Fast Forward is a sample processing utility for the Auto Reverse sample player.
Playing samples on the ZOIA is really demanding on the DSP. Fast Forward helps lighten load by pitching up sample files by 1 octave, which cuts the file size in half making the sample a little more ZOIA friendly. Auto Reverse is designed to pitch the sample back down 1 octave to the original pitch. This process also adds a little lofi character to the sample.
Bonus: Sample Shaping
Fast Forward also has an ADSR envelope to change the attack and release of samples while processing them. Samples can also be processed in reverse.
Upload Processed Samples
When samples are processed they are immediately saved into the new file you created. To access them, just open a Sample module, select file and choose your new file. You could potentially layer sounds into one sample by changing “new sample” to “overdub” in the edit menu of the second sample module.
Controls
ROW 1 – Load Samples:
Select the Sampler Module and press edit. Choose a file on your SD card and choose the mono channel. You may have to load the sample first and then go back into the edit menu to choose mono. In this row you can also change the sample’s playback to reverse.
ROW 2 – Record Samples:
Select the Sampler Module and press edit. Select File and choose New Sample (you may have to scroll up to the top of the menu). Enter a name for your new sample.
ROW 3 – Sample Modifiers:
Transpose
– ZOIA’s default transpose value is A0, Fast Forward is already set 1 octave up at A1. If you want to make the sample file smaller you could pitch it up an additional octave or 2, but the more the sample is pitched up, the more the sample’s quality degrades.
Sample Attack
Sample Decay
– Decay, Sustain and Release behave a little differently with samples versus oscillators. If you want finer controls, you can edit the full ADSR via the utility page.
ROW 5 and Footswitches – Transport Controls:
Test Loaded Sample (Left Footswitch)
-Test the loaded sample before recording.
Process Sample (Middle Footswitch)
– The loaded sample will record as long as you hold the button/middle footswitch. If you want to watch as the sample records, press the Record pad (2nd pad in row) and use the middle footswitch. Every time this button is pressed, you are recording over the new file (and saving it). If you want to record a new sample, repeat instructions from Row 2.
Test Processed Sample (Right Footswitch)
– Try out the processed sample before loading it into Auto Reverse.
Master Level
Notes
I’m still super new to making patches on ZOIA and I’m sure there’s probably a more efficient, maybe even automated, way of doing this. If you have any tips please let me know. Thanks for checking it out!
