Sonicware SmplTrek v3.0 Quick Guide

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If you'd like to know more about the Smpltrek then please visit the Sonicware website: sonicware.jp/
SmplTrek update guide: www.sonicware.co.jp/DL/SmplTr...
SmplTrek v3.0 firmware: sonicware.jp/pages/downloads
0:00 Teaser bit
0:16 Intro
1:14 Performance mode
4:17 Project looping
5:45 Mono and legato instrument modes
6:54 Clip copy improvements
7:35 Transpose feature
8:55 Auto step sequencing
9:40 Easy metronome access
10:10 Select clips using midi
10:25 Outro
- Added Performance mode that allows you to play on the home screen
Press func + left selection button (under the screen) to play INST / DRUM / LOOP track.
Track selection is made with the up/down keys on the D-pad, and the following controls are also available using knobs A to D.
A : Filter Frequency
B : Filter Resonance (or Gain)
C : Effect Send
D : Level
The SmplTrek will exit performance mode when you move to another screen, but the above parameters will retain until the project is changed.
- Loop playback of a project
Loop playback of multiple scenes is now possible by defining loop start and end scenes.
A PLAYBACK menu has been added to SETTINGS in the PROJECT menu. From here you can set the MODE to LOOP and set LP START (LOOP START) and LP END (LOOP END).
The MODE can also be switched by pressing func+ the right selection button (under the screen) from the home screen.
*The Global track cannot be played during loop playback.
- Mono mode and legato mode are added to the INST track
Glide setting is also available.
Use the C and D knobs on the pull-up menu in the edit screen or in the track settings menu.
- Add transpose to INST / MIDI tracks
INST / MIDI tracks can be transposed on a track or clip basis.
Set this in TRANSPOSE in the track or clip settings.
- Auto-step recording function added to INST / DRUM / MIDI tracks
Press func + left selection button (under the screen) in each edit screen to choose between 1 or 2 steps of auto step and the cursor will advance by that number of steps each time a note or hit is recorded.
- Clip copy to another track
Clip copying is possible between tracks of the same type (clip copying is also possible between INST and MIDI tracks).
- Improvements to the track EQ
The source code has been optimized to eliminate noise when adjusting the track EQ.
- Metronome on/off while editing a clip
The metronome can be immediately turned on/off by pressing func + right selection button (under the screen) in the edit screen for any clip.
Even when the metronome is set to off you can use the pre-count setting. The metronome will count you in before recording and then will switch off automatically.
Numerous improvements and bug fixes have been made, including the return of the scene switching function using MIDI Program Change.
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#ChrisLody

[@punkininstigator8770]

For anyone else like me that forgot how to update the firmware! 🙂kzbin.info/www/bejne/imq4oomdpqejmM0

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Nice I'll pin this comment, thank you 😁

[@GoLoopAudio]

Thanks for the support!

[@FreeBeat]

Damn, so excited for this! Mono/legato and a faster metronome toggle have been on my list since day one, pumped they're both finally here. Great video as always!

[@jboulderct]

FREEBEAT!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Yeah the mono/legato setting is probably my favourite addition to be honest 😁

[@TheLexikitty]

Yes! Sonicware does some of the best step sequencing and all their other boxes had auto step, so happy they added that.

[@dreamstaticsounds]

Ooh, I'll have to figure out how to do auto step on my 8Bit Warp!

[@theturnaround7290]

This thing is turning into a beast!

[@SonicVibe]

glad to see them support the products with updates

[@electro-soma]

Great stuff Sonicware. Thanks for the clear and concise explanation Chris.

[@Richielistick]

Absolutely fantastic Sonicware/Chris! Thank you

[@StrillLife]

Thanks for the overview of the new features. I like how they are making it so more "feeling" and "mood" can be added to compositions. Very nice.

[@darenager630]

Awesome! Thanks @ChrisLody and thanks @Sonicware great update!

[@LiftedNoise]

😎 great update! Thank You for the video Chris! 🙏

[@cremacaffedesign]

Fantastic little powerful sampler! ❤✨

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

I'm glad you like the update 😁

[@SonicCartography]

Great update, and great overview as always, Chris - thank you!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

You're welcome 😁

[@jeroennasnl1156]

Really, really nice. And the auto-step sequencer is going to save a lot of time when you most need it in the workflow. Great!

