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The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a com-mitment on the part of Accusonus Inc. The software described by this document is subject to a LicenseAgreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication may be copied, reproducedor otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Accusonus Inc,hereinafter referred to as Accusonus. All product and company names are trademarks or registered trade-marks of their respective owners.

Manual version: 1.2

Accusonus Inc.Lexington MAUSA

Contact us at support@accusonus.com

CONTENTS 3

Contents

1 Introduction 41.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.2 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.3 Supported Plugin Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.4 Supported Sample Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.5 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 Quickstart 5

3 Drumatom Player UI and Controls 73.1 Track List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73.2 Waveform Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83.3 Main Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3.3.1 Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93.3.2 Fine Tune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93.3.3 Bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.3.4 Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.3.5 A/B Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.3.6 Suppression Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.3.7 Track Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113.3.8 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

4 Automation 12

5 Tips, Techniques and Workarounds 13

6 FAQ 156.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

7 Contact Accusonus 16

1 INTRODUCTION 4

1 Introduction

Drumatom is a novel drum processing tool that offers a fresh perspective on leakage suppression. At itsheart lies an advanced patent-pending algorithm that will scan your drum tracks, detect bleed and help youdial in as little (or as much) as you want.

The user has two separate software tools at his/her disposal: drumatom (the standalone application)and drumatom player (the plugin). The standalone application is the functional core, performing all neces-sary analysis of audio information and file handling. The plugin can open sessions saved by the standaloneapplication, allowing for easy DAW integration. It should be noted that the plugin will not analyze drumtracks (it’s currently simply impossible in real-time) and will load already analyzed groups instead. In short,using the standalone application is necessary to make any meaningful use of the plugin.

1.1 Overview

Drumatom player expands on the standalone application’s functionality, by allowing you to tweak the sup-pression controls in the context of a mix. The most important thing to remember is that drumatom playerworks as a companion to the drumatom application. Use the latter to load and analyze your recordeddrums. For more information on using the standalone application, please refer to the drumatom applicationManual. After saving the session as a .dls file, you’re ready to open your DAW of choice and start using theplugin.

1.2 System Requirements

Minimum OS specs are as follows:

• Windows: 7, 8, 10

• OSX: v10.9 and upwards

4GBs of RAM are the absolute minimum for operation. 8GBs or more are highly recommended.

1.3 Supported Plugin Formats

Drumatom player supports AAX (32, 64 bit), VST (64-bit), AU (32, 64 bit) and RTAS . You will find it in the“instruments” category.

1.4 Supported Sample Rates

• Bitrates: 16,24,32 bits

• Sampling rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 192 kHz

ATTENTION Please keep in mind that drumatom player WILL NOT resample your files to match the DAWproject’s sample rate. You should perform any over- or downsampling in an external editor before using it.

1.5 Installation

Drumatom player is quite straightforward to setup and activate. Please refer to the included activationmanual for detailed information.

2 QUICKSTART 5

2 Quickstart

Here are the basic steps to get started with the plugin. It is assumed that the user is already familiar withthe standalone application and has a saved Drumatom session in his hard disk (for more info, please checkout the Application Quickstart guide).

Figure 1: Open the drumatom plugin from your host’s “linstruments” list. Then load your .dls session bypressing the LOAD GROUP button.

Figure 2: Group is loaded and ready.

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Figure 3: Select preferred virtual output for each track. By default, each track is already routed to a differentoutput bus. Route drumatom’s outputs to your host’s mixer. Refer to your DAW manual on how to do that,or check our website for quick guides.

Figure 4: You are now ready to mix your session. Remember to use FOCUS and FINE TUNE knobs toadjust leakage for each track.

3 DRUMATOM PLAYER UI AND CONTROLS 7

3 Drumatom Player UI and Controls

The drumatom player UI consists of four areas:

• The track list.

• The top bar displaying a waveform of the current processed audio file.

• The main control section.

Drumatom Player works by loading saved sessions (.dls files) from the standalone application andallowing you to control the amount of leakage present within the context of a full mix. The loaded tracks areplayed back in sync with the DAW playback head.

Let’s see all the GUI elements one by one. We’ll start with the track list, since it’s the first area you’ll beusing when setting up a project.

3.1 Track List

When opening drumatom player for the first time in a new project, you’ll be greeted with an empty userinterface (Figure 1).

Your first step is to load up a multitrack session. Press the LOAD GROUP button and select yourpreferred .dls session.

Figure 5: Drumatom player

Once the group is loaded, the next step is to assign each track to its output. Please note that drumatomplayer is multi-output by default and supports a maximum number of 16 outputs. The output selector isa drop down menu on the track bar, replacing the standalone application’s drum type selector. You mightneed to set up the multiple outputs in your DAW’s mixer first. Please refer to your chosen sequencer’smanual on how to do that.

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Each track also has a dedicated solo button, to assist you in monitoring. Please note that the solo functionis applied on a per-track basis and NOT per-output (i.e. soloing a track that is routed through output 2, willnot solo the output). Drumatom player supports loading of a single group at a time, containing up to 16tracks. If you choose to load many tracks, keep an eye on that CPU/disk meter!

Figure 6: Choosing track output

WARNING For simplicity’s sake, drumatom player does not share the standalone application’s function-ality in handling tracks. Make sure you have copied, renamed, removed or duplicated any tracks prior toloading the session on the plugin.

3.2 Waveform Display

Drumatom player features a waveform display. Since all transport controls are left to the DAW, you cannotselect portions, loop or move the cursor. You can however visualize the current position of the playbackhead, allowing for convenient mixing.

Figure 7: Waveform display

3 DRUMATOM PLAYER UI AND CONTROLS 9

3.3 Main Section

Much like the standalone application, the main section is the heart of operations. In fact, the plugin’scontrols are virtually identical to the application’s, helping you feel right at home.

3.3.1 Focus

The FOCUS knob is the single most important control in both drumatom and drumatom player. When theFOCUS knob is at its minimum value, no processing is taking place. By turning it clockwise, you can reducethe selected track’s leakage and let the original sound shine through. By turning it fully clockwise, you getthe maximum possible leakage suppression.

Figure 8: The main controls

3.3.2 Fine Tune

The FINE TUNE knob works alongside FOCUS, giving you the freedom to do detailed adjustments. FINETUNE works in a reverse fashion. By turning it clockwise, some of the dry signal is added back (to bemore precise, the signal added is the difference between the original and the current FOCUS output). Inessence, it’s something akin to a Dry/Wet implementation. You may ask: why not just push back FOCUS alittle bit? Well, you won’t get the same result. FINE TUNE has a finer range of values. The two controls aredesigned to interact with each other and produce an effect greater than the sum of its parts.

TIP Hold down Cmd/Ctrl to do finer adjustments. Double click on a knob to manually type a value.

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3.3.3 Bypass

Use this button to do quick comparisons between the original and the processed audio signal.

3.3.4 Link

The LINK modifier will help you edit multiple controls with a single mouse sweep. When LINK is active,each track’s controls are linked to the corresponding controls of all other tracks. In other words, applyingFOCUS on a track while LINK is on, will apply the same amount of FOCUS on all other tracks. This can behandy when you want to make quick global adjustments. The linked controls are highlighted blue: FOCUS,FINE TUNE, BYPASS and output gain.

Figure 9: Link function activated

3.3.5 A/B Switch

You can compare different FOCUS and FINE TUNE settings, by using the A/B switch. Please note that theswitch position is saved along with the session.

3.3.6 Suppression Meter

The suppression meter is an extremely helpful tool that lets you visualize the extent to which processinghappens. Think of it as the equivalent to a compressor’s GR meter. It’s designed to mimic traditional LEDmetering tools and give you a precise indication of how many dBs of suppression are applied.

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3.3.7 Track Volume

The TRACK VOLUME slider can help in attenuating (or amplifying) the signal before it hits the DAW’s mixer.

3.3.8 Summary

Let’s take a minute to summarize this section, provide a more in-depth look into the workflow and discussthe results you should expect when using drumatom.

When processing your drum channels, the FOCUS knob is your starting point. By turning it fully clock-wise, you’ll achieve the maximum possible suppression. Depending on the situation at hand and the natureof the recorded files, the MAX setting will usually completely remove leakage. In some cases (especially ifthe leakage is too prominent), resorting to extreme settings might also make your drums sound unnatural.This is currently unavoidable. When your drum recording contains excessive amounts of leakage, or whenyour recorded track contains a very small number of drum hits (as typically happens for example in the caseof toms), it’s practically impossible to perfectly identify the main sound. If you want to make an analogy,think about a de-noise tool: the performance of the tool depends on the type and level of noise.

The best way to use FOCUS is to start from the MIN setting. Slowly and carefully work from there. Alot of times, a few dB of suppression will work wonders. Toggle BYPASS to do a comparison between theoriginal and the processed version. Keep an eye on the suppression meter and the waveform view to get apicture of what’s happening.

