FXpansion GEIST-2 Operation Guide

Geist2

Geist22

Operation Manual

1 Introduction to Geist2

................................................................................................................................... 5Geist2 Architecture and Interface1.1

................................................................................................................................... 10Loading sounds for the first time1.2

................................................................................................................................... 13Playing pads and recording a pattern1.3

................................................................................................................................... 17Slicing loops1.4

................................................................................................................................... 18More about loading sounds and saving work1.5

................................................................................................................................... 22Editing and modulating sounds1.6

................................................................................................................................... 24Mixer pages and Effects1.7

................................................................................................................................... 28Sequencing and arrangement1.8

................................................................................................................................... 29Patterns in more detail1.9

................................................................................................................................... 32Introduction to Graphs1.10

................................................................................................................................... 36Performing with patterns1.11

................................................................................................................................... 38Performing with scenes1.12

................................................................................................................................... 40Arranging patterns into a song1.13

................................................................................................................................... 42Using MIDI and host automation1.14

................................................................................................................................... 44MIDI / audio export and MIDI output1.15

2 Browser

................................................................................................................................... 47Browser Modes2.1

................................................................................................................................... 48Browser Navigation and Options2.2

................................................................................................................................... 50Sidebar and Files2.3

................................................................................................................................... 53Searches, Favourites and Shortlists2.4

3 Slicing

................................................................................................................................... 57Slicer panel3.1

................................................................................................................................... 59Slicing tools and modes3.2

4 Sampler

................................................................................................................................... 65Sampler controls4.1

5 Pads and Layers

................................................................................................................................... 69Pads and managing pads5.1

................................................................................................................................... 72Layer controls5.2

.......................................................................................................................................................... 75Setup, Mix, Tuning and Filter controls

.......................................................................................................................................................... 78Play, Looping and Timestretch controls

.......................................................................................................................................................... 80Envelope controls

................................................................................................................................... 83Pad Mixer5.3

................................................................................................................................... 86Layer Mixer5.4

6 Engines and Global Mixer

................................................................................................................................... 88Engine Selector6.1

................................................................................................................................... 90Global Mixer6.2

7 Geist2 Effects

................................................................................................................................... 93Effects slot controls7.1

................................................................................................................................... 95Distortion7.2

................................................................................................................................... 98Dynamics7.3

................................................................................................................................... 100EQ7.4

................................................................................................................................... 101Filters7.5

................................................................................................................................... 103FX7.6

................................................................................................................................... 107Reverb7.7

8 TransMod modulation

................................................................................................................................... 110Using TransMod modulation8.1

................................................................................................................................... 113Assignable TransMod modulators8.2

9 Patterns and Graphs

................................................................................................................................... 116Pattern memory keys9.1

................................................................................................................................... 118Pattern editor9.2

................................................................................................................................... 123Pattern editing functions9.3

................................................................................................................................... 125Graphs9.4

109

115

10 Scenes and Song pages

................................................................................................................................... 131Scenes page10.1

................................................................................................................................... 133Song page10.2

................................................................................................................................... 137Song page editing functions10.3

11 Other controls, menus, controls and indicators

................................................................................................................................... 140Transport and Status display11.1

................................................................................................................................... 143File, Tools and Help menus11.2

................................................................................................................................... 145Exporting Audio11.3

................................................................................................................................... 146Mapping panel11.4

................................................................................................................................... 148Preferences11.5

12 Using the Geist2 standalone application

130

139

151

Geist24

1 Introduction to Geist2

Geist2 is an advanced step-sequencer and sample-based drum machine realised in software.

It is intended to be an ergonomic way to effortlessly build grooves and beats although it can be used for all kinds of musical material.

1.1 Geist2 Architecture and Interface

Layers

The basic 'slots' for loading samples in Geist2. There are 8 layers on each pad.

Pads

There are 64 pads in each engine: 4 banks with 16 pads visible at any one time. Each pad contains 8 layers.

Patterns

Each pattern features 64 tracks – one for each pad in the engine. There are 24 patterns in each engine.

Engines

There are 8 engines in total: each engine features 64 pads, and 24 patterns.

Scenes

Performance snapshots of the currently playing patterns in all engines

Song

A timeline-based arrangement of pattern references with a track for each engine

Samples

Individual WAV/AIFF files to load onto pad layers

Loops

Loops can be loaded into Geist2's Slicer for non-destructive 'chopping'

Pad presets

Presets for all 8 layers of a pad including samples and additional pad/layer settings

Kit presets

Presets for all pads within an engine

Engine presets

Presets for the entire engine, including engine effects

Full Geist2 presets

These are also known simply as 'presets' and store the entire state of Geist2.

Geist2 architecture

• The basic elements in Geist2 are as follows:

• As well as the above elements, Geist2 also has the following features for arranging patterns:

Geist2 interface

Introduction to Geist2 5

Browser

The Browser is the main method of loading sounds into Geist2. It is also used for selecting sounds to slice into smaller sections before loading these sections to the pads.

Geist2 allows the following types of files to be loaded from the Browser:

Geist26

Pads and Pad mode controls

The on-screen pads represent the pads in the current engine. Each pad has a corresponding MIDI note.

Pattern memory keys

The pattern memory keys, or pattern keys, represent and select the 24 patterns in the current engine. Each pattern memory key also has a corresponding MIDI note.

Engine selector

The Engine selector buttons select one of the 8 engines for editing.

Pad Editor

The Pad Editor section provides editing controls for the current pad and its 8 layers.

Context-sensitive workspace area

The contents of the workspace are dictated by the Page buttons. The default page shown in this area is the Pattern page, representing the currently selected pattern in the current engine.

Page buttons

The Pattern, Global Mixer, Pad Mixer, Layer Mixer, Scenes, Song and Mapping buttons control which page is shown in the workspace area.

Transport

The Transport controls are vital to sequencing within Geist2 – the transport must be running to play and perform with patterns.

Learn

The Learn button is used for mapping Geist2 controls to MIDI or host automation.

Undo/Redo

Geist2 features a powerful multiple-level Undo/Redo system which even applies to almost all Browser load actions. Since it is possible to load sounds and kits with a single click, the Undo function can be very useful if existing sounds are replaced accidentally.

Tempo

Geist2's tempo is locked to the host while it runs as a plugin. In the standalone application, click and drag the Tempo control up/down or double-click it to type a new tempo. Alternatively, it can be set via the Tap Tempo function: ALT-click the Tempo control 4 or more times.

Menus

The File menu is used for saving/loading files, the Tools menu provides several additional utility functions including the Preferences panel and the Help menu provides access to documentation / support resources.

Preset/Kit indicator

This indicator displays the name of the last loaded Geist2 preset and/or kit.

Status display

The Status display section contains indicators for the amount of memory (RAM) used by samples in Geist2, for MIDI/Audio engine status and whenever voice stealing occurs.

Master Gain

The Master gain control adjusts the gain of the Master channel - this is an identical control to the Master channel's Gain fader in the Global Mixer page. Since all Geist2 elements are routed to the Master channel by default, the control effectively adjusts the level of the default audio destination for all elements in Geist2.

If any elements are routed to one of the 32 sub-outputs, they will not exist within the Master channel signal and therefore are not affected by this control.

Introduction to Geist2 7

Select the engine to edit by clicking one of the 8 buttons in the Engine selector at the top of the Geist2 interface (engine 1 is selected when Geist2 is initialized).

The concept of the 'selected pad' is used in many situations in Geist2, such as when using single/double-click processes in the Browser to load samples from the Browser and when using the

Pad Editor, Layer Mixer and Pad Mixer.

• Click a pad to select it and play its layers

• ALT-click a pad to select it without playing its layers If the Pad selection follows MIDI button is activated, pads

are also selected by playing their corresponding MIDI notes. One of 4 Banks of 16 pads are usually visible. To view all pads,

click the All button.

• Click the pattern memory key

• Play the pattern memory key's corresponding MIDI note

Geist2 interface concepts

Many of Geist2's editing functions are selection-dependent and shown on its main workspace or Pad Editor areas.

Selecting elements for editing

One of the main concepts used in Geist2 is selecting an element for editing.

Selecting an engine

Only one of the 8 engines can be visible for editing at any one time. The other engines are still active and can play patterns or be triggered via MIDI.

The Global Mixer page can also be used to select engines by clicking an engine channel.

Selecting a pad

Selecting a layer

In the Pad Editor and Layer Mixer, a layer must be selected for editing its sound design and effects parameters.

Selecting a pattern

Each of the 8 engines contains 24 patterns, each represented by a pattern memory key. Select a pattern using either of the following methods:

What actually happens when a pattern is selected depends on the pattern's Playback mode settings – for example, Gated mode requires the pattern's memory key or its MIDI note to be held down to be heard for the required duration.

Geist28

• Rotary and slider controls are adjusted by clicking as indicated above and dragging up/down.

• Alternatively, use the mousewheel/trackpad scrolling function.

• In order to achieve fine control over a parameter, hold down the SHIFT key while making the adjustment.

Right-click a control to display the control context menu, allowing access to these functions:

• Reset the control to its default value (alternatively, double-click the control)

• Directly Edit the value with the computer keyboard

Numeric values can be manipulated in the following ways:

• Click the numerical display to type a value manually

• Click the + and - buttons to increase and decrease the value by 1

• Click while holding down the SHIFT key to adjust the value by +/- 8

• Click while holding down the ALT key to double or halve the value

Drop-down menus are used extensively throughout Geist2 for selecting between a number of settings for a function. They are often referred to within this manual simply as 'menus'.

Context menus

As shown for the control context menu above, Geist2 includes many additional functions on context menus, displayed by right- clicking on the relevant area of the interface. The various context menus are documented in full throughout this manual.

Control conventions

Adjusting rotary/slider controls

Many rotary/slider controls in Geist2 can be modulated with the TransMod modulation system.

Numeric values

Drop-down menus

When using a single-button mouse, CTRL-click in order to display context menus.

Tooltips

As shown in the screenshots above, tooltips are used for showing parameter values and other useful information in Geist2. Hover over a control to display a tooltip containing information about the control's current value. Tooltips are shown while adjusting a control, with values updated in real time.

Introduction to Geist2 9

UI scaling

This menu in the Preferences (use the Preferences function in the Tools menu) adjusts the scaling of the user interface. The default setting is 100%.

The setting can be changed between 100% and 300% - higher settings are recommended for Retina/4k or higher resolution screens.

UI window resize

Click/drag the edges of the Geist2 window to resize it as required.

Panel reconfiguration

The dividers between panel areas can be adjusted by clicking and dragging or double-clicking to toggle visibility.

In this example, the divider between the Browser and the rest of the interface is being resized.

The divider between the contextsensitive editing area and the Pad Editor has been dragged to the bottom of the interface for a much larger pattern editing area.

Panels within the Browser area can also be reconfigured in this way.

User Interface scaling, size and panel reconfiguration

Geist2's interface is vector-based and can be scaled and resized. Additionally, the various panels within it can be reconfigured using the dividers between them.

Geist210

This section shows how to use the Browser in Auto load mode – with the Auto Load button (labelled A Load on the interface) activated. In this mode, click a file in the Browser to load it to the selected pad or engine.

1. Click a Factory item in the Browser sidebar, then doubleclick the Presets folder.

2. Double-click the Kits folder.

3. Double-click any sub-folder

within Kits and then click a kit file to load it.

1. Right-click a pad and use the Lock pad function in the context menu. Lock a few more pads.

2. Click another kit in the Browser.

• When the new kit is loaded, the locked pads are not affected – only unlocked pads can be replaced with sounds from the new kit.

Each pad, pattern and layer features its own Lock function, available via right-click context menus.

• The Browser options menu contains functions to Lock/ Unlock all pads or all patterns in the current engine.

1.2 Loading sounds for the first time

The Browser is the most immediate method of loading sounds into Geist2. It is used for loading kits, samples and other files. This section includes an introduction to loading sounds in the Browser. More advanced functions are covered in section 1.5.

For a full reference guide to the Browser's functionality, see chapter 2.

Working in Auto load mode

Loading a kit

• The kit is loaded to the current engine. Click the pads to hear the sounds!

Locking pads and loading another kit

Returning to a previous state with the Undo function

If the Auto load functionality causes an undesired change, the multi-stage Undo and Redo functions can be used to revert to previous states.

1. Select any pad which is not currently locked by clicking it.

2. Click on a Factory item and double-click the Hits folder.

3. Double-click the Snares folder.

4. Double-click any sub-folder to enter it and then click on a sample to load it. The sample is loaded to the selected pad (see left).

Layering multiple sounds on a single pad

1. Click another sample in the folder while holding

down the ALT key - the sample is loaded to the next free layer on the pad. Note the extra LED on the pad that is lit when the 2nd layer is loaded (see right).

2. Click the pad to hear both samples played together.

By default, layered sounds on a pad are played together when the pad is triggered. By changing a pad's Layer play Mode from the default setting of All Layers its layers can be set to play depending on input velocity (Velocity split), or to be cycled in a 'round- robin' or random order.

Replacing a pad with a new sound

Introduction to Geist2 11

Geist212

1. Return to a Factory folder and double-click the Presets folder.

2. Double-click the Full Presets folder.

3. Double-click any sub-folder and then click a Preset file to load it. Geist2 asks to save the current session.

4. Click the Play/Stop button on the transport after the preset has loaded, or start the host/DAW transport if running Geist2 as a plugin.

Loading a preset

A Geist2 preset (also known as a 'full preset') stores the entire contents of a Geist2 session. Presets are loaded by double-clicking, unlike other file types used in Geist2, as this action cannot be undone. If any work is unsaved, Geist2 asks to save the current session.

1.3 Playing pads and recording a pattern

Geist2 MIDI notes and channels

Geist2 is a multitimbral instrument. This means that it responds on more than one MIDI channel. Please do not confuse this concept with 'multiple outputs', which means that audio can be output from more than a single stereo audio channel (although Geist2 is also capable of this).

Geist2 contains 8 'engines', each containing 64 pads and 24 patterns, which are all assigned to an individual MIDI note. Because there simply are not enough MIDI notes in a single MIDI channel, each of the 8 engines is assigned to a MIDI channel from 1-8. Channel 9 is used for the currently selected engine.

Channels 1-9: Engine pads and patterns

Channels 1-8: Engines 1-8 Channel 9: Currently selected engine

There are also several other MIDI channels to which Geist2 responds:

Introduction to Geist2 13

Channel 11: Scenes

Channel 16: Current engine and scenes 53-64

Channel 10: Pads 1-16 on all 8 engines

Geist214

The pads visible underneath the Browser represent the pads in the currently selected engine.

Pads can be played in either of the following ways:

• play their corresponding MIDI notes

• click the on-screen pads on the Geist2 interface It is highly recommended to use a MIDI controller to play the

pads. Playing the Geist2 interface pads with the mouse is intended for quick previewing during editing - this cannot provide accurate timing response for playback.

1. Click on the Pattern page button to display the Pattern page.

2. Select the desired pattern into which to record by clicking the desired pattern memory key.

3. Set the required values for the Steps and Length parameters.

4. Click the Record button to 'arm' the recording function.

5. Click the Metronome button to

hear a click on every beat.

Real-time pad triggering

Sequencing pad triggers into a Pattern

Geist2 can record step-based sequences of the pads being played – these sequences are called patterns and 24 can be created in each engine. Patterns can also be programmed and edited using the mouse on the Geist2 interface.

An introduction to Geist2's step-sequencing paradigm

It is important to remember that Geist2 is a step-sequencer. Its sequencing system is inherently based around a set grid, defined by the Steps and Step Length parameters.

However, Geist2 can also accomodate deviations before or after straight grid divisions using Shift graph values for each step. Graphs are introduced in detail later but, briefly, they provide stepbased automation of various parameters for each step in each pattern. When using the Shift graph, positive values (above the centre line) result in the step's event being played late and negative values (below the centre line) mean it is played early. Shift Graph values can be programmed or edited visually and are also generated during realtime MIDI input recording of pattern events.

By default, each pattern is set to 16 Steps, with a Step Length of 1/16 (a 16th note). These two parameters establish the 'grid' of the step-sequencer pattern. Adjusting these values using the controls on the Pattern page changes the length of the current pattern and its 'step resolution'.

Recording events to a pattern via MIDI

After loading some sounds onto the layers on the engine's pads, proceed as follows in order to record pattern events in real time:

Introduction to Geist2 15

6. Click the Play/Stop button (or start the host transport if using Geist2 as a plugin) to start the transport and begin recording. Play the pads – events are recorded into the pattern as pad input is received.

7. Click the Record button to disarm the recording function and return to playback mode.

8. When recording events, the timing of each event within each step is captured within each track's Shift graph. To show it, first click the small triangular button at the left of the track. Ensure the Single view button is disabled.

9. By default, Velocity values are shown. Click the graph menu that appears and select Shift.

10. When events feature positive Shift values (above the centre line), events play later than the start of the step. Negative values (below the centre line) cause an event to play earlier than the start of the step.

Programming and editing patterns

Patterns in Geist2 can also be programmed/edited with the mouse. Basic pattern event editing is very simple:

• To add an event, click a step cell with the mouse.

• To erase an event, right-click a step cell containing an event. Pattern sequencing and editing is covered in more detail in section 1.9.

Geist216

Pad mode

This menu provides a number of modes for the engine pads (and their corresponding MIDI notes).

• Normal

In the default mode (Normal) each pad plays that pad's layers (each containing a sample) normally.

• Chromatic

In Chromatic mode the currently selected pad is placed over all 64 pads with different pitches. The pad itself plays at the root pitch defined by its layer Tune settings. Pads above it ascend by a semitone, while pads below it descend by a semitone, up to a maximum of +/- 48 semitones.

Rpt (Note Repeat)

Holding down the Rpt (Note Repeat) function while playing a pad results in multiple steps being recorded in succession. The drop-down menu under this button dictates how often events are repeated - various BPM-based settings are available, from 1 to 1/ 64 (including Triplet versions). The Sync to next division setting, when activated, ensures that the initial event upon holding down the pad is quantized to the next BPM division.

This function features a MIDI key mapping on channels 1-9 (F#6).

Full (Full level mode)

When this button is enabled, the velocity of all received notes is forced to the value set by the control to the right of the button.

Pad modes

Geist2 features a number of additional modes for the pads, intended for performance and pattern recording via MIDI while the transport is running.

When events are recorded for pad performances in this mode, the different pitches of the pads are converted to Pitch graph events on a single pad track in the pattern.

• Velocity

With Velocity mode activated, the currently selected pad is placed on all pads at different velocities. Velocity graph information is captured when recording a performance in this mode.

Unlike Chromatic playback mode, this mode only uses the 16 pads, with velocity proportionally ascending from the lowest velocity on pad 1.

• Engine M+S

The Engine M+S (Engine Mute+Solo) mode is slightly different to the other modes, as performances in this mode cannot be recorded. With this mode enabled, the first 8 pads mute engines 1-8, while pads 9-16 solo engines 1-8. This mode is intended for live performance only.

• Sampler

The Sampler mode is a special mode for sampling directly onto pads in Geist2.

Pad view / Bank

This control dictates whether the A, B, C or D pad bank, each containing 16 of the 64 pads in each engine are shown in the pads area and in the Pattern page. To view all pads/tracks, click the All button.

Follow MIDI

With the Follow MIDI button enabled, received MIDI input (on the relevant notes) results in changing the currently selected pad. Deactivate the button to stop this behaviour.

Erase mode

Hold down the Erase Mode button along with any pad while a pattern is playing back: if the playback position passes any events for the pad while the Erase mode button is active, they are erased. This function features a MIDI key mapping on channels 1-9 (G#6).

1.4 Slicing loops

1. Initialize Geist2 by using the Reset Geist2

function on the Tools menu.

2. Activate the Slice and Auto Load buttons in the Browser.

3. Navigate to a subfolder within the Loops folder in the factory library and click a loop in the files listing.

4. Click/play the pads or start the transport – the slices are already assigned to the pads. Note the playback indicator on slices when they are played.

5. When loops possess more than 16 slices, the additional slices are assigned to pads in the B, C and D pad banks, up to a maximum of 64 pads.

Geist2 features a Slicer panel which can be considered as an extension of the Browser. It is displayed when clicking on a file while the Slice button is enabled in the Browser and allows nondestructive 'chop' techniques for loops and breakbeats in order to extract audio slices and patterns.

This section describes using Geist2's factory loop library which is supplied pre-sliced in RX2 format

- with these loops it is usually unnecessary to adjust slice points upon loading. However, the Slicer can be used with any WAV or AIFF format samples. When doing so it is usually

necessary to perform some degree of fine-tuning to optimize all slice points for a loop. See

chapter 3 for more details of the Slicer panel's different tools and modes.

Introduction to Geist2 17

6. To finish loading the loop, click the Done button at the lower-right of the panel. To exit the slicer panel without loading anything, click Cancel.

Geist218

1. Initialize Geist2 and activate the Auto load button if it is not already activated. Also ensure Slice mode is disabled.

2. Click an engine file to load it into the first engine. This loads sounds and patterns.

4. Deactivate the Auto play button in the Browser

if it is activated.

3. Click the first snare pad to select it. Ensure that it features pattern events in the current pattern.

5. Start the Geist2 transport by clicking the Play/Stop button.

6. Navigate to an individual sample in the Browser and click it.

8. Click a pattern bank file - the patterns within it replace the existing

24 patterns in the engine.

7. Now navigate to a pattern bank.

1.5 More about loading sounds and saving work

Using Auto load mode to load-in-context

The sample is not previewed, but it is loaded to the pad and heard when triggered by pattern events.

Introduction to Geist2 19

1. Initialize Geist2 and deactivate the Auto load and Slice buttons.

3. Activate the Auto play button in order to preview

samples when they are selected in the Browser.

4. Click the first snare pad to select it. Ensure that it features pattern events in the current pattern.

2. Navigate to a folder with engine files and

double-click it to load it.

5. Navigate to a folder with samples and double-click one to load it (see left).

6. Double-click another sample in the

folder while holding down the ALT key - the sample is loaded to the next free layer on the pad (see right).

• If automatic previewing is not desired, deactivate the Auto play button and manually use the Preview play button to its right to preview the selected sample.

• Any preview (whether it is automatic or manual) can be stopped while it is active by deactivating the Preview play button.

Working with Auto load deactivated

If the Auto load button is deactivated, clicking a loadable element does not result in it being loaded automatically – instead, elements are loaded by double-clicking or by using drag and drop.

Loading by double-clicking with Auto load deactivated

Geist220

• Drag and drop a sample onto a pad to load it. Any existing samples on the pad are removed first.

• Drag and drop a sample to a pad while holding down the ALT key to load it to the next free layer.

• Drag and drop a sample to any layer in the Pad Editor's Layer selector to load it to a specific layer.

• Drag and drop a kit file onto the pads to load it.

• Drag and drop engine files onto an engine selector.

• Drag and drop patterns onto the pattern memory keys. Drag single patterns to single keys, or banks to any key.

Loading using drag & drop with Auto load deactivated

While dragging and dropping samples, pads, kits and patterns/pattern banks, hover over any other engine selector button in order to switch the currently selected engine. This means it is not necessary to abandon the drag and drop operation if the engine was not switched before starting it.

• Samples

• Kits, patterns and engines

Introduction to Geist2 21

The File menu is used to save any current element in Geist2.

Saving a preset

To save the entire state of Geist2, use the Save preset function. Enter a filename in the system Save As dialog that appears and press ENTER.

The default save location is the FXpansion/Geist2 folder within the user documents folder, accessible using the Places/Geist2 item in the Browser sidebar.

Saving other elements

The File menu also provides functions to save the kit, current engine, pads, pattern, or the whole bank of 24 patterns in the current engine.

Exporting as MIDI or audio

Geist2 offers several ways to export MIDI and audio material for external use.

Other Browser functions

The Browser contains a number of features like searches, Favourites and Shortlists to make it as easy and quick as possible to locate sounds.

See chapter 2 for a full guide to their operation.

Saving work

Geist222

1.6 Editing and modulating sounds

The Pad Editor provides numerous controls to edit parameters for altering the sound and playback characteristics of the currently selected pad and each of its 8 layers. This section introduces the most important parameters - see chapter 5 for a full guide.

It is always visible on the Geist2 interface, meaning that it is possible to view pages like the Pattern page, Layer Mixer and Pad Mixer at the same time as viewing selected pad/layer parameters.

Layer Editor parameters can be modulated over time using graphs and TransMod modulation.

Pad controls

The pad controls provide various controls and settings for the entire pad and how its 8 layers are played. It also includes the Multiple Edit shortcuts which are described later in this section.

Click the Pad options... to access additional controls for the pad, including the Layer play mode for dictating how layers are played back. By default, all 8 layers on the pad are played simultaneously whenever it is triggered, using the All layers setting. Setting this to Velocity split mode activates controls for defining velocity split points and fades for the pad's layers.

Layer selector

The 8 slots underneath the pad controls represent each of the 8 layers on the pad. Click a layer to select it for editing in the main Layer controls section of the Pad Editor, containing the waveform display and editing controls. It is also possible to drag and drop samples onto these layer slots from the Browser.

Start point and End point

The Start point and End point handles can be dragged left/right in order to set the start and end of the section of the sample that is played when the layer is triggered.

Playback mode

This menu selects between One shot, Gated and Looping modes. Gated and Looping modes mean that the layer responds to event duration. When Looping mode is activated, the Looping controls section becomes accessible and Loop start and Loop end handles become available in the waveform display - these are adjusted in the same way as the Start point and End point handles.

Amp Envelope and Free Envelope handles

These handles can be dragged in order to adjust the shape of each envelope, as an alternative to using the sliders at the lower-right of the Pad Editor panel.

The Free Envelope can be assigned to modulate a variety of destination parameters via the TransMod system (see below). It is not assigned to any destinations by default.

Activating the Filter

By default, the layer's Filter is deactivated - to activate it, click the Active button in the Filter controls section.

Selecting and editing multiple layers

To select multiple layers in the Layer selector for simultaneous paramter editing:

Introduction to Geist2 23

The Layer and Pad edit shortcuts are provided in order to allow multiple layers/pads to be edited simultaneously (if they are not locked). Simply hold down the following keyboard modifiers when adjusting controls:

Keyboard modifiers

Function

Layer shortcut

CMD (Mac) / CTRL (Win)

Edit all pad layers

Pad shortcut

ALT

Edit same layer on all

engine pads

Layer + Pad

shortcuts

CMD+ALT (Mac)

CTRL+ALT (Win)

Edit all pad layers on

all engine pads

1. First, select the layer for editing and then click the F Env TransMod source near the lower-left of the Geist2 interface.

2. Click/drag vertically the central part of the Cutoff control to set the initial value.

3. Click/drag vertically the outer ring of the control to set the maximum modulation depth.

• Whenever the layer is triggered, the envelope modulation is indicated in realtime.

• SHIFT-click to create a contiguous selection between 2 layers

• CMD-click (Mac) or CTRL-click (Windows) to add a layer to the selection

Multiple edit shortcuts

As an alternative to using keyboard modifiers, toggle the Layer and Pad buttons in the Pad controls section.

The Pads shortcut can also be used in conjunction with multiple layer selections (see above) - parameter adjustments are duplicated in all selected layer numbers across all pads in the engine.

Note that effects devices cannot be added or edited using these edit shortcuts.

Modulating sounds with the TransMod system

TransMod modulation involves selecting a current modulation source (from a variety of available

sources) and drawing modulation amounts directly onto any Geist2 controls capable of being modulated.

Therefore, modulation can be viewed and edited visually rather than through an abstract modulation matrix list.

To assign a layer's Free Envelope to its Filter Cutoff parameter, proceed as follows.

• This modulation acts only on the layer on which the modulation depth is set up as shown above. To operate multiple layers and pads, use the multiple selection/edit methods described above.

• Envelopes are polyphonic and act per layer - an individual Amp Envelope and Free Envelope exists for each layer on each pad in each engine. There are other polyphonic TransMod modulation sources such as the Vel (Velocity) and Rnd (Random) sources which provide values for each MIDI and pattern event triggering the layer.

• There are also a number of 'global' modulation sources such as Macro controls and LFOs (the latter must first be assigned to one of the 16 assignable modulator slots). These do not operate polyphonically but can still be used to modulate parameters on individual layers.

• See chapter 8 for a full guide to the TransMod system.

Geist224

The Pad Mixer page displays as many channels as the number of pads currently specified for the engine.

For applying effects to individual sounds in most situations, it is recommended to use the Pad Mixer. This means that usually, all layers on the pad are processed through the pad's effects devices.

Pan, Gain, Mute, Solo, Level Meter

Use these controls in order to perform basic mixing functions.

Output selector

If a pad's Output selector is set to Parent, it is mixed with any other pads in the engine with the same setting. It can then be processed further in the Global Mixer if required.

If a discrete sub-output is specified, the pad bypasses the Global Mixer.

Effects indicator

This indicator shows whether each of the channel's 6 Effects slots is Active or not.

The Layer Mixer page displays 8 channels - each representing one of the 8 layers on the currently selected pad.

It allows mixing and effects processing of individual layers within a pad.

If a layer's Output selector control is set to Parent, it is mixed with other layers with the same setting and sent to its parent pad channel.

1.7 Mixer pages and Effects

Geist2 features 3 separate mixer pages which provide channel-based layouts alongside effects processing for the following:

• Engines, Aux busses and the Master channel (Global Mixer page),

• Pads in the current engine (Pad Mixer page)

• Layers on the current pad (Layer Mixer page)

Pad Mixer page

The only exception to this is when individual layers are routed to alternative outputs using the Output selector control (see below for more details on this control).

One of the main advantages of adding effects to the entire pad is that the effects devices' parameters become available as graphs so they can be automated per-step in patterns.

It is also more efficient to use effects on the entire pad rather than using the same effects devices on multiple individual layers.

Important Pad Mixer controls

Layer Mixer page

It can then be further processed in the Pad Mixer page if required. Layers can also be set to discrete sub-outputs, bypassing the Pad Mixer.

Introduction to Geist2 25

The Global Mixer page displays all 8 engines, the 4 Aux channels and the Master channel as individual mixer channels.

If any pads or layers have been routed to a discrete sub-output using their Output selector controls, they are not represented in its parent engine channel in the Mixer page.

Sends are 'parallel' routings from the pad to the Aux busses - each pad channel features 4 Send controls, one for each of the 4 Aux busses, labelled 1 to 4.

To display the Send controls, click the Sends button to the left of the mixer.

Each pad features 6 assignable Effects

slots for loading effects devices. The

visibility of the Effects slots is dependent on the current size/scaling of the Geist2 interface.

• When an adequate vertical area is available, the Effects slots for the selected channel are shown above the mixer.

Global Mixer page

Each engine channel's Pitch control adjusts the pitch of the entire engine's sounds relative to individual layer Tuning settings.

Engine Effects

Engine Effects are for overall processes for all pads in the engine.

Aux busses

Aux busses are useful for parallel processing and other classic Send-based effects such as reverbs and parallel compression for multiple channels.

Layer, pad and engine channels can be sent to Aux channels in variable amounts using their S1 to S4 controls.

Entire pad, layer or engine channels can be routed to Aux channels using their Output selector controls.

Each Aux channel also features a Pre button for specifying its position in the signal path.

Master channel

The Master channel is the default output routing for all channels in Geist, unless any channel is specifically assigned to a sub-output with its Output selector.

Editing multiple channels

Multiple channels can be selected or the Layers / Pads multiple edit shortcuts can be used in order to adjust mix parameters for multiple elements simultaneously.

Note that it is not possible to insert effects devices or adjust their parameters on multiple channels simultaneously.

Sends

The routing point for all sends to an Aux buss can be set to either pre- or post-fader, using the Pre button on the Aux buss itself, located in the Global Mixer.

Note that the Aux channels themselves in the Global Mixer do not feature Sends.

Effects Slots

Geist226

• When the required vertical area is unavailable, click the Effects button to display the current channel's Effects slots in place of the mixer channels.

When an effects slot is empty, click the + button to display a menu of available devices. Click the desired device within the relevant submenu to load it into the slot. See the following sections for details of each available effects device:

Distortion Dynamics EQ Filters FX Reverb

The Active button must be engaged for the device to process audio. When it is deactivated, the device is bypassed and audio passes through it unaffected.

The Device menu allows a different Effect device to be loaded in place of the current device and also provides access to preset loading and saving functions. The Previous/Next preset buttons cycle through the available presets for the device.

The Mix control exists on all effects slots and allows a wet/dry mix for any device.

In addition to the Mix control, each slot features an output Level control which is useful for attenuating or boosting a signal after certain effects settings.

Using the Effects controls

For a full guide to the effects system and its controls see chapter 7.

Loading an effect device into an empty slot

Device headers and common device controls

The Input control is provided for certain devices such as delays and reverbs and sets the input level to the device.

Introduction to Geist2 27

Effect chain controls

The Chain menu and Previous/Next Chain preset buttons provide the ability to save and load presets for the entire chain of 6 effect slots. The Chain Mix control sets the wet/dry mix of the entire chain vs. the original signal.

The Chain Power button toggles the entire chain on or off.

Automating Effects

Effects parameters can be automated with the following methods:

• Graphs (for Pad Mixer effects only)

• TransMod modulation

• Host automation or MIDI CC control, either live using hardware controls or from tracks in the DAW/host when running Geist2 as a plugin

Geist228

In such situations the internal sequencing functions can be ignored entirely - if patterns are not required, the Pattern Power buttons for all 8 engines can be deactivated.

