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BUFFEATER | CREDITS

A big thank you to the following artists who

contributed to making the Buffeater sample map and
graciously contributed audio for our demo material.
Please check out their work and support their art.

ORIGINAL SAMPLE CONTENT:

D'arcangelo | www.darcangelo.cjb.net
c2 | www.chriscolatos.com
EVAC | www.q5studios.com
Glitchmachines | www.Glitchmachines.com
Haptic Audio |www.HapticAudio.com
Josh Hinden | www.twistedtools.com
Komposit | www.patrickcampbell.info
Mike Huckaby | www.myspace.com/mikehuckaby
Rena Jones | www.renamusic.com
Tembu | www.reverbnation.com/Tembu
The included Buffeater library is free to use for commercial or non-commercial musical works, but you
may not redistribute these samples in any way, shape or form or claim credit for the material in its raw
unaltered form or outside of a musical work. You may not use this material to make sample libraries.

DEMO CONTENT USED IN PROMOTIONAL VIDEO/AUDIO

Bassnectar | www.bassnectar.net
Tipper | www.tippermusic.net | facebook.com/tippermusic
Toksin | www.toksin.com

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Legal
All software discussed in this manual is issued as is and the software described in this manual comes
with no warranty. We are not be responsible for any lost data or financial loss incurred as a result of
using this software. If you are unsure as to how to use this software, dont use it. Any information in this
manual is subject to change without notice and nothing in this document represents a commitment on
our part. All the software described by this document is copyright Twisted Tools, 2010. You may not
alter this document in any form or distribute it for any purpose other than press related purposes. You
may not share this software with anyone or any entity, such as torrent sites without violating the terms of
use. Should you share this software illegally, it is likely that the wrath of god will come down upon you.
Should you buy this software, your karma will be plentiful.

If you somehow magically obtained this software, buy it...at our site. We need your support to keep
bringing you more twisted tools.

Twisted Tools

San Francisco, CA

USA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction and System Requirements
1.1 What is Buffeater? Page 4
1.2 Effects Trigger and Signal Flow Basics Page 4
1.3 The Six Effects | Overview Page 4
1.4 System Requirements Page 5
1.5 Setting Up Buffeater in Plugin Page 6

2. Buffeater Workflow and Basics

2.1 Global Controls Page 7
2.2 Beat Looper Page 8
2.3 Triggering and Automating Effects Page 9
2.4 Triggering and MIDI Learning the Effects Page 9
2.5 Automating the Effects | Detailed Page 9
2.6 FX Presets Page 11

3. The Effects Parameters and Settings

3.1 Stretch Page 12
3.2 Tape Page 13
3.3 Slice Repeat Page 13
3.4 Deconstruct Page 14
3.5 Scratch Page 14
3.6 Feedgrains Page 15

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TWISTED TOOLS | BUFFEATER

USER GUIDE
1. Introduction and System Requirements

1.1 What is Buffeater?

Buffeater is a real-time, dynamically ordered, granular multi-effect for Native Instruments Reaktor 5 (all
versions). Buffeater works by capturing live audio and storing it in a temporary buffer, which allows for
real-time processing of the incoming audio using granular synthesis and other methods. In plain terms,
Buffeater allows you take live audio and tweak elements of the sound such as time and pitch, while
staying in sync with your project and never losing the groove. With Buffeater, you can easily achieve
stutters, glitch, beat repeat/juggling and/or chopped and screwed effects.

Buffeater has six main fx blocks in total, each with 64 fx presets that allow you to store and change
effects settings on the fly. Each effect is capable of a variety of sounds and because the signal flow
changes depending on the order in which you play the effects, the variations are nearly endless.

1.2 Effects Trigger and Signal Flow Basics

Buffeater comes with 6 effects blocks which you can think of as effects pedals, similar to those which a
guitar player uses. You can trigger an effect via MIDI or by using your QWERTY keys on your computer
keyboard when in standalone mode. The order in which the effects are routed depends on the order in
which you play the effects. For example, if you play effect 1, then play effect 2, signal flows from 1 to 2. If
you release the keys and play effect 2, then effect 1, signal flows from effect 2 into effect 1.

