Setting up Oneshots linked to Digistix

tsiwiec

Hey guys - can someone point me towards tutorial of some sort or help me figure out how to assign drum samples from DigiStix to oneshots/buttons in Loopy pro so I can play them manually and record to in various donuts? Thanks

espiegel123

@tsiwiec said:
Hey guys - can someone point me towards tutorial of some sort or help me figure out how to assign drum samples from DigiStix to oneshots/buttons in Loopy pro so I can play them manually and record to in various donuts? Thanks

Hi,

There probably isn't a tutorial that is that specific. Triggering Digistix is just a matter of adding a button widget and adding an action to trigger the sample. Probably, you would use the send midi action send the note to trigger the sample you want. You add the action as press/release. If DigiStix lets you trigger samples with AUv3 parameters, you could also use an Adjust Audio Unit Parameter action.

If you want the same button to also record, you could add a record action in addition to the send midi action.

wim

@tsiwiec said:
Hey guys - can someone point me towards tutorial of some sort or help me figure out how to assign drum samples from DigiStix to oneshots/buttons in Loopy pro so I can play them manually and record to in various donuts? Thanks

Is there some reason why you wouldn't just trigger digistix from its own pads rather than from a widget?

If you want to use a widget though, just set a Send MIDI Message on Press for the widget.

• Target = Digistix
• Message = Note 48 (C3) for the first pad.
• Digistix pads notes go up chromatically from there. You can copy the first widget after testing, then just change the note #.

wim

@tsiwiec said:
Hey guys - can someone point me towards tutorial of some sort or help me figure out how to assign drum samples from DigiStix to oneshots/buttons in Loopy pro so I can play them manually and record to in various donuts? Thanks

Wait. I think I've misread what you need?

Is it that you want one-shot clips that contain the sound that Digistix puts out recorded into them so that you then don't need Digistix loaded and can play back the recorded one-shots by tapping on them?

tsiwiec

No, I think you describe the process of what I need to do right, setting up a widget that will trigger certain drum samples from DigiStix…I’ve seen where you can “prerecord” a loop with a DigiStix drum sound, but that’s not it - I need to be able to press the widget/button within LP and trigger kick drum, hi hat etc to record various loops within LP for that specific project. Let me play around with your instructions tonight and see if I can pull this off ;-) Thanks WIM!

tsiwiec

Ok @wim - I tried different ways to assign a drum sound from DigiStix to a button widget but cant seem to make it happen…What am I missing here:

• I create a button
• I bring up “DigiStix2 MIDI” and DS interface with keyboard comes up on the screen where I can play different samples from the drum kit or even record them into donuts
• Then I fiddle with trying to assign different functions to the “press” action on button but I cant seem to tie it to DS…I tried to “midi learn” and listen for event but then I cant play the keyboard
  I’m sure Im missing a simple step or two…

espiegel123

@tsiwiec said:
Ok @wim - I tried different ways to assign a drum sound from DigiStix to a button widget but cant seem to make it happen…What am I missing here:

• I create a button
• I bring up “DigiStix2 MIDI” and DS interface with keyboard comes up on the screen where I can play different samples from the drum kit or even record them into donuts
• Then I fiddle with trying to assign different functions to the “press” action on button but I cant seem to tie it to DS…I tried to “midi learn” and listen for event but then I cant play the keyboard
  I’m sure Im missing a simple step or two…

If digistix samples can be triggered by midi , use a Send MIDI action (as I mentioned earlier) attached to a button/widget’s press/release action. Set the note number and Digistix as the target. Note that digistix may use different octave numbering than loopy. So if the sample is triggered by c3, try c2 and c4 if c3 doesn’t work.

wim

@espiegel123 said:
If digistix samples can be triggered by midi , use a Send MIDI action (as I mentioned earlier) attached to a button/widget’s press/release action. Set the note number and Digistix as the target. Note that digistix may use different octave numbering than loopy. So if the sample is triggered by c3, try c2 and c4 if c3 doesn’t work.

I already supplied the notes in an earlier post.

