Infinity Looper User’s Guide All contents c Absara Audio LLC 2014
Contents Contents 2 1 Welcome to Infinity 6 2 Anatomy and Functions 2.1 Footswitches . . . . . . Loop 1 . . . . . . . . . Loop 2 . . . . . . . . . Stop . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Toggle Switches . . . . Stop Mode . . . . . . . Arm, All . . . . Full, Trail, Fade Input Split . . . . . . . Series Loops . . . . . . Sync Multi . . . . . . . 2.3 Knobs . . . . . . . . . Master Volume . . . . Preset . . . . . . . . . Loop Volume 1 . . . . Loop Volume 2 . . . . 2.4 Jacks . . . . . . . . . . DC Power . . . . . . .
CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CONTENTS 3.14 Click Killer . . . . 3.15 Varispeed . . . . 3.16 Boot Options . . Auto Zero Record Mono Mixdown . Stutter . . . . . . Reformat . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 28 31 31 31 32 32 4 Remote Switch Functions 4.
CONTENTS 5 MIDI Real-Time Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Varispeed MIDI Note Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 7 Infinity Looper Application 49 8 Firmware Updates 50 8.1 Automatic Update Using the Looper Application . . . 50 8.2 Manual Firmware Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Welcome to Infinity Pigtronix designed this pedal to be easy to use, yet vastly powerful and deeply musical. Think of it as a foot-operated, digital version of a multi-track tape recorder. Eschewing the quantization and delayed commands found in other looper pedals, the Pigtronix approach is to make all commands instantaneous.
2. 2.1 Anatomy and Functions Footswitches Loop 1 This footswitch controls the looping actions for Loop 1. Pressing the Loop 1 footswitch at any time will arm Loop 1, illuminating the corresponding red LED and indicating that Loop 1 is ready to receive Play, Stop, Overdub and Undo commands. Loop 1 is armed by default upon power up. If there is no audio recorded on Loop 1, pressing the Loop 1 footswitch will begin recording immediately.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 9 Stop Quickly pressing the Stop footswitch will stop audio playback on one or both loops, depending on the Arm/All setting (see below). Holding down the Stop footswitch for at least two seconds will cause loop audio to be erased from one or both loops, depending on the Arm/All setting. 2.2 Toggle Switches Stop Mode Quickly pressing the Stop Mode switch will toggle between Arm and All modes.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 10 command. When loops are stopped, pressing a loop footswitch will only resume playback of the currently armed loop. Some Remote Switch functions (page 34) also follow the Arm/All setting. Many MIDI CC/Note messages contain values that also specify Arm or All control. For more information please see the description of the MIDI implementation on page 43. Full, Trail, Fade In Full mode, audio will stop immediately when you push the Stop footswitch.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 11 Series Loops When Series Loops is on, you are in Series mode. This means that only one of the two loops can play at any given time. This is handy for verse/chorus-type song structures. When Series Loops is off, you are in Parallel mode. This means that Loop 1 and Loop 2 can play together at the same time. Sync Multi Holding the Sync Multi switch will toggle Sync Multi on or off.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 12 Once Loop 2 is recorded, the Sync is locked to the multiplier you have selected. It is possible to turn Sync on and off at this point, but you must delete Loop 2 if you want to switch to a different multiplier value. Once Loop 2 is recorded, its length is fixed. However, turning Sync off after that point allows you to start playback of Loop 2 at any time, not just at the start of Loop 1. Keeping Sync Multi on means that Loop 2 will always replay from the start Loop 1.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 13 Preset This is a rotary push button encoder that is used to select what loop preset is in use, and to store loop audio. The Infinity Looper allows you to store and recall up to 50 presets, which consist of audio that you’ve either recorded on the Infinity, or audio you’ve loaded onto the pedal from your computer using the app. Each preset includes a Loop 1, and a Loop 2 if you’ve recorded one.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 2.4 14 Jacks DC Power Use only the 18-Volt, 300mA, negative-tip power supply that came with your Pigtronix Infinity Looper. Using the wrong power supply is likely to result in a damaged pedal. In 1 Looper input 1. This is normally the input to use, unless you are using both inputs for stereo or two instruments. In 2 Looper input 2. Use this input for the second input of a stereo signal, or a second instrument using Input Split.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 15 Aux Out This output contains summed mono audio of all currently playing loops. This output is primarily intended for use as a loop only monitor send to a drummer, bandmate or FOH mixer. Undo Connect a dual momentary remote switch here using a TRS (balanced 1/4”) cable (not an instrument or speaker cable!) to enable Overdub, Undo, Redo, Reverse, and Varispeed. We recommend the Infinity Remote: www.pigtronix.com/products/ infinity-remote-switch.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 16 obey MIDI Start, Stop and Song Select, as well as CC/Note control over every feature (complete MIDI mapping). To enable this behavior, hold down the Multi Sync switch when powering up. For more information and instructions, go to page 43. USB This provides a connection to a PC or MAC computer for loading and offloading loop audio, preset management, audio routing configuration and firmware updates.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 17 When an external MIDI Clock is used, the Arm LED for the currently selected Loop will blink at the received tempo. Stop LED The Stop LED will glow red when loop audio is stopped. Clip LED This red LED between the Loop Volume knobs will indicate when the input signal is reaching the maximum headroom of the Infinity’s recording engine and begins to trigger the analog limiter stages.
CHAPTER 2. ANATOMY AND FUNCTIONS 18 When a delayed command has been initiated, the relevant footswitch, Arm, and Stop LEDs will blink repeatedly to indicate a pending action, and will turn solid in color once the action is taken. At the end of the loop cycle of the currently armed loop, the stop, multi-segment digit, associated footswitch LED, and arm LEDs will all flash. The other (non-armed) loop’s associated LEDs (Footswitch and A) will flash at the end of its loop cycle as well.
3. 3.1 Infinity Rules Arm Arming a loop is achieved by pressing the footswitch that corresponds to the desired loop. The Arm light above the selected loop will glow red indicating its status as armed. A loop must be armed in order to accept further commands. When the Infinity powers up initially, LOOP 1 is armed by default. Loop 2 cannot be armed until material is recorded on Loop 1. 3.2 Record Once a loop is armed, pressing the footswitch for that loop will begin recording.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 21 In parallel mode, Loop 1 will immediately begin playback when Loop 2 starts recording. In series mode, Loop 1 will simply close and be ready for playback the next time you hit the Loop 1 footswitch. 3.4 Play When a loop has been recorded but is stopped, pressing that loop’s footswitch will restart playback. The corresponding LED will glow green to indicate playback. The Play function is tied to the Arm/All setting (see page 9). 3.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 22 When the erase command is triggered, the Stop LED, the current Arm LED and the Multi-Segment Digit will flash once to indicate audio has just been erased. The Erase function is tied to the Arm/All settings (see page 9). 3.7 Overdub Overdub lets you add additional material to the original loop. Pressing the Loop footswitch when a loop is playing back will start overdubbing. The corresponding footswitch LED will glow orange to indicate Overdub.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 23 Quickly pressing the Sync Multi switch once Sync Multi is on, cycles through the sync multiplier factor. When Sync Multi is turned off, the lengths of Loop 1 and 2 are unrelated and playback is unsynchronized. If Loop 2 is recorded when Sync Multi is off, it cannot be turned off until Loop 2 is erased. The multiplier displayed on the LED bar to the right of the Sync Multi switch determines the length of Loop 2 relative to Loop 1.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 3.10 24 Series & Fade Modes Trails In Series mode, when Trails is selected, switching between loops at any time will cue the selected loop to begin playback automatically at the end of the current loop cycle.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 25 When nothing is plugged into Input 2, then the audio from Input 1 becomes the source for Input 2 (as well as Input 1) and the Input Split function allows you to record separate loops for the left and right output channels. 3.12 Presets The Infinity Looper allows you to store and recall up to 50 presets, which consist of audio that you’ve either recorded by playing through the Infinity, or audio you’ve loaded onto the pedal from your computer using the app.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 26 select the bank you want to save the loops in and then push down and hold the preset knob for 2 seconds to finalize the save. To cancel the save process at any time, hit the Stop footswitch. Preset 0 does not store any loops, it is the blank canvas. If you try to save a loop to Preset 0, the digit will show you a “-” symbol, indicating that you should save this audio somewhere else by turning the encoder to select a different preset slot.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 27 Erasing To erase saved audio from a preset (for example, erasing one of the loops), the audio must first be erased by pressing and holding the Stop footswitch. Then the modified loop must be saved using the process previously described. 3.13 Loop Aging Press and hold Input Split for 2 seconds to enter the Loop Aging Menu. The digit will flash between “A” and “-” indicating that Loop Aging is currently turned off.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 28 back, the loop does not decay. Undo works as expected, allowing you to Undo or Redo any Loop Aging that you let happen during an overdub, no matter how many times you let the loop cycle. For how to control Loop Aging using an expression pedal, see Expression Pedal Functions, 39. 3.14 Click Killer Within the Loop Aging menu (press and hold Input Split), an option has been added to enable or disable the loop boundary Click Killer. If it is on, the menu will show “C.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 29 Push and hold down the Reverse switch to allow user control of Varispeed. The sample rate can be set anywhere between 48 kHz to 12 kHz. As the sample rate is increased or decreased, both the pitch and length of the recorded audio changes. The sample rate is a global parameter and affects both loops simultaneously.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 30 When using Varispeed, the expression pedal provides control over the complete range of sample rates. It is mapped to control the sample rate using Expression Mapping (page 39) or while in the Varispeed Remote Control Menu. For more precise changes, the Remote Switch can change the sample rate by a pre-defined musical interval. By default, Reverse halves the sample rate (octave down) and Undo doubles it (octave up).
