From: infomailing@creamware.de
Subject: CreamWare Newsletter
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 15:13:54 +0200
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CreamWare Tips & Tricks Newsletter
STS series samplers
This issue of the Tips & Tricks Newsletter is dedicated to the popular STS series of DSP-based samplers and the Volkszämpler - our native VST sampler. The control surfaces of the different samplers are to a large extent identical. However, models with higher numbers implement more features. The Volkszämpler basically corresponds to the STS-3000 but uses the host CPU instead of dedicated DSPs.
For this issue we have sorted the tips by topic to help give you a better overview. After the tips you'll find comparisons of the similarities and differences among the various sampler models. Thanks to the upgrade possibilities available, you can upgrade from one model to the next at any time.
General
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You want to copy some Akai samples from a CD-ROM to your computer's hard drive, but your computer can't read the CD? This is no problem for our File Browser: Copy the sampling program - or one or more directories on the CD - into the clipboard with the "Copy" command, and then use "Paste" to add it to the target directory on the hard drive. The samples used by the program are also copied automatically. And, by the way, the new version 3.1 software allows you to convert the programs from Akai format to STS format automatically, in which case Akai samples (*.s) become WAV files (*.wav).
Each sample program has two names: a filename, and the name under which it is identified in the sampler's program list. To change the latter (for example, change the default "New Program" name to something meaningful) click once on the name and then type a new one. Because no text cursor appears, it's easy to miss this feature.
Reduce the "Loudness" of a program (under Program -> Loudness -> Basic Level) if the program does not respond to changes in velocity as you would expect. Too high values prevent some of the 128 velocity levels from being used.
You can easily control the parameters of the sampling program using MIDI controllers - either from the sequencer, or live from the keyboard! Some MIDI modulations are preset - such as attack and release times. Others, like the global volume, filter and pan, can be assigned and controlled through a flexible modulation matrix. And, by the way, the filters can be controlled for the entire program, or only for individual keygroups.
Performance
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The current versions of the STS samplers allow you to load several samplers simultaneously - either different models or multiple instances of the same model. This expands the possibilities even further: more voices, more individual outs, more programs at the same time.
You can have up to 16 sampling programs in the program list. If you need more, just load additional instances of the sampler as mentioned above. Or, use the Sample Pool - a resource-conserving alternative when the programs are not all required to play at the same time. With the Sample Pool you can have up to 999 programs "standing by", ready to be inserted into the program list through a MIDI ProgramChange call from the sequencer.
The global number of voices, which you can adjust in the Live Bar, refers to stereo voices. So when you set it to 64 voices, you are actually getting 128 mono voices! Take this into account when setting the number of voices because fewer voices require fewer resources.
Sample Editor
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To record samples you can use any wave editor. And, of course, you can also record samples directly in the sampler itself. The sampler's wave editor provides several ways to start the recording: manually; by a MIDI keypress (useful when sampling a MIDI instrument); or by using a threshold trigger (recording begins as soon as a signal of sufficient strength is detected).
In the sample editor you can use the "+" and "-" keys to quickly zoom in and out on the waveform display.
Output Routing
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To use the individual outputs (IOuts) effectively it helps to understand the logic behind them. You set the individual outputs used by the program on the "Additional" page of the main panel. Then, under Keygroups -> Options -> Add -> Out you'll find an Offset value. This value is added to the value on the "Additional" page. For stereo samples simply set the value in the Keygroups drawer for the left channel to "Off", and for the right channel to "1". Finally, set the desired IOut value in the "Additional" page. The right channel will now be output through the next available individual out.
Setting the outputs in the Keygroups drawer (described above) can be greatly accelerated by enabling the "Edit All" option in the Keygroup list. If you now set the right sample in a keygroup to "1", all the other keygroups will automatically also set the right sample to "1".
STS 5000 Realtime Features
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The STS 5000 offers outstanding possibilities for manipulating the pitch and duration of samples in realtime. A few examples of what you can do with these features:
- Using Pitch-Shift mode you can have the pitch change depending on the key pressed, but without the usual change in duration and consequent change of speed of the loop. You can play sampled phrases from the keyboard, and they will always remain in time.
- Conversely, with Time-Stretching you can change the duration of a phrase (loop) without changing its pitch. This lets you play a drum loop at another tempo.
- Thanks to the STS 5000's formant correction you no longer have to provide complex multi samples to play a sampled sound over a broad keyboard range. Even with only a single sample played over the entire keyboard range the formant correction prevents the notorious Mickey Mouse effect - the name for the unnatural sound of transposed samples. So, making a convincing sounding instrument out of a self-sampled sound becomes mere child's play with the STS 5000.
- You can also tweak the formants manually to, for example, adjust the tonal character of a voice.
- Create an entire choir from a single singing voice using the formant correction along with the STS 5000 Autochord function.
- The Robot Mode adapts all the different pitches in a phrase such that the notes of the phrase - while keeping the rhythm - correspond to the pitch of the key currently being pressed. In Robot Mode, use MIDI to feed the samples with completely new pitch information. And naturally you can do this live too.
When using the real-time features of the STS 5000 don't forget to quickly analyze the sample with the "Calculate Pitch" function. Also, experiment with the different analysis methods - Speech, Instrument, Extra (these designations are intended as general reference points).
It is often better, when working with the realtime features, to replace two mono samples - as is usual with Akai programs - with a single stereo sample. You can convert two mono samples to a stereo sample by selecting both samples (select multiple samples with the aid of the Ctrl key) in the Zones drawer and selecting "Convert to Stereo" from the context menu.
Overview of Sampler Features
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STS 2000P - Sample Player:
Import formats: Akai S1000 & S3000, Soundfont 2, WAV, AIFF
16/24/32-bit sampling at 44.1/48/96 kHz
Up to 64 stereo voices
Multimode with 16 programs
STS 3000 - DSP Sampler:
Like the STS 2000P, but also including:
Integrated graphic editor for precision sample editing
Extensive editing functions incl. velocity switch, velocity crossfade
3 envelopes, 2 LFOs, mute groups, modulation matrix
Resonant filter: 3 different filter types
Stereo out and 6 individual outs
Volkszämpler:
Like the STS 3000 but implemented as a native VST instrument
STS 4000 - DSP Sampler:
Like the STS 3000, but with:
14 different filter types
14 individual outputs
STS 5000 - Realtime Audio Transforming Sampler:
Like the STS 4000, but including:
Realtime time-stretching and pitch-shifting
Formant correction and shifting
Robot Mode, Autochord function
25 different filter types
Prices
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Volkszämpler: 125 Euro
STS 3000: 149 Euro
STS 4000: 198 Euro
STS 5000: 398 Euro
Upgrade STS 3000 to STS 4000: 69 Euro
Upgrade STS 3000 to STS 5000: 259 Euro
Upgrade STS 4000 to STS 5000: 219 Euro
All products available at your local CreamWare dealer or directly from our Online Shop at http://www.creamware.com.
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https://shop.creamware.de/shop2000/de/s ... .asp?LG=US
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