Copyright: Copyright © 1999-2001 Button Production


Contact us

Zero-X BeatSlicer is developed by Button Production.

You can contact us using:

e-mail

peter@button.se

phone

Ph. +46-31-701 72 22

(mostly an answering machine, please leave a message in Swedish or English!)

www

www.beatcreator.com

mirror: http://hem2.passagen.se/novelty/

Order Information

Introduction to BeatSlicer


Fade in

Fade In can be reached from the Process menu.

It is a basic linear fade in that will fade in the selection.


Fade out

Fade Out can be reached from the Process menu.

It is a basic linear fade out that will fade out the selection.


About BeatSlicer

Zero-X BeatSlicer is a 32-bit true Multi Document Interface (MDI) program supporting multiple views, developed in VC++ 6.0.

Win95, Win98, NT4x or better is required.

The more RAM the better.

Any 16-bit Win95, Win98 or NT4x compatible sound card is supported.

800x600 in 256 colors or better is required, 16/24-bit colors is recommended.

Zero-X BeatSlicer is developed by Button Production who are also developing Zero-X BeatCreator, Zero-X Seamless Looper (since 1997), Zero-X EZ-Editor and developed Zero-X for Atari compatible computers (1994-1997).


Grid

The first step when loading a sample is often to create a grid. Usually this is done automatically when opening a sample. In that case  the grid is based on (automatically located) events. The grid can also be based on any given note lenght (e.g. 8th or 16th). If no grid was created when opening the sample or if you want to create another kind of grid, you can do this at anytime.

The grid virtually slices the loop and is the base when exporting the slices one by one to, for instance, FruityLoops.

A marker in the grid is called a slice marker. These can very easily be altered manually (add/move/delete).

The grid is created from loop start to loop end. Don't be limited by creating a grid only from sample start to sample end. Feel free to position the loop markers at any positions in the sample.

Jumpstart - How to create a grid

Grid size

The grid always starts from the loop start marker and ends at the loop end marker.

Grid settings toolbar

This is the toolbar to use when creating a grid. Most settings are also available from the Beat menu. If you change a setting you must confirm it by pressing the OK button. When you press the OK button a completely new grid is created based on the settings. Altering the settings without pressing the OK button have no effect.

If you have created a grid and only wants to change the number of bars setting, don't change it in the Grid toolbar instead use the Set number of Bars dialog in the Tools menu.

There can be only one

One sample can only hold one grid at a time so as soon as you create a new grid the old will be deleted.

You can either set the number of bars and then press the Tempo Calculator button to get the tempo (in bpm) of the loop (i.e. loop start to loop end). Or you can enter a desired tempo (in bpm) and then press the Bars Calculator button to get the maximum numbers of bars in the loop. Then select a quantize mode and press the OK button.

If you have manually set number of bars or the tempo, the LoopEnd marker may be repositioned to fulfill your requirements of the loop.

Quantize

"static" quantize
The grid will be based on the selected note length. For instance 16th (1/16) or 32th (1/32).
Triplets (T) and dot (.) are supported.
We call this quantize mode "static", but you are still free to modify each grid marker after creating it just as you are with a grid created in the Events quantize mode.

Events quantize
The grid will be based on the events in the loop. Locate Events will automatically be run to locate the events when the OK button is pressed. Some manual fine tuning is usually needed afterwards. See also: Locate Events Settings

Tempo

Bars

Fine tune - Move the slice markers:

It's very easy to move a slice marker. Simply select a slice and then drag'n drop the "hat" (a triangle at the top of the marker) to desired position. If the resolution is to rough, simply zoom in (horizontally) some.

Add & Delete slice markers:

It's just as easy to add and delete slice markers as moving them around.

Select the slice and the select "Add Slice Marker" or "Delete Slice Marker" in the Beat menu. You may also use the keyboard short-cuts [+] for adding and [-] or [Del] for deleting. When you add a slice marker it will be positioned in the middle of the selected .

Goto Next/Previous :

Simply use the cursor keys to go to next or previous slice.

If you have zoomed in horizontally, the end marker of the selected slice will be centered in the sample window. This is to make it easier to fine tune all slices one by one.

Toggle Event Start <--> End:

Use the Toggle Selection button in the toolbar or the keyboard short-cut [F5] or [5] (on the keypad, note NumLock must be off).

Export Slices and Groove

Remove the Grid

Once the grid is created it's always there until you close the sample, but if you don't want to see it you uncheck the Grid in the View menu. For instance to avoid the selection to be snapped to the slice. As soon as you want it back simply select it in the View menu.

