Red Panda PARTICLE 2 Owner's Manual

PARTICLE

Owner’s Manual

Detroit, MI • www.redpandalab.com

1

PARTICLE

Owner’s Manual

Version 2.0 (firmware 2.0.1+)

April 2019

Red Panda LLC

4444 2nd Ave

Detroit, MI 48201

USA

2

©2019 Red Panda LLC

www.redpandalab.com

Please register your product at redpandalab.com/register

Product manuals and firmware updates are available at redpandalab.com/support

For technical support, email [e-mail]

3

Contents

Introduction 5
Getting Started 6
Controls 7
Bypass 9
Freeze 9
Feedback Lowpass Filter (Tone) 10
Modes 11
Combining Modes 14
Control input (expression pedal) 15
Presets 17
Tap Tempo 17
Web Editor (beta) 20

Advanced Configuration 22

Reset to Factory Defaults 22
Using MIDI 23
Support, Repairs, and Warranty 31
Firmware Updates 32

Specifications 33

Credits 33

4

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Particle 2. I designed the original Particle in 2010 and released the first
batch in 2011. I drilled, painted, labeled, soldered, and assembled those first pedals in my garage and a
spare bedroom. Thanks to the support of experimentally-minded musicians throughout the world, Red
Panda has been able to grow to a small team and continue to work on hard, interesting projects.

My goal with the original Particle was to take granular synthesis and map it to a real-time eect that
was easy to understand and control. Some of it’s limitations - and character - came from finding clever
ways to do things like reverse delay and granular playback on the Spin FV-1 DSP chip.

New in Version 2

The Particle 2 uses a much more powerful processor, and is a full-fledged granular processor capable
of generating dozens of simultaneous grains. It keeps the immediacy and control of the original Particle,
with improved fidelity, usability, and tweaks some of the knob responses. A primary goal was to make it
more pedalboard-friendly and easier to use on tour.

Some of the improvements include:

• Smaller enclosure, with all jacks on top

• Stereo (TRS) input/output

• Presets (4 on front panel, 127 via MIDI)

• Soft touch switches

• Momentary freeze footswitch

• Tap tempo with note divisions

• Higher sampling rate

• Higher headroom

• Better signal-to-noise ratio

• Improved pitch shifting

• Longer delay time

• Longer maximum grain size

• More simultaneous grains

• Additional parameters

• Ability to combine parameters from dierent modes

• USB MIDI

• Multi-purpose control port for expression pedal, CV, remote switches

• Expression pedal can be assigned to any combination of parameters

• USB firmware updates

5

Getting Started

The Particle™ is a granular delay pedal. It chops your signal into small slices (grains), which are shifted,
randomized, and mangled using the techniques of granular synthesis. Results include radical pitch and
delay modulation, shimmering repeats, time stretching, stutter, and glitch sounds.

The Particle has five delay-based modes and three pitch-based modes. You can combine all of the
modes and access additional parameters via MIDI, saving the results in a preset for live use. Tap tempo
can be used for the delay time, grain size, density, and LFO rate, with dierent note divisions for each.

In the delay modes, the BLEND, DELAY, and FDBK knobs work just like a standard 3-knob delay. Start by

selecting REV (reverse delay), setting the CHOP to 9:00 and
PARAM knob to 5:00.

In REV (reverse) mode, the PARAM knob sets the probability
of each grain playing forward or reverse. The signal will
always be played in reverse at 7:00, always forward at 5:00,
and at 12:00 it will randomly play each grain forward or
reverse. The CHOP knob sets the size of each grain (below
12:00).

Next, change to RND (random delay) mode. The CHOP knob
still sets the size of each audio slice, but now the PARAM
knob sets the randomization range. At 7:00 there is no
randomization, and at 5:00 it randomly jumps within the set

delay time.

To explore each mode, set the BLEND knob to 5:00, CHOP around 9:00, and FDBK to 7:00. Step through
each of the eight modes, adjusting the DELAY/PITCH and PARAM knobs to see how they aect the sound.
Using a looper pedal to repeat a phrase or playing a recording through the Particle will make it easier to
discern the eect.

