Sequential Prophet X - Creating Granular-Style Loops; Creating Longer Loops

108 109Using Sampled Instruments
Sequential Prophet X User’s Guide
Using Sampled Instruments
Creating ”Granular-Style” Loops
You can also create interesting and unusual sounds by making short
loops and modulating their center point to create granular synthesis-type
effects.
To adjust the loop:
1. Recall the Basic Program and turn Oscillator 1 level down to 0.
2. In the Sample Playback section, use the type knob to select piano.
3. Use the instrument knob to select 1928 grand near. Play some notes
and listen to the instrument.
4. Press the loop button. This creates a sustain loop in the instrument.
5. Next. you’ll adjust the instrument start and end points, and create a
very short loop.
6. With the Sample Playback parameters shown in the display, press Soft
Button 4 (instr1 edit).
7. Set loop size to 110 and loop center to 506. Setting a very short loop
makes it sound more “granular” as the loop repeats a short section of
shifting harmonics.
8. Set sample start to 469 and sample end to 545. This makes the start
and end of the sample bracket the loop.
9. Next, you’ll use an LFO to slowly move the loop center point back and
forth. This makes the sound continuously shift:
10. In the lfo section, select lfo 2 and set its shape to triangle.
11. With the LFO 2 parameters shown in the main display, press Soft
Button 3 to select the lfo dest menu tab, then select inst1 center with
Soft Knob 1.
12. Set LFO 2 frequency to 48 and the LFO amount to 46.
13. Play some chords. Note how the harmonics in the sample shift as the
loop moves.
By modulating a loop’s center point, start, or end you can create some
very unique and atmospheric sounds, especially if you add effects such
as delay, reverb, phaser, and so on.
Creating Longer Loops
Seamlessly looping samples requires that you nd an area in the sample
where the volume and harmonic content remains relatively consistent.
Then you have to adjust the loop size and loop center to use that area. If
the loop is too short, it can make an instrument sound static. If it’s too
long, there may be too much change in its loudness or harmonic content
over the duration of the loop.
It most cases you’ll need to adjust the length of the loop crossfade to
smooth the transition. Even then, it’s not always possible to create a
perfectly smooth loop — especially considering the variations from
sample to sample in multi-sampled instruments.
Here’s an example of how to create a loop in an instrument:
To create a loop:
1. Recall the Basic Program and turn Oscillator 1 level down to 0.
2. In the Sample Playback section, use the type knob to select brass.
3. Use the instrument knob to select saxophone a arc far.
4. Play some notes and listen to the instrument. Try to nd a spot where
the sound stays relatively constant in terms of volume and harmonics.
Usually this is toward the middle of the sample — well after the attack
and before the sound begins to decay at the end.
5. Press the loop button. This creates a sustain loop in the instrument.
6. Press Soft Button 3 to select the inst1 loop menu tab, then use Soft
Knob 2 (loop mode) to select regular if it isn’t already selected.
7. Press Soft Button 4 to select the inst1 edit menu tab.
8. Use Soft Knob 2 (loop size) and Soft Knob 3 (loop center) to move the
size and location of the center point of the loop. Repeatedly strike and
hold a key to audition the loop.
9. To adjust the loop crossfade length, press Soft Button 3 (inst1 loop)
and turn Soft Knob 1 (xfade rate).
10. Keep experimenting with loop size, loop center, and crossfade rate
until you nd a workable loop.
11. If you can’t nd a good loop, try these settings: xfade rate: 142, loop
size: 517, loop center: 717.