Steinberg Groove Agent - SE Operation Manual

Operation Manual

Matthias Klag, Michael Ruf

Revision and quality control: Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Christina Kaboth, Insa Mingers, Sabine

Pfeifer, Kevin Quarshie, Benjamin Schütte

This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the complexity and number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text descriptions of images.

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media except as specifically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Registered licensees of the product described herein may print one copy of this document for their personal use.

All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective holders. For more information, please visit www.steinberg.net/trademarks.

4 Introduction

4 Window Overview 5 About Kits, Presets, and Groove Agent ONE

Content

6 Common Editing Methods

6 Multi Selection and Parameter Controls 7 Presets

8 Managing Your Sounds

8 Loading Kits 8 Kit Context Menu

10 Pad Section

10 Instrument Pads 14 Pattern Pads 18 Common Pad Settings 19 Pad Functions

21 Editing Kits

21 Editing Selection or All 21 Absolute and Relative Editing 22 Edit Page

44 Importing and Exporting Files

44 Importing MPC and GAK Files 44 Importing REX Files and Sliced Loops 45 Exporting Kits with Samples 45 Finding Missing Samples

47 Mixing and Effect Handling

47 Mixing 49 Effect Handling

87 Global Functions and Settings

87 Plug-in Functions Section 89 The Plug-in Name and Steinberg Logo 89 Toolbars 91 Options Page

95 Index

51 Effects Reference

51 Reverb and Delay Effects 55 EQ Effects 57 Filter Effects 62 Distortion Effects 64 Modulation Effects 72 Dynamics Effects 82 Panner Effects

83 Automation and MIDI Controllers

83 Automation 84 MIDI Controllers

Window Overview

The application interface follows a fixed-size single window concept.

Introduction

The window is subdivided into several sections:

• The pad section on the left.

• The edit display on the right. It contains the Edit, Mixer, and Options pages.

• The plug-in functions section at the top.

• The toolbars above the edit display.

Introduction

NOTE

About Kits, Presets, and Groove Agent ONE Content

Kits

Kits can be saved and loaded via the kit rack or the kit slot section.

Kit Rack

Kit Slot Section

Kits contain all information about the kit or sliced loop and about the insert effects that are used on the mixer channel. Kits can also contain MIDI patterns.

Sliced Loop Kits

Instead of MIDI patterns, sliced loop kits contain the MIDI phrase that is needed to play back the loop. Other than that, sliced loop kits are similar to regular kits, in that they can use insert effects, etc.

Plug-in Presets (VST Presets)

A plug-in preset contains all information necessary to restore the complete state of the plug-in. This includes the kit, the MIDI patterns, as well as any insert and AUX effects. All of these settings are also saved with the project in your host application.

Groove Agent ONE Content

Groove Agent SE can load Groove Agent ONE presets. The presets can either be loaded as kits in the kit rack or the kit slot section or as plug-in presets via the preset management menu in the plug-in header.

If you load a Groove Agent ONE preset as a plug-in preset, global plug-in parameters such as AUX FX and master effects are removed and set to the default values.

If you load a preset as a kit, all global plug-in parameters remain unchanged.

Groove Agent ONE presets always show the icon for a plug-in preset in the MediaBay, even if they are shown in the preset loader.

Common Editing Methods

NOTE

Multi Selection and Parameter Controls

To edit multiple pad parameters at the same time, select the pads that you want to edit.

If several pads are selected and they are not set to the exact same values, most of the controls indicate this by turning red. This is true for knobs, switches, combo boxes, value fields, and text faders.

For example, if you have selected 3 pads with cutoff frequency values of 1200, 1400, and 2500

2500. The corresponding field shows the value of the focused pad in red.

Hz, the corona of the frequency knob shows a range from 1200 to

More complex controls, such as the envelope editors, only show the values of the focused pad.

Adjusting the Value Ranges

You can adjust the value range of a parameter using the corona of the knob. The values for the pads are distributed within the new range, keeping their relative distances.

• Drag the corona to compress or expand the value range.

• [Ctrl]/[Command]-drag the corona to adjust the upper limit of the range.

• [Alt]/[Option]-drag the corona to adjust the lower limit of the range.

Common Editing Methods

NOTE

Presets

Groove Agent SE offers two types of presets: section/module presets and VST presets. VST presets contain all information necessary to restore the complete state of the plug-in. Section and module presets store and recall the setup of a specific component on the Groove Agent SE panel.

During setup, the factory presets are installed in a dedicated folder and a user folder is created for your own presets. The handling of presets is the same throughout the program.

Factory presets are write-protected, but may be overwritten when a software update is executed. Presets in your user folder are never changed by the software.

Handling Section and Module Presets

The preset controls can be found throughout the program. The handling is always the same.

• To save a preset, click the Save button (the disk icon).

You cannot overwrite factory presets. If you want to save changes made to a factory preset, save the preset under a new name or in a new location.

• To load a preset, click the arrow icon and select a preset from the list.

• To delete a preset, click the Delete button (the trash icon). Note that factory presets cannot be deleted.

Handling VST Presets

Loading VST Presets

1) In the header of the plug-in panel, click the Preset management button next to the preset name field and select Load Preset.

2) Select a preset to load it. Double-click a preset to load it and close the preset loader.

Saving VST Presets

In the header of the plug-in panel, click the Preset management button next to the preset name field and select Save Preset.

For more information on VST presets, see the Cubase/Nuendo Operation Manual.

Loading Kits

There are several ways to load kits:

• Via drag & drop from the MediaBay or the Windows Explorer/Mac OS Finder.

• Via the context menu in the kit rack.

• By clicking the Load Kit button at the right of the kit name in the kit slot

Managing Your Sounds

section.

Kit Context Menu

Load Kit

Opens a pop-up menu containing the available kits. Double-click a kit to load it.

Load Kit With Patterns

Allows you to load a kit with its MIDI patterns, if any.

Save Kit

Saves the kit. If you try to overwrite write-protected factory content, a dialog opens that allows you to save the edited kit under a new name.

Managing Your Sounds

Kit Context Menu

Save Kit As

Allows you to save the kit under a new name.

Revert to Last Saved Kit

Select this option to discard any changes made to the kit after it was loaded.

Cut Kit

Copies the kit and removes it from the slot.

Copy Kit

Copies the kit.

Paste Kit

Pastes the copied kit into the slot. If the slot already contains a kit, it is replaced.

Rename Kit

Allows you to rename the kit.

Reset Agent

Resets the slot to the default values.

Export Kit With Samples

Exports the kit together with its associated samples.

Import

Allows you to import MPC and GAK files.

The Pad section on the left can show the Instrument pads or the Pattern pads.

To switch between the two displays, click the corresponding button below the pads.

Instrument Pads

Pad Section

The pad section provides up to 128 pads, organized in 8 groups of 16 pads. The instrument pads can be used to trigger sounds. Each pad is mapped to a MIDI note, which triggers a sample. If samples are assigned to a pad, the LED above the pad lights up.

You can switch between the groups by clicking on the group buttons below the pads. The button of the active group is highlighted. If one or more pads of a group have samples mapped to them, an orange LED above the group button lights up. If a pad within a group receives a MIDI note, a green MIDI indicator LED lights up.

By default, group 3 is active when you open Groove Agent SE.

Pad Section

PROCEDURE

Instrument Pads

Showing Information about the Instrument Pads

Locking Color and Output Settings

• Activate the i button below the pad section to show the following information for the pads: the pad number, the number of samples, and the output.

• Activate the e button to show the exclusive group settings for the pads. If you move the mouse over a pad that belongs to an exclusive group, all pads that belong to the same exclusive group are highlighted. If a hidden pad group contains pads that belong to the same exclusive group, a red LED above the group button lights up.

• You can lock the color and output settings for the pads. For example, this allows you to lock the output configuration for the pads, and then switch between kits while keeping these outputs. You can specify which parameters you want to lock for the pads on the context menu for the Lock button below the pads. If the button lights up, at least one setting is locked for the pads.

Using an Alternative MIDI Note Assignment

If you use an external hardware drum controller that sends specific MIDI notes for specific instruments, you can specify an alternative MIDI trigger note mapping.

1. Activate the Use Hardware Controller Mapping button in the lower right corner of the pad section.

Now you can load, save, and delete different trigger note configurations.

2. Specify a new trigger note for the pad.

• Right-click a pad, select Edit/Learn Trigger Note and specify the new

trigger note by entering it into the value field or by playing the corresponding note on your hardware controller.

• On the pad context menu, open the Assign Trigger Note submenu and

select the note from the submenus.

3. Groove Agent SE jumps to the next pad. Assign a MIDI note to all the pads that you want to use and press [Enter] to stop assigning MIDI notes.

Drag and Drop of Audio Material

You can drag one or more samples from the Explorer/Finder and from your host application onto Groove Agent SE. Samples can be mapped to the same pad, or to different pads.

You can drag files from the following locations:

Pad Section

Instrument Pads

Assigning a Sample to a Pad

Drop Icons

•MediaBay

• Project window

• Pool

• Sample Editor (regions)

• Audio Part Editor

• LoopMash slices

To assign a sample to a pad, drag it onto the pad.

• Drag the sample onto the topmost drop icon to add it to the pad.

• Drag the sample onto the middle drop icon to replace the current sample with the new one.

When you drag one or more samples onto a pad, the drop icons are shown. These determine whether the samples are added to the pad, whether the current sample is replaced with the one you are dragging, or whether the samples that you drag are assigned to multiple consecutive pads.

• Drag samples to the topmost drop icon to add them to the pad.

• Drag one or more samples to the middle drop icon to replace the currently assigned samples with the ones that you are dragging.

• Drag several samples to the lowest drop icon to assign them to several consecutive pads.

A yellow border is shown around the pads that receive one of the samples.

Layering Samples on the Same Pad

You can assign up to 8 samples to a pad.

Drag & Drop to Several Pads

Rather than dropping several samples to the same pad, you can distribute samples across the available pads in one or several groups.

Pad Section

NOTE

Instrument Pads

Replacing Individual Samples

• Select the samples, drag them onto the lowest drop icon of a pad, and drop them.

The samples are mapped to the available pads.

How many samples can be dropped to several pads depends on the number of available pads.

If Groove Agent SE cannot supply a sufficient number of free pads for the number of dropped samples, a dialog is displayed, allowing you to proceed or cancel the operation. If pads already contained samples, these are replaced.

You can replace individual samples by dragging another sample on a pad or on a sample in the mapping view.

• To replace a sample for a pad in the pad section, drag the new sample onto the pad until the drop option icons are shown and drop it onto the middle of these icons.

• To replace a sample in the mapping view, drag the new sample onto a sample in the mapping view.

The sample that will be replaced is indicated by a red rectangle.

Removing Samples From Pads

• To remove a sample from a pad, right-click the pad and select Remove Sample from the pop-up menu.

• To remove several selected samples, right-click one of the samples and select Remove Sample.

• To remove all samples from a pad group, right-click the group button and select Remove All Samples.

Moving and Copying Samples between Pads

Samples can be moved and copied between pads.

To move the samples from one pad to another pad, drag the pad to either the top, the middle, or the bottom drop icon of the destination pad.

To copy the samples instead of moving them, keep [Alt]/[Option] pressed when dragging the samples.

Pad Section

NOTE

Pattern Pads

When you copy pads that are part of a sliced loop, they are pasted as normal instrument pads, that is, they are no longer related to the loop.

Moving and Copying Samples between Groups

To move or copy the samples to pads in another group, drag the samples on the group button first to show the group, and then to the new pad.

The options are the same as when moving samples between pads of the same group.

Moving Sliced Loops

You can move sliced loops with one drag and drop operation.

• Drag the first slice of the loop and move it onto the pad section.

When you start dragging, Groove Agent SE shows the pads on which the sliced loop can be dropped, that is, the pads that are followed by enough empty pads to insert all the slices. Pads on which the loop cannot be dropped are grayed out.

• Drop the slice on the pad from which you want to start inserting slices.

Pattern Pads

The pad section provides 16 pattern pads. Each pad is mapped to a MIDI note. You can assign MIDI phrases to each pattern pad, to trigger complete drum patterns or single instrument phrases, depending on the MIDI files. The pads are used to switch between patterns.

Pad Section

Pattern Pads

If a MIDI file is assigned to a pad, the pad shows a progress indicator and a beat counter. When the pattern is triggered, the progress indicator shows the playing progress graphically. In addition, the beat counter shows the current beat during playback. This allows you to see which patterns are currently running and at which playing position, relative to the length of the pattern. This can be particularly helpful when Toggle mode is selected, because it provides a quick overview of the patterns that will be stopped and those that will be triggered.

The Transport controls below the pads allow you to trigger the focused pattern pad without playing a MIDI note. Click the Stop button to end playback. If you switch between pattern pads during playback, the pattern changes according to the set Restart Mode.