The FREEZE footswitch holds the signal in the delay line indefinitely while the button is held down, so
you can sample and manipulate a phrase. When the CHOP knob is above 12:00, it sets the threshold
for audio-controlled freeze. The input signal plays through when its level exceeds the threshold. When
the input level drops below the threshold, it starts reading from the delay buer instead. This allows you
to catch the beginning of each note and repeat it. When the chop knob is fully clockwise (5:00), it contin­uously loops. Lower thresholds can create drones in between notes or tape splice eects.

We provide a web-based editor to configure your Particle, access hidden parameters, and fine-tune pre­sets. See "Web Editor (beta)" on page 20 for more information.. It requires the Google Chrome brows­er, and can be accessed at

https://www.redpandalab.com/content/apps/particle-editor/index.html

For live performance manipulation, we recommend using the Touch OSC template available on our web
site, or programming your MIDI controller using the information in "Using MIDI" on page 23.

6

Overview

Controls

6

9

111087

5 12

13

4

14

3
2

TM

15

1

Tap tempo/freeze

2

Preset switch

3

Preset indicator

14

Feedback

5

Wet/dry blend Mode

6

USB MIDI

7

9V DC 250 mA

8

Output

91

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

16

Chop/freeze threshold

Expression pedal

Input

Delay time/pitch shif t

Parameter

Bypass indicator

Bypass/tap division

7

Alternate Controls [DIV]

Press and hold the ON/[DIV] footswitch to adjust tap divisions and alternate parameters. Alternate func­tions are labled [DIV] in the following sections.

To access [DIV] settings:

1. Start with the Particle enabled (blue light on)

2. Hold the ON/[DIV] footswitch until the LED changes to yellow (the pedal will briefly go into bypass)

3. While holding the ON/[DIV] footswitch, adjust the knobs and mode switch as desired

4. Release the ON [div] footswitch to store the settings

BLEND

Adjusts the wet/dry mix, from 100% dry to 100% wet. The dry signal stays at unity gain until 12:00, so
there will be a slight volume boost when the wet and dry signal are combined.

FDBK

Adjusts audio feedback (repeats).

[DIV] Feedback tone (see "Feedback Lowpass Filter (Tone)" on page 10).

CHOP

Adjusts grain size from 7:00 to 12:00. Above 12:00, sets the freeze threshold (see "Freeze" on page

9).

[DIV] sets grain size to a note division.

MODE

Selects one of the delay or pitch modes and which of the parameters are controlled by the DELAY/PITCH
and PARAM knobs.

[DIV] sets delay time to a note division.

DELAY/PITCH

Sets the delay time or pitch shift amount, depending on mode. The pitch shift range is ±1 octave, with no
shift at 12:00.

[DIV] sets delay time to a note division.

PARAM

Adjusts a mode-specific parameter.

8

[DIV] sets grain density (interonset time) or LFO to a note division, depending on mode.

Bypass

The right footswitch turns the eect on and o. Tap to toggle between bypass and eect. From bypass,
pressing and holding the footswitch will engage the eect momentarily and return to bypass when you
release.

The Particle remembers its bypass state when power is removed.

Hold down the right footswitch while plugging an expression pedal, CV cable, or remote switch into the
CTRL port to configure the port. See "Control input (expression pedal)" on page 15 for details.

You can also hold down the right footswitch to adjust tap tempo note divisions ([DIV]) and hidden param­eters. See "Tap Tempo" on page 17, and the following sections.

Freeze

When the CHOP knob is above 12:00, it sets the amplitude threshold for freezing the current delay buer.
Holding the TAP/FREEZE (left) footswitch will momentarily turn on freeze mode. The bypass LED chang­es from blue to cyan while freeze is active.

The Particle has two dierent freeze modes:

• grain freeze (default): the delay buer is frozen

• delay freeze (v1): the delay output is recycled

You can change the freeze mode via MIDI or our web editor. It is stored in presets, and will be remem­bered when power is o.

Grain freeze

The delay buer is frozen, allowing you to scrub through the frozen audio without degrading the sound.
The results vary depending on which mode is active:

• DELAY+DENS: repeats a slice of audio with length set by CHOP, DELAY scrubs through buer.

