Introduction
Partikl is the collection of interfaces to the iSS, a MIDI DLS wavetable & powerful modular synth with live FX engine - or just a "Multi-synth" for short! The iSS and Partikl interfaces are so tightly integrated within both Noatikl and Mixtikl that we just tend to refer to them jointly as Partikl.
Mixtikl 5 includes Partikl interfaces for live mix inline editing / mix saving of Partikl synth sounds and FX
Noatikl 2 includes Partikl interfaces for live mix inline editing / mix saving of Partikl synth sounds and FX, as well as facilities for saving and editing Partikl files
The purpose of this guide is to give you further information on each of the interfaces available in Partikl and how to use them.
For those really interested, there is a lot of detailed technical information on the Partikl "Multi-synth" here.
Partikl supports a number of independently-specified synthesis modules per voice, as well as per-MIDI-line and global effects. Individual effect units in can be enabled, disabled, added and deleted in real time using the tool, even while the music is playing!
Partikl breaks beyond the traditional limitations of MIDI as it supports control of a number of essential effect units, which we also refer to as audio plugins, including LFOs, Reverb, Distortion, Filtering etc. etc.
A range of parameters, and supporting dialogs, are used to manipulate Partikl.
For those of you only interested in the Partikl FX units, skip to the relevant FX unit page as you won't need any more information than that.
Note that if you are interested in creating generative music content in Noatikl format that you package as a partikl file for use within Mixtikl, you must use the Noatikl 2 tool, and then import the partikl files using Mixtikl.
Those with Noatikl or Mixtikl, who want to find our how to create synth sounds and FX should read on! You'll learn about sound synthesis basics and how to do things like:
- Open files (e.g. MIDI or Noatikl).
- Associate synthesis modules with zero or more of the MIDI lines.
- Create sound effects networks that apply per MIDI line, and which work whether or not you are using synthesis, wavetable or custom sample data.
- Create optional sound effects networks that apply globally to your piece.
- Export your piece (together with your new sound definitions) to .partikl file format, and subsequently re-open and reedit your file.
Accessing the Partikl interfaces
- For live mix inline editing / mix saving of Partikl synth sounds and FX:
- For Mixtikl 5
- Various inline Synth and FX editors.
- Via a Mixtikl Content Cell.
- For making/saving/exporting Partikl files:
- For Noatikl 2 ("Partikl Full")
- Various utilities and editors for creating / associating modular synth sound & FX networks to Noatikl/MIDI files, to targeting DLS / Ogg wavetables and audio files etc. and then packaging all together into a Partikl file.
- Via the Noatikl 2 Network Editor display.
Mixtikl: Launching the inline Partikl editors
You can access the Synth Attacher and FX Attacher screens directly from the Mixtikl Content Cell, from where you can access the Synth and FX Network Editors.
Mixtikl: How do I Play a Partikl or Other File Type Supported by Mixtikl?
Add the content via the Content List button in the Mixtikl Content Cell and then play your mix
Noatikl: How do I edit Synth sounds?
Simply press the appropriate Synth button in the Noatikl network view. Synth FX networks can be created/modified with the FX Network Editor interface, and individual units are customised with the colourful pop-up Partikl FX unit editors.
The Synth FX network dialog shows the network of FX units used to render the synth sounds. By default, the dialog shows a wavetable unit, which renders through Partikl's built-in MIDI Wavetable. You can alter the network to use a different tone-generator network if you wish; or select from a list of built-in preset sounds. Note: use the Poly drop-down list to alter the polyphony level supported by the synth network for that MIDI channel.
Noatikl: How do I edit sound Effects?
Simply press the appropriate Effect (or Glob FX) button in the Noatikl network view. Sound FX networks can be created/modified with the FX Network Editor interface, and individual units are customised with the colourful pop-up Partikl FX unit editors.
The Effect FX network dialog shows the network of FX units used to shape the sounds output by the Synth box. By default, the dialog shows no effects units. You can alter the network to use a custom set of sound effects units in various configurations; or select from a list of built-in preset effects.
The output from every Effect is added together and passed through a Global Effect network. If you want to use a Global Effect, click the "Glob FX" button to invoke the Global Effect editor dialog. This dialog looks the same as for the Track Effect dialog. By default, the dialog shows no effects units. You can alter the network to use a custom set of sound effects units in various configurations; or select from a list of built-in preset effects.
Mixtikl: How do I Edit Sound FX?
Sound FX are customised with the colourful pop-up Partikl FX unit editors, and sound FX networks can be created/modified with the FX Network Editor interface.
- Editor Access:
- A) From the Mixer, tap an empty or populated Track FX or Global FX cell which then displays the FX Cell Menu, or;
- B) From a Content Cell that is using generative content, tap the Cell FX button
- A) From the Mixer, tap an empty or populated Track FX or Global FX cell which then displays the FX Cell Menu, or;
- Edit Unit:
- Select the Edit Unit button to edit the first FX Unit in the (if any) FX network / chain (for example see Filter unit editor, left)
- Edit Network:
- Select the Edit Network button to graphically show the network of FX units. If you had an FX already designated in the FX cell, you will see the FX unit in the top area of the main FX Network Editor window, otherwise this will be empty.
