Strike™ Plug-in Version 1.
Copyright © 2006 Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the express written consent of Digidesign. Digidesign, Avid, Pro Tools, Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE, Pro Tools M-Powered, Digidesign Digi 002, Digidesign Command|8, Digidesign Control|24, Digidesign D-Command, Digidesign D-Control, Digidesign ProControl, RTAS, and Strike are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc.
Contents contents Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Register Your Plug-ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Working with Plug-ins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 5. Strike Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Keyboard Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Main Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Style Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
chapter 1 Introduction The new Strike™ plug-in is an RTAS plug-in instrument for Pro Tools|HD®, Pro Tools LE™, and Pro Tools M-Powered™ systems brought to you by Digidesign®. Strike offers unprecedented realism, control, and playability for computerbased drum track creation. For more information on using plug-ins in Pro Tools, see the DigiRack Plug-ins Guide.
Register Your Plug-ins If you purchase a plug-in online from the DigiStore (www.digidesign.com) using Internet Activation, you are automatically registered. If you purchase a plug-in boxed version, check the enclosed Digidesign Registration Information Card for information about how to register online. Registered users will receive periodic software update and upgrade notices. Please refer to the Digidesign Web site (www.digidesign.
About www.digidesign.com The Digidesign Web site (www.digidesign.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of your Pro Tools system. The following are just a few of the services and features available. Registration Register your purchase online. See the enclosed registration form for details.
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chapter 2 Installation Installing the Strike Plug-in Authorizing Strike The Strike plug-in installer can be found on the first of two plug-in Install Discs. Strike is authorized using the iLok USB Smart Key (iLok), manufactured by PACE Anti-Piracy, Inc. Installation To install the Strike plug-in: Insert the first Install Disc into your computer. 1 Double-click the Strike Installer application. 2 Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation of plug-in and content.
You have to authorize online with the Activation Code included with your purchase (see “Authorizing Strike Using an Activation Code” on page 6). See the iLok Usage Guide for details, or visit the iLok Web site (www.iLok.com). Removing Strike If you need to remove the Strike plug-in from your system, follow the instructions below for your computer platform.
chapter 3 Operating Strike Adjusting Parameters You can adjust all controls by using the computer mouse to drag a control. Some controls are adjusted by a selecting a value from a pop-up menu or by activating a button. Activating Buttons Some controls are enabled or disabled using buttons. To enable a button: ■ Click the button. Click again to disable it. Parameter Ranges and Resolution Most controls have a range of 0–100%.
Using Pop-up Menus Some controls have pop-up menus for selecting values. Scroll Wheel on Knobs, Faders, and Menus If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to adjust Strike parameters. To choose a value from a pop-up menu: 1 Click the parameter’s selector. 2 Select a value from the parameter’s pop-up menu. Choosing the Jam density settings from a pop-up menu 8 Strike Plug-in Guide To change a value with a scroll wheel: 1 Move the cursor over a rotary knob or fader.
chapter 4 Overview Strike is an RTAS plug-in instrument that can be used to add realistic drum tracks to any Pro Tools session. Using proprietary technology, Strike goes beyond the boundaries of conventional MIDI and sampling when it comes to computer-based playing, arranging, and mixing of drums. Strike provides a “professionally-skilled drummer” and a number of drum kits set up in a professional recording studio. Each instrument was recorded with up to three close, two overhead, and two room microphones.
Structural Overview Browser Navigator section Control section Keyboard section Strike Main page Control Section The Control section provides five Control pages for creating, editing, and manipulating the drum performance. Each page provides controls that correspond to a certain stage or aspect of drum track production in a real studio situation. Main Page Provides controls that influence the overall behavior of the drum performance from a producer’s point of view.
Kit Page Provides controls that affect the sound of the individual Instruments. You can fine-tune Strike Kits on the Kit page—for example, tune the Kick down or adjust the decay of the cymbals. For more information, see “Kit Page” on page 26. Browser section Access Configuration page Main folder Sub-folder Mix Page Provides a built-in mixing desk, with two insert effects and a three-band equalizer for each Instrument channel.
Using Folders Keyboard Section The Browser provides four main Folders for different data types, each of these include two subfolders: Preset and User. Preset is used for factory files, and User is for custom files, which can include Settings, Styles, Kits, and Mixes. Keyboard section To open a (Sub-)Folder (Setting, Style, Kit, Mix): ■ Click the plus icon (+) next to the folder. To close a (Sub-)Folder (Setting, Style, Kit, Mix): ■ Click the minus icon (–) next to the folder.
Strike Glossary Setting A Setting stores the complete state of the Strike plug-in. A Setting can be loaded and saved from the Browser on the Main page or by using the Plug-in Settings menu. Setting is another name for the plug-in settings. Refer to the DigiRack Plug-Ins Guide for information on working with RTAS plug-ins. Style A Style is a musical playing style, like Samba, Rock, or Ballad. Strike comes with a range of preset Styles that cover the most common musical genres.
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chapter 5 Strike Parameters Keyboard Section Pause keys Stop key Keyboard Layout switch Play keys Latch LED Assignable Trigger keys Display Style mode Keyboard layout In the Keyboard section there are 72 keys, the Keyboard Layout switch, a Latch switch, and an information display. The Keyboard section is always available, regardless of which Control page is currently displayed.
To display a control’s current value: ■ Click the control without moving the mouse. The Display does not show parameter values of incoming automation. To assign an Instrument to a Trigger key: 1 Right-click (Windows or Mac) or Control-click (Mac) the key. 2 Select an Instrument from the pop-up menu. Playing Strike There are two MIDI Trigger modes and corresponding Keyboard layouts when using Strike: Style mode and Kit mode. Style Mode In Style mode, input on MIDI channel 1 controls Strike playback.
Kit Mode GM Trigger keys Assignable Trigger keys Keyboard Layout switch Kit mode Keyboard layout In Kit mode, input on MIDI channel 2 plays Strike Instruments similar to a velocity sensitive drum module. The Instruments are layed out across the keyboard. Clicking the top of the key plays at a lower velocity, clicking the bottom of the key plays at a higher velocity.
Main Page Browser Style section Kit section Kit display Mix section Navigator section Strike Main page The Main page provides easy access to the most useful Strike timing and sound parameters. The parameters in the Style and Kit section of the Main page are general controls that affect all Instruments. You can edit individual Instruments on the other Control pages: Style, Kit, and Mix.
Kit Display The Kit display provides a graphic representation of a drum set showing the Instruments used in a Style. The Instrument graphics also dynamically indicate hits, including the intensity (velocity) of each hit. Crash Ride Toms Complexity Adjusts the general playing density by changing the number of individual Instrument hits used in the Pattern. Move the control up to increase and down to decrease Complexity. Complexity is assigned to the MIDI Pitchwheel by default.
Groove Adjusts the shuffle, or swing feel of Strike. Moving the control to the right moves the offbeat drum hits slightly later, creating a swung feel. Strike plays triplets with this parameter set to 100 %. Select a Groove from the Groove Template pop-up menu to determine which notes the Groove parameter affects. You can also import a Groove template.
Mix Section Controls All controls in the Mix section provide the same Channel controls as the Mix page. For more information, see “Mix Page” on page 29. EQ (Equalizer) Provides Gain controls for the low and high band of the Master channel’s equalizer. Activate the EQ by clicking the LED. For more information, see “EQ (Equalizer)” on page 31. Close Mics (Microphones) Adjusts the level of all Close microphones. Overhead Mics (Microphones) Adjusts the level of the Overhead microphones channel.
Export MIDI 4 In the resulting Import MIDI Settings dialog, click OK. Using the Export MIDI function, you can export any series of Strike Patterns between the start and stop of playback—called a Performance in the following section—as a sequence of individual MIDI notes in your Pro Tools session. Export MIDI button Import MIDI settings These MIDI notes can be used to trigger individual Strike Instrument hits, rebuilding the exported Performance as accurately as possible.
Style Page Style section Fader section Strike Style page The Style page provides up to twelve Instrument channels, corresponding to the Instruments used in the current Setting—for example, Kick, Snare, HiHat, and Ride. The dynamics and timing behavior for each Instrument can be adjusted using the Style section parameters. For convenience, basic controls from the Mix page are included in the Fader section.
