CellSynth Reference Guide
Keyboard Shortcuts
Matrix Window
Cell Edit Window
Event Sequencer
Menu Items
Open MatrixŠ
Load a previously saved Matrix file.
A ³Matrix² is the name given to a CellSynth patch or program.
Merge MatrixŠ
Displays the Merge window which lets you extract cells from a saved Matrix and insert them into the current Matrix.
Close
This is only used to close some of the editing windows when using CellSynth.
Save MatrixŠ
To save the current Matrix in memory to disk.
If you save the file into the ³Matrix Files² folder then the Matrix will be available in the popup menu in the round window. This can be a shortcut to aid loading favourite files.
Import/ExportŠ
Only active when a Harmonic editor windows or Event Sequencer window is open.
Allows you to open or save harmonic tables or sequence files.
Save Recorded AudioŠ
To save the audio currently in the record buffer.
Use this after you have recorded audio that you want to keep.
CellSynth saves audio files in AIFF format.
Choose Record DiskŠ
CellSynth buffers its recordings to a temporary disk file. This menu option allows you to select the disk or folder that you want to use as a record buffer.
Set Record & Fade TimesŠ
Displays a dialog that lets you set the length of the recording and a fade out length.
Undo
Some (but not all) action in CellSynth are undoable.
Moving dials or sliders and cell deletions are undoable.
Undo can be particularly useful after accidentally moving a dial.
Clear Matrix (Clear Sequence)
Clears the current Matrix by deleting all of the cells and sets default values for tuning, volume and MIDI.
If an Event Sequencer window is open, and has the focus, this option becomes Clear Sequence.
Select All
Selects all the cells in the Matrix, or if the Event Sequencer window is open, and has the focus, this option selects all events in the sequence.
PreferencesŠ
Shows a dialog that allows you to set the size of the CellSynth audio output buffers.
If the audio output stutters you could try adjusting the buffer size.
Sample Names Only
This limits the display of tooltips to just the names of the audio files in the sample cells and the names of Event Sequencer cells.
Disable Tips
Disables the display of tooltips.
If you get annoyed by the tooltips, select this menu item!
Display Routing Arrows
Enables or displays the display of routing arrows in the Matrix.
Blue arrows show the routing of audio form one cell to another.
Red arrows show the routing of modulation from one cell to another.
Choose MIDI InputŠ
Opens the OMS input selection dialog.
To choose the MIDI source that will control CellSynth.
Set MIDI ChannelŠ
Displays a dialog that lets you choose the MIDI channel that CellSynth will use.
Sync to MIDI Clock
This activates CellSynth and puts it into a wait state.
CellSynth will start playing when it receives Song Start and MIDI clock messages.
Note:- This overrides the internal tempo setting and CellSynth will now play at the same tempo as the MIDI clock.
Reset MIDI Controllers
When this option is on (menu item is ticked) CellSynth will reset all MIDI controller values when started.
When the option is off, the controller values are left in their previous state.
Example:- You send MIDI control messages to adjust the volume of cells in a matrix. When this option is on and you stop and restart CellSynth , the volume will be reset.
If the option is off the volume will be left as it was before restarting.
OMS Studio Setup & MIDI Setup
These menu items call up the OMS Studio Setup and OMS MIDI Setup applications. Refer to your OMS documentation for details on how to use them.
Show Annotation WindowŠ
Display the Annotation window in which you can type text or comments about the Matrix. This text is also shown in the Merge window.
Auto Open
If this option is ticked and a Matrix file has annotation, the annotation window is automatically opened when the Matrix file is opened.
Edit AnnotationŠ
Enables / Disables typing in the annotation window.
Set Sync TempoŠ
Shows a dialog that lets you set the internal clock tempo for CellSynth. The clock is used by cells when the ³Sync² switches in Cell Edit windows are on.
Note:- this is overridden when the ³Sync to MIDI Clock² option is on.
Enable Sound InŠ
Lets you select the sound input source for recording audio into CellSynth.
Overload Protection
When enabled, Overload Protection will stop CellSynth if it detects that the processor is overloaded and the System is not responding. If you have a Matrix that is beyond the capability of your processor, this will prevent CellSynth from appearing to ³lock up².
