Reaktor Secrets Revealed!
Pages: 1, 2, 3, 4

V Is for Vectory

Vectory (Figure 4) is an amazingly versatile instrument for performing live computerized percussion. Reading the Instrument Guide will explain most of what you need to know, including the fact that the realtime MIDI control inputs are accessed by typing Ctrl-2 (Command-2 on the Mac). This "hidden" page also contains the sample data. To switch back, type Ctrl-1 (Command-1). Vectory will play dozens of different sounds, but they're all contained in a single long sample.

Figure 4. Vectory is optimized for step-sequencing percussion. Sequences (left) contain reverse, amplitude, hold, stretch, slur, and pitch control for each step as well as sample select (the large grid at the top). You can choose from among 128 sequences using the Seq Select and Bank controls on the upper right.

You can load your own sample into the hidden panel by right-clicking (Mac: Control-clicking) on the gray bar above the waveform display (see Figure 5). The factory waveform is at 175 bpm, and is 36 measures long. Using these parameters as a guideline, I had no trouble creating my own bank of percussion sounds to use. Using the Sample BPM parameter just below the waveform, though, it's possible to import a 36-measure sample at any tempo and have it line up with Vectory's grid. (The three parameters just to the right of this number seem to be decimal places for fine-tuning the tempo.) Compressing and normalizing the file before you import it is probably a good idea.

Figure 5. Instead of the usual MIDI Learn feature, Vectory uses a separate panel for MIDI input control. The XY 2 control will respond to MIDI notes if you click the Note button.

While using Vectory as a plug-in, you won't be able to use Ctrl-2 (Command-2) to open the hidden panel page, so you'll need to select a waveform, set up the MIDI control assignments, store a snapshot, and save the Ensemble while running Reaktor in standalone mode. Be sure to switch back to the main panel page using Ctrl-1 (Command-1) before saving the Ensemble; if you neglect this step, the Ensemble will load into the host showing only the second page. After saving the Ensemble, load it into your host and you'll be ready to go.

Grainy Day

The grain randomness parameter, which is mentioned in the Instrument Guide but not named on the panel, can be controlled using the standard MIDI Learn method. (Right- or Control-click an object, select MIDI Learn from the pop-up menu, and then wiggle a hardware MIDI knob or slider.) This parameter is useful for adding a little variable color to a repeating beat, in the unlikely event that you happen to leave a Vectory beat repeating for a few bars before changing it (see Figure 6).

Figure 6. Right-clicking the unlabeled Grain Randomness control lets you assign a MIDI controller to it, adding some sonic variation to a loop.