Style Section Controls The Style section influences the behavior of all Parts played by an Instrument in the current Style. Grid Quantizes the Instrument’s timing. For example, select 1/4 and Strike will only play the quarter notes of the current Part, removing all hits not matching the selected grid. Intensity Adjusts the dynamics of the Instrument by making it play softer or harder. Move the control to the right to increase and to the left to decrease Intensity.
Loading Saving Styles Assigning Patterns to Play Keys You can load Styles and save edited Styles from the Browser. To assign a Pattern to a Play key: To load a Style: 1 Open the Style folder and one of its sub-folders (Preset or User) in the Browser. 1 Open the Style folder and one of its sub-folders Preset or User in the Browser. 2 Click the plus icon next to the desired Style name to show the list of included Patterns.
Kit Page Instrument Load Size selector Kit section Fader section Strike Kit page The Kit page provides up to twelve Instrument channels corresponding to the single Instruments used in the current Style, for example, Kick, Snare, HiHat, and Ride. Adjust the sound of each Instrument using the controls in the Kit section. For convenience, basic controls from the Mix page are included in the Fader section.
Kit Section Controls Attack The Kit section influences the sound of Instruments used in the current Kit. The Attack control softens the attack phase of Instruments by applying an amplitude envelope to the start of each Instrument hit. Move the control to the right to increase the time needed for the attack to rise to full amplitude. Instrument Load Size Use this control to adjust the amount of waveform data loaded into your computer’s RAM for each Instrument.
Loading and Saving Kits You can load single Instruments from Kits in the Browser and save your own edited Kits on the Kit page. This lets you use any Kit or Instrument with any other Style or Mix. To load a single Instrument: 1 Open the Kit folder and one of its sub-folders: (Preset or User) in the Browser. 2 Click the plus icon next to the Kit’s name to show the list of single Instruments used in the Kit. To load a Kit: 1 Open the Kit folder and one of its sub-folders Preset or User in the Browser.
Mix Page Equalizer Effects inserts Channel output Close microphones Master section Mix page The Mix page provides a fully featured mixing desk for Strike. It includes two effects Inserts and a three-band equalizer for each channel. Each channel can be mixed to the Master output or routed to a separate output. See Appendix A, “Mix Page Signal Flow” for a schematic diagram of the Mix page architecture.
Close Microphones Adjusts the levels of up to three Close microphones per channel. The Close microphones are named after their position towards the Instrument. Adjust their levels using the grey horizontal faders. The Close microphones are sent through the inserts to the Master channel. Room Adjusts the amount of Instrument signal going to the Room microphone channel. Overheads Adjusts the amount of Instrument signal going to the Overhead microphone channel.
Size Adjusts the decay of the Room signal to simulate smaller or larger recording spaces. Width Adjusts the stereo width of the Room signal. Surround Sends an additional two channels of room ambience into the Overhead channel, so a total of four channels are available which can be panned to the front and rear for a surround effect. The surround signal passes through the Overhead EQ, inserts and fader, and to the audio output selected for the Overhead channel. The Surround LED is lit when activated.
To change the Q-value of an equalizer band: Editing Effects Right-click (Windows or Mac) or Control-click (Mac) the dot, hold the mouse button and move up to decrease, or move down to decrease the Qvalue. ■ All three bands have a bell shape, but at the minimum Q-value setting switch to: • Red: Low shelf • Green: High-pass filter Each effect provides its own set of controls. The maximum number of controls per effect is five.
Assigning Individual Channel Outputs In addition to the Master Output, you can assign the Strike channels to one of eight individual outputs. These can be used as inputs for Pro Tools Auxiliary Input tracks for further mixing and processing. To assign a Strike channel to an individual output: 1 Select an output for the channel from the Output pop-up menu in the Routing section. 2 Create an Auxiliary Input track in your Pro Tools session. 3 Select the Strike output as an input for the Auxiliary Input Track.
Style Editor Part List Instrument hits Tools Edit section Pattern display Style editor The Style editor provides features for editing Patterns and Parts. Click the Edit Style button in the Navigator section to access the Style editor. There are two main sections: Edit Section Displays the Instrument hits of the currently selected Part as horizontally ordered events. Like a MIDI editor, you can change, move, and add events to alter or create your own Patterns.