1.3 The Six Effects

STRETCH
Stretch is a granular time and pitch stretching effect. You can use this effect to slow down (stretch) your
audio and even freeze it, while still maintaing control over the audios pitch.

TAPE
Tape is a varispeed type effect that allows you to slow down/speed up effect while also altering its pitch.
This is similar to the effect you get when speeding up or slowing down a tape.

SLICE REPEAT
Slice repeat allows you to repeat fragments of incoming audio and even re-order them on the fly. You
can also adjust the speed and direction of the playback of the slices.

DECONSTRUCT
Deconstruct takes slices of incoming audio and randomly rearranges them in time and can also reverse
them. This effect is similar to Slice Repeat, except that it is more random and also features a slide
setting that causes audio to glide between slices.

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SCRATCH
Scratch can do classic turntable style scratch effects, similar to what a DJ does with vinyl or cdjs. This
allows you to play with time rhythmically with results that sound like scratching.

FEED GRAINS
Feed Grains is a granular feedback effect, that is great for creating spatial effects similar to reverb and
also to create similar effects to ring modulation. This is a unique effect that really has no comparison
that we know of. Try it and experiment.

1.4 System Requirements

In order to use Buffeater, we recommend a Mac or PC running Reaktor 5 (5.15 and up recommended). If
youd like to test your system before buying Buffeater, try the legendary Oki Computer ensemble
included with your Reaktor default library. If youre able to run Oki Computer and have at least 1gig of
RAM Buffeater should run smoothly. You must current Kore 2 and Maschine to use the templates.

TROUBLESHOOTING - Reducing the amount of RAM required to run Buffeater

Buffeaters sample library requires RAM. If your computer is

running low, here is what you can do to remove the internal
sample map.

Step 1: Control-click the waveform display and choose Open

Map Editor

Step 2: Click the Keyboard icon in

the upper right, drag select across
all samples youd like to delete and
choose Edit>Delete

TROUBLESHOOTING - Reducing the demand on your computers CPU

In the event that you have an older computer and hear

crackling sounds while in standalone mode, increase
your buffer size to reduce CPU.

Step 1: Go to File>Audio and MIDI Settings (or

System>Audio and MIDI Settings for earlier versions of
Reaktor)

Step 2: In the Audio tab, try increasing your latency to

around 512 Samples. Depending on thespeed of your
computer this may need to be set higher.

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1.5 Setting Up Buffeater in Plugin Mode

Depending on your host software (Logic, Ableton, Pro Tools, Cubase, Digital Performer, etc.), you will
need to set up Buffeater in different ways. Please refer to your Hosts manual for specific details on how
to set up MIDI controlled effects. Here we will discuss both Logic and Ableton.

LOGIC PRO - You will need to setup Reaktor as a Software Instrument, rather than as an insert effect.
This is because you cant route MIDI directly to insert effects.

Step 1: Setup Reaktor as a Software Instrument (Track>Create New>Software Instrument)

Step 2: Once youve opened Buffeater inside Reaktor as a Software

Instrument you will need to route audio into Reaktors sidechain to be
processed. Please note that the only options here are Audio, Inputs and
Busses. If youd like to process another software instrument using
Buffeater, simply route that instrument to a bus, mute the aux that is
created and then choose Bus as the input to the sidechain.

Step 3: Play Buffeater using note #s 60, 62, 64, 65, 67 and 69. To
control Buffeater with your QWERTY keys, open Logics capslock
keyboard by hitting the capslock key and change to octave 3. Then use
ASDFGH keys.

Please see the included Logic template to get an idea of how to set things up.

ABLETON - Double-click Reaktor from the plugin browser and instantiate Buffeater. Then route any
audio you like into Reaktor by selecting Reaktor as the Audio To: option.

Play Buffeater using note #s 60, 62, 64, 65, 67 and 69. In Ableton, the keys ASDFGH
will control Buffeater FX triggers by default. Choose Live Input from the Beatlooper
instrument in Buffeater.

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2. Buffeater Workflow and Basics

2.1 Global Controls

Buffeater has several global controls that are independent from the FX blocks, but are important to
understand before beginning.

