BeachTools
BeachTools
BeachTools - Introduction
Why make Tools?
Although B&P includes a broad selection of Tools, and the add-on series provides even more, I have occasionally found myself wanting a Tool to do a specific thing that didn't exist. So, I decided to learn C and do it myself. I have been working on various Tools ever since the Rules for Tools first came out in the late '80's. A few of my Tools, like PunchMute and Lyrics, were written based on other user's requests (and I always love a challenge!). Other Tools, like RolandSplit, were developed to do a very specific thing with a very specific piece of equipment. As I realized that Tools such as these may not have mass appeal, I thought offering them as shareware would be the most appropriate way to spread them around.
Bugs, etc.
Many of these Tools may have little bugs or glitches in them that I am not aware of. Since I knew what I wanted to use them for, it may not have occurred to me to try them in other ways. Also, these were designed to function under B&P Pro 1.0. Although they also function under B&P Pro 2.0, there are some new features in 2.0 that they don't make use of. Once Blue Ribbon officially releases header files for 2.0, I MAY update these.
If you encounter bugs or problems with these Tools, please let me know and I will attempt to correct the problem. I considered not releasing this collection until I had all the kinks worked out of all the Tools, but then the collection may never get out. Instead, I thought it was better to release them as-is and fix problems along the way.
Enjoy!
- Beach 11/20/1993
BeachTools - AARRGG!!
AARRGG! DESCRIPTION: This Tools sends an all-notes off command when a trigger key is pressed. It is useful for freeing stuck notes in real time. USAGE: Pipeline. CONTROLS: AARRGG! has a control window to allow you to specify the note that will serve as the trigger. To use, place this Tool in the pipeline. If you should get a stuck note, press the trigger key at the first opportunity. An all-notes-off command will be created and sent down the pipeline.
BeachTools - Double
Double DESCRIPTION: This Tool creates a second note identical to the one entering it. The new note can be modulated to a different pitch. SPECIAL TYPES: Macro Tool USAGE: Pipeline, Toolpad CONTROLS: To change the amount the second note is modulated, open the Control window. Adjust the Modulator Tool accordingly.
BeachTools - Falling Echos
Falling Echos DESCRIPTION:This Tool creates three additional notes, each one of which has its own delay time and modulation. SPECIAL TYPES: MacroTool. USAGE: Pipeline, Toolpad CONTROLS:To change the amount of delay and modulation, open the Control window. There are four branches, each of which has a Delay Tool and a Modulator Tool. Change these Tools to adjust the delay and modulation values.
BeachTools - Fix Lyrics
Fix Lyrics DESCRIPTION:This Tool "justifies" the timing of lyric events to match the starting time of notes in a track. Entering lyrics can be a time-consuming process. With this Tool, lyrics can simply be entered into a track that contains a melody. When the track is Toolized, each note in the edit zone is matched up with the next available lyric. This will syncronize the lyric events with the melody. For best results, use on a track with a monophonic melody. Note: Any lyric events that exist in the track before the first note in the edit zone (the areas between the two edit flags) WILL NOT be syncronized. This is intentional -- it prevents other sections of the track that already have lyrics syncronized from being affected. USAGE: ToolPad CONTROLS: None.
BeachTools - KeyFrets
KeyFrets DESCRIPTION: This macrotool remapps and delays notes to simulate a guitar-style strum. SPECIAL TYPES: MacroTool. USAGE: Pipeline, ToolPad. CONTROLS: This Tool's control window begins by compressing all notes coming through to a one-octave range. The notes are then split apart, and sent down different pipes, each of which is delayed slightly and then transposed up/down an octave. For best results, try playing a triad, and listen to how the strumming effect sounds.
