Decimort 2 - User Manual

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User Manual


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OVERVIEW

Overview

Decimort is a stereo high quality (ultra low aliasing) bit crusher.

A er loading the plug-in within a host applica on, the GUI will appear:

There are two sec ons:

• Con gura on and preset management

Con gura on and preset management sec on

• Signal processing control sec on consists of the all remaining controls

Decimort graphical interface


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SIGNAL FLOW • BASIC MODULES

Signal ow

This chapter describes the path of the signal’s ow through the Decimort plug-in, presents the basic components of this e ect unit and itscontrol parameters.

Basic modules

The inside of Decimort consist of a few basic components, that correspond to the sec ons on the graphical interface:

Pre-ampli erPreampli er , controlled by Preamp knob, boosts the input signal within 0dB to + 48dB range.

Preamp Parameter


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Quan zer

Responsible for signal’s amplitude quan za on. In other words it divides the amplitude to speci ed ( Resolu on display) number of levels.

Quan zer module

The quan zer is controlled by the following parameters:

• Resolu on - The number of bits the input signal’s amplitude is degraded to, which corresponds to 2 Number of bits actual quan za onlevels . Selec ng “--”value deac vates the whole Quan zer module.

• DC Shi - Quan za on mode

For example, when the Resolu on is set to 8 bits , it means Quan zer discre zes the amplitude to 256 di erent levels.


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• DC Shi LED o enables the mid-riser quan za on mode.

Nonzero quan za on (mid-raiser)

• DC Shi LED on, enables the mid-tread quan za on mode

Quan sa on including zero (mid-thread)

Most uniform quan zers for signed input data can be classi ed as being of one of two types: mid-riser and mid-tread . The terminology isbased on what happens in the region around the value 0, and uses the analogy of viewing the input-output func on of the quan zer as a stairway.Mid-tread quan zers have a zero-valued reconstruc on level (corresponding to a tread of a stairway), while mid-riser quan zers have a zero-valuedclassi ca on threshold (corresponding to a riser of a stairway)


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• Dithering - The intensity of the half-bit white noise, that is added to the signal just before the quan za on. It reduces the harmonicdistor ons, being a result of signal’s amplitude degrada on, by masking the side e ects of quan za on.

ResamplerThis sec on controls the discre za on process of the input signal in the me domain

Resampling unit

Main parameters are located in the center of this sec on, and these are:

• Frequency - The frequency the signal is discre zed to (resampled). This parameter ranges from 44 Hz to 44.1 kHz• Ji er - Controlling the intensity of random, short-period Resampler’s devia ons .

Ji er is the devia on from true periodicity of a presumed periodic signal, o en in rela on to a reference clock source


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Addi onal parameters located aside the main controls, supervise processing the signal before and a er me discre za on (Resampling). These include:

• Approxima ve Filter - Processing signal before resampling

• Images Filter - Processing signal a er resampling

Approxima ve Filter

Op onally ac vated lter, which removes part, or en re harmonic content, above the Resampler’s Nyquist frequency from the inputsignal. Therefore controlling the amount of aliasing that occurs at the output (below the resampling frequency).

The Approxima ve lter module processes the input signal before it gets onto Resampler.

Resampler’s Approxima on lter

Nyquist frequency of Resampler equals half the R esampler’s frequency. It means if Resampler parameter is set to 2 kHz,

the Resampler’s Nyquist frequency (bandwidth) is only 1 kHz.


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The Approxima ve lter is controlled by the following set of parameters:

• Approx. Filter - The toggle bu on ac vates / deac vates the lter• Frq. Devia on - Cut-o frequency of the Appoxima ve lter is coupled with the Nyquist’s frequency of the Resampler. The o set

between the lter’s cuto frequency and the Resampler Nyquist frequency is controlled by Devia on parameter.• Devia on = 0 (the default) - Sets the Approxima ve Filter’s cuto frequency, exactly at the Nyquist frequency (no o set). This

results in the removing the en re harmonic content above the Nyquist frequency , which prevents the ar facts from appearingbelow the Nyquist . The only type of ar facts occurring are images (harmonics occurring above the Nyquist ).