BYPASS

Turns the entire Buffeater effect on and off

MIX, GATE and FADER (Horizontal Slider)

When set to MIX, the cyan colored fader to the left controls the wet/dry balance. If set to GATE, the cyan
colored fader to the left controls the volume and a gate (MIDI NOTE ON) message turns the effect on
(100% wet). If set to gate, no signal will pass unless you are holding down and fx trigger.

SYNC

Quantizes fx triggers to the nearest value set in the adjacent sync menu. Bypass this by clicking the
word SYNC.

REC

When on, knob movements are recorded into their repsective automation lanes and automation is
automatically turned on.

SAVE!

Saves all the individual FX Presets and the Reaktor snapshot at once. Do this when you want to save a
Snapshot and before saving and closing Buffeater.ens. This will ensure that you settings are recalled
perfectly as you left them.

It is highly recommended that when working with Buffeater as a plugin inside of your host, that you click
SAVE! before closing your project and save Buffeater as a copy in your project folder. This way, you
never have to worry about over-writing the default presets and can work freely. For instructions on how
to remove the built-in sample library to reduce the size of Buffeater, see section 1.3 of this manual.

Should you need to get the default presets back, Bank 2 has all the defaults saved in their original state.

2.2 Beat Looper

Buffeater comes with a time-stretching looper to feed audio into the effect. Essentially, this is like a tape
deck that you can use to demo and try out the effect. Weve included a large sample library as well
which you are free to use in both commercial and non-commercial musical or artistic works. Please see
the license below for more information.

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2.2 Beat Looper Continued...

Beatlooper has the following parameters:

INTERNAL/LIVE AUDIO SWITCH

When set to INTERNAL LOOP PLAYER, the samples in the deck will be routed into Buffeater. When set
to LIVE (EXT. AUDIO IN) Buffeater will look for audio from your host software when in plugin mode. In
standalone mode it will look for audio from your hardware interface, so that you can route turntables,
synths and microphones directly into Buffeater.

SMPL

Selects the sample to be played back.

TIP : If you'd like to change the sample being played back using your MIDI keyboard, you can right-click,
choose 'show in structure' and replace the select knob with a MIDI IN module by right clicking and
choosing BUILT-IN MODULE>MIDI IN>NOTE PITCH.

PITCH

Sets the pitch of the sample being played back.

START

Sets the start position of the sample in 1/16th notes.

LEN

Sets the end position or length of the sample in 1/16th notes.

AMP

Sets the overall volume of the BeatLooper.

Sample Content License:

This content is free to use for commercial or non-commercial musical works, but you may not
redistribute these samples in any way, shape or form or claim credit for the material in its raw unaltered
form or outside of a musical work. You may not use this material to make other sample libraries.

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2.3 Triggering and Automating Effects Overview

Buffeater consists of 6 main effects blocks, which can be turned on and off using either MIDI notes or
your QWERTY keyboard when in standalone mode. By default, the QWERTY keys will trigger the six
effects from left to right, top to bottom in standalone mode. The order in which you play the effects will
cause the signal flow or routing to change. The six effects are Stretch, Tape, Slice Repeat, Deconstruct,
Scratch and Feed Grains (see section 1.2 of the manual for a description of the effects)

For example, if you play Stretch (q), then Tape (w) the sound will be stretched then processed by tape.
Release your keys and press Tape (w), then Stretch (q) and you will notice that the order of the fx chain is
reversed. We call this dynamic effects ordering and it greatly increases the amount of combinations
possible.

Please note that on laptop computers, you may find that you can only play 5 effects at a time using your
QWERTY keyboard. However, this is not a Buffeater limitation. You can use a MIDI keyboard and still
activate all effects at once.

Automating effects in Buffeater is easy. You can either draw automation in or record it in live by using the
Record button as you tweak the effects. Each knob has its own automation lane and settings which we
will discuss in detail below in section 2.5 of this manual.

2.4 Triggering and MIDI Learning the Effects

In standalone mode: Use the QWERTY keys on your computer keyboard or note #s 60, 62, 64, 65, 67
and 69.

