Steinberg Groove Agent SE Operation Manual SE4

User Manual: Steinberg Groove Agent - SE4 - Operation Manual Free User Guide for Steinberg Groove Agent Software, Manual

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Operation Manual

Matthias Klag, Michael Ruf
Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Christina Kaboth, Insa Mingers, Sabine Pfeifer,
Kevin Quarshie, Benjamin Schütte
This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the
complexity and number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text
descriptions of images.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent
a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described
by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media
except as specifically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this publication may be
copied, reproduced, or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior
written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Registered licensees of the
product described herein may print one copy of this document for their personal use.
All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective holders. For more
information, please visit www.steinberg.net/trademarks.
© Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2014.
All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

4
4
4

Introduction
Window Overview
About Agents, Kits, Presets, and Groove
Agent ONE Content

7
7
7
8

10
11
11
12

Getting Started
Presets
Loading a Kit Preset
Pattern and Instrument Pads, MIDI Patterns,
and Styles
Playing back Pattern Pads with the Style
Player
Creating the Different Parts of a Drum Track
Recording Trigger Notes for Your Patterns
Dragging Patterns into a Project
Modifying Patterns in the DAW

13
13
13
14
14

Managing Your Sounds
Loading Kits
Kit Slot
Kit Rack
Kit Context Menu

17
17
17
18
18
19
20

Common Editing Methods
Encoders and Sliders
Multi Selection and Parameter Controls
Buttons
Value Fields
Using Key Commands
Presets

22
22
23
24
31

Working With Pads
Common Pad Settings
Pad Functions
Instrument Pads
Pattern Pads

39
39
70
70
72

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing
Pattern Editing
Mixing
Importing and Exporting Files

75
75
81
87

Acoustic Agent SE (Cubase Elements
only)
Sound Editing
Pattern Editing
Mixing

90
90
91
92
92

Mixing and Effect Handling
AUX Mixer
Kit Mixer
Master Mixer
Effect Handling

94
94
98
101
105
107
116
126

Effects Reference
Reverb and Delay Effects
EQ Effects
Filter Effects
Distortion Effects
Modulation Effects
Dynamics Effects
Panner Effects

127 Automation and MIDI Controllers
127 Automation
128 MIDI Controllers
131
131
132
132
134

Global Functions and Settings
Plug-in Functions Section
The Plug-in Name and Steinberg Logo
Toolbar
Options Page

138 Mixer Routing Diagrams
140 Index

Introduction

Window Overview
The application interface follows a fixed-size single window concept.

The window is subdivided into several sections:
•

The plug-in functions section at the top.

•

The pad section on the left.

•

The edit display on the right. It contains the Edit, Mixer, and Options pages.

About Agents, Kits, Presets, and Groove Agent ONE
Content
Agents
Groove Agent SE combines the creative power of different rhythm modules:
Acoustic Agent SE and Beat Agent SE.

Introduction
About Agents, Kits, Presets, and Groove Agent ONE Content

Each of these tools offers its own approach to drums and rhythms, with special
ways of creating your own inspiring beats in a huge range of styles.

Kits
Kits contain all information about the kit or sliced loop and about the insert effects
that are used on the mixer channel. Kits can also contain MIDI patterns.
Kits can be saved and loaded via the kit rack or the kit slot section.

Kit Rack

Kit Slot Section

Sliced Loop Kits
Instead of MIDI patterns, sliced loop kits contain the MIDI phrase that is needed to
play back the loop. Other than that, sliced loop kits are similar to regular kits, in that
they can use insert effects, etc.

Plug-in Presets (VST Presets)
A plug-in preset contains all information necessary to restore the complete state of
the plug-in. This includes the kit, the MIDI patterns, as well as any insert and AUX
effects. All of these settings are also saved with the project in your host application.

Groove Agent ONE Content
Groove Agent SE can load Groove Agent ONE presets. The presets can either be
loaded as kits in the kit rack or the kit slot section or as plug-in presets via the preset
management menu in the plug-in header.
If you load a Groove Agent ONE preset as a plug-in preset, the global plug-in
parameters are set to the default values.
If you load a preset as a kit, all global plug-in parameters remain unchanged.
NOTE

Groove Agent ONE presets always show the icon for a plug-in preset in the
MediaBay, even if they are shown in the preset loader.

Introduction
About Agents, Kits, Presets, and Groove Agent ONE Content

Content Files and Folder Structure
Groove Agent SE comes with a large amount of ready-to-use sound content. This
content is write-protected. You can edit files while they are loaded, but you cannot
overwrite the factory content files.
To save edits to the factory content, save the files under a new name. These files
get the file name extension .vstpreset and are referred to as user content. They
can be searched and categorized in the same way as factory content.
User content is saved in a predefined folder structure on your hard disk. You can
create subfolders within this structure to facilitate moving or exchanging content.

Getting Started

Presets
To be able to play a sound in Groove Agent SE, you must load a preset. This can
either be a VST preset or a kit preset.
VST Presets
VST presets contain all Groove Agent SE settings, that is, all loaded kits and
their settings and all settings that are made for the plug-in instance. You can
load VST presets via the pop-up menus in the plug-in header and in the
plug-in functions section. In the Load dialog and in the MediaBay, these
presets are identified by the VST preset icon .
Kit Presets
Kit presets contain the following:
•

The kit and its samples. These are used on the Instrument page.

•

The MIDI pattern or style with the corresponding MIDI files. These are
used on the Pattern page.

•

The mixer presets. These are used in the Mixer.

Furthermore, kit presets contain information on the agent that the kit uses. In
the Load dialog and in the MediaBay, kit presets are identified by the kit
preset icon .

Loading a Kit Preset
PREREQUISITE
Groove Agent SE is assigned to a MIDI track in your DAW.
PROCEDURE
1.

Select the kit slot in the kit rack.

In the DAW, open the MediaBay.

Set up the MediaBay to show the Attributes Library Name, Style, and
Substyle.

Getting Started
Pattern and Instrument Pads, MIDI Patterns, and Styles

In the Library Name column, select a content set for an agent, for example,
Acoustic Agent SE Studio Kit.

In the Style and Substyle columns, specify the musical style that you want to
use.

In the results list, locate a preset for Acoustic Agent SE and double-click it.

Pattern and Instrument Pads, MIDI Patterns, and Styles
In Groove Agent SE, you can edit both the sounds and the patterns relayed by your
drum tracks.
Instrument sounds can be accessed through the instrument pads. The pattern that
is played can be edited via the pattern pads.
•

To switch between the instrument pads and the pattern pads, click the
corresponding button above the pads.

Instrument Pads
If the instrument pads are shown, the pads trigger the instrument samples and
you can edit the sound of the instruments. These instruments are then used
by the pattern pads to play the selected MIDI pattern or style.
Pattern Pads
If the pattern pads are shown, the pads trigger the selected MIDI pattern or
style.
•

MIDI patterns contain information on notes and drum sounds and the
rhythm in which they are played.

•

Styles are complex structures of multiple patterns suited to create
different parts of the drum tracks, for example, main pattern, fill, ending,
and intro.

Getting Started
Playing back Pattern Pads with the Style Player

Playing back Pattern Pads with the Style Player
You can play back pattern pads using the MIDI pattern player or the style player.
The MIDI pattern player allows you to play and modify one pattern. The style player
offers a variety of patterns, suited to create the different parts of your drum tracks.
PREREQUISITE
You have loaded an Acoustic Agent SE preset.
PROCEDURE
1.

In Groove Agent SE, open the Pattern page and click on an empty pattern
pad.
If a pattern pad is empty, it also plays the instrument sound, that is, if you click on the
empty pattern pad for C3, you will hear the same sound as if you clicked on the
instrument pad for C3.

To activate the pattern pad and make it play the pattern, open the Edit page
in the right section of the plug-in panel and click the Active button in the Pad
section so that it lights up.

In the Pattern section, click the Active button to activate the player, activate
the Use Style button to use the style player, and select a style from the Style
Library pop-up menu.

Adjust the tempo in the DAW to match the tempo of the style.
The original tempo of the style is indicated by the second number in the file name of
the style and in the Original Tempo value field in the Pattern section next to the Style
Library pop-up menu.

Click the Play button in the transport section to play back the style.

In the Performance section, try out different settings. Move the Complexity
slider, select a main pattern, a fill, an ending, etc., and listen to the results.

Keep the settings as they are and select different styles on the Pattern
Library pop-up menu in the Pattern section to compare the sound and to find
the style that you want to use.

Getting Started
Creating the Different Parts of a Drum Track

Creating the Different Parts of a Drum Track
To create different parts for your drum track, for example, an intro, a fill, a main part,
and an ending, it is useful to start by copying the current style to other pads. Then
modify the style for those pads.
PREREQUISITE
You have set up a pattern pad to play back a style.
PROCEDURE
1.

To copy the settings of the current pad to another pad, hold down
[Alt]/[Option] and drag the pad onto another pad.

Repeat this until you have 4 pads with the same settings.

Select the second pad. In the Performance section, set the dial on the left to
a fill.
You can choose between 8 fills.

Set up the fill by using the controls in the Performance section. For example,
change the complexity, activate half-time, try out different intensity settings,
etc.

When the fill sounds the way you want it, right-click the pattern pad, select
Rename Pad from the context menu, and enter a name for the pad, for
example Fill.

Set up the pads for intro and ending in the same way.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK
You can now record trigger notes for the pads in the DAW or transfer the patterns
to the DAW by dragging them into a project.
RELATED LINKS
Converting Intros, Main Patterns, Fills, or Endings into MIDI Patterns
on page 82
Dragging Patterns into a Project on page 11
Recording Trigger Notes for Your Patterns on page 11

Getting Started
Recording Trigger Notes for Your Patterns

Recording Trigger Notes for Your Patterns
When you use Groove Agent SE in a DAW project, you can record trigger notes at
the positions where you want to trigger the pattern. This allows you to create the
drums for your project on the fly, in the project context.
PREREQUISITE
You have created a project in your DAW to which you want to add a drum track.
You have added a MIDI track that is assigned to Groove Agent SE.
PROCEDURE
1.

In Groove Agent SE, set up the MIDI patterns or styles for your drum track.

In the DAW, record-enable the MIDI track and start playback of your project.

Record the trigger notes at the positions in the project where you want to hear
the drums.

RESULT
When you now play back the project, the trigger notes trigger the pattern playback.
You can automate parameters like complexity and intensity from within the DAW.
Any changes that you make to a pattern in Groove Agent SE are automatically
reflected in all occurrences of this pattern in the project.

Dragging Patterns into a Project
You can drag patterns from Groove Agent SE into your DAW project and edit them
there.
PREREQUISITE
You have created a project in your DAW to which you want to add a drum track.
You have added a MIDI track that is assigned to Groove Agent SE.
Before you drag your patterns into a project, make sure that the pattern pads are
not mapped to the same keys as the instrument pads.
If pattern and instrument pads share keys, activate the Use MIDI Port B for Pattern
Pads button in the lower left corner of the pattern pad section.

Getting Started
Modifying Patterns in the DAW

If you use separate MIDI ports for pattern and instrument pads, the trigger notes of
the pattern pads do not interfere with the notes that are part of your patterns, even
if pattern pads and instrument pads are mapped to the same keys.
PROCEDURE
1.

In Groove Agent SE, set up the MIDI patterns or styles for your drum track.

Select the pad that plays the pattern that you want to use and drag it onto the
MIDI track at the position where you want to insert it.

In the same way, drag the other pads into the project until you have assembled
your drum track.

RESULT
The patterns are inserted as MIDI parts on the track. When you play back the
project, the drum parts are played back as well.
RELATED LINKS
Modifying Patterns in the DAW on page 12

Modifying Patterns in the DAW
When you have created MIDI parts for your Groove Agent SE patterns in your
project, you can further edit the parts in the DAW.
PREREQUISITE
You have assigned a MIDI track in your DAW to Groove Agent SE.
You have dragged your patterns to this track.
PROCEDURE
1.

In the Inspector of your Steinberg DAW, open the Drum Map pop-up menu
for the track and select Create Drum Map from Instrument.
This creates a drum map based on the information about the used drum sounds in
Groove Agent SE.

Open the part in the Drum Editor.
The editor displays the correct drum names in the drum names list on the left. In the
event display on the right, the MIDI notes are shown.

Set up the pattern by deleting or entering notes, by copying or moving notes,
etc.
For information about how to edit notes and controllers in the Drum Editor, refer to
the “Operation Manual” for your Steinberg DAW.

Managing Your Sounds

Loading Kits
There are several ways to load kits:
•

Via drag & drop from the MediaBay or the Windows Explorer/Mac OS Finder.

•

Via the context menu in the kit rack.

•

By clicking the Load Kit button at the right of the kit name in the kit slot
section.

Kit Slot

This section shows the name of the loaded kit. In addition, the following global
controls are available:
Load button
Click this button to show the list of available kits.
You can also click the kit name to open this list. Right-click the kit name to
open the kit context menu.
Load Previous/Next Kit
Click these buttons to load the previous/next kit from the list of available kits.
Load Kit with Patterns
Activate this button to make sure that kits are always loaded together with
their patterns.
Polyphony
Adjusts the polyphony of the kit.
MIDI Input Indicator
The MIDI symbol starts blinking if incoming MIDI signals are detected.

Managing Your Sounds
Kit Rack

Velocity Curve
Sets the velocity response curve of the kit. This allows you to adapt the kit to
your hardware MIDI controller or playing style.
Song Position Counter
The song position counter shows the current song position in bars, beats, and
16th notes. If you activate the Play button in Groove Agent SE, the song
position counter always starts at 1.0.0.0 and runs until you click stop.
Tempo Display
The tempo display next to the position counter shows the tempo of the host
application.

Kit Rack
The kit rack can be found to the right of the kit slot section.

It gives you an overview over the loaded kit and its agent, and allows you to perform
some kit editing via the context menu.

Kit Context Menu

Managing Your Sounds
Kit Context Menu

Load Kit
Opens a pop-up menu containing the available kits. Double-click a kit to load
it.
Load Kit With Patterns
Allows you to load a kit with its MIDI patterns, if any.
Load Pattern Group
Allows you to load a predefined set of MIDI file assignments and play
parameter settings for the 16 pads of the group.
Save Pattern Group
Allows you to save the 16 pads of the group and their settings as a pattern
group.
Delete Pattern Group
Allows you to delete a pattern group.
Save Kit
Saves the kit. If you try to overwrite write-protected factory content, a dialog
opens that allows you to save the edited kit under a new name.
Save Kit As
Allows you to save the kit under a new name.
Revert to Last Saved Kit
Reverts to the kit that was originally loaded on the slot. If the kit was loaded
without patterns, only the kit and no patterns are loaded.
Cut Kit
Copies the kit and its patterns and removes it from the slot.
Copy Kit
Copies the kit and its patterns.
Paste Kit
Pastes the copied kit into the slot. If the slot already contains a kit, it is
replaced.
Rename Kit
Allows you to rename the kit.
Reset Agent
Loads the Init preset of the agent.
Import
Allows you to import MPC and GAK files into Beat Agent SE kits.

Managing Your Sounds
Kit Context Menu

Export Kit With Samples
Exports the Beat Agent SE kit together with its associated samples.
NOTE

Samples that are part of protected content, such as the VST Sound content,
cannot be exported.

Common Editing Methods

Encoders and Sliders
Encoders and sliders can be unidirectional or bidirectional. Unidirectional values, for
example level values, start at a minimum value and go up to the maximum.
Bidirectional controls start from the middle position and go to the left for negative
and to the right for positive values.
Most of the editing methods are the same for encoders and sliders.
•

To adjust a value, click an encoder or a fader and drag up and down, or use
the mouse wheel.
If you press [Alt]/[Option] when clicking an encoder, a small fader appears,
allowing you to set the parameter.

•

To make fine adjustments, press [Shift] and move the encoder or use the
mouse wheel.

•

To restore the default value for a parameter, press [Ctrl]/[Command] and click
on the control.

Multi Selection and Parameter Controls
To edit multiple pad parameters at the same time, select the pads that you want to
edit.
If several pads are selected and they are not set to the exact same values, most of
the controls indicate this by turning red. This is true for encoders, switches, combo
boxes, value fields, and text faders.
For example, if you have selected 3 pads with cutoff frequency values of 1200,
1400, and 2500 Hz, the corona of the frequency encoders shows a range from
1200 to 2500. The corresponding field shows the value of the focused pad in red.
NOTE

More complex controls, such as the envelope editors, only show the values of the
focused pad.

Common Editing Methods
Buttons

Adjusting the Value Ranges
You can adjust the value range of a parameter using the corona of the encoder. The
values for the pads are distributed within the new range, keeping their relative
distances.
•

To compress or expand the value range, drag the corona.

•

To adjust the upper limit of the range, hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] and drag
the corona.

•

To adjust the lower limit of the range, hold down [Alt]/[Option] and drag the
corona.