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 3.16 31 Boot Options Each of the footswitches can be pressed during power up to enable and disable a specialty global setting on the Infinity Looper. These settings are sticky and will remain set even after removing power from the Infinity. Auto Zero Record Hold Loop 1 during boot to toggle Auto Zero Record. With Auto Zero Record off (Loop 1 LED is off during boot), the MIDI downbeat is reset on the first received note or MIDI start.
CHAPTER 3. INFINITY RULES 32 Stutter Hold Stop during boot to toggle Stutter. Stutter replaces the functionality of the Reverse button on the Remote Switch (see page 34). With Stutter off (Stop LED is off during boot), the Reverse button on the Remote Switch functions as expected. With Stutter on (Stop LED is on during boot), pressing the Reverse button on the Remote Switch causes the armed loop to be played from its start point immediately.
4. Remote Switch Functions We recommend that you use the Infinity Remote (www.pigtronix. com/products/infinity-remote-switch) as your remote switch. Plug your remote switch into the Undo jack. 4.1 Reverse Reverse is triggered by shorting the ring to the sleeve of the Undo jack. This is accomplished by connecting any two-button, momentary footswitch (such as the Pigtronix Infinity Remote) to the Undo jack with a TRS cable.
CHAPTER 4. REMOTE SWITCH FUNCTIONS 4.2 35 Undo To undo overdubs, a dual momentary remote switch is required. This should be connected to the Undo jack using a TRS (balanced 1/4”) cable. When an overdub is being recorded (Loop LED is orange), pressing the Undo switch will cause the Infinity to permanently erase that overdub at the end of the current loop cycle. Any material from previous overdubs that have already been merged with the initial recording will not be undone.
CHAPTER 4. REMOTE SWITCH FUNCTIONS 36 Once you have started the base layer recording, simply press the Undo switch to close your initial loop and go straight into playback with overdub active. Press the appropriate Loop footswitch as you normally would to close the overdub when desired and begin regular playback. 4.5 Instant Erase When one or both loops are stopped, hitting Undo will trigger an instant erase of the currently armed loop.
CHAPTER 4. REMOTE SWITCH FUNCTIONS 37 Pressing and holding undo or pressing both Reverse and Undo resets the sample rate to the initial recording sample rate. The default Interval selection is one octave, enabling Reverse and Undo to double-speed and half-speed recorded audio respectively. This interval can be changed using the Remote Mapping Menu, accessed by pressing the Series Loops switch for 2 seconds.
5. Expression Pedal Functions An industry standard low-impedance TRS expression pedal can be connected to the Infinity using a TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) cable, to control any one of the following (but only one at a time): Loop Volume, Loop Aging, or Varispeed. Moving the expression pedal towards the heel will turn the loop audio down (for both loops) from the level set by the individual loop volume knobs. 5.
CHAPTER 5. EXPRESSION PEDAL FUNCTIONS 40 the “P” mode, since hitting the switch is like going to “0.” 5.3 Varispeed This is the default function of the Expression pedal while in the Varispeed Remote Control Menu. This mapping controls the Varispeed sample rate. Moving the expression pedal towards the heel will decrease the sample rate, decreasing pitch and increasing loop length.
CHAPTER 5. EXPRESSION PEDAL FUNCTIONS 41 Varispeed Remote Control Menu is entered while in the Remote Mapping Menu, the Remote Mapping Menu will set the Interval Change of the Varispeed Remote Control Menu as described on page 36. Using the Application the Expression Pedal can be assigned to control separate parameters while inside the Varispeed Remote Control menu and while outside the Varispeed Remote Control Menu.