1.8 Sequencing and arrangement

Geist2's architecture is deep enough to accomodate many different ways of working. No single way is better than another – it's purely down to the personal preference of the user.

Geist2 as a sample playback module or 'drum sampler'

Geist2 can be used as a sample-playback engine using the MIDI sequencing features in the host/ DAW to trigger the Geist2 plugin's pads.

Using Geist2's internal pattern sequencing

Another method of working is to sequence within Geist2 itself using its patterns and Graphs - this offers the following advantages:

• The slick step-sequencing environment can be faster and more fun for creating drum patterns than the sometimes cumbersome and fiddly MIDI editors in many host/DAW applications.

• Its advanced features like retro recording may not exist in the host.

• The step-based parameter automation graphs can efficiently add variation, movement and experimental effects.

Arranging pattern changes within Geist2's Song page

The Song page allows patterns to be arranged as 'blocks' on a linear timeline.

• Patterns can be recorded into the Song timeline in real-time (using Pattern memory keys or

Scenes when working with multiple engines)

• The Retro Record function can also be used to 'capture' a pattern/scene performance after the fact

Working in this way can have the following advantages:

• Diverse full Geist2 presets can be loaded within the same host/DAW project for trying different rhythmic arrangements.

• The Geist2 standalone version can be used for composition work (without having to deal with a complex, resource-hungry host application) – perhaps on a laptop. The Geist2 session can then be loaded into a host/plugin environment for detailed work.

• If the kinds of features found in fully-fledged sequencer hosts are not required, it is perfectly possible to create entire sample-based musical pieces with the standalone version of Geist2 and nothing else – the built-in audio export functions allow entire songs or individual patterns to be exported as finished stereo mixdowns.

Hybrid approaches

Exporting patterns from Geist

Patterns can be composed in Geist2 and then exported to MIDI tracks in the DAW/host - working in this way takes advantage of the fast pattern composition tools in Geist2 along with the host's detailed arrangement and editing features. Patterns are exported by dragging pattern memory keys to suitable MIDI tracks in the host.

To stop patterns playing within Geist2 while it is triggered by MIDI notes from the host, deactivate the Pattern power button for the relevant engine(s).

Triggering patterns and scenes from the host

An alternative to the previous method is to effectively use the DAW/host as the 'song sequencer' patterns can be composed in Geist2 but then played using MIDI notes - either live or from recorded/programmed notes on MIDI tracks. Patterns can be played either as 'triggers' for switching continuously looping patterns or as 'gates' to play patterns for the duration of the note.

Scenes provide a convenient way to play patterns on all 8 engines simultaneously using a single

MIDI channel.

1.9 Patterns in more detail

The transport is vital to using patterns in Geist. The Play/Stop button must be active to hear

patterns. The Song button must be deactivated in order

to Record or Retro record pattern events. With the Song button activated, these buttons are used for Song page events.

Activate the Metronome button to hear a click.

The Swing and Tempo Modifier functions, shown on the Pattern page, allow control over various aspects of the entire engine's pattern timing behaviour.

The Swing control in the Pattern page is set per-engine:

• all patterns in the same engine share the same Swing settings

• each of the 8 engines can be set to different Swing settings Right-click the Swing control in order to display the Swing menu - this

includes a swing template menu, with each template providing a different type of syncopation. Try the Triplet feel setting for a classic drum-machine style swing.

The Swing functions are explored in more detail in the Pattern editor section.

Patterns and pattern recording were introduced earlier. This section introduces features including pattern editing, Retro recording, Swing and other pattern-related functions.

Transport controls for working with patterns

If the Quantize input button is activated, incoming events are automatically quantized to the pattern grid.

Use the Panic button to stop any currently playing patterns and pad layers that may be playing. The Transport options menu includes additional Metronome and count-in settings as well as the

Follow playback cursor function which causes the Pattern and Song pages to scroll with the current playback position.

Introduction to Geist2 29

Swing and other timing related functions

Applying Swing to the engine's patterns

Each engine features individual swing/shuffle controls to apply a syncopated timing adjustment to the patterns within the engine. Control the amount for the current engine with the Swing control on the Pattern page.

Setting the engine's Tempo Modifier

The Tempo Modifier control multiplies the playback speed of the engine's patterns by a ratio, which can be a fraction (to slow down the tempo of the patterns) or a value greater than 1 (to increase the tempo). Try a setting of 1/2 to halve the speed of the pattern or 2/1 to double it.

The Tempo Modifier function is explored in more detail in the Pattern editor section.

Convert timing

This function, available by right-clicking on a pattern memory key, allows the 'resolution' of a pattern to be changed without altering the position of events in the pattern. It can be useful if triplet steps are required rather than 16ths, for example.

Geist230

Adding an event

Adjusting velocity

Event context menu

• Right-click in the editing area while holding down ALT to display the event context menu.

• Click to add an event

• Click and drag an event/selection up or down to adjust its velocity*

Deleting an event

These actions can be swapped using the

Preferences panel.

• Right-click to delete an event (or selection)

Selecting and deselecting events

• SHIFT-click an event to select it. Any previously selected events are de-selected.

• Click an event while holding SHIFT and CMD (Mac) or CTRL (Windows) to add it to the selection. Clicking the event again with these keyboard modifiers held down de-selects it.

• SHIFT-click and drag to draw a selection box, from an empty area or from an event (the event is included in the selection). Also hold down CMD (Mac) or CTRL (Windows) to add to an existing selection.

• SHIFT-click an empty area to de-select any selected events.

Programming and editing pattern events

The guide below shows the main editing functions available for patterns. For a full guide see

chapter 9.

* It is possible to adjust any graph type in this way instead of Velocity, using the Drag edits function in the Pattern editor.

Introduction to Geist2 31

Moving and copying selections

• Create a selection

• Click and drag the selection to move it. Any Graph data that exists on selected steps is moved with the events.

• Click and drag the selection while holding down ALT to copy it. Any Graph data that exists on selected steps is copied with the events.

2. Click Play/Stop to start the transport. Alternatively, start the host transport if using the plugin.

3. Click the Metronome button if

a click is required.

5. Click the Retro button to capture the events from the last non-empty pattern cycle.

Other pattern editing functions

See the Pattern editor section later in this manual for a guide to other editing functions in the Pattern page.

Retro record

Sometimes the pressure of 'being in record mode' can impact the quality or spontaneity of a performance. Geist2's Retro record function retrospectively captures events triggered by MIDI input during playback. This means that it is possible to jam parts while in playback and then capture a good take when it occurs.

1. Select a pattern and set the required Steps and Step Length values in the Pattern page, either in a new or existing pattern, as shown previously.

It is not necessary to select a pattern at this time, but be aware that the position of any captured events is always based on the pattern playing back while the events were played.

4. Play the pads on the interface or via their corresponding MIDI notes.

Geist232

Selecting the graph type

Use the Graph type drop-down menu to select the graph type to view/edit. Any graph containing any events is highlighted in the menu listing.

Important graph types in Geist2

Although graphs offer a lot of potential for sound design and movement for patterns, they are also crucial in several fundamental aspects of sequencing in Geist2.

Shift graph

This graph represents timing deviations away from straight step timing by placing pad events on pattern tracks at variable distances before or after actual step onsets.

Positive values (above the centre line) result in the step's event being played late and negative values (below the centre line) mean it is played early.

Shift graph values can be programmed or edited visually, and they are also generated during realtime MIDI input recording of pattern events.

1.10 Introduction to Graphs

Graphs are step-automation sequences which send a value to a parameter at the onset of each step.

Please note that graphs are not 'continuous' automation curves.

Viewing Graphs

By default, a graph lane can be shown for all tracks in the pattern - their visibility is toggled by clicking the small triangular arrow Show graph buttons at the left of each track. If the Single

View button is activated, only a single graph lane is shown for the selected track only. When the Single View button is deselected, multiple graphs can be displayed.

Octave, Coarse Pitch, Fine Pitch graphs

These graphs represent changes in the overall pitch of pads over the course of the pattern. Pitch graph values can be programmed or edited visually and are also generated during realtime

MIDI recording of pattern events when using the Chromatic Pad mode.

Force Layers graph (Playback sub-menu)

This graph is produced when the Slicer panel's Use layers function is activated for extracting more than 64 slices from an audio loop with an accompanying pattern.

It has 8 steps, with each value forcing the corresponding pad layer (1-8) to be played on that step. When using multi-layer velocity-split kits, adjusting this graph can offer a quick way of

programming variation for each step.

Summary of graph types

Velocity, Pan

Pad Velocity and Pan

Repeats

Number of event repeats within a single step – useful for glitchy effects

Shift

Deviation from quantized beat divisions

Coarse/Fine Pitch

Coarse and Fine pitch for all pad layers

Start Point

Changes the Start point of samples on pad layers

Filter Cutoff, Res

Filter Cutoff and Resonance for the step

Filter Type

Filter Type for the step

Force Layer

Forces only a certain layer (1-8) to play for the step

Probability

Dictates the probability of a pad triggering event occurring on a step

Loop Start

Changes the Loop Start point if a loop is defined for the sample

Loop End

Changes the Loop End point if a loop is defined for the sample

Send 1-4

Send levels for Aux sends 1-4

Envelope parameters

The Attack, Decay, Sustain, Hold, Release, Attack Curve, Decay Curve and Release Curve parameters for both the Amp and Free Envelopes are available as Graphs.

Pad FX 1-6...

All parameters for all 6 pad effects (not layer effects or any other type of effects!) are available.

• Click and drag across the graph lane to 'paint' values or simply click values in single steps.

• Click and drag up/down to adjust a value. Hold down the SHIFT key for fine control.

• Right-click in the graph lane to revert a step's value to the default.

• Click and drag while holding down the ALT key to draw a series of graph events with the same value.

Introduction to Geist2 33

See the Graphs section later in this manual for a reference guide to each graph type.

Creating Graph events

Drawing graph values

Recording graph values in real time

Graph data can be recorded in real time - see the Graphs section later in this manual for a guide to this process.

Geist234

Insert menu

The Insert drop-down menu provides a number of useful graph automation shapes to insert onto the lane.

Note that using a shape from this menu results in overwriting all existing values in the graph lane.

X2 and /2 functions

The X2 and /2 functions, available on the Insert menu, operate on the entire graph lane and stretch or expand the duration of the sequence of values.

• Original series of graph values

• The X2 button compresses the graph value sequence to half the length, and repeats it to fill the entire length of the pattern.

• The /2 button expands the first half of the sequence to double the length so that its duration is the entire pattern length.

These controls, with the exception of Variance, all act destructively to edit graph values. The Variance control acts non-destructively in real time.

• Increasing the Offset control from 0 on the Ramp-down graph sequence from earlier

• Decreasing the Offset control from 0 on the Ramp-down graph sequence

Additional graph editing functions

Variance, Offset, Comp and Rand controls

Variance

The Variance control applies non-destructive randomization for each graph lane in real time during playback. It adds a positive or negative offset at random for each step, up to the amount specified.

Using this control is a very fast way of adding movement and variation to sequences. Try using it with the Velocity and Fine Pitch graphs for subtle amplitude and pitch variation over time. Try also using it with Pad FX graphs.

Offset, Comp, Rand

The Offset, Comp and Rand controls are used to adjust multiple graph values simultaneously. Adjusting any of these controls results in destructive edits to the graph values, visually represented on the graph display. When the control is released, the current graph values are applied and the control springs back to the default position (with value 0).

If a selection of steps exists on the track, the controls are applied only to the selected steps. Note that it is not possible to assign or control the Offset, Comp and Rand controls to MIDI or host

automation.

Offset The Offset control adds the same value to all current values for the relevant graph.

Comp

Introduction to Geist2 35

• Increasing the Comp control from 0 on the Ramp-down graph sequence

• Decreasing the Comp control from 0 on the Ramp-down graph sequence

• Increasing the Rand control from 0 on the Ramp-down graph sequence

• Decreasing the Rand control from 0 on the Ramp down graph sequence

As the Comp control is turned to the right, it gradually increases all graph values towards the maximum value, effectively 'compressing' the range between the maximum and minimum value. If the control is turned to the left, graph values are reduced towards the minimum value.

Rand

The Rand control adds a random value to all graph values that is between 0 and the current value of the Rand control. The value can be positive or negative, depending on whether the Rand control is turned to the right or to the left.

Geist236

Each pattern features the Restart and Gated Playback modes which dictate certain aspects

of how it is played back. Both modes can be active or inactive at the same time.

These are the default Playback settings for new patterns in Geist2, as they represent most immediate form of pattern playback.

These settings are similar to the default settings mentioned above, except that in situations when the transport is already started, the pattern is always played from its beginning when its MIDI key is used to switch to it.

Gated mode is provided in order to allow patterns to be played by holding down a pattern's MIDI key.

1.11 Performing with patterns

Geist2 allows pattern performance by playing the MIDI notes associated with pattern memory keys (they can also be clicked on-screen but MIDI keys offer a far more accurate and playable method). This section refers to a pattern's MIDI keys, as the most common MIDI note input method for playing patterns are keys on a MIDI keyboard.

Each engine can play one pattern at any one time. Triggering or playing patterns in this way can be useful for live performances, playing specific patterns during a project from MIDI tracks in a sequencing host/DAW, or when recording into the Song page.

An alternative to triggering individual engine patterns is to use Scenes which are used in a very similar way. See the next section for a guide to using Scenes.

Playback mode

Gated off, Restart off

• With the Gated mode deactivated, if the pattern is selected as the current pattern, it plays automatically when the Geist2 transport is started.

• If the transport is already started with a different pattern already playing, the pattern's MIDI key is used to switch to it - simply play the key and release it.

• The deactivated Restart mode means that it starts in phase with the playing position.

• It then loops indefinitely until another pattern is selected/played.

Gated off, Restart on

• The pattern is started by playing its MIDI key and releasing it.

• The pattern always plays from its start, and can play out of phase with the playing position.

• It loops indefinitely until another pattern is selected/played.

Gated on, Restart off

Introduction to Geist2 37

These settings behave in a very similar way to the Gated on, Restart off settings described above, except that in situations when the transport is already started, the pattern is always played from its beginning when its MIDI key is held down to play it.

If an engine's patterns are not required, the sequencing functions on the engine can be disabled by deactivating its Pattern power button.

There are several situations when this may be required:

• With this setting activated for the current pattern, it does not play automatically when the Geist2 transport is started.

• If the transport is already started, whether a different pattern is already playing or not, the pattern's MIDI key must be held down to switch to it and play it.

• The deactivated Restart mode means that it starts in phase with the playing position.

• It continues to play until the key is released.

Gated on, Restart on

• The pattern is started by holding its key down.

• The pattern always plays from its start, and can play out of phase with the playing position.

• It continues to play until the key is released.

Turning off pattern sequencing on an engine

• When sequencing the engine's sounds from MIDI tracks in the host/DAW when using Geist2 as a plugin

• After exporting pattern(s) from the engine to a host MIDI track (to prevent double-triggering from pattern events at the same time as the incoming MIDI)

• Pattern power is very important in the context of using Scenes in Geist2 – after switching scenes, the Pattern power of one or more engines may be deactivated. See the next section for more details.

Geist238

1. Initialize Geist2 and load an engine file into the first engine.

2. Select engine 2.

3. Load an engine file into engine 2.

4. If the loaded engine files do not contain at least 2 patterns in each, then create some patterns or load pattern banks. Make sure that the Playback mode for all the patterns is set to Gated off, Restart off.

5. In engine 2, select pattern 2 by clicking its pattern memory key or playing its MIDI note on the relevant MIDI channel.

6. Select engine 1.

7. Make sure that pattern 1 is selected in engine 1 - if not, click its pattern memory key or play its MIDI note.

8. Switch to the Scenes page.

9. Click the Snapshot scene button on the first

scene slot (C-2), or any other scene slot.

10. Now select pattern 2 in engine 1 by playing its MIDI note or by switching to the Pattern page and clicking its pattern memory key.

11. Select engine 2.

12. Select pattern 1, again either using its MIDI or pattern memory key.

13. On the Scenes page, click the Snapshot scene button on the next slot (C#-

2) or any other unused slot.

1.12 Performing with scenes

Scenes are playable 'snapshots' that represent the pattern state of all 8 engines. Playing scenes with MIDI notes can be much more convenient than playing patterns individually on multiple engines for performance or for recording into the Song page.

A reference guide to the controls on the Scenes page is provided in chapter 10.

Creating scenes

Introduction to Geist2 39

14. Click Play/Stop to start the transport. Alternatively, start the host transport if using the plugin.

15. Now each of the used scene slots can be clicked in order to trigger them. Alternatively, use the scene's MIDI note on MIDI channel 11.

