New Tool (3.0): Quick Vol AHDSR (July 2015)

Renoise Tools
1

What it`s for

When building up a beat in renoise with simple one hit samples, it can be a pain to keep going back and forth to the sample editor to add and adjust the all important Volume AHDSR envelopes. This tool gives you a GUI for use on the fly as you add new samples into your beat and adjust how their dynamics are all interacting. You can simply add new AHDSR envelopes with the enable checkbox (bottom left). You then have access to that envelope from its GUI. Continue to use the checkbox to bypass and enable the envelope as you wish.

The GUI updates on ‘instrument or track’ change. So as you select your instruments in renoise the tool works for that selected instrument.

Tip – Use the Ctrl key when fine tuning sliders

Version 1.51:
Includes [Graph Env.] button to quickly add and access a renoise envelope modulator aswell.

Download:

Latest Version V1.51 (Renoise 3.2)

ledger.scripts.QuickVolAhdsr_V1.51.xrnx (10.9 KB)

Tools Page:

http://renoise.com/tools/quick-vol-ahdsr

Shortcut

Global:Tools: QVA `Quick Vol AHDSR`

LAYOUT

Dropdown = Currently selected Track name, select different tracks from here too.
Textfield 1 = Name of selected instrument
Textfield 2 = Name of the first sample in the selected instrument

Sliders = Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain, Release

Textfield 3 = Readout for last adjusted parameter/ slider
checkbox = bypass or enable the ahdsr with this
View Button = Toggles between pattern editor view and the modultaion view where you can get more involved with your envelopes

Offset valuebox = Offset the sample start here

The controls will disable when there is no sample selected or the envelope is bypassed.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Due to renoise having the ability to have multiple instruments per track some ‘traffic light’ type feedback is given from the LEDs on the GUI

-Green : means it is all is good to go! You are on the correct track as notes for the current instrument have been found there and the envelope is enabled.
-Red with letter E: is a warning. It means that no notes are in the current pattern-track. This may be because you are on the wrong track (send/master/ other empty track) or there simply are no notes in this pattern yet.
-Red with symbol >: Means there are notes on this pattern track but none belong to the selected envelop. The > is to tell you you can click the button to make sure the (first) correct instrument is selected for this track.
-Blue: Means that the current AHDSR is bypassed, so you can do no damage to an with it :slight_smile: i.e. if the wrong instrument is selected.
-Grey: Means there is no envelope loaded for the current instrument.

The green Sample Present button also has a capture so when it shows “>” you can click it and it will take you to the (first) correct track(if any) in the pattern where this instrument appears (autocapture for tracks rather than instruments )

It should become a lot clearer after a few trys!

but basically :

– Click the > next to the thing you want to edit when the other is not matching up.

– All Green = Good to Go

Offset Button

Orange on Offset button: Means the offset function is enabled via a renoise phrase. Click the orange button to go to that phrase if you wish. You will see the 0Sxx sample command there that is used for the start point offset

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My Other Scripts:

Changelog Click To View

Version 1.5

  • Added rotaries to control the slope for attack,decay and release controls
  • Added Graph Env. button to add/access a modulation envelope in addition to the standard AHDSR. It can also be enabled/ bypassed with new checkbox next to button.

Quick Update: Version 1.51

  • Fixed API version number
  • New envelopes have points automatically at max, so as not to change sound immediately

NOTE: When clicking around tracks, you may end up with an envelope window open that does not correspond to the current track/ instrument. When this is the case the Graph Env. toggle button will be grey and not orange.

v1.1

–Fix: tool no longer changes renoise focus lock setting

–added: menu entry in instrument right click menu

—Update 0.5 (think we are almost there now)

–change tracks added via dropdown at top

–color system changed a bit (green used instead of orange for sample present) --all greens = good to go!

–Offset added in bottom right of GUI. You can now change the start position of the sample. As the renoise sampler doesn`t have start and end markers for trigger, this is done using a phrase and the sample offset command. The orange LED/ button next to it shows a phrase is present. Click on it to go to the phrase editor.

Update: 0.44

Modified the capture behaviour slightly, hopefully easy to understand and more funtional now so:

Update: 0.43

  1. Tool now runs on timer rather than notifiers. This means it should update better and be synced with the AHDSR, so changes made in renoises modulation view are mirrored in the tool.
  2. There is a new light/ colored button on the left of the track name (row 1). It changes colour to give you some feedback while using the tool.
    -Green: means it is all is good to go! You are on the correct track as notes for the current instrument have been found there and the envelope is enabled.
    -Red with letter E: is a warning. It means that no notes are in the current pattern-track. This may be because you are on the wrong track (send/master/ other empty track) or there simply are no notes in this pattern yet.
    -Red with letter C: Means that no notes from the selected instrument in this pattern-track but notes of other instrument have been found. The C is to tell you you can click the button to capture the nearest note to change your selected instrument to it.
    -Blue: Means that the current AHDSR is bypassed, so you can do no damage to an with it i.e. if the wrong instrument is selected.
    -Grey: Means there is no envelope loaded for the current instrument.
  3. Removed previous right hand light/ button in favour of the above

