Cortex Clinic with Julie

[zvon]

After having fun in various synths, Julie decided to do a clinic on Psychic Modulation drum sampler Cortex, specifically on the pitch sliders of its sequencer.

Cortex is not the most sophisticated drum sampler around but it does have some interesting features, one of them being the pitch sliders. I made 4 short loops to illustrate their use with a few (very few) samples from Julie's Vocal FX collection.

Loop 1: 3 different samples, the "zap" shows up twice with only a slight pitch modification; a fast sequence of the "short kiss" sample moderately modified; the "loud kiss" is used only once, no mod.
Listen to it HERE

Loop 2: only 1 sample heavily modified.
Listen to it HERE

Loop 3: same as above with another sample slightly modified.
Listen to it HERE

Loop 4: similar to loop 1 but with different samples and 4 instead of 3, overall quite modified
Listen to it HERE

Basically, the pitch sliders modify the pitch (don't tell me) of the sample, so the same sample has different pitches on different steps. The coolest feature is that if a sample is long enough, let's say its duration is equal to 4 steps, each step's slider
will modify the pitch sample in one playback of the sample. This is demonstrated in loop 2.

I don't have time to go more in depth today but if there's a significant interest in this clinic, I may do other ones on various synths and subjects.

Let me know what you think of this clinic, if you find it useful and if you would like some more.

[zvon]

I forgot to add that the first loop has reverb at the end, everything else is completely dry.

[RocketSoundz]

Quite interesting, I like loop 1 & 3 the most, I didn't know that Cortex could modified with various pitch a 4 bars sample. Your loops are highly experimental!

[zvon]

Glad you like it.

Psychic Modulation also has another similar product, Cerebrum. It's a drum synth instead of a sampler, they both share the same sliders who can be assigned to pitch mod and other destinations.

[jack [psychicmodulation]]

I like 2 and 4, very strange things going on here.

Cortex and Cerebrum's sequencers currently only play monophonically, meaning the samples will not overlap, so the pitch can be bent with the sequence sliders over time, similar to legato on a keyboard. This can create very strange results, allowing you to bend the sample's tail in various ways.

I'm in the process of adding an option to put the sequencers in poly mode, polyphonically the samples will be triggered like normal, allowing them to overlap, this can get high on cpu though, so I'll put the option on each sample cell to regulate it a bit.

[jack [psychicmodulation]]

I did a quick jam using only 1 instance of Cortex, making use of the pitch sliders and the reverse functions,
check it out: cxjam.mp3
It maybe a little monotnous at times, but I did a lot of 'on the fly' pattern altering and sample mangling.
The only FX used is Blockfish on the master, to compensate for the poor mix.

[zvon]

Hi Jack, I will check your jam later. I also have other examples with drum sounds in this thread:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 10#1024010

[zvon]

I did a quick jam using only 1 instance of Cortex, making use of the pitch sliders and the reverse functions,
check it out: cxjam.mp3
It maybe a little monotnous at times, but I did a lot of 'on the fly' pattern altering and sample mangling.

Nice one, I like it!

[zvon]

Did anyone find this interesting or useful?

[alma is a fish]

i did thanks

[mn]

Yes, it was interesting. I don't have Cortex but it makes me curious to try it. I like that you're actively trying and supporting various samplers and sharing your results.

edit: $30 for 7 synths seems more than fair so I've just bought the NeuroSynth pack. (If you guys don't know you get zvon's drums for free with purchase of the Neurosynth pack. Cortex and Cerebrum are two of the plugs).

[zvon]

Thanks to both of you, I will certainly do another clinic with audio examples similar to this one on another synth or sampler. Don't know when yet, but I will try to do it soon.

If anyone else feels like sharing more comments, please do so.

[zvon]

$30 for 7 synths seems more than fair so I've just bought the NeuroSynth pack.

And it's loads of fun too

[sdv]

Let me know what you think of this clinic, if you find it useful and if you would like some more.

Cool ideas... I'll have to give them a whirl in Cortex.
So what exactly was your process again, step-by-step?

[zvon]

Briefly:
1- you load a few samples in Cortex, for playing with the pitch sliders, they have to be not too short as the results will be easier to hear with longer ones.

2- You click on the pitch button of the channel you want to modulate.

3- You adjust the pitch sensitivity slider, the higher it is, the more modulation you get. It's located just before the step sequencer row.

4- You move the sliders under the steps you want to modulate in the step sequencer.

5- You stop and save (which I did not ) when you have something you like.