• DELAY+LFO: scrubs through buer at length set by PARAM.

• DELAY+REV: repeats a slice of audio with length set by CHOP, DELAY scrubs through buer.

• DELAY+PITCH: repeats a slice of audio with length set by CHOP, DELAY scrubs through buer.

• DELAY+RND: randomly jumps around buer.

• PITCH+DTUNE: repeats a slice of audio with length set by CHOP.

• PITCH+LFO: repeats a slice of audio with length set by CHOP.

• PITCH+DENS: repeats a slice of audio with length set by CHOP.

Delay freeze

Delay freeze recycles the delay output to its input, like the Particle v1 worked. When the delay time is
changed, the frozen loop is pitch shifted and mangled.

9

REPEATING LAST-PLAYED AUDIO

The Particle is always listening to your signal, even in analog bypass mode. This allows you to repeat a
phrase that you just played. With the Particle in bypass, set CHOP to 100% the DELAY knob to the desired
repeat time, or use tap tempo When you click the ON footswitch, the Particle will enter freeze mode the
the last segment of audio played.

TAP - FREEZE

Since the left footswitch is used for both setting delay time (tap) and freeze (hold), you can use it to set
the freeze time on the fly, in all modes. Tap once, wait, and then press and hold the footswitch. The

length of the frozen segment will depend on the tap division.

Feedback Lowpass Filter (Tone)

You can adjust the cuto frequency of the feedback lowpass filter to control the brightness of the re­peats. The setting is stored in presets, and remembered when power is removed.

To adjust the feedback lowpass filter:

1. Start with the Particle enabled (blue light on)

2. Hold the ON [div] footswitch until the light blinks (the pedal will briefly go into bypass)

3. While holding the ON [div] footswitch, adjust the FDBK knob for the desired tone

4. Release the ON [div] footswitch to store the setting

Realtime adjustment is available via MIDI continuous controller messages.

10

Modes

Mode Delay/Pitch Param Description

DELAY DENS Delay time Grain density

(interonset time)

DELAY LFO Delay range Stretch/compress ratio

(LFO speed)
DELAY REV Delay time Direction probability Reverse delay
DELAY PITCH Delay time Pitch shift amount Delay with random pitch jump
DELAY RND Max. delay time Time randomization range Random delay

PITCH DTUNE Pitch shift Detune amount Detune/pitch clouds
PITCH LFO Pitch shift range LFO speed Pitch modulation
PITCH DENS Pitch shift Grain density

(interonset time)

DELAY + DENS

The delay knob sets the delay time. The param knob controls the density of grains, breaking the incom­ing audio down into blips at lower settings. The chop and param knobs interact in this mode. Get VO­SIM-like eects by setting the chop and delay knobs equal with feedback cranked up.

Delay with grain density

Time stretch/compress

Pitch with grain density

When the CHOP and PARAM knobs are both at higher settings, the audio will perfectly overlap.

DELAY + LFO

Steps through the delay buer at a rate set by the parameter knob. The DELAY knob sets the length of
the audio buer (maximum delay time). Audio plays at normal speed with the param knob at 12:00, is
stretched at lower settings, and compressed at higher settings. The chop knob adjusts the length of each
playback slice. Results can be similar to subtle phasing with short delay times. Longer delays create
time stretching, skip/repeat, and glitchy robot sounds.

For time stretching, adjust the CHOP knob to minimize or maximize audio artifacts.

DELAY + REV

Reverse delay with delay time set by DELAY knob. The PARAM knob controls the probability of each
grain playing forward or reverse. Fully counterclockwise gives a reverse delay. At 12:00, grains are
equally likely to play forward and reverse. The CHOP knob sets the grain size, but also imposes a mini­mum delay. Longer grains reduce artifacts, especially for sustained sounds. Very short grains produce
glitchy tremolo sounds.

For live reverse delay, use tap tempo with DELAY and CHOP set to the same note division. You can also
set CHOP to a smaller note division, so that the phrase is rewound in smaller chunks.

DELAY + PITCH

The delayed signal is randomly pitch shifted up or down by the amount set by the PARAM knob. The DE-
LAY knob sets the delay time. The CHOP knob controls how often the pitch changes.

11