BigSeq2 User’s Guide Audio Damage, Inc. Release 1.
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System Requirements BigSeq2 is provided as both a VST and an AudioUnit plug-in for Windows and MacOS X. The MacOS X version is a Universal Binary, compatible with both Intel- and Motorola-based Macs. To use BigSeq2, you'll need a Steinberg VST-compatible host application which conforms to the VST 2.0 specifications, and a computer capable of running it.
Introduction Thanks for purchasing BigSeq2, an extensive (dare we say "massive") upgrade to our BigSeq gate sequencer plug-in. BigSeq2 starts with BigSeq's original concept, gating an audio track rhythmically, and turns it on its ear with the addition of nine other effects, all of which can be sequenced. BigSeq2 consists of six "blocks," each of which has its own time base, two sequencers, and one to three effects.
The Sequencers Each of BigSeq2’s six effects blocks has its own pair of step sequencers, a Modulation Sequencer and a Gate Sequencer. The Modulation Sequencer varies (modulates) one or more of the block’s parameters, while the Gate Sequencer simply turns the block on or off. These sequencers enable BigSeq2 to create complex, evolving sounds synchronized to your music. All of the sequencers run independently, but are always locked to your host DAW’s transport.
The small rectangles immediately below the squares are the gate locks. (That little symbol to the left of the row is a stylized image of a padlock.) When a step’s gate lock is turned on, that step is not affected by the rand, reset, and clear buttons. A locked gate will remain either on or off when you click RAND or CLEAR, and when RESET is turned on. You can still turn the gate on or off by clicking it with the mouse.
Modulation Sequencer Each effects block has its own Modulation Sequencer. This sequencer can vary the values of the effects block, changing a simple static audio effect into something that changes with the rhythm of your music. The main feature of the Modulation Sequencer panel is its row of 32 vertical sliders. Each is topped with a circular handle; the handle of the current step of the sequencer is filled with orange.
The STEP SIZE control affects both the Modulation Sequencer and the Gate Sequencer. Each effects block’s sequencer can have its own step size setting. This means that BigSeq2’s sequencers can have very complex interrelations since they each have their own number of steps and step size settings. In the lower-left corner of the Modulation Sequencer panel is a row of switches for setting the play direction for the sequencer.
By now, if you’re still paying attention, you’re probably thinking “well, this is all very elaborate and nice, but what does the Modulation Sequencer actually do?” As we’ve said, the Modulation Sequencer can control the parameters of the effects block. But before we describe how this actually works, we need to look at the effects blocks themselves and their parameters. We’ll describe how the Modulation Sequencer controls those parameters in the section titled “Modulation”, later on.
To return to the actual point, the VCA effects block is a gate effect controlled by its sequencer. Together they turn the signal on and off in time with your music and are more than capable of creating the rapid, rhythmic gating effect commonly heard in a number of forms of electronic dance music. The VCA can also be used to chop pieces out of drum loops, bass lines, vocals, synthesizer riffs, etc., creating new parts that can be processed by BigSeq2’s other effects.
Finally, the PAN knob controls the perceived stereo position of the VCA’s output. Rotate the knob to the left and the sound will move towards the left speaker; rotate it to the right and the sound with move towards the right. Bits The Bits effect block is a multi-purpose digital distortion processor.
Delay BigSeq2’s Delay effects block contains a simple but versatile stereo delay. It can be used for both tempo-synced echo/repeat effects and modulation effects created by short delays such as simple chorusing, flanging, and doubling. The switches in the lower left of Delay’s panel control the maximum delay time. When the DELAY switch is activated, the delay has a maximum duration of two seconds. Also, when this switch is turned on, the delay time is synchronized to the tempo setting of your host software.
The SEND knob controls how much of the signal entering the Delay effects block actually passes through the delay itself. The input signal is always sent to the output of the Delay block without attenuation, so the SEND knob acts like an effects-send or aux-send knob on a mixing board. If the SEND knob is turned all the way down to zero, you won’t hear any delayed signal.
Filter The Filter effects block contains a filter (not surprisingly) with several different modes. The FREQ controls the cutoff frequency of the filter. Rotate the knob clockwise to increase the cutoff frequency. The RES knob controls the resonance of the filter. As the resonance of a filter increases, the filter's output emphasizes frequencies near its cutoff frequency. In plainer terms, if you turn up the resonance knob, the filter sounds more “synthy”. (Try it—you'll hear what we mean.
frequencies above its cutoff frequency without alteration. As you rotate the frequency knob clockwise, the signal loses its lower frequencies and the output sounds thinner. If you turn the frequency knob up far enough, you might not hear anything at all because the entire signal has been filtered out.
The Frequency Shifter block has four knobs. The first knob, SHIFT, controls how much the signal’s frequency is shifted. This knob has a range of -800Hz to +800Hz. A shift amount of zero produces no effect. Positive amounts shift the signal upwards in frequency, negative amounts shift it downwards. The second knob, FINE, also controls the shift interval, but has a much smaller range of -10Hz to +10Hz.
Routing As we’ve mentioned previously, the six signal processing blocks in BigSeq2 can be arranged in any sequence. The Routing panel near the bottom of BigSeq2’s window shows the current order of the blocks, and lets you rearrange them. The order of the blocks in the routing panel reflects the order in which the signal passes through them, from left to right. In the picture above, the signal first goes through the Distort block, then through the Bits block, then through the Filter, and so on.
Output Controls In the lower right of BigSeq2’s window are two simple but useful controls. The OUTPUT knob controls BigSeq2’s overall output level. Use it to make BigSeq2 louder or softer as needed. The OUTPUT knob has a range of -40dB to +6dB, so it can boost quiet signals or tame overly loud noises. The ACTIVE button effectively turns BigSeq2 on and off. When the ACTIVE button is dimmed, BigSeq2 has no effect on the incoming signal and passes it through without alteration.
Modulation BigSeq2’s power lies in its modulation features—that is, the manner in which its Modulation Sequencers can control (modulate) the parameters of the effects blocks. We’ve described how each effects block has a pair of sequencers, and what parameters each effects block has; now we’ll describe how they work together. We’ll use the following screenshot as an example. First notice that the sequencer step size is set to 1/16 and the number of steps is 32.
If a modulation slider is moved to the right of center, the Modulation Sequencer’s output is added to the value set by the parameter’s knob. The further to the right you move the slider, the greater the effect that the Modulation Sequencer has on the parameter—that is, the more it increases that parameter’s value. If the modulation slider is moved all the way to the right, the Modulation Sequencer can modulate the parameter across its entire range.
MIDI Controllers The VST version of BigSeq2 responds to MIDI continuous controller messages. You can use hardware MIDI controllers, such as MIDI slider boxes or the knobs found on some MIDI keyboards, to adjust BigSeq2’s parameters. You can assign MIDI controllers to the knobs, sliders, and switches in BigSeq2’s Effect panels, and to some of the controls in the sequencer panels. You cannot assign MIDI controllers to the Modulation Sequencer sliders or the Gate Sequencer switches, or to the step locks.
read when BigSeq2 is loaded by your host. If you have two or more instances of BigSeq2 in use at once, any MIDI assignments you make will not be propagated to the other instances until the next time that your host loads the plug-ins. The AudioUnit version does not provide the same MIDI assignment features as the VST version.
