Native Instruments Retro Machines MK2 User manual
Manual
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Document authored by: David Gover, Patryk Korman
Document version: 1.0 (08/2011)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs,
but in making this a better product.
Disclaimer
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Table of Contents
1 Welcome to RETRO MACHINES MK2 ........................................................................... 5
1.1 What is RETRO MACHINES MK2? ................................................................................................. 5
2 Using the Instrument .................................................................................................6
2.1 SYNTH Page ................................................................................................................................ 6
2.1.1 OSC section ............................................................................................................... 7
2.1.2 FILTER section ........................................................................................................... 8
2.1.3 AMP Section ............................................................................................................... 9
2.1.4 PERFORM Section ...................................................................................................... 10
2.1.5 EFFECTS Section ........................................................................................................ 11
2.1.6 LFO Section ................................................................................................................ 12
2.1.7 SOUND VARIATIONS Section ....................................................................................... 13
2.1.8 ARP and CHORD Switch ............................................................................................. 14
2.2 ARP/CHORD Page ....................................................................................................................... 14
2.2.1 ARPEGGIATOR Section ............................................................................................... 14
2.2.2 CHORD Section .......................................................................................................... 16
2.3 SETTINGS Page ........................................................................................................................... 17
3 Credits ......................................................................................................................19
Table of Contents
RETRO MACHINES MK2 - Manual - 4
1 Welcome to RETRO MACHINES MK2
Thank you for purchasing RETRO MACHINES MK2. On behalf of the Native Instruments
team, we hope this KONTAKT library truly inspires you.
1.1 What is RETRO MACHINES MK2?
RETRO MACHINES MK2 is a collection of 16 definitive analog synthesizers and key-
boards, lovingly sampled and refined for KONTAKT and the free KONTAKT PLAYER.
It covers the classic, the idiosyncratic and the exotic instruments that defined electronic
pop in the 70s and 80s. Today, the originals are hard to find, expensive, and often tem-
peramental. So if you'd rather be making music than worrying about tuning, RETRO MA-
CHINES MK2 gives you thick, creamy, analog sound without the repairs, and with all the
benefits of state-of-the-art software technology.
The RETRO MACHINES MK2 interface provides consistent control across the board,
whichever vintage monster you're currently tweaking. Each preset captures the character
sound of the original instruments, with eight integrated sound variations. These variations
are production-ready synthesizer sounds, a specific combination of OSC, Filter, Amp and
other settings. Your tweaks are saved within each variation, and you can use the Morph
slider to shift between variations for dynamic sound. In addition, the arpeggiator can ei-
ther synchronize to your host tempo, or play at it's own rate, depending on your prefer-
ence, combined with the Chord In essence, RETRO MACHINES MK2 is pure vintage synth
nostalgia combined with ease of use.
Welcome to RETRO MACHINES MK2
What is RETRO MACHINES MK2?
RETRO MACHINES MK2 - Manual - 5
2 Using the Instrument
In this chapter, you'll find a description of the RETRO MACHINES MK2 user interface ele-
ments, and how to operate them. All presets share the same user interface with only minor
differences in the control elements; e.g., where one instrument has a reverb and an echo
effect in the EFFECTS section, another one has a reverb and a phaser effect. The screen-
shots used throughout this chapter will show an exemplary preset interface with a specific
mix of controls. You will find descriptions of all possible controls in the relevant "Controls"
sections below.
2.1 SYNTH Page
The SYNTH properties window is the first window you see when you load a RETRO MA-
CHINES MK2 instrument. This window contains all synthesizer parameters and allows you
to edit them.
Synth Page Controls.
Using the Instrument
SYNTH Page
RETRO MACHINES MK2 - Manual - 6
2.1.1 OSC section
The OSC (Oscillator) section provides the raw sampled waveforms with plenty of harmonic
content from the original instrument. However, these waveforms may be further processed
in various ways from selecting different EQ settings to thickening the sound by spreading
the signal and detuning it. In addition, it is also possible to modulate the pitch of the
sampled waveform using the LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) and change the start point of
the sampled waveform. Combined, this section presents many opportunities to further en-
hance the sound before it is processed by the FILTER section.
The Oscillator section.
Controls
▪SOUND: Morphs through various 3-band EQ settings. The parametric peak equalizers
within KONTAKT have been programmed to produce a wide range of tonal alterations
for each sample to give a wide variety. As you step through each setting, you will hear
how signals were altered. When the dial is in the far left position, no EQ settings are
applied. As you move the dial from left to right, various programmed EQ settings may
be heard.