1. Click engine 1's Pattern Power button to deactivate it.

2. Click the Snapshot scene

button on an unused scene slot.

3. The Scene info display shows only engine 2 is active.

Scenes and Pattern Power

If the selected pattern in any engines is blank when a scene is created, Geist2 deactivates the Pattern power button for these engines within the scene data. When such a scene is recalled, the Pattern power button for the engines is deactivated. This is to ensure that the scene sounds the same if events are subsequently added to patterns in a previously unused engine. Therefore, when changing scenes, one or more engines' Pattern power button may be turned off – simply reactivate it if required.

To disable an engine's patterns within a scene manually, deactivate its Pattern power button manually before creating the scene.

For example, to create a variation on the last example with engine 1 deactivated:

Scene playback behaviour

Note that scenes simply reference the numbered patterns in each engine. If a scene references pattern 2 in engine 1, deleting or editing the referenced pattern will result in the scene sounding different when it is triggered.

What is actually heard when recalling a scene depends on the the Playback mode settings for the patterns within it. If any patterns are set to Gated mode, the scene trigger/MIDI note must be held down for as long as required. Patterns within scenes also follow the behaviour set by the Restart mode.

By default, scenes start as soon as they are triggered - this is specified using the Immediate Start Mode setting. By adjusting this setting, scenes can be set to start on the Next Beat or at the start of the Next Bar.

Scenes can be selected without being played by clicking the lower-left part of the scene slot which also displays the scene's MIDI note. This can be useful for inspecting the Scene info for a scene without playing it.

Geist240

2. Click the Song button to display the Song page.

3. Activate the Song Mode button.

4. Click the Return to start button to go to the start of the timeline.

5. Activate the Metronome button if required.

6. Activate the Record button to 'arm' Record mode.

7. Start the transport with the Play/Stop button. Any engines with their Pattern Power button deactivated for the scene do not produce any events.

1.13 Arranging patterns into a song

The Song page provides a sequencer for arranging patterns along a linear timeline to form a 'song' structure.

It features a track for each of the 8 engines. Song events can be captured in real time or programmed/edited with the mouse.

This section introduces using the Record and Retro Record functions to capture song events in real time.

The Song page is only capable of sequencing patterns – there are no parameter automation features. To automate parameters over time within Geist2, use MIDI or automation to send the required data to Geist2.

See chapter 10 for a full guide to editing and other functions in the Song page.

Recording in Song mode

1. Follow the Scenes tutorial in the previous section to create several scenes with distinct pattern

combinations.

Introduction to Geist2 41

8. When the transport is stopped, the record process is complete. Zoom out if necessary to see the result in full.

1. Start the transport and perform with Scene or Pattern key triggers.

2. Stop the transport and click the Retro record button. All active pattern events during the previous playback pass are captured.

• Pattern memory keys or their corresponding MIDI notes can also be used instead of Scenes. Scenes can be more convenient for creating Song events for all engines.

Recording retrospectively into the song

The process for Retro recording is very similar. Instead of entering Record mode:

• Pattern key or scene performances which occurred while the Song mode button is deactivated can also be captured. After the performance, click the Song mode button and then click the Retro button on the transport. The captured parts are inserted from the beginning of the song.

Geist242

1. Click the Learn button to enter Learn mode. Controls in Geist2 which can be mapped to MIDI CCs are highlighted in yellow.

2. Click the desired control on the Geist2 interface.

3. Move the physical knob, slider or other controller to map to the Geist2 control.

4. The control is now mapped to the MIDI CC - the MIDI channel and CC number is overlaid on the control.

5. Click the Learn button again to exit Learn mode and return to normal operation.

1.14 Using MIDI and host automation

The Learn system allows one or more Geist2 controls to be mapped to single MIDI CCs (continuous controllers) or host automation parameters.

Mappings are stored with presets – to recall a set of mappings whenever Geist2 is launched, save them in a default preset.

Mapping Geist2 controls to MIDI CCs

Hardware controllers which send MIDI CCs tend to be affordable and accessible. They offer a range of 127 values.

Alternatively, instead of steps 2 and 3, right-click the desired control while in Learn mode and use the Bind to MIDI sub-menu to assign a MIDI CC number manually.

Introduction to Geist2 43

Host automation parameters generally offer higher resolution than MIDI CCs. They can be drawn as curves in most sequencing hosts, or recorded with a dedicated controller. Such controllers are not simple, generic MIDI controllers, but usually dedicated devices that integrate specially with the host.

To create host automation assignments, first enter Learn mode as described above. Then right-click the desired control and use the Bind to Host sub-menu to specify the host parameter number to which to map the Geist2 control. The assignment is created with the host parameter number overlaid on the control. Click the Learn button again to exit Learn mode.

Removing MIDI or host automation assignments

To remove any existing assignments, right-click on any mapped control and use the Clear current binding function.

Managing assignments with the Mapping panel

The Mapping panel displays a table showing all current MIDI CC and host automation mappings.

The panel allows each mapping's current properties and behaviour settings are shown and can be adjusted.

Mapping Geist2 controls to host automation parameters

Geist244

Exporting to a disk folder

• Click and drag the required pattern key to the desktop or any other location with write permissions in Finder (Mac) or Explorer (Windows). The pattern is exported as a MIDI file to the relevant location.

Exporting to a MIDI track in a host/DAW

• First, make sure the required MIDI or audio instrument track in the host's 'arrange' page is visible. Click and drag the required pattern key to the required point on the track. The pattern is exported as a MIDI 'clip' to the track where the mouse is released.

• If using the exported MIDI track to drive the same engine in Geist2, it is advisable to turn off the Pattern power button for the engine or to select an empty pattern.

1.15 MIDI / audio export and MIDI output

Geist2 offers various ways of exporting material allowing arrangement within other environments such as the host/DAW or other hardware/software samplers.

Exporting patterns as MIDI

Patterns can be exported as MIDI sequences from Geist2 using drag and drop.

Exporting graph data

If any graphs used in a pattern are assigned to MIDI CCs, the graph data is written as MIDI CC values when the pattern is exported.

When attempting to export a pattern which contains any graph data not currently assigned to a MIDI CC, Geist2 automatically assigns MIDI CCs to any graphs that contain events, and event values are exported as MIDI CC data with the pattern.

If this automatic assignment behaviour is not required it can be disabled in the Preferences.

Exporting patterns as audio

Patterns can also be exported as audio clips using the pattern context menu, either to a file location or to an audio track in a host/DAW when using Geist2 as a plugin:

1. Firstly, select the desired pattern.

Introduction to Geist2 45

2. Right-click its pattern memory key to display the pattern key context menu.

3. Click the Export as Audio (stops playback) function.

4. The pattern is internally mixed

(offline and faster than real time). When the audio has been mixed

down and prepared for export, a popup appears with a draggable area. Drag and drop from here to an audio track or to a valid file location such as the desktop.

When using Geist2 as a standalone application or as a plugin in a suitable host, its pattern and graph events are transmitted from its MIDI output in order to trigger other MIDI instruments by activating the Send Note and

Send CC buttons in the Mapping panel.

Audio export panel

The above process uses settings found within the Audio export panel, displayed using the Export as audio function in the File menu. This panel also provides several other audio export options.

MIDI output (standalone and VST plugin in suitable hosts only)

If using the Geist2 plugin, the host must support MIDI output from a plugin. With the Send Note button activated, the output from engines 1-8 is transmitted on MIDI channels

1-8 of the MIDI output, using the pads' assigned MIDI notes. With the Send CC button activated, any graphs currently assigned to MIDI CCs are output as MIDI

CC data alongside note events in the pattern.

Geist246

The Browser shares space on the interface with the TransMod panel, used for TransMod modulation in Geist2. If the TransMod panel is currently visible, click the Browser button to display the Browser instead.

The border between the Browser sidebar and the files area/shortlist can be adjusted to resize the areas: simply click and drag the border left/right.

The border can also be double-clicked to hide the sidebar completely – double-click it again to restore it.

• The pads area can be made larger or smaller by vertically dragging the divider above it.

• The pads can be hidden entirely if desired. Toggle visibility by double-clicking the divider.

• The Browser area can be resized or hidden by dragging left/right the divider between the Browser and the rest of the interface.

Alternatively, double-click the divider.

2 Browser

Browser overview

The Browser is the primary method of loading sounds into Geist2, and is introduced in the following sections:

• Loading sounds for the first time

• More about loading sounds and saving work

This chapter provides a reference guide to using the following aspects of the Browser:

• Browser modes: Auto load, Auto play, Preview play and Slice buttons

• Navigation and Options: Tools for folder/file navigation and additional Browser functions

• Sidebar and Files: Sidebar shortcut locations, Geist2 file types and additional functions

• Searches, Favourites and Shortlists: Additional tools to make it easier and faster to find the right sound

Note that files can also be loaded using the File menu.

Browser visibility and dividers

2.1 Browser Modes

When the Auto load button (labelled A Load on the interface) is activated, selecting a file in the Browser results in it being loaded to the currently selected pad or layer. Continuing to click on other files will result in them replacing the current contents.

Holding down ALT while clicking on a sample results in it being loaded to the next available layer on the current pad.

When the Auto play button is activated, selecting a sample in the Browser results in it being previewed automatically.

Any playing preview can be stopped by clicking the Preview Play/Stop button to the right of the Auto play button.

With the Slice button activated, selecting a sample results in it being opened in the Slicer panel. The Slicer allows non-destructive 'chopping' for loops and breakbeats and is designed for fast operation and automatic pad assignment.

Auto load

This continues to occur until the pad is locked, another pad is selected or the Auto load button is deactivated.

Deactivating Auto load

If Auto load is deactivated, samples must be loaded to pad layers via one of the following methods:

• Drag & drop to a specific pad or layer

Dragging a sample onto a pad loads it to the pad's first layer, replacing all other samples on the pad's layers.

Holding down ALT while dragging a sample onto a pad loads it to the pad's next available layer. In this mode, 8 samples can be selected and subsequently loaded to a pad using drag and drop. Hover over a different engine's Engine selector button during the drag operation in order to switch

to that engine before dropping the sample onto one of its pads.

• Double-click to load the sample to the current pad layer

Double-click to load a sample to the currently selected pad layer. Hold down the ALT key during this process to loads the sample to the pad's next available layer.

Browser 47

Auto play

Previewing sounds manually

To preview a sample again, or if the Auto play button is deactivated entirely, click the Preview play/stop button.

Slice

Note that it is possible to set the contents of any folder not to invoke the Slicer panel, even when the Slice button is activated: right-click any file in the folder and use the Allow/Disallow slicing of files in this folder function on the files context menu that appears.

Geist248

The Browser provides various controls for navigating around folders and files on the system.

Navigation

Previous / Next file

The Previous file / Next file buttons select the previous or next file in the Files list.

The current folder's parent hierarchy is shown with this control. The name of each folder level is abbreviated for space reasons but is shown in full as a tooltip.

Click on any level of the Path to jump to the relevant location.

Refresh

The Refresh button refreshes the current Files listing.

This menu provides a number of additional Browser functions.

New Shortlist New Shortlist from selection

These functions are used with the shortlists system.

Preview output

This function allows Browser previews to be routed to a discrete suboutput.

2.2 Browser Navigation and Options

It can be useful to assign these buttons to MIDI CCs for browsing samples with a hardware controller.

Navigate to parent

The Navigate to parent button either returns to the location which contains the current folder or, when performing a search, cancels the search and returns to the previous location.

Enter selected folder

When a sub-folder is selected, the Enter folder button opens the sub-folder (the sub-folder can also be double-clicked to enter it - this button is primarily provided for use with MIDI remote control).

Path

Previous / Next location

The Previous location / Next location folder buttons are web-browser-style navigation buttons to return to the previous or next location within a sequence of browsed locations.

Preview volume

This control adjusts the level of Browser previews.

Drag and drop from OS file window

Drag and drop a folder from Finder (Mac) or Explorer (Windows) to show the folder's contents in the Geist2 Browser.

Browser Options

Setting a discrete sub-output allows a 'cueing' system to be used, whereby sounds can be auditioned without them being heard in the main mix, useful for live performance.

Browser 49

Lock/Unlock all pads Lock/Unlock all patterns

These functions lock or unlock all pads and patterns in the current engine with a single action. This can be especially useful for Slicer operations while Auto load mode is enabled if only the

audio or only the pattern are required to be extracted from a loop.

Geist250

Main items

Content

This area of the sidebar displays links to content locations of various types, including the Geist2 factory library and any installed Geist Expanders.

The context menu for these items (right-click on any item) provides the ability to reveal their location in a system file window (Explorer on Windows / Finder on Mac).

Drives

This section displays all available drives detected on the system – click any drive to browse its contents.

The context menu for these items (right-click on any item) provides the ability to reveal their location in a system file window.

Other items

The context menu for these items allows the selected item to be renamed or removed. A colour label can also be defined.

Some items feature additional functions on the context menu (see below).

2.3 Sidebar and Files

Browser sidebar

The Browser sidebar provides clickable shortcuts to various locations and Browser utility functions. Each type of item in the sidebar can be right-clicked to display a context menu offering further context-specific functions.

Favourites

Saved favourites are shown in this area.

Searches

Saved searches are shown in this area. The context menu for these items provides the ability to refresh the selected search.

Shortlists

Saved shortlists are shown in this area.

Files area

This area of the Browser shows the files contained within the currently selected location. Nested sub-folders are also shown for navigating further down in the folder structure.

Main controls

Files

The main part of this area shows the files contained within the current location or the search results when a search is performed.

Selection

Click a file to select it. The behaviour that follows selection depends upon the state of the Auto load, Auto play and Slice buttons (see section 2.1 for details of these functions).

Right-clicking on a selection displays the files context menu.

Browser 51

Right-click on the column headings bar above the Files list to display the View options menu. This menu provides various options for the content of the Files list under the View, Columns and Sort by submenus. Audio

Samples in WAV, AIFF, REX and RX2 formats

Presets

Geist2 presets store the entire state of Geist2, and must be doubleclicked to load them from the Browser (regardless of the Auto load button state), discarding the contents of the current session.

Note that a preset loading operation cannot be reversed using the Undo function.

Engines

Engine files store the entire state of an engine: the sounds on the pad (plus Pad Editor settings), 24 patterns, and any layer/pad/engine effects.

Kits

A kit file contains the contents of the pads on an engine, including layer and pad effects.

Patterns

Individual pattern files

Pattern Banks

An entire set of up to 24 patterns (all patterns in an engine)

MIDI

Geist2 can import MIDI files as patterns - any MIDI notes that are not on pad notes are ignored.

Guru Kit

The GURU kit file must be saved with GURU 1.5 or later

Guru Pattern

Individual GURU pattern (saved with GURU 1.5 or later)

Guru Pattern Bank

An entire set of up to 24 GURU patterns (saved with GURU 1.5 or later)

Folders

If this item is deactivated, folders are not visible in the files list in the Browser. This is intended for situations when a folder containing samples also contains a lot of sub-folders, and their presence makes excessive scrolling necessary.

By default, only the Name (filename) is shown for each item in the Files list. Using this menu, Type and Size columns can also be shown for each item (or deactivated if they are currently activated).

Multiple selection

Multiple files can be selected using the following methods:

• SHIFT-click to create a contiguous selection between 2 files

• CMD-click (Mac) or CTRL-click (Windows) to add a file to the selection

This is useful for several functions, such as:

• adding files to shortlists

• loading up to 8 samples to a single pad when Auto load mode is deactivated

• various operations on the files context menu (see below)

Columns, View options and File types

View

By default, the Browser is set to show all possible types of files relevant to Geist2. The View menu provides the ability to toggle the visibility of each of these file types:

Columns

Clicking on the column headings sorts the currently displayed files by the column's criteria. Repeatedly clicking the column headings toggles between ascending and descending sorting.

Geist252

Right-click in the files area to display the files context menu, which provides the following functions:

Select All

This function selects all files visible within the current location.

Delete slice information Allow/Disallow slicing of files in this folder

These functions are related to Geist2's Slicer.

Reveal selected items in Explorer/Finder

This function launches a system file browser window (Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac) at the selected file or folder location.

Sort by

This menu provides an alternative to clicking column headings to sort by Name, Type or Size column headings to change the current sorting method used for the Files list.

Files context menu

Reveal current folder in Explorer/Finder

This function launches a system file browser window at the current folder location.

Add selected to shortlist Add selected to favourites Add current folder to favourites

These functions are discussed in the next next section.

Importing GURU files saved in GURU 1.5 or later

Geist2 can import GURU v1.5 format kits, patterns and pattern banks from the Browser. GURU v1.5 format presets can also be imported via the File menu (see section 12:4). Files saved with GURU versions prior to v1.0 cannot be imported – they must be loaded into v1.5 or later and resaved.