See also, Create a Grid, Locate Events, Events


Import & Export

Import file formats

Microsoft Wave files (.wav),
Both uncompressed and compressed.
Loop markers are supported, if present.

EMU/Creative SoundFont v2 (.sf2)
Loads the samples from any sf2 file.
Loop markers are supported.

AIFF (.aif)

Raw sample files (.raw).
Sample files with no or unknown header.
If you want to import an unknown file format you can rename that file to *.raw.

Export file formats

Microsoft Wave files

ZGR, the groove format used for transferring the slices (as .wav) and groove to FruityLoops.

We plan to add more import and export file formats. Let us know what formats you would like to see.

Wave files

Most PC programs designed for transferring samples will be able to load and save in wave format. Some supports loop marker information in the wave files, some don't. Contact respectively software author/manufacturer for information regarding a specific software.


Introduction to BeatCreator

Zero-X BeatCreator is a powerful program for editing and processing rhythmic loops and grooves such as drum loops, break beats etc.

It can do everything BeatSlicer can do, plus:

export: midi, .sf2, .rex, .map and .wav files

rework the loops with the powerful & groovy rhytmic loop tools (like the PCP, Slice Processor and more)

re-arrange the beats

powerful on beat sample editing

timestretch drum loops (without affecting the sound of the drums)

quantize individual slices in the loop

filtering and eq

creating rhythmic arpeggios based on sustain samples (or just about any sample!)

more flexible settings and tools for creating/open/save grid/groove files

and much much more!

Check out the BeatCreator demo at www.beatcreator.com

BTW, if you are into setting up seamless sustain loops in single instrument samples we have another program for you:

Check out the Seamless Looper demo at www.beatcreator.com


Keyboard short-cut Goto
Go to

In a sample window/view:

Numeric key pad

[5] (NumLock Off)	Toggle Selection & Slice Start/End

[+]	Toggle Loop marker Start/End

Cursor Keys

-->	Go to Next Slice.

<--	Go to Previous Slice

Other

[F5]	Toggle Selection Start/End

[Tab]	Toggle Loop marker Start/End


Keyboard short-cut Playback
Playback

In a sample window/view:

Numeric key pad

[Enter]	Play

[0]	Stop

Other

[Space]	Toggle Start/Stop playback

In a dialog box:

Combinations

[Alt] + [w]	Toggle Preview/Stop playback


Keyboard short-cut Zooming
Zooming

In a sample window/view:

Cursor keys

[Up]	Zoom in horizontally

[Down]	Zoom out horizontally


Keyboard short-cuts

Go to (selection, slice and loop marker)

Play

Zoom

A	Re-Arrange Slices

B	Backward Slices order

F	Fade Slices

R	Replace Slice Group

N	ReName Slice

P	Pattern Controlled Processor

Q	Quantize Slice

S	Slice based TimeStrech Loop

W	Set Swing

Z	Groove Analyzer

+	Add Slice

-	Remove Slice


License agreement

Disclaimer

Button Production makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents of this package with documents and its associated software, or of any of the third-party products discussed in the document. Button Production reserves the right to revise this document and to make changes to its contents at any time, without obligation to notify any person or entity of such revision changes. The package does not constitute an endorsement of the third-party product or products mentioned.

Button Production shall not be held liable for any technical or editorial mistakes or omissions in the package. Button Production also disclaims all warranted either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranty or merchant ability or fitness for a particular purpose. Button Production shall in no event be held liable for any damage including loss of data, profits or savings, claims against you by any other party, or any other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, the software and manuals.

Button Production does not warranty products except as stated in applicable Button Production product warranties or license agreements.

License Agreement

The Zero-X BeatCreator and  Zero-X BeatSlicer software described in this document may be used and installed on one, and only one, computer. Contact your local dealer for more information.

Trademarks

Zero-X™

Zero-X BeatCreator™

Zero-X BeatSlicer™

Zero-X Seamless Looper™

Zero-X EZ-Editor™

All product or company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective holders.

Copyright

Copyright 1998-2001 by Button Production, Sweden.
All rights reserved.


Loop markers

Basic

The loop markers specify the sustain loop in the sample.

There are two of them; LoopStart	and LoopEnd.

LoopStart must always be to the left of LoopEnd and vice versa.

Both loop markers are always present even if the play loop is switched off.

Look

The loop markers are drawn with a blue dotted vertical line with a small "hat" on top of it, identifying if it is LoopStart or LoopEnd.

LoopStart

LoopEnd

Positioning

You can move a loop marker by placing the mouse pointer on the "hat". Then the mouse pointer will change into a hand with a finger pointing at the position. Simply drag (keep left mouse key pressed down and move the mouse) the marker to the new desired position.

You can also set the loop end marker to a new position by using the [Ctrl] key.

LoopEnd:

Keep [Ctrl] pressed down, move the mouse pointer to the new position and click on the right  mouse button.

The loop markers exact position and size is displayed at the bottom of the sample window.

If a grid is present, the loop marker will snap to a slice marker when getting to one.

Goto

There are icons in the Toolbar for automatic scrolling the active sample window to the LoopStart or LoopEnd marker. This can also be done using keyboard commands.

Wave file

According to the wave file format specification it's optional to save loop information in a wave file. Zero-X saves the loop information when the "Save Loop" setting is On. If there is no loop information in the wave file (as some programs do not save this) the loop markers will be placed at default positions (sample start and sample end).


Multi selection

Some tools in Zero-X supports multiple selection of files. Multiple selection of files means that you can select many files (i.e. not only one) in the file dialog. Multiple files are selected according to the windows standards (Ctrl+left mouse key or Shift+left mouse key).

Multiple file selection is supported in:

File Open


New window

New Window can be reached from the Window menu.

It creates a new window displaying the same sample.

You can have several windows displaying the same sample but differently zoomed, sized and scrolled.

You can edit in any of them and when you do the others will be updated in real-time.


Normalize

Normalize can be reached from the Process menu.

Use it to change the gain (volume) of the selection. The level setting is absolute (0dB = 100%), not relative to current level.

Maximize level

Sets the absolute maximum gain level in the selection. True normalization, (increasing volume to maximum level) is obtained by setting "Maximize level" to 0dB.

It can not only be used to increase but also decrease the gain in the selection. If you set it lower than the peak level you will lower the gain.

Stereo link

When selected, both channels are searched separately to find the highest peak, but the amount of gain change is applied equally to both channels (so as to not disturb the stereo balance). This option should normally always be activated. Only deselect it if you want to maximize the level of each channel individually.

Peak level

Peak level is the strongest signal in the selection.

It's automatically calculated and displayed when entering the Normalize dialog. 0dB means maximum level.

You can use it as a diagnostic tool to decide for example if the wave needs normalizing or not.


Normalize on Open

An option that can be reached from the Settings - Open menu.

When selected the sample will automatically be normalize to 0dB on open.

See also Normalize.


Play

Play toolbar

To start playback, simply press the play button on the play toolbar or use the key commands.

To stop playback, simply press the stop button on the play toolbar or use the key commands.

Make sure that any window displaying the sample being played, is active before pressing Stop. If it is not, simply click on any such window to activate it before pressing Stop.

Icons/buttons in the Play toolbar:

(from left to right)

Loop settings:

Toggle Loop playback on/off

Toggle start looped playback from start of sample on/off

Operation:

Start playback

Pause/Continue playback

Stop playback

Play from start

Play selection

Play loop

What to play settings:

Play All

Play Selection

Play Loop

The settings are also available in the Popup and the Selection menu.

Stereo files

You have the choice of monitoring either the left, the right or both channels simultaneously. This is done by simply making a selection in either or both channels. No matter which you chose, you'll always get audio from both left and right outputs.


Selection

Basic

When you select an area in the sample the area behind the sample is drawn in black.

Several of the tools work only in the selection, for instance Reverse.

Sometimes, in this help file, the selection is referred to simply as "the selection", sometimes as "the selected area" and sometimes as "the region".

The first position of the selection is called the selection start. The last position of the selection is called the selection end.

How to Make a selection

If you have set the mouse pointer to "Edit Mode" (default, can be altered in Settings, toolbar and popup menu with "Mode") the mouse pointer looks almost like a capital i, I. Then make the selection, like in most other windows program, simply by:

1.	pointing (with the mouse pointer) at the beginning of the area you want to select

2.	press left mouse button (and keep it down)

3.	move the mouse pointer to the end of the area you want to select

4.	release the left mouse button

How to resize a selection

There are two ways of doing this.

Either:

5.	place the mouse pointer at either edge of the selection (notice how the pointer changes into a double arrow)

6.	press the left mouse button

7.	move the mouse

Or:

8.	press the [Shift] key (and keep it down),

9.	now you can set a new selection start or a selection end with the left mouse buttons. If the pointer is to the left of the middle of the selection you will set the new selection start and vice versa.

Stereo samples

You can make a selection in either or both channels by first pointing at corresponding channel(s).

To let you know what channel(s) will be selected, the look of the mouse pointer changes depending on what channel(s) it is pointing at.

You can easily transfer a selection to the same position in the opposite or both channels by using the Selection setting in the Settings or Popup menu.

See also: Select a slice.


Silence

Silence can be reached from the Process menu.

It silences (digital zero) the selection.


SoundFont 2

You may extract/load samples from soundfont2 (sf2) files.

As an sf2 file usually contains of multiple samples, when opening it, Zero-X displays all samples in a list. You may select and preview any sample(s) from this list. Note that multi selection in the list is supported on open.

Stereo samples

In case of stereo samples, the only left sample will be displayed in the list. When opening it, both channels will automatically be loaded and a stereo file will be created.

Preview

It's the sample that has focus that is previewed. Focus is set to the last selected sample but can be altered by pressing the cursor (arrow) keys. Note that if you change focus using the cursor keys you don't alter your selection.

It's recommended is to preview sample using the alternate key short cut "Alt+w". This way you don't change focus from the list to the preview button.

The preview is always un-looped. So, if the sample is very short you may not hear anything on preview.

In case of a stereo sample, only the left channel will be previewed (as only the left sample is present in the list).


Stereo

Stereo samples are treated slightly differently on some functions.

In general most functions operates on the selected channel (left, right or both).

See Selection on how to select a channel.

Some functions always operates on both channels (SCSI Transfer, Load, Save, Cut, Truncate etc).

Some functions provides additional features on stereo samples:

Play

Loop markers


Toolbars

There are several toolbars in Zero-X Seamless Looper.

You may leave them where they are or move (drag) them to any position in the application window. You can also attach them to any side or the application window.

If you place the mouse pointer on any icon in the toolbar there will be a help tool tip just beside it as well as a more describing help at the status bar in the application window.

If you do not want to see a specific toolbar it is easy to remove it by deselecting it from the View menu and vice versa.

Main toolbar

standard file operations, change mouse pointer mode, lock window, and goto.

Play toolbar

All play settings and operations can be reached from here.
Loop On/Off, Play from start, Play, Pause, Stop, Play All, Play Selection, Play Loop

Zoom toolbar

All zoom operations can be reached from here.

Zoom in and out horizontal, Zoom in 1:1 horizontal, Zoom overview horizontal, Zoom In and out vertical

Grid settings toolbar

The main settings for the grid. Also the OK button that creates the grid.


Truncate after loop end

This save setting can be reached from the Settings --> Save menu.

If you switch it on, it will only save the sample until the loop end marker.

Mostly you do not need the sample data after the loop end marker when you have set up the loop, but be a little careful with the setting. If it is on, it will truncate all samples that you save, until you switch it off. So, if it is on by mistake you may actually end up loosing data (i.e. the sample data after the loop end marker) every time you save a sample.

Its status is saved even if you exit the program. You have to manually switch it off (the same way as you switch it on) if you do not want it to be activated anymore.


Units

You can alter the default unit in the Setting menu.

There are several units to chose from.

Bars & Beats,

Sample, the exact sample value (in 16-bit word)

Time, in min:ss:hs


Window lock

This is a unique and very powerful function. Yet it may seem a bit odd at first sight.

It has two principal purposes:

1.	Locks a view (window) so that no editing or selection can be made.

2.	Automatically scrolls horizontally, so that the marker, that's been locked on, will always be displayed in the center of the view.

The only thing you can do with a locked view is zooming, moving and sizing. But its strength is not what you can do with it but what it can do for you.

You can lock any view (sample window) on the following markers:

LoopStart

LoopEnd

Selection Start

Selection End

To lock/unlock a view simply select Lock from either the popup menu or the toolbar.

To fully demonstrate the use and power of this unique function, one macro has been implemented: EditView.


Locate Events

BeatSlicers' advanced event detection automatically locates the events in the loop. No thresholds or sliders to hassle with. An event grid is created as the result of the event detection. The grid virtually slices the loop and is the base for exporting the slices one by one to, for instance, FruityLoops.

What's an event?

Fine tune

Locate Events usually finds all of the events in the loop. But sometimes you might not agree on what you consider to be an event. You may want a few more slice markers or a few less. You might also want to slightly adjust the beginning of some of the the slice markers. This is why we have added some tools to make it super easy to alter the slice markers and create the perfect Event Grid for each loop.

Adding new slice markers [+]

Deleting unwanted slice markers [-]

Moving individual slice markers (drag'n drop)

Export Slices and Groove

Select a slice

It's easy to select a slice. You just click on it. If you want to select the next or previous slice, simply use the cursor keys.

Listen to a slice

First set the play settings like this: Loop OFF, Play Selection ON.

Then select the slice and press play.

Either use the play tool bar or the keyboard short-cut for play.

Automatically Locate Events on Open

There's a very convenient setting called Locate Events (Settings -- Open). If selected, Locate Events will be started automatically every time a sample is opened.

For more information see, Grid,


Create a Grid

As the grid is the base for the program, it's important to understand the grid concept. For detailed information see Grid.

The grid is created from loop start to loop end.

In short you create a grid by setting the parameters in the Grid settings toolbar and then press the OK button (also in the Grid settings toolbar).

Quantize

First you have to decide whether you want to create a grid based on a static note length or a grid based on the events in the sample.

Calculate Tempo

If you want BeatSlicer to calculate the tempo of your loop, you must have set the loop end marker to the exact end position of the loop and you must have entered the correct number of bars in the loop. Then press the calculator button to the right of the Tempo setting.

If you your loop is smaller than the sample and you want to trim it to be only the loop, select Truncate Loop from the Edit menu.

Set Tempo

It works the other way around if you have a long sample that you for instance want to turn into an arpeggio loop.

Then specify wanted tempo and press the Bars calculator button to the right of the Bars setting. This will calculate maximum number of bars that will fit in the sample. If the tempo is too slow and no bars will fit you'll either have to open another sample, increase the tempo or select LoopEnd to Bpm (from the Tools menu). When you press the OK button the loop end marker will be placed at the exact end position of the loop (i.e. not necessary at the sample end position).

If you your loop is smaller than the sample and you want to trim it to become only the loop, select Truncate Loop from the Edit menu.


Events

Event markers / Grid markers / Slice markers

When a grid has been created, it is displayed by the numerous vertical lines in the sample window. Each line is referred to as a slice marker (or sometimes grid marker) and all lines together are referred to as the grid. As the quantize of the grid can be based on either events or a note length, a slice marker doesn't always mark an event. You are also free to move, add and delete the markers anyway you like so you can have them marking just about any positions in the sample.

So what's an event?

An event is a radical dynamic or frequency change in the loop, sort of a happening. When the quantize mode is set to event, the slice markers will (hopefully!) mark the beginning of each of the events in the loop.

For instance, if you have a drum loop playing like this: bd - hh - bd - hh - sd1 (etc).

Then the event detector (Locate Events) will detect all of these drums as individual events and place a slice marker at the beginning of each of the events. This is how the event grid is created.

If there are two sounds/events at the same time, for instance a bass drum and a hihat, they will be considered as one event, not two.

The event locator does not require that there is silence between the events as it also detects relative frequency and amplitude changes.

For more information see, Locate Events, Grid and Export Slices and Groove.


Order

Where and how to place an order

BeatSlicer is sold by Image-Line at:

www.fruityloops.com

BeatCreator and Seamless Looper are sold by RegSoft.com at:

www.beatcreator.com

www.regsoft.com.

Just about any kind of payment methods are accepted by RegSoft.com.

You can not only place the order on-line but also via email, fax and phone.

For more information, see www.regsoft.com.

Price

BeatSlicer: US$35.00

BeatCreator New License: US$80.00

BeatCreator Upgrade from BeatSlicer or Seamless Looper: US$60.00

Seamless Looper: US$40.00

More information

For information regarding BeatSlicer please contact Image-Line, www.fruityloops.com.

For information regarding BeatCreator & Seamless Looper, please visit www.beatcreator.com and/or email peter@button.se.


Select an event
Select a Slice

Select a slice by placing the mouse pointer over it and press left mouse button.


Bars

A setting in the Grid Settings toolbar.

Specifies the number of bars the loop.

The default number of bars set when opening a sample is more or less a pure guess. Don't trust this number, check and modify if necessary.

Usually there two situations:

1.	You have a rhythmic loop at a specific number of bars:
1. Set the loop end marker at the end position at the end of xx bars (i.e. not necessary sample end).
2. Enter number of bars in the loop.
3. Press the Calculator button to the right of the Tempo setting.
4. Now the tempo of the loop is calculated and displayed.
5. Press OK

2.	You have a sample and you want to create a rhythmic loop at a specific tempo:
1. Enter desired Tempo.
2. Press the calculator button to the right of the Bars setting.
3. Now the maximum number of bars is calculated and displayed.
If you want less bars, just edit the number of bars.
4. Press the OK button.
5. The grid is created and the loop end marker has been moved to the end of the loop.

See also Grid.


Tempo

The tempo setting in bpm in the Grid settings toolbar.

For more information see Bars, Grid.and LoopEnd to BPM.


Settings

Normalize on open

Locate Slices

Units

Selection


Locate Events Settings

Here you can set some default values for how the slicing should be performed.

Events

These settings are for slicing based on events.

Attack threshold

The threshold level for the attack of a slice. It's defined in -dB.

Minimum duration

The minimum size of a slice. Defined in ms but the actual resolution is in 1/100 sec.

Minimize Clicks

If you prefer less clicks to a tighter attack, select this.

Tighter attack

If you prefer tighter attacks to less clicks, select this. You may have to fade the tail of some slices to avoid clicks.

Fix Length

These settings are for slicing based on a given note length.

None

Slice markers will be positioned exacty at the given note length.

Zero crossing - Search  & Snap

Auto adjusts the slice markers to closest zero crossing.

Event - Search  & Snap

Auto adjusts the slice markers to closest event.

Max search distance - a setting for "Search and Snap..."

To limit the off beat distance as a result of searching for zero crossings.

Reference Grid - Not available in BeatSlicer.

When checked, a reference grid will be created instead.

Default

These are our recommended settings.


LoopEnd to BPM

Available in the Tools menu.

Positions the LoopEnd marker so that the loop defines your desired tempo (in bpm).

Bpm

Desired bpm

Bar(s) per loop

Number of bars in the loop

Resize to bpm

If the loop is too small for the desired bpm you can have BeatSlicer  to resize the loop. I.e. it will create a larger sample and add silence at the end. The grid is converted to the new sample size.


License Dialog

This is part of the programs copy protection.

Your are supposed to enter your BeatSlicer Key.

If you haven't got one, you can request it from Image-Line at www.fruityloops.com.

When you send the request for the key you must include:


Sample Window

Once you have loaded a sample there are some tools available to edit the sample.

In the sample window you can view, play, edit and process the whole sample as well as your selection.

Menu items:

Edit menu;
sample edit tools: Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Truncate....

Process menu;
dsp tools: Normalize, Stereo <--> Mono...

Beat menu;
slicing the loop and fine tuning the slice/slice markers:
First you need to created a grid.

See also:Selection,, Select a slice, Play, Keyboard short-cuts.


Demo

BeatSlicer Getting started

Order information

If you are running a demo, the demo limitations are:

Stereo samples are not supported.
- You can still open it though, but it will be converted to mono automatically.

Save and Save As are disabled.
Note that you can still save slices and groove file using the "Export Slices & Groove" menu item.

Lowered audio quality.
- The audio quality of the exported slices is lowered.

No settings are saved.


Multiply Sample

Enter number of times you want to enlarge the sample.

If your goal is to create a loop with more bars you might want to select truncate loop first as Multiply Sample operates on the whole sample.


Truncate Loop

Deletes anything outside of the loop markers.


Loop Offset

Available from the Settings menu.

This is to solve loop offset problems that may occur when transferring samples via wave files and SCSI Sample dump.

For instance you have setup a great sounding loop in Zero-X but when you load it into another program and/or transferred it to your sampler there is a click in the loop. This is due to programs/samplers treats the loop markers positions differently. The default settings works with most software and samplers but, if it doesn't fit the program/sampler you use, feel free to experiment.

Note that after you have changed the loop markers file offset, the loop markers in the samples you have saved prior to that will need to be manually adjusted after loading into Zero-X. The same goes of course for the sampler loop offset when transferring to/from samplers.


Crop Start

Menu: Process -- Crop Start

Automatically cuts the leading/beginning silence or low noise part of a sample.

Level

The threshold (maximum noise) level in dB.


BeatSlicer

BeatSlicer is a light version of BeatCreator specially designed for slicing up rythmic loops and grooves.

See also: Introduction to BeatSilcer, Slice a Loop, FruityLoops


Introduction to BeatSlicer

Zero-X BeatSlicer is, a special light version of BeatCreator, for slicing up rhythmic loops and grooves. As it's a light version, many of the menu items are disabled in BeatSlicer.

Limitation of the demo

How to slice a loop

Use BeatSlicer from FruityLoops

A few hints

You wont be able to access the tools unless you have loaded (Open) or created (New) a sample.

The size of a loop is defined as from loop start to the loop end marker (not from loop start to loop end).

Most of the tools in the Beat menu requires that a Grid has been created. See Create a Grid.

An event grid is automatically created on open.

A loop is not only a drum loop. BeatSlicer can slice up all kinds of rhythmic loops.

A slice is also called an event, or a beat.


FruityLoops

BeatSlicer can be used to slice samples and create grooves for FruityLoops v3.3x.

There are two ways to export to FruityLoops.

Which to chose

1.	Export Slices & Groove
Will export the slices as individual wav files along with a groove file (.zgr). After exporting, it will communicate with FruityLoops and tell it to load each slice on an individual sample channel and create a pattern based on the groove for each channel. This can be very powerful and gives you full control of each slice, but the drawback is that it uses up many channels.

2.	Export Groove - Use the Fruity Slicer plug-in
Will export only the groove (.zgr) file. Note that you have to manually open the zgr file in the plug-in. This only uses up a single channel but you do not have as much control over each slice.

Change the Tempo

No matter which you chose you can, if sliced carefully, have the loop automatically adjusted to just about any tempo in your FruityLoops song.

Increasing the tempo sounds great on most loops, but note that when decreasing the tempo there will be gaps between the slices that you might have to disguise.

How to

Let us pretend that, in both examples below, you want to work with a loop called "funky.wav".

Export Slices & Groove

1.	In FruityLoops, select "Beat to slice" from the File - Import menu.

2.	Select funky.wav in the file dialog (and select Open).

3.	Chose to slice automatic or by using the standalone editor. We strongly suggest using the editor which is also selected by default.
If you do not check the "Use Editor", funky.wav will be automatically sliced according to located events and then imported into FruityLoops.
Easy, but without any chance to interact. If you did not check the Use Editor (don't say we didn't warn you!), jump to number 7.
If you checked "Use Editor" (good choice!) , you will be in command. Keep on reading.

4.	BeatSlicer will be displayed (if not, try Alt + Tab). Funky.wav will be loaded into BeatSlicer and sliced up according to events.

5.	Now you have the option to fine tune (move), add and delete the slice markers.
You may also change the grid quantize mode, so it will be based on a given note length (for instance 16th) instead of detected events.
Carefully preview each slice so that it wont click and that no slice is just a part of an event or marks more than a single event.

6.	When the grid is perfectly fine tuned, simply close funkty.wav and you will be asked to export the slices & groove to FruityLoops.

7.	FruityLoops will get back its focus (if not, try Alt + Tab) and you will be given the option to merge funky's slices and groove to the current project or have FruityLoops create a new project and load in the slices and groove into that.

Export Groove (to the fruity slicer plug-in)

1.	In FruityLoops create a Fruity Slicer channel and click on it.

2.	Click on the "Open and slice up sample" button [image].

3.	Select funky.wav in the file dialog (and select Open).

4.	Now funky.wav will be autosliced (using BeatSlicer in the background) and the groove will be auto loaded into the plug-in.

5.	If you approve on the slice marker positions, mission completed!
If you do not approve on the positions of the slice markers, keep on reading.

6.	Use the editor in BeatSlicer to manually fine tune them (add/delete/move).
Click on the "Open BeatSlicer" button [image] to send funky.wav to BeatSlicer and start it up.

7.	In BeatSlicer, preview the slice markers and move/add/delete them until you are happy with the result.

8.	Close funky.wav and you will be asked to export the groove, select Yes.

9.	You should be brought back to FruityLoops (if not try Alt + Tab).
Here you have to manually reload the exported frunky.zgr groove file from disk using the
"Open sliced beat groove" button [image] in the plug-in.

Additional features

Grouping Slices.

Demo Limitations

FruityLoops includes a DEMO version of BeatSlicer.  Unless you have specifically ordered and registered BeatSlicer you are running a demo version of BeatSlicer. The demo limitations are as follow:

Export Slices & Groove

Will not work with Stereo samples.

Will export the slices in a degraded audio quality.

Export Groove - Use the Fruity Slicer plug-in

When exporting a groove file ( *.zgr) from a demo version of BeatSlicer, the zgr file will be marked as DEMO.

Any .zgr file exported from old versions of BeatSlicer < 1.05 and BeatCreator < 1.42 are also marked as DEMO.

The Fruity Slicer plug-in will not save the loop when a DEMO .zgr is loaded.

Other

Sample Save in BeatSlicer is disabled.

See also: Create a Grid, Grid, Slices, Slice a Loop.


Export Slices & Groove

This creates both the groove file and the slice files.

See FruityLoops for detailed information on how to export slices to FruityLoops.

Groove/Grid file

is a file based on the slice markers in the grid. It has position information on each slice in the loop. This file can be imported by BeatCreator and FruityLoops. The file extension is *.zgr. The groove file is sometimes also called grid file.

Slice files

are wave files created based on the slice markers. One wave file is created for each slice marker.

Naming convention is as follow:

"sample name (or selected file name)" + "slice order number" + "slice name".

For instance if you have a drum loop called "Funky Drummer", the first three files will be given these names:

Funky Drummer 1 Bass drum

Funky Drummer 2 Hihat

Funky Drummer 3 Bass drum

For more information see, Grid, Locate Events,.


Slice a loop
How to Slice a loop

1. Open the sample/loop and Create a Grid

When you open a sample (i.e. your loop), an event grid is usually created automatically.

The event grid marks each slice/event. You can create a grid based on either events or on a static note length (e.g. 1/16, 1/32...). The Quantize mode (in the grid toolbar) decides what kind of grid that will be created. To create a new grid, select menu item "Beat, Create Grid" or press the OK button in the grid toolbar. The grid is always created according to the settings in the grid toolbar.

For more information see Grid, Events.

2. Fine tune the Grid

After creating a grid you can easily modify each position marker (event/grid marker) by dragging it to a new position and/or deleting/adding markers.

For more information see Grid.

3. Export Slices & Groove

Select menu item "File, Export Slices & Groove" to export the slices and grove file.

For more information see Export Slices & Groove.


Rename Event
Rename Slice

Select the slice, then either select Rename Slice from the Beat menu or use the keyboard short-cut <N>.

There are two main reasons for why it's good to name a slice.

1.	To identify a slice.
As it can be hard to know what a sample sounds like just by looking at it. For instance the first bass drum in a drum loop can be named to "Bass drum1"... well use your imagination!

2.	To group slices.
If you give two or more slices the same name it will be treated as a group. If you have FruityLoops then see below for more information about the name and group feature.

The slice names are saved when saving/exporting the grid/groove file.

FruityLoops

If you have given names to some (you don't have to name all of them) of the slices, the channels in FruityLoops will be given these names when opening a groove (*.zgr) file.

In FruityLoops v2.5 and above, there is support for grouping slices. This means that when opening the groove file (*.zgr) FruityLoops will create only one channel per group and only load the first present sample in that group (but activate all notes in that group). This can be useful in many ways. For instance to save channels (if there are identical samples in the loop) or maybe you don't plan to use any of the samples in the loop because it's just you banging that groovy beat on your knees so you mainly want to transfer the groove and just want to tell FruityLoops what's the bass and what's the snare drum (as your knees tend to sound very similar).


Fade Events
Fade Slices

Snaps and/or Fades In and/or Out selected or all slices individually.

It can be used to smooth out unwanted pops and clicks between the slices, that might occur after slicing.

Fade In/Out can also be used to create groovy effects on drum loops and breakbeats. For instance set the Fade In and Fade Out to 20ms and press Apply.

Search and Snap

If checked, the slice markers will be snapped to the closest zero crossing.

This is very useful when slicing loops on a given note length (i.e. when Quantize mode is not Event) as it will minimize the clicks in the beginning and end of the slices especially in combination with Fade In/Out (Fade In 1ms and Fade Out 2ms is usually enough). Note that the Search and Snap will make the slicing less exact to the given note length, but this is seldom a problem.

Max search distance

Specifies the max search distance (forward and backwards) for a zero crossing in ms.

In

Fade In time in ms. Note that 0 is a valid setting.

Out

Fade Out time in ms. Note that 0 is a valid setting.

Selection

Snaps and/or Fades only the selected slices.

All

Snaps and/or Fades all slices.


Set number of Bars

When you open a sample, BeatSlicer will search for bars information in the wav file. If there isn't any to find (many programs do not save this information), BeatSlicer will make a qualified guess based on the size of the sample and the loop end marker. It happens that this guess is not correct (often because of an incorrect set loop end marker). Then you can easily correct this by setting the number of bars using this menu item.

There are several other circumstances when you might want to manually change the number of bars.

The main difference between this tool and the number of bars setting on the grid toolbar is that you can change number of bars without re-creating the grid.

As you can see, the tempo is increasing when increasing the number of bars and vice versa.

Note that, changing the number of bars is not the same as making the sample longer or stretching the tempo, it's just a setting not a destructive sample editing tool.