@tsiwiec - I'll flesh out the earlier post with screenshots in a few hours. Hopefully that'll help.

https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/1292190/#Comment_1292190

I still don't understand why you want to do this with widgets rather than just using the Digistix pads themselves? What is this adding?

tsiwiec

@wim said:

@espiegel123 said:
If digistix samples can be triggered by midi , use a Send MIDI action (as I mentioned earlier) attached to a button/widget’s press/release action. Set the note number and Digistix as the target. Note that digistix may use different octave numbering than loopy. So if the sample is triggered by c3, try c2 and c4 if c3 doesn’t work.

I already supplied the notes in an earlier post.

@tsiwiec - I'll flesh out the earlier post with screenshots in a few hours. Hopefully that'll help.

https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/1292190/#Comment_1292190

I still don't understand why you want to do this with widgets rather than just using the Digistix pads themselves? What is this adding? -

I guess I didn’t know how to accomplish playing simple beats using DigiStix and record them into Loopy…I’ve see some LoopyPro setups on YouTube where they had few widgets/buttons with assigned beat samples and could use them right there in the project without bringing up another interface/keyboard to play them. Maybe I’ll try to find a link and post here, hang on…
https://youtu.be/wMKAONa-xYA?si=X4CpMsPsGwT8iCLA

espiegel123

@tsiwiec : are you still unsure how to send a midi note from a Loopy widget to Digistix?

wim

@tsiwiec said:
I guess I didn’t know how to accomplish playing simple beats using DigiStix and record them into Loopy…I’ve see some LoopyPro setups on YouTube where they had few widgets/buttons with assigned beat samples and could use them right there in the project without bringing up another interface/keyboard to play them. Maybe I’ll try to find a link and post here, hang on…

I'm going to describe how to record directly from DigiStix into clips without using widgets. I don't think you need them for what you want to do, and it will only complicate things. If this doesn't help or there's some other reason you really need to use widgets. Then I'll be happy to go down that route in detail.

This example will used a pre-selected tempo and the metronome. You don't have to start this way, but try this first just to get the idea of recording something from a plugin input. I've put in a few more steps than really necessary here to ensure that no settings changes you may have made complicate things.

1. Start from a default new project.
2. Tap the "hamburger menu" at the top-left, then Clip Settings. Scroll all the way down this menu and hit Restore Defaults
3. Bring up the mixer screen if it isn't already showing by tapping the icon at the bottom-left of the screen.
4. Tap the + button at the bottom-right of the screen and select Add Audio Unit Input.
5. Find DigiStix and tap on it to add it as an input.
6. Set a tempo for the project by tapping on the --- near the top-right of the screen.
   • Before closing that window also turn on the metronome (the icon at the bottom left of that window
   • Also tap the gear icon and turn on Perform Count-In.
   • Lastly, set the number of bars you want to record for this test.
7. Tap the Digistix icon to open its window. Move the window if needed so that you can see at least one clip to record into. You can also close the mixer if you like to have more room on the screen for the clips.
8. Scroll down in Digistix until you see the pads. To scroll down in Digistix, swipe on either the right or left side of its interface.
9. Test the pads to be sure you're getting sound from them.
10. Tap a clip to record into. The metronome should start counting down.
    • After the metronome finishes counting down one bar, play a pattern until the recording stops and the clip plays back.

If you've gotten that far then you know the basics of getting sound from a plugin to a clip. The process can be customized to suit how you like to work. People will be glad to help you find the right workflow and settings for you.

tsiwiec

@espiegel123 said:
@tsiwiec : are you still unsure how to send a midi note from a Loopy widget to Digistix?

Correct, I can’t seem to figure it out…sorry

tsiwiec

@wim said:

@tsiwiec said:
I guess I didn’t know how to accomplish playing simple beats using DigiStix and record them into Loopy…I’ve see some LoopyPro setups on YouTube where they had few widgets/buttons with assigned beat samples and could use them right there in the project without bringing up another interface/keyboard to play them. Maybe I’ll try to find a link and post here, hang on…

I'm going to describe how to record directly from DigiStix into clips without using widgets. I don't think you need them for what you want to do, and it will only complicate things. If this doesn't help or there's some other reason you really need to use widgets. Then I'll be happy to go down that route in detail.

This example will used a pre-selected tempo and the metronome. You don't have to start this way, but try this first just to get the idea of recording something from a plugin input. I've put in a few more steps than really necessary here to ensure that no settings changes you may have made complicate things.

1. Start from a default new project.
2. Tap the "hamburger menu" at the top-left, then Clip Settings. Scroll all the way down this menu and hit Restore Defaults
3. Bring up the mixer screen if it isn't already showing by tapping the icon at the bottom-left of the screen.
4. Tap the + button at the bottom-right of the screen and select Add Audio Unit Input.
5. Find DigiStix and tap on it to add it as an input.
6. Set a tempo for the project by tapping on the --- near the top-right of the screen.
   • Before closing that window also turn on the metronome (the icon at the bottom left of that window
   • Also tap the gear icon and turn on Perform Count-In.
   • Lastly, set the number of bars you want to record for this test.
7. Tap the Digistix icon to open its window. Move the window if needed so that you can see at least one clip to record into. You can also close the mixer if you like to have more room on the screen for the clips.
8. Scroll down in Digistix until you see the pads. To scroll down in Digistix, swipe on either the right or left side of its interface.
9. Test the pads to be sure you're getting sound from them.
10. Tap a clip to record into. The metronome should start counting down.
    • After the metronome finishes counting down one bar, play a pattern until the recording stops and the clip plays back.

If you've gotten that far then you know the basics of getting sound from a plugin to a clip. The process can be customized to suit how you like to work. People will be glad to help you find the right workflow and settings for you.

Ok @wim - tahnk you so much for your detailed walk-through! I followed these instructions and were able to record into a loop (like on the below screenshot) or just played within LP with the DS interface up, but the widgets with pre-assigned samples would simplify and declutter the process, if Im playing live I’d prefer not to bring up any plugins/interfaces and slide around to find the DS pads…I think those widgets would really streamline the process. Wouldn’t you agree?

tsiwiec

@tsiwiec said:

@espiegel123 said:
@tsiwiec : are you still unsure how to send a midi note from a Loopy widget to Digistix?

Correct, I can’t seem to figure it out…sorry

@espiegel123 I’m sort of close to I think what you’re trying me to do but can’t figure out:

espiegel123

@tsiwiec said:

@tsiwiec said:

@espiegel123 said:
@tsiwiec : are you still unsure how to send a midi note from a Loopy widget to Digistix?

Correct, I can’t seem to figure it out…sorry

@espiegel123 I’m sort of close to I think what you’re trying me to do but can’t figure out:

>

It looks like you have added the action to press, I suggest that you add it to Press/Release instead, so that the note off gets sent on release just like tapping a pad or pressing a key on a keyboard would.

Then it is a matter of adjusting the note number to trigger the sample you want. DigiStix may use different octave number so it might call C4 a note that is an octave off from what Loopy calls C4.

Here is a button set to use Press/Release to send a note.

espiegel123

@tsiwiec : to know what note to send, open the DigiStix AU window. Tap on the keyboard icon in the title bar and find the key that triggers the sample you want to trigger. You can see what octave number loopy uses by looking at the keyboard. Loopy displays the octave number on each C.

tsiwiec

@espiegel123 said:

@tsiwiec said:

@tsiwiec said:

@espiegel123 said:
@tsiwiec : are you still unsure how to send a midi note from a Loopy widget to Digistix?

Correct, I can’t seem to figure it out…sorry

@espiegel123 I’m sort of close to I think what you’re trying me to do but can’t figure out:

>

It looks like you have added the action to press, I suggest that you add it to Press/Release instead, so that the note off gets sent on release just like tapping a pad or pressing a key on a keyboard would.

Then it is a matter of adjusting the note number to trigger the sample you want. DigiStix may use different octave number so it might call C4 a note that is an octave off from what Loopy calls C4.

Here is a button set to use Press/Release to send a note.

