Propellerhead AUDIOMATIC Operation Manual

AUDIOMATIC RETRO TRANSFORMER

OPERATION MANUAL

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the
part of Propellerhead Software AB. The software described herein is subject to a License Agreement and may not be
copied to any other media expect as specifically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this publication may be
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Propel

lerhead Software AB.

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Reason Essentials and Rack Extension are trademarks of Propellerhead Software. All other commercial symbols
are protected trademarks and trade names of their respective holders. All rights reserved.

Audiomatic
Retro Transformer

AUDIOMATIC RETRO TRANSFORMER

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Introduction

The Audiomatic Retro Transformer effect device was designed mainly with focus on spicing up dull mixes. The
Audiomatic Retro Transformer is inspired by the Hipstamatic picture editing app - but designed for audio.

By selecting one of the 16 presets you can instantly change the character of your sound - almost like applying a
“magic skin”.

At moderate levels the Audiomatic Retro Transformer can breathe life into your individual tracks, as well as into your
final mixes, by adding a subtle “shimmer” to your sound. Used to its extremes, it can provide hard-edge and
aggressive sounds as well. You can easily control the mix between dry and processed signal with the Dry/Wet knob
on the front panel.

Using Audiomatic Retro Transformer

The Audiomatic Retro Transformer is designed to be used mainly as an insert effect, on individual tracks as well as in
the Master Inserts section. Another very nice application is to use the Audiomatic Retro Transformer as an insert
effect in Parallel Channels in the Reason Mixer. Then, you can sculpt the effect sound even further using the channel
EQ and Compressor, for example. Refer to “The Main Mixer” chapter in the Reason Operation Manual PDF or Reason
Help for information about working with Parallel Channels.

The front panel layout is very simple and straight-forward: the device features 16 Preset buttons, a Transform knob,
an input Gain knob and a Dry/Wet knob.

Gain

D Set the input level Gain.

Range: - INF to + 12 dB.

! Use the Gain control cautiously when using Audiomatic Retro Transformer on the whole mix. It is easy to get

unwanted distortion in some of the Presets, e.g. Tape, when the input signal is loud.

q Don’t be afraid to push the gain up - especially in presets that feature built-in compression! High input Gain

settings can also render very interesting distorted sonic results. You can always compensate the level by
lowering the Volume, see “Volume”.

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The Presets

The 16 Preset buttons are arranged in a four by four matrix. The upper row of presets contains subtle effects, the
second row a little less subtle and so on all the way down to the fourth row, which contains the most far out effects.

The display shows a picture which reflects the selected effect Preset.

The following Presets are available:

Tape

This simulates the character of an analog tape recorder.

Hi-Fi

This simulates the classic Loudness compensation function, which was very popular in numerous consumer class hi­fi systems in the 70s and 80s.

Bright

This preset adds brightness to the sound, and removes bass.

Bottom

This preset tightens up and enhances the low frequencies in the sound.

Spread

This preset is a spatial effect, which spreads the stereo width of the sound and also changes the frequency
characteristics.

Radio

This simulates a small transistor radio.

VHS

This simulates sound recorded with a VHS camera.

Vinyl

This simulates the background sound and noise from a somewhat scratchy vinyl record.

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MP3

This simulates the sound of a poorly encoded/decoded MP3 file.

Psyche

A psychedelic sound experience. “Turn on, tune in, drop out”, sort of.

Cracked

The effect of a broken speaker with lots of distortion.

Gadget

A hollow “robotic” type of effect.

Circuit

A “circuit-bending” type of effect with bit-crushing on top.

Wash

A washing machine on sound check at an open air venue?

PVC

A pretty far out sci-fi preset.

Eerie

A very nice and scary waterphone effect.

Transform

D Transform the effect with the Transform knob.

The knob usually controls a combination of different (hidden) parameters in each of the Presets. This makes it
behave more like a “morph” control rather than an “amount” control.

Dry/Wet

D Set the balance between the dry input signal and the transformed (effect) signal with the Dry/Wet knob.

q If you want only subtle effects, turn the Dry/Wet knob more towards the Dry position. For more prominent

effects, turn the Dry/Wet knob towards the Wet position.

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Volume

D Set the output volume with the Volume knob.

Range: - INF to + 12 dB.

q Use the Volume knob in combination with the “Gain” knob, to compensate for high input Gain settings.

Connections

CV Modulation In

Transform

A bipolar CV signal patched here modulates the Transform parameter (see “Transform”). A positive signal increases
the Transform parameter amount and a negative signal decreases it.

q Patch an LFO signal here and use with the PVC Preset, for a nice sweeping sound!

! Note that the default Transform parameter range can not be exceeded.

Dry-Wet

A bipolar CV signal patched here modulates the Dry/Wet front panel control (see “Dry/Wet”). Zero modulation
means that the current Dry/Wet knob setting is valid.

Input L&R

D Patch the audio signals you want to process here.

If your signal is in mono, connect only to the L (left) input.

Output L&R

These are the stereo audio outputs.

• The signal routing (stereo/mono/dual mono) is Preset dependent.

AUDIOMATIC RETRO TRANSFORMER

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