Buttons
On/Off Buttons
These controls normally have two states, off and on. If you move the mouse over an
On/Off button, it changes its appearance to show that you can click it.

Push Buttons
Push buttons only trigger an action and then go back to their inactive state. These
buttons can be found for opening menus or file dialogs.

Value Fields
To set a value, you have the following possibilities:
•

Double-click in a value field, enter a new value, and press [Enter].
If the entered value exceeds the parameter range, it is automatically set to the
maximum or the minimum value, respectively.

•

Click in the value field and drag up or down to change the value.

•

Position the mouse over a value field and use the mouse wheel to adjust the
value.

•

To set the parameter to its default value, [Ctrl]/[Command]-click the value
field.

•

To use a fader to adjust the value, [Alt]/[Option]-click a value field.

•

Click the up/down triangles next to the field.

Common Editing Methods
Using Key Commands

•

You can adjust musical values, such as key ranges or the root key, using your
MIDI keyboard.
To enter a value with your MIDI keyboard, double-click the value field, press a
key on your MIDI keyboard, and press [Return].

•

To navigate to the next parameter, press [Tab]. To jump backwards to the
previous parameter, press [Shift]-[Tab].
If no parameter is selected inside the focused view, pressing [Tab] always
jumps to the first parameter.

Using Key Commands

•

To open the Key Commands dialog, click the Key Commands button.

The commands are arranged in a hierarchical folder structure on the left. When you
open a category folder, the items and functions are displayed with any currently
assigned key commands.
•

To set up a key command, select the function in the list, enter the key
command in the Type in Key field and click the Assign button to the right of
the field. If this key command is already used for another function, this is
displayed in the field below.

•

To delete a key command, select the corresponding command, select the key
command in the Keys list and click the Delete button (the trash icon).

•

To search for a specific function, enter its name in the search field at the top
of the dialog and click the search button (the magnifying glass).

NOTE

You can set up several key commands for the same function.

Common Editing Methods
Presets

Presets
Groove Agent SE offers two types of presets: section/module presets and VST
presets. VST presets contain all information necessary to restore the complete state
of the plug-in. Section and module presets store and recall the setup of a specific
component on the Groove Agent SE panel.
During setup, the factory presets are installed in a dedicated folder and a user folder
is created for your own presets. The handling of presets is the same throughout the
program.
NOTE

Factory presets are write-protected, but may be overwritten when a software
update is executed. Presets in your user folder are never changed by the software
update.
For more information on VST presets, see the Cubase/Nuendo “Operation Manual”.

Handling Section and Module Presets
The preset controls can be found throughout the program. The handling is always
the same.
•

To save a preset, click the Save button (the disk icon).
NOTE
You cannot overwrite factory presets. If you want to save changes made to a factory
preset, save the preset under a new name or in a new location.

•

To load a preset, click the arrow icon and select a preset from the list.

•

To delete a preset, click the Delete button (the trash icon). Note that factory
presets cannot be deleted.

Handling VST Presets
Loading VST Presets
PROCEDURE
1.

In the header of the plug-in panel, click the Preset management button next
to the preset name field and select Load Preset.

Select a preset to load it. Double-click a preset to load it and close the preset
loader.

Common Editing Methods
Presets

Saving VST Presets
PROCEDURE
•

In the header of the plug-in panel, click the Preset management button next
to the preset name field and select Save Preset.

Working With Pads

Instrument and pattern pads have multiple functions and can show various
information about the pads. Some pad functions are only available for specific
agents. If this is the case, this is clearly stated.
The Pad section on the left can show the instrument pads or the pattern pads.
Instrument pads can be used to trigger samples. Pattern pads can trigger MIDI
drum patterns or styles.

•

To switch between the instrument pads and the pattern pads, click the
corresponding button above the pads.

Transport Controls

•

To start or stop playback of the selected pad, use the corresponding controls.

Common Pad Settings
•

Pads show the associated MIDI note in the top right corner.
For pattern pads, you can change the MIDI note assignment. For instrument
pads, you can only change this if Use Hardware Controller Mapping is
activated.

•

In the lower section, the name of the pad is displayed.

•

If samples are assigned to an instrument pad, the LED above the pad lights
up.

•

If a MIDI file is mapped to a pattern pad, the LED above the pad lights up.

•

A pad lights up if the associated MIDI note is triggered.

•

A yellow frame around a pad indicates that this pad is selected for editing.

Working With Pads
Pad Functions

Pad Colors
You can colorize the instrument pads and the pattern pads using up to 16 different
colors.
This can be used to improve the overview of instruments within your kit, for example.
You can set the bass drum to one color, the snare to another, toms and cymbals to
another, and so on.
•

To apply a color to a pad or to several selected pads, open the context menu
and select a color from the Set Color submenu.

Selecting Pads
Apart from the regular selection options, you can use the additional selection
options on the pad context menu.
•

Select All Pads – All 128 pads are selected.

•

Select All Pads in Group – All 16 pads of the pad group are selected.

•

Invert Selection – Selects all unselected pads and deselects all selected
pads.

•

Invert Selection in Group – As above, but only for the pad group.

Pad Functions
•

To change the name of a pad, right-click the pad, select Rename Pad from
the context menu, enter a new name and press [Enter].
This is useful if the names of the samples are either too long or not very
intuitive. Renaming pads also allows you to indicate that more than one
sample is mapped to a pad, for example.

•

You can edit multiple selected pads. The first selected pad shows a yellow
frame, the rest of the selected pads a lighter yellow frame.

•

To select a pad without triggering a sample or pattern, [Alt]/[Option]-click the
pad.

•

In Instrument mode, the pads can be used to trigger sounds. You can trigger
them with different velocities. Velocities are lower the further down towards
the bottom of a pad you click. Clicking towards the top of the pad results in
higher velocities.

•

To mute or solo an instrument pad, click the corresponding icon in the upper
left corner of a pad. Click again to unsolo or unmute.

•

To unmute or unsolo all instrument pads, click the Reset All Mute/Reset All
Solo buttons below the pads.

•

To remove samples from an instrument pad, right-click the pad and select
Remove All Samples from the context menu.

Working With Pads
Instrument Pads

•

To reset a pad, right-click the pad and select Reset Pad from the context
menu. To reset all 128 pads, right-click a pad and select Reset All Pads from
the context menu.
For instrument pads, this removes all samples and resets name, color, and
trigger note for the pads to their default values.
For pattern pads, this removes the MIDI file and the name from the pads and
resets color and trigger note to the default values.

Instrument Pads

The pad section provides up to 128 pads, organized in 8 groups of 16 pads. The
instrument pads can be used to trigger sounds. Each pad is mapped to a MIDI note,
which triggers a sample. If samples are assigned to a pad, the LED above the pad
lights up.
You can switch between the groups by clicking on the group buttons below the
pads. The button of the active group is highlighted. If one or more pads of a group
have samples mapped to them, an orange LED above the group button lights up. If
a pad within a group receives a MIDI note, a green MIDI indicator LED lights up.
By default, group 3 is active when you open Groove Agent SE.
Below the pad section, you find several buttons. These are different for the different
agents.

Showing Information about the Instrument Pads (Beat Agent SE Only)
•

Activate the i button below the pad section to show the following information
for the pads: the pad number, the number of samples, and the output.

Working With Pads
Instrument Pads

•

Activate the E button to show the exclusive group settings for the pads. If you
move the mouse over a pad that belongs to an exclusive group, all pads that
belong to the same exclusive group are highlighted. If a hidden pad group
contains pads that belong to the same exclusive group, a red LED above the
group button lights up.

Setting the Output for the Pads (Beat Agent SE Only)
You can set the output of the samples via the pad context menu.
•

Right-click the pad, open the Assign Output submenu, and select the output
that you want to use.
This sets all samples of the pad to this output.

Locking Color and Output Settings (Beat Agent SE Only)

•

You can lock the color and output settings for the pads. For example, this
allows you to lock the output configuration for the pads, and then switch
between kits while keeping these outputs. You can specify which parameters
you want to lock for the pads on the context menu for the Lock button below
the pads. If the button lights up, at least one setting is locked for the pads.

Locking Pad Settings (Acoustic Agent SE Only)
You can lock the color settings for the pads by activating the Lock Pad Colors
button. The button lights up when it is active.

Using an Alternative MIDI Note Assignment
If you use an external hardware drum controller that sends specific MIDI notes for
specific instruments, you can specify an alternative MIDI trigger note mapping.
PROCEDURE
1.

Activate the Use Hardware Controller Mapping button in the lower right
corner of the pad section.
Now you can load, save, and delete different trigger note configurations.

Specify a new trigger note for the pad.
•

Right-click a pad, select Edit/Learn Trigger Note and specify the new trigger
note by entering it into the value field or by playing the corresponding note on
your hardware controller.

•

Right-click a pad, select Trigger Notes > Assign Trigger Note and select the
note from the submenus.

Working With Pads
Instrument Pads

Groove Agent SE jumps to the next pad. Assign a MIDI note to all the pads
that you want to use and press [Enter] to stop assigning MIDI notes.
Assigned trigger notes are shown on the Trigger Notes submenu of the context
menu.

Assigning Multiple Trigger Notes to an Instrument Pad
Some hardware drum controller instruments, like crash cymbals, provide several
zones. These zones are sending different MIDI notes, in order to play different
articulations.
If a drum kit comes with a sample mapping that contains all articulations on
dedicated instrument pads, each instrument pad only requires one specific trigger
note.
However, if the kit does not provide a pad for each articulation, you might need to
assign mutiple trigger notes to one instrument pad, so that each zone on the
hardware controller triggers the same sample.
PROCEDURE
1.

Activate the Use Hardware Controller Mapping button in the lower right
corner of the pad section.
Now you can load, save, and delete different trigger note configurations.

Specify an additional trigger note for the pad.
•

Right-click the instrument pad, select Trigger Notes > Add/remove Trigger
Note and select the note that you want to add from the submenus.

•

Right-click the instrument pad, select Trigger Notes > Learn Additional
Trigger Notes and play the additional note on your keyboard.

You can specify up to 3 additional notes for each pad.
Assigned trigger notes are shown on the Trigger Notes submenu of the context
menu.

Removing Additional Trigger Notes
You can remove additional trigger notes in the following ways:
•

On the context menu for an instrument pad, select Trigger Notes >
Add/Remove Trigger Note and deselect the note that you want to remove.

•

On the context menu for an instrument pad, select Trigger Notes > Remove
Trigger Notes and select the note that you want to remove.

•

To remove all additional trigger notes and replace them with a new single
trigger note, use the Edit/Learn option on the context menu.

Working With Pads
Instrument Pads

Using MIDI Effects
For each instrument pad, you can set up MIDI effects.
To open the MIDI effects page, activate the Instrument button in the pad section,
open the Edit page on the right side of the panel, and click the MIDI Fx tab.

Pad Mode
Pad mode determines to which pad the settings on the MIDI FX page are applied.
Internal
In Internal mode, the MIDI effects are applied to the samples on the selected
pad.
Remote
In Remote mode, you can select to which destination pad you want to apply
the MIDI effects.
This allows you to trigger an instrument with and without MIDI effects. Also,
any sound editing can be performed on one pad.
NOTE

•

If the destination pad also contains MIDI effects, these are not taken into
account.

•

If you set up remote MIDI effects on a pad for which samples are
assigned, the remote MIDI effects are applied only to the samples on the
destination pad.

Working With Pads
Instrument Pads

If you activate Remote mode for a pad, a remote icon is displayed on the pad
in the pad section.

•

To bypass the remote effects, click the Disable MIDI to Remote Pad
button to the left of the remote icon.

Rudiments Section
Active
Click this to activate the articulation.
Type
Determines the rudiment type.
•

Flam plays 2 hits very close together.

•

Drag plays 3 hits very close together.

•

Ruff plays 4 hits very close together.

•

Roll continually plays drum hits to produce a sustaining drum sound.

•

Buzz emulates the effect of a drummer pressing the stick into the drum
while hitting it. The stick bounces on the drum, producing multiple hits
that sound like a decaying drum roll.

Flam, Drag, and Ruff
For Flam, Drag, and Ruff, the following parameters are available:
Sync
Synchronizes the hits to the project tempo. The time span between the hits is
set in fractions of beats.
Time
Adjusts the time span between the hits.
Note Value
If Sync is activated, this parameter adjusts the time span in fractions of beats.
Dynamics
Adjusts the dynamics of the hits.
•

With negative values, the first hit is softer than the following hit or hits.

•

With positive values, the first hit is louder than the following hit or hits.

Working With Pads
Instrument Pads

Humanize
Use this parameter to randomize the timing, the dynamics, and the pitch of the
hits.

Roll
For Roll, the following parameters are available:
Sync
Activate this button to synchronize the hits to the project tempo. The time
span between the hits is set in fractions of beats.
Time
Adjusts the time span between the hits.
Note Value
If Sync is activated, this parameter adjusts the time span in fractions of beats.
Dynamics
Adjusts the dynamics of the hits. Higher values attenuate the even-numbered
hits of the roll.
Humanize
Use this parameter to randomize the timing, the dynamics, and the pitch of the
hits.

Buzz
For Buzz, the following parameters are available:
Grip
Determines how the drumstick is held. Higher settings produce less buzz.
Pressure
Adjusts the pressure on the stick. Higher settings produce a longer decay of
the buzz.
Humanize
Use this parameter to randomize the timing, the dynamics, and the pitch of the
hits.

Working With Pads
Instrument Pads

MIDI Delay
MIDI Delay produces echo effects by repeating the notes that you play.
The subsequent note events can be modified, for example, you can vary the time
span between the echoes with the Distribution parameter.
Active
Activates/Deactivates the MIDI Delay effect.
Sync
Synchronizes the echoes to the project tempo. The time span between the
echoes is set in fractions of beats.
Time
Adjusts the time span between the echoes.
Note Value
If Sync is activated, this parameter adjusts the time span in fractions of beats.
Repeats
Determines the maximum number of the echoes.
Damping
Determines whether the echoes fade-in or fade-out with the MIDI velocity. If
you set this parameter to negative values, the MIDI velocity gradually
increases. If you set this parameter to positive values, the MIDI velocity
gradually decreases.
NOTE

Damping shows only an effect if the sound settings of the samples use
velocity.
Pitch
Determines how much the pitch changes from echo to echo.
Distribution
Determines the time distribution of the echoes. If you set this parameter to
negative values, the time span between echoes gets shorter, that is, the
echoes speed up. With positive values, the echoes slow down.

Working With Pads
Pattern Pads

Pattern Pads

The pad section provides 16 pattern pads. Each pad is mapped to a MIDI note. You
can assign MIDI patterns to each pattern pad, to trigger complete drum patterns or
single instrument patterns, depending on the MIDI files. The pads are used to switch
between patterns.
If a MIDI file is assigned to a pad, the pad shows a progress indicator and a beat
counter. When the pattern is triggered, the progress indicator shows the playing
progress graphically. In addition, the beat counter shows the current beat during
playback. This allows you to see which patterns are currently running and at which
playing position, relative to the length of the pattern. This can be particularly helpful
when Toggle mode is selected, because it provides a quick overview of the
patterns that will be stopped and those that will be triggered.
The Transport controls above the pads allow you to trigger the focused pattern pad
without playing a MIDI note. Click the Stop button to end playback. If you switch
between pattern pads during playback, the pattern changes according to the set
Restart Mode.

Assigning MIDI Files to Pads
•

Drag a MIDI file from the Explorer/Finder or from the MediaBay onto a pad.

•

Drag a MIDI part from the host application onto a pad.

•

Drag a file from the Explorer/Finder onto the import field. The file is imported
to your user pattern library and assigned to the selected pad.

•

Select a pad and click the Agent tab on the Edit page. This opens the Agent
page. In the Pattern section, open the Pattern Library or the Style Library
pop-up menu and select one of the factory or user MIDI patterns or one of the
available styles.

Working With Pads
Pattern Pads

Assigning Multiple MIDI Files to Pads
You can drag and drop several MIDI files to pads at the same time.
PROCEDURE
1.

Move the mouse over the lower part of the pad on which you want to drop the
first MIDI file.
A yellow frame indicates which pads receive a MIDI file.

Drop the files.

RESULT
The MIDI files are imported to your user MIDI pattern library and are automatically
assigned to the pads.

Removing MIDI Files from Pads
•

To remove a MIDI pattern, right-click a pad and select Remove Pattern from
the context menu.

•

To remove the MIDI patterns from all selected pads right-click one of the pads
and select Remove Pattern from the context menu.

Using MIDI Port B for Pattern Pads
By default, instrument and pattern pads share the same MIDI port. If instrument and
pattern pads are both assigned and share the same trigger note, the pattern pad
always gets priority, therefore, instrument pads that use the same trigger note as a
pattern pad cannot be played via the same MIDI port.

