Infinity Looper User’s Guide All contents c Absara Audio LLC 2014
Contents Contents 1 1 Welcome to Infinity 5 2 Anatomy and Functions 2.1 Footswitches . . . . . . Loop 1 . . . . . . . . . Loop 2 . . . . . . . . . Stop . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Toggle Switches . . . . Stop Mode . . . . . . . Arm, All . . . . Full, Trail, Fade Input Split . . . . . . . Series Loops . . . . . . Sync Multi . . . . . . . 2.3 Knobs . . . . . . . . . Master Volume . . . . Preset . . . . . . . . . Loop Volume 1 . . . . Loop Volume 2 . . . . 2.4 Jacks . . . . . . . . . . DC Power . . . . . . .
CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CONTENTS 3.14 Click Killer . . . . 3.15 Varispeed . . . . 3.16 Boot Options . . Auto Zero Record Mono Mixdown . Stutter . . . . . . Reformat . . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 28 30 30 31 31 32 4 Remote Switch Functions 4.
CONTENTS 4 MIDI Real-Time Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Varispeed MIDI Note Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 7 Infinity Looper Application 49 8 Firmware Updates 51 8.1 Automatic Update Using the Looper Application . . . 51 8.2 Manual Firmware Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Welcome to Infinity Pigtronix designed this pedal to be easy to use, yet vastly powerful and deeply musical. Think of it as a foot-operated, digital version of a multi-track tape recorder. Eschewing the quantization and delayed commands found in other looper pedals, the Pigtronix approach is to make all commands instantaneous.
2. 2.1 Anatomy and Functions Footswitches Loop 1 This footswitch controls the looping actions for Loop 1. Pressing the Loop 1 footswitch at any time will arm Loop 1, illuminating the corresponding red LED and indicating that Loop 1 is ready to receive Play, Stop, Overdub and Undo commands. Loop 1 is armed by default upon power up. If there is no audio recorded on Loop 1, pressing the Loop 1 footswitch will begin recording immediately.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 7 Stop Quickly pressing the Stop footswitch will stop audio playback on one or both loops, depending on the Arm/All setting (see below). Holding down the Stop footswitch for at least two seconds will cause loop audio to be erased from one or both loops, depending on the Arm/All setting. 2.2 Toggle Switches Stop Mode Quickly pressing the Stop Mode switch will toggle between Arm and All modes.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 8 twice within 1 second). The Arm functionality also applies to the Play command. When loops are stopped, pressing a loop footswitch will only resume playback of the currently armed loop. Some Remote Switch functions (page 33) also follow the Arm/All setting. Many MIDI CC/Note messages contain values that also specify Arm or All control. For more information please see the description of the MIDI implementation on page 43.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 9 For more options and details, see the Infinity Rules Input Split section on page 24. Series Loops When Series Loops is on, you are in Series mode. This means that only one of the two loops can play at any given time. This is handy for verse/chorus-type song structures. When Series Loops is off, you are in Parallel mode. This means that Loop 1 and Loop 2 can play together at the same time. Sync Multi Holding the Sync Multi switch will toggle Sync Multi on or off.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 10 You can alter the synchronization at any time while recording, by manually closing Loop 2 with the Loop 2 footswitch. This will cause Loop 2 to close at the end of the current loop cycle. The arm light will blink to indicate that Loop 2 is about to close. To cancel this operation, hit the Loop 2 footswitch again and it will continue recording until the full multiplier factor has been reached.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 11 Setting it at around 3 o’clock gives you unity gain. Preset This is a rotary push button encoder that is used to select what loop preset is in use, and to store loop audio. The Infinity Looper allows you to store and recall up to 50 presets, which consist of audio that you’ve either recorded on the Infinity, or audio you’ve loaded onto the pedal from your computer using the app. Each preset includes a Loop 1, and a Loop 2 if you’ve recorded one.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 12 Loop volume can also be controlled via expression pedal (see Expression Pedal Functions, page 39) 2.4 Jacks DC Power Use only the 18-Volt, 300mA, negative-tip power supply that came with your Pigtronix Infinity Looper. Using the wrong power supply is likely to result in a damaged pedal. In 1 Looper input 1. This is normally the input to use, unless you are using both inputs for stereo or two instruments. In 2 Looper input 2.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 13 Out 2 Second pass-through/loop output, for use when you’re using stereo inputs, or two instruments, or want to split your output signal (one to an amp, one to a recording unit, for example). Aux Out This output contains summed mono audio of all currently playing loops. This output is primarily intended for use as a loop only monitor send to a drummer, bandmate or FOH mixer.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 14 For details on how to use the Expression Pedal, see Expression Pedal Functions, page 39. MIDI In This provides a connection for MIDI beat clock sync (slave), or a MIDI controller. Infinity Looper will sync to MIDI whenever a MIDI Beat Clock signal is preset. The Infinity Looper can also be configured to obey MIDI Start, Stop and Song Select, as well as CC/Note control over every feature (complete MIDI mapping). For more information and instructions, go to page 43.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 2.5 15 LEDs Loop LEDs The Loop 1 and Loop 2 footswitch LEDs share the same color coding, and light pattern (for colorblind users). Green Playback Solid Red Recording Slow Flicker Orange Overdub Quick Flicker Both Loop 1 and Loop 2 footswitch LEDs are accompanied by a red square Arm LED that indicates which loop is currently armed. When an external MIDI Clock is used, the Arm LED for the currently selected Loop will blink at the received tempo.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 16 Multi-Segment Digit This numeric display tells the user which preset is currently selected (within the selected bank) and is also used to confirm firmware update “F”, and to indicate copy in progress “C” and USB active “U” states. In Varispeed mode (see page 35) a “-” is displayed. It’s height represents the speed of the sample rate. Decimal Point Located to the right of the digit, this LED lights up to indicate that audio has been recorded to a preset bank.