• Devia on < 0 (nega ve o set) - Sets the Approxima ve lter’s cuto frequency below the Nyquist frequency. Consequently,at the output, as for Devia on = 0 value, the only type of occurring ar facts will be images (no aliasing). Addi onally a part ofthe original harmonic content below the Nyquist frequency will also be removed (propor onally to the nega ve Devia on ) aswell as some images near the Nyquist.

• Devia on > 0 (posi ve o set) - Sets the cuto frequency above the Nyquist frequency. As the result aliasing starts to appear

(ar facts below Nyquist frequency ) in propor on to posi ve Devia on.

The cuto frequency range of the approxima ve lter.


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Images lter

Images are the ar facts resul ng from Resampler’s ac vity, that is the result of projec ng a signal from a higher sampling rate to a lower /reducing signal’s sample rate. Images Filter allows to remove part, or all of these ar facts from the spectrum a er discre za on process. Asa result, Decimort can also serve as a alias-free brickwall lowpass lter.

Images Filter ’s module processes the signal a er it passes the Resampler.

Resampler’s Images Filter


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Images Filter is controlled by the following set of parameters:

• Images Filter - Toggle bu on for its ac va on / deac va on• Frq. Shi - Cut-o frequency of the Images Filter is coupled to the Resampler’s Nyquist frequency. Frq. Shi parameter is a

distance (o set) between Images Filter’s cuto frequency and Resampler’s Nyquist frequency. The higher the value of thisparameter, the higher harmonics (above Resampler’s Nyquist ) are passed onto the output.

Images lter cuto frequency range


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SIGNAL FLOW • PATH OF THE SIGNAL’S FLOW

FilterA er (or before) crushing signal we can also lter it a bit by analogue-like (pass/reject) lters with adjustable resonance.

Filtering sec on

Filter sec on is controlled by a following parameters:

• Filter type – There’re 4 types of lters we can choose from: LP (low pass) , BP (band pass) , HP (high pass) and BR (band reject). OFF posi on – turns the lter o .

• Cuto – Cuto frequency for LP and HP , and center of the band for BR and BP.• Reso/B.Width – Resonance for LP and HP, and band width for BR and BP.• Order – This switch has two values: when switch set to Pre, signal is ltered then quan zed and resampled, Post – in this

posi on, signal is rst quan zed / resampled and then ltered.


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Master sec onThis sec on controls the end of signal’s ow.

Master sec on

The FX knob de nes the ra o between the processed/unprocessed sound that is sent to an audio out. Output volume controls the nalampli ca on.



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Path of the signal’s ow

See diagram below, that show the signal path inside Decimort.

Signal ow through quan zer / resampler and lter only

SIGNAL FLOW • PATH OF THE SIGNAL’S FLOW


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PRESET MANAGEMENT • PRESET STORAGE • BROWSING PRESETS

Preset Management

Preset Storage

Presets, both those from the Factory content, and User ones, are stored as les in proper loca ons on a disc. Each me the plug-ininstance is loaded to the project, these loca ons are scanned and presets found there are consolidated into one linear structure (list)in the Preset Browser.

Browsing PresetsPresets Con gura on and Management sec on enables quick naviga on and browsing the presets structure:

Presets Con gura on and Management Sec on

• Preset Name – Displays the name of the currently loaded preset.• Prev / Next – Bu ons that allow for linear browsing of presets list (depending on currently set lters – see sec ons below).• Init (Prev + CTRL) –Simultaneous use of the Prev bu on and the CTRL key restores ini al se ngs of plug-in parameters. • Reload (Next + CTRL) – Simultaneous use of the Next bu on and the CTRL key reloads a current preset.

CTRL bu on in Windows system and Apple CMD in Mac OS X system.


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PRESET MANAGEMENT • BROWSING PRESETS

• Save (Browse + CTRL) – Simultaneous use of the Browse bu on and the CTRL key saves current parameters as a new preset orallows for overwri ng of the exis ng one (see sec ons below).