Working With Pads
Pattern Pads

To be able to play all instrument and pattern pads via MIDI, assign MIDI port B to
the pattern pad section. This way, you can trigger instruments on one MIDI port and
patterns on the other.
PROCEDURE
1.

To use Port B, activate the Use MIDI Port B for Pattern Pads button in the
lower left corner of the pattern pad section.
If port B is used, MIDI data is received on all MIDI channels.

In your DAW, set up two MIDI tracks and set the MIDI output of the first track
to Groove Agent SE Main and the MIDI output of the second track to Groove
Agent SE Pattern.

RESULT
You can use one MIDI track to play the instrument pads and another MIDI track to
play the pattern pads.

Locking Pad Settings
The settings in the Pad section (Exclusive, Play Mode, etc.) are common to all
slots, that is, you set them up only once. However, these settings are part of kit
presets, and are replaced when you load a preset to a kit slot.
•

To avoid overwriting your existing pad settings with the preset settings when
loading a preset to a kit slot, activate the Lock Pad Settings button below the
pad section.
If this button is activated, the pad settings from the preset are not applied and
the existing settings remain active.

•

If the Lock Pad Settings button is deactivated and you load kit presets to
different slots, the pad settings saved in the presets overwrite the existing pad
settings.
Any active pattern pads from the new preset overwrite the current pad
settings on the associated pads. Inactive pads are not restored from the
preset, that is, existing settings for these pads remain active.

Moving and Copying Pattern Pads
You can copy or move pattern pads with all their settings to other pattern pads of
the same or a different pattern group.
•

To move the active pattern pad with all its settings to another pad, drag the
pad and drop it on the destination pad.

•

To copy a pattern pad to another pad, hold down [Alt]/[Option] and drag the
pad on the destination pad.

Working With Pads
Pattern Pads

•

To move or copy one or more pads onto other pads, use the context menu
commands Cut Pad, Copy Pad, and Paste Pad.
This way, you can move or copy multiple pads at the same time.

NOTE

You can also move or copy pads between pad groups. To do so, first drag the pad
onto the group button for the group to which you want to move or copy the pad,
then drop it onto the destination pad.

Managing Pattern Groups
You can save the 16 pads with their patterns and settings as a pattern group. This
allows you to quickly restore and reuse particular patterns and settings. Pattern
groups include all pad settings, that is, the settings for Exclusive Mode, Play
Mode, etc.
•

To save the current pattern group for a kit, right-click the kit in the kit rack and
select Save Pattern Group….

•

To load a pattern group, right-click the kit in the kit rack and select Load
Pattern Group….
NOTE
If you load a pattern group, the pad settings are only restored on empty pads. If you
have assigned a pattern to a pad, your pad settings are not overwritten by the pattern
group.

Agent Page
For pattern pads, the Agent page is available on the Edit page.
The Agent page contains the Pad, Pattern, and Performance sections. Depending
on which agent you use, different functions and settings are available.

Pad Section
The Pad section on the Agent page contains several playback functions and
settings.

Active
Activates/Deactivates playback for the pad.

Working With Pads
Pattern Pads

Exclusive
Activates/Deactivates exclusive playback for a pad. Triggering an exclusive
pad stops playback of the current pattern, according to the set restart mode.
Pads for which this button is not activated can play simultaneously with other
patterns.
If Exclusive mode is activated for a pad, this is indicated by an icon in the
upper left corner of a pad.

Play Mode
•

To play a pattern for as long as you hold down a key, select Hold.

•

To start and stop playback with the trigger note for a pad, select Toggle.
Toggle mode is best used for live performances. Otherwise, it can lead
to unpredictable results, for example, when stopping and restarting
playback in the host application or when locating to another position
during playback.

•

To play a pattern completely to its end, select One Shot. In this mode,
note-off events are ignored. Playback stops automatically at the end of
the pattern. To make sure that the pattern plays from start to end,
deactivate Sync to Beat.

Restart Mode
Determines whether a pattern starts to play immediately, at the next beat, or
at the next full measure.
Sync to Beat
If Sync to Beat is activated, triggering a pattern starts the pattern in sync with
any other patterns that are playing. For example, if you trigger a pattern and
trigger the next pattern after 3 beats, this pattern starts playing at beat 3. If
Sync to Beat is deactivated, the second pattern starts from the beginning.
Velocity Mode
Specifies how the velocity of the notes that you play affects the notes of the
pattern.
•

If Original is selected, the notes of the pattern are played with the
velocity that is saved with the pattern.

•

If As Played is selected, the notes of the pattern are played with the
velocity that you are playing on the keyboard.

•

If Original + As Played is selected, the pattern velocity is determined
by the combination of the velocity saved with the pattern and the
velocity of your playing.

Working With Pads
Pattern Pads

Pattern Section
For Beat Agent SE pattern pads, the Pattern section on the Agent page contains
MIDI pattern and pattern player functions. For Acoustic Agent SE instrument pads,
you can choose between MIDI pattern player and style player.
The MIDI pattern player offers the following functions and settings:

Pattern Library
Allows you to select a MIDI pattern. Click to select the file from the list.
To access the folder where the user MIDI patterns are saved, right-click the
Pattern Library field and select Show in Explorer/Finder. In this location,
you can add, remove and rename files and create subfolders to organize your
MIDI patterns.
NOTE

Pattern pads always contain the MIDI data and do not reference the original
MIDI files.
Original Tempo
Displays the original tempo as saved in the MIDI file.
Start
Specifies the beat from which the pattern starts to play.
End
Specifies the end of the pattern. Initially, this parameter is set to the original
length of the MIDI pattern.
Import Field
To import MIDI files from your file system or MIDI parts from your host
application into the user pattern library, drag them onto the MIDI import field.
You can import multiple MIDI files at the same time by dropping them on the
import field. The first file is assigned to the selected pad.
MIDI Export Field
To export a pattern, click the MIDI export field and drag it onto a MIDI track
in your host application. You can also drag the field to other locations and
applications that support MIDI files.
Import/Export and Alternative Trigger Note Mappings
If you are working with alternative trigger note mappings, this is taken into
account and the MIDI pattern is adapted automatically on import/export. This
is important if you are recording MIDI with a hardware drum controller and you
want to import MIDI parts from the host application or export patterns from
Groove Agent SE to the host application during that process.

Working With Pads
Pattern Pads

If you recorded the MIDI file with the standard trigger note mapping,
deactivate alternative trigger note mapping in the pad section.
RELATED LINKS
Using the Style Player on page 82

Performance Section
If the MIDI pattern player is active for a pattern pad, the Performance section on
the Agent page contains MIDI pattern player settings.

Swing Grid
Determines the grid for applying Swing. For example, to shift the timing of
every 16th note in a pattern, set this to 1/16.
Swing
Allows you to shift the timing of notes on even numbered beats to give the
pattern a swing feeling. Negative values shift the timing backward, and the
notes are played earlier. Positive values shift the timing forward, and the notes
are played later.
Gate Scale
Allows you to shorten or lengthen the notes of the pattern. At a value of 100 %,
the notes play with their original gate length.
NOTE

Gate Scale has no effect on samples that are played in One Shot mode. They
always sound until the end.
Velocity Scale
Raises or lowers the note-on velocities of the pattern. At a value of 100 %, the
notes are played with their original velocity.
Quantize Amount
This parameter defines how much of the quantization grid is applied. A value
of 100 % means the MIDI note events play back only at the specified quantize
note value. Smaller values move the notes only partially towards the next
quantize note value. With a value of 0 %, no quantization is applied.

Working With Pads
Pattern Pads

Quantize Grid
This parameter allows you to set up a quantization grid, in fractions of beats.
You can also specify dotted and triplet values.
Tempo Scale
Defines the speed at which the pattern is running. You can choose between
half, normal, and double speed.

Beat Agent SE

Beat Agent SE is a full beat production instrument with all the tools and sounds to
create amazing beats for any electronic or urban music genre.
Many amazing sounding drum kits are included, alongside all the advanced features
that you need to edit existing kits and create your own ones.
Beat Agent SE also excels in manipulating samples and loops, with features like
automatic loop slicing, an onboard FX rack, and much more.

Sound Editing
On the Edit page for instrument pads, you set up the sound of the kits.
•

To open the Edit page, click the Edit button in the upper section of the plug-in
panel.

The Edit page contains the Main, Pitch, Filter, Amp, Sample, Slice, and MIDI FX
tabs.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Absolute and Relative Editing
When editing multiple samples, you can either change values absolutely for all the
samples (ABS) or make relative changes (REL), depending on the setting of the
corresponding button on the toolbar.
•

If you use absolute editing and you change a parameter from 50 % to 60 % for
one sample, all other samples are also set to 60 %.

•

If you use relative editing and you change a parameter from 50 % to 60 % in
one zone, another selected zone that was set to 70 % is set to 80 %.

NOTE

Relative changes can be made for all parameters that can be adjusted continuously.
Changes of parameters that select one of multiple modes or switch between two
states are always absolute.

Editing Selection or All
You can apply your editing either to the selection (SEL) or to all samples of the pad
(PAD), depending on the setting of the corresponding button on the toolbar.

Assigning Samples to Pads
You can assign samples to pads by using drag and drop, or replace existing
samples using the Mapping View context menu.

Assigning Samples to Pads using Drag and Drop
You can drag one or more samples from the Explorer/Finder and from your host
application onto Groove Agent SE. Samples can be mapped to the same pad, or to
different pads.
•

To assign a sample to a pad, drag it onto the pad.

You can drag files from the following locations:
•

MediaBay

•

Project window

•

Pool

•

Sample Editor (regions)

•

Audio Part Editor

•

LoopMash slices

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

When you drag one or more samples onto a pad, the drop icons are shown. These
determine whether the samples are added to the pad, whether the current sample
is replaced with the one you are dragging, or whether the samples that you drag are
assigned to multiple consecutive pads.
•

Drag samples to the topmost drop icon to add them to the pad.
You can assign up to 8 samples to a pad.

•

Drag one or more samples to the middle drop icon to replace the currently
assigned samples with the ones that you are dragging.

•

Drag several samples to the lowest drop icon to assign them to several
consecutive pads in one or in several groups.

A yellow border is shown around the pads that receive one of the samples.
NOTE
How many samples can be dropped to several pads depends on the number of
available pads.

If Groove Agent SE cannot supply a sufficient number of free pads for the
number of dropped samples, a dialog is displayed, allowing you to proceed or
cancel the operation. If pads already contained samples, these are replaced.
RELATED LINKS
Mapping View on page 43

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Moving and Copying Samples between Pads
Samples can be moved and copied between pads.
•

To move the samples from one pad to another pad, drag the pad to either the
top, the middle, or the bottom drop icon of the destination pad.
NOTE
To copy the samples instead of moving them, keep [Alt]/[Option] pressed when
dragging the samples.
NOTE
When you copy pads that are part of a sliced loop, they are pasted as normal
instrument pads, that is, they are no longer related to the loop.

Moving and Copying Samples between Groups
To move or copy the samples to pads in another group, drag the samples on the
group button first to show the group, and then to the new pad.
The options are the same as when moving samples between pads of the same
group.

Moving Sliced Loops
You can move sliced loops with one drag and drop operation.
•

Drag the first slice of the loop and move it onto the pad section.
When you start dragging, Groove Agent SE shows the pads on which the
sliced loop can be dropped, that is, the pads that are followed by enough
empty pads to insert all the slices. Pads on which the loop cannot be dropped
are grayed out.

•

Drop the slice on the pad from which you want to start inserting slices.

Changing the Order of Pads
By default, instrument pads are sorted chromatically, based on the standard
mapping. However, in some cases, you may want to display pads from other groups
within a particular group. Therefore, you can exchange the position of pads.
For example, often a second bass drum is mapped to B0, which can be found in
pad group 2. Most of the other common drum kit instruments are, however, located
in group 3. If you want to see the second bass drum together with the other
instruments of group 3, exchange the B0 pad with an unused pad in group 3.
•

To exchange 2 pads, hold down [Shift] and drag one pad onto another pad.
This exchanges the entire contents of the pads with all their settings.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

•

To see whether the order of the pads differs from the standard sorting, you
can either check the trigger notes of the pads to see whether they are mapped
chromatically or not, or you can click the Info button to see the pad index of
all pads.

•

To reset the order of all pads to a chromatic order, open the context menu for
a pad and select Reset Pad Order.

Mapping View
The mapping view shows the current sample mapping of the selected pad.

You can replace and remove samples in the mapping view and adjust their velocity
ranges. The focused sample is displayed in a lighter color.
NOTE

The mapping view always shows the velocity ranges, even if they are not used to
trigger samples. However, the values only have an effect in Velocity mode.

Changing the Velocity Ranges of Samples
•

Select the sample in the mapping view and enter new values in the Hi and Lo
fields on the right.

•

Position the mouse between two samples, so that a double-arrow is shown,
and drag to the left or right.

NOTE

Changing the velocity range of a sample automatically adapts adjacent samples,
that is, velocity ranges cannot overlap.

Editing the Mapping of a Pad
A pad can contain up to 8 samples.

•

You can add samples by dropping them onto the mapping view. They can be
inserted between two other samples, behind the last sample, or in front of the
first sample. This is indicated by a red insert line.

•

To replace a sample, drag a new sample onto an existing sample. Which
sample will be replaced is indicated by a red frame.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

•

To change the order of the samples, drag them to a new position.

•

To map a sample to another pad, drag it onto the pad.
This removes the sample from the current pad. To map the sample to another
pad without losing the current mapping, hold down [Alt]/[Option] while
dragging.

Replacing Samples
You can replace individual samples in the Mapping View with other samples on your
hard disk.
PROCEDURE
1.

Right-click the sample and select Replace Sample from the context menu.

In the file dialog, navigate to the file that you want to use instead, select it, and
click Open.

RESULT
The sample is replaced.

Removing Samples From Pads
•

To remove a sample from a pad, right-click it and select Remove Sample
from the context menu.

•

To remove all samples of a pad, right-click one of the samples and select
Remove Selected Samples.

NOTE

If the PAD/SEL button is set to PAD, you cannot select individual samples and
Remove Selected Samples removes all samples of the pad.

Main Tab
The Main tab gives you access to the sample mapping of the pad as well as to the
most important parameters, like Volume, Pan, Cutoff etc.
The Main tab also shows a simplified sample editor. You can adjust the sample start
and end markers as well as fade-in and fade-out markers and fade curves in the
display.
Mode
Determines the trigger mode for the samples of a pad:
•

In Velocity mode, the incoming velocity determines which sample is
played.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

•

In Layer mode, all samples are played at the same time, regardless of
their velocity.

•

In Round Robin mode, the samples are played repeatedly one after the
other, from left to right.

•

In Random mode, samples are played randomly. Repetitions can occur.

•

In Random Exclusive mode, samples are played randomly, but
repetitions are not allowed.

Poly
Sets the maximum polyphony of a pad. For example, if this is set to 4, you can
trigger a pad 4 times before notes are stolen.
NOTE

The polyphony value represents the number of notes that can sound
simultaneously, therefore triggering layered samples on a pad may lead to a
much higher number of actual sample voices.
Fade
Specifies the time it takes for a voice to fade out when voices are stolen.
NOTE

You can specify different fade settings for the different samples of a pad.
Exclusive Group
This allows you to assign a pad to one of 32 exclusive groups. Pads within a
group are never played back simultaneously. When a new note is played, the
previous note stops.
Volume
Sets the level of the sample.
Pan
Sets the position of the sample in the stereo panorama.
Coarse
Adjusts the tuning in semitones.
Fine
Adjusts the fine tuning in cents.
Cutoff
Controls the cutoff frequency of the filter.
NOTE

Cutoff, Resonance, and Distortion are only available if a filter is used.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Resonance
Sets the filter resonance.
Distortion
Sets the amount of distortion. The effect of this parameter depends on the
selected filter mode.
Output
The output to which the samples are routed. You can select the following
outputs from the pop-up menu:
•

The Kit mix.

•

One of the 16 Agent mixer channels.

•

One of the 16 stereo output busses of the plug-in. The first stereo out
is always the Master output. This output is always active.

NOTE

These outputs can all contain insert effects.
NOTE

Samples that are routed to an output that is deactivated in your host
application are automatically sent to the Master output of the plug-in.
•

You can also route a pad directly to one of the 4 AUX channels, to
create sub groups, for example.

Playback Quality
Sets the quality.
•

Standard: Select this mode to play back the samples with their original
bit depth and sample rate.

•

Vintage: Select this mode to emulate the sound quality of early 12-bit
drum machines. The detuning of the samples produces the typical
aliasing effect. The sample rate is limited to 26040 Hz.

•

Turntable mode is similar to Vintage mode. The samples are played
with 12bit/26040 Hz. Use this mode to emulate the typical workflow of
hip hop producers. Because the first digital drum machines only had a
very limited amount of RAM, turntables were sampled at a speed of 45
RPM instead of 33 1/3 RPM. This way, more samples could be saved
into the available RAM. During playback, the samples were tuned down,
to correct for the change in pitch. This added the typical crunch and
aliasing that the early drum machines are famous for.

NOTE

If Vintage or Turntable is selected for a sample, you cannot edit the sample
using the AudioWarp functions on the Sample tab. If you try to select one of
these modes for a sample that uses AudioWarp, a warning message is
displayed.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Filter Type
Sets the filter type. You can choose between Classic, Tube Drive, Hard Clip,
Bit Reduction and Rate Reduction.
To deactivate the filter, select Off.
Filter Shape
•

LP 24, 18, 12, and 6 are low-pass filters with 24, 18, 12, and 6 dB/oct.
Frequencies above the cutoff are attenuated.

•

BP 12 and BP 24 are band-pass filters with 12 and 24 dB/oct.
Frequencies below and above the cutoff are attenuated.

•

HP6+LP18 and HP6+LP12 are combinations of a high-pass filter with
6 dB/oct and a low-pass filter with 18 and 12 dB/oct, respectively
(asymmetric band-pass filter). Frequencies below and above the cutoff
are attenuated. Attenuation is more pronounced for the frequencies
above the cutoff.

•

HP12+LP6 and HP18+LP6 are combinations of a high-pass filter with
12 and 18 dB/oct and a low-pass filter with 6 dB/oct (asymmetric
band-pass filter). Frequencies below and above the cutoff are
attenuated. Attenuation is more pronounced for the frequencies below
the cutoff.

•

HP 24, 18, 12, and 6 are high-pass filters with 24, 18, 12, and 6 dB/oct.
Frequencies below the cutoff are attenuated.

•

BR 12 and BR 24 are band-reject filters with 12 and 24 dB/oct.
Frequencies around the cutoff are attenuated.

•

BR12+LP6 and BR12+LP12 are combinations of a band-reject filter
with 12 dB/oct and a low-pass filter with 6 and 12 dB/oct, respectively.
Frequencies around and above the cutoff are attenuated.

•

BP12+BR12 is a band-pass filter with 12 dB/oct plus a band-reject
filter with 12 dB/oct. Frequencies below, above, and around the cutoff
are attenuated.

•

HP6+BR12 and HP12+BR12 are combinations of a high-pass filter
with 6 and 12 dB/oct and a band-reject filter with 12 dB/oct.
Frequencies below and around the cutoff are attenuated.

•

AP is an all-pass filter with 18 dB/oct. Frequencies around the cutoff are
attenuated.

•

AP+LP6 is an all-pass filter with 18 dB/oct plus a low-pass filter with
6 dB/oct. Frequencies around and above the cutoff are attenuated.

•

HP6+AP is a high-pass filter with 6 dB/oct plus an all-pass filter with
18 dB/oct. Frequencies around and below the cutoff are attenuated.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Editing the Envelope
An envelope section is available on the Pitch, Filter, and Amp tabs. Each
multisegment envelope has up to 128 nodes with the Time, Level, and Curve
parameters. The nodes and their parameters specify the overall shape of the
envelope. You can edit one or multiple nodes in the graphical envelope editor or by
entering values.

Fixed
•

If Fixed is activated and you move selected nodes on the time axis, only the
selected nodes are moved.

•

If Fixed is deactivated, all nodes that follow the edited nodes are also moved.

Snap
You can select a second envelope to be displayed in the background of the edited
envelope. If Snap is activated and you change the position of nodes, they snap to
the nodes of the envelope that is shown in the background.
•

To specify the envelope for the background, open the pop-up menu to the
right of the Snap button and select an envelope from the list.

Selecting Nodes
•

To select a node, click on it in the graphical editor.
Selected nodes turn light blue. The focused node is indicated by an orange
frame. The value fields to the left of the graphical envelope editor display the
parameters of the focused node.

•

If multiple nodes are selected, you can use the Node pop-up menu to set the
focus to a different node without losing the current selection.

•

To add a node to a selection, [Shift]-click the node. Selected nodes are edited
together.

•

You can select multiple nodes by drawing a rectangle around the nodes with
the mouse.

•

If the graphical editor has the focus, you can select the next or the previous
node with the left and right arrow keys.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Adjusting the Time Parameter
The Time parameter specifies the period of time between two nodes. Depending
on the Sync mode, the Time parameter is displayed in milliseconds and seconds,
or in fractions of beats.
•

To set the Time parameter, select the nodes that you want to adjust and enter
a value in the Time field.

•

You can also adjust the Time parameter in the graphical envelope editor, by
dragging the nodes left or right, to decrease or to increase the time span.
For a higher resolution, hold [Shift] while moving the nodes.
To limit the movement to the time axis, that is, to change only the horizontal
position of a node, hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] while dragging.

Adjusting the Level Parameter
The Level parameter specifies the amplitude of the envelope at the position set by
the Time parameter.
•

To set the Level parameter, select the nodes that you want to adjust and enter
a value in the Level field.

•

You can also adjust the Level parameter in the graphical envelope editor by
dragging the selected nodes up or down, to decrease or increase the levels.
For a higher resolution, hold [Shift] while moving the nodes.
To limit the movement to the level axis, that is, to change only the vertical
position of a node, hold down [Alt]/[Option] while dragging.

Adjusting the Curve Parameter
The Curve parameter allows you to adjust the curvature of the envelope curve
between two nodes from linear to logarithmic or exponential behavior.
•

To set the Curve parameter, select the nodes that you want to adjust and
enter a value in the Curve field. Positive curve values change the curvature
towards logarithmic and negative values towards exponential behavior.

•

You can also adjust the Curve parameter in the graphical envelope editor by
dragging the curve between two nodes.
[Ctrl]/[Command]-click a curve to reset it to linear.

Adding and Removing Nodes
All nodes added after the sustain node always affect the release phase of the
envelope.
•

To add a node, double-click at the position where you want to add the node.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

•

To remove a node, double-click it.

•

To delete several selected nodes, press [Delete] or [Backspace].

NOTE

You cannot remove the first, the last, or the sustain node.

Adding Nodes Using the Fill Function
The Fill function allows you to add multiple envelope nodes after the selected
nodes.
PROCEDURE
1.

On the pop-up menu to the right of the Fill button, select the number of nodes
that you want to add.

In the graphical envelope editor, select the node after which you want to add
nodes.
If several nodes are selected, the new nodes are inserted after the last selected node.
If the Fixed function is deactivated, the added nodes are placed with the interval
specified by the Time parameter of the selected node. If multiple nodes are selected,
the interval is specified by the focused node.
By activating Sync, you can specify the interval with the Sync note value. For example,
if 1/4 is selected, new nodes are added at exact quarter note intervals.
If the Fixed function is activated, the added nodes fill the space between the last
selected node and the following one.

Click the Fill button.

RESULT
The nodes are added.

Using Sync
You can synchronize the envelopes to the tempo of your host application. This
allows you to set envelope times that relate to musical time intervals, regardless of
any tempo changes.
PROCEDURE
1.

Click Sync to activate sync mode for the envelope.
Sync mode is active if the button is highlighted. A grid spaced in fractions of beats is
displayed in the graphical envelope editor.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

On the pop-up menu located to the right of the Sync button, select a note
value.
This sets the resolution of the grid.
NOTE
The Time field of a node displays times in fractions of beats. The fraction is always
reduced to the smallest possible value. 2/16 is displayed as 1/8, for example.

To use triplet note values, activate the T button.
NOTE

•

Envelope nodes that do not exactly match a note value display the closest
note value.

•

Nodes that exactly match a note value are indicated by a red dot inside
the handle of the node. This is useful if you switch the grid between
triplets and normal note values, for example. The triplet nodes still
indicate that they match a note value, even if the grid shows normal note
values.

You can also enter note values and triplets manually in the value field.

Envelope Modes
On the Mode pop-up menu, you can select one of 4 envelope modes, to specify
how the envelope is played back each time you hit a key.
Sustain
The envelope starts playback from the first node to its sustain. The sustain
level is held as long as you play the note. When you release the note, the
envelope continues with the phases after the sustain. This mode is ideal for
looped samples.
Loop
The envelope starts playback from the first node to the loop nodes. The loop
is repeated for as long as the key is held. The envelope plays the phases after
the sustain when you release the note. This mode is ideal for adding motion
to the sustain.
One Shot
The envelope is played from the first to the last node, even if you release the
key. The envelope has no sustain. This mode is ideal for drum samples.
Sample Loop
Preserves the natural attack of the sample. The decay of the envelope does
not start until the sample has reached the sample loop start.
If you set the second node to the maximum level and use the following nodes
to shape the decay during the loop phase of the sample, the envelope only
affects the loop phase. The attack of the envelope is still executed.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Setting Up the Loop
You can set up the envelope to repeat its playback between the selected nodes.
PROCEDURE
1.