Assigning MIDI files to Pads

• Drag a MIDI file from the Explorer/Finder or from the MediaBay onto a pad.

• Drag a MIDI part from the host application onto a pad.

• Select a pad to show the editor in the edit view. Click the phrase selector and choose one of the factory or user MIDI phrases.

• Drag a file from the Explorer/Finder onto the import field. The file is imported to your user phrase library and assigned to the selected pad.

Assigning Multiple MIDI Files to Pads

You can also drag and drop several MIDI files at a time.

• Move the mouse over the lower part of the pad on which you want to drop the first MIDI file.

A yellow frame indicate the pads that receive a MIDI file.

• Drop the files.

The MIDI files are imported to your user MIDI phrase library and are automatically assigned to the pads.

Removing MIDI Files from Pads

• To remove a MIDI phrase, right-click a pad and select Remove Phrase from the context menu.

• To remove the MIDI phrases from all selected pads right-click one of the pads and select Remove Phrase from the context menu.

Using MIDI Port B for Pattern Pads

By default, instrument and pattern pads share the same MIDI port. If two pads are triggered in parallel, the pattern pad always gets priority, therefore, instrument pads that use the same trigger note as a pattern pad cannot be played via MIDI.

To be able to play all instrument and pattern pads via MIDI, assign MIDI port B to the pattern pad section. This way, you can trigger instruments on one MIDI port and patterns on the other.

• To use Port B, activate the Use MIDI Port B for Pattern Pads button in the lower left corner of the pattern pad section.

Pad Section

Pattern Pads

Pattern Player

The Pattern Player is where you assign a MIDI phrase to a pad and specify how it is triggered. In addition, it provides the performance parameters, allowing you to further modify the playback of the phrase.

The Pattern Player opens when you click a pattern pad. It is divided into the sections Pad, Pattern, and Performance.

Pad Section

Active

Exclusive

Play Mode

Restart Mode

Activates/Deactivates playback for the pad.

To activate exclusive playback for a pad, activate this button. Triggering an exclusive pad stops playback of the current pattern, according to the set restart mode. Pads for which this button is not activated can play simultaneously with other patterns.

• To play a pattern for as long as you hold down a key, select Hold.

• To start and stop playback with the trigger note for a pad, select Toggle.

Toggle mode is best used for live performances. Otherwise, it can lead to unpredictable results, for example, when stopping and restarting playback in the host application or when locating to another position during playback.

Determines whether a phrase starts to play immediately, at the next beat, or at the next full measure.

Pad Section

NOTE

Pattern Pads

Sync to Beat

If Sync to Beat is activated, triggering a phrase starts the phrase in sync with any other phrases that are playing. For example, if you trigger a phrase and trigger the next phrase after 3 beats, this phrase starts playing at beat 3. If Sync to Beat is deactivated, the second phrase starts from the beginning.

Pattern Section

Pattern Library

Allows you to select a MIDI pattern. Click to select the file from the list.

To access the folder where the user MIDI patterns are saved, right-click the Pattern Library field and select you can add, remove and rename files and create subfolders to organize your MIDI patterns.

Pattern pads always contain the MIDI data and do not reference the original MIDI files.

“Show in Explorer/Finder”. In this location,

Original Tempo

Displays the original tempo as saved in the MIDI file.

Start

Specifies the beat from which the phrase starts to play.

Length

Specifies the length of the phrase. Initially, this parameter is set to the original length of the MIDI phrase.

Import Field

To import MIDI files from your file system or MIDI parts from your host application into the user pattern library, drag them onto the MIDI import field.

You can import multiple MIDI files at the same time by dropping them on the import field. The first file is assigned to the selected pad.

Export Field

To export a pattern, click the MIDI export field and drag it onto a MIDI track in your host application. You can also drag the field to other locations and applications that support MIDI files.

Import/Export and Alternative Trigger Note Mappings

If you are working with alternative trigger note mappings, this is taken into account and the MIDI pattern is adapted automatically on import/export. This is important if you are recording MIDI with a hardware drum controller and you want to import MIDI parts from the host application or export patterns from Groove Agent to the host application during that process.

If you recorded the MIDI file with the standard trigger note mapping, deactivate alternative trigger note mapping in the Pad section.

