Getting Started with StiX
The best way to become familiar with StiX is probably to watch the overview video & tutorials, then to try different Global Presets,
then experiment, but before don’t forget one thing :
ALWAYS insert a LIMITER on your Master Audio outputs
. StiX is capable of violent audio modulations. A clipper is inserted on
each Drum Channel to prevent the most extreme distortion, but you will still experience overloads during the process of creating your
own sounds, or when you randomize a drumkit for example . Protect your ears, and gear !
StiX overview :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyFHPUTL4X4
StiX R-Claps Envelopes :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2toH0SimEk
StiX Wave Alchemy Drumkits :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0BED-MpM3I
A GLOBAL PRESET includes ALL StiX elements : Sequencer Pattern(s) or Song, all Drumpads, a Drumkit, All Mixer and effects
settings. Global Presets can be browsed, and changed using the Preset Bar located at the top of StiX GUI. (A)
By default, Global Presets are sorted by TEMPO RANGE, then by GENRE. So, go straight to the tempo and /or genre you have in
mind and try a few Global presets; until you find one you want to experiment with.
The drumpads you hear when you play the first pattern of a global preset are the ones whose Sequencer Lines are populated. In StiX,
each of the 10 drumpads has its own sequencer line.
While the sequence is playing, click on the Solo Diode ( Located under each drumpad Mixer Channel) to hear each drumpad in
isolation. To cancel the solo mode, just click on any active Solo Diode again. Now you know what does what in your pattern.
Let’s Change the sounds of the drums
First, you must select which sound you want to edit. Click on a Drum pad in the Drumpads area, OR on its name label in the
Sequencer area or the Mixer area to select it. The selected Drumpad will become highlighted in blue.
Now turn each of the following knobs, and listen to the changes in the sound :
Stretch, Cut-Off, Global Pitch, Rez, and Macro1&2
.
You should hear interesting changes in the sound. With StiX, it’s very easy to make from subtle to amazing changes to one drum
sound with only the knobs of the Eazy Synthesis page.
Macro 1 and Macro 2 are different for each Drumpad, and were programmed by our Sound Designers. You can program your own
Macros in the Advanced Synthesis Sound Page for each Drumpad you will create.
Repeat this process for each Drumpad, to get a feel of how you can change the sound of the other drumpads.
Note :
At any moment, if you wish to revert to the original sounds of the Global preset, just reload it.
If you have moved a lot all these Macro Knobs, chances are that your rhythm now sounds vastly different from the original one.
Macro Knobs might be all you’ll need to manipulate when editing or writing rhythms, and you can interact with sounds in a more
powerful and interesting way than most vintage Drum Machines could. Yet, they are only the emerged side of the iceberg.
In StiX, each Drumpad is actually a whole complex synthesizer. To have a glimpse at this synthesizer, just click on the Advanced
Synthesis Toggle Button, labelled Eazy : It’s all there ( Just one click away)
Let’s change all the sounds –With One Click-
Sometimes you’ll want the machine to really surprise you, and the two following functions just do that. Click on the Intelligent
Random button to generate a new Drumkit. StiX will try to replace all drumpads sounds with equivalent Most of the time, this
function will not bring you 100% satisfaction. So you can click again to get better results, keep the drumpads you like and change the
other ones, or revert to the original sounds. It’s also a good way to create completely new drumkits. If you want the galactic type
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