SDS Digital Reflex LiveLoop & ModEM-1 LFO & ADSR Eurorack Modules

Published on Sep 14, 2016 freshnelly

The above is a playlist of all the videos currently featured on the freshnelly channel. The first 29 are on the SDS Digital Reflex LiveLoop eurorack module, followed by four on the ModEM-1 LFO & ADSR, followed by a few DIY videos.

The following is some info on SDS Digital Reflex Liveloop module via freshnelly.com. I couldn't find additional info on the ModEM-1 LFO & ADSR as the home page requires Flash which I do not have installed.

"Introducing the Reflex LiveLoop! The tradition of sampling in the modular world has always been guitar pedal loopers, offering no external control, or a large complex external box, or modules with only 3 or 4 seconds of sample time. The Reflex LiveLoop breaks all of these barriers by gracing your rack with only 16HP, but sporting a full 174 seconds of sampling time @48KHz 16 bits, in stereo! This is better than CD quality sound, ready to manipulate with CV's and triggers in multiple layers, and record all at the same time.

The Reflex can slice up a long sample using the unique "peak slicing" algorithm, a trigger, or just a button. The power of these slices is then accessible via CV and trigger. Furthermore, they can be modified with the PlayFX button to tune the start and end points for each slice. These slices, or even samples, can also be Granulized into a micro loop, which then can move reverse or forward at varying rates up to 2 times. This also allows for pitch shifting a sample without changing the beat, or changing the speed without changing the pitch.

With 3 different Modes, Record/Play, Echo, and Layer, all with the ability to sync to an external clock, almost every sampler /looper requirement can be realised. Imagine an echo, synced by a trigger/ clock/ foot switch/ Record button, with controlled feedback and even a 3 band EQ. Then imagine it being 30 seconds or 8 bars long! The echo can be switched to an infinite echo that will continue forever, or can degrade according to feedback settings, EQ settings, or a feedback insert that can run through any filter or FX that you can imagine!

The Reflex LiveLoop can take you intuitively on a sonic voyage you don't want to miss!

Record Sample Rate: 174 seconds in stereo at 48Ks/s.
This isn't an "up to" spec., it's better than CD quality for almost 3minutes!
- Maximum Record times / quality per channel:
174 seconds @ 48Ks/s 16 bit >CD Quality
248 seconds @ 24Ks/s 16 bit >FM Radio Quality
11.6 minutes @ 12Ks/s 16 bit >AM Radio Quality
23.2 minutes @ 6Ks/s 16 bit Retro Sampler Quality
46.4 minutes @ 3Ks/s 16 bit Min Voice Quality
92.8 minutes @ 1.5Ks/s 16 bit LFO, Wave making Quality )
- 10 octave Sample Rate Playback range via CV + Rate Knob offset
- Knob Take-over Sample Rate recall for each Mode transition:
- LED circle direction indication (four flashes) and present Rate position indication
- "Smart Take-over" eliminates "hard" jumps by becoming active once Knob returns to previous position
- "Slide-To" for moving away from previous sample rate position

I/O:
- Trigger inputs for Record/SOS/Delay/Play/Clock, Creating Slices, Playing Slices, PlayFX start/sync
- Gate input for PlayFX
- Footswitch (S-Trig/Gate) for Record/SOS/Delay/Play, PlayFX start/sync/stop
- Bipolar CV inputs for Sample Rate Control/offset, EQ bands, with attenuvertors
- Unipolar CV inputs for Slice Selection, PlayFX start and End Control offsets

Audio:
- Stereo Inputs 10V p-p L&R all samples rec/play in stereo
- Feedback Return input isolated mix to sampler, Feedback insert return
- Stereo Outputs 10V p-p L&R
- Blend Control to mix incoming audio with outgoing audio
- Feedback Level control for send, or third output channel of sample output only (for multiple amps)
- intelligent auto fade-out for echo and layer stops independant of input mix setting (1/2 cross fade)
- Spectrum Analyzer for RGB "Color Organ" audio indication/analysis.
- Zero Crossing Point Loop Lock and Soft-Mute technology for click free speed looping.
- Low latency triggering <1ms 7us="" br="" click="" fast="" for="" free="" pulse.="" shoulder="" slower.="" soft="" trigger="" triggers=""> - Zero latency pass through EQ filters and near zero latency (20uS) sampler input (great for accurate slicing)

RP (record/play) Sampler Modes:
- 3 Main RP (Record/Play) Modes: Layer, Echo (delay), R/P Sampler (simple record/punch-in/append)
- Foot Switch compatibility Mode (S-Trig) for foot controlled sync'ed echo/looping/layering
- Record (Continuous) PlayFX and Slices simultaneously into delay/sample/layer for Looping afterwards
- Auto-Slices R/P, Echo (delay), Layer action points for instant recall using Slice Select/CV
- No "Memory Full" stop of recording, loops forever! Good to recall recent sequences via Play Slices
- Clock Trigger Synchronization of Layer and Echo by "Arming" Steps with /1 - /16 setting for Arm Record/Delay/Play sync and following sync of Slices looping

Sample Slicing:
- Sample Slicing during any mode (Record/Play/Echo etc), up to 400 slices
- Slicing via T/G input &, Audio Peaks & Slice button simultaneously, or Auto-Slicing with every event (default)
- Peak Auto-Slicing by audio levels and intelligent noise floor, amplitude angle/delta algorithm.
- Slicing format controlled intuitively by Mode:
. Record: Sequential Slicing (Slice End = Next Slice Start)
. Echo (delay) / Layer (SOS) : Loop size slices starting at slice creation
. Infinite echo/Layer play: Loop size slices starting at slice creation
. R/P Record/Play loop: Sequential Slicing
. Play FX Start/End, Position/Size miniLoops: Loop sized slices starting at slice creation
. PlayFX G-Move: Present G-Move position
- Sequence Slices via CV voltage ratio / # of Slices and Slice Play trigger
- 1-16 Manual Slice Play selector/ CV offset with LED Slice# indication
- Slice Sample Rate recall + Rate knob offset + Rate CV offset
- Variable Rate Slicing to increase record time drastically when HIFI not req'd with "as created" playback
- "Slice Groove" 200 note sequencer feature: Record a tap sequence using selected slices, then loop playback!
- Slice Record Over-dubbing / replace inside defined slice.

PlayFX:
- 3 PlayFX Modes to play sections of RP Sample at any time, slice-able
- PlayFX (all modes) inside of slices (global) and button controlled permanent Slice modification
- Simultaneous Record and PlayFX/Slice to loop/echo out applied FX.
- PlayFX Trigger input for Start/re-start miniLoop Play

PlayFX Modes:
- Loop Start/End controls & CV's for Sample/MiniLoop/Slice/G-Move Playing
- Reverse PlayFX when in Start/End Play mode (by reversing Start and End controls)
- Loop Position/Sizes & CV's for constant Loop size while panning through Sample/MiniLoop/Slice
- G-Move Flowing Granulizer Direction/Speed and Grain Size knob and CV controllable. Sizes: < 1 mS to 250 mS.
- G-Move Granulizer "roll space" can be defined by presently playing MiniLoop, Echo/delay, Layer or Slice boundries.
- Layered PlayFX priority: MiniLoop/Granulize inside a Slice, Granulize inside of a MiniLoop, Slice over a MiniLoop.
- Play FX or a Slice while still Recording / Layering / Echoing via Buttons or T/G.
- Built in CV band controllable EQ for fine tuning feedback and FX output. Flat band mode for CV VCA FX.
- FX (Left) channel feedback insert for external send return filter insertion. Adjustable Send 10V P-P standard.

Interface:
- 32 LED Indicators, 9 for LED Circle to indicate Last Rate upon return from/to modes and Slice Select/Clock div set
- Power up panel Last Settings memory
- USART, audio and data bus Interface for possible Future Expansion:
MIDI controller, Extra audio, CV, SD Card/USB drive, Slicer/sequencer, Splitter, all of the above (Super Looper?)
- Arduino Atmega 2560 16AU with on-board USB
- Firmware Upgrade-able, ships with V1.00 as of April 2016:
. Highly possible additions to feature list:
. [yes]Slice overdub, [yes] Peak slice "back slice" alignment, [yes] Auto calibrate (Feedback Max Position), Auto Calibrate (CV's), [yes]Peak Audio Record Arming, [yes] Loop End Trigger Pulse output

I've kept the basic functions intuitive very simple to access, but there's more advanced, less used functions that can be accessed by holding down buttons.

The "transport" buttons, red, white, and green, are tap on, tap step-to-next, hold stop style for the most part. For example, in R/P mode (record/play) a tap on the record button will start a record, and a second tap will end the record and start the sample playing, while subsequent taps will punch-in/append the loop.
In Echo(delay) and Layer Modes, this makes it easy to get a sync like tap-tempo. The T/G & Footswitch inputs can work the same way.

The Clock input (Rec T/F/C) can be set from /1 to /16 and can be used with "arming" the record button to act as a sync to external modules. This clock sync will allow slices (if created in echo(delay) or Layer modes) to also be synced. Rate variance updates ensure the samples stay in sync."