Modular recipes

Pitch and key tracking

In Drambo, pitch information is carried by the pitch signal (sockets with a note symbol). Value 0 represents C2 (130.8 Hz). Most pitch-related knobs are set to this value by default and it means that the module should follow an exact pitch it gets. If you are out of pitch and want to get back, double tap on the Pitch knob and reset its value to default.

Each increment/decrement of 1/8 (0.125) means octave up/down. So the range of 0-1 represents 8 octaves.

Key tracking - if a module doesn't have pitch input and it's pitch may controlled only by a Pitch knob (e.g. Filter cutoff), modulate its Pitch parameter with Track pitch control signal. When modulation knob is set to full right, key tracking is 100%.

Morph modulation

In Drambo, the Morph module is a macro controller that ets you smoothly interpolate (morph) between 2 parameter snapshots. You set up different "morph states" of your patch, and the Morph knob (or modulation source) blends between them, adjusting all assigned parameters at sample rate.

Pararell processing with Unison module

The Unison module can be used to distribute a signal across multiple voices, with each voice modulated independently. Using polyphony in this way is a powerful technique for achieving massive parallel processing with just a few modules. In this example, we use a few modules to create a bandpass filter bank with separate modulation per filter. Voice index (unique per voice) modulates LFO's frequency.

Retriggering notes

Place a retrigger step component on a step in Step component editor.

Use the powerful Retrigger module (Sequencer section).

Glide / Portamento

Disable MIDI / Retrigger in track module (track menu), so that overlapping notes won't generate an additional GATE signal. (This mode works better with drums)
Place CV Glide module (MISC/UTILITY) at the beginning of the track.

Polyrhytm

Use Jump step component to break a track, combine it with conditional components for more variations.

Ring modulation

Use the Multiply module from Math section. Yes, ring modulation is nothing else than just multiplying the amplitude of two signals.

Oscillator sync

Connect the oscillator gate input to the synchronization source (e.g. another Oscillator).

Modulate your synth with external MIDI

In order to modulate your module parameters with external MIDI CC events, use the MIDI CC module from the Modulators section. Tap on Learn and turn a knob on your controller to detect the CC number of the incoming MIDI control message automatically. You can configure smoothing as well. When Reset is active, the signal is instantly updated with each Note-on event.

Sequence external synths

You may sequence and modulate external synths in standalone, AUv3 instrument or MFx mode. It's easy, just use the MIDI Output module (Utils / MIDI section) to send track MIDI events to the outer world. Make sure you set MIDI port and channel correctly.

You may use a factory template available in Drambo. Just press "New" in main menu and select "MIDI Sequencer".

Modulate external synths

Drambo can generate MIDI CC events and send them to external synths via its MIDI output port (available both in standalone and AUv3 version).

Use the MIDI CC generator module to convert an incoming CV signal to a stream of MIDI CC events. You can select a CC number and configure the input signal type as bipolar or unipolar. (bipolar: -1..1 -> 0..127, unipolar: 0..1 -> 0..127).

Transpose track from its parent track

On the Main Track: Connect internal MIDI output to a Track MIDI input. From now on, the track will be transposed by the current note that is received on the Main Track.

MPE

MPE is transparent ... like polyphony or stereo processing.

In order to use MPE mode:

Create empty Instrument rack module
Open its menu
Set Mode to MIDI
Check MPE setting

Good habits

Organize your modules

If you want to make a synth start from Instrument rack
If you want to make an FX start from Processor rack
Use Layer and Layer mixer to keep your rack shorter and better organized. Layer mixer houses many racks that are processed in parallel, but only one of them is visible.