Operation Manual

NN-XT SAMPLER
174
Using Alternate
About the Alternate function
At the bottom right in the sample parameters area is a knob marked “Alt”. It only has
two states - On and Off. This is used for semi-randomly alternating between zones
during playback.
There are several practical uses for this. Here follows two examples:
• Layering several recordings of the same snare drum. By alternating between them
you get a more natural repetition.
• Layering string up- and down strokes. By alternating you get the realistic effect of
switching between the two directions of the stroke.
You can layer as many sounds as you will and the algorithm switches between them in
a way that provides as little repetition as possible.
To set up an alternating set of zones, proceed as follows:
1. Set up the zones so that they overlap completely or partially.
2. Select them all.
3. Set “Alt” to On for all the zones.
Now, the program will automatically detect how to alternate between the zones,
depending on their overlap.
Sample Parameters
The Sample parameter area is found below the screen. For details on how to adjust
them (depending on whether one or more zones are selected) see page 163. Below
follows a run-down of the various parameters:
Root Note and Tune
These parameters are described on page 170.
Sample Start and End
By turning the knobs you offset the start and end positions, so that they will play back
more or less of a samples’ waveform. Typical examples of use for this would be:
D Removing unwanted portions from samples.
This could be anything from noise to “dead air” at the beginning or end of a sam-
ple.
D To create variations out of a single sample.
These controls can be used to pick out any section of a recording for use as a
sample.
D Together with velocity sample start control.
You can for example increase Sample Start and then apply negative velocity mod-
ulation to Sample Start. Then, the harder you play the more you will hear of the at-
tack portion of the sound.
✪ If you hold down [Shift] when adjusting these parameters, the adjust-
ment is always in single frames (samples).
Loop Start and End
A sample, unlike the cycles of an oscillator for example, is a finite quantity. There is a
sample start and end. To get samples to play for as long as you press down the keys
on your keyboard, they need to be looped.
For this to work properly, you have to first set up two loop points which determine the
part of the sample that will be looped.
The instrument samples in the sound banks included with Reason are already looped.
The same will be true for most commercial sample libraries. However, if you need to,
you can use these controls to adjust the looping.
• The size and position of the loop – in the sample – is determined by two parame-
ters, Loop Start (the beginning of the loop) and Loop End (the end point of the
loop).
• The NN-XT then keeps repeating the section between the Loop Start and Loop
end until the sound has decayed to silence.