StiX : MultiSynthesis Drum Machine (v1.6 Released + Flash sales)

[Doug1978]

Lotuzia - sounds very good.
I'll buy it when I've got the moolah.

Thanks also for the Brazil Stix demo - think I recognize the inspiration for that, given our previous thread comments!

Cheers.

[Lotuzia]

Hi Lotuzia,
I joined KVR so I could interact with you,
I've read about the release of the beta of StiX on Audiofanzine and I'm actually quite interrested into it as I'm always feeling concerned by the thing brought by new plugins and hardware on the market.

I will probably take the beta offer but as I'm already working with a combination of Geist & Tremor by FXPansion, can you tell me a bit about the benefits I could draw from using this soft.

Actually, I hear that it sounds awesome for many different type of sounds (accoustic & analogic), but what would the soft offer me that is different from what I actually do with the combination of the FXPansion tools ?

Forgive me for the tricky question, but I'd just like to get your opinion about this

Thanks and *Bienvenue sur Kvr* Kwysix.

Well, first difference, as you already spotted it : The sound ( Xils filters, morphing analog oscillators, analog modelled envelopes, FM and cross synthesis etc)

Then, part of the answers can be found, as sometimes, in the question itself : Tremor offers Synthesis, while Geist only deals with samples. In StiX, you have both simultaneously.

It has some direct consequences : In StiX, you can simply layer the two synthesis methods in a drumpad (like the Bass Drum of the Click & Sub global preset ( here the click is a sample, and the boom part is an analog oscillator, wich is a method sometimes found on specialised drum modules synths that only deal with a drum subtype, like Kicks ) So to perform similar to this with the Tremor/Geist couple, you would have to program the same sequence in both units, deal with minimum two outputs etc. But this doesnt stop there. With StiX you can perform FM and cross synthesis with all the parameters. ( You can listen to the *cross synthesis* audio demo for an example of this) So you can perform FM between a sample and 1/2 oscillators, or FM feedback. Or cross synthesis to modulate an LFO speed by a sample + and oscillator for example ! Here there are endless possibilities, and tbh, I have explored only a few of them until now, because of a lack of time. But it's there. And this is strictly impossible to perform in the Tremor/Geist couple afaik.

There are other differences, like the osc section, or the EV section ( StiX are ADSR, Tremor use 3 segments EVs ). In StiX you have micro position for Sequencer steps. And this has a lot of consequences on your sequences 'life'. You have the PolyStep modulator. Unseen on any drum machine. Another Life feature. You have per step Gate Time. The worflow is completely different also. We have tried to make StiX workflow as fast and intuitive as possible, given it's depth, yet some people might prefer the workflow of other drum machines. We'll see. Etc etc.

Then, not to be mistaken, Tremor and Geist can also certainly do things StiX cant do.

All in all, in any case, I think these three Drum machine can compliment each other nicely, for those ( and I made a poll last year about that, so I know there are many of them, at least in this forum) who use at least 2 different drum machines. And for those who will have to make a choice because the wallet is NOT extensible, well, demo versions of these different programs are there for that purpose !

Hey Lotuzia, thanks for the long and thoughtful answer (et merci pour l'ersatz de French Touch), I see that Stix offers some amazing layering possibilities, and the cross modulation features appear to be full of promise for some insane drum synthesis. You convinced me to put some bucks in it as soon as my bank account gets refilled.

Btw, I took a look at the GUI to see how it's organized, and I have to say that despite all the space available, it seems quite intuitive (not as much as Drumazone, but way more than Microtonic or Tremor).

Thanks. You might still want to demo it before buying It's safer.

The workflow : Well, for complex units, the workflow is essential. StiX can be used at several levels of expertise : Rookies will get full benefit from the Eazy synthesis + Multiline Sequencer pages combo. It's already extremly powerfull, very fast & intuitive, and everything is on one screen. Veterans will muse in the advanced synthesis and Single Line sequencer pages : It's never more than a click away. So that rookies will become veterans more/less effortless.

A workflow is all about taking decisions. For example, after a few designs, I had to take the decision between two *global concepts* for the Eazy Synthesis page : Show eazy synthesis parameters for ALL drumpads on one screen, or only ONE drumpad. The consequences are very direct : ALL drumpads mean very few parameters per drum sound ( a la TR-808 ), ONE drumpad means a meaningfull reduced array of parameters ( All the Macro like Stretch etc + the poly Mod )

There's no precise law to decide between these two concepts. I took the decision based on the following idea : In my workflow, I never tweak quasi simultaneously the bass drum AND the Snare Drum AND the HH AND the Toms with 2/3 knobs on each. I work on the BD, then on the HH, etc. So I don't need to see all controls on one page, and I need to see a minimal number of tweaking possibilities for each. This lead me directly into the creation of of the macro controls that populate the Eazy synthesis page ( ie searching what was really essential when tweaking a specific percussion sound)

Some other developpers made the opposite choice, showing few controls of all drumpads on one page. i'm sure this concept have its afficionados as well. Diversity and freedom are the keywords here.

[Lotuzia]

You have the PolyStep modulator. Unseen on any drum machine.

What is the PolyStep modulator?

Well, graphically it's very simple and fun to use.

You have an X/Y space and you throw, and position, bowls in it, like on a pool table. Then you define 4 targets & amounts for the synthesis parameters that will be controlled. Amounts can be positive and negative. Each bowl represents one step of the sequencer. Bowl can also move automatically with a Chaotic function.

Here's the detailed explication ( From the beta manual ):

' Balls : You can add up to 8 balls in the PolyMod Area (1), and each new ball will be be triggered by a step of the sequencer in a circular way : The first step of the sequence will always trigger the first ball, then each new step will trigger the next ball, until the last ball is triggered, and the cycle begins again from the beginning.
To add/remove balls, just click on the + and – controls (2) '

'Balls action : Up to 4 parameters can be defined (3) that will be affected by the PolyMod : If a ball is centered, then no effect will be heard, if a ball is not centered, it will generate some modulations according to the 4 destinations parameters defined, following these rules : A ball located at the left of the center will generate inverse ( negative ) modulation to each of the two parameters choosen as Horz11/2 –Horizontal- destinations, while a ball centered at the right will generate positive modulations of these parameters. The same apply for the vertical axis : Balls located above the center will generate positive ( increase) modulations of the 2 parameters linked to the V1/V2 modulations, while balls located under the center position will generate negative (inverse/decrease) modulations of these parameters. The amount of each modulation is fixed by the 4 Amount knobs (4)'

Usefull for :

• Add motion, automatic, but controled, variations, humanisation -subtle or drastic- on every sound
  PolyRythms
  Alternate States ( use only two bowls, like open/closed HH, Parradiddles etc)
  Different fractional metric operations etc

But I'd say that the best part is that anyone can use the PolyStep and give life to a sound. If you're expert, it's fully predictable. If you're a rookie, its fun to use and will act like magic. But you control the magic. It's so powerfull that, even if it takes quite some place in the eazy synthesis page, it must be on that page. And a meaningfull part of the factory presets use it. So users will gradually get used to it, and tempted to experiment with it.

[Lotuzia]

Lotuzia - sounds very good.
I'll buy it when I've got the moolah.

Thanks also for the Brazil Stix demo - think I recognize the inspiration for that, given our previous thread comments!

Cheers.

Thanks a lot

Yes discussing things witrh people is very important for me : It opens my mind.

To illustrate this : A new beta v0.96 has been released.(31/12/2015)

Changes :

• GUI/UI of Advanced Synthesis section has been changed. Some comments made here helped me to redesign it. We listen to you.
  Midi Cc automation : Was buggy and has been improved. I'm currently building a map for my Novation midi KB. It might become the default map in one of the next betas.( Until now, the map was empty with no midi CC assigned to any parameter ) If you prefer an empty map after installation, just post in this thread. It takes a lot of time to biuld a map, so I'm inclined to think that a default already populated one with minimal controls is better.
  A few various bugs were fixed.

[AnX]

Regarding wav samples, what formats are supported (ie 16/44... 24/96 mono/stereo etc etc)

Are samples bundled with (user) presets?

[Lotuzia]

Regarding wav samples, what formats are supported (ie 16/44... 24/96 mono/stereo etc etc)

Are samples bundled with (user) presets?

Native format is 44/16b. Any other type of samples -16/48 etc- should be ok and will be converted on the fly. Also : Stereo samples will be summed into mono.

Edit : Seems you added another question in your post : Once imported, the sample now belongs to StiX library, and will appear in the DropDown lists.

[AnX]

What i mean is, if you are to share a preset with another user(say a drumkit with a pattern) will the samples be saved with the preset, or will the samples need to be provided too?

[Lotuzia]

What i mean is, if you are to share a preset with another user(say a drumkit with a pattern) will the samples be saved with the preset, or will the samples need to be provided too?

Ok I understand better now. Samples are saved with the preset. You can export/import single drumpads, drumkits, and also collections (ie banks) of drumpads, drumkits etc.

[PALU]

I tried to make some demo of more experimental rhythms, but every time I tried to record the output of the plugin (on Reaper 4.x 32 bit, OSX, VST version) I was unable to. [...]

I wonder, could it be that you simply reached the 15mn limit when the plug has to be reloaded ? (It's one of the restricted features of the version you choose)

I did a quick test and I think it was it. Sorry for reporting that as a bug

[Lotuzia]

I tried to make some demo of more experimental rhythms, but every time I tried to record the output of the plugin (on Reaper 4.x 32 bit, OSX, VST version) I was unable to. [...]

I wonder, could it be that you simply reached the 15mn limit when the plug has to be reloaded ? (It's one of the restricted features of the version you choose)

I did a quick test and I think it was it. Sorry for reporting that as a bug

No probs It could have been one.

----_________

StiX v 0.96b has been released. Changes :

* GUI/UI Fx, Fx send and Swing blocks reorganised/improved. FX section is now near the Fx send section. Send Fx section reorganised. Fx on/off diodes have been added etc. Global Swing function is on the bottom right.
* Midi Cc Assignation map has been further refined : Parameter list and some parameters names changed. Should be ok for a default Assignation map to be built and included in future versions, making StiX completely automatable, or live controlled, via any knobby/slidery/buttony Midi device/keyboard.

[AnX]

setting all the mixer levels to zero still produces sound. Mute/Solo works, but when a slider is set to zero, there is still a very faint noise.

[VariKusBrainZ]

Distortion effect still reduces the volume
Some of the vertical lines on the last sequencer page are misaligned

[Lotuzia]

setting all the mixer levels to zero still produces sound. Mute/Solo works, but when a slider is set to zero, there is still a very faint noise.

Thanks for the report. Yes just like on my old Trident 32 inline mixdesk

More seriously, we'll see if something can be done, or is really worth to be done, because :

If you're using static view, the mute button is more handy. If you're using automation via midi Cc, the mute could also be prefered. Mute/Unmute channels is available via automation from version 0.96B. not fully tested ( currently testing all this) but it should work. Or at worse in next beta.

[Lotuzia]

Distortion effect still reduces the volume
Some of the vertical lines on the last sequencer page are misaligned

Thanks. For the disto we'll see.

Yes : The Sequencer central area has not yet been fixed GUI/UI wise. Some designs are ready, but not yet implemented.

Here is where we are now :

Beta 0.96 : Advanced Synthesis area reworwed
Beta 0.96b : Send FX/FX/Swing/Virtual KB reworked.

Other areas, including the Sequencer, will be done for the next betas. Until we reached V1.0 status. I dont know if people who made these remarks will read this, but the current changes reflect some of the comments that were done here, on other forums and in private by users and beta testers.

[AnX]

setting all the mixer levels to zero still produces sound. Mute/Solo works, but when a slider is set to zero, there is still a very faint noise.

Thanks for the report. Yes just like on my old Trident 32 inline mixdesk

More seriously, we'll see if something can be done, or is really worth to be done, because :

If you're using static view, the mute button is more handy. If you're using automation via midi Cc, the mute could also be prefered. Mute/Unmute channels is available via automation from version 0.96B. not fully tested ( currently testing all this) but it should work. Or at worse in next beta.

Well, if i want to automate a fade, it will be a problem. I'd say its a bug.