MIXING & EFFECTS

Gross Beat

Play with time! Gross Beat is a real-time, audio-stream playback, pitch, position and volume manipulation effect. Gross Beat stores audio in a 2-bar rolling buffer controlled by 36 time and 36 volume mapping envelopes for easy beat-synced glitch, stutter, repeat, scratching and gating effects. Welcome to Gallifrey Time Lord!

VST Hint Bar

Main Options

Time Settings

These controls relate to the Time/Pitch mapping envelopes:

  • Time - Time mapping envelope mix setting. Range: 0% to 100%. Use this in preference to external host Wet/Dry mix controls to avoid phasing.
  • Time offset (scratching) - Click the Scratching clock to the right of the Time knob (this is activated from the Options menu if not visible). Hold and drag your mouse vertically to vary the time offset and manually scratch. Right-click to link the Clock to internal/external controllers.

Hold

Hold delay (bar repeat) - Repeats the bar as long as the button is held and the song continues to play.

Scratching Clock

  • Time offset (scratching) - Click the Scratching clock to the right of the Time knob (this is activated from the Options menu if not visible). Hold and drag your mouse vertically to vary the time offset and manually scratch. Right-click to link the Clock to internal/external controllers.

    Time Slots

    Slots 1 to 36 (green) hold user-definable time mapping envelope presets. Slots are pre-assigned to MIDI keys and can be switched live from your controller keyboard (starting from Slot 1 = C5) OR slot changes can be automated by Right-clicking any slot and linking to internal or external controllers. NOTE: Time slots can be linked to the corresponding Volume slot number. Use the link setting (bottom middle of the mapping area) to create combined Time + Volume presets.

    • Edit a slot mapping envelope - Select the slot by clicking it with your mouse. Edit the associated mapping envelope in the panel to the right. These changes are automatically associated with the selected slot.
    • Move a slot - Right-click the slot button and select Move slot left / Move slot right from the popup menu OR hold CTRL to swap the selected slot with the next slot clicked.
    • Rename a slot - Left-click on the slot name in the bottom-left corner of the Mapping area (as shown in the screenshot above) OR click on the slot with the middle-mouse button.

    Automating Slot Selection

    To control slot selection by Automation you can use one of three methods ( video here):

    1. MIDI Controller keyboard (live) - Select Gross Beat and then play notes on your controller. C1+ will control the Volume slots, C4+ will control the Time slots.
    2. Automation envelope - Right-click anywhere on the Time or Volume preset slots and select 'Create automation clip'. Then select the type 'Hold' for Automation Clip control points. Finally select and Right-click slots to 'Copy value' then 'Paste value' to the Automation Clip Control Points.
    3. Fruity Keyboard controller (piano roll) - Add a Fruity Keyboard Controller to the project and then Right-click the Time or Volume slots and select 'Link to controller'. On the Remote control settings pop-up, from the 'Internal controller' menu select 'Kb Ctl (Fruity Keyboard Controller) - Note' and press 'Accept'. The Keyboard Controller notes can now be played from the Piano roll and Patterns added to the Playlist to control Gross Beat.

    While editing and playing, slots will show three colors:

      • White rectangle = Slot currently being edited.
      • Green rectangle = Queued for playback.
      • Green filled = Playing.

    Volume Settings

    Envelope Mapping Panel

    Plugin Credits

    Code & Graphics: Didier Dambrin.

    VSTi Port: Frederic Vanmol.

    ...watch out for falling satellites!