GENERATORS

Fruity Slicer

Parameters

• BPM / BEATS controls - Sets the tempo (speed) and beats (length) the original loop is expected to be. Those settings are automatically set to the correct values if such information if embeded in the loop, otherwise Slicer will try to guess the loop tempo and length (the longer the loop, the less accurate the detection may be).
• Open sliced beat groove button () - Lets you import groove files (*.ZGR) created by BeatSlicer/BeatCreator. Note that the groove files do not contain the sample data, so if the Fruity Slicer doesn't find the corresponding wave file it will ask for the sample location as well.
• Open and slice up a sample button () - This button allows you to open a sample file (*.WAV, Recycle *.REX / *.RCY / *.RX2 etc.) and have it sliced up automatically.
• Open beat slicer button () - Let's you select the method used to slice the loaded loop:
  • Use Sample Built-In Slicing - Uses the slices loaded from the sample (if any). This is the best option as long as the loop is sliced properly.
  • Dull / Medium / Sharp Auto-slicing - Those three options perform auto-slicing of the loop with three predefined values for the slice thresholds (see the threshold knobs explained below). The slicing performed is rough/normal/fine respectively.
  • 1/6 Beat, 1/4 Beat ... Beat - Slices with the given measure regardless of the content (i.e. no slice autodetection).
  • None - The whole loop is treated as a single slice.
  • Zero cross check slices - If you hear click/pop artifacts while playing the slices, you can call this option after slicing the loop with any of the options above. This will snap the slice markers to the nearest zero crossing.
  • Open BeatSlicer - This will Sends the the current sample and groove file (if it exists) to the registered beat slicer (e.g. BeatSlicer or BeatCreator) for further slice editing and refinement. After exporting the new groove file in your beat slicer you need to reload the groove into the generator ().
• Dump beat to piano roll button () - Allows you to "dump" the beat to the Piano Roll (uses a time selection, if any) by writing a sequence of notes in it (each of them corresponding to a single slice). Click to see a list of available "dump" presets:
  • Normal - Writes the notes to match the beat length (adjusted to current tempo).
  • Reverse - As normal, however the sequence is reversed (each individual slice is still played forward).
  • Random - Each slice is placed on random location while preserving the loop groove and length. The sequence will be different with every call to the command.
  • Flatten (groove) - The loop groove is preserved (slice locations) however all slice locations are played with the first slice.
  • Shift Up / Shift Down - The groove is preserved but all slices are shifter up/down with one slice.
  • Quantize / Swing - As normal, however the timing is adjusted (quantized and swing).
  • Accentuate Beat - The first slice in each beat (beat as a measurement) is assigned a higher velocity.
  • Pitch Up Beat - Every slice which belongs in an odd beat (1-st, 3-rd etc.) is assigned a higher pitch.
  • Widen Stereo - The panning alternates between medium left panning and medium right panning for every next slice.
  • Crazy - The pan, pitch and velocity values of every slice are randomized (every time the values will be different).
  • Stutter (half) / Stutter Half - Each slice is broken into two pieces (half) or four pieces (quarter) to create a "stuttering" effect.
  • Original Length - Dumps the slices to the piano roll to match the loop's original speed (at the current tempo).
• Pitch Shift slider (PS) - Allows you to offset the pitch of all slices, up or down (middle position = original pitch).
• Fill Gaps slider (FILL GAPS) - Stretches the end of the slices to remove any gaps (when playing the sequence slower for example). The middle position means no stretch. You can match the stretching perfectly to the current project tempo if you right-click and select Autodetect.
• Auto Dump switch - When enabled, Fruity Slicer will dump the sliced beat automatically after loading and when adjusting the loop's tempo/length.
• Auto-fit switch - If enabled the loaded loop will the adjusted to fit to the current project tempo on load.
• Play to End - When enabled, each slice plays to the end of the loop.
• DeClick - Applies very small fade in/out amounts to the slices, only to remove click/pop artifacts.
• Attack slider (ATT) - Applies a fade in effect to the slices. Push the slider to the bottom to turn off that effect.
• Decay slider (DEC) - Applies a fade out effect to the slices. Push the slider to the bottom to turn off that effect.

Slices Preview screen

Shows the sample and the generated/imported groove (where each slice is separated from the rest with vertical red lines). If you hold your mouse over a slice in this area, the hint panel in FL Studio will show the corresponding note that triggers it in the Piano Roll and the Step Sequencer. Click a slice to play it and select it for editing in the Slice Properties view

Slice Properties view

Above the Slicer Preview screen you can see the selected slice and some of its properties.

• You can click "REVERSE" to reverse that slice (every time the slice is played it will be reversed)
• Click the drum name to select a name for the slice. The name is displayed in this plugin and in the Piano Roll (when "names" mode is selected).
• Click the key value to assign this slice to a different key.

Slice Thresholds

These knobs (found at the bottom of the interface) define the low and high thresholds used during autoslicing (slice detection) of the loaded loop. Keep in mind that tweaking any of those options will cancel your previous setting (for ex. use built-in slices or slice per 1/2 beat etc.) and switch to autoslicing with thresholds based on those knobs.

Notes & Tips

• The tempo of any (correctly sliced up) loaded loop will automatically be adjusted to the tempo of your song.
• As you can access any of the slices in the loop in the Piano Roll you can easily rearrange the loop in any way.
• You can apply an effect (pitch, volume etc) to each slice in the loop in the Piano Roll.
• Be picky about the slicing. If the slice markers aren't positioned perfectly or if a slice marker is missing, don't hesitate to press open the loop in BeatSlicer () and fine tune the slice markers in BeatSlicer/BeatCreator. We can assure you that it will be well worth the small effort.

Plugin Credits: Didier Dambrin (Slicer plugin), Peter Segerdahl (BeatSlicer engine)