BeachTools - LoopPlay
LoopPlay DESCRIPTION: This Tool causes the transport to continously play the area between the loop flags until it is stopped. To use, place this Tool in the pipeline of any track; it doesn't matter which one. The song will then play straight through until it reaches the loop out flag. At that time the transport will "jump back" to the point where the loop in flag is. This looping will continue until the transport is stopped. Note: Any midi events that exist in the sequencer after the loop out flag will not be played. This includes Note-Off events. Because of this, make certain that you do not have any notes that begin inside the loop zone, but end past the loop out flag. If you do, a stuck note will be the result. USAGE: Pipeline CONTROLS: None
BeachTools - Lyrics
Lyrics DESCRIPTION: This Tool displays the lyrics for a track in a window. The lyrics turn yellow when their time has arrived, and scroll out of the window after their time has elapsed. To use, place this Tool in the output pipeline of a track. To view the track's lyrics in real time, open the window and start the transport. Each time a note passes through the window, the window is refreshed. If you want the lyrics to appear at their exact time, make sure that there is a note in the track at the same time as the lyric (See the FixLyrics Tool). SPECIAL TYPES: This Tool receives events at the actual time they are to occur. To avoid timing delays with other Tools, place this Tool as close to the output Tool in the pipeline as possible. USAGE: Pipeline CONTROLS: None, although the Tool does have a display window.
BeachTools - OmniOff
OmniOff DESCRIPTION: This Tool transmits an Omni mode off command each time the transport is started. Since many older synthesizers boot up in omni mode, this Tool can be used to switch them into Poly Mode very easily. USAGE: Pipeline CONTROLS: None.
BeachTools - Pong
Pong DESCRIPTION: This Tool creates a pan event for each note that passes through it. The pan events alternate between "hard right" and "hard left" - creating a ping-pong effect between the channels. USAGE: Pipeline, Toolpad CONTROLS: None
BeachTools - Punchmute
Punchmute DESCRIPTION: This Tool allows a given note to serve as a switch to mute/unmute a track. It works in the following manner: One note is set up to be the "trigger" note. The punchmute Tool "listens" for volume (controller #7) data. Each time a volume controller command passes through the Tool, PunchMute remembers its value. When the trigger key is pressed, PunchMute generates a volume controller event of value zero - no volume. When the triggerkey is released, PunchMute generates a volume controller event with the last known volume value. USAGE: Pipeline. To use with the Mix Maestro, place PunchMute in the output pipeline. CONTROLS: PunchMute has a control window that allows you to specify the note that will serve as the trigger. Please note that not all instruments will immediately lower their volume to zero upon receiving the volume controller command. A few instruments will not act upon the volume controller command until after they have released any notes that are currently being played.
BeachTools - RolandSplit
Roland Split DESCRIPTION: This is a specialty Tool, designed to work exclusively with Roland S-10/MKS-100 samplers. It allows the sampler's internal split points to be set through the Tool and saved with the song. Additionally, each time the transport is started, the split points are transmitted via System Exclusive data to the sampler. This is a good example of a Tool that generates specific System Exclusive events. USAGE: Pipeline CONTROLS: There are three sets of controls for selecting a note and octave in the Tool's control window. Each set determines one of the sampler's split points.
BeachTools - Slur
Slur DESCRIPTION: This Tool creates a portamento event when a note is played while another note is still being held. When all notes are released, it generates a portamento event of zero. This Tool allows for a playing technique where staccato notes each strike their pitch immediately, but legato notes slide into their pitch. USAGE: Pipeline, ToolPad CONTROLS: None
BeachTools - Split Keyboard
Split Keyboard DESCRIPTION: This Tool is the inverse of the Keyboard Split Tool; it passes all notes below a split point down the pipeline and diverts all notes at or above the split point to another pipeline. SPECIAL TYPES: MacroTool USAGE: Pipeline CONTROLS: This macrotool's control window contains a Keyboard Split Tool. Use this Keyboard Split Tool to set the split point.
