Operation Manual

1.4 Getting started 18
96k hz Sample Rate Support - It will literally take twice as much CPU power to process audio
at a sampling rate of 96 kHz as it would to process the same data at 48 kHz, simply because you
have twice the processing to do. As a result of this, 96 kHz support is only recommended for
powerful systems.
Exploring the Factory Instruments and Presets
The Tassman comes with 50 factory instruments and around 1000 presets right out of the box,
which amounts to a huge range of sounds before you’ve even turned a single knob. As you’d
expect, the best way of coming to grips with the possibilities each synth offers is simply to go
through them one at a time. Open the Instruments folder by clicking on the “disclosure” symbol to
the left. This will expand the browser to reveal the folder’s contents. Select the type of synth that
interests you (acoustic, analog, etc) and double click on the first synth in the list. The Builder, as
the name implies, shows all of an instrument’s included modules and internal connections, while
the Player displays its editing and performance controls. You can switch back and forth between
these views from the View menu. Clicking on the “disclosure” symbol to the left of any instrument
reveals its presets. You can switch between presets by double clicking on the preset of your choice.
If you fall upon an instrument you’re having trouble understanding, or would simply like to have
more information about how it works, choose Get Instrument Info from the Edit menu. For
detailed information on the functionalities of the Builder, Browser, and Player, please refer to the
dedicated chapters on each later in manual.
As was mentioned earlier, the Tassman has been designed to meet the needs of a wide range of
users. Similarly, the included synths and presets have been created to cover an equally wide range
of tastes. Once you’ve had a chance to explore the included synths in some detail, you may find
that some of them produce sounds you feel you will use very rarely in your work, or simply aren’t
quite your style. The Browser makes it easy to organize your synths and presets in whatever manor
you choose. Click in the browser, and choose New Folder from the File menu. Name this folder
“Archive”. You can now place all those “specialty” synths in the archive, freeing up space in your
instruments folder and making it quicker and easier to find the sounds you need while you work.
Building your Own Instruments
One of the Tassman’s greatest strengths is its modularity. As you explore the various factory
instruments and presets, ideas for your own creations are sure to come up. The tutorials section of
the manual provides an excellent basis for getting your ideas off the ground, and coming to grips
with the basic functionalities of the Tassman’s Builder. Regardless of your knowledge of synthesis
and previous experience with modular environments, we recommend that you at least scan the
tutorials to learn about the basic conventions of the builder. By answering a few key questions
before beginning your first constructions, you will be able to spend less time pondering the near
infinite possibilities the Tassman offers, and more time making music.