3. 3.1 Infinity Rules Arm Arming a loop is achieved by pressing the footswitch that corresponds to the desired loop. The Arm light above the selected loop will glow red indicating its status as armed. A loop must be armed in order to accept further commands. When the Infinity powers up initially, LOOP 1 is armed by default. Loop 2 cannot be armed until material is recorded on Loop 1. 3.2 Record Once a loop is armed, pressing the footswitch for that loop will begin recording.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 3.3 18 Jump Record Pressing the Loop 2 footswitch while Loop 1 is recording will close Loop 1 and begin recording on Loop 2. In parallel mode, Loop 1 will immediately begin playback when Loop 2 starts recording. In series mode, Loop 1 will simply close and be ready for playback the next time you hit the Loop 1 footswitch. 3.4 Play When a loop has been recorded but is stopped, pressing that loop’s footswitch will restart playback.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 3.6 19 Erase To erase a loop, press and hold down the Stop footswitch. If a loop is stopped and armed, pressing the Undo remote switch will erase that loop. When the erase command is triggered, the Stop LED, the current Arm LED and the Multi-Segment Digit will flash once to indicate audio has just been erased. The Erase function is tied to the Arm/All settings (see page 8). 3.7 Overdub Overdub lets you add additional material to the original loop.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 3.8 20 Sync Multi For basic Sync Multi functionality see the Sync Multi Section (page 10) Holding the Sync Multi switch will toggle Sync Multi on or off. Quickly pressing the Sync Multi switch once Sync Multi is on, cycles through the sync multiplier factor. When Sync Multi is turned off, the lengths of Loop 1 and 2 are unrelated and playback is unsynchronized. If Loop 2 is recorded when Sync Multi is off, it cannot be turned off until Loop 2 is erased.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 21 footswitch will close Loop 1, and will simultaneously arm and begin recording on Loop 2. Pressing the Loop 1 footswitch next will cause Loop 2 to close and will simultaneously arm and begin playback on Loop 1. 3.10 Series & Fade Modes Trails In Series mode, when Trails is selected, switching between loops at any time will cue the selected loop to begin playback automatically at the end of the current loop cycle.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 3.11 22 Input Split The Input Split function is intended for isolating Loop 1 to audio channel 1 and Loop 2 to audio channel 2. This is helpful if you want to loop multiple instruments on isolated, yet synchronized loops. When nothing is plugged into Input 2, then the audio from Input 1 becomes the source for Input 2 (as well as Input 1) and the Input Split function allows you to record separate loops for the left and right output channels. 3.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 23 To cancel the load process at any time, hit the Stop footswitch, or simply turn the preset knob to return to the currently loaded preset. Saving To Save a preset you have created, push and hold the preset knob for 2 seconds, until the digit begins flashing. Turn the preset knob to select the bank you want to save the loops in and then push down and hold the preset knob for 2 seconds to finalize the save. To cancel the save process at any time, hit the Stop footswitch.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 24 In certain instances while saving, the Infinity Looper may need to quickly copy data from one sector of the disk to another. When this happens, the digit will show a flashing “C” while the copy is in process. Erasing To erase saved audio from a preset (for example, erasing one of the loops), the audio must first be erased by pressing and holding the Stop footswitch. Then the modified loop must be saved using the process previously described. 3.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 25 To enable Expression Pedal control of the feedback value, select ”A” from the Expression Pedal Assignment Menu (page 40). For more information on Expression Pedal Loop Aging control see Expression Pedal Functions, 39. You can enter the Loop Aging menu at any time, even during playback. Loop Aging settings will be saved when you save your preset. Loop Aging only takes place when you are in an Overdub state, and only applies to the armed loop.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 3.15 26 Varispeed Varispeed allows you to change the pitch (and speed) of your looped audio by altering the recording and playback sample rate. This change can be made in real time using an expression pedal, remote switch, or MIDI. Further details are provided in the Remote Switch section (page 33), Expression Pedal Functions (page 39) and MIDI section (page 43). Push and hold down the Reverse switch to allow user control of Varispeed.