BeachTools - Step16
Step16 DESCRIPTION: This Tool allows step entry to be performed from the main tracks window. USAGE: Pipeline CONTROLS: The step controls are used to determine the duration of each note entered. You may use the slider to set the step interval, or use the note duration pop-up and the Triplet button to the right of the step slider to set the delay. There is also a trigger control. The trigger control sets a note which is used to increment the song position by the step amount. To step-enter notes using this Tool, first place the song position pointer at the point where you would like step entry to begin. The track does not have to be in record mode. The open the Tool's control window. As long as the Tool's control window is open, step entry for that track is in effect. Now set the step interval. Set the trigger note. Since the trigger note is used to increment the song position, make sure to use a note that you do not need to actually play. Now play a note. The Tool will automatically insert a note event with the duration of the step interval into the track at the song position pointer location. The song position pointer will also be moved forward one step interval. To enter a rest the length of the step interval, play and release the trigger note. If you want to enter a note that is larger than the step interval, you may either change the step interval, or play and hold the note, play the trigger note to increment the step interval, and then release the original note. Example: To enter a sixteenth note followed by an eigth note, begin by setting the step interval to a sixteenth note. Play and release the note. Notice that the song position pointer will move forward one sixteenth note. Now, leaving the step interval at a sixteenth note, play the second note, but do not release it. Play and release the trigger note. Now release the original note. Since the time from the original note's note-on until its note-off as been stepped forward twice (once from the trigger key, the second time from the note-off) the note has been entered as an eigth note. By setting the step interval to the smallest note value you are planning to enter, this technique can prevent you from having to constantly change the step interval. When you are finished step entering your part, close the control window and step entry will stop.
BeachTools - VeloBoost
VeloBoost DESCRIPTION: This Tool boosts the velocity of notes passing through it by a fixed amount. USAGE: Pipeline, Toolpad CONTROLS: This Tool's control window has a slider that can be used to boost the velocity of notes passing through it. The minimum amount of boost is 0; the maximum value is 127. If boosting the velocity of a note would cause the velocity to be greater than 127, then it is fixed at 127.
BeachTools - Velocity Compressor
Velocity Compressor DESCRIPTION: This Tool behaves much like an audio compressor, reducing the dynamic range covered by velocity values. SPECIAL TYPES: MacroTool USAGE: Pipeline, Toolpad CONTROLS: This macrotool is comprised of a VeloBoost Tool followed by a VeloCut Tool. In an audio compressor, audio signals are boosted up to a certain limit, and then the output can be reduced to normal listening levels. This Tool achieves a similar effect by boosting all notes' velocities by a certain value, and then cutting the output. To use, set the VeloBoost controls to increase the input velocities. If the veloboost amount is set high enough, the velocities will "clip" at a value of 127. The VeloCut Tool can then be used to reduce the velocities back down to a comfortable level.
BeachTools - VeloCut
VeloCut DESCRIPTION: The opposite of the VeloBoost Tool, this Tool reduces notes velocities by a fixed amount USAGE: Pipeline, Toolpad CONTROLS: This Tool's control window has a slider that can be used to cut (reduce) the velocity of notes passing through it. The minimum amount to cut is 0 (the original velocity is passed through); the maximum value is 127 (no velocity is passed through). If cutting the velocity of a note would cause the velocity to be less than zero, then the velocity is fixed at zero.
BeachTools - VeloPort
VeloPort DESCRIPTION: This Tool creates a portamento event for each note pressed with a depth that is inversely related to the notes velocity. Notes with a very high velocity reach their pitches quickly, while notes with a low velocity slide into their pitches. USAGE: Pipeline, Toolpad CONTROLS: None
BeachTools - VeloVolume
VeloVolume DESCRIPTION: This Tool scales notes velocities based upon volume controller #7) values. It is very useful to using the Mix Mastero to control the velocity of notes on many older synths that do not respond to midi volume controller messages. Unlike the Velocity Controller Tool, VeloVolume scales note velocities according to the volume levels, thereby preserving the dynamics. USAGE: Pipeline, ToolPad CONTROLS: None
BeachTools - Waah
Waah DESCRIPTION: This Tool creates a sort of "waah-waah" effect by generating pitch-bend events for each note. The pitch bends begin below the note's normal value and quickly bend up into the correct pitch for the note. The higher the note's velocity, the deeper the pitch bend will be. Note: Because pitch bend affects all notes on a given Midi channel, any notes held while another note is pressed will be experience the "waah-waah" effect as well. This Tool works well on monophonic tracks. USAGE: Pipeline, Toolpad CONTROLS: None.