FPC needs layer filters, envelopes POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS inside

[survei]

Feb 15 Latest Update: While the decision will ultimately be up to the developers, posters have suggested some possible solutions such as: adding knobs to the FPC, using Slicex Articulators, or having Sampler Channel Settings pop up when you middle-click a waveform in the FPC (see post below or click on this link). I just want to show that there are many options with pros and cons. For example, this new and simple idea does not require any changes to the FPC's GUI and it does not require the development of completely new tools. All we need is for the FPC's sample layers to be like Sampler Channels. And yet it would fulfill this huge need for more control over the individual layers in the FPC.

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Note: I posted the letter to Reflex at this link, so that you don't have to scroll down to find it.

Dear Image-Line Team,

[[Note: a shorter version of this appears in the next post, I wanted to give examples in this long version]]

One of FPC’s high points is the ability to trigger different samples with the same pad, by using velocity layers, so that you can make realistic drum kits. The FPC also has the flexibility to put different samples on the same pad at the same velocity, making it ideal for layering and creating new drum sounds from a combination of samples. Right now, you can control the volume, panning, and even the tuning of each layer to achieve a balance between the sounds, but a couple more “layer-specific” controls would help a lot in layering drum sounds.

Namely, I would like to have an amp envelope for each layer in the FPC as well as a simple filter for each layer in the FPC.

These two tools would have many uses with layering drums, but here is a real example that I’ve tried to do. Let’s say that I have a Real kick drum sound with an attack that I like, but its attack doesn’t fade fast enough for me and it doesn’t have the low bass content that I’m looking for. So, what I would do is use an amp envelope to make the attack fade really fast. But now all I have is the real kick’s attack, and I’m still looking to add some low bass to it. So, I combine it with a low 808 Kick sample, but the 808 sample has a really high-pitched, synthetic, snappy attack that doesn’t go well with the Real kick’s attack. So I would use the filter on the 808’s layer to “low-pass” only the deep sound. In addition, I would use the 808 layer’s amp envelope to put a slight fade-in on the 808 sound. So now I have made my own kick, using the attack of a real kick and the low tail of a synthetic kick. And using the existing volume knobs I have the freedom to always go back and adjust how loud the 808 tail is in relation to the real kick attack, and that would be awesome!

As you know, I can’t do this type of drum designing in the FPC right now, because there are no layer-specific filters, and the amp envelope applies to entire pads. So, what I am asking for is the feature of an amp envelope for each layer, and the feature of a simple filter for each layer (like the one in the sampler channel settings that has two knobs and different filter types).

--My last request would be the ability to have a time offset knob for each layer on a pad. This would be useful in many ways, one would be the ability to put five individual clap samples on a pad on the same velocity range, and to offset each layer differently, so that you can press one pad (or key) and get the effect of hearing a group of five people trying to clap at the same time. I know there are other ways of creating a clap, but using the FPC opens up possibilities. I could set these layers to the upper-half of the velocity range, and make a single clap be on the lower half of the velocity range, so that I can press a key lightly for a 1-person clap, and hard for a 5-person clap. Plus, to have the sounds loaded in the FPC means that you can play it as a part of the drum kit, and also I could share this pad preset with someone (or between my own projects and kits) and the user could adjust, or automate, the individual claps’ time offsets to their liking. In this situation, layer-specific amp envelopes would help me control the “air noise” in the tails of each of the claps, and I could set the filters to "high-pass" to eliminate recorded rumble if there was any.

The FPC has allowed users to save kits, play drums live and it has brought drum programming into FL’s great piano roll. And with the added features of layer-specific filters, layer-specific amp envelopes, and layer-specific time offset, I would be able to do all my drum programming and design within the FPC which is something I have longed to do.

The main goals of the FPC are to create, edit, share and play drum kits. And these improvements (layer-specific amp envelopes, layer-specific filters, and layer-specific time offsets) would expand the FPC as a tool to design and play drums on drum pads or keyboards. These changes would greatly streamline my workflow and all of you would have my gratitude.

Thank you,

-Survei

[survei]

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