6. 6.1 MIDI MIDI Sync MIDI Sync is the normal default MIDI mode of the Infinity−it’s always on. When a MIDI Beat Clock is present, the Infinity Looper will synchronize its actions to the MIDI beat clock, acting as a slave device. Once a loop has been recorded with a MIDI Beat Clock, the Infinity will constantly readjust the loop length to stay synchronized. This active MIDI synchronization prevents drift, and guarantees that all synchronized actions happen on time at the start of MIDI measures.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 6.2 44 Time Signature The Time signature can be changed, on a preset-by-preset basis, using the Infinity Application. For quantization to the beat rather than to the measure, set the measure to a single note (eg. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16). 6.3 Commands That Sync to MIDI Clock With MIDI Sync active, some commands initiated using the Infinity’s footswitches will be automatically quantized to the beginning of the next MIDI Measure.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 45 Overdub Closes a base recording at the start of the next measure after the switch has been pressed then begins recording an Overdub. 6.4 Commands That Ignore MIDI Sync Erase, Overdub, Global stop (via double tap), and all mode changes via the tactile switches, potentiometers or encoder are not quantized to MIDI beat clock. 6.5 Full MIDI Mapping To select a MIDI channel, press and hold the Stop Mode switch as the Infinity Looper turns on.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 46 Cycle/Toggle Any value of these MIDI CC/Note messages toggles or cycles through the available options, changing to the next selection. Mapped The value (0-127) of these MIDI CC/Note messages sets the value of the parameter. Loop-Assignable Specific values of these MIDI CC/Note messages triggers the action for Loop 1 Only (0), Loop 2 Only (1), the currently Armed Loop Only (2), or Both Loops (3).
CHAPTER 6.
CHAPTER 6. MIDI 48 Varispeed MIDI Note Control For precise changes of sample rate for the purposes of a pitch change, the Infinity accepts MIDI Note Control. MIDI Notes C5 to C7 change the sample rate between 12 and 48 khz. The looper starts at 48 kHz, so if you want to raise the pitch of a sample, lower the sample rate before recording. MIDI Notes C2 to C4 change the sample rate between 12 and 48 kHz, and Stutter the loop (see page 32).
7. Infinity Looper Application The Infinity Looper Application comes pre-installed on your Infinity Looper pedal. To run the application, plug in your Looper via USB and open the appropriate folder (PC or MAC) from the on-board drive and then click on the LooperApp.exe file. If using Windows 7, please right-click and choose “Run As Administrator” To update the Infinity Looper application on your Infinity Looper, download the updated version at the following URL: www.Pigtronix.
8. 8.1 Firmware Updates Automatic Update Using the Looper Application In order to launch the Infinity Looper Application, you must plug the looper into a PC using the supplied USB-A to microUSB cable. The Infinity is not a bus powered device and must be plugged into the wall using the supplied adapter in order to run the Infinity Looper Application. Once the Infinity has been connected to a computer, it will appear as a USB mass storage device.
CHAPTER 8. FIRMWARE UPDATES 51 is currently running on your device. 8.2 Manual Firmware Update To update your Infinity Looper with the latest firmware, power up the Infinity Looper and plug it into a PC with the supplied USB-A to microUSB cable. The Infinity is not a bus powered device and must be plugged into the wall using the supplied adapter in order to connect via USB. Once the Infinity has been connected to a computer, it will appear as a USB mass storage device.
9. Minimum and Maximum Loop Times Loop 1 Maximum Recording Time (in Seconds) with an 8GB SD Card Multiplier Value # of Preset Slots ×1 ×2 ×3 ×4 ×6 5 720 480 360 286 204 10 357 237 177 141 101 15 237 158 117 95 68 20 177 117 87 70 49 25 141 92 70 54 38 30 117 79 57 46 32 35 101 65 49 38 27 40 87 57 43 35 24 45 76 51 38 30 21 50 (Default) 68 46 32 27 19 For higher numbers of presets, and other SD card sizes the general formula for maximum loop time is t = 0.
10. Acknowledgements Years of work went into creating the Infinity Looper pedal. We would like to thank the following people for their help along the way: Ray Heasman, Howard Davis, Ben Artes, Steve Turnidge, Lisa Rickmers, Megan Leary, the Bethke and Koltai families, Jer Coons, Aaron Reed, Dan Pavone, Kevin Griffin, Sean Fitzsimons, Brett Perdie and B-Dawg.
11. Pigtronix Limited Warranty Your Pigtronix effect pedal comes with a 1-year limited warranty on parts and workmanship. During the warranty period we will repair or replace, at our option, defective parts or pedals free of charge, and return them to the owner. Warranty service does not include damaged, modified, or misused pedals and such pedals will be subject to a standard repair charge. What you must do: First, contact us directly via email and describe the problem to us.