Update 0.41

  1. Main Keybind changed to, will need resetting for this version if you have the previous one loaded
    Global:Tools: “QVA Quick Vol AHDSR”
  2. Tools Menu entry added:
    Tools:Ledger`s Scripts: Quick Vol AHDSR
  3. -New coloured indicators to the left and right of the sample textfield for extra visual feedback

OLD xrnx
3.1 version:
https://files.renoise.com/forum/uploads/7692-ledger.scripts.QuickVolAhdsr_V1.3.xrnx
3.0 version:
https://files.renoise.com/forum/uploads/5912-ledger.scripts.QuickVolAhdsr_V1.1.xrnx

1 Like
2

Update 0.4

1)The automatic addition of envelopes has been removed for this version. Now you add new envelopes by using the enable/ bypass checkbox on the bottom left. This saves having envelopes added to instruments where you don`t want them but keeps the workflow of the tool fast.

2)The other change worth noting is the ability to type a/h/d/s/r into the readout textfield (the one that shows slider ms values) and the value of the relevant slider will be shown next to it.

A few other changes are in the changelog at the bottom of this post.

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-3-0-quick-vol-ahdsr/43997

3

Looks awesome, thank you!

4

No probs!

This ones really making a difference to my workflow here. I’m actually going through old tracks adjusting all the envelopes** with a lot of better results. I`m also finding it a bit of a gateway to experimenting more in the modulation view with other types of envelopes which is a good thing; i.e with the toggle “View” button.

I have to say that it has been a big gap in my learning up until relatively recently, about really precisely adjusting attack/ decay values along with delay values in the pattern editor, to really get a beat to gel/ groove. Before I was convinced it was something to do with compression, as that’s discussed to death on the internet. Also personal assumptions probably reaching back to my OctaMED days! However now I’ve reached the conclusion (thank you Timothy Allan @groove3 !) that the AHDSR in combination with delay offsets (+ or -) and track offsets, is about 80% of it and compression the last 20%. If your beat sounds MIDI-ish and blocky because you`ve just left everything quantised to the grid with untouched envelopes, its still going to sound MIDI-ish and blocky no matter how you compress it :excl:

It`s been a big motivator in writing these previous tools too:

Groove Control, to help adjust renoises groove (automatic delays):

http://www.renoise.com/node/783

Note Properties, for manually adjusting things away from quantised (including volumes too):

http://www.renoise.com/tools/note-properties

Anyway this post is just in case someone else can be saved some misplaced compression bafflement that I suffered!

:drummer:

**though there is a minor issue (0.4) to be worked out when running into old xrni style envelopes

5

That’s interesting, I have heard about using ADSR to influence the groove but it’s not something I’ve really investigated for a long time. Just been playing with the tool now and it’s blown my mind how much difference it can make to the sound, not so much with the groove (haven’t got that far yet with it) but just overall sound, I tend not to play with the envelopes unless there is an obvious need for it but this tool make it so much quicker and easier to do. Definitely will be adjusting it for every drum sample I ever use now.

It is much more convenient to have it assigned to a key but would it be useful to have it in the tools menu as well? It didn’t seem to appear there for me.

Also, perhaps the ability to change the track from the tool UI would be very useful.

6

That’s interesting, I have heard about using ADSR to influence the groove but it’s not something I’ve really investigated for a long time. Just been playing with the tool now and it’s blown my mind how much difference it can make to the sound, not so much with the groove (haven’t got that far yet with it) but just overall sound, I tend not to play with the envelopes unless there is an obvious need for it but this tool make it so much quicker and easier to do. Definitely will be adjusting it for every drum sample I ever use now.

Yes it`s far more essential than one might suspect. Those couple of steps to and back from the modulation view can break workflow and have stopped me experimenting so much. I think this tool will be a bit of a reflex action from now on :slight_smile:

It is much more convenient to have it assigned to a key but would it be useful to have it in the tools menu as well? It didn’t seem to appear there for me.

Also, perhaps the ability to change the track from the tool UI would be very useful.

0.41 is now up in first post.

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-3-0-quick-vol-ahdsr/43997

The menu has been added (plus other bits and pieces), I will think about adding track changing.

In the mean time you may find this other small tool I wrote useful?: the 0.52 version is the keyboard only one which is quicker:

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-search-for-track/30709

7

Update: 0.43

attachicon.gifAHDSR 4.3.PNG

  1. Tool now runs on timer rather than notifiers. This means it should update better and be synced with the AHDSR, so changes made in renoises modulation view are mirrored in the tool.

  2. There is a new light/ colored button on the left of the track name (row 1). It changes colour to give you some feedback while using the tool.

-Green : means it is all is good to go! You are on the correct track as notes for the current instrument have been found there and the envelope is enabled.

-Red with letter E: is a warning. It means that no notes are in the current pattern-track. This may be because you are on the wrong track (send/master/ other empty track) or there simply are no notes in this pattern yet.

-Red with letter C: Means that no notes from the selected instrument in this pattern-track but notes of other instrument have been found. The C is to tell you you can click the button to capture the nearest note to change your selected instrument to it.

-Blue: Means that the current AHDSR is bypassed, so you can do no damage to an with it :slight_smile: i.e. if the wrong instrument is selected.

-Grey: Means there is no envelope loaded for the current instrument.

  1. Removed previous right hand light/ button in favour of the above

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-3-0-quick-vol-ahdsr/43997

8

0.44

Modified the capture behaviour slightly, hopefully easy to understand and more funtional now so:

-Green : means it is all is good to go! You are on the correct track as notes for the current instrument have been found there and the envelope is enabled.

-Red with letter E: is a warning. It means that no notes are in the current pattern-track. This may be because you are on the wrong track (send/master/ other empty track) or there simply are no notes in this pattern yet.

-Red with symbol >: Means there are notes on this pattern track but none belong to the selected envelop. The > is to tell you you can click the button to make sure the (first) correct instrument is selected for this track.

-Blue: Means that the current AHDSR is bypassed, so you can do no damage to an with it :slight_smile: i.e. if the wrong instrument is selected.

-Grey: Means there is no envelope loaded for the current instrument.

The Orange Sample Present button also has a capture so when it shows “>” you can click it and it will take you to the (first) correct track(if any) in the pattern where this instrument appears (autocapture for tracks rather than instruments; “Take me to the track where this sample shows up” )

It should become a lot clearer after a few trys!

but basically click the > next to the thing you want to edit when the other is not matching up.

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-3-0-quick-vol-ahdsr/43997

9

New version pretty much has all I wanted to add to it, probably up on tools site shortly if no-one finds any problems:

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-3-0-quick-vol-ahdsr/43997

—Update 0.5 (think we are almost there now)

–change tracks added via dropdown at top

–color system changed a bit (green used instead of orange for sample present) --all greens = good to go!

–Offset added in bottom right of GUI. You can now change the start position of the sample. As the renoise sampler doesn`t have start and end markers for trigger, this is done using a phrase and the sample offset command. The orange LED/ button next to it shows a phrase is present. Click on it to go to the phrase editor.

10

Version 1.0 up on tools site,

only change from 0.5 was a change on the pattern offset view button order:

http://renoise.com/tools/quick-vol-ahdsr

11

Hey, missing the right click context menu entry in the instrument list… :frowning: edit: why did you remove it? This sucks, really. I want to use your useful tool, but I won’t since I only can access it thru the crowded tools menu :stuck_out_tongue: and I have no more space for another shortcut. Isn’t the context menu the most intuitive way to get related functionality?

12

It was never there for this tool. Only the tools menu.

It does make sense though so I will add it at some point.

13

beta 1.1

–Fix: tool no longer changes renoise focus lock setting

–added: menu entry in instrument right click menu

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-3-0-quick-vol-ahdsr/43997

14

Hey! Thanks lots for adding the context menu thing!

15

This is fantastic. You’re right, brilliant in conjunction with the Note Properties tool. Thanks for this.

16

This is fantastic. You’re right, brilliant in conjunction with the Note Properties tool. Thanks for this.

A couple more along similar lines that can be helpful with beats are Groove Control as a macro for the renoise master groove controls. Can be useful to experiment with groove/ swing settings. You also get a readout so you can apply the values manually after experimenting. I find after adding some swing with hihat / percussion offsets it can work quite well to add a few percent swing on the renoise global settings:

https://www.renoise.com/tools/groove-control

Also Velocity Pan Delay Automation gives access to the note properties via the automation lane:

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-2-8-velocity-pan-delay-automation/39441

nisanmol also has a groove tool here that may be of interest too which adds the values directly into the pattern instead:

http://www.renoise.com/tools/groovetool

along with dblues tool that gives a graphical representation of renoise groove values:

https://forum.renoise.com/t/global-groove-documentation-how-does-it-work/41552

17

This one doesnt seem to be working with 3.1 … anyone had better luck?

18

This one doesnt seem to be working with 3.1 … anyone had better luck?

it may not have auto-upgraded. Here is a version that should work without having to mess around with the xml:

Edit: Now up in 1st post:

https://forum.renoise.com/t/new-tool-3-0-quick-vol-ahdsr/43997

19

Oh ace, thanks.

20

loving this tool, great workflow enhancer, thanks!

been tinkering with the code trying to work out if the ‘Enable’ checkbox can be ticked (and ADSR created if not present) when the tool is invoked.

Would save an extra (and for me unnecessary) mouse click :wink:

had no luck though, any hints?