• Browse – Expands the Preset Browser panel at the bo om of GUI sec on.

The Preset Browser looks as follows:

Preset Browser

One can see three main sec ons:

• Content – Sources from which presets can be read.• Filters – Con gura on of presets Filters (non-ac ve by default).• Results – List of presets from resources that meet criteria set by Filters.


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ResourcesIn this sec on you can choose a resource/resources in which you want to browse presets. There are two resources to choose from:

• Factory – Delivered together with the plug-in, cannot be modi ed (read-only).• User – Created by the user during using the plug-in and can be freely modi ed, shared with other users etc.

Choosing any of them will cause narrowing the results to the presets from one resource.

Preset FiltersThe plug-in enables classi ca on of presets with the use of Categories and Tags system, whose aim is to facilitate the process of browsingthe content by ltering.

Preset Browser Categories Filters


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Categories and Tags

Each preset is described by a few common Categories. Within each of them there may be one or more Tags from a par cular set.

A single category in a lter with a descrip on of its elements

Presets from Factory resource were described by Categories and Tags during the stage of its crea on. Categories and Tags are chosenin such a way so as to describe the content in the best possible way, taking into account the plug-in purpose.

Edi on of Categories and Tags in case of Factory content is not possible – it is blocked. User presets may be described only withCategories and Tags from factory content or, alterna vely, the users may de ne their addi onal Tags in order to describe their own pre-sets.

ResultsThis is a l ist of presets from chosen resources that meet the ltering criteria. The basic func on of this sec on is browsing and loadingpresets (in Browsing Mode – by default).


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Results Sec on in Preset Browser

Click any name to choose and load the preset.Double-click the name to enter preset name edit mode.

Presets Filtering

Filters sec on columns represent par cular Categories – Category lters, while rows in each of these columns represent Tags availablewithin each Category.

Preset Browser Categories Filters

Filtering results have a form of a cascade (columns), from le to right. This means that all presets available in the selected resources areltered as to presence of Tags from the rst Category ( rst column from the le ), next a set of presets being a result of ltering by the rst

Category is ltered by the Category represented by the second column etc., un l it is ltered with the last ac ve Category Filter.


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Presets Filtering with the use of Categories Tags

The result of a cascade ltering process (presets that meet the criteria of each lter) is listed below, in the Results sec on.

Basic Ac ons on FiltersTag bu ons in Filters work in toggle mode. Click to ac vate/deac vate Tag (Grey color means that the Tag in inac ve, teal blue means thatthe Tag is ac ve). If at least one Tag in a column ( Category ) is ac ve, then the Filter also becomes ac ve.

For example, if the rst column represents Type Category with a set of the following Tags : {Bit Crusher, Chorus, Distor on, Flanger} , clickingthe Chorus Tag will ac vate the Category Filter Type and narrow down a list of presets to the items in case of which the Chorus Tag appeared in the Type Category .

Enabling Chorus tag in Type Category


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If you click the Chorus item again, you will deac vate the Filter, so all presets from the content will be displayed again.

Reordering CategoriesTo the right of the Category Filter header there are bu ons with arrow icons:

Filter reordering

They enable moving the Category to the le or right in a cascade. Clicking the right arrow replaces the current Category with the Category on the right. Clicking the le arrow replaces the current Category with the Category on the le .

Presets Filtering with the Use of Categories Tags

Clicking the le arrow for the Category located on the far le does not change anything. The same is true for the Category located far tothe right and right arrow (as the column has no predecessor/successor with which it could be replaced).

Presets Edi ng – Edit Mode

An ac ve Edit Mode in Preset Browser changes its func on (enables the change of presets names, edi on of Categories or Tags, dele onof presets as well as their export or import. One should bear in mind, however, that these opera ons are not allowed in case of Factory presets, but only for the User presets.