▪FAT: Thickens the sound by detuning and spreading the audio signal. Turn the dial
from left to right to achieve a fuller and wider sound.
▪LFO AMOUNT: Sets the amount of modulation applied from the LFO to pitch.
▪SAMPLE START: Moves the sample start point forward. Useful for making a sound more
static by cutting the sampled filter envelope phase.
Using the Instrument
SYNTH Page
RETRO MACHINES MK2 - Manual - 7
2.1.2 FILTER section
A filter is a signal processor which changes the frequency content of a signal that passes
through it. It is an important sound design feature and one of the principal means by
which you can sculpt your sound. The FILTER section in RETRO MACHINES MK2 has four
filter types, each capable of subtracting or boosting the original harmonics of the sampled
instrument. Although the original synthesizers and keyboards produce the raw signal, it is
often the filters from the original instrument itself that give a synthesizer its distinctive
sound; however, when programming new sounds with RETRO MASCHINES MK2, the crea-
tive potentials of the Filter section can enhance or simply modify these samples to pro-
duce something new and distinctive, which is important for the overall sonic impression.
The Filter section.
Controls
▪FILTER (on/off switch): This switch is a bypass for the whole Filter section. When
switched to the right, the Filter section is active; when switched to the left, the Filter
section is bypassed.
▪CUTOFF: Sets the cutoff frequency of the filter. The effect the cutoff has will depend on
the filter selected.
▪Resonance (RES): Sets the strength of the resonant peak at the cutoff frequency.
When the dial is to the far left, no resonance will be added; to the far right, the maxi-
mum amount of resonance will be present. High values may produce a more piercing
sound.
▪TYPE: Select the filter type here.
Using the Instrument
SYNTH Page
RETRO MACHINES MK2 - Manual - 8
◦DAFT LP: Selects the Daft low-pass filter, which has been adapted from the Native
Instruments MASSIVE synthesizer and is an aggressive filter design. The response
of the filter is a 2-pole low-pass, which attenuates frequencies above the cutoff at a
rate of -12 dB/octave. Use the AMP section's GAIN knob to compensate for amplitude
reduction due to the filter. It controls the amplitude increase after the filter.
◦LADDER LP: Selects the Ladder low-pass filter. This is based on the classic ladder cir-
cuit used in early synthesizers.
◦NOTCH: Selects the Notch filter. The Notch filter cuts two narrow bands of frequen-
cies at either side of the cutoff.
◦FORMANT: Selects the Formant filter. This is a special filter: the term "formant" often
applies to the phonetics of human speech, and as such, formant filters are de-
signed to mimic the frequency response of the human vocal tract. These filters can
be used to emulate the “talk box” effect.
▪LFO AMOUNT: Sets the amount of modulation applied from the LFO to the cutoff fre-
quency.
▪VEL AMOUNT: Sets the amount of modulation applied from the MIDI velocity to the cut-
off frequency.
▪ENV AMOUNT: Sets the amount of modulation applied from the filter envelope to the cut-
off frequency. This knob is bipolar: the left side opens the filter while the right side
closes it.
▪ENV DECAY: Sets the decay time of the filter envelope. Only has an effect on the filter
when ENV AMOUNT is not set to middle position.
2.1.3 AMP Section
The AMP section allows you to control the amplitude (volume) of the output signal. In addi-
tion, the PERCUSSIVE button provides the means to make instant amp settings for percussive
sounds. This provides a good starting point for further enhancement and fine tuning of
your own percussive sounds.
Using the Instrument
SYNTH Page
RETRO MACHINES MK2 - Manual - 9
The Amplification section.
Controls
▪ATTACK: Sets the attack time of the volume envelope, i.e., the time it will take to fade
to a sound's maximum level.
▪RELEASE: Sets the release time of the volume envelope, i.e., the time it will take to
fade out after the note has been released. This can be used to create sounds that
continue long after the note has been pressed.
▪VEL SENS: Sets the amount of modulation applied from the MIDI velocity to the volume.
▪GAIN: Adjusts the volume of the selected Sound Variation. Also useful for matching the
volume of different Sound Variations. Furthermore it allows you to make up for loss of
volume due to extreme filtering.
▪PERCUSSIVE: Changes the AMP envelope mode to create shorter, percussive sounds.
2.1.4 PERFORM Section
The Performance section allows you to set parameters for the behavior of notes when
played from a MIDI keyboard (or even your computer's keyboard). In Glide mode, the in-
strument pitch-bends between two successive notes until the pitch of the second note is
reached.
The Performance section.
Using the Instrument
SYNTH Page
RETRO MACHINES MK2 - Manual - 10
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