Note that while the important aspects of the files are imported, there are some parameters which cannot be translated due to fundamental differences between the architecture of Geist2 and GURU.

• Effects are not imported

• The filter settings may differ considerably, due to the improved filter in Geist, and the fact that it features discrete filter types rather than GURU's blendable LP/BP/HP filter.

• Envelope settings are an approximation of GURU envelopes.

• Velocity split ranges are approximated from GURU's velocity split settings.

• Choke groups are also an approximation of GURU's settings.

• Gain/volume levels may differ slightly, due to the different gain structure within Geist.

• Not all graphs are translated properly – in particular, the Force Layers and Filter Type graphs differ considerably.

2.4 Searches, Favourites and Shortlists

The Search box provides a simple filename-based search. Simply click the Search box, type a search term and press ENTER.

Click the Search menu button at the left of the Search box to display the Search menu.

Search within sub-folders

With this setting deactivated, the Seach function effectively applies a filter to the files within the current folder.

Right-click within the search results to display the files context menu. Use the Save search results function to save the search in the Searches section of the Browser sidebar.

The context menu for these sidebar items provides the ability to remove, rename, set a colour label for the item or reveal the selected item's location in the system file browser.

Geist2's Browser provides a number of functions to make it faster and easier to find the right sound.

Simple searches

Search results appear in place of the current Browser location in the files area. To return to the previous Browser location, click either the Previous or Navigate to Parent buttons.

Search menu

With this setting activated, all sub-folders within the current Browser location are included in the search.

Browser 53

Search within favourites

With this setting activated, all current Favourites locations are also included in the search.

Advanced search...

This function toggles the visibility of the Advanced search controls (see below).

Recent searches

Any recently used search terms are listed in this sub-menu for convenience.

Saving searches

Geist254

The Advanced search... function on the Search menu (see above) toggles the visibility of the Advanced search controls, providing additional options for searching.

Note that the Search within sub-folders and Search within favourites settings in the Search menu also apply to the Advanced search function.

Condition

This drop-down menu defines the condition for the search term to return a result. The possible settings are:

• Positive searches: Contains; Starts with; Ends with; Is

• Negative searches: Does not contain; Does not start with; Does not end with; Is not

Advanced Search term

Enter the desired search term in the text box at the right of each of the 3 search conditions.

Click and drag any folder from the files area to this section to save it as a favourite, or right-click in the files section and use the Add to favourites functions.

The items are then accessible in the Favourites section of the sidebar for quick access in future. The context menu for these sidebar items provides the ability to reveal the selected item's location in the system file browser.

Advanced Search functions

Like the simple Search function described above, the results returned by the Advanced Search are displayed in place of the current Browser location in the files area. To return to the previous Browser location, click the Previous or Navigate to Parent buttons.

Search conditions

It is possible to define up to 3 search conditions with the Advanced search controls. Each of the 3 search conditions feature the ability to define a File attribute, Condition and Advanced

Search term.

File attribute

This menu specifies which file attribute is searched. This can be any of the following: File name, Audio length, File size and File type.

Match all options

With this button activated, all 3 search conditions must be met for a result to be returned. With the button deactivated, any of the 3 search conditions must be met for a result to be

returned.

Favourites

Shortlists

Shortlists allow multiple samples to be added from different locations on disk to be viewed and auditioned together for convenience.

Creating shortlists

To add files to a shortlist, right-click on a sample in the Files area of the Browser and use the Add to shortlist function. Name the shortlist and press ENTER. A new shortlist can also be created by using the Browser options menu.

Recalling a shortlist

To recall a shortlist, click the relevant Shortlist in the Browser sidebar - any files previously added to the shortlist are now displayed in the Files area.

Shortlist context menu

Right-click on a shortlist in the Browser sidebar to display the shortlist context menu which provides several functions with which to manage shortlists.

Remove

This function removes the selected shortlist from the sidebar. Note that any audio files contained within it remain unaffected in their original disk locations.

Set name...

This function allows the shortlist to be renamed.

Set colour label...

This function specifies a colour label for the shortlist in the Browser sidebar.

Export to folder

Use this function to create a copy of all audio files within the shortlist in a new folder.

Browser 55

Export to folder and add as favourite

This function creates a copy of all audio files within the shortlist in a new folder and then adds the folder to the Favourites section in the Browser sidebar.

Geist256

When the Browser's Slice button is activated, clicking a sample (WAV/AIFF/ RX2) in the Browser displays the Slicer panel. This panel allows loops and breakbeats to be 'chopped' nondestructively and assigned to pad layers. The pattern of the loop can also be extracted.

Slicing is introduced in the Slicing loops section earlier in this manual.

This section describes how to open loops in the Slicer panel.

The Slice button must be activated for Geist2 to open the Slicer panel when a sample is clicked in the Browser.

Note that there are other ways of sending a sample to the Slicer panel - see below.

If the Auto load button is activated when the Slicer is used, the extracted slices and corresponding pattern are always automatically assigned to the pads and current pattern in the current engine in order to preview it in context.

3 Slicing

The rest of this chapter provides a guide to the Slicer panel controls and the various slicing tools

and modes.

Important Browser controls for slicing

Slice

Auto load

In the case of pads, previous layer sample content is removed but other settings remain. The above does not apply to locked pads or patterns. Note that this automatic loading can be cancelled by clicking the Cancel button to exit the Slicer

and discard the current slicing session. Click the Done button to confirm the changes. When Auto load mode is active, the extracted pad and pattern contents are refreshed in real time

when moving/adding/removing slice points and using the Sensitivity slider in Transient slice mode.

Deactivating Auto load mode

If the Auto load button is deactivated, pads and audio slices are loaded to pads using the Extract buttons while individual slices can also be loaded to pads using drag and drop (using the Drag tool). These functions are described in section 3:2.

Other ways of opening samples in the Slicer

Slicing samples already loaded into layers

The Send to slicer function is available on the layer context menu - it allows any sample on a pad layer to be opened in the Slicer panel.

Assigning newly-recorded samples to the Slicer

The Sampler provides an Assign mode for sending new samples directly to the Slicer panel.

3.1 Slicer panel

Slicer displays and controls

Slicing 57

Waveform display

The selected sample in the Browser is shown in the waveform display.

BPM/Bars/Beats

This information in these fields is calculated from the sample. REX2 files feature embedded information for these fields, while WAV/AIFF samples are analysed and calculated according to their length.

It is possible to manually override the automatically detected information if required - simply click the relevant field and type a new numerical value.

Time ruler

Time units are shown on the rule above the waveform and slice point markers. By default, seconds are used as units. Right-click in the ruler to display a context menu which allows tempobased units (Beats) to be used instead.

Start and End points

The Start point and End point markers enclose the section of the sample that is used for the slicing session. It can be very useful to adjust these markers when only a certain part of a sample is required - for example, it is possible to load an entire song into the slicer and focus on the drum solo/break section with these markers.

Slice points

Each division is indicated by a slice point, which represents the end of the previous slice and the start of the next.

Locked slices such as those shown above are displayed with a 'padlock' symbol. Unlocked slices are shown as triangular indicators. See the next section for more details on slice points and the Lock functions.

Audition/Loop active portion

The Audition active portion button on the scrollbar plays the active portion of the loop enclosed by the Start point and End point. Activating the Loop active portion button to its right results in the portion repeating when the Audition button is used - click the Audition button again to stop the looping audition.

Geist258

When extracting patterns from loops, this function can be very useful for ensuring that a musically useful looping portion is sliced, which is crucial for obtaining an optimal pattern.

Pattern viewer

This part of the Slicer page displays the current pattern (this display cannot be edited). If Auto load mode is currently activated, the loop's pattern is automatically extracted and

replaces the previous contents of the current pattern. When Auto load mode is not active, this display shows the contents of the pattern before the

Slicer was invoked. The sliced loop's pattern can still be manually extracted by clicking the

Extract Pattern button.

Detection Mode: Transient/Divide

This control sets the Slicer to either Transient (transient-based algorithm) or Divide (equal division-based algorithm) mode.

In Transient mode, a Sensitivity control is shown on the interface. In Divide mode, this is replaced by a numerical text box which specifies the number of equal-

length slices into which to divide the audio file. These modes are described in more detail in the next section.

Use layers

Clicking the Use layers button results in all slices in the loop (if over 64) being used and assigned to additional layers on the pads.

If the pattern is extracted, information about the layers required is also extracted with it and stored in Force layer graph values for the pattern's tracks.

Other useful controls for slicing sessions

Undo

The Undo function can be used to revert to previous states before the slicing session was initiated, whether or not Auto load mode is active.

Lock pad/pattern functions

Pad and pattern locks are very useful for Slicer operations while Auto load mode is activated. These lock functions can be accessed via pad and pattern key context menus.

Delete slice information Delete all slice information in this folder

See the next section for details of these functions.

Allow/Disallow slicing of files in this folder

This function, on the files context menu, allows any folder to be set to override the Slicer panel functionality if the Browser's Slice button is activated. It may be convenient to use this setting for any folders containing 'single hits' rather than loops/breakbeats (all sub-folders in the Geist2 Factory/Hits folder have been set to disallow slicing).

If this function has been applied to a folder, a 'star' indicator appears on the folder icon, the folder name in the Path display and on the icon for each sample within the folder.

All sub-folders in the Geist2 Factory/Hits folder have been set to disallow slicing.

3.2 Slicing tools and modes

1. With the Auto Load and Slice buttons activated in the Browser, Click a WAV or AIFF audio file

containing the desired loop from which to extract slices and/or a pattern. At first, the pattern can typically look quite chaotic, especially if the desired loop is a sub-section of

the audio file.

2. Use the Start point and End point markers to specify the desired portion of the file on which to operate.

When extracting a pattern from the audio, the Audition / Loop active portion buttons can be very useful during this process. By looping the portion between the Start point and End point markers, the markers can be set to ensure that the resulting pattern loops in a musically useful way.

Any factory loops supplied with Geist2 or Geist Expander add-ons are already sliced optimally for convenience.

However, when working with user samples, it is usually necessary to perform some adjustment using the various tools and modes in the Slicer panel.

Using Transient Detection mode

In Transient slice mode, Geist2 features a variable Sensitivity control for detecting transients in the audio file. As the slider is increased, the slicing algorithm becomes more sensitive to transients so that more slice points are created.

Slicing 59

Geist260

3. Geist2 attempts to make a best guess of the BPM and length of the active portion which is being sliced. To override the detected values, simply click the relevant field and type a new numerical value.

In this case, the loop in question is 1 bar long.

After these processes, the extracted pattern more closely resembles the transients in the audio.

4. The Sensitivity control can be used to adjust the transient-detection.

Decreasing the control as shown in the image to the left results in less slices being detected.

Increase the control to detect more slices.

• Any slice can be auditioned by rightclicking the waveform.

Insert tool

• Simply click at the desired point in the waveform in order to add a slice point.

• Click and drag the slice point left/right to move it.

• Right-click the slice point to display the slice context menu (see below).

Additional tools for adjusting slices

There may be situations, especially with material containing widely varying dynamics, where the Sensitivity control cannot provide the granularity to detect all required slices. In such cases the Insert tool can be used to manually add slice points wherever required.

When a slice is manually added in this way, it is automatically Locked – this means that it is not affected by any further adjustment of the Sensitivity control until it is unlocked.

• Additionally, slice points can be deleted by ALT-clicking in the waveform - the slice point to the left is deleted.

• Audition slices by right-clicking the waveform.

Slicing 61

Delete tool

Activate the Delete tool for easy deletion of slice points by clicking the waveform.

• Additionally, slice points can be inserted by ALT-clicking in the waveform wherever required.

• Audition slices by right-clicking the waveform.

• Right-click a slice point to display the slice context menu (see below).

• Click the required slice.

• The slice point is removed.

Lock tool

It can be very useful to lock slice points to prevent them from being affected by further changes to the Sensitivity control. For example, it can be useful to dial in a high Sensitivity setting to detect and then lock quieter transients, after which the control can be decreased again without affecting the locked slices.

• Audition slices by right-clicking the waveform.

• Right-click a slice point to display the slice context menu (see below).

• Click the waveform within the required slice.

• The slice point is locked.

The slice context menu provides access to certain functions which may be more convenient than switching the active slicing tool.

Lock/Unlock Slice Delete Slice

These functions provide an alternative to switching to the Lock tool or Delete tool.

Lock all slices / Unlock all slices

These functions allow all slice points to be locked/unlocked in a single action.

Slice context menu

Delete all slices

This function allows all unlocked slice points to be deleted in a single action.

Delete all slices including locked ones

This function allows all slice points (even those which are locked) to be deleted in a single action.

Geist262

In the Divide Detection mode, the Sensitivity slider is replaced by a Divisions control – a numerical text

box which specifies the number of equal-length divisions produced by the slicing process.

The image to the left shows Divide mode in operation with Auto Load activated.

The loop has been chopped into 16 equal slices, with the slices and pattern automatically extracted. To change the number of divisions, click the Divisions value and enter a new number.

It is still possible to add additional slice points manually or move/lock/delete slice points as required with the slicing tools.

Geist2 contains additional functions for manual slice and pattern extraction with the Auto Load button deactivated. This may be more convenient when extracting material from multiple sources, instead of using Auto Load mode along with Lock functions.

They can be used with both Transient and Divide Detection modes.

These 3 buttons are only visible when the Auto load button is deactivated in the Browser.

Audio

The Audio button sends the audio slices to current engine's pads.

Pattern

Click the Pattern button to send the extracted pattern to the current pattern slot (as shown in the image on the left).

Audio+Ptn

Click this button to perform both of the above actions.

Using Divide Detection mode

Manual slice and pattern extraction

When working in this way, simply clicking the Done button before performing any Extract or drag & drop actions does not result in anything being loaded. The Cancel button, however, still discards any actions performed in the Slicer session.

Manual Extraction buttons: Audio, Pattern, Audio+Ptn

Drag tool

The Drag tool is a special tool designed to drag and drop slices manually to pads or layers. This tool is only available when the Auto load button is deactivated in the Browser.

With the tool selected, simply click and drag any slice to a pad – all previous sample contents are removed and the slice is added as the first layer.

If this operation is performed while holding down the ALT key, the slice is added as the next unused layer on the pad.

Additionally, the following functions are also available with the Drag tool active:

• Audition slices by right-clicking the waveform.

• Right-click a slice point to display the slice context menu (see above).

Confirming or discarding a slicing session

Slicing 63

Done

After any adjustments and pad assignment as a result of the Auto load function or any manual slice extraction, click the Done button to confirm all actions since the Slicer panel was opened.

Cancel

To cancel and discard all operations performed during the slicing session, click the Cancel button to exit the Slicer panel. Any slicing and extraction operations, whether automatic or manual, are discarded.

Slice information files

When clicking the Done button to confirm a slicing session, Geist2 saves a 'slice information file' (using the original filename with a .gsa file extension) alongside any sample that is processed in the Slicer.

The .gsa file contains information about the slicing settings and slice points and means that it is only necessary to slice any particular file once. Loading the same file into the Slicer in future also recalls the slice points and settings.

To remove the .gsa file for any sample (and therefore remove any slicing settings and slice points), simply right-click the sample in the Browser and use the Remove slice information function. The file can now be re-sliced from scratch if desired.

If a slicing operation is aborted with the Cancel button, no changes are made to the .gsa file alongside the sample (if a .gsa file does not yet exist, none is created).

Geist264

Sampling in Geist2 occurs directly to the selected pad, making it as fast as possible to start composing music with freshly sampled sounds.

The Sampler mode is accessed via the Pad modes menu above the pads.

When the Sampler mode is selected in this menu, the Sampler controls appear and are active for the currently selected pad in the current engine.

The next section provides a full guide to Geist2's Sampler controls.

4 Sampler

Geist2's Sampler functions provide the ability to record audio directly onto a pad so that new samples are ready to play and sequence as quickly as possible.

It is possible to sample an external signal or to 'resample' Geist2's Master output (or any of its sub-outputs). The latter is especially useful for quickly creating new samples by sampling existing material processed through Geist2's layer processing and effects.

A number of sampling modes are provided, such as starting/stopping recording based on an audio threshold level - perfect for recording single drum hits - or exact bar/beat lengths for creating loops.

4.1 Sampler controls

Source

The source for the sampling session is specified using the Source selector, located near the Arm and Rec/Stop buttons in the Sampler page.

• External

The external input allows sampling from external sources.

Click this button to set which input channels are recorded - Stereo, Mono (Left) and Mono (Right) are available.

Monitor input

With this button activated, the sampler input signal is routed to the Master channel output.

Sampler controls

This mode can be used in the standalone version and in hosts that support the routing of audio to instrument plugin inputs.

