FXpansion BFD Eco - Manual (Page 23)

23
6:7 Additional Drum Track controls
Loop
Causes playback to repeat between the Loop indicators in the Drum Track.
When the Loop button is enabled, two Loop indicators (for the Start and End of the loop) appear on the Ruler. When the Position marker
reaches the End Loop indicator, playback loops back to the position specified by the Start Loop indicator.
Adjust the position of the Start and End Loop indicators by clicking and dragging them left and right along the ruler.
Export
Exports a stereo mixdown of the contents of the Drum Track, from the Master channel output.
Clicking the Export button displays a file Save As dialog, allowing you to select a folder to which to save the exported audio file.
Before you can use this function, there must be Grooves present in the Drum Track. The Export function cannot be used when sending MIDI
notes to BFD Eco from your sequencer/DAW/host. In such cases, you must use the recording/mixdown functions of your host.
Only channels whose outputs are routed to the Master channel will be heard in the audio export. If you need to record audio from the multiple
direct outputs, you must use your host’s recording/mixdown functions.
6:8 Groove FX
The Groove FX section contains several functions to alter the feel of Grooves. For example, you can
add ‘humanization’ effects like timing randomization and syncopation, or tighten up the feel with the
Quantize function. Note that the Humanize Vel function affects the Groove engine as well as MIDI note input (see chapter 7).
Quantize
Forces Groove events towards quantization to a 16th-note grid.
The parameter adjusts the amount of quantizing applied from zero (minimum position) to fully quantized (maximum position). Settings between
these values allow you to tighten up timing without losing the entire feel of the original Grooves.
Humanize Time
Applies varying amounts of timing randomization to playing Groove events.
Lower settings are recommended for subtle and non-intrusive humanization, while high settings can result in extremely sloppy timing.
Swing
Applies a variable amount of non-destructive swing to playing Groove events.
Simplify
Applies an algorithm that selectively mutes events in terms of ‘importance’ to the Groove. As the control is increased, more events are muted.
This parameter essentially behaves as a ‘threshold’ on a ‘complexity gate’. It is very useful if you find a Groove to be too ‘busy’ – for example, with
a lot of ghost notes that intrude upon the rest of your song too much.
6:9 Exporting Grooves as MIDI
Grooves can be exported as MIDI from BFD Eco in the following ways:
1. Drag & drop as host MIDI part to host MIDI track
Drag and drop any Groove from the browser to a MIDI track in your host. The Groove appears as a standard MIDI part/clip/sequence. The
current Key Map is used to translate the Groove’s articulation triggers into suitable MIDI notes.
Once the Groove has been exported in this way, it can be edited using your host’s editing facilities such as the piano roll, and manipulated with
its MIDI functions such quantize etc.
When using host MIDI tracks to trigger BFD Eco’s articulations, remember to set
Grooves Mode to ‘Off’ if it isn’t already.
Note that although you can export to a MIDI track that is set to trigger BFD Eco, you can route the exported MIDI clip to any other instrument if
required.
2. Drag & drop as MIDI file to disk folder
Drag and drop any Groove from the browser to your desktop (or any other folder on your hard disk) to export it as a MIDI file. The current Key
Map is used to translate the Groove’s articulation triggers into suitable MIDI notes.
The file is saved as a standard MIDI file, which can be imported into any compatible software or hardware device for playback and editing.