In your host (DAW) : Use note #s 60, 62, 64, 65, 67 and 69. The keys on your computer keyboard may
or may not be the QWERTY keys depending on your host softwares system for sending MIDI from a
computer keyboard. For example, in Ableton, the defaults should correspond to the ASDFGH keys.

To customize and MIDI Learn notes on your computer keyboard or MIDI keyboard to Buffeaters
six effects triggers:

Step 1: Right-click an FX Trigger (the grey horizontal bar with the name of the effect)

Step 2: Choose MIDI Learn

Step 3: Play a note on your keyboard or using your Computer

Keyboard (if currently setup to function as a MIDI keyboard in your
host).

2.5 Automating the Effects

Each knob in a Buffeater effect block can be automated. When your trigger an effect, you will notice that
a playhead begins to move across a cyan colored automation lane. This is the automation for a specific
knob. You can tell which parameter is currently displayed by looking at the color of the knob labels.

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2.5 Automating the Effects Continued...

A cyan colored label indicates that you are viewing automation for that specific parameter. All the
settings you see in the automation area with the exception of RND are specific to the currently selected
knob.

To view a different automation lane, simply move a knob or click the parameter label of the knob youd
wish to see. By clicking the label rather than moving a knob, you can switch the lane being displayed
without having to mess up your current knobs setting.

Automation Settings (from right to left):

ALL ON (indicated by the yellow circle)

Turns automation on/off for all lanes for that effect.

ON

The on button turns on or off automation for the currently visible lane (parameter)

LOOP (indicated by a yellow loop symbol)

When ON, the visible automation lane will loop as long as you hold down the fx trigger. When OFF,
automation will only play back once for each time you trigger an effect (similar to how an envelope would
work).

Sm (Smooth)

When ON, automation smoothing is turned on between steps. This is similar to a glide effect and is best
left on if you are trying to record your knob movements or create smooth transitions. When OFF
automation values will jump immediately from step to step. This is similar to a sample & hold type
effect.

RND

Randomizes current automation lane. Turn on ALL to randomize every parameters automation lanes at
once.

SEQUENCER SPEED

Changes the visible automation lane's playback speed.

LOOP LENGTH

Changes the playback length of the visible automation lane.

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2.6 FX Presets
Each effect in Buffeater has its own presets, called FX Presets. These presets store the current knob
positions along with all settings and automation for that effect.

You can store up to 64 effects presets by default for each individual effect for a total of 384 fx presets.
Furthermore, each Reaktor Snapshot stores all 384 fx presets independently in memory for a total
of...lots of presets. The names however, are universal for every snapshot so youll have to keep that in
mind when saving and organizing.

Weve created 48 preset slots for each fx block and labeled presets 49-64 USER, but feel free to erase or
change these as youll learn how to do below.

SLCP

Save - Saves current knob, automation and additional fx settings into the currently selected preset slot.
Please note that it isnt necessary to save each preset one by one. You can simply use the global SAVE!
button which will save all 6 effect presets (and a Reaktor Snapshot).

(re)Load - Loads the snapshot stored in memory. Useful to undo changes youve made.

Copy - Copies current knob, automation and additional settings to be pasted into a new slot.

Paste - Pastes knob, automation and additional settings into the currently active slot.

FX PRESET MENU

Allows you to instantly change the current FX Preset.

TIP: Use your up and down arrows on your computer keyboard after having clicked on the FX Preset
Menu once to scroll up and down through presets on the fly.

RENAMING PRESETS

As mentioned in the introduction to FX Presets, you can rename and save over all 64 fx preset slots. In
fact, if you want more than 64, you can set this up as well! Lets learn how...

Step 1: Right-click the FX Preset menu and choose FX Presets Properties

Step 2: Click the tab that says functions in the properties area.

Step 3: Find the slot youd like to name and double-click the name to rename
it.

IMPORTANT: Please do not use the Append/Insert/Delete features found in this

area.

If youd like to increase the total number of preset slots available, simply enter a
higher number in the Number entry.

