Audiaire Zenith User Manual

User Manual / by Sharooz Raoo,

Ulas Koca & Katt Strike

Version 1.0 November 2019

www.audiaire.com

Congratulations on purchasing Zenith and thank you for choosing Audiaire. Our goal was to port the diverse sound

ZENITH USER MANUAL 02

design functionality of our Zone VST into as broad a range of instruments as possible.

Your comments & feedback are always welcome: support@audiaire.com

Version 1.0 November 2019

www.audiaire.com

Contents

ZENITH USER MANUAL

1. Disclaimer and Legal Notices.

2. Minimum System Requirements

3. Installing, Registering and Launching Zenith

+ Using Zenith in Demo Mode

+ Registering & Authorising Zenith

+ Uninstalling Zenith

+ Setting Up An Audiaire Account

+ Redeeming an Audiaire License

4. Setting up Zenith in your DAW

5. Sending MIDI from Zenith

6. Feature Overview

7. Getting to know Zenith

8. Troubleshooting / FAQ

9. Credits

10. Appendix A

11. Appendix B

ZENITH USER MANUAL

Disclaimer and Legal Notices

Minimum System Requirements

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Audiaire Ltd. Audiaire Ltd shall not be liable for any loss or damages arising out of or related to this document or the information contained within it. No part of this publication or images may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any purpose without the written consent of Audiaire Ltd.

The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media except as detailed in the License Agreement.

VST + AU compatible host software. Zenith does not currently run on Propellerhead’s Reason software due to lack of MIDI routing functionality. Note also that Zenith installs as a VST2 and must be used with a

VST2 compatible DAW, as VST3 does not presently

allow for extensive MIDI routing.

VST Plugin technology by Steinberg VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH

All other copyrighted trademarks belong to their respective owners.

MAC

• OS 10.10 or higher. (64 bit only)

• 2GB RAM (8GB recommended)

• Windows 8 or higher.

• 2GB RAM (8GB recommended)

Installing, Registering

Zenith uses account verication in order to authorise

registration.

ZENITH USER MANUAL

& Launching Zenith

In order to log in to Zenith upon setup, please ensure

that you have your Audiaire account details to hand.*

*For more details on setting up an Audiaire account,

please see the next section; creating an Audiaire account.

Using Zenith in Demo Mode

Zenith can be used in demo mode for 20 minute uninterrupted intervals. After 20 minutes of continuous

use, you will not be able to access Zenith without

logging in with a valid email (that is assigned to

your purchase of Zenith, via the Audiaire website). In demo mode, presets cannot be saved and MIDI

CC data will drop out momentarily.

You do not need an Audiaire account to use the demo. To install, simply download and unzip the installer from www.audiaire.com/zenith. From the .pkg (MAC) or .msi (PC) les, you will be prompted to pick and choose which components you wish to install.

Zenith installs as VST or AU.

Installing, Registering & Launching Zenith

Registering and Authorising Zenith

Upon purchase you will be sent an email with a download link for the plugin. Click the link to begin the download and follow the steps above to install your copy of Zenith. Please ensure that you have your Audiare account details to hand, as you will be asked

to log in to Zenith when using it for the rst time.

When logging in, make sure that you have a valid internet connection, as Zenith will need to verify your

ZENITH USER MANUAL

credentials via Audiaire’s server. After successfully

logging in, you will have access to the full version

of Zenith.

Note: If you have forgotten/lost your Audiaire password, you can recover it by visiting https://www.audiaire.com/accounts/password_reset/ and following the steps to reset your password.

Installing, Registering

Uninstalling Zenith

For PC

ZENITH USER MANUAL

& Launching Zenith

Zenith contains an uninstaller, which you can launch to uninstall all instances of it.

Please note: upon removing Zenith, all custom presets will be removed and require restoration upon re-installation. Please make a copy of any les that you may wish to use later, as these cannot be recovered.

You can also manually uninstall Zenith, by following

the steps below.

For Mac

To uninstall Zenith on Mac, you will need to remove it from the following directories:

/Users/yourusername/Library/Application Support/ Audiaire/Zenith/

/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/Zenith.component

For PC users, you can uninstall Zenith by going to

your Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall Programmes and selecting Zenith.

(Please note that the Library folder may be hidden. To access, click Finder and select the Go menu. Hold [alt] and Library location will appear under the Go menu.)

Setting up an Audiaire Account

Setting up an Audiaire account is simple. To begin,

visit https://www.audiaire.com/register/?next= and complete the steps for account registration.

Once you have logged in, you will be able to see the

licenses attached to your account as well as change your account information and download demos from the Audiaire site.

VST: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/Zenith.vst

Installing, Registering

Redeeming an Audiaire License

ZENITH USER MANUAL

& Launching Zenith

If you purchased Zenith from a vendor other than

Audiaire, you will have received a unique license

code with your order. Please create an account if you

don’t already have one, login and redeem license

under the “Redeem Licenses” tab. Please ensure you use the same email that the purchase was made with.

Setting up Zenith in your DAW

09ZENITH USER MANUAL

a). Ableton 9 and 10

Zenith can be used as an AU or VST within Ableton but will not appear as a VST3.

Create a new Zenith Instrument track.

Create a MIDI track if using Zenith with hardware devices or an Instrument track for the software device you wish to control with it.

Ensure Monitor is set to In on the Zenith track and the Instrument or MIDI track to be controlled by it.

Select Zenith in the MIDI From dialogue in both MIDI From boxes.

If using a MIDI track ensure you have selected the appropriate MIDI interface in the MIDI To box, even if the appropriate MIDI interface has already been selected from within Zenith.