If you’re not completely satisfied with what you hear, you might find that finer adjustments are needed.That’s what the FINE TUNE knob is there for. Start turning that knob clockwise and listen: some of thatbleed will come back, albeit in a delicate and discreet fashion. Experimenting with different settings ofFOCUS and FINE TUNE is the heart of Drumatom’s operation. These two controls are designed to work intandem. Take your time to explore the interactions and listen to the effect. You’ll soon feel quite familiar!

4 AUTOMATION 12

4 Automation

The available automation parameters per track are:

• FOCUS

• FINE TUNE

• OUTPUT GAIN

• BYPASS

The plugin supports a maximum number of 16 tracks per group, giving a total of up to 64 automatableparameters for A and B states.

Figure 10: Automation in Logic Pro X

For details on how to enable automation, please refer to your DAW’s manual.

5 TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND WORKAROUNDS 13

5 Tips, Techniques and Workarounds

The drumatom plugin is quite straightforward to use. That said, here are some things to keep in mind.

Dealing with performance issues Drumatom player is extremely light on CPU, since all processor-intensive tasks take place in the standalone application. However, it IS demanding in terms of hard diskdata streaming. A fast disk will help you get the most out of it and avoid playback issues.

NOTE: Drumatom player demands fast data streaming from the hard disk. Some DAWs do not havethe capability to compensate for this, during offline export/mixdown/bounce. So if you experience anystrange behaviour, please prefer the real-time export mode.

Take advantage of the multi-out configuration In most mixing cases, multi-out is the way to go whenusing drum tools. Drumatom player has an output configuration menu right on the GUI and not tucked awayin any kind of cryptic “advanced” options tab! Make sure to use it.

Prepare your session before using drumatom player Make sure to do any file-related operations be-fore using the plugin. Be smart: delete any tracks you won’t use to shorten dls size (overhead mics, roommics and any tracks labelled “other” would probably fall into that category). Have you analyzed variouscombinations of the same group? You might want to gather the preferred results into a single dls file. Youcan do that in the standalone application, either by dragging and dropping tracks between groups, or withthe help of a new, very useful feature: as of v2.0, drumatom has an option to import a track from a savedgroup (Import > Import Track(s) from DLS).

Synchronization and timing Keep in mind that drumatom players output is slaved to the DAW playbackhead. As such, selecting audio portions in the waveform view, or looping is not possible via drumatomplayer. You’ll have to use the DAW for that. The plugin’s waveform view is meant to be a visual guideline.

Resampling Keep in mind that drumatom player WILL NOT automatically resample your tracks to matchthe project’s sample rate. You should perform all necessary resampling tasks before opening the group.

Find the sweet spot The FOCUS and FINE TUNE knobs need slow, careful handling. The sweet spotwill vary from track to track. Just turning FOCUS clockwise will usually not be enough to get the sound youwant, so remember to use FINE TUNE as well. Keep in mind also, that FINE TUNE behaves in relation tothe current position of FOCUS.

Use the FINE TUNE control The FINE TUNE control is very important. What does it do? It adds backthe difference between the processed and the original signal. Think of it as a dry/wet control, specificallytailored to the intricacies of drumatom. Apart from helping you shape your sound in detail, FINE TUNEmeans that you don’t have to set up a dry/wet signal chain in your DAW.

5 TIPS, TECHNIQUES AND WORKAROUNDS 14

Combining drumatom with other tools It is highly recommended that your drum tracks are not pro-cessed before analyzing with the drumatom standalone application. After importing the analyzed sessionin the plugin, you can start building your mixing chain. Any type of time-domain tool will benefit greatly aftera track has been processed by drumatom. Dynamic tools such as gates and compressors will respondmore naturally, while spatial effects like reverb, will sit better in the mix.

6 FAQ 15

6 FAQ

6.1 General

What are the benefits of using drumatom player? The most obvious and important one: you’ll be ableto control the amount of leakage reduction in real-time within your DAW. You can also automate the controlsto better suit the dynamics of the audio material.

Is drumatom player phase-accurate? Yes. Drumatom player will not introduce any phase inconsisten-cies.

Can I mix the drumatom player outputs with my original drum recordings? Since the plugin is phase-accurate, yes. It’s not necessary though. The FINE TUNE control will produce a similar result and you’llavoid unnecessary clutter in your workspace.

How many instances of drumatom player can I open? There is no theoretical limit in drumatom playerinstances. Be careful though! Each plugin streams the tracks as well as the analysis data from the sessionfile. If you encounter clicks, pops or dropouts, there’s a good chance your hard disk is reaching the limits ofits transfer rate.

7 CONTACT ACCUSONUS 16

7 Contact Accusonus

Have any questions? Suggestions maybe? Still wrapping your head around drumatom? Drop us a linehere: support@accusonus.com