[Grains Of Infinity Automation
Amancio Mccrae
Now, this process was identical to one of the Short Phrase Looping Techniques that I had posted, with the exception that finer sample 'grains' were needed, and sync to tempo / beat was not. I had referenced EHX 8 Step Program control earlier in that SPLT thread, so I thought that I'd put it all together here, in a new proof-of-concept thread.
It'd be best if I break down the Granular Capture & Playback procedures over several posts, for clarity. The process is not that complicated, but those few required steps can branch out into any number of creative options. Here is the first step:
You'll want to record your phrase into the looper at full length. I used 12 seconds for a good amount of 'chopping material' at good fidelity. PLY-START is mapped to the expression pedal over the full range. PLY-LENGTH is set a 12.000 seconds for recording, but this is the parameter you'll be adjusting for 'grain size' upon playback.
There are many ways to go with the EHX 8 Step Program covering the EXP PED parameters. I'll confine the discussion here to what can be done with PLY-START automation. We'll leave out Preset changes, Preset Cues, and omit the extensive MIDI control available (for virtually every 8 Step Program parameter). More information here.
I'm sure that I missed a few items. One note for MIDI users: The 8 Step Program responds to MIDI Sync, plus Start (Continue) / Stop commands, which mirrors the H9 / TimeFactor Looper implementation. It's a perfectly synchronized pairing. For a little more info on Looper MIDI control (that I really need to update), check out this thread.
Moving the expression pedal towards Toe will bend pitch down chromatically (and sometimes, back up again). Any static position downward effectively lengthens the delay time. Reversing the expression pedal bends pitch upward. All pitch changes are reflected in the repeated DECAY, which lands at a single repeat at the Toe.
Pitch is shifted upward towards the Toe, and delay time is shortened to a single slapback. Wet signal is slightly increased. Slower expression pedal movement leads to a more delicate trail of pitched echoes.
MAX-LENGTH is lengthened to 2.00 Secs, for more apparent directional shifts. DECAY: fixed at 75. RESOLUTION can stay at the default OCTAVES. MIX is backed up to 25, as this effect can easily take over your input.
Left footswitch tap to [REC] a one-measure phrase, with immediate looping playback. Tap & release the left footswitch repeatedly, to REPL-PUNCH holes & notes into the original loop. The Aux-To-Exp switch doubles the pitch, while limiting the loop to the 1st half of the recorded measure.
The first preset here configures the looper as a tap tempo delay line. Tap the left footswitch to begin, then tap it a 2nd time to set the PLY-LENGTH of delay. Tap it a 3rd time to kick in DECAY [DUBMODE].
The whole key to this preset lies in the live manipulation by expression pedal. The upper thirds of EXP PED travel reverse the playback, or reverse the sample + raise it an octave + halve the total length. It gets better with Dub engaged (another tap on the left footswitch).
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