Setting up Zenith in your DAW

b). Apple Logic Pro X

Create a Software Instrument track or if controlling

a hardware device, an External MIDI Track on rst

launching your new Logic project.

If controlling an external MIDI device, click the check-box. Use External Instrument plug-in and

ZENITH USER MANUAL

select your audio and MIDI interface input/output where appropriate.

Select Zenith as a MIDI Insert FX within the channel strip of your Software Instrument or External MIDI track from MIDI FX > Audio Units > Audiaire > Zenith.

Setting up Zenith

c). Steinberg Cubase

11ZENITH USER MANUAL

Create a new Zenith Instrument track.

in your DAW

Zenith can be used as a VST within Ableton but will not as a VST3.

Create a MIDI track if using Zenith with hardware devices or an Instrument track for the software device you wish to control with it.

Ensure the record monitor button is on in the Zenith track and the Instrument or MIDI track to be controlled by it.

Select Zenith in the MIDI In box for the receiving software Instrument or MIDI track.

If using an external MIDI track ensure you have select-

ed the appropriate MIDI interface in the MIDI Out box,

even if the appropriate MIDI interface has already been selected from within Zenith.

ZENITH USER MANUAL

Sending MIDI from Zenith

Zenith essentially functions as an insert between your MIDI input and output devices (see diagram below).

Zenith sends note data, SysEx and MIDI CC data.

What is MIDI CC?

In MIDI terms, a continuous controller (CC) is a MIDI message capable of transmitting a range of values,

usually 0 -127. The MIDI Spec makes 128 different

ontinuous controllers available for each MIDI channel,

although some of these have been pre-assigned to other functions. CC’s are commonly used for things like MIDI

controlling volume (#7), pan (#10), data slider position (#6), mod wheel (#1) and other variable parameters.

Use of CC’s in performance and sequencing can be a

major factor in adding life to MIDI music – but beware,

over-use of CC messages in hardware can result in MIDI log-jam.

In order for your MIDI receiving device to correctly accept incoming CC data from Zenith, that devices’s CC numbers must be matched to Zenith’s.

Sending MIDI from Zenith

MIDI Maps

Zenith ships with a number of presets for popular hardware and software devices. Once the appropriate preset has been loaded in Zenith, the receiving device may require a MIDI map to be loaded if it is a software instrument. Loading the MIDI map for that device will ensure its controls match those in the Zenith

preset, even if its presets are changed. Please consult

with your specific device manual to successfully load and save MIDI maps. Zenith ships with MIDI maps for all its devices where applicable.

Most hardware devices do not need pre-loaded MIDI maps and have CCs listed in the MIDI Implementa-

tion spec in their manual back pages, therefore the

hardware device presets shipped with Zenith will not

require MIDI map loading, but may require device

specific operations such as ensuring all MIDI data is receivable and CC control is switched on. Please refer to your device manual.

13ZENITH USER MANUAL

You must then either match the CC to that of the number of the receiving controller you are seeking to control - this can be done manually or by using the MIDI learn function in the receiving device if it has one, and moving a control in Zenith to send data appropriately to that CC.

Please make sure to save a MIDI map in the receiving device or save your work in your DAW otherwise you may lose controller assignments in the receiving device.

Assigning Devices From Scratch

If you are assigned a device from scratch, you can set

each Zenith device controller’s CC by clicking on it and

adjusting its CC number in the right hand menu, or if a

SysEx device click the SYSEX LED on.

Sending MIDI from

14ZENITH USER MANUAL

SysEx Device Operation

Zenith

For devices without CC control, Zenith can also send SysEx data. In order to do this, that device’s SysEx

data parameters must be loaded into Zenith as a text

file, if it is not in the list of preset devices in the Zenith

SysEx drop down menu. See Appendix A for further information on this.

For SysEx devices to successfully function with Zenith,

‘switch on’ SysEx mode by selecting the appropriate MIDI output and MIDI channel for the device from Zenith (see below). Once the SysEx device has been selected from within Zenith you must still load its preset.

Feature Overview

Congratulations on purchasing Zenith.

At the heart of Zenith’s operation are a series of powerful MIDI processors which allow up to 24 different MIDI CC’s to be modied in their own independent sequencer lanes. A unique customisable

user interface enables the creation of knobs, faders

and sliders for any device.

In addition there are 4 x CC LFOs and 3 x CC envelopes and preset templates for many popular software and hardware instruments.

15ZENITH USER MANUAL

• 27 lane and global sequencer speeds.

• Individual lane step mutes and independently selectable sequence lengths.

• Sequencer +/- swing and probability controls.

• Powerful SysEx processing for controlling vintage hardware synths lacking CC implementation or front panel controls.

• 3 slew lter types per CC with adjustable time.

Zenith also includes a comprehensive chord generator, with 22 chord types, each with three separate inversions, note scaler, velocity limiter, SysEx processor with customisable scripting, 24 slew lters, 100 sequence

lane presets and an arpeggio editor.

Amongst Zenith’s primary features are:

• Preset maps for 100+ software and hardware

synths, drum machines and other MIDI receiving

devices.

• Extensive lane modication tools including increase/decrease and shift step modiers plus

10 popular arpeggios and 13 scales per lane.

• Adjustable MIDI latency for SysEx devices.

• Low CPU usage with no license management software to install.

Getting to know Zenith

16ZENITH USER MANUAL

Below is an overview of Zenith’s user interface.

The lettered points show the basic operational features which are described on the next page.

+ 36 hidden pages

Audiaire Zenith User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual