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 Mixtikl Generative Music Lab that we just tend to refer to them jointly as Partikl.

Mixtikl Mobile includes Partikl interfaces for live mix inline editing / mix saving of Partikl synth sounds and FX, where as Mixtikl Desktop includes some extra Partikl utilities ("Partikl Desktop") for partikl file creation.

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 should use the Noatikl tool, and then import the noatikl files using Partikl Desktop.

Those with Mixtikl Desktop who want to find our how to create Partikl files, synth sounds, and hook in audio and Noatikl files, read on and you'll also 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.

NEW for Mixtikl 3.0: Synth editing is now possible in both Desktop AND Mobile versions, and it can now be live / inline!!.

Accessing the Partikl interfaces

• For live mix inline editing / mix saving of Partikl synth sounds and FX:
  • For Mixtikl Mobile and Desktop
  • Various inline Synth and FX editors
  • Via a Mixtikl Content Cell
• For making/saving/exporting Partikl files:
  • For Mixtikl Desktop only ("Partikl Desktop")
  • 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 Partikl Main Menu (from Partikl button in the Mixtikl Main Menu)

Launching the various inline Partikl editors

You can access the Synth Attacher and FX Attacher screens directly from the Content Cell, from where you can access the Synth and FX Network Editors.

Launching Partikl Desktop from Mixtikl Desktop

From the Mixtikl Desktop Main Menu select the Partikl button. You will then see the Partikl Desktop interface, shown right.

In Mixtikl Desktop you can still also access the Synth Attacher and FX Attacher screens directly from a Mixtikl Content Cell, from where you can access the Synth and FX Network Editors for live inline editing of content in content cells.

Partikl Desktop Interface

The Partikl Desktop interface is all about access to Partikl features required for the purposes of packaging and saving of Partikl files. There are various editors and features for creating / associating sound & FX networks to Noatikl/MIDI files right through to targeting DLS / Ogg wavetables and audio files etc. and then packaging all together into a Partikl file (e.g. Samples, Monitor, Refresh, XML, Unpak). Partikl file creation is all done independently of any mix and requires using Partikl in a "stand-alone" mode.

The Partikl Desktop interface also includes a simple File Player (with play/stop buttons), shown at the top. This is used to play any file types supported by Mixtikl, namely: .noatikl; .partikl; .wav; .au; .mid.

Note on navigating the various Partikl screens by keyboard:

• Use Tab or Alt-Tab, or the arrow/nav keys to change the button or slider focus.
• When the focus is on a slider or knob, press the relevant buttons on the the numeric keypad for very fine control or use the Page Up and Page Down keys for a slightly greater effect. Use the Home key or End key to quickly set the slider or knob value to the minimum or maximum value.
• Alternatively, press the Enter key to confirm the focus, and then us the up arrrow/nav keys to change the value and when done press the Enter key again to release the focus.

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; or
  
• Launch Partikl Desktop from the Partikl button in the Main Menu
  - Then select the "Open" button at the top left to show the Partikl Most Recently Used (MRU) file list;
  
  
  
  
  
• From the Partikl MRU file list
  - Either select the file you want and then press the play button in the main interface;
  - Or select the Open button to browse for the file you want; when found, press the play button in the main interface.
  

How do I Edit Sound FX?

Sound FX are customised with the colourful pop up Partikl FX units, 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
• 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.

How do I Access the various Partikl Desktop Editors ?

• Launch Partikl Desktop
  
  

• Synth (Desktop and Mobile)
  • Desktop: Press this button do display a dialog that lets you specify modular synthesis modules for any of your MIDI lines that you want to render using advanced modular synthesis techniques.
  • Mobile: Access instead from a Content Cell that is using generative content, and press the Sounds button.
• Export (Desktop and Mobile)
  • Desktop: This button displays a set of options for exporting your Partikl file to to the clipboard (as vector audio) for pasting into emails, forum posts or webpages.
  • Mobile: Use the export button from the Network Editor or FX Attacher screens.
• Partikl File Save (Desktop only)
  • Press this button to call up the text entry interface to save the Partikl file.
• FX (Desktop and Mobile)
  • Desktop: Press this button do display a dialog that lets you specify effects to edit for both globally to the piece, and per individual MIDI line.
  • Mobile: Access instead from a Content Cell that is using generative content, and press the FX button.
• Refresh Core (Desktop only)
  • Press this button to reload the core file (.MID or .noatikl) that is driving your piece of music. You will use this button typically if you have re-edited a MIDI file with your favourite sequencer, and need to reload it into your Partikl file to use the various sounds settings that you have defined.
• XML (Desktop only)
  • The XML representation of the network used in the partikl file.
• Samples (Desktop only)
  • Press this button to display the Samples dialog that lets you map custom sample data files (in e.g. Ogg format) and/or DLS format to your piece.
• Monitor (Desktop only)
  • Press this button to display a list of the active MIDI lines in the piece. The window that is displayed shows you note activity on every MIDI line. This can be very helpful when figuring out what sounds to assign to each MIDI line.
• Unpack Files (Desktop only)
  • This button allows you to write all files that make-up your current file, to the file system. The files are put in the same folder that you read-in the original file from. This is useful if you (for example) have a .partikl file, that you need to extract the internal sample data or midi file data from, for re-editing by another tool (and subsequently re-import into Partikl. The file that is created with extension .txt is the manifest file.