[@wiggesobk]

Awesome Update!

[@donadoma]

Big help. Thank you! 👍

[@ranzee]

great job Chris!!!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Thanks very much, glad you like it 😁

[@jonathanaguilar710]

Great update. Wishlist is multisamples, and probability for individual notes or steps but they've done lots of great work already so I have no complaints. Thanks for the video!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Yes those would be great additions 😁 Feel free to submit those direct to Sonicware via the Facebook group etc

[@sonackwaves]

Awesome update, very excited. I just got mine and it's my first Sonicware device, so I was nervous that the company might drop support for it as some might do. With this update it's clear Sonicware is listening to us, because most of these are requests I've seen all over forums. Excited for future updates! Just one note: I've had a hell of a time setting up MIDI control on this thing. I wish there was a way to just have the controller be able to play the MIDI tracks from the home screen without selecting anything, even the new awesome performance mode. Just have the pads still act as Track selection while allowing the external controller access to the MIDI Tracks. I know MIDI thru is an option but I still want to broadcast MIDI from the SmplTrek when it plays.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

I'm not in the studio at the moment so I can't check that this will work in exactly the way you want, but if you go into System and then the Midi menu you'll be able to check what the default 'Auto Channel' is. If you set your midi controller to match this channel you should be able to control whichever channel you currently have selected from an external controller. Alternatively, each track has it's own channel so each of those should be controllable by setting your midi controller to match a specific channel

[@mixrasta]

Thanks again for the clear explanation, Chris! Always a pleasure. Great update of course. What I'd like to have was an insert-function for the patterns/clips, not only copy, paste and overwrite. It would be much easier to arrange your song

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Glad you like it 😁 Feel free to suggest that to Sonicware via their Facebook page etc

[@dertyp6767]

that was very very helpful thank you :)

[@samiblanco]

Dreaming of trig probability

[@livinproof718]

Back when the Elz 1 came out I didn’t think sonicware was going to diversify as much as it did with its products …this will be my first sonicware product since and adding the lo fi 12

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Yeah they've been very busy since then. I started working with them before the Liven XFM launched and I have barely been able to keep up 😄

[@repinekb]

Super ❤

[@dreamstaticsounds]

Excellent! Now if we could only rename tracks! It's too easy to get lost without that feature.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Yes I'd love that too! I made that suggestion a while ago too so I'm hoping it's on the to-do list 🤞

[@dreamstaticsounds]

@@ChrisLodyMusic nice! Hope so! 🤞🤞

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

really cool optimizations. i waiting for sample streaming from sd card and multisampling support- then it become a killer box!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Glad you like it 😁 I believe it already uses streaming from SD card for some of it's features such as the Global tracks, but yeah I'd love multisampling too. Feel free to submit that directly to them via the Facebook group etc

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

@@ChrisLodyMusic i have, several times. but they don’t answer! my Smpltrek is not reading SD Cards anymore. Bad customer service. wanted to buy the EZ Play but now…

[@spacekid5609]

As always a great guide, Chris! 🙏 Updates are nice, although, I think the main drawback to SmplTrek is its Sequencer and playability during live performance. Please, consider adding LIVEN Sequencer Mode as an option in the Settings. It is so much more convenient to play/change Notes on Steps on the fly. Many of us bought SmplTrek as the centerpiece for our gear and clumsiness of the Sequencer just makes it harder. I hope you'll pass the word. Cheers

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Hi. I can make suggestions about features but your best bet is to approach Sonicware directly through one of their social media accounts or directly on their website contact. Which aspect of the step sequencer do you need though? New steps can be added to sequences in lots of different ways on the SmplTrek so I'm not sure what you need. It also has the advantage of including micro-timing where the Livens don't

[@spacekid5609]