Edit Mode can be ac vated with a bu on located in the bo om le -hand corner (click again to deac vate):


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Edit mode bu on

In this mode Preset Browser slightly changes its appearance (not only func on):

Preset Browser in Edit mode

1. The Filters sec on changes into the Edit Tags sec on, whose appearance is almost iden cal, but the func on is di erent. The sec on

is used not as a lter, but as an editor of Categories and Tags of chosen presets.2. The role of the Results sec on is to choose presets for edi on (edi on is possible only for user presets).3. At the bo om of the screen there are Delete , Export and Import bu ons used respec vely to delete or export selected User presets

as well as to import a set of presets to the User resources.4. The choice of the resource in the Content sec on does not work, as edi on is possible only for user presets.


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PRESET MANAGEMENT • PRESETS EDITING EDIT MODE

Selec on of Presets for Edi onYou can edit both single preset and a set of presets. Using the func onality of the Results sec on, you can choose a preset or a set of pre-sets in the following way:

• Click the preset – Choose the preset from the list,• Click the preset + press CTRL – Add another preset to an already chosen preset or a set of presets,• Click the preset + press SHIFT – Select a part of a list of presets from the last chosen preset to the item clicked together with SHIFT bu on.

Tags Edi on

Change of Tags status in PresetsTag bu ons work in toggle mode, similarly as in case of ltering. Clicking them you can respec vely set Tag or erase them from chosen

presets.

Filters’ tags

Choosing a greater number of presets, in which the tags were already de ned, enables their re-edi on. Consequently; in case when aspeci c Tag appeared in all selected presets, it will be marked with an intensive teal blue color.

When a speci c Tag is set only in a part of chosen presets, then it is codi ed with a pale teal blue. The Tag that does not appear in any ofthe presets is marked with grey colour:


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PRESET MANAGEMENT • BROWSING PRESETS EDIT MODE

No ca on about Tags Status in Chosen Presets

The change of the Tag status for one or more chosen presets sets or erases this Tag in all these presets. The status change is signalized withan Asterisk located to the le of the Tag bu ons .

No ca on about Changes in Tags Status in Chosen Presets

Elements/ Tag bu ons highlighted with pale teal blue colour (meaning di erent values of a par cular Tag bu ons for the highlighted pre-sets) work in a three-state system; erasing the Tag (grey colour), se ng of the Tag (intensive teal blue colour) or no changes (pale teal blue)for all selected items.

Changes introduced during edi on do not have to be con rmed, they are signalized by asterisks located by Tag changed for par cular presets

Adding New Tags

Using the Plus bu on in the Category header, you can add new Tag to a par cular Category (for chosen presets):

Adding New Tag Bu on


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PRESET MANAGEMENT • PRESETS EDITING EDIT MODE

Saving the current se ngs as Preset

To save plug-in parameters se ngs as a user preset use the Browse bu on pressed together with CTRL bu on in Con gura onand Presets Browsing sec on. This ac on automa cally opens the Preset Browser with an ac ve Edit Mode.

Saving the Se ngs as Preset

Addi onally, at the bo om there will be a textbox into which you should enter a name of a newly created preset, and then con rm it by

clicking Save or cancel by clicking Cancel.

As the Preset Browser is in the Edit Mode before con rma on of the newly created se ng as preset, we can straightaway categorizea par cular se ng, using func onality of the Edit tags sec on, even just before saving it as Preset.


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PRESET MANAGEMENT • SAVING THE CURRENT SETTINGS AS PRESET

Con gura on

Parameter se ngs

Right-click any plug-in parameter to open the context menu

Closed Context Menu

It allows for:

• Checking the name and current value of a parameter,• Checking if the parameter is a ributed to MIDI CC controller, and if it is – to which number,

• Linking the parameter to MIDI CC controller.

Clicking the arrow in any area of the menu expands it and displays all available op ons. Next right-click on the parameter or le -click outside the menu area closes it automa cally.


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CONFIGURATION • PARAMETER SETTINGS

MIDI Learn

MIDI Learn func on enables a quick assignment of physical controllers (from MIDI controller) to plug-in parameters. The assignment canbe divided into a few steps:

1. Right-click the parameter which you want to a ribute to physical MIDI controller in order to expand the context menu.2. Click arrow at the bo om in order to expand the context menu.

