Hey Guys, been busy finishing up the new toybox synth pack for reaktor blocks and it is now ready to go, just need to get the final encoding from NI then will make an announcement here…
…also If you don’t have all the packs I’m running a spooky sale over halloween (mods, I hope that’s OK?) -->
All packs have been updated. The free pack now includes a suite of 32 step sequencers plus new sequence driving blocks for flipping and twisting sequences. There’s a bunch of new features, blocks, GUI improvements etc…
User blocks getting access to front panel patching and the Rack format is pretty exciting in my estimation. I recall that @DavidToybox had been trying to organise the encoding of a whole slew of user library blocks for front panel/racks compatibility but that it was put on hold when news of this release was hinted at… so hopefully we’ll see plenty become available over the next wee while.
In the meantime, NI have posted the Niji drum synth blocks which are cool and a really cool Maschine Jam sequencer block which has euclidean stuff along with other polyrhythmic stuff. I’m kinda glad that no one was interested when I tried to flog MJam controller earlier this year.
We’ve just added a new, free ‘User Blocks’ pack to the website for use with the new Reaktor 6.4 update (which opens up the possibility to create your own blocks for use in Racks).
Currently the pack only contains one new block, the Modulation Lane. We will be adding new blocks to the pack every few weeks.
The Modulation Lane is a single modulation lane from the Synth Pack Piano Roll, placed into a new block for creative routing.
Just a heads up we added a new block to the free User Blocks Pack -->
Table - A block that has 2 tables that you can write and read to.
The block features:
2 separate tables
Each table can have have between 1 and 1024 ‘storage cells’
Independent read and write locations
All parameters are modulateable
8 morphable snapshot locations
Gate generator
Randomiser
Undo / Redo
It’s is a real Swiss Army knife: it can be used to draw or record modulation, as a drawable audio-rate oscillator, as part of a generative music patch, for recording and storing notes of a sequence, generating clocks etc…
Hey Guys, we just added a new block to the Toybox User Blocks pack:
Sequential Switch
It’s a super useful, multi purpose block that routes a set of 8 inputs to a set of 8 outputs in various ways, driven by a sequencer.
Just connect a clock signal to the GATE input and bunch of different input signals (try audio signals, gate signals, pitch signals etc) and destinations (try mixer inputs, sequencers, FM inputs etc) to the block’s input and output ports and experiment. Or try connecting a fast oscillator to the GATE port and a bunch more oscillators with different shapes and frequencies to the input ports, using the FADE control turned up, for an experimental ‘layered’ oscillator. There are probably an infinite number of ways you can use the Sequential Switch block.
There are some example racks included in the pack.
The pack features over 500 ultra high-quality, low CPU blocks designed for modern sound design.
Features include:
500 Small, low CPU blocks for unlimited flexibility
Infinite Linear Oversampling (ILO) used for waveshapers, samplers, wavetables and oscillators (ILO is a DSP technique that greatly reduces aliasing distortion for an extremely clean/analog sound)
Flexible audio-rate modulations; every control has it’s own modulation input
34 oscillator blocks utilising analog modelling, wavetable, additive, modal synthesis, physical modelling, oscillator stacking, phase distortion and more!
76 high quality effects blocks including blocks for saturation, wave-folding, dynamics, spectral effects, vintage and modern reverbs, grain cloud, convolution and more!
Sampler blocks for granular and formant processing, drum hits, automatic sampling, buffer manipulations etc.
A suite of versatile sequencer blocks that can be combined for creative sequencing and routing of sounds. Sequencer types include: gate, note, euclidean, bit, repeat, roll etc.
A ‘position’ port is used to drive the sequencers, which means you can control the playback position of any sequencer using any signal in your rack, for very complex and experimental sequencer patches. Use modulation or audio signals to drive sequencers or feed audio signals back to the position input to stutter and glitch playback
‘Position Splitter’ and ‘Position Effects’ blocks can be used to divide and modify the signals driving the sequences in different ways, modifying patterns for musical variation
Over 300 utility blocks covering everything from input and output, MIDI, OSC, scopes and meters, recording, clocks, ramps, maths etc.
Maths functions, tables, arrays, build your own oscillators or filters just using blocks
Open up any block and modify it, while it’s being used (full Reaktor required)
Powerful snapshot system built into every block. Snapshots can be morphed and selected from an input port, or selected and edited globally by using MIDI and OSC
A set of blocks for use with the Tidal Cycles live coding environment
More information is available on the Toybox website:
I’ve been playing with the Toybox Reaktor block package for a while - it’s amazing and the new Nano modules seem to work very nicely alongside the earlier Toybox modules - plus they seem to have lower CPU demands. The new preset switching feature of the Nano modules is very nicely integrated when running inside Ableton / Push. I’m very interested to see how these will work with the new MPE feature in Live 11 (David has already included an MPE input device). Am interested to see how they will work with Apple’s blazing new M1 chip. David is a coding wizard and Elektron should hire him immediately to work on the Octatrack III / DigiSomething Mark IIIIIII.