The .Tonic is a VST-compatible plug-in featuring a powerful drum and
percussion synthesizer combined with a pattern based drum machine
engine. You can use it as a conventional sound module to play drum
sounds from your MIDI keyboard or sequencer, or you can use the built
-in pattern engine to play drum patterns in sync with your sequencer.*
In the .Tonic, a single universal sound architecture is used to
simulate a wide variety of sounds. The parameters and the configuration
of this architecture has been carefully chosen to be as versatile as
possible while still keeping the .Tonic simple and straightforward.
The sound of the .Tonic is 100% synthetic and rendered in real-time. No
samples or pre-rendered waveforms are used. This means that you can
modify the sound in real-time with instantaneous response by turning
and dragging the knobs and faders of the .Tonic. If your host supports
parameter automation, you can record all parameter changes in your host
sequencer for later playback with high accuracy.
Much work has been put into achieving optimal sound quality for the
.Tonic. There are virtually no compromises to the sound it produces.
The oscillators are "over-sampled" and produce a clean sound without
distortion or "aliasing" even at extreme frequency settings. The
filters and equalizers have a full frequency response range and
parameter changes are smooth and responsive. In fact, the sound
synthesis in the .Tonic is based on a new proprietary technique that
eliminates the need for any low-resolution approximations or
quantization. (This technique also gives all parameters a practically
unlimited resolution.)
Furthermore, the triggering of drums is sample-accurate** and envelope
generators and modulators work at highest possible rate to give the
sound a distinct sharpness. The .Tonic works in any sample rate of your
choice. In short, the .Tonic delivers a quality that sets the standard
for how synthetic drums and percussions should sound.
Finally, the .Tonic is designed to be user-friendly. To the maximum
possible extent, it supports user-friendly features you are custom to
such as context menus and popup hints. It also offers plenty of
convenient options for editing and managing your sounds and rhythms.
Major new features in .Tonic 2.0
There is an alternative version of the .Tonic with separate outputs
for each drum channel ("MicroTonicVSTMulti").
The .Tonic features built-in support for MIDI controllers with easy
-to-use on-screen editing and "MIDI learn". A MIDI controller can be
assigned to a parameter in a specific drum channel, or if you prefer,
to edit the currently selected drum channel. Once you have created your
assignments you can save and load them.
The program and drum patch file browsers feature direct previewing
within the browsers. You can preview programs and patterns in their
original tempo or synchronized to the music you are playing. Programs
and individual drum patches can be previewed and compared directly
without leaving the browser.
There is a "pitched MIDI mode" which allows you to actually play
melodies with the drum patches on your keyboard. In "pitched mode", the
eight drum channels are addressed with MIDI channels 1 to 8 and you
have the entire keyboard for each channel. C3 (note number 60) will
play the "original pitch". This opens up new possibilities when you
will be able to use the .Tonic not only for drums, but also for
melodies and bass lines. (Disclaimer: the .Tonic will of course remain
a drum synthesizer primarily.)
The oscillator section has been blessed with an attack parameter so
that you can achieve a softer sound and reduce the click of those 808
-style bass drums. The attack envelope is exponential, just like the
default envelope mode of the noise section.
You can export individual patterns (or chains) to standard MIDI files
and WAV files.
Cool improvements
You can freely assign which MIDI keys the drum channels respond to
and which keys to use for triggering patterns and muting channels.
There is a preference dialog where you can choose how knobs should
react (circular, relative circular, linear or decided by host). You can
also set a default startup program and switch the functions of the
right mouse button and the control / option key. The latter is
excellent for working quicker with editing accents etc...
You can play the .Tonic patterns even when the host sequencer is
stopped. Just click the play button while it is flashing in "waiting
state" and it will start playing at once.
Right-clicking drum channels give you some options on the entire
channels (like cut / copy / paste etc). Useful if you want to trade
places of channels etc...
Note names are displayed in the popup hints for the frequency sliders
so that you can tune to an exact pitch. This is handy with the new
"pitched mode" (described earlier).
You can right-click a knob or slider to set an exact value with text
(you may enter note names as well for frequency sliders). You can also
right-click to quickly assign MIDI controllers to knobs, sliders or
buttons.
Knobs and sliders have sub-pixel precision. This goes well in line
with the .Tonic sound engine, which features an infinitely fine
resolution on all parameters. Now the visuals are virtually infinite in
resolution as well. (Try dragging some knobs and faders with the shift
key down, and boy is that smooth.)
Patterns that are part of the current "pattern chain" are lit in blue
color. Empty patterns show up gray.
You can drag and drop programs and drum patch files from the explorer
/ finder onto the .Tonic.
Clicking the drum patch name display will pop up a list with drum
patches residing in the same directory for quick loading.
There is a "select channel with MIDI switch" that allows you to
select drum channels for editing from your MIDI keyboard.
Shift-clicking a step button (trigger, accent or repeat) sets or
resets that step button for all (unmuted) channels at once. Try it out
for making abrupt breaks or intense fills in patterns.
Minor (but still cool) improvements
Windows version is even further optimized and generally uses around
15% less CPU.
No longer does the .Tonic pattern engine start to play automatically
every time you open up a program. If it is stopped, it stays stopped.
The randomization features have been tuned a little, they should now
hopefully give even more... erhm... interesting results.
Soloing a channel will select that channel. This makes it easier to
solo out and edit one channel at a time.
A star (*) is appended to the program name when it is modified (just
like with drum patches).
Both the noise and oscillator envelope now have techniques to prevent
clicking when retriggering with slow attack settings. This improves the
sound of the noise envelope compared to version 1.0, especially with
high q settings.
If a host reports that output b is not connected, all the drum
patches routed to output b will go to a.
Better compatibility with certain hosts (no names) by implementing
yet some more "safety measures". Amongst other things we now prevent a
problem were the .Tonic would actually get unregistered spontaneously.
(I know it sounds weird, but it is true.)
File names and directories can contain unicode characters. They may
not be displayed properly, but they should work. Previously you would
get errors if you used unicode characters in names.
The .Tonic skin has undergone slight cosmetic surgery and now looks
and feels clearer with sharper contrasts and a new drum patch display /
selector amongst other improvements.
And lets not forget the numerous new programs and patches contributed
by Elmodic, Rory Dows and others.
more info available at:
http://www.soniccharge.com
Download File Size:5.75 MB
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