Set the envelope mode to Loop.

Adjust the loop with the graphical envelope editor.

The loop is indicated by the green region in the graphical envelope editor.
Specify the loop start and end by dragging the borders of the region.
The loop region can only be set up in the decay phase of the envelope.

Pitch Tab
Key Range
Activate this button to specify the key range of the sample, that is, the range
over which it is mapped chromatically to pads.
•

Low Key specifies the first key for the mapping.

•

High Key specifies the last key for the mapping.

If you deactivate the Key Range button, the Low Key and High Key fields are
reset.
Fixed Pitch
•

If Fixed Pitch is deactivated, the sample plays chromatically within the
key range.

•

If Fixed Pitch is activated, the sample plays with its original pitch on all
of the keys within the key range. This is useful if you want to layer a pad
with the neighboring pads, for example.

Coarse
Adjusts the tuning in semitones.
Fine
Adjusts the fine tuning in cents.
Random
Determines how much the pitch of a sample is changed randomly with each
note that is played.
Env Amnt
Determines how much the pitch is affected by the pitch envelope.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Level Velocity (Vel>Lev)
Determines how the velocity affects the level of the envelope. The level
depends on this parameter and on how hard you hit a key. Positive values
increase the level of the envelope the harder you hit a key. Negative values
decrease the level of the envelope the harder you hit a key.
Time Velocity (Vel>Time)
Adjusts the influence of velocity on the phases of the envelope. Positive
values decrease the times for higher velocity values. Negative values increase
the times for higher velocity values.
Segments
Here, you can select which phases of the envelope are affected by the Time
Velocity parameter.
•

Attack – The velocity affects the attack only.

•

Attack + Decay – The velocity affects all phases until the sustain.

•

Decay – The velocity affects all phases until the sustain but without the
attack.

•

Attack + Release – The velocity affects the attack and the release
phases.

•

All – The velocity affects all phases.

Level Velocity Curve
You can select the curve type to specify how the incoming velocity translates
to the level of the envelope. The characteristic of each curve is displayed by
a small icon.

Mapping Samples Chromatically over Multiple Pads
The Key Range settings on the Pitch tab allow you to map samples chromatically
over multiple pads.
NOTE

If Edit Selected Sample or Pad (SEL) is activated, you adjust the key range for
each sample individually.
PROCEDURE
1.

Set up the range with the Low Key and High Key value fields.
When you adjust the key range for chromatically mapped samples, the pads within
the key range inherit the name of the pad to which the original sample is assigned.
The name is only set if the corresponding pad does not have a name. The offset in
semitones from the original pad is added as suffix to the name. This helps you to find
the original pad more easily.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

Optional: Set up the Fixed Pitch parameter.
•

If Fixed Pitch is activated, the sample is played with its original pitch on all the
pads in the key range.

•

If Fixed Pitch is deactivated, the sample is played chromatically within the key
range.

RESULT
The samples are mapped to the pads. An icon with two notes indicates which pads
play a chromatically mapped sample.
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK
The context menu of pads that contain chromatically mapped samples offers the
Chromatically Mapped from function, allowing you to locate the original pad for
the mapped samples. The original pad itself does not contain this function.

Filter Tab
The Filter tab allows you to adjust the tone color of the sound. The filter envelope
controls the cutoff frequency to shape the harmonic content over time.
Filter Type
Sets the filter type. You can choose between Classic, Tube Drive, Hard Clip,
Bit Reduction and Rate Reduction.
To deactivate the filter, select Off.
Filter Shape
•

LP 24, 18, 12, and 6 are low-pass filters with 24, 18, 12, and 6 dB/oct.
Frequencies above the cutoff are attenuated.

•

BP 12 and BP 24 are band-pass filters with 12 and 24 dB/oct.
Frequencies below and above the cutoff are attenuated.

•

HP 24, 18, 12, and 6 are high-pass filters with 24, 18, 12, and 6 dB/oct.
Frequencies below the cutoff are attenuated.

•

BR 12 and BR 24 are band-reject filters with 12 and 24 dB/oct.
Frequencies around the cutoff are attenuated.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

•

BR12+LP6 and BR12+LP12 are combinations of a band-reject filter
with 12 dB/oct and a low-pass filter with 6 and 12 dB/oct, respectively.
Frequencies around and above the cutoff are attenuated.

•

BP12+BR12 is a band-pass filter with 12 dB/oct plus a band-reject
filter with 12 dB/oct. Frequencies below, above, and around the cutoff
are attenuated.

•

HP6+BR12 and HP12+BR12 are combinations of a high-pass filter
with 6 and 12 dB/oct and a band-reject filter with 12 dB/oct.
Frequencies below and around the cutoff are attenuated.

•

AP is an all-pass filter with 18 dB/oct. Frequencies around the cutoff are
attenuated.

•

AP+LP6 is an all-pass filter with 18 dB/oct plus a low-pass filter with
6 dB/oct. Frequencies around and above the cutoff are attenuated.

•

HP6+AP is a high-pass filter with 6 dB/oct plus an all-pass filter with
18 dB/oct. Frequencies around and below the cutoff are attenuated.

Cutoff
Controls the cutoff frequency of the filter.
Resonance
Sets the filter resonance.
Distortion
Sets the amount of distortion. The effect of this parameter depends on the
selected filter mode.
Velocity
This parameter determines the influence that velocity has on the cutoff
frequency. If Velocity is set to 0 %, the setting has no effect. At any other
value, the cutoff frequency changes with the velocity.
Env Amnt
Determines how much the filter is affected by the filter envelope.
Level Velocity (Vel>Lev)
Determines how the velocity affects the level of the envelope. The level
depends on this parameter and on how hard you hit a key. Positive values
increase the level of the envelope the harder you hit a key. Negative values
decrease the level of the envelope the harder you hit a key.
Time Velocity (Vel>Time)
Adjusts the influence of velocity on the phases of the envelope. Positive
values decrease the times for higher velocity values. Negative values increase
the times for higher velocity values.
Segments
Here, you can select which phases of the envelope are affected by the Time
Velocity parameter.
•

Attack – The velocity affects the attack only.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

•

Attack + Decay – The velocity affects all phases until the sustain.

•

Decay – The velocity affects all phases until the sustain but without the
attack.

•

Attack + Release – The velocity affects the attack and the release
phases.

•

All – The velocity affects all phases.

Level Velocity Curve
You can select the curve type to specify how the incoming velocity translates
to the level of the envelope. The characteristic of each curve is displayed by
a small icon.
RELATED LINKS
Editing the Envelope on page 48

Amp Tab
Volume
Sets the level of the sample.
Pan
Sets the position of the sample in the stereo panorama.
AUX 1-4
Here, you can specify the signal level that is sent to the 4 integrated AUX FX
channels.
Level Velocity (Vel>Lev)
Determines how the velocity affects the level of the envelope. The level
depends on this parameter and on how hard you hit a key. Positive values
increase the level of the envelope the harder you hit a key. Negative values
decrease the level of the envelope the harder you hit a key.
Time Velocity (Vel>Time)
Adjusts the influence of velocity on the phases of the envelope. Positive
values decrease the times for higher velocity values. Negative values increase
the times for higher velocity values.
Segments
Here, you can select which phases of the envelope are affected by the Time
Velocity parameter.
•

Attack – The velocity affects the attack only.

•

Attack + Decay – The velocity affects all phases until the sustain.

•

Decay – The velocity affects all phases until the sustain but without the
attack.

Beat Agent SE
Sound Editing

•

Attack + Release – The velocity affects the attack and the release
phases.

•

All – The velocity affects all phases.

The Kit mix.

•

One of the 16 Agent mixer channels.

•

One of the 16 stereo output busses of the plug-in. The first stereo out
is always the Master output. This output is always active.

NOTE

These outputs can all contain insert effects.
NOTE

Samples that are routed to an output that is deactivated in your host
application are automatically sent to the Master output of the plug-in.
•

You can also route a pad directly to one of the 4 AUX channels, to
create sub groups, for example.

Norm (Use Normalized Velocity)
•

If you are working with normalized samples, keep this button
deactivated.

•

If you are using velocity-layered samples that are not normalized,
activate this button. Otherwise, you might create unrealistic level
transitions between different velocity layers when setting the Vel
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Steinberg Groove Agent SE Operation Manual SE4

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