Expanded Context Menu

3. Click the Learn bu on to put the plug-in into a pending state un l you move any MIDI CC controller.4. Click OK to save the change or click the Cancel bu on to restore the previous se ng.


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CONFIGURATION • PLUG IN’S CURRENT SETTINGS

Processing Path QualityClicking the item expands the menu that allows to select the Current quality of generated sound for Real- me or O ine modes.

Processing Path Quality Se ngs

We can choose from four available grades for each mode.

Saving/Loading the MIDI CC MapThis item enables to save current parameters of MIDI CC codes as MIDI Map in a le or to load them.

Saving/Loading the MIDI CC Map


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CONFIGURATION • PLUG IN’S DEFAULT SETTINGS

Current Size of GUIThis last item allows for a choice of plug-in interface size. There are two sizes to choose from:

Choosing the plug-in interface size

Plug-in’s default se ngs

The Op ons panel allows us to change the Default se ngs of the plug-in. Every me the plug-in is loaded in the host

applica on (new instance is created) a Default se ngs are used for ini aliza on of the Current se ngs.Default se ngs are stored within a con gura on le of the plug-in. This le is updated at the moment of unloading any of ac ve plug-ininstances from the host applica on.

Use the Op ons bu on on GUI to open the panel:

Op ons bu on


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The Op ons panel operates as an accordion where you can click a speci c sec on to expand it:

Op ons Panel

There are three sec ons:

• Processing Path Quality

• MIDI Map S e ng• Interface size se ngs

Default Processing Path Quality

Processing Quality Choice Sec on

In this sec on you can con gure a default quality of the processing path for the Real- me mode and the O ine mode.


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Default MIDI CC Map

Default MIDI Map Choice Sec on

This sec on allows for se ng of a path to a le with a default MIDI Map that was prepared before. Clicking MIDI CC Map check boxac vates load of MIDI Map and the possibility of poin ng it ( Browse bu on).

Default size of UI

Processing Quality Choice Sec on

In the User Interface you can choose a default size of the UI.


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Thanks

Goes to:

Ariel Proksa - ArxProAudio - For contribu ng some presets to the Factory Content.

Laurent Bergman - For his help with preparing french versions of manuals for D16 products.



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CONTENTS

Overview ........................................................................................................................ 2

Signal ow ..................................................................................................................... 3

Basic modules ......................................................................................................... 3Pre-ampli er ...................................................................................................... 3

Quan zer ...........................................................................................................4

Resampler ..........................................................................................................6

Approxima ve Filter ..................................................................................7

Images lter .................................................................................................9

Filter ....................................................................................................................11

Master sec on ..................................................................................................12

Path of the signal’s ow ........................................................................................ 13

Preset Management .................................................................................................... 14Preset Storage ......................................................................................................... 14

Browsing Presets ....................................................................................................14

Resources ...........................................................................................................16

Preset Filters ..................................................................................................... 16

Categories and Tags ...................................................................................17

Results ................................................................................................................17

Presets Filtering ................................................................................................18

Basic Ac ons on Filters ............................................................................19

Reordering Categories ..............................................................................20

Presets Edi ng – Edit Mode ................................................................................20

Selec on of Presets for Edi on .................................................................... 22

Tags Edi on ...................................................................................................... 22

Change of Tags status in Presets ..................................................................22

Adding New Tags ........................................................................................23

Presets Names Edi ng ....................................................................................24

Dele ng Presets ...............................................................................................24Presets Export and Import .............................................................................24

Saving the current se ngs as Preset ................................................................25

Con gura on ................................................................................................................26

Parameter se ngs .................................................................................................26

MIDI Learn .........................................................................................................27

MIDI Unlink ....................................................................................................... 28

Plug-in’s current se ngs ...................................................................................... 28

Processing Path Quality ..................................................................................29

Saving/Loading the MIDI CC Map ...............................................................29Current Size of GUI .........................................................................................30

Plug-in’s default se ngs ......................................................................................30

Default Processing Path Quality ................................................................... 31

Default MIDI CC Map ..................................................................................... 32

Thanks ............................................................................................................................33

Decimort 2 - User Manual

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