• Resample Master

With this setting, the content of the Master output is used for the sampler input source. No audio streams routed to Sub-outputs are recorded.

Resampling is used for quickly creating new samples using Geist2's processing and effects effectively a real-time alternative to using the audio export functions.

• Resample sub-output 1-32

With these settings, the content of the relevant sub-output is used as the sampler input source.

• Spitter2 Spitter2 is used to route audio from a host DAW into Geist2's sampler. By loading an instance of

Spitter2 to the track you wish to record, you can then sample the incoming audio by changing the input of Geist2's sampler to 'Spitter2' (or whatever you may have renamed the instance of Spitter2 running in your DAW).

Sampler 65

In Gain/Meter

The Input gain control sets the input level for the sampler recording. The Input meter represents the current level of the input signal.

Channels

Thru

The Thru control adjusts the level of the sampler input signal that is routed through to the Master output when the Monitor input button is activated. Please note that this control is exactly the same as the Browser's Preview Volume control - using either of these controls affects the other.

Note that when the Source is set to resample the Master, the sampler input signal is never routed to the Master output to prevent feedback.

Arm

The Arm button arms the Sampler for recording. If the Trigger mode is set to Immediate, clicking the Arm button starts recording immediately. In other Trigger modes, further actions or conditions are required before recording starts.

Geist266

The Trigger mode setting dictates how the sampler starts recording. Note that in the MIDI, Host and Threshold modes, the Rec/Stop button can always be used to start and stop recording manually while the Arm button is active.

With this setting, the sampler begins recording as soon as the Arm button is activated, for the period defined by the Beats or Seconds time controls which appear when this mode is activated.

Trigger Mode

• Threshold When this setting is enabled, two extra controls appear, labelled Start and Stop, with a Level

meter between them which represents the source signal.

With the Arm button active, recording starts when the signal level rises above the threshold defined by the Start parameter.

Recording stops when the source level falls below the threshold defined by the Stop parameter for a short period.

Additionally, sampling can be manually started or stopped using the Rec/Stop button.

• Immediate

• MIDI

With this setting, recording begins on the first MIDI note received (when the Arm button is active), for the duration defined by the Beats or Seconds time controls which appear when this mode is activated.

If the Follow MIDI button is activated, it is possible to play any pad's MIDI note to select the pad and immediately commence recording.

To record to the current pad, either play its specific MIDI note, or deactivate the Follow MIDI button and play any note.

• Host

With this setting, recording starts when the transport is started, either internally or from the host (when the Arm button is active). The sampler records multiple takes of a defined length.

The length of each take can be defined in Beats (specified using the Bars and Beats) or Seconds using the controls that appear when this mode is active.

Sampler 67

The Assign mode dictates what happens to sampler takes after they have been recorded - this menu allows a number of automatic assignment options.

• Slice

In Slice mode the sample is automatically opened in the Slicer

panel after recording is complete.

When samples are created, they are assigned as dictated by the Assign menu and saved automatically to the Sampler Captures folder within the Geist2 documents folder.

To keep projects organized, it is highly recommended to save a Geist2 preset, kit or pad while the Save samples with presets setting (in the Tools menu) is activated.

Assign mode

• Single

In Single mode, the sample is always recorded to the currently selected pad layer.

• Next Layer

In Next Layer mode, the sample is assigned to the next layer on the currently selected pad. When all pads on the current pad are filled, no further automatic assignment takes place (any further recorded samples can be accessed from the Sampler Captures folder).

• Next Pad

In Next Pad mode, the sample is assigned to the first layer on the next pad. When all pads are filled, no further automatic assignment takes place (any further recorded samples can be accessed from the Sampler Captures folder).

• Next Layer and Pad

In this mode, samples are assigned to the next layer on the current pad. When all layers have been filled, the process repeats on the next pad.

• No Auto Allocation

In this mode, no automatic assignment takes place (recorded samples can be accessed from the Sampler Captures folder).

Rec/Stop

The various modes activate and deactivate this button automatically based on various conditions. Whenever recording is in progress, click this button to stop recording when required.

In the Threshold Trigger mode, while the Arm button is activated, the Rec/Stop button can be manually clicked to start recording.

Managing recorded samples

Geist268

5 Pads and Layers

Each Geist2 engine contains up to 64 pads. Each pad is assigned to a MIDI note on the engine's MIDI channel and contains 8 layers, each of which can contain a sample.

Pads and layers are introduced in chapter 1 in the following sections:

• Playing pads and recording a pattern

• Editing and modulating sounds

• Mixer pages and Effects

This chapter provides a full reference guide to pads and layers: Pad and Layer controls in the Pad Editor and mixing/effects processing in the Pad Mixer and Layer Mixer pages.

Selecting a pad or layer for editing

The concept of the 'selected pad' is used for editing a pad or any of its layers.

• Click a pad to select it and plays its layers

• ALT-click a pad to select it without playing any audio

• If the Follow MIDI button is activated, the pad can be selected via its corresponding note on the relevant MIDI channel

• If any of the real-time pad modes are active (see chapter 1) a pad must be ALT-clicked to select it.

• When a pad is selected, it becomes the active pad for editing - a number of pad controls and

layer controls are available.

• Pad and layer selections are preserved between the Layer Editor and the Pad Mixer and Layer

Mixer pages.

5.1 Pads and managing pads

Pad name

The default name for a pad is that of the first sample loaded to one of its layers. To rename a pad, double-click on the current name, type a new name, then press ENTER.

This setting dictates how the pad's 8 layers are played back when the pad is triggered.

• All layers

All layers are played back simultaneously (this is the default setting).

• Velocity split

Any layers on the pad can be split along the velocity range, with different layers triggered at different velocities.

Pad controls

Mute (M) / Solo (S)

These buttons mute/solo the pad. Note that these buttons are distinct from the Track Mute/Solo buttons on each track of every pattern.

Level Meter

The Level meter displays a real-time representation of the pad's output amplitude whenever it is played.

Pad Options

Pads and Layers 69

Click the Pad Options button to show additional controls relating to the pad, which replace the

Layer controls section.

V-to-A (Velocity to Amplitude)

This parameter sets the degree to which the pad's amplitude is affected by MIDI/pattern event velocity.

Layer play mode

When this setting is active, the Velocity split editor becomes visible, allowing the velocity range and fade for each layer to be edited (see below).

• Round robin

A single layer is played each time the pad is triggered. The playback engine 'cycles through' the available layers each time the pad is triggered.

Geist270

Selecting and deselecting events

• Click and drag the lower handles to adjust the layer's Low / High velocity split points.

• Click and drag the upper handles to adjust the Layer's Low / High velocity fade.

Auto V SplitMode

This menu can be used to arrange all layers proportionally across the velocity range, with a selection of optional fade (overlap) amounts.

Right-click a pad to display the Pad context menu, which provides a number of pad management operations.

Cut, Copy, Paste

These functions allow pads to be Cut, Copied and Pasted within the engine or any other engine.

Cut with pattern Copy with pattern Paste with Pattern

These functions allow pads to be Cut, Copied and Pasted along with their corresponding pattern tracks.

Clear pad

This function clears the contents of the selected pad - all its layer samples and settings are removed.

• Round robin reset

Similar to Round robin, except that each time the pattern is looped, the pad is played from the first layer. This means that the round-robin behaviour is repeatable: it sounds the same on every pass when the pattern is repeated.

• Random

A single layer is played at random each time the pad is triggered.

Velocity split editor

The Velocity split editor can only be used when the Layer play mode is set to Velocity split. The Low / High velocity split and velocity fade points for each layer are adjusted by clicking and

dragging their handles left/right as shown below.

• Using the Auto split velocity graphs setting.

• Using the Auto overlap velocity graphs 25% setting.

Pad context menu

Clear all pads

This function clears the contents of all pads in the current engine.

Pads and Layers 71

Clear pad layer...

This sub-menu allows any of the pad's 8 layers (displayed on a sub-menu) to be cleared.

Lock/Unlock pad

This function locks the pad – none of its pad/layer settings can be adjusted, and its samples cannot be changed.

Unlock all pads

This function unlocks any pads in the engine which are currently locked.

Lock/Unlock track and pad

This function locks both the pad and the corresponding track in the current pattern.

Rename pad

This function allows the pad to be renamed (the default name is that of the first sample loaded to the pad).

Swap, Copy, Move pad to...

These functions allow pads to be Swapped/Copied/Moved to other pads within the engine. Select the destination pad from the sub-menus.

Clone pad...

This function clones all layers of the current pad to all pads in the engine at varying pitch, overwriting the previous contents of the pads. It is distinct from the Chromatic Pad mode, which non-destructively allows the currently selected pad to be played at different pitches over all pads in the engine, after which the Pad mode can be set back to Normal.

If any layers' Timestretch function is activated, the pitching process does not affect the length of its sample. If the Timestretch function is not active, the duration of its sample varies with pitch.

The pad can be cloned in the following ways: Upwards: Ascending in semitones from pad 1 at original pitch.

Downwards: Descending in semitones from pad 16 at original pitch. Centred: Ascending and descending in semitones from pad 9 at original pitch.

Copy sample path...

This function copies, as text to the clipboard, the path to the sample file on any of the pad's layers. Select the required layer from the sub-menu.

Open parent folder in browser...

This function reveals the sample on any of the pad's layers in the Geist2 Browser. Select the required layer from the sub-menu.

Reveal in Explorer/Finder...

This function reveals the sample on any of the pad's layers in a system file window (Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac). Select the required layer from the sub-menu.

Save layer sample...

This function opens a file save dialog for saving any pad layer's sample to disk. Select the required layer from the sub-menu.

Set colour label...

This sub-menu allows a colour to be set for the pad.

Geist272

Click the relevant layer in the Layer selector to select one of the pad's 8 layers for editing.

The Layer selector section also provides the following controls for each layer when it contains a sample:

Layer name

The default name for each layer is the filename of the sample loaded into it. To rename the layer, double-click the current name, type the new name and press ENTER.

Mute (M) / Solo (S)

These buttons mute/solo the layer.

5.2 Layer controls

The Layer controls are always visible in Geist2 except when the Pad Options controls are active or when the context-sensitive editing area (for the Pattern, Song, Scene, Mapping and Mixer pages) is extended to full-height using the divider as shown in chapter 1.

Layer selector

This control dictates which layer on the currently selected pad is represented by the Layer controls.

Level Meter

The level meter displays a real-time representation of the Layer's sample amplitude whenever it is played.

Layer editing parameters

The controls underneath the waveform display are discussed in detail in the next few sections:

• Setup, Mix, Tuning and Filter controls

• Play, Looping and Timestretch controls

• Envelope controls

Waveform display

The waveform display represents the layer's sample at its original pitch.

Start/End points

The Start and End markers shown above the layer's sample in the waveform display set the beginning and end of the layer's sample that is played back. To adjust their positions, click and drag the markers left/right.

Pads and Layers 73

Loop start/end

When a layer's Playback mode is set to Looping, the waveform display also shows Loop Start and Loop End markers. To adjust their positions, click and drag the markers left/right. See

section 5.2.1 for more details of the Loop markers and additional Looping controls.

Ruler

Time units are shown on the ruler above the waveform and Start/End/Loop markers. By default, seconds are used as units. Right-click in the ruler to display a context menu allowing tempo-based units to be used instead.

Amp Envelope and Free Envelope handles

These controls allow graphic envelope editing as an alternative to using the Envelope sliders, if activated using the Envelope visibility buttons (see below).

Scroll/zoom controls

Scroll/zoom

The Scroll/zoom bar adjusts the visible area when zoomed in (drag left/right to scroll) and can also be used to set the zoom level - drag left/right the handles on either end of the control.

Zoom buttons

The Auto-zoom modes can be faster for many operations than manual zooming with the Zoom In/Out buttons. Only one of the modes can be active at any one time.

No Auto-zoom

With this button active, no auto-zooming occurs.

Auto-zoom start & end

With this button enabled, the waveform view auto-zooms so that the start and end points are at the extreme left and right border of the display. Effectively, the 'active' part of the sample is 'maximized' within the waveform display.

Auto-zoom start Auto-zoom end

The Auto-zoom start mode forces the waveform display to 'jump' to the start point of the layer when it is selected. The start point is centred in the display.

The Auto-zoom end mode forces the waveform display to 'jump' to the end point of the layer when it is selected. The end point is centred in the display.

These modes are extremely useful for fine adjustments to prevent clicks.

A (Amp Envelope visibility) F (Free Envelope visibility)

These buttons toggle the visibility of the Amp and Free Envelopes in the waveform display.

Geist274

The Layer and Pad edit shortcuts are provided in order to allow all layers on the pad or all pads in the engine to be edited simultaneously (if they are not locked).

These functions are described in chapter 1.

Right-click any of the 8 layers in the Layer selector to display the Layer context menu, which provides a number of management functions for layers.

Cut, Copy, Paste

These functions allow layers to be Cut, Copied and Pasted between the 8 layer slots on the pad and other pads in any engine.

Note that multiple selections are disregarded when using these functions.

Clear

This function clears the sample and all settings from the layer.

Reset

This function resets the layer to its initialized state, but does not remove its sample.

Multiple edit shortcuts

Layer context menu

Reset envelopes

This function resets the layer's envelopes to their initialized state.

Lock/Unlock

This function locks the layer so that its sample and settings cannot be altered by Load operations. If the layer has been previously locked, this function unlocks it.

Send to slicer

This function opens the layer's sample in the Slicer panel.

5.2.1 Setup, Mix, Tuning and Filter controls

The Playback mode menu dictates how the layer reacts to being played. This setting dictates how the layer's sample is played back and also affects the behaviour of the layer's envelopes.

• One shot

In this mode, the layer is triggered and plays in its entirety unless choked. Unless another layer on the pad is set to Gated or Looping operation, pattern

events for the pad are always set as 'single step' events - no duration can be specified. If any other layer on the pad is set to Gated or Looping mode, the duration of the pattern event is ignored for any layer set to One shot mode.

Similarly, the duration of any incoming MIDI event is also ignored for the layer.

Choking is the process of stopping the playback of one layer by another. Geist2 offers a number of different sources for choking a layer, specified by the Choke menu.

• Not cut

The layer cannot be choked by any other layers. Use this setting for polyphonic playback (over MIDI only - pattern sequencing within Geist2 is monophonic for each pad).

• Self

The layer is choked by itself.

• Pad

The layer is choked by any layer on the same pad.

Setup controls

Playback mode

Pads and Layers 75

• Length Bound

Length Bound mode is similar to One shot mode except that both envelopes for the layer are switched to a special AHR mode, in which envelopes are forced to the length of the sample.

• Gated

In Gated mode, the layer responds to event duration. In the Pattern page, events for the pad can be set with variable duration, over multiple steps if

required. For incoming MIDI events, the layer responds to MIDI note-on and MIDI note-off messages.

• Looping Looping mode is similar to Gated mode, but continuously repeats the region enclosed by the Loop

Start and Loop End points and then, when the event ends, the remainder of the sample after the

Loop End point is played during the Amp Envelope's Release stage (unless the Release button in the Looping controls is activated, in which case the looping section is played during the Release stage).

Choke mode

• By other pads

The layer is choked by any other pad in the engine.

• Self + Other

Geist276

Gain, Pan

These controls adjust the layer's gain and pan - they can also be found within the Layer Mixer.

Vintage mode

Activating the Vintage button applies an alternative lo-fi resampling algorithm derived from those found on vintage sampler hardware. The effect of this setting is most prominent when altering the pitch of the Layer's sample.

Reverse

This button reverses the sample on the layer.

Phase

This button inverts the phase of the layer's sample.

Tune

The Tune control adjusts the pitch of the layer's sample by up to +/- 12 semitones.

Fine

The Fine control adjusts the pitch of the layer's sample by up to +/- 1 semitones.

Octave

The Octave control increases or decreases the pitch of the layer's sample by up to 4 octaves.

The layer is choked by any layer on the pad (including itself), or any other pad in the engine.

• Pad type

The layer is choked by any layer on any pad in the same row within the engine.

• Engine group 1, 2

The layer is choked by any layer assigned to the same engine group – each engine features 2 assignable cut groups.

• Global group 1, 2

The layer is choked by any layer assigned to the same global cut group, of which 2 are available in total.

Track Pitch

See the Envelope controls section later in this chapter for details of this setting.

Mix controls

Tuning controls

Filter controls

Active

Engaging this button activates the layer's filter. Geist2's per-layer filter is an extremely high quality circuit-

modelled algorithm – by default, the filter is deactivated in order to save CPU power.

Algorithm

Japan

The Japan filter offers a classic Japanese monosynth filter based on cascaded OTA filters and a huge variety of filter Type menu settings are available.

• Algorithm menu

• Type menu for

SVF Algorithm

As well as conventional 2-pole and 4-pole low-pass, band-pass, high-pass and notch filters, it also offers a 2-pole peak filter response and a number of additional combinations of low-pass, high-pass, notch and peak filter outputs which provide a huge range of possible sonic effects.

SVF

This filter is a typical state-variable filter (SVF) design, offering 2-pole and 4- pole low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, notch and peak filter responses using the Type menu.

MS20

The MS20 filter is an OTA-based Sallen-Key filter design, offering low-pass, band-pass, high-pass and notch Type settings.

Comb

The Comb filter is great for all sorts of uses, especially lush detune and chorus textures, resonant special FX and sounds reminiscent of flanging and phasing. When this filter is selected, 2 Type menu settings are available: negative and positive.

Type

The Type drop-down menu allows one of a variety of filter responses to be selected, depending on the current Algorithm.

Cutoff, Res (Resonance)

These parameters adjust the cutoff frequency of the filter and the amount of resonance at the cutoff frequency.

Drive

The Drive control increases the level of the signal entering the filter, effectively overloading and overdriving the filter circuit. Higher amounts of drive lead to a gritty, aggressive sound with less resonance.

Pads and Layers 77

Geist278

Predelay

This parameter applies a delay of up to 1 second before the layer is played. This can be very useful for creative stacking of sounds on multiple layers.

Start offset

This control adds a positive or negative offset to the sample Start point defined on the waveform display.

End offset

This control adds a positive or negative offset to the sample End point defined on the waveform display.

Loop Start Offset

The Loop Start Offset control adds a positive or negative offset to the Loop Start point defined on the waveform display.

Loop End Offset

The Loop End Offset adds a positive or negative offset to the Loop End point defined on the waveform display.

X-Fade

The X-Fade control adjusts the size of a crossfaded transition between the end and start of the looping section. Using a crossfade is a way of avoiding clicks when looping a sample.

5.2.2 Play, Looping and Timestretch controls

Play controls

Looping controls

These controls are available only when the Playback mode is set to Looping. It is important to be aware that the Loop Start Offset and Loop End Offset rotary controls

represent additional offsets to the loop points defined in the waveform display.

Curve

This control adjusts the crossfade curve shape when the X-Fade control is active.

Release

With the Release button activated, the looping section is played during the Release phase of the Amp Envelope. With the button deactivated, playback continues from the current point to the End

point of the sample when the voice is released, ignoring the Loop End point.

Alternate

With the Alternate button activated, playback occurs in alternating forward/backward directions between the loop points.

Pads and Layers 79

Timestretch power

This button activates or deactivates the timestretch function. When the timestretch function is active, any changes to the pitch of the

sample – using the Tune and Fine controls, pitch graphs and engine/Master pitch controls elsewhere in Geist2 – result in the length of the sample staying the same.

Amount

This control adjusts the timestretch amount between a range of 10% to 400% of the original length. At the centre position (0%), the sample is played back at its original speed.

Timestretch controls

The process of time-stretching allows the pitch of a sample to be changed without affecting its length and vice-versa..

This is useful for working with full loops on a single pad, and also for general-purpose creative sound design.

It is important to remember that timestretching almost always results in some artifacts, as it is a very complex digital process which 'bends physics' to some extent. Toggling the Fast mode button can minimize the artifacts, although these types of artifacts can often be desirable when used in a creative context.

Fast

By default, the Geist2 timestretch algorithm is optimized for drum sounds and other sounds with hard, fast transients. Activating the Fast mode button enables a less CPU-heavy algorithm instead which is designed for melodic material like synths or vocals. It's always worth experimenting with both the default and Fast modes, as one may work better than the other for any particular material.

Track

When the Track button is activated, the amount of timestretch is scaled accordingly when the Geist2 tempo is changed.

Geist280

The Amp Envelope is hard-wired to the amplitude of the layer's sample but can also be used to modulate other parameters within the layer using the TransMod modulation system.

The Free Envelope is not routed to any parameters by default - it is intended to be used only via the TransMod modulation system.

Both envelopes are displayed and edited over the waveform display but can also be adjusted via conventional controls.

The behaviour of the envelopes is affected by the Layer's current Playback (see left) and Track Pitch settings.

The A and F visibility buttons for each envelope (located next to the Auto- zoom controls) toggle their visibility on the waveform display.

5.2.3 Envelope controls

Each Layer in Geist2 features 2 ADHSR envelopes with A (Attack), D (Decay), H (Hold), S (Sustain) and R (Release) stages.

The curve of the Attack, Decay and Release stages can be set using the A-C (Attack-Curve), D- C (Decay-Curve) and R-C (Release-Curve) controls, which vary the curve shape between

exponential (0%), linear (50%) and inverse-exponential (100%).

Envelope visibility

With both envelopes visible, the Amp env is shown over the top half of the waveform, while the Free env is displayed over the lower half.

Using One-shot Playback mode

When the layer's Playback mode is set to One shot, the envelopes for Track Pitch and Non Tracked Env Mode settings effectively operate as ADHR envelopes.

It is important to remember that One shot envelopes cannot possess a true 'release' stage as no release event exists - they only respond to an initial trigger. Similarly, there is no true sustain event since the event has no duration.

However, the Sustain and Release parameters are not ignored. In such situations:

• the Sustain setting dictates the level of the envelope during the Hold time

• the Release stage effectively acts as a second Decay stage after the Hold stage The default envelope shape features 0-length Attack, Decay and Release stages, with the Hold

time set to the duration between the stard/end indicators.

Pads and Layers 81

• click and drag the left side of the handle to adjust the Attack

• click and drag the right side of the handle to adjust the Decay

Click and drag the Attack handle left/ right to set the Attack time. Note that the Hold time now extends beyond the layer's sample end point, as it has not been changed.

Click and drag the Decay handle left/ right to set the Decay time, and up/ down to set the Sustain level during the Hold stage.

Right-click the Decay handle to access the vertical lock function meaning that the Sustain level cannot be altered by dragging up/down.

Click and drag the Hold handle left/ right to set the Hold time, and up/down to set the Sustain level during the Hold stage.

Right-click the Hold handle to access the vertical lock function meaning that the Sustain level cannot be altered by dragging up/down.

Click and drag the Sustain handle up/ down to set the Sustain level during the Hold stage - this is especially useful if the Decay/Hold handles are locked.

Click and drag the Release handle left/ right to adjust the Release time. Note that in One-shot mode, the Release is simply a second Decay stage – it is not related to input note duration.

Click and drag the handles within the Attack, Decay and Release stages to adjust the curve of each stage.

The handles for the 0-length Attack and Decay can overlap. When this is the case:

This technique applies with any overlapping envelope handles.

Geist282

Click and drag the Attack handle left/ right to set the Attack and Hold times.

Click and drag the Hold handle left/ right to set the Hold and Release times.

In Gated mode, the Release stage is shown as starting from the sample End point, although it begins as soon as the pad input event is released.

In Looping mode, the Release stage begins from the end of the Loop end point.

With the Track Pitch setting activated, envelope times are scaled proportionally when changing the pitch of a sample - since the sample is played back faster or more slowly, the envelope times are also scaled accordingly.

With the setting deactivated, envelopes are not scaled with pitch or the length of the sample - they are always applied in absolute time, regardless of the pitch of the layer's sample.

Using Length Bound Playback mode

When One Shot Length Bound Playback mode is used, the layer's envelopes are switched to a special AHR mode and always scaled to the length of the sample. In this mode, envelopes follow the behaviour of the envelopes in Geist2's predecessor, GURU.

• The Attack and Release times can be set up to 50% of the length of the sample.

• The Hold time is 0-100% of the difference between the length of the sample and the Attack + Release times.

Therefore, if the Attack and Release stages are set to 25% of the length of the layer's sample, the Hold stage can be set up to 50% of the sample duration.

• The Release stage is effectively a Decay stage. Length Bound envelopes can only act as one- shot events - they only respond to a trigger event and ignore any event duration.

Using Gated or Looping Playback modes

In Gated and Looping Playback modes, the envelopes act as ADHSR envelopes when the Env Mode is set to Track Pitch or Non Tracked.

If the incoming event stops, the Release stage becomes active immediately, regardless of the current stage within the ADH sequence.

If the incoming event is still active when the Hold time has elapsed, the Sustain stage becomes active for the remaining duration of the incoming event, after which the Release stage becomes active.

The Attack and Decay handles are adjusted in the same way as for One-shot envelopes. The Hold handle does not exist – the Sustain level is set using the Decay handle (with unlocked vertical movement) or the Sustain handle.

The Attack, Decay and Release curves are adjusted in exactly the same way as in the One-shot envelope.

Track Pitch

5.3 Pad Mixer

The Pad mixer allows the pads in the currently selected engine to be mixed and processed with effects. It is displayed by clicking the Pad Mixer page button.

Pad 'channels'

The 'channels' in the mixer, arranged from left to right, represent the 64 available pads in the current engine - use the scrollbar to access all pad channels.

Pads and Layers 83

Selecting a pad channel

• Click one of the 64 displayed channels, each of which corresponds to a pad in the current engine.

The selection is also reflected in the Pads area and the Pad Editor. Likewise, the relevant pad channel becomes selected with the following actions:

• Clicking a pad to select it and play its layers

• ALT-clicking a pad to select it without playing any audio

• If the Pad selection follows MIDI button is activated, the pad is selected by playing its corresponding note on the relevant MIDI channel

Geist284

Each pad 'channel' features Mute, Solo, Pan and Gain controls along with the following controls:

Level meter

The meter features a clip indicator at the top of the channel click the indicator to reset it.

Output selector

If a pad's Output selector is set to Parent, it is mixed with any other pads in the parent engine that are also set to Parent and then sent to the Mixer, allowing effects to be added to the engine mix. If a sub-output is specified, the layer bypasses any other stages and effects further down the signal path (engine channel and Master channel blocks).

Effects indicator

This indicator shows whether each of the channel's 6 effects slots is Active (see below).

Multiple selection of Pad mixer channels

Multiple pads can be selected in the Pad mixer, using the following methods:

• SHIFT-click to create a contiguous selection between 2 pads

• CMD-click (Mac) or CTRL-click (Windows) to add a pad to the selection

Multiple edit shortcuts

The Pad multiple edit shortcut applies in the Pad Mixer in the same way as in the Pad Editor. Note that the Pad edit shortcut is not capable of adding effects devices or altering their

parameters across multiple pads.

Pad channel controls

Sends

Sends are 'parallel' routings from the pad to the Aux busses - each pad channel features 4 Send controls, one for each of the 4 Aux busses, labelled S1 to S4.

To display the Send controls, click the Sends button to the left of the mixer. The routing point for all sends to an Aux buss can be set to either pre- or post-fader, using the

Pre button on the Aux buss itself, located in the Global Mixer.

Pads and Layers 85

Effects Slots

Each pad features 6 assignable Effects slots for loading effects devices. The visibility of the Effects controls is dependent on the current size/scaling of the Geist2 interface.

• When an adequate vertical area is available, the Effects slots for the selected channel are shown above the mixer.

• When the required vertical area is unavailable, click the Effects button to display the current channel's Effects slots in place of the mixer channels.

Geist286

5.4 Layer Mixer

The Layer mixer allows the 8 layers in the currently selected pad to be mixed and processed with effects. It is displayed by clicking the Layer Mixer page button.

Layer 'channels'

The 'channels' in the mixer, arranged from left to right, represent the 8 available layers on the selected pad.

Selecting a layer

First, the relevant pad must be selected as described in the Pad Mixer section. Then, select a layer on the pad in either of the following ways:

• Select a layer by clicking one of the 8 displayed 'channels' in the Layer mixer, each of which represents a layer on the current pad.

• Click a layer in the Layer selector at the left of the Pad Editor – selections are always preserved between the Layer selector and the Layer Mixer.

Multiple selection of layers

Multiple layers can be selected in the Layer mixer, using the following methods:

• SHIFT-click to create a contiguous selection between 2 layers

• CMD-click (Mac) or CTRL-click (Windows) to add a layer to the selection Multiple selections can also be made in the Layer selector in the Pad Editor – as mentioned above,

selections are always preserved between these sections.

Multiple edit shortcuts

The Layer and Pad multiple edit shortcuts apply in the Layer Mixer in the same way as in the Pad Editor.

Layer Channel controls

Each channel's controls in the mixer behave identically to those of the Pad Mixer.

Output selector

If a layer's Output selector is set to Parent, it is mixed with any other layers on the parent pad that are also set to Parent and sent to the Pad Mixer.

If the layer is routed to a sub-output, it bypasses any other stages and effects further down the signal path (the pad, engine and Master channel blocks).

Sends and Effects slots

Each channel in the layer mixer features Sends and Effects slots which behave identically to those of the Pad Mixer.

6 Engines and Global Mixer

• The Engine selector provides access to Geist2's 8 engines, along with a number of additional supporting functions.

• The Global Mixer page page displays channels for each of the 8 engines alongside 4 Aux channels, used as Send destinations from other channels, and the Master channel, the primary stereo output from Geist2.

Much of the Global Mixer's functionality is introduced in chapter 1 and chapter 5.

The Engine selector and Global Mixer page page provide control over Geist2's 8 engines as well as the 4 Aux channels and the Master channel.

Engine Selector

Global Mixer page

Engines and Global Mixer 87

Geist288

6.1 Engine Selector

The Engine Selector provides a number of functions relating to Geist2's 8 engines:

• it specifies and indicates the engine currently selected for editing

• it allows engines to be muted or solo'd

• it provides indicators to represent muted or solo'd elements within engines

• it allows the pattern sequencing of each engine to be enabled or disabled

• it also provides various engine management functions via the engine context menu

Engine Select

Each engine features a large circular button for selecting it as the current engine. The currently selected engine is highlighted.

Note that engines can be named (see below), with the name shown within the Engine Select button, replacing the default numbering.

The current engine can also be selected using engine channels in the Global Mixer. Engine Select buttons also act as level meters - louder signals produced by the engine result in

brighter highlighting.

Engine Mute, Solo

Each engine features Mute and Solo buttons, to the right of its Engine Select button. These functions affect the entire audio output from the engine.

Mute/Solo indicators

Each engine selector button contains 2 LED indicators, to the left of its Engine Select button. These are highlighted if any element of the engine is muted or soloed (layers, pads or the engine itself).

A red LED indicates that mutes are present within the engine, while a green LED indicates solos. If an element within an engine is muted, its red mute indicator is highlighted. If an element within an engine is solo'd, its green solo indicator is highlighted and the red mute

indicators for unsoloed engines are also highlighted.

Level meter

The Level meter indicates the amplitude of any pads/layers being played within the engine.

Engines and Global Mixer 89

Rename engine

This function allows the engine name to be changed from its numerical default of 1-8. It is recommended to keep the engine name as short as possible.

Cut, Copy, Paste

These functions allow the entirety of the currently selected engine to be cut, copied and pasted between the 8 engines. When pasting the contents of a clipboard, the destination engine is overwritten.

Pattern Power

The Pattern power button for each engine is very important in the context of Geist2's sequencing functions.

Deactivating an engine's Pattern power button disables pattern playback on the engine. This is useful in the following situations:

When exporting patterns to a DAW/host

After exporting patterns to MIDI tracks in the DAW/host for further editing/arrangement, it is usually necessary to deactivate the Pattern power button so that only the incoming MIDI notes trigger Geist2 pads.

When using scenes

When creating a scene, Geist2 stores an engine's state with its Pattern power button deactivated if it is currently playing back an empty pattern. This is to ensure that the original scene content is preserved if the empty pattern is subsequently edited.

To enable the engine's pattern sequencer again, simply reactivate the Pattern power button on the affected engines.

Engine context menu

Right-click an Engine selector button to display the Engine context menu. This menu provides a number of functions for managing engines.

Un-mute all pads/layers on this engine

This function turns off any mutes that exist within the engine, on any of its pads and layers.

Un-solo all pads/layers on this engine

This function turns off any solos that exist within the engine, on any of its pads and layers.

Reset engine

This function resets the current engine to its default empty state - all layers, pads and patterns within the engine are reset.

Reset all engines

This function resets all 8 engines to their default empty state - all layers, pads and patterns within all 8 engines are reset.

Geist290

6.2 Global Mixer

Geist2's Global Mixer page, displayed by clicking the Global Mixer page button, shows all 8 engines as channels, along with 4 Aux buss channels and the Master channel.

It provides very similar controls to the Pad Mixer and Layer Mixer pages although there are a few differences.

Selecting a channel

Engine channels can be selected by either of the following methods:

• click the engine channels in the Global Mixer page.

• click the Engine selector buttons which are always visible on the Geist2 interface Selecting an engine makes it the currently active engine for editing – its pads and patterns are

accessible via the on-screen pad and pattern buttons. Other channels are selected by clicking the relevant channel in the Global Mixer.

