TOYBOX --> release SYNTH BUNDLE available now!!

[David@TOYBOX]

Just a random question: do polyphonic blocks use multiple threads / cores, or run as a single thread? Last time I checked, Blocks ensembles were heavy on CPU.

No, Reaktor does't use multiple threads (It's actually technically very difficult to implement multithreading in a modular emulation without adding delays to each connection). But if you run multiple instances of Reaktor in your DAW then the DAW will spread the load across cores.

The polyphonic blocks can be quite taxing on CPU though. This is due to the quality of the filters and oscillators and the fact that the whole modular rack is running always at audio rates with no latency, so that the feedback possibilities of an analog modular rig can be properly emulated.

So best to use the monophonic versions of the blocks unless less polyphony is really needed.

[tl]

Just a random question: do polyphonic blocks use multiple threads / cores, or run as a single thread? Last time I checked, Blocks ensembles were heavy on CPU.

No, Reaktor does't use multiple threads (It's actually technically very difficult to implement multithreading in a modular emulation without adding delays to each connection). But if you run multiple instances of Reaktor in your DAW then the DAW will spread the load across cores.

The polyphonic blocks can be quite taxing on CPU though. This is due to the quality of the filters and oscillators and the fact that the whole modular rack is running always at audio rates with no latency, so that the feedback possibilities of an analog modular rig can be properly emulated.

So best to use the monophonic versions of the blocks unless less polyphony is really needed.

Watching yr tutorial videos and making my own experiences with "quite taxing on CPU" I have some rather trivial questions: Do you use yr blocks at 44 kHz samplerate when producing yr own music? While building those blocks did you have a certain usage samplerate in mind?

Regards,
tl.

[David@TOYBOX]

Do you use yr blocks at 44 kHz samplerate when producing yr own music? While building those blocks did you have a certain usage samplerate in mind?

I usually work at 44.1kHz. The blocks all use low / zero aliasing oscillators and saturation modules and oversampling where needed so sound really good at 44.1kHz.

You can experiment with bouncing at higher rates in your DAW. There's an oversampling menu in the top right corner of the window which allows you to oversample the whole rack up to 4X the current rate of your DAW.

[Edrec]

Using the blocks at 44.1 here, filters and oscillators sound amazing.

[David@TOYBOX]

Great

[David@TOYBOX]

Here's a cheat-sheet for the various functions of the Piano Roll block, videos to come..

[Edrec]

Nice!

[David@TOYBOX]

Just to let you know we have just released a major update to the toybox Synth Bundle for Reaktor Blocks

New features include a completely revamped GUI for the Piano Roll, Improved polyphonic connections and 20 New Blocks.

Here's a basic demonstration of the new Piano Roll block:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JErU0fxtopA

We are also running a 25% sale with the code SPRING2020 at https://www.toyboxaudio.com

Stay well!

David

The toybox Synth Bundle V1.1 update available now!

GUI improvements - including a completely revamped GUI for the Piano Roll blocks with new features and improved workflow. Plus GUI improvements to many of the other blocks in the bundle.

Improved polyphonic connections - any type of output, polyphonic or monophonic can now be connected to any type of input. A polyphonic output can even be connected to combinations of polyphonic and monophonic inputs simultaneously.

20 New Blocks, including:

• Real Verb - A high quality, realistic reverb effect with a choice of early reflection patterns. The 'DIFF' (diffusion) control sets the smoothness and density of the tail. There are also controls to reduce sample rate, bit depth and increase saturation for gritty, vintage digital reverb effects.

• Box Verb - A reverb effect used to simulate boxes, containers and small spaces.

• Wavetable (Polyphonic) - A polyphonic wavetable based oscillator. The wavetables can be scanned in 2 dimensions across a 16 by 16 grid with many unique ways of twisting and warping the waveforms.

• Chord Bank (Polyphonic) - A block that stores a bank of 120 chords (each with up to 6 notes). The chords can be selected using the PITCH input or triggered using the PITCH and GATE inputs together.

• Clock Multiplier - A 4 channel clock multiplier. The block automatically inserts a number of clocks in between each clock arriving at the inputs, for each channel. Perfect for creating complex polyrhythmic patterns from a simple clock input.