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3. The Effects Parameters and Settings

Each effect has a set of knobs and additional settings directly below them. In this section, we will
describe what each knob and setting does. For information on Automation, please see the section
above.

TIP: Use the value readout next to the 'REC' button in the upper right hand corner of the interface while
moving a knob to set it to a precise value

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3.1 Stretch
Granular time and pitch stretching effect. You can use this effect to slow down (stretch) your audio and
even freeze it, while still maintaing control over the audios pitch.

STRETCH

Stretch allows you to slow down the speed of the incoming audio by
repeating fragments of audio called 'grains'. At 100% you can freeze
the sound in time.

GRAIN

The Grain control will determine the size of the repetitions (grains),
allowing you to repeat fragments of the incoming audio on the fly.

PITCH

Pitch, allows you to adjust the pitch of the incoming audio

independently from time thus allowing you to change the pitch without changing the speed.

MIX

Sets the dry/wet mix levels for this effect.

BUFFER RETRIG

Enables fx retriggering type effect. Audio entering the effect is recaptured repeatedly at the rate set in
the adjacent retrigger rate menu.

GRAIN SYNC

Syncs grain size to clock, so that grain repeats are in time with your projects BPM.

REVERSE

Reverses the direction of playback of the grains.

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___________________________________________________________________________________________

3.2 Tape
Tape is a varispeed type effect that allows you to slow down/speed up effect while also altering its pitch.
This is similar to the effect you get when speeding up or slowing down a tape, but can also achieve more
abstract effects and flanging.

TIME

Sets the time in 16th notes to speed up or slowdown the audio

signal.

BEND

Controls the exponential shape of the speed changes.

MIX

Sets the dry/wet mix levels for this effect.

BUFFER RETRIG

Enables fx retriggering type effect. Audio entering the effect is

recaptured repeatedly at the rate set in the adjacent retrigger rate menu.

UP/DOWN

A direction option which essentially allows you to choose whether you want audio to speed up or slow
down.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3.3 Slice Repeat

Slice repeat allows you to repeat fragments of incoming audio and even re-order them on the fly. You
can also adjust the speed and direction of the playback of the slices.

LENGTH

Determines the length of the looped slice in rhythmic values.

SHIFT

Shifts start of the repeated slice by 16th notes (16 possible

steps/bar).

SPEED

Determines the playback speed in %

200% = doublespeed

50% = halfspeed

0% = full stop (useful for muting or gating the signal when used in conjunction with internal automation).

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MIX

Sets the dry/wet mix levels for this effect.

REVERSE

Reverses the direction of playback of the slices.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3.4 Deconstruct
Deconstruct takes slices of incoming audio and randomly rearranges them in time and can also reverse
them. This effect is similar to Slice Repeat, except that it is more random and also features a slide
setting that causes audio to glide between slices.

SIZE

Determines the length of the slices to be processed.

SPACE

Controls the amount of buffer space used for manipulation.

SLIDE

Determines the amount of smoothing (glide) applied to audio

readout position.

0 = No smoothing.

MIX

Sets the dry/wet mix levels for this effect.

REVERSE

Reverses the direction of playback of the slices.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3.5 Scratch
Scratch can do classic turntable style scratch effects, similar to what a DJ does with vinyl or cdjs. This
allows you to play with time rhythmically with results that sound like scratching.

SIZE

Controls the length of the incoming audio signal used for

scratching.

SPEED

Determines scratching speed.

MIX

Sets the dry/wet mix levels for this effect.

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BUFFER RETRIG

Enables fx retriggering type effect. Audio entering the effect is recaptured repeatedly at the rate set in
the adjacent retrigger rate menu.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3.6 Feed Grains

Feed Grains is a granular feedback effect, that is great for creating spatial effects similar to reverb and
also to create similar effects to ring modulation. This is a unique effect that really has no comparison
that we know of. Try it and experiment.

SIZE

Sets the grain size.

PITCH

Transposes incoming audio in semitones.

FEED

Controls the amount of feedback applied to the incoming

signal.

0 = No smoothing.

MIX

Sets the dry/wet mix levels for this effect.

REVERSE

Reverses the direction of playback of the grains.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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