Shaperbox 3 - is there a way to midi switch different LFO rates?
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Lee / Cableguys Lee / Cableguys https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=398168 - KVRist
- 141 posts since 9 May, 2017
It is not possible to switch between synced LFO rates directly using MIDI, but here are some suggestions on how to achieve similar effects via MIDI:
1. Set the LFO Rate to the slowest speed you want to use, then draw in your LFO shape. Now use the 2x and 3x buttons to create faster "doubled up" versions of the waveform, storing each in the lower-right Wave Palette area. Enable MIDI Switch to switch between them using MIDI notes. The nice thing here is that you can tweak the wave for each "speed", eg, give the fastest ones even steeper decay, or add some slight variety to the repeats.
2. Enable the MIDI Pitch mode found in the LFO Rate menu. This allows you to control the frequency of the LFO using MIDI notes. For example, note A4 gives a 440Hz LFO speed. For rhythmic effects, set the Octaves shifter to the minimum -3 setting, then play notes in the lowest MIDI octaves. Note that the LFOs reset with each MIDI note in this mode, so the timing is not totally free-running – this helps you to get rhythmically sensible results. The higher octaves are fun too – once you get into the audio range, you get crazy ring mod-like textures!
3. Use MIDI Trigger to directly program/play the rhythms you want to create. With simple waveforms like saw ramps, this can be very effective. Since MIDI Trigger and MIDI Switch can be used simultaneously, you may also use MIDI to switch to tighter, fast-decaying waveforms during quick 16th note repeats, etc. This method gives absolute timing flexibility that goes beyond the options in the LFO Rate menu, so you can create all kinds of odd tuples and polyrhythms.
4. Some DAWs do allow you to map MIDI to the LFO Rate automation parameter. For example, in Ableton Live, you can use the MIDI Map feature to do this. Since there are 23 possible LFO Rates, use a range of 23 notes, eg, from C3 to A#4. You should also be able to map MIDI CCs in the same way, for example, to control LFO Rate via MIDI knobs or sliders. If you want to do this using MIDI tracks (rather than external MIDI devices), you would need to set up MIDI loopback too.
There are more ShaperBox MIDI tricks and tips in Joe's video here:
1. Set the LFO Rate to the slowest speed you want to use, then draw in your LFO shape. Now use the 2x and 3x buttons to create faster "doubled up" versions of the waveform, storing each in the lower-right Wave Palette area. Enable MIDI Switch to switch between them using MIDI notes. The nice thing here is that you can tweak the wave for each "speed", eg, give the fastest ones even steeper decay, or add some slight variety to the repeats.
2. Enable the MIDI Pitch mode found in the LFO Rate menu. This allows you to control the frequency of the LFO using MIDI notes. For example, note A4 gives a 440Hz LFO speed. For rhythmic effects, set the Octaves shifter to the minimum -3 setting, then play notes in the lowest MIDI octaves. Note that the LFOs reset with each MIDI note in this mode, so the timing is not totally free-running – this helps you to get rhythmically sensible results. The higher octaves are fun too – once you get into the audio range, you get crazy ring mod-like textures!
3. Use MIDI Trigger to directly program/play the rhythms you want to create. With simple waveforms like saw ramps, this can be very effective. Since MIDI Trigger and MIDI Switch can be used simultaneously, you may also use MIDI to switch to tighter, fast-decaying waveforms during quick 16th note repeats, etc. This method gives absolute timing flexibility that goes beyond the options in the LFO Rate menu, so you can create all kinds of odd tuples and polyrhythms.
4. Some DAWs do allow you to map MIDI to the LFO Rate automation parameter. For example, in Ableton Live, you can use the MIDI Map feature to do this. Since there are 23 possible LFO Rates, use a range of 23 notes, eg, from C3 to A#4. You should also be able to map MIDI CCs in the same way, for example, to control LFO Rate via MIDI knobs or sliders. If you want to do this using MIDI tracks (rather than external MIDI devices), you would need to set up MIDI loopback too.
There are more ShaperBox MIDI tricks and tips in Joe's video here: