RollBud User Manual
Welcome to RollBud — a performance‑ready audio roll and gate effect designed for rhythmic, MIDI‑driven creativity. This manual explains the core modes, beat selection, MIDI triggering, and envelope shaping so you can quickly build rolling loops, trance‑style gates, and expressive rhythmic chops.
Quick Start
- Choose a mode: Select Roll or Gate in the mode selector.
- Pick a beat: Choose a user‑selectable beat division (e.g., 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, triplets, etc.).
- Decide timing: Use Quantized for tempo‑locked rolls/gates or Free for manual rates between 0.2 Hz and 2 Hz.
- Shape the envelope: Adjust attack/decay/hold to dial in tight chops or smooth swells.
- Trigger with MIDI (optional): Map beats to MIDI notes for live performance or sequencing.
User‑Selectable Beats
RollBud lets you choose the rhythmic subdivision that the effect uses:
- Common musical divisions: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and triplet variants (if enabled by the host tempo grid).
- Beat selection is user‑controlled and can be adjusted in real time to change the rhythmic feel on the fly.
- When Quantized is enabled, these divisions lock to the host tempo for tight, musical results.
How it behaves
- Roll mode: repeats small slices of audio at the chosen beat division.
- Gate mode: repeats amplitude changes (envelope‑shaped pulses) at the chosen beat division.
MIDI Triggering Per Beat
RollBud supports MIDI trigger‑ability for each user‑assigned beat. This enables performance workflows such as:
- Playing beats from a MIDI keyboard.
- Sequencing beats with external sequencers (hardware or software).
- Using generative MIDI apps to trigger beat changes dynamically.
MIDI Mapping Options
You can choose between two input styles for beat triggering:
- White keys only: Clean, musical mapping across the white keys for easy live play.
- Chromatic (all keys): Use every semitone for dense mappings.
Sequential vs. Direct
RollBud can interpret incoming MIDI notes in two ways:
- Direct mapping: Each MIDI note corresponds to a specific beat division.
- Sequential mapping: Notes step through your assigned beat list in order (great for live “up/down” performance or arpeggiated patterns).
External Control Examples
- MIDI keyboard: Assign beats to the white keys and play rhythmic variations in real time.
- Step sequencer: Program changes per bar or per beat for evolving textures.
- Generative MIDI: Use random or algorithmic note patterns to create changing rhythmic gates/rolls without manual automation.
Roll Mode
Roll mode continuously records incoming audio and then repeats slices of that audio at the selected rate. This creates classic “rolls” and rhythmic stutters.
Key characteristics:
- Always‑recording buffer: The input audio is recorded at all times, so the roll can react instantly.
- Beat‑locked or free‑rate: Use quantized subdivisions or a free‑running rate.
- Best for: drum fills, glitch effects, stutter edits, and rhythmic re‑triggering.
Trance Gate Mode
Gate mode applies a repeating amplitude envelope to the incoming signal. This creates the iconic trance gate / rhythmic pump effect popular in modern electronic music.
Key characteristics:
- Envelope‑based modulation rather than audio slicing.
- Consistent rhythmic pulsing that stays musical with the beat.
- Best for: pads, sustained synths, vocals, and ambient textures that need rhythmic motion.
Quantized vs. Free Mode
RollBud gives you two timing styles:
Quantized Mode
- Locks the roll/gate timing to the host tempo.
- Uses the selected beat division (e.g., 1/8, 1/16, triplets).
- Ideal for tight, synced grooves.
Free Mode (0.2 Hz – 2 Hz)
- Runs independently of tempo.
- Lets you dial in a rate from 0.2 Hz to 2 Hz (slow to fast pulses).
- Great for ambient, evolving effects or non‑grid rhythmic motion.
In Free mode, the effect rolls or gates the incoming audio at the chosen frequency rather than any tempo‑locked beat.
Envelope & Envelope Shaping
The envelope controls how the roll or gate opens and closes over each cycle. This is essential for making the effect feel tight and musical.
Common Envelope Parameters
- Attack: How fast the audio ramps up.
- Hold/Sustain: How long the signal stays open.
- Decay/Release: How quickly it falls back to silence.
Shaping Tips
- Short attack + short decay → tight, percussive gates.
- Longer attack → smoother, swelling transitions.
- Longer decay → more legato, less choppy pulses.
Envelope Animation in the UI
RollBud visualizes the envelope so you can see the rhythmic shape while you hear it:
- The envelope curve animates each cycle in real time.
- The animation reflects your attack/hold/decay settings.
- This helps you line up timing visually when switching between Roll and Gate modes.
Mode Selection (Roll / Gate)
The mode selector changes how RollBud processes audio:
- Roll: replays captured audio slices with envelope shaping applied.
- Gate: keeps live audio but applies a repeating amplitude envelope.
Switching modes is immediate, allowing live performance transitions from stutter rolls to trance‑style gates.
Suggested Workflows
- Map beats to MIDI notes (white keys or chromatic).
- Enable Quantized mode for tight sync with the tempo.
- Use Roll for drum fills and Gate for sustained elements.
Sound Design / Studio
- Use Free mode between 0.2 Hz and 2 Hz.
- Shape the envelope for evolving textures.
- Sequence beats via MIDI or automation for movement.
Tips & Best Practices
- Keep Roll mode tight for drums; use Gate mode for synths and vocals.
- Pair Free mode with long attack/decay for organic pulses.
- Combine MIDI sequencing with beat changes to create complex rhythmic patterns without manual editing.
Glossary
- Beat division: A rhythmic subdivision of the host tempo (e.g., 1/8 note).
- Roll: Repetition of short audio slices.
- Gate: Repeating amplitude modulation of live audio.
- Envelope: A shape that controls how audio fades in/out over time.
- Quantized: Synced precisely to tempo.
- Free rate: A rate independent of tempo (0.2–2 Hz).
Links
Keep on rollin!