• Gate Probability - Thins out gates arriving at the gate inputs. The probability of gates being passed by each channel is set by value of the PROBABILITY knobs in %. The block operates in 4 modes:
  MODE 1 = Each channel operates independently.
  MODE 2 = Channel 1 is sent to either output 1 or 2, channel 3 is sent to either output 3 or 4.
  MODE 3 = Channels 1, 2 & 3 are cascaded (channel 1 is sent to either output 1 or feeds channel 2, channel 2 is sent to either output 2 or feeds channel 3), channel 4 is independent.
  MODE 4 = Channels 1, 2, 3 & 4 are cascaded.

• Quantize - Quantizes the input signal by the value of the STEPS knob.

• Sequential Switch - An 8 input, 8 output switch. The connections between input 1 and the 8 outputs or between the 8 inputs and output 1 are switched using a sequencer. The position of the sequencer is incremented by gates received by the GATE input. (Note: this block will also be added to the upcoming V1.2 Free Pack update.) This is an extremely versatile and powerful block that can be used in may ways to combine, split and splice gate and audio signals.

• Split - Splits incoming notes between 3 sets of pitch and gate outputs using 3 different modes: NOTE, VELOCITY & MIX.

• Split (Polyphonic) - Splits incoming polyphonic notes between 3 sets of pitch and gate outputs.

• Transpose (Polyphonic) - Transposes polyphonic pitch signals. A scale button applies 'autotune' style pitch snapping to the output.

• Voice Split - Each voice of the polyphonic input is sent to a different monophonic output.

• Keyboard - A dual keyboard display that can also be used to trigger or perform notes with the mouse.

• MIDI Out (Polyphonic) - Converts polyphonic pitch and gate signals to MIDI notes and also offers four channels of MIDI CC output.

• Mono Note Merge (Polyphonic) - Merges mono pitch and gate signals together and outputs the merged notes to a pair of polyphonic pitch and gate ports. Click on the LEDs to mute each channel.

• Mutes X8 - A bank of 8 mute buttons.

• Note Delay (Polyphonic) - Delays the polyphonic signals arriving at the 'Pitch' and 'Gate' inputs. The block has controls for transposing the pitch of the delayed notes and snapping the pitches to a scale.

• Note In (Polyphonic) - A polyphonic MIDI input block.

• Gate Merge - Merges gate signals together. If a gate signal is already positive at one port when a new gate arrives at another port then the output will momentarily drop to zero triggering a fresh gate at the output. Includes a new SUM mode, when enabled the gates are added together rather than merged resulting in a higher output when multiple gates arrive at the same time.

+ Many small improvements and bug fixes

More info at https://www.toyboxaudio.com

[Forgotten]

Is it still a manual update process, or can it be updated through Native Access?

[David@TOYBOX]

Is it still a manual update process, or can it be updated through Native Access?

Yes it's a manual update, just replace the old pack folder with the new folder, no need to use Native Access.

[Forgotten]

Is it still a manual update process, or can it be updated through Native Access?

Yes it's a manual update, just replace the old pack folder with the new folder, no need to use Native Access.

Will it be updated some time in the future so that we can use Native Access for updates?

[Neon Breath]

Fantastic blocks!!

@David: wondering while you are here, any plans for a Sampling Pack update at some point?

[DJ Warmonger]

Got all packs!

...not many ways to spend my income these days ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[David@TOYBOX]

Fantastic blocks!!

@David: wondering while you are here, any plans for a Sampling Pack update at some point?

Thanks!

The sampling pack was updated to V1.1 in November, you can download it from your user area: www.toyboxaudio.com

Got all packs!

...not many ways to spend my income these days ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Haha, great!

Is it still a manual update process, or can it be updated through Native Access?

Yes it's a manual update, just replace the old pack folder with the new folder, no need to use Native Access.

Will it be updated some time in the future so that we can use Native Access for updates?

Possibly but for now it's manual updates only...

[Edrec]

The piano roll block is mind blowing once you learn all it's functions! I really haven't seen anything like it.