Audio Damage Tattoo - Manual (Page 27)

27
Global Controls
The global controls, found at the lower-right corner of Tattoo’s window, affect Tattoo’s overall operation. Most
of them will be familiar if you’ve used a drum machine before, and their utility is pretty obvious even if you
haven’t used a drum machine.
Sync
The small popup menu labeled Sync lets you choose one of three operating modes for Tattoo. These modes
are Host, Internal, and MIDI Note.
The Host sync mode locks Tattoo’s sequencer to your host program’s transport. Tattoo’s tempo and timing
will be entirely determined by your host program: when you start your project playing in the usual manner,
Tattoo will start also; when you stop your DAW, Tattoo stops. Tattoo’s sequencers will always be aligned with
the bar lines in your host program. In Host sync mode, Tattoo’s Tempo knob will have no effect since the
tempo is set by the host. Also, the Play and Stop buttons don’t do anything in Host sync mode.
The Internal sync mode lets Tattoo run independently of the host program. Tattoo will play at whatever
tempo you set with the Tempo knob, and will start and stop when you click the Play and Stop buttons. The
Internal sync mode is useful if you’re using Tattoo in a context in which you have no need for another frame
of rhythmic reference, such as running it within Plogue Bidule.
Tattoo’s MIDI Note Sync mode is somewhat tricky to get the hang of, but its usefulness will be immediately
apparent once you understand what it does. In short, the MIDI Note mode lets you use MIDI note messages
to make Tattoo’s sequencers step forwards and backwards.
When Tattoo is in this mode, the sequencer steps forward one step and plays that step every time it receives
a C5 note. If it receives a B5 note, it steps backwards one step and plays that step. If it receives a D5, it goes
to step one and plays that step. If it is on step 32, and it receives a C5, it wraps around to the other side and
plays step 1. If it is on step 1, and it receives a B5, it wraps around and plays step 32.
In this manner, you have full control over the time base the sequencer is operating at. The main usefulness is
to drive a 16-step pattern using a groove template or your host's swing settings. To do that, follow these
steps:
1. Create a 1-measure MIDI clip in Tattoo's MIDI channel.
2. In your host's piano roll editor, put a D5 note at 1/16. At 2/16 onwards put a C5.