@espiegel123 - sweet I’ve got a high hat going now with press/release! Thats cool. Now I have to figure out which notes correspond to which “signal number/letter”. This is better than having the DigiStix interface up…Sweet - thanks man. Let me play around with this and maybe I’ll have some follow up questions. Thank you both for the help

espiegel123

@tsiwiec said:

>

@espiegel123 - sweet I’ve got a high hat going now with press/release! Thats cool. Now I have to figure out which notes correspond to which “signal number/letter”. This is better than having the DigiStix interface up…Sweet - thanks man. Let me play around with this and maybe I’ll have some follow up questions. Thank you both for the help

Glad to hear it. If you use Loopy’s keyboard, as I described above, you will know which note triggers each sample…I don’t have Digistix, but I assume that it has somewhere where you can see which note triggers which sample.

wim

@tsiwiec said:
Ok @wim - tahnk you so much for your detailed walk-through! I followed these instructions and were able to record into a loop (like on the below screenshot) or just played within LP with the DS interface up, but the widgets with pre-assigned samples would simplify and declutter the process, if Im playing live I’d prefer not to bring up any plugins/interfaces and slide around to find the DS pads…I think those widgets would really streamline the process. Wouldn’t you agree?

I'd like to clear up a few ambiguities. There are really two ideas that could be drawn from what you've said earlier in the thread:

1. Record the output of Digistix's pads to a "One Shot" clips, then triggering those samples by tapping on the one-shot clip. That would involve recording pad hits from Digistix into One Shot clips. Once you did that you would no longer have to have DigiStix in the project to be able to play. You would not be hitting Widgets, but One-Shot Clips.
2. Set up Widgets that send the right notes to trigger DigiStix's pads. You would need to keep Digistix in the project with that option.

It sounds as though option #2 is what you're after, and it looks like @espiegel123 is helping you along with that just fine. 👍🏼
I just wanted to make the distinction between two methods as some of your posts have been mixing terms a little. Understanding the difference will help if you decide to pursue a different workflow.

tsiwiec

@wim said:

@tsiwiec said:
Ok @wim - tahnk you so much for your detailed walk-through! I followed these instructions and were able to record into a loop (like on the below screenshot) or just played within LP with the DS interface up, but the widgets with pre-assigned samples would simplify and declutter the process, if Im playing live I’d prefer not to bring up any plugins/interfaces and slide around to find the DS pads…I think those widgets would really streamline the process. Wouldn’t you agree?

I'd like to clear up a few ambiguities. There are really two ideas that could be drawn from what you've said earlier in the thread:

1. Record the output of Digistix's pads to a "One Shot" clips, then triggering those samples by tapping on the one-shot clip. That would involve recording pad hits from Digistix into One Shot clips. Once you did that you would no longer have to have DigiStix in the project to be able to play. You would not be hitting Widgets, but One-Shot Clips.
2. Set up Widgets that send the right notes to trigger DigiStix's pads. You would need to keep Digistix in the project with that option.

It sounds as though option #2 is what you're after, and it looks like @espiegel123 is helping you along with that just fine. 👍🏼
I just wanted to make the distinction between two methods as some of your posts have been mixing terms a little. Understanding the difference will help if you decide to pursue a different workflow.

Yes @wim - I think I misunderstood that “Oneshot” and “Widgets” are synonymous, I thought they’re the same but it looks like a Onshot would be a loop/donut with recorded sample played only once upon triggering throughout the song, correct? And a widget is a multipurpose button that can be used for various action, not only for playing/recording but for triggering various events like erasing loops, starting/stoping various things etc. Am I in the ballpark? Sorry again for my lack of knowledge but the tutorials don’t go too deep into this area…Thanks again.

tsiwiec

@espiegel123 said:

@tsiwiec said:

>

@espiegel123 - sweet I’ve got a high hat going now with press/release! Thats cool. Now I have to figure out which notes correspond to which “signal number/letter”. This is better than having the DigiStix interface up…Sweet - thanks man. Let me play around with this and maybe I’ll have some follow up questions. Thank you both for the help

Glad to hear it. If you use Loopy’s keyboard, as I described above, you will know which note triggers each sample…I don’t have Digistix, but I assume that it has somewhere where you can see which note triggers which sample.