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 27 standard Undo or Redo functionality however, you can snap to any desired sample rate using the remote switch. In ARM mode, pressing both Remote Switches at the same time will snap the sample-rate to the sample-rate used to record the currently armed Loop. In ALL mode it will always snap to the sample-rate used to record Loop 1.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES # of Semitones 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3.16 Interval Minor Second Major Second Minor Third Major Third Perfect Fourth Diminished Fifth Perfect Fifth Minor Sixth Major Sixth Minor Seventh Major Seventh Perfect Octave 28 Up Speed (%) .94 0.89 0.83 0.8 0.75 0.70 0.67 0.63 0.60 0.56 0.53 0.50 Down Speed (%) 1.07 1.13 1.2 1.25 1.33 1.42 1.50 1.6 1.67 1.80 1.88 2.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 29 of empty loops is automatically set to 24 kHz. This is essential if you are creating live loops using any type of tap tempo MIDI clock source. The default 24 kHz sample-rate allows for the MIDI source to speed up and slow down without loosing sync. Mono Mixdown Hold Loop 2 during boot to toggle Mono Mixdown. With Mono Mixdown off (Loop 2 LED is off during boot), the Infinity Looper outputs in stereo (Default).
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 30 Reformat Hold the Series Loops switch during boot to reformat the microSD Card to 50 Presets.
4. Remote Switch Functions We recommend that you use the Infinity Remote (www.pigtronix. com/products/infinity-remote-switch) as your remote switch. Plug your remote switch into the Undo jack. 4.1 Reverse Reverse is triggered by shorting the ring to the sleeve of the Undo jack. This is accomplished by connecting any two-button, momentary footswitch (such as the Pigtronix Infinity Remote) to the Undo jack with a TRS cable.
CHAPTER 4. REMOTE SWITCH FUNCTIONS 4.2 32 Undo To undo overdubs, a dual momentary remote switch is required. This should be connected to the Undo jack using a TRS (balanced 1/4”) cable. When an overdub is being recorded (Loop LED is orange), pressing the Undo switch will cause the Infinity to permanently erase that overdub at the end of the current loop cycle. Any material from previous overdubs that have already been merged with the initial recording will not be undone.
CHAPTER 4. REMOTE SWITCH FUNCTIONS 4.4 33 Rec→Overdub→Play In response to numerous customer requests, we have implemented a feature that allows you to go directly from recording the base layer, straight into overdub mode. This feature is particularly good if you have sounds (delays, reverbs etc) that will trail across the Loop’s boundary; using it will prevent clicks and pops.
CHAPTER 4. REMOTE SWITCH FUNCTIONS 34 A short press of Reverse decreases the pitch and increases the length of both loops by the interval selected using the Infinity Application. A short press of Undo increases the pitch and decreases the length of both loops by the musical interval selected using the Infinity Application. Pressing and holding undo or pressing both Reverse and Undo resets the sample rate to the initial recording sample rate.
CHAPTER 4. REMOTE SWITCH FUNCTIONS 35 The Remote Mapping Menu only sets the Interval while in the Varispeed Remote Control Menu, if you leave the Varispeed Remote Control Menu the Remote Mapping Menu sets the Expression Pedal assignment as described on page 39. Caution: Press-and-hold functionality on the Reverse and Undo switches in this menu prevents actions taking place immediately when pressed.
5. Expression Pedal Functions An industry standard low-impedance TRS expression pedal can be connected to the Infinity using a TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) cable, to control any one of the following (but only one at a time): Loop Volume, Loop Aging, or Varispeed. Moving the expression pedal towards the heel will turn the loop audio down (for both loops) from the level set by the individual loop volume knobs. 5.
CHAPTER 5. EXPRESSION PEDAL FUNCTIONS 37 You can use a simple momentary switch (connected via TRS) in place of an expression pedal to get an instant Loop Replace function out of the “A” mode, since hitting the switch is like going to “0.” 5.3 Varispeed This is the default function of the Expression pedal while in the Varispeed Remote Control Menu. This mapping controls the Varispeed sample rate.
CHAPTER 5. EXPRESSION PEDAL FUNCTIONS 38 to finalize and exit. The selection from the Remote Mapping Menu applies globally, both in and out of Varispeed Remote Control Menu. The Remote Mapping Menu only sets the Expression Pedal assignment when NOT in the Varispeed Remote Control Menu. If the Varispeed Remote Control Menu is entered while in the Remote Mapping Menu, the Remote Mapping Menu will set the Interval Change of the Varispeed Remote Control Menu as described on page 35.
6. 6.1 MIDI MIDI Sync MIDI Sync is the normal default MIDI mode of the Infinity−it’s always on. When a MIDI Beat Clock is present, the Infinity Looper will synchronize its actions to the MIDI beat clock, acting as a slave device. Once a loop has been recorded with a MIDI Beat Clock, the Infinity will constantly readjust the loop length to stay synchronized. This active MIDI synchronization prevents drift, and guarantees that all synchronized actions happen on time at the start of MIDI measures.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 6.2 40 Time Signature The Time signature can be changed, on a preset-by-preset basis, using the Infinity Application. For quantization to the beat rather than to the measure, set the measure to a single note (eg. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16). 6.3 Commands That Sync to MIDI Clock With MIDI Sync active, some commands initiated using the Infinity’s footswitches will be automatically quantized to the beginning of the next MIDI Measure.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 41 which loop is playing back at the start of the next measure after the switch has been pressed. Overdub Closes a base recording at the start of the next measure after the switch has been pressed then begins recording an Overdub. 6.4 Commands That Ignore MIDI Sync Erase, Overdub, Global stop (via double tap), and all mode changes via the tactile switches, potentiometers or encoder are not quantized to MIDI beat clock. 6.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 42 A Full MIDI Map is provided on page 47. The behavior of individual commands (CC: control change) is broken down into 4 types of control: Cycle/Toggle Any value of these MIDI CC/Note messages toggles or cycles through the available options, changing to the next selection. Mapped The value (0-127) of these MIDI CC/Note messages sets the value of the parameter.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 43 Values of 1 or 2 specifically send a short press and long press respectively and act immediately.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 44 Sending a MIDI Song Select command will change preset banks, in order to move between different loops during performance. Allow up to 4 seconds for song select changes to take effect. Varispeed MIDI Note Control For precise changes of sample rate for the purposes of a pitch change, the Infinity accepts MIDI Note Control. MIDI Notes C5 to C7 change the sample rate between 12 and 48 khz.
7. Infinity Looper Application The Infinity Looper Application comes pre-installed on your Infinity Looper pedal. To run the application, plug in your Looper via USB and open the appropriate folder (PC or MAC) from the on-board drive and then click on the LooperApp.exe file. If using Windows 7, please right-click and choose “Run As Administrator” To update the Infinity Looper application on your Infinity Looper, download the updated version at the following URL: www.Pigtronix.
8. 8.1 Firmware Updates Automatic Update Using the Looper Application In order to launch the Infinity Looper Application, you must plug the looper into a PC using the supplied USB-A to microUSB cable. The Infinity is not a bus powered device and must be plugged into the wall using the supplied adapter in order to run the Infinity Looper Application. Once the Infinity has been connected to a computer, it will appear as a USB mass storage device.
CHAPTER 8. FIRMWARE UPDATES 47 If you followed the above instructions correctly and the “F” does not appear, then the firmware you are trying to install is the same as what is currently running on your device. 8.2 Manual Firmware Update To update your Infinity Looper with the latest firmware, power up the Infinity Looper and plug it into a PC with the supplied USB-A to microUSB cable.
9. Minimum and Maximum Loop Times Loop 1 Maximum Recording Time (in Seconds) with an 8GB SD Card Multiplier Value # of Preset Slots ×1 ×2 ×3 ×4 ×6 5 720 480 360 286 204 10 357 237 177 141 101 15 237 158 117 95 68 20 177 117 87 70 49 25 141 92 70 54 38 30 117 79 57 46 32 35 101 65 49 38 27 40 87 57 43 35 24 45 76 51 38 30 21 50 (Default) 68 46 32 27 19 For higher numbers of presets, and other SD card sizes the general formula for maximum loop time is t = 0.
10. Acknowledgements Years of work went into creating the Infinity Looper pedal. We would like to thank the following people for their help along the way: Ray Heasman, Howard Davis, Ben Artes, Steve Turnidge, Lisa Rickmers, Megan Leary, the Bethke and Koltai families, Jer Coons, Aaron Reed, Dan Pavone, Kevin Griffin, Sean Fitzsimons, Brett Perdie and B-Dawg.
11. Pigtronix Limited Warranty Your Pigtronix effect pedal comes with a 1-year limited warranty on parts and workmanship. During the warranty period we will repair or replace, at our option, defective parts or pedals free of charge, and return them to the owner. Warranty service does not include damaged, modified, or misused pedals and such pedals will be subject to a standard repair charge. What you must do: First, contact us directly via email and describe the problem to us.
