Comprehensive Beat and Audio Manipulation Tool for Pro
Tools
In the worlds of electronic music and sound design, a
tool occasionally appears that promises to leave a permanent imprint. Digidesign’s
new Synchronic software instrument is such a device, providing musicians and sound
sculptors with an intuitive, deep-featured means of developing truly distinctive
loops and enhancing the originality of otheir work.
Compatible with both Pro Tools LE and TDM systems, Synchronic
is a novel new RTAS plug-in that enables you to easily manipulate audio loops
to create an innumerable variety of unique rhythmic and sonic variations. With
Synchronic, you can easily create rhythmic modifications and in-tempo effects
with individual beats and beat subdivisions within a loop.
Tweaking, Synchronic-style
Whether in a studio environment or onstage, Synchronic
gives you the power to substantially modify looped audio on the fly and, in the
process, define your signature sound. Much like a typical DJ rig’s deck
arrangement, Synchronic’s interface includes two discreet channels through
which audio is displayed, manipulated, and played back. Synchronic features five
main sections or modules, each of which can be edited, stored, and recalled through
presets accessible via the plug-in:
Sound Module
The Sound Module can load up to twelve different mono
or stereo audio files of any bit depth and sample rate. After importing a file,
the loop can be sliced up to play in synchronization with the Pro Tools MIDI Beat
Clock. Any two sounds (A and B sources) can be played back simultaneously.
Playback Module
The Playback Module manipulates the output of the Sound
module. Various aspects of sound playback — such as speed, order, duration
and direction, as well as modes such as “Stab”, “Spin”
and “Smear” — are synchronized with the Pro Tools MIDI Beat
Clock.
Effect Module
This module processes the output of the Playback Module
and can be synced to the Pro Tools Beat Clock to introduce any combination of
four concurrent intempo effects: Gain, Noise, Filter, and Delay.
XFade Module
Synchronic’s XFade (crossfade) Module mixes the
A and B sounds after they have been processed by the Sound, Playback, and Effect
modules. The crossfade between the A and B sounds can be controlled by either
a Synchronic preset or through a DJ mixer-style crossfader. The XFade Module presets
can also be synced to the Pro Tools MIDI Beat Clock for intempo crossfading.
MIDI Module
Synchronic’s MIDI Module enables you to assign and
trigger combinations of sounds and module presets via MIDI. You can also freely
map MIDI controllers to Synchronic controls.
Once your audio loops are loaded into Synchronic, they
can be controlled using Synchronic’s user interface, Pro Tools MIDI tracks,
an external MIDI controller, a qualified Digidesign control surface such as Command|8,
and/or Pro Tools plug-in automation. Unlike other beat and looping software products,
Synchronic synchronizes to the Pro Tools MIDI Beat Clock directly. This relationship
causes Synchronic playback to lock to the Pro Tools session tempo (including tempo
changes) even while the operator creates modifications in the playback order,
speed, and volume of individual beats and subdivisions of the beat (or “slices”)
within a loop.
As explained, the benefits of Synchronic are not limited
to the studio environment or to sound design applications, although the plug-in
exceeds in both capacities. An ideal instrument for spontaneous composition and
improvisation, Synchronic offers performing electronic musicians and DJs the ability
to sculpt loops and create tempo-based effects in a live setting in real time.
With its many possibilities and ease-of-use, Synchronic invites you to interact
with its control set to achieve your desired affect or something completely unexpected.
When combined with a MIDI controller, all of its parameters can be controlled
in real time, and individual presets within Synchronic’s modules can be
recalled simply by triggering a MIDI key. And multiple instances of Synchronic
can run within the same Pro Tools session to meet your creative demand. Synchronic
can even work alongside other music software products such as Ableton Live and
Propellerhead Software Reason to bring a new breadth to your music.
With Synchronic, beat reordering is only the beginning.
Synchronic is fully capable of performing complex beat manipulations, effects,
and cross-modulations tightly synced to the Pro Tools Beat Clock. These effects
are not limited to being applied only to loops in their entirety but also to individual
beats within the loop, allowing the user to create complex soundscapes that are
still tied to an underlying pulse from the Beat Clock.
Synchronic ships with over
200 MB of royalty-free loops contributed by Digidesign’s acclaimed Development
Partners to get you started (boxed version only); you can also bring your own
SD II, WAV, and AIFF files into the mix through a simple import. 96 kHz sample
rate support ensures that no matter where or when you’re making your music,
sound quality will not be an issue. Additionally, iLok protection offers portability
so you’re never at a loss when inspiration strikes.
Features
- An innovative sound design and beat creation tool for
the Pro Tools environment
- Performance-inspired design, user interface, and functionality
for DJs, live electronic musicians, and others
- Modular configuration with presets allows for endless
combinations as well as instant recall
- MIDI-synchronized intempo effects with real-time control
- Controllable directly through its own graphic user interface,
MIDI, plug-in automation, or Digidesign-qualified Pro Tools control surface
- Graphical slice point editor for automatic and manual
loop-slicing
- RTAS plug-in support for both Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools
TDM systems
- Support for up to 96 kHz Pro Tools sessions
- Over 200 MBs of free audio loops from Digidesign Development
Partners
- iLok-protected for portability
System Requirements
- Digidesign-approved Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools|HD Accel,
Pro Tools|24 MIX, Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, or Mbox.
- Windows XP or Mac OS X