Thank you for the response! Recording in LIVEN - STEP RECORDING: 1. Press the step button for the position to input; 2. Play a note on the keyboard. RECORDING IN REAL TIME: 1.While the pattern is playing back, play the keyboard at the desired input times. DIRECTLY INPUTTING NOTES ON STEPS: 1.[During a pattern playback] pressing the step button that you want to input a note on, play the keyboard. Whereas, in SmplTrek you have navigate with Direction Buttons or Value Knob to move to the Step for input. We have 16 buttons for Steps and a Keyboard like on LIVEN devices. Why not take advantage of it. And I'm not saying to get rid of SmplTrek's current method of recording sequences. That's why I said to add it as an option in the settings. I will write to Sonicware team as well. Keep up the great work 🤘

[@briannhinton]

@@spacekid5609you can do what you are asking. Activate record mode. Press the step you want to record to and press the keys you want to record.

[@spacekid5609]

Thanks for the feedback, Brian. In record mode, when you press the Step button, it records the Note wherever "the cursor" is located on the screen. Am I doing something wrong?

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

@@spacekid5609 Yes it's always been capable of real-time recording. Arm Record and then press play and you'll be able to record in real-time. It's capable of quantised and unquantised recording too. Try this older video for more details kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6qplJufj76endk

[@SyncXIX]

Hello! Tnx for your video! I have one question: the smpltrek have internal sound? Can generate sound? After buy it, I have to add sound samples from external source inside the SD Card? Thanks you!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

So it can't generate sound like a synthesizer can, all the sounds come from samples. When you first get the device you install a compatible SD card (it doesn't come with one by the way, you need to purchase your own) and in the SD card menu there is a 'Format & Duplicate' option which creates a folder with some preset demo patterns, drum sounds, drum kits and instruments. Beyond that you'll need to add your own files to the SD card or sample them in on the device. There are some extra free samples at the SmplTrek website here, but pretty much any *.wav file you find will work. Under the SmplTrek tab click 'Sample Library' to get the extra samples: sonicware.jp/pages/downloads

[@SyncXIX]

I got it! I have purchased smpltrek machine this week. Last Night I add some samples wave files into specific address folder: sdcard > smpltrek > pool > audio The audio files pretty works! Now I'm trying to fully understand the function of the "file formats" inside the smpltrek. Let me explain what I mean: after downloading the samples (from the octopus site etc.. ) through the smpltrek menu, specific "drum kits" have been created along with related MIDI patterns and sequences. My curiosity is to understand if this process should be carried out for each Samples Pack that I add into smpltrek or if it is done the first time to create all the directories (so only once). Thank you for your support! Thank you 🙏

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

So all the samples in the download from Sonicware are wavs so they all go into the ...Pool\Audio folder. Drum kits are created on the machine itself from separate hits, but if you want to find some more user created ones there's some on this private Discord group. There's also some other sample packs etc and they're a really helpful bunch of users: discord.com/invite/u6ZsMRnP

[@SvenFx-22]

are there any other instruments avail? the unit comes with a ridiculously small amount.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

The instrument channel will support any sample you throw at it so you can just grab as many sounds online as you can find. You can always record your own too obviously

[@briannhinton]

Can you record in performance view?

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

No sorry it's just designed for live tweaking existing content.

[@ottergrove]

Am I the only one who wants the ability to delete a loop, or sequence, WITHOUT stopping the whole song? Mainly for using the Smpltrek for live looping and performances. It is a bummer that if you make a mistake you have to stop everything to delete the cell. Is there already a way around this? If so, I must have missed it.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

The best things you can do if you'd like a feature to be added is to post about it on the official SmplTrek Facebook group. Lots of features of the features that have been added since it launched have been user requests

[@Arkansya]

arm record on the loop and it will make it blank :)

[@macabre2007]

Shame they haven't got a reverse mode in this update

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Well it is possible to reverse a sample to create a copy to use elsewhere and set drums within a kit to be reversed, but nothing real-time admittedly, would be nice that

[@macabre2007]

@@ChrisLodyMusic Actually I have loopy pro on the ipad, but better still Loopy HD, as it's easier to reverse in that, so it will breath life into a superseded app. until of course an update for Smptrek includes reverse mode in it, and potentially varispeed.