Pad Section

NOTE

Common Pad Settings

Performance Section

Swing

Allows you to shift the timing of notes on even numbered beats to give the phrase a swing feeling. Negative values shift the timing backward, and the notes are played earlier. Positive values shift the timing forward, and the notes are played later.

Gate Scale

Allows you to shorten or lengthen the notes of the phrase. At a value of 100 %, the notes play with their original gate length.

Gate Scale has no effect on samples that are played in One Shot mode. They always sound until the end.

Velocity Scale

Raises or lowers the note-on velocities of the phrase. At a value of 100 %, the notes are played with their original velocity.

Quantize Amount

This parameter defines how much of the quantization grid is applied. A value of 100 note value. Smaller values move the notes only partially towards the next Quantize note value. With a value of 0

Quantize Grid

This parameter allows you to set up a quantization grid, in fractions of beats. You can also specify dotted and triplet values.

Tempo Scale

Defines the speed at which the phrase is running. You can choose between half, normal, and double speed.

% means the MIDI note events play back only at the specified quantize

Common Pad Settings

• Pads show the associated MIDI note in the top right corner.

For pattern pads, you can change the MIDI note assignment. For instrument pads, you can only change this if Use Hardware Controller Mapping is activated.

%, no quantization is applied.

• In the lower section, the name of the pad is displayed.

• If samples are assigned to an instrument pad, the LED above the pad lights up.

• If a MIDI file is mapped to a pattern pad, the LED above the pad lights up.

• A pad lights up if the associated MIDI note is triggered.

Pad Section

Pad Functions

• A yellow frame around a pad indicates that this pad is selected for editing.

Pad Colors

You can colorize pads using up to 16 different colors. This can be used to improve the overview of instruments within your kit. For example, you can set the bass drum to one color, the snare to another, toms and cymbals to another, and so on.

• To apply a color to a pad or to several selected pads, open the context menu and select a color from the Set Color submenu.

Selecting Pads

Apart from the regular selection options, you can use the additional selection options on the pad context menu.

• Select All Pads – All 128 pads are selected.

• Select All Pads in Group – All 16 pads of the pad group are selected.

• Invert Selection – Selects all unselected pads and deselects all selected pads.

• Invert Selection in Group – As above, but only for the pad group.

Pad Functions

• To change the name of a pad, right-click the pad, select Rename Pad from the context menu, enter a new name and press [Enter].

This is useful if the names of the samples are either too long or not very intuitive. Renaming pads also allows you to indicate that more than one sample is mapped to a pad, for example.

• You can edit multiple selected pads. The first selected pad shows a yellow frame, the rest of the selected pads a lighter yellow frame.

• To select a pad without triggering a sample or pattern, [Alt]/[Option]-click the pad.

• In Instrument mode, the pads can be used to trigger sounds. You can trigger them with different velocities. Velocities are lower the further down towards the bottom of a pad you click. Clicking towards the top of the pad results in higher velocities.

• To mute or solo an instrument pad, click the corresponding icon in the upper left corner of a pad. Click again to unsolo or unmute.

• To unmute or unsolo all instrument pads, click the Reset All Mute/Reset All Solo buttons below the pads.

• To remove samples from an instrument pad, right-click the pad and select

Remove All Samples from the context menu.

Pad Section

Pad Functions

• To reset a pad, right-click the pad and select Reset Pad from the context menu. To reset all 128 pads, right-click a pad and select Reset All Pads from the context menu.

For instrument pads, this removes all samples and resets name, color, and trigger note for the pads to their default values.

For pattern pads, this removes the MIDI file and the name from the pads and resets color and trigger note to the default values.

Editing Selection or All

NOTE

You can apply your editing either to the selection (SEL) or to all samples of the pad (PAD), depending on the setting of the corresponding button on the toolbar.

Absolute and Relative Editing

When editing multiple samples, you can either change values absolutely for all the samples (ABS) or make relative changes (REL), depending on the setting of the corresponding button on the toolbar.

Editing Kits

• When you use absolute editing and you change a parameter from 50 % to

% for one sample, all other samples are also set to 60 %.

• When you use relative editing and you change a parameter from 50 % to 60 % in one sample, another selected sample that was set to 70

Relative changes can be made for all parameters that can be adjusted continuously. Changes of parameters that select one of multiple modes or switch between two states are always absolute.

% is set to 80 %.

Editing Kits

NOTE

Edit Page

The Edit page is where you edit the sound of the kits.

• To open the Edit page, click the Edit button in the lower right section of the

The Edit page contains six tabs: Main, Pitch, Filter, Amp, Sample, and Slice.

Mapping View

The mapping view shows the current sample mapping of the selected pad.

You can replace and remove samples in the mapping view and adjust their velocity ranges. The focused sample is displayed in a lighter color.

The mapping view always shows the velocity ranges, even if they are not used to trigger samples. However, the values only have an effect in Velocity mode.

plug-in panel.

Editing Kits

NOTE

Edit Page

Mode

Determines the trigger mode for the samples of a pad:

•In Velocity mode, the incoming velocity determines which sample is

played.

•In Layer mode, all samples are played at the same time, regardless of

their velocity.

•In Round Robin mode, the samples are played repeatedly one after the

other, from left to right.

•In Random mode, samples are played randomly. Repetitions can occur.

•In Random Exclusive mode, samples are played randomly, but

repetitions are not allowed.

Poly

Sets the maximum polyphony of a pad. For example, if this is set to 4, you can trigger a pad 4 times before notes are stolen.

The polyphony value represents the number of notes that can sound simultaneously, therefore triggering layered samples on a pad may lead to a much higher number of actual sample voices.

Fade

Specifies the time it takes for a voice to fade out when voices are stolen.

You can specify different fade settings for the different samples of a pad.

Exclusive Group

This allows you to assign a pad to one of 32 exclusive groups. Pads within a group are never played back simultaneously. When a new note is played, the previous note stops.

Changing the Velocity Ranges of Samples

• Select the sample in the mapping view and enter new values in the Hi and Lo fields on the right.

• Position the mouse between two samples, so that a double-arrow is shown, and drag to the left or right.

Changing the velocity range of a sample automatically adapts adjacent samples, that is, velocity ranges cannot overlap.

Editing Kits

NOTE

Edit Page

Editing the Mapping of a Pad

A pad can contain up to 8 samples.

• You can add samples by dropping them onto the mapping view. They can be inserted between two other samples, behind the last sample, or in front of the first sample. This is indicated by a red insert line.

• To replace a sample, drag a new sample onto an existing sample. Which sample will be replaced is indicated by a red frame.

• To change the order of the samples, drag them to a new position.

• To map a sample to another pad, drag it onto the pad.

This removes the sample from the current pad. To map the sample to another pad without losing the current mapping, hold down [Alt]/[Option] while dragging.

Main Tab

The Main tab gives you access to the sample mapping of the pad as well as to the most important parameters, like Volume, Pan, Cutoff etc.

The Main tab also shows a simplified sample editor. You can adjust the sample start and end markers as well as fade-in and fade-out markers and fade curves in the display.

Volume

Sets the level of the sample.

Pan

Sets the position of the sample in the stereo panorama.

Coarse

Adjusts the tuning in semitones.

Fine

Adjusts the fine tuning in cents.

Cutoff

Controls the cutoff frequency of the filter.

Cutoff, Resonance, and Distortion are only available if a filter is used.

Resonance

Sets the filter resonance.

Editing Kits

NOTE

Edit Page

Distortion

Sets the amount of distortion. The effect of this parameter depends on the selected filter mode.

Output

The output to which the samples are routed.

• By default, samples are routed to the Kit Mixer, where they are also sent

through the insert effects.

• You can also route samples to one of the 16 available stereo outputs.

The first stereo out is always the Master output. This output is always active and can also contain insert effects.

• You can also route a pad directly to one of the 4 AUX channels, to

create sub groups, for example.

Samples that are routed to an output that is deactivated in your host application are automatically sent to the Master output of the plug-in.

Playback Quality

Sets the quality.

• Standard: Select this mode to play back the samples with their original

bit depth and sample rate.

• Vintage: Select this mode to emulate the sound quality of early 12-bit

drum machines. The detuning of the samples produces the typical aliasing effect. The sample rate is limited to 26040 Hz.

• Turntable mode is similar to Vintage mode. The samples are played

with 12bit/26040 Hz. Use this mode to emulate the typical workflow of hip hop producers. Because the first digital drum machines only had a very limited amount of RAM, turntables were sampled at a speed of 45 RPM instead of 33 1/3 RPM. This way, more samples could be saved into the available RAM. During playback, the samples were tuned down, to correct for the change in pitch. This added the typical crunch and aliasing that the early drum machines are famous for.

If Vintage or Turntable is selected for a sample, you cannot edit the sample using the AudioWarp functions on the Sample tab. If you try to select one of these modes for a sample that uses AudioWarp, a warning message is displayed.

Filter Type

Sets the filter type. You can choose between Classic, Tube Drive, Hard Clip, Bit Reduction and Rate Reduction.

To deactivate the filter, select Off.

Editing Kits

Edit Page

Filter Shape

• LP 24, 18, 12, and 6 are low-pass filters with 24, 18, 12, and 6 dB/oct.

Frequencies above the cutoff are attenuated.

• BP 12 and BP 24 are band-pass filters with 12 and 24 dB/oct.

Frequencies below and above the cutoff are attenuated.

• HP6+LP18 and HP6+LP12 are combinations of a high-pass filter with

6 dB/oct and a low-pass filter with 18 and 12 dB/oct, respectively (asymmetric band-pass filter). Frequencies below and above the cutoff are attenuated. Attenuation is more pronounced for the frequencies above the cutoff.

• HP12+LP6 and HP18+LP6 are combinations of a high-pass filter with

12 and 18 dB/oct and a low-pass filter with 6 dB/oct (asymmetric band-pass filter). Frequencies below and above the cutoff are attenuated. Attenuation is more pronounced for the frequencies below the cutoff.

• HP 24, 18, 12, and 6 are high-pass filters with 24, 18, 12, and 6 dB/oct.

Frequencies below the cutoff are attenuated.

• BR 12 and BR 24 are band-reject filters with 12 and 24 dB/oct.

Frequencies around the cutoff are attenuated.

• BR12+LP6 and BR12+LP12 are combinations of a band-reject filter

with 12 dB/oct and a low-pass filter with 6 and 12 dB/oct, respectively. Frequencies around and above the cutoff are attenuated.

• BP12+BR12 is a band-pass filter with 12 dB/oct plus a band-reject

• HP6+BR12 and HP12+BR12 are combinations of a high-pass filter

• AP is an all-pass filter with 18 dB/oct. Frequencies around the cutoff are

• AP+LP6 is an all-pass filter with 18 dB/oct plus a low-pass filter with

• HP6+AP is a high-pass filter with 6 dB/oct plus an all-pass filter with

Editing the Envelope

An envelope section is available on the Pitch, Filter, and Amp tabs. Each multisegment envelope has up to 128 nodes with the Time, Level, and Curve parameters. The nodes and their parameters specify the overall shape of the envelope. You can edit one or multiple nodes in the graphical envelope editor or by entering values.

filter with 12 dB/oct. Frequencies below, above, and around the cutoff are attenuated.

with 6 and 12 dB/oct and a band-reject filter with 12 dB/oct. Frequencies below and around the cutoff are attenuated.

attenuated.

6 dB/oct. Frequencies around and above the cutoff are attenuated.

18 dB/oct. Frequencies around the cutoff are attenuated.

Editing Kits

Edit Page

Selecting Nodes

• You select a node by clicking on it in the graphical editor. Selected nodes turn light blue. The focused node is indicated by an orange frame. The value fields to the left of the graphical envelope editor display the parameters of the focused node.

• If multiple nodes are selected, you can use the Node pop-up menu to set the focus to a different node without losing the current selection.

• [Shift]-click a node to add it to the selection. Selected nodes are edited together.

• You can select multiple nodes by drawing a rectangle around the nodes with the mouse.

• If the graphical editor has the focus, you can select the next or the previous node with the left and right arrow keys.

Adjusting the Time Parameter

The Time parameter specifies the period of time between two nodes. Depending on the Sync mode, the Time parameter is displayed in milliseconds and seconds, or in fractions of beats.

• To set the Time parameter, select the nodes that you want to adjust and enter a value in the Time field.

• You can also adjust the Time parameter in the graphical envelope editor, by dragging the nodes left or right, to decrease or to increase the time span.

For a higher resolution, hold [Shift] while moving the nodes.

To limit the movement to the time axis, that is, to change only the horizontal position of a node, hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] while dragging.

Adjusting the Level Parameter

The Level parameter specifies the amplitude of the envelope at the position set by the Time parameter.

•To set the Level parameter, select the nodes that you want to adjust and enter a value in the Level field.

• You can also adjust the Level parameter in the graphical envelope editor by dragging the selected nodes up or down, to decrease or increase the levels.

For a higher resolution, hold [Shift] while moving the nodes.

To limit the movement to the level axis, that is, to change only the vertical position of a node, hold down [Alt]/[Option] while dragging.

Adjusting the Curve Parameter

The Curve parameter allows you to adjust the curvature of the envelope curve between two nodes from linear to logarithmic or exponential behavior.

• To set the Curve parameter, select the nodes that you want to adjust and enter a value in the Curve field. Positive curve values change the curvature towards logarithmic and negative values towards exponential behavior.

Editing Kits

NOTE

Edit Page

• You can also adjust the Curve parameter in the graphical envelope editor by dragging the curve between two nodes.

[Ctrl]/[Command]-click a curve to reset it to linear.

Adding and Removing Nodes

All nodes added after the sustain node always affect the release phase of the envelope.

• To add a node, double-click at the position where you want to add the node.

• To remove a node, double-click it.

• To delete several selected nodes, press [Delete] or [Backspace].

You cannot remove the first, the last, or the sustain node.

Adding Nodes Using the Fill Function

The Fill function allows you to add multiple envelope nodes after the selected nodes.

1) On the pop-up menu to the right of the Fill button, select the number of nodes that you want to add.

2) In the graphical envelope editor, select the node after which you want to add nodes.

If several nodes are selected, the new nodes are inserted after the last selected node.

3) If the Fixed function is deactivated, the added nodes are placed with the interval specified by the Time parameter of the selected node. If multiple nodes are selected, the interval is specified by the focused node.

By activating Sync, you can specify the interval with the Sync note value. For example, if 1/4 is selected, new nodes are added at exact quarter note intervals.

4) If the Fixed function is activated, the added nodes fill the space between the last selected node and the following one.

5) Click the Fill button.

The nodes are added.

Fixed

If Fixed is activated, only the selected nodes are moved on the time axis. If Fixed is deactivated, all nodes that follow the edited nodes are also moved.

Snap

You can select a second envelope to be displayed in the background of the edited envelope. If Snap is activated and you change the position of nodes, they snap to the nodes of the envelope that is shown in the background.

Editing Kits

NOTE

Edit Page

• To specify the envelope for the background, open the pop-up menu to the right of the Snap button and select an envelope from the list.

Using Sync

You can synchronize the envelopes to the tempo of your host application. This allows you to set envelope times that relate to musical time intervals, regardless of any tempo changes.

1) Click Sync to activate sync mode for the envelope.

Sync is active when the button is highlighted. A grid spaced in fractions of beats is displayed in the graphical envelope editor.

2) On the pop-up menu located to the right of the Sync button, select a note value.

This sets the resolution of the grid. For example, if you specify a 1/4 note value, the nodes snap to 1/4 note steps. If the T button is activated, the note values correspond to triplet values.

You can also enter note values and triplets manually in the value field.

The Time field of a node displays times in fractions of beats. The fraction is always reduced to the smallest possible value. 2/16 is displayed as 1/8, for example.

Envelope nodes that do not exactly match a note value display the closest note value.

Nodes that exactly match a note value are indicated by a red dot inside the handle of the node. This can be useful if you switch the grid between triplets and normal note values, for example. The triplet nodes still indicate that they match a note value, even if the grid shows normal note values.

Selecting an Envelope Mode

You can select one of 4 envelope modes to specify how the envelope is played back each time you hit a key. These modes are selected from the Mode pop-up menu. The following options are available:

• Sustain: The envelope starts playback from the first node to its sustain. The sustain level is held as long as you play the note. When you release the note, the envelope continues with the phases after the sustain. This mode is ideal for looped samples.

• Loop: The envelope starts playback from the first node to the loop nodes. The loop is repeated for as long as the key is held. The envelope plays the phases after the sustain when you release the note. This mode is ideal for adding motion to the sustain.

• One Shot: The envelope is played from the first to the last node, even if you release the key. The envelope has no sustain. This mode is ideal for drum samples.

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Steinberg Groove Agent - SE Operation Manual

Table of Contents

Window Overview

Introduction

About Kits, Presets, and Groove Agent ONE Content

Common Editing Methods

Multi Selection and Parameter Controls

Presets

Loading Kits

Managing Your Sounds

Kit Context Menu

Instrument Pads

Pad Section

Pattern Pads

Common Pad Settings

Pad Functions

Editing Selection or All

Absolute and Relative Editing

Editing Kits

Edit Page