2. Basic Operations
2.1. Installation
Extracting an archive file, Exciton plugin file and documents files (include this document) are created. See readme.html for detail.
To Install Exciton to Your VST Host Application:
- Check for a host application (typically Cubase or Logic) not running. If it is running, quit it.
- Copy the Exciton plugin file (Exciton for Macintosh, Exciton.dll for Windows) to Vstplugins folder of the host application.
If you have two or more VST applications, you can copy Exciton plugin file to each Vstplugins folders of host applications.
If you were using Exciton Demo old version (1.0) on Macintosh, remove the old file from Vstplugins folder first. It may cause a problem if you keep both versions.
(Using Cubase VST 5.1 for Macintosh)
If you were using old version of Exciton (or Exciton Demo) on Cubase VST 5.1 for Macintosh, please update to the current version with the following instructions.
- Remove the old file (Exciton or Exciton Demo) from Vstplugin folder.
- Check for no Exciton files in Vstplugins folder, and invoke Cubase once.
- Quit Cubase.
- Copy the new Exciton plugin file to Vstplugin folder.
The instructions are required to avoid the problem with Rewire library. If you do not follow the instructions, your Macintosh may get crashed.
When you install Exciton and run it first, it works as the demo mode. There are some limitations on the demo mode. You can get a password with purchasing the product. Entering a password, you can enable full features of Exciton. Please refer 2.10. Authorization for the limitation of the demo mode and how to authorize with entering a password.
2.2. Panel Descriptions
- 1. Program Selector
- Selects a program number.
- 2. Copy/Paste/Menu Buttons
- Copies, pastes a program and shows a popup menu.
- 3. Program Name
- Displays a program name,
- 4. Information Display
- Displays a parameter value and other information.
- 5. Main Section
- Sets parameters for the global settings.
- 6. OSC1 Section
- Generates a waveform.
- 7. OSC2 Section
- Generates a waveform (same as OSC1).
- 8. MIXER Section
- Mixes OSC1/OSC1 outputs and noise signal and sends to the filter.
- 9. FILTER Section
- Filters mixer output signal.
- 10. AMPLIFIER Section
- Modulates amplitude of filter output signal.
- 11. ENV1 Section
- Generates an envelope signal.
- 12. ENV2 Section
- Generates an envelope signal (same as ENV1).
- 13. LFO1/2 Section
- Generate LFO signals. 1 and 2 have the identical function.
- 14. EFFECT Section
- Adds effect processes to the amplifier's output.
2.3. Selecting a Program
128 factory preset programs are included in Exciton. To select a program, use four buttons below the program number. You can click for the next program,
for the previous,
for +10 and
for -10 respectively.
A program number can bet set from the host application. In order to set program from the host, please refer to the host application's manual.
If you change the program number from the program selector on Exciton panel, the indication of the host application is not updated. By this reason, program number indications may be different between Exciton and the host application. In this case, Exciton's indication is always true. The host application always reads information at required time (on saving a file, etc.) and does not cause an actual problem.
If you change the program number from the host application, the change is sent to the plugin (Exciton) immediately and the above problem does not occur.
A program number also can be set with a MIDI message. To send a message, please refer to the host application's manual (and external MIDI devices you are using, etc.). For the detail of MIDI message I/O specifications, please refer MIDI implementation chart.
2.4. Playing Sounds
Exciton plays sound on receiving MIDI note on messages from the host application. It also accepts pitch bend messages. You can change the tone with a pitch bender within +- 2 notes.
Exciton also accepts sustain pedal messages (control change, No.64) and processes them properly. You can play it like a piano.
Using a sustain(damper) pedal, more number of voices is needed. While the pedal is pressed, voices are remained triggered and many voices (probably more than you expected) are used. If you want to play like a piano, you have to set at least around 16 voices. Please refer Voices in the main section for setting the number of voices.
2.5. Changing Parameters
You can create your own sounds with clicking and dragging a mouse on knobs and switches.
The mouse action of knobs are a little different (revised) from typical host applications. A parameter decreases with dragging a mouse to the left or bottom, and increases with dragging to the right or top. Dragging with pressing a shift key changes the mouse sensitivity to 1/4. It is useful for precision parameter controls.
2.6. Information Display
When you change a parameter with dragging a knob or clicking a switch, the change is displayed on the information display. You can adjust a parameter with watching the parameter value. In addition, you can use a shift key for a precision control of a parameter. When you copy/paste/load/save a program, the result is also displayed on the information display.
2.7. Editing a Program Name
You can edit a program name with clicking on the program name display. Any 1 byte code can be used for a program name. It is possible to enter multibyte characters (unicode, Japanese/Chinese letters, etc.), but they are garbled.
You can also edit a program name from the host application. The method depends on the host application. Please refer the host application's manual for how to edit a program name.
If you change the program name on Exciton panel, the indication of the host application is not updated. By this reason, program name indications may be different between Exciton and the host application (the same problem as the program number). In this case, Exciton's indication is always true. The host application always reads information at required time (on saving a file, etc.) and does not cause an actual problem.
If you change the program name from the host application, the change is sent to the plugin (Exciton) immediately and the above problem does not occur.
2.8. Copying and Pasting a Program
You can copy a working program to the temporary buffer and keep it during the runtime. A program kept in the buffer can be pasted(overwritten) to the current program.
Clicking COPY button, the working program is stored to the temporary buffer. The stored program is pasted to the current program with clicking PASTE button.
2.9. Loading and Saving Programs
When you save the song file with the host application, the working program is also saved as a component of the song.
The range of saved data depends on host applications. For example, Cubase VST saves all programs (1 to 128) as a component of a song file. On the other hand, Logic Audio saves only the current program with a song data. Please refer the manual of your host application for detail.
Exciton supports loading/saving program data (saving functions are not available for the demo mode). File formats of Exciton are common for the all environments. You can transfer program data to any other environments regardless of host applications and platforms (Macintosh or Windows).
There are two file formats used by Exciton.
- Program File: Load/save the current one program.
- Bank File: Load/save the all programs(1-128) from/to a file.
You can load or save a file with selecting the popup menu.
- "Load Program...": Load a program from a program file.
- "Load Bank...": Load all programs(1-128) from a bank file.
- "Save Program...": Save the current program to a program file.
- "Save Bank...": Save the all programs(1-128) to a bank file.
Selecting each menu items, the appropriate file dialog box appears. You can select a folder, enter a file name (and so on) on the dialog box. "Save Program..." and "Save Bank..." are hidden for the demo mode. These item appear with authorizing your Exciton.
(Transferring Windows files to Macintosh)
Macintosh uses file types for distinguishing files. If you save files with Exciton on Macintosh, the following file types are used.
- Program Files: excP
- Bank Files: excB
If you transfer files from Windows to Macintosh, you ought to set these file types to your data files. You can set Macintosh file types with appropriate applications. For example, ResEdit is a Apple's free software and can be obtained from Apple's website. But you can find better applications from World Wide Web resources. There are a lot of good free/sharewares for setting Macintosh file types and you can easily find them from World Wide Web.
(Transferring Macintosh files to Windows)
Windows recognizes file types using extensions at the end of file names. If you save files with Exciton on Windows, the following file type extensions are added at the end of filenames as default.
- Program Files: .prg
- Bank Files: .bnk
If you transfer files from Macintosh to Windows, it is recommended to follow these rules for naming your files. If you are using Exciton on Macintosh and planning to transfer files to Windows, you should add the extensions at the end of file names.
Most VST host applications also support loading/saving programs. Because they belong to host applications, you can use these functions even if you have not authorized Exciton. But file formats depend on host applications. There are no compatibility among them. Please refer the manual of your host application for the instructions.
2.10. Authorization
When you install Exciton and run it at first, it is in the demo mode ("(Demo)" is displayed after the version information at startup). There are some limitations on the demo mode as follows.
- Demonstration period is 30 seconds for each execution. The sound stops after 30 seconds.
- Generates 1.5kHz beep sounds every 10 seconds to indicate the demonstration period.
- Programs and banks cannot be saved.
You can purchase the product and enable full features of Exciton. Purchasing the product, you get an authorization password. You can authorise your copy with the following instructions.
To Authorize Your Exciton:
- Select "Authorize..." from the popup menu.
- "Enter password below..." appears on the information display.
- Type in a password to the program name input (replace "(enter here)").
- If you enter the valid password, "Authorization Complete" appears on the information display.
After authorization, you can use the full functions of Exciton. "Authorize..." is disappeared from the menu items and "Save Program..." and "Save Bank..." are appeared.
Once you authorize it, the authorization information is stored to your computer. The stored information is valid for every VST host applications you have on the computer. You can use authorized Exciton on every host application on your computer environment.
Authorization should be done in the demonstoration time. After the demonstration time, all the menu items are disappaered and no more operations can be done (even if you type vary slowly, 30 minutes is long enough...).
Authorization also should be done while the sequence is stopped. If a control message is sent to Exciton while authorizing it, the authorization is aborted.
Exciton makes a crypt using the authorization password and your computer settings and stores to your computer at the authorization time. If you change the computer settings after authorizing Exciton, the saved crypt information seldom get invalid. Please authorize Exciton again in this case.