Yes @espiegel123 - I brought up a keyboard within digistix and figured out that each sample has some kind of “note” assigned to it that corresponds with the “midi Message value” so a “ride cymbal” is for example “D64” and I can adjust it when I program the widget. Nice. Now I have to figure out how are different “banks” or drum sets defined to open up rest of the sounds, but I’m getting there.

By the way, I play acoustic guitar through loopy, how about you guys? Any tips on generating good bass sound with some effects? Thanks!

espiegel123

@tsiwiec said:

@wim said:

@tsiwiec said:
Ok @wim - tahnk you so much for your detailed walk-through! I followed these instructions and were able to record into a loop (like on the below screenshot) or just played within LP with the DS interface up, but the widgets with pre-assigned samples would simplify and declutter the process, if Im playing live I’d prefer not to bring up any plugins/interfaces and slide around to find the DS pads…I think those widgets would really streamline the process. Wouldn’t you agree?

I'd like to clear up a few ambiguities. There are really two ideas that could be drawn from what you've said earlier in the thread:

1. Record the output of Digistix's pads to a "One Shot" clips, then triggering those samples by tapping on the one-shot clip. That would involve recording pad hits from Digistix into One Shot clips. Once you did that you would no longer have to have DigiStix in the project to be able to play. You would not be hitting Widgets, but One-Shot Clips.
2. Set up Widgets that send the right notes to trigger DigiStix's pads. You would need to keep Digistix in the project with that option.

It sounds as though option #2 is what you're after, and it looks like @espiegel123 is helping you along with that just fine. 👍🏼
I just wanted to make the distinction between two methods as some of your posts have been mixing terms a little. Understanding the difference will help if you decide to pursue a different workflow.

Yes @wim - I think I misunderstood that “Oneshot” and “Widgets” are synonymous, I thought they’re the same but it looks like a Onshot would be a loop/donut with recorded sample played only once upon triggering throughout the song, correct? And a widget is a multipurpose button that can be used for various action, not only for playing/recording but for triggering various events like erasing loops, starting/stoping various things etc. Am I in the ballpark? Sorry again for my lack of knowledge but the tutorials don’t go too deep into this area…Thanks again.

One-shots are slightly different from donuts. One-shots and loops both contain audio. One-shots never loop and never are circular and can be recorded and played back when there is no tempo. They have a few settings independent of non-one shot clips.

Widgets just execute actions. They contain no audio.

You might find it worthwhile to read through Loopy’s help and /or watch some of the more detailed tutorial series that go into more detail about Loopy’s features. John Paul and Sound For More have what amount to video manuals.

espiegel123

wim

@tsiwiec said:
Yes @wim - I think I misunderstood that “Oneshot” and “Widgets” are synonymous, I thought they’re the same but it looks like a Onshot would be a loop/donut with recorded sample played only once upon triggering throughout the song, correct? And a widget is a multipurpose button that can be used for various action, not only for playing/recording but for triggering various events like erasing loops, starting/stoping various things etc. Am I in the ballpark? Sorry again for my lack of knowledge but the tutorials don’t go too deep into this area…Thanks again.

Yes, you're on the right track now. 👍🏼
It'll all start to make sense as you carry on.

wim

@tsiwiec said:
By the way, I play acoustic guitar through loopy, how about you guys? Any tips on generating good bass sound with some effects? Thanks!

Guitar is my main instrument, but more and more I'm just fiddling with synth apps. God forbid I should have to get my lazy butt up and hook up the guitar. 🤦🏻‍♂️

I don't like the sound from guitar to bass FX. I'd rather get my cheap but OK sounding bass out. But you'll find plenty of recommendation threads with a forum search for "guitar pitch shift".

espiegel123

Re: bass, I haven’t found a satisfactory effect to pitch the guitar down an octave for bass. So I resort to either using my bass or some like the ifretless AU

wim

Regarding guitar pitch shifting...

https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/1293579/#Comment_1293579

wim

Another one...

https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/1293951/#Comment_1293951