Show Recording Toolbar
Shows the tool window that contains the transport controls for recording the output of CellSynth.
Show Keyboard Window
Shows the MIDI keyboard window. This can be used to test and play Matrix files that require MIDI note on/off.
Show Master Window
Shows the Master window. This is used to set the output volume and global tuning for CellSynth.
Another way to open this window is to click on the Peak LEDs in the round window.
CPU Load Indicator
Shows the window that indicates how much processing power CellSynth is requiring. If the LED reaches the red area then the machine is struggling and you should reduce the number of active Cells in the Matrix.
Note:- Reverb Cells are particularly heavy on processing, so if you are using one or more reverbs you should delete these first.
Hide Sliders
Hides / Shows any floating slider windows that are in use. This is useful if you have a lot of sliders and they are covering the main work area.
Cell Edit Parameters
Oscillator Cells - Sine, Square, Sawtooth, Triangle and Harmonic
The parameters that appear on the Oscillator Cells appear on all but a few Cells, with the exception of the Frequency and the Harmonic Editor button, which only appears on the Harmonic Oscillator Cell.
Harmonic Editor
The Harmonic Oscillator has an editor window. When you click on the editor button the following window appears:
The musical term for the various harmonics are shown on the left hand side of the window for reference. These are intervals in relation to the fundamental.
You can enter values from the keyboard or use the pencil tool that appears when you move your mouse into the edit LCD.
This sets the relative amplitude of the various harmonics allowing you to create many variations of sound.
You can load and save Harmonic Tables from the File menu, when the Harmonic Editor is active.
There are some examples provided in the ³Harmonic Tables² folder installed with CellSynth.
Random / Noise Cell
Used to produce random numbers for modulating other cells or, if set to Frequency is set to zero, to output white noise.
Sample Cell
A Sample player. The sample can be triggered in Sync with CellSynth¹s internal clock or an external clock. It can be controlled via MIDI Note on / off, either externally or from the Event Sequencer. Modulation can be routed to the Start point of the sample for some very weird effects!
Sample Editor
When you click on the Edit button the Sample Editor window appears.
You can set the Start and End points by dragging the red triangles
(cursor changes to a hand ).
Click on the sample to zoom in
(cursor changes to a magnifying glass with a plus sign ).
Option-click on the sample to zoom out
(cursor changes to a magnifying glass with a minus sign )
Command-click on the sample to fit to the window
(cursor changes to )
The sample will always start from the beginning if MIDI Note on/ off is enabled and loop around the marked area.
If MIDI Note on / off is not enabled only the area marked will play.
Low / Band Pass Resonant Filter
This cell can be switched to act as either a Low or a Band Pass Filter.
Modulating this cell is like changing the ³wah² on a ³wah wah² pedal.
Modulating it with something like a Sine wave will give a smooth sweep and a random cell will give a ³sample and hold² type effect.
Comb Filter
The Comb filter has an effect that is similar to a fixed Flanger or Phaser (depending on the state of ³Invert²). If you modulate this filter it will act exactly like a Flanger or Phaser!
Mixer
The Mixer Cell can be used to route signal around the Matrix, amplify or attenuate, invert the signal, and ring modulate.
Panner
Used to position the sound in the stereo image.
Black Box
Can widen the stereo image as well as working like a Noise Gate and an Expander.
Delay
Digital Delay effect. The delay length can be modulated.
Reverb
Digital Reverb effect.
Envelope
Can be used as a free standing envelope or with MIDI note on / off (the envelope goes into its decay phase when MID note off is received..
There is an Edit window for visual editing of the envelope.
Envelope Editor
You can adjust the envelope visually by dragging the Attack, Decay and Sustain points on the graph with your mouse.
When you adjust Decay, sustain may be affected and likewise, adjusting Sustain may affect the Release time.
The values will be displayed as you move the points.
Event Sequencer
The Event Sequencer is like a Mini Sequencer. You can enter Notes (which can either be output as MIDI notes or used to modulate a cell directly). You can also enter MIDI Controllers and, by assigning Controllers to Cell¹s parameters, you can program in all sorts of events, for example, volume changes (automate a mix), filter frequency changes, delay length changes, and so onŠ
When you click on the Edit button, the Event Sequencer window opens: