of the parameter as OFF modulation value essentially clearing the last parameter modulation An example a parameter P is locked to step 1 with value 0 6 to step 3 with value 0 2 and to step 6 with value 0 9 The return value R of that parameter 0 5 Impulse style modulation will produce the following modulation envelope d Modulation ON Return Value OFF As you can see this results in an envelope made of one step long impulses around the base value as set by the return value Please notice that by default the step length is 1 16 This setting can be modified by using the Speed control In Hold style StepLocker ignores the return value of the parameters and omits the OFF mo
12. enta 10 ten parameters have been locked Note Each step can contain a maximum of ten 10 parameter locks simultaneously Trying to add more will result in the lock being silently ignored Underneath each Step Selector a small StepView button is also placed This button showing View if you move the cursor on top of it allows you to open the Step View for the step More on the Step View later in this document J74 StepLocker Page 9 Programming Parameter Locks To add a new parameter lock do the following l Assuming you start from the Locked state click on one or more steps in the Main View where you wish to record the new parameter lock The selected steps will become red meaning they are now enabled for programming If you like to change which step is enabled you can click again on a red step to disable it and or on a new step to add it Multiple steps can be locked at the same time to the same value Please note that this action will move StepLocker in the Unlocked amp Programming state with the Lock sign now being open 2 Click on the parameter of Ableton Live you wish to lock It is important to underline the concept of Clicking on it rather than directly changing it as this is the right way to select a parameter in Step Locker Clicking allows a correct reading of the return value for the parameter see further for an explanation of what a return value is 3 Set the parameter to the modulati
13. ge 18 Recording automation in Arrangement view Similarly to the previous case StepLocker performance can be easily recorded into the Arrangement view This involves just the fact of having global recording enabled Live will record everything including all the movements virtually made on the locked parameters by StepLocker KO E el f f St Li E i am See IMBBGLIG 111 NW OK LE x mep AM Drean Meier
14. in window Latency ms 40 Compensation The Main View is where you start from There is where you define actions learning modulating and lock parameters Once locked you can manipulate the recorded values using the Sequencer View for editing of all the step values for a given parameter type and the Step View for editing of all the values from any parameter on a given step Note StepLocker records parameter values directly from Live and performs modulation of such parameters directly into Live The Max for Live API is the mean used to access Live on such a low level in a way completely transparent to the user So you will not need to setup any routing or scroll long menu s for selecting parameters Everything is just based on simple actions like click set lock sequence One parameter is present on the docked device This is the Latency Compensation setting expressed in milliseconds The Latency Compensation amount specifies the amount of time StepLocker compensates when performing modulation and helps you eliminating the computational latency which would result in modulation being slightly off beat Tip The amount used for the Latency Compensation should be set to match the Output Latency value defined in Ableton Live Preferences By default the value is set to 10ms J74 StepLocker Page 5 The Main Window The Main Window is where you control all main operations of StepLocker Its user interfac
15. o the Sequencer View a view of all the parameter locks on a given step Here you can see what has been locked into the step E E me UE y 1 Track Panning B Delay A Reverb 2 3 4 5 6 H 8 9 10 Refresh The view is very simple it is a list with all the available lock able slots and reports Parameter Name and Lock Value locked modulation value settings for the step You can edit values using the Lock Value number boxes You can delete the value from the step freeing up a slot by pressing the corresponding Clear button You can also mute the specific locked parameter without deleting it using the Mute toggles You can jump from Step to Step in a few ways e On the Main View press the View button under the step you wish to view in the Step View e On the Step View use the StepView box and type the number to jump to e On the Step View use the left right arrow to scroll across the various step one by one J74 StepLocker Page 17 Other Features of StepLocker Here some of the additional features of StepLocker are explained Saving StepLocker in the Liveset and making presets StepLocker s state can be saved If you include the StepLocker device as part of your live set all its settings will be saved with the project This way it is possible to continue experimenting with it by simply reloading the live set Close StepLocker It is also possible to create presets of StepLocker In this
16. on value you wish to lock This value will be locked into the selected step or steps You set this value by simply changing the target parameter using its Live user interface control e g a dial fader number toggle and so on as you do normally 4 Hit the ERP button located underneath the Lock sign This action will commit the modulation value and lock it into the step or steps you selected Please note that this will move StepLocker in the Locked state Lock sign being closed M that the color of the steps will be updated according to your changes and that the modulation will turn on Note you do not need to stop playback recording or whatsoever you were doing in Live while programming new step parameter locks You can do this while the transport runs on the fly Just do the actions as specified above Modulation Values and Return values As you may have understood from the procedure just explained programming a new parameter lock let s you specify two values one implicitly the other explicitly e The Modulation value for the step which is defined explicitly by action 3 in the procedure e The Return value of the parameter which is defined implicitly by action 2 in the procedure The Modulation value is simple to understand as it is the value locked into the step or steps as you selected indeed explicitly The Return value is a little more obscure Essentially this is the value the parameter should have when ther
17. re familiar with synthesizers and signal waves you may have noticed that this process is equivalent to applying a low pass filter to the envelope You may also have come to another conclusion the resulting envelope peaks ater in time Essentially Glide adds besides smoothing also some latency to the envelope To compensate this you may use the Latency Compensation setting of the docked layout of StepLocker J74 StepLocker Page 13 Sequencing controls in the Main View The Main View contains also the essential sequencing controls 64 TET playback spead nr steps eF ig 64 Forward normal Number of Steps Playback Mode Playback Speed Restart These controls are quite intuitive and they do what their name implies e Number of Steps defines the rotation of steps played By default this is 16 and it can be set to anything between 1 and 64 Do not be limited by multiples of 16 steps only Multiple of 16 are good for a rhythmic effect as they loop nicely on top of the 4 4 music signature But odd and unusual number of steps 3 5 6 7 11 13 etc introduce syncopation and poly rhythm Although a very simple control this parameter can be very effective in real time use Note besides the Number of Steps control you find four small buttons with labels 16 32 48 and 64 These buttons have a dual function They reset the number of step to the value they report AND restart the sequence in line with the starting
18. th settings of any parameters in Live Its work flow is extremely simple choose one or more target steps click on a parameter in Live set its modulation value and ock it to the step You can do this for any parameter in any device in any track of Live all from the same StepLocker On top of this you have the classic step sequencer features to play with including post locking detailed editing playback and value randomization step length and step count value interpolation StepLocker is an Ableton Live Max for Live device for Live 9 and higher So you must have a Max for Live license to run it and it will run properly only in Live 9 or higher older versions of Live such as Live 8 are not supported This document will explain how the tool works and how to use it Cheers Fabrizio aka June74 For more software and original stuff http www fabriziopoce com download html J74 StepLocker Page 4 How to install start up J74 StepLocker Installation of StepLocker is extremely simple just drop the J74 StepLocker amxd device anywhere in Live StepLocker is a transparent Audio effect and can be loaded in any track StepLocker works using separate floating windows built in the same device C J74 StepLoc The windows in StepLocker are e The Main View accessible from the docked device Open StepLocker e The Sequencer View accessible from the Main window e The Step View also accessible from the Ma
19. to 67 and not 64 Again slightly wrong indeed So the baseline is click touch a parameter before setting its value for locking PS this way you also understand that no serious problem occurs if you accidentally forget action 2 Unlocked amp Bypass state editing in Live and changing Return Values As mentioned the Unlocked amp Bypass state let s you work in Live as usual as no StepLocker was in use You can edit anything you wish freely with no modulation by StepLocker being over imposed to your changes Anyway the Unlocked amp Bypass state is good also for something else it allows you to change Return Values as well Changes you made while in the Unlocked amp Bypass state will become the new zero line for StepLocker to modulate onto So if you change a parameter which is locked somewhere in any of the steps of StepLocker this will be used as a new Return value for the parameter in question Note You can change the return value also using the set return value field in the Sequencer view Note As you may have imagined changing a locked modulation value involves exactly the same procedure as programming a new lock It just overrides the previous lock alternative forms of editing are possible using the Sequencer View and Step View as we will see later J74 StepLocker Page 11 Impulse vs Hold modulation styles StepLocker has two way to apply step modulation mpulse style and Hold style Th
20. wing diagram Locked modulating click on one or more steps click on the Locker icon A click on the Locker icon click on the Locker icon Unlocked amp StepLocker Cher AM Chose facea oor em sorral v md select parameter set value Use Live normally click on the button No modulation Locked E New changes committed J74 StepLocker Page 8 Step Selectors and displayed color information The largest portion of the Main view is used by the Step Selectors or just Steps in four rows of sixteen steps for a total of 64 steps The steps selectors have two functions e They display information about the amount of locked parameters using their color e They define the destination for a new lock when moving into the Unlocked amp Programming state The color of a step has the following meaning e Black no information is recorded the step is completely empty e Red step is selected for programming when in the Unlocked amp Programming state e Orange 1 one parameter has been locked e Yellow 2 two parameters have been locked e Light Green 3 three parameters have been locked e Green 4 four parameters have been locked e Water Green 5 five parameters have been locked e Cyan 6 six parameters have been locked e Sky Blue 7 seven parameters have been locked e Dark Blue 8 eight parameters have been locked e Purple 9 nine parameters have been locked e Mag
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search