Multiple selection of channels

Multiple channels can be selected in the Mixer page, using the following methods:

• SHIFT-click to create a contiguous selection between 2 channels

• CMD-click (Mac) or CTRL-click (Windows) to add a channel to the selection

Engines

Like channels in the Pad Mixer and Layer Mixer, each engine 'channel' features Mute, Solo, Pan and Gain controls, along with a Level meter and Output selector.

Engine channels also each contain a Pitch control.

Pitch

This control adjusts the pitch of the entire engine. Relative pitch differences between layers in the engine are preserved.

Output selector

If an engine's Output routing is set to Master, it is mixed with all other signals routed to the Master channel.

Engines and Global Mixer 91

Like all channels discussed previously, each Aux channel features Mute, Solo and Gain controls, along with a Level meter and Output selector.

Aux channels also each contain a Pre button.

Pre

In Geist2, the pre- or post-fader routing of the sends to an Aux channel is set for all sends at once, using the channel's Pre button.

By default, with the button deactivated for an Aux, the routing occurs post-fader - all sends to the Aux are routed after the source channel's Gain control is applied.

Activating the button for an Aux changes the routing to pre-fader - all sends to the Aux are routed before the source channel's Gain control is applied.

The Master channel represents the primary stereo output of Geist2 and is the default routing destination for all 8 engines.

It features a Gain control, Level meter and Pitch control.

Pitch

This control adjusts the pitch of the entire output of Geist2, relative to individual layer, pad and engine tuning settings.

Effects Slots

Like other channels in Geist2's mixers, the Master channel features 6 assignable Effects

slots for loading effects devices.

If the engine is routed to a sub-output, it bypasses the Master channel.

Sends

In the Global Mixer page, Sends are only available for Engine channels and behave identically to those in the Pad Mixer and Layer Mixer pages.

Effects Slots

Each engine channel features 6 assignable Effects slots which behave identically to those in the

Pad Mixer and Layer Mixer pages.

Aux channels

Output selector

If an Aux channel's Output selector is set to Master, it is mixed with all other signals routed to the Master channel.

If the Aux buss is routed to a sub-output, it bypasses the Master channel.

Effects Slots

Each Aux channel features 6 assignable Effects slots for loading effects devices.

Master channel

Geist292

When an Effects slot is empty, click the + button to display a menu of available devices. Click the desired device within the relevant submenu to load it into the slot. See the following sections for details of each available device:

Distortion Dynamics EQ Filters FX Reverb

7 Geist2 Effects

Geist2 features Effects slots within the Global Mixer, Pad Mixer and Layer Mixer pages.

Each channel in each Mixer page contains 6 Effects slots which are used in the same way within all these pages.

See the next section for a guide to common Effects slot controls.

Loading an effects device into an empty slot

7.1 Effects slot controls

Device headers and common device controls

Active

With this button activated, the effects device processes audio. When it is deactivated, the device is bypassed and audio passes through it unaffected.

Device menu

Preset functions

The upper part of this menu contains preset-based functions.

The Save preset function saves the current device settings as a preset.

Use the Save as default function to save the current settings as the default settings whenever the device is loaded in future. The Revert to default function switches back to the currently defined default settings.

The next section of the menu displays factory and previously saved user presets for the device.

Device menu

The lower part of the menu displays the effects device menu for replacing the device currently loaded into the slot - this part of the menu is used in the same way as the + button menu for an empty slot. It also provides the Remove effect function for emptying the slot.

Previous / Next preset

These buttons cycle through the available presets for the device.

Input

The Input control is provided for certain effects devices such as delays and reverbs and sets the input level to the device.

Effect controls

Geist2 Effects 93

It is useful for automation purposes, effectively functioning as a wet/dry control which preserves decaying tails when it is turned down.

Mix

This control acts as a 'wet/dry' control, blending between the input signal and the output of the device. It is very useful for parallel processing through inserted devices such as compressors,

reverbs and so on.

Output

This control sets the output level from the device.

Effect Chain controls

The Effects chain controls, located above the Effects slots, provide a preset system for the entire chain of 6 Effects slots.

Chain power

The Chain power button activates or deactivates the entire chain of 6 slots.

Geist294

Chain menu

The Presets... menu contains the Save preset function to save the current settings as a preset and the Clear chain function to re-initialize the entire set of 6 slots on the channel. This menu also allows factory and previously saved presets to be loaded.

Previous / Next Chain preset

The Previous and Next buttons cycle through the available Chain presets sequentially.

Cut

The Cut function stores the current Effects slot's state in the clipboard and removes the device, resetting the slot to an empty state.

Copy

The Copy function stores the current Effects slot's state in the clipboard, leaving the slot unchanged.

Chain Mix

The Chain Mix control acts as a 'wet/dry' control for the entire chain, blending between the input signal and the output of the 6 Effects slots.

Re-ordering Effects slots

Click and drag any Device header left/right in order to change its position in the FX chain.

Effects context menu

Right-clicking within an effects device displays the effects context menu.

Paste

If the clipboard contains suitable data, this function pastes the clipboard contents into the slot, replacing its previous state.

7.2 Distortion

• Distortion

• Shaped Distortion

• Driver

Shaped Distortion

The Model menu selects from a wide range of available distortion algorithms. The Drive control adjusts the amount of distortion while the Gain control sets the final output level, useful for attenuating the volume produced by large amounts of Drive.

The Post Freq control applies a low-pass filter after the distortion stage, useful for removing unwanted high frequencies produced by this process. The Restore control provides a dynamics function for the distorted signal. At the centre point, no dynamics adjustment occurs. At settings below this, attack transients are emphasized while sustain portions of the transient are de-emphasized. At settings above the centre, the opposite occurs: attacks in transients are de-emphasized while the sustain portion is emphasized.

Driver

The Driver device is an overdrive/distortion effect. The Model menu selects from a wide range of different distortion algorithms each with its own character. The Drive control adjusts the amount of overdrive. The In Gain adjusts the level of the signal entering the effect while the Out Gain adjusts the final output level, useful for attenuating the volume added by larger amounts of Drive.

The Saturation button activates a saturation circuit which is dependent on the signal level and is applied to the entire output signal. Note that this is not a peak clipper - the output signal can still exceed 0dB. The Limit button engages a soft limiter on the output signal - again, please note that the output can still exceed 0dB if it contains very fast transients.

Distortion

This is a versatile, DCAM-modelled overdrive/distortion effect. The Type control switches between 4 different distortion models – Diode, OTA, OpAmp and HalfRect – each of which provides a different flavour of distortion. The Low Cut and Hi Cut controls filter the signal before the distortion stage.

The Drive control sets the amount of drive or distortion applied to the signal. The Tone control adjusts a 1-pole low-pass filter for removing unwanted high frequencies from the driven signal. The Clean control reintroduces the signal previously filtered out by the Low Cut and High Cut controls.

Geist2 Effects 95

Geist296

• Maul

• Bitcrusher

• RingMod

Adjust the bit-depth with Bits control and the samplerate with the Frequency control.

The Drive control sets the amount of drive or distortion applied to the signal. The Tone control adjusts a 1-pole low-pass filter for removing unwanted high-frequencies from the processed signal.

RingMod

This effect is used for radical shifts in timbre and experimental effects. It multiplies the input signal with its internal oscillator, the shape and pitch of which are set with the Mode menu and Pitch control respectively. The Drive control sets the amount of distortion on the input signal.

This effect emulates the behaviour of an old Digital-to-Analogue Converter with low-fidelity characteristics. It offers an alternative processing algorithm to the Bitcrusher device and imparts a similar type of effect, although the character is very different.

The Frequency control sets the sample-rate frequency of the DAC model. It can be adjusted between 1kHz (fully anticlockwise) and 10kHz. Lower settings lead to more pronounced aliasing effects.

The AntiAlias control adjusts the amount of anti-aliasing filtering for the output signal. Turning up the control reduces the cutoff frequency of a low-pass filter, reducing audible sidebands and aliasing effects caused by the sample-rate reduction process.

Maul

This device splits the incoming signal into 2 bands with resonant low-pass/high-pass filters and applies a distortion algorithm to each bands with different amounts.

The Model menu selects from the available distortion algorithms. The Freq Low and Rez Low controls set the cutoff frequency and resonance of the low band. The Drive Low control sets the amount of distortion for the low band and the Gain Low control adjusts the final output level of the band.

The Freq High, Rez High, Drive High and Gain High controls perform the same functions for a high-pass filter which acts to define the high band.

Any part of the signal with frequencies between the Freq Low and Freq High settings is passed through unaffected.

BitCrusher

This effect emulates the digital distortion that occurs when lowering the bit-depth or sample-rate of an audio signal. The Low Cut and Hi Cut controls filter the signal before the distortion/bit- reduction/samplerate-reduction stages.

Dirty DAC

Analog Ring Mod

This device provides an alternative ring modulator circuit. Again, the input signal is multiplied with an internal oscillator to create complex sidebands and dissonant effects.

The Pitch control tunes the internal oscillator by +/- 6 octaves. The Tone control introduces and adjusts a low-pass filter function to the ring modulated output signal. Increase the control to increase the amount of filtering.

The Mode control adjusts the waveform of the internal oscillator between Sine, Triangle, Saw and Square shapes.

Geist2 Effects 97

Geist298

• Gain

• Stereo Width

• Channel Compressor

This is a DCAM circuit-modelled channel compressor, based on a classic 'limiting amplifier' design. Increase the Input control to make the sound more compressed (higher signals engage the compression circuit more), and adjust the Output level to reduce the final level as required.

The Ratio, Attack and Release controls affect the compression characteristics.

The amount of gain reduction is indicated on the VU meter in real time.

• Bus Compressor

• VCA Compressor

• Noise Gate

7.3 Dynamics

Gain

This effect is a simple tool for increasing or decreasing a channel's gain. The Gain control sets the channel's gain between -inf dB and +36 dB.

Stereo Width

This device provides a Width control that adjusts the stereo width of the signal between stereo (maximum position) and mono (minimum position). It also features a Gain control that sets the signal's gain between -inf dB and +18 dB.

Channel Compressor

Bus Compressor

This is a DCAM circuit model of a classic British console bus compressor design. The Threshold control dictates the level over which signals are compressed. The Ratio, Attack and Release parameters control the compression characteristics, while the Makeup control allows the audio level to be increased after the compression circuit's gain-reduction. The Limit button applies non- linearities to the compressor’s amplitude detection circuit (while not affecting the input signal itself) . This results in a different character to the processing – the compression effect is more transparent on attacks.

The amount of gain reduction is indicated on the VU meter in real time.

Geist2 Effects 99

• Envelope Shaper

• Drum Dynamics

• Limiter

VCA Compressor

This device is a modelled emulation of a VCA-based compressor circuit with a fast and clean compression characteristic. The Input control adjusts the signal level entering the compressor circuit. Higher levels result in the compressor circuit reacting more heavily. The Attack time can be set between 100μs (microseconds) and 100ms (milliseconds) while the Release time can be set between 10ms and 2s. The compressor's Ratio can be set between 1:1 and 50:1. The Threshold represents the signal level at which the compressor begins to react and the Output control increase the output level after the compressor circuit has applied gain reduction.

Noise Gate

The Noise Gate attenuates the signal until its amplitude reaches the Threshold level. The Attack and Release controls set the speed at which the gate opens and closes after the signal goes above or below the threshold, while the Hold control forces the gate to remain open for an adjustable length of time after it is opened, even if the input signal drops below the threshold level. The LPF control applies a low-pass filter to the signal used for the amplitude-detection circuit. Increasing the Hysteresis control smooths the gate's response, although this can result in a side effect of lower sensitivity to small changes in amplitude around the threshold level.

Envelope Shaper

The Envelope Shaper adjusts transients and changes the dynamic shape of a signal in a different way to using a compressor. The Sensitivity control adjusts the sensitivity of the Envelope Shaper's peak-detection circuit. The Attack control adjusts the intensity of the attack phase of detected peaks in the audio signal. Increase the control to intensify attack transients, and decrease it to soften transients. The Sustain control adjusts the intensity of release portions of detected peaks in the audio signal, which increases or decreases the apparent sustain of sounds in the signal. Increase the control for more sustain, and decrease it for less sustain. This control is useful for adjusting the perceived level of ambience in a channel. Very low settings can produce damping effects for drum sounds.

The processed signal level can be adjusted using the Gain control.With the Linked button activated, the device's peak-detection circuit operates on a mix of left/right input channels. With the button deactivated, it operates on left/right channels independently.

Drum Dynamics

The Drum Dynamics device is an alternative envelope-shaping transient processor. The Attack control increases or decreases the intensity of the attack phase of incoming

transients. The Sustain control increases or decreases the intensity of the decay phase (and the apparent sustain) of incoming transients. Reducing this control is useful for 'damping' effects on drum sounds. Activating the Fast button makes the algorithm more sensitive to short transients. With this button deactivated, the algorithm is more sensitive to longer transients.

Limiter

A limiter is effectively a compressor with a very fast attack time and a high ratio for signals that exceed the maximum level. The Input control adjusts the level of the signal going into the Limiter algorithm. Higher input levels lead to more pronounced and 'brutal' limiting. The Hardness control adjusts the strength of the Limiter's 'knee'. At high settings, peaks are clipped with a 'brick-wall' limiting effect. At lower settings, gain reduction occurs more slowly (with slower attack and release settings), leading to a more natural effect with less 'pumping'. The Output control attenuates the processed output signal from the Limiter circuit.

Geist2100

• Parametric EQ

• DJ EQ

• Hi Lo Balance

The Vari EQ is a single-band EQ processor which provides a wide variety of filter response types, selected using the drop-down menu. The current frequency response curve is indicated on the graphical display.

Bell, Low shelf, High shelf types: these parametric EQ-style curves provide Frequency, Gain and Q controls.

LPF, BPF, BPF (0 dB), HPF, Notch, Allpass types: these filter-style curves provide Frequency and Q controls.

The Enhancer device is intended to add high-frequency harmonics to emphasize these frequencies in the signal. It is useful for adding 'sizzle' to sounds to help them cut through dense mixes. Harmonics are added at and above the Frequency setting. The Mode control adjusts how the Enhancer circuit reacts to transients in the incoming signal. I is the slowest setting while IV is the fastest. The Amount control adjusts the level of the harmonics which are added to the signal before the output.

7.4 EQ

Parametric EQ

This is a 2-band parametric EQ. The current frequency response curve is indicated on the graphical display.

The High Freq, High Q and High Gain controls set the centre frequency, Q and gain of the high band.

The Low Freq, Low Q and Low Gain controls set the centre frequency, Q and gain of the low band.

DJ EQ

The DJ EQ offers a simple 3-band parametric EQ, with fixed Q. The L Gain and H Gain set the amount of gain for the low and high bands. The M Gain and M Freq settings adjust the gain and centre frequency for the mid band.

The frequency response curve is represented on the graphical display.

Hi-Lo Balance

The HiLo Balance device is a 'tilt'-style EQ which cuts high frequencies when boosting low frequencies, and vice versa. The Crossover control sets the point between the low and high frequency bands. The Balance control sets the degree of 'tilt' between low and high frequencies. At the centre position no effect is applied to the incoming audio.

At values higher than the centre position, high frequencies are boosted while low frequencies are attenuated by the same amount.

At values lower than the centre position, low frequencies are boosted while high frequencies are attenuated by the same amount.

Vari EQ

Enhancer

FXpansion GEIST-2 Operation Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

1 Introduction to Geist2

1.1 Geist2 Architecture and Interface

1.2 Loading sounds for the first time

1.3 Playing pads and recording a pattern

1.4 Slicing loops

1.5 More about loading sounds and saving work

1.6 Editing and modulating sounds

1.7 Mixer pages and Effects

1.8 Sequencing and arrangement

1.9 Patterns in more detail

1.10 Introduction to Graphs

1.11 Performing with patterns

1.12 Performing with scenes

1.13 Arranging patterns into a song

1.14 Using MIDI and host automation

1.15 MIDI / audio export and MIDI output

2 Browser

2.1 Browser Modes

2.2 Browser Navigation and Options

2.3 Sidebar and Files

2.4 Searches, Favourites and Shortlists

3 Slicing

3.1 Slicer panel

3.2 Slicing tools and modes

When the Sampler mode is selected in this menu, the Sampler controls appear and are active for the currently selected pad in the current engine.

Sampler controls

5 Pads and Layers

5.1 Pads and managing pads

5.2 Layer controls

5.2.1 Setup, Mix, Tuning and Filter controls

5.2.2 Play, Looping and Timestretch controls

5.2.3 Envelope controls

5.3 Pad Mixer

5.4 Layer Mixer

6 Engines and Global Mixer

6.1 Engine Selector

6.2 Global Mixer

7 Geist2 Effects

7.1 Effects slot controls

Distortion

7.3 Dynamics