Edit Section Controls Solo The Edit section shows the currently selected Pattern superimposed on a bar|beat grid. Each vertical bar in the blue area represents an Instrument hit. Click the Solo button to Solo the Part selected in the Edit section. Depending on the current Complexity level set on the Main page, some events in a Part may not be played. Events that are not played appear grayed out in the Edit section. Muted events are shown as an outline only. The selected event is colored yellow.
To mute an event: Copy Part 1 Select the Mute tool. The Copy Part button copies the Part to the clipboard. 2 Click the selected event. Paste Part The Paste Part button pastes the Part from the Clipboard, replacing all Instrument hits in the current Part. Clear Part The Clear Part button deletes all Instrument hits from the current Part. Muting an event in the Edit section Type All Instruments consist of several types of hits— for example, center, rim, and sidestick for the snare drum.
Configuration Window Access Configuration page Oversampling Using Oversampling can help avoid aliasing noise when adjusting the tuning of Instruments like crash cymbals, which can be rich in overtone content. Oversampling increases the plugin’s internal sampling rate to achieve higher quality at the expense of slightly higher CPU load. Polyphony (Voices) Configure the maximum number of voices (Instrument hits played at a time) that you want to reserve for Strike, using the Polyphony setting.
Beat Synchronizes to the Pro Tools session tempo and to the nearest beat. This means a Pattern that is triggered will play from its start point at the next quarter-note beat in the Timeline. Pattern Change Grid The Pattern Change Grid option sets the position in the bar where Strike changes from the current Pattern to the next.
MIDI Controller Mapping Strike lets you assign standard MIDI controllers to virtually any parameter so that you can control Strike from a MIDI controller in real-time. To assign a MIDI controller to a parameter: 1 Right-click (Windows or Mac) or Control-click (Mac) a rotary control or fader. 2 Do one of the following: • Select the desired MIDI controller from the Assign pop-up menu. – or – • Click Learn, and move the desired control on your MIDI controller.
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appendix a Mix Page Signal Flow Instrument Channel (× 12) Overheads Room Mics Talkback Mic Master Close Mic 1 Close Mic 2 Close Mic 3 Talkback Mic Drive Room Mics Delay Overheads Downmix Delay Surround EQ (Pre) EQ (Pre) EQ (Pre) EQ (Pre) Insert A Insert A Insert A Insert A Insert Insert B Insert B Insert B Insert B Master Dyn EQ (Post) EQ (Post) Pan EQ (Post) INS INS Width Fader Fader EQ (Pre) EQ (Post) EQ (Post) INS INS INS Width Fader Fader Fader Clip LED Out 1–8
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appendix b Strike Insert Effects Dynamics 3 Compressor Standard Pro Tools Brickwall Limiter Hard-knee, high ratio compressor compressor Drive Drive Ratio Attack Output Release Attack Output Release Opto Compressor Vintage-style compressor with Gate Classic noise gate Threshold feedback sidechain Attack Drive Hold Attack Release Release Depth Output Envelope Triggered envelope shaper Eco Compressor Basic compressor, uses fewer system resources Attack Drive Level Ratio Decay Attack3 En
Dynamic EQ Triggered equalizer, only affecting Mic Modeller A range of microphone and speaker attacks simulations Freq Classic Cap Gain Vintage Cap Q Large Cap Start Small Cap Length Standard Dyn Tube Saturation Warm tape-like overdrive Vocal Dyn Drive Snare Dyn Bias Tom Dyn Saturation Kick Dyn Tone Egg Dyn Mix Boundary Distortion Fuzz-like overdrive Ribbon Drive Radio Mix Speaker (Used as microphone) Output Vari Filter Triggered multi-mode filter for “auto wah” effects Bit
Frequency Shift Enharmonic shifter, useful for Chorus Adds stereo width and detuning tuning drums On Coarse Mix Fine Attack Delay Adds echoes, adjustable in milliseconds or Rate beats Mix Time Depth Oscillator Triggered sine wave or noise to mix with or replace drum hits Feedback Mix Balance Freq Tone Sweep Reverb Dense 80s style reverb Tone Shape Decay Time Damp Width Mix Phaser A sweeping notch filter effect Mix Rate Depth Feedback Width Appendix B: Strike Insert Effects 45
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