Antares ATR-1 Owner's Manual

Manual is about: Auto-Tune Intonation Processor

Summary of ATR-1

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    ©1998 antares audio technology. All rights reserved. Antares audio technology 11768 atwood drive, no.13 auburn, ca 95603 usa voice: (530) 878-4400 web: www.Antares-systems.Com printed in usa.

  • Page 3: Contents

    Contents getting started welcome 5 tech support 6 a few words from dr. Andy 7 introducing the atr-1 chapter 1 background 9 so what exactly is it? 9 a little bit about pitch 10 some pitch terminology 10 how the atr-1 determines pitch 11 how the atr-1 corrects pitch 12 program mode vs. Song mode 13 se...

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    Program name page 25 save program page 26 song edit pages 26 song speed page 27 song items page 27 song vibrato page 28 song name page 28 save song page 29 system edit pages 29 midi page 1 29 midi page 2 30 midi page 3 31 midi page 4 31 midi page 5 32 foot switch and detune page 32 sensitivity and l...

  • Page 5: Welcome!

    5 welcome! On behalf of everyone at antares audio technologies, we’d like to offer both our thanks and congratulations on your decision to purchase the absolute best intonation correction hardware in the world. Before you proceed much farther, we’d like to strongly encourage you to fill out and retu...

  • Page 6: Technical Support

    6 technical support in the unlikely event that you experience a problem using your atr-1, try the following: 1. Make another quick scan through this manual. Who knows? You may have stumbled onto some feature that you didn’t notice the first time through. 2. Check our web page for tips, techniques, o...

  • Page 7: A Few Words From Dr. Andy

    7 a few words from dr. Andy i remember, as if it were yesterday, sitting in my junior high school band, happily playing away on my flute, when i noticed that our conductor was screaming and jumping up and down on the podium. What was this about? Suddenly, i realized she was screaming at me. And just...

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    8.

  • Page 9: Chapter 1:

    9 chapter 1: introducing the atr-1 some background in 1997, antares first introduced the ground-breaking auto-tune pitch correcting plug-in for protools™ (followed a bit later by the vst and stand- alone versions). Here was a tool that actually corrected the pitch of vocals and other solo instrument...

  • Page 10: A Little Bit About Pitch

    10 a little bit about pitch pitch is typically associated with our perception of the “highness” or “low- ness” of a particular sound. Our perception of pitch ranges from the very general (the high pitch of hissing steam, the low pitch of the rumble of an earthquake) to the very specific (the exact p...

  • Page 11: How The Atr-1 Detects Pitch

    11 pitch pitches are often described relative to one another as intervals, or ratios of frequency. For example, two pitches are said to be one octave apart if their frequencies differ by a factor of two. Pitch ratios are measured in units called cents. There are 1200 cents per octave. For example, t...

  • Page 12: How The Atr-1 Corrects Pitch

    12 pitch how the atr-1 corrects pitch the atr-1 works by continuously tracking the pitch of an input sound and comparing it to a user-defined scale. The scale tone closest to the input is continuously identified. If the input pitch exactly matches the scale tone, no correction is applied. If the inp...

  • Page 13: Program Mode Vs. Song Mode

    13 an example as an example, consider this before-and-after graphic representation of the pitch of a vocal phrase that contains both vibrato and expressive gestures. In the original performance, we can see that although the final note should be centered around d, the vocalist allowed the tail of the...

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    14 if a performance is quite close to begin with and only requires minor correc- tion (i.E., never more that 50 cents), it’s often sufficient to simply choose the chromatic scale, set speed to about 10 and leave it there. If you are working in the studio to correct an already recorded track, you mig...

  • Page 15: Chapter 2:

    15 chapter 2: setting up the atr-1 setting up the atr-1 is a very straightforward. 1. Find a suitable location. The atr-1 is designed to be mounted in a standard 19-inch equipment rack. 2. Confirm that the included power supply is correct for the electricity in your part of the world. If you are not...

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    16 an important note about monitoring: if the atr-1 is used to pitch-correct an artist’s performance in real time, it is very important that the performer is able to monitor their original signal, not the pitch-corrected signal. Trying to react musically to the processed signal will drive them crazy...

  • Page 17: Chapter 3:

    17 chapter 3: panel controls and connectors as you have almost certainly noticed, the atr-1 has relatively few controls. We’ll cover them here. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 the front panel 1 non-existent power switch that’s right. There isn’t one. The atr-1 is designed to remain on continuously. You can, of...

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    18 7 system button press this button to set various parameters that affect the atr-1’s overall functionality (midi response, lcd contrast, etc.) the accompanying led lights to remind you that you are in system edit mode. When the led is lit, press the system buttom again to exit the system edit mode...

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    19 the back panel 1 ac power input plug the 7-pin din connector from the included power supply in here. Do not use a supply which is not expressly intended for the atr-1 (even if you could find one with the that weird plug on it). Bad things could happen. 2 midi in connect the midi out from a midi k...

  • Page 20: Chapter 4:

    20 chapter 4: display screens and menu pages flash screen atr-1 version 1.0 atr-1 processor the flash screen appears for a few moments after the atr-1 is powered on. The first line displays the firmware version. The second line can display any message that will fit in 20 characters. As it comes from...

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    21 to select a program, move the cursor to the program number field and use the data knob to choose the desired program. If the program mode main screen is displayed and midi program changes are enabled in the system menu, a midi program change command of 1–50 will select the corresponding program. ...

  • Page 22: Program Edit Pages

    22 each song step must contain one of the following items: item code main screen step display 0 (no program) ## (program number) the program name b (b bypass) ( e (e end) -> (-> link) please note: in the song mode main screen, the cursor buttons can be used to move the cursor to the yy field and the...

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    23 speed page the first edit page displayed is the speed page: program:xx speed (0 is fast): yy the speed control determines how rapidly pitch correction is applied to the incoming sound. Values range from 0 to 25. A value of zero will cause instantaneous changes from one tone to another and will co...

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    24 as an example, the following settings result in a d major scale with no pitch corrections applied to f # and c # : 23: c#d e f#g a b by: * * why set scale notes to “blank”? To understand why it is sometimes necessary to set even correct scale notes to ”blank,“ let's look again at the example from...

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    25 vibrato page prog:xx dpth rt dly yyyyyy xxx zzz dddd these parameters allow you to superimpose a vibrato (periodic pitch variation) onto the output sound. The yyyyyy field allows you to select the shape of the vibrato’s pitch variation through time. The choices are: (off), sine, square and saw (s...

  • Page 26: Song Edit Pages

    26 to enter the name, place the cursor under each character space and use the data knob to select the appropriate character. Names may be a maximum of 13 characters. The following characters are available for naming (in this order): (space) (upper case letters) (lower case letters) – . / 0 1 2 3 4 5...

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    27 song speed page song:yy speed (0 is fast): xxx the song speed page operates in exactly the same manner as the program speed page described above. However, the song speed overrides the speed settings of any programs called up by any of the song steps. Song items page song:xx : 1 2 3 4 programs: 0 ...

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    28 -> (link) when a song step containing a link item becomes active, any song steps in the remainder of the current song are ignored and the atr-1 moves immediately to the next song (in numerical order). If song step #1 of the new song contains a “0” (no program) item, the song moves forward to the ...

  • Page 29: System Edit Pages

    29 save song page song:xx save? To sng yes xx after you finish editing and/or examining song edit parameters, press the programs button again to exit. If you have made any changes, the save song page appears. You may select yes to save or no to ignore changes that have been made (they will then be l...

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    30 individual midi channels 1–16 if an individual channel is selected, the atr-1 will respond to messages received on that channel only and will ignore any messages on other channels. Omni if omni is selected, the atr-1 will respond to messages on any midi channel. Setting the note field to on allow...

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    31 note: the mod wheel messages can only vary the amount of vibrato from none to the amount of vibrato set in the vibrato page of the active program or song. In order for mod wheel control to work, you must have the program’s or song’s depth set to a positive value and the wave type set to sine, squ...

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    32 midi page 5 sysex device number aaa the atr-1 supports a number of midi system exclusive (sysex) messages using the antares manufacturer id. (see the sysex appendix for details.) the atr-1 sysex device number is similar to the device id found in sysex real time and non-real time messages. By sett...

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    33 refer to the following table to convert cents to hertz relative to 440hz. Detune setting a=hertz -20 435 -16 436 -12 437 -8 438 -4 439 0 440 +4 441 +8 442 +12 443 +16 444 +20 445 this table can be extended in either direction by adding or subtracting 4 cents per hertz, as appropriate. Sensitivity...

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    34 if you are working with a well-isolated solo signal (e.G., tracking in a studio or off of a multi-track tape) you can typically set the sensitivity control to 10 and forget it. If, on the other hand, your signal is noisy or not well-isolated (as might be more common in a live performance situatio...

  • Page 35: Chapter 5:

    35 chapter 5: creative applications for the atr-1 the atr-1 works on vocals so well you may think that’s all it can do. Actu- ally, lots of instruments can use it to great advantage. Fretless bass, electric violin, trombone, even the theremin, all feature continuous pitch potential, unconstrained by...

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    36 • the atr-1 can be used to simulate other singing styles. Many ethnic styles feature exceptional (almost unbelievable) intonation during fast, melismatic passages. Setting the speed parameter faster than normal (less than 5), and setting the scale to an appropriately exotic mode (for example, g a...

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    37 • use the midi note function to create amazing ornamental flourishes and trills. Connect a midi keyboard and turn on the midi note function. Set a fast speed and sing a sustained note while playing the keyboard. Go crazy! • while the atr-1 is not really intended to be a harmonizer, you can create...

  • Page 38: Appendix

    38 appendix factory programs the atr-1 comes from the factory pre-programmed with the basic chromatic, major, and natural minor scales in programs 1–13 as listed below. You are, of course, free to overwrite these as you desire. Program major scale natural minor scale 1 (chromatic) 2 c major a minor ...

  • Page 39: Scale and Chord Guides

    39 scale and chord guides here are some of the most commonly used scales, modes and chords, and their associated atr-1 settings. All spellings use sharps because the atr-1 software uses sharps to describe all accidentals (the black notes on the keyboard). Scales/modes reference chart while the major...

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    40 scales/modes reference chart key major natural minor c c d e f g a b c d d# f g g# a# c # /d b c # d # f f # g # a # c c # d # e f # g # a b d d e f # g a b c # d e f g a a # c d # /e b d # f g g # a # c d d # f f # g # a # b c # e e f # g # a b c # d # e f # g a b c d f f g a a # c d e f g g # a...

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    41 minor minor seventh diminished diminished augmented (m7) (dim) seventh (dim7) (+) c d # g c d # g a # c d # f # a c d # f # a # c e g # c # e g # c # e g # b c # e g a # c # e g b c # f a d f a d f a c d f g # b d f g # c d f # a # d # f # a # d # f # a # b d # f # a c d # f # a c # d # g b e g b...

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    42 midi system exclusive message formats in the explanations, below, braces are used to represent enclosed midi data bytes. Concatenated data is shown by . Names are also enclosed in braces as symbolic representations defined further into the explanation. Values are decimal unless an h is used to de...

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    43 = 1 to 20 0 to 25 0 = off, 1 = sine, 2 = square, 3 = saw 0 to 100 cents 1 to 97 (.1 to 9.7 sec) 0 to 25 (see delay table, below) … all values between 32 (ascii blank) and 7fh … 7ch = b bypass 7dh = 7eh = e end 7fh = -> link 0 = (empty) 1 to 50 = program number transmitting causes values to be imm...

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    44 vibrato delay table the following table identifies the midi controller values required to set each of the possible vibrato delay values: midi value vibrato delay (milliseconds) 0 0 1 10 2 20 3 45 4 70 5 100 6 140 7 190 8 230 9 270 10 315 11 370 12 435 13 510 14 600 15 710 16 830 17 970 18 1140 19...

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    45 midi system exclusive message examples the following examples are scripts from opcode’s galaxy. They show system exclusive messages which communicate with the atr-1. This message will cause the atr-1 to select program mode. Put $f0 into sys_ex; put 0 1 $26 into antares; put 0 into device_num; put...

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    46 put 0 into step_controller; put 7 into sensitivity; put 0 into detune; put 0 into detune_direction; send sys_ex antares device_num mode msg_length ¬ midi_channel midi_sustain pgm_change ¬ midi_note pitch_bend mod_wheel ¬ foot_switch speed_controller vib_rate_controller ¬ vib_delay_controller step...

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    47 put 0 into vib_type; put 28 into vib_depth; put 53 into vib_rate; put 11 into vib_delay; put “my test name.” into name; put 10 11 12 0 $7c $7d $7e $7f 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 into programs; send sys_ex antares device_num mode msg_length ¬ song_number speed vib_type vib_depth vib_rate ¬ vib_delay name progr...

  • Page 48: Midi Implementation Chart

    48 midi implementation chart model: atr-1, version 1.00 function transmitted recognized remarks basic channel default m 1–16 memorized changed m 1–16 mode default m m modes not used messages m m altered m m note number m 0–127 true voice m 33–96 pitches retuned velocity note on m m note off m m afte...

  • Page 49: Atr-1 Specifications

    49 atr-1 specifications data format 20-bit linear 56-bit internal processing sample rate 46.875 khz frequency response 10hz–20khz, +0.06db/-0.23db distortion + noise less than 0.005% (@1khz) adc 20 bit 103 db dynamic range (a weighted) 97 db s/(n+d) dac 24 bit 105 db dynamic range (a weighted) 94 db...

  • Page 50: Index

    50 index a ac power input 19 atr-1, defined 9 auto-tune plug-in 9 b back panel 19 bend 30 bypass button 18 c cameo international 6 cents, defined 11 cents to hertz relative chart 33 channel parameter 29 chassis ground 19 chord reference chart 40 circuit board ground 19 creative applications for the ...

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    51 m midi implementation chart 48 midi in 19 midi page 1 29 channel parameter 29 individual midi channels 1–16 30 note field 30 omni 30 sustain parameter 30 midi page 2 30 bend 30 mod_whl (mod wheel) 30 pgm_chg (program change) 30 midi page 3 31 speed parameter 31 step parameter 31 midi page 4 31 de...

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    52 song step items 22, 27 ## (a program number) 27 -> (link) 28 0 (no program) 28 b (bypass) 27 e (end) 27 song vibrato page 28 specifications 49 speed 12 speed page 23 speed parameter 31 sustain parameter 30 system button 18, 29 system edit pages 29 t technical support 6 v vibrato 12 vibrato delay ...