Tassman FX Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to build your own effects in Tassman and how to use them in your host sequencer of choice. To do so, we will build a simple tempo-synced volume envelope effect. The volume envelope can attenuate or boost parts of a drum loop for example.

1. The first step is to bring the audio input and output modules to get and send audio from the host sequencer. A Selector 2 module is added to provide bypass capability. (>>)

2. The next step is to bring the Master Sync Input and CV Sequencer modules. The Master Sync Input provides tempo and playback information to control the CV Sequencer. The CV Sequencer will be used to generate the volume envelope. (>>)

3. Next is to modify the output signal of the CV Sequencer to fit our application. The VCA module is used to modulate the amplitude of the input signal. In order to be able to attenuate and boost, the modulation signal should vary between 0V and +2V. Since the CV Sequencer outputs a signal between -1V and +1V, we need this signal to shift by +1V. This is the purpose of the Constant and Mix2 modules. The patch is now complete. Save it! (>>)

4. Lets now switch to the Player view to make some adjustments. Turn the bypass selector switch on position 2. (>>)

5. Set the Source Tempo of the sequencer to ext and save this as your default preset. Set the output stage Sync module to ext as well. Finally, bypass the output stage Delay and Reverb, and save that as the FX Volume Envelope performance. (>>)

6. We are now ready to use the effect! Launch your favorite host sequencer and initiate Tassman as an insert effect of a drum loop channel for example. Load the FX Volume Envelope performance and tweak away! Below is a sample of what can be achieved.

Drum Loop (Original) (0.3MB MP3)
Drum Loop (Processed) (0.3MB MP3)
A simple drum loop with muted snare hits and some ping pong delay.