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                <h1 class="title">Beast Quickstart</h1>
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  <h2>
 BEAST/BSE Quickstart Guide
  </h2>
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  <p align="left">
This guide attempts to give a few brief hints for new users,
in order to get started with the most basic tasks that can be
accomplished with <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Beast">Beast</a>.
  </p>
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  <h3>
 First Start At Synthesis
  </h3>
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  <p align="left">
The most basic task <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Beast">Beast</a> is able to accomplish is the creation
of new musical sounds which is done by using a variety of music
producers, called "Modules". Forming a network of multiple modules
to create a new sound is most generally being refered to
as "Synthesis".
  </p>
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  <h4>
 Creating A Synthesizer Network
  </h4>
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  <ol>
    <li>
Select <code>/Project/Add Custom Synthesizer</code> from the menu to create a new network.
    </li>
    <li>
In the newly created synthesizer network <em>Unnamed</em>, on the notebook page <strong>Properties</strong>, enable the <strong>Auto Activate</strong> property to enable automated playback of this network.
    </li>
    <li>
Select the <strong>Routing</strong> notebook page.
    </li>
  </ol>
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  <h4>
 Creating And Connecting Synthesis Modules
  </h4>
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  <p align="left">
The synthesis network routing editor allowes for creation of
synthesis modules, establishing connections between module
inputs and outputs, and for adjustment of a module's parameter set.
  </p>
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  <p align="left">
Here's how to setup a very simple test case:
  </p>
  <ol>
    <li>
Create two modules by selecting them from either the pallete window or from the Button-3 popup menu of the <strong>Routing</strong> notebook page and then clicking into the routing area. The two modules you need are <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/PcmOutput">PcmOutput</a> and <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/StandardOsc">StandardOsc</a>.
    </li>
    <li>
Connect the <strong>Audio Out</strong> output channel of the oscillator to the input channels <strong>Left Audio In</strong> and <strong>Right Audio In</strong> of the output module.
    </li>
  </ol>
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  <h4>
 Starting And Stopping Playback
  </h4>
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  <p align="left">
Playback of a <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Beast">Beast</a> project can be started or
restarted by selecting the menu item <code>/Project/Play</code>.
Similarly, playback is halted by selecting <code>/Project/Stop</code>.
  </p>
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  <h3>
 Setting Up Songs
  </h3>
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  <p align="left">
To be able to playback songs with <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Beast">Beast</a>, synthesis instruments have to
be created which are used to playback the notes contained in the parts
of a song. Songs are created through the menu by selecting
<code>/Project/New Song</code>.
  </p>
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  <h4>
 What Is A Synthesis Instrument?
  </h4>
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  <p align="left">
A synthesis instrument is a special kind of synthesizer network,
it has particular properties:
  </p>
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  <ul type="disc">
    <li>
A synthesis instrument doesn't need to have its <strong>Auto Activate</strong> property enabled. That's because the song using the instrument will take care of activating it when neccessary.
    </li>
    <li>
A dedicated module type is used as input to the synthesis instrument so information about the note to be played can be fed into it.
    </li>
    <li>
A dedicated module type is used as output of the synthesis instrument to jointly compose the sound output together with other synthesis instruments being used.
    </li>
  </ul>
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  <h4>
 Creating A Synthesis Instrument
  </h4>
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  <p align="left">
Here is how to create a simple synthesis instrument with one oscillator
producing the basic tone, an envelope to control a note's volume, and
an amplifier to adjust overall volume and apply the envelope to the
oscillator.
  </p>
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  <ol>
    <li>
Select <code>/Project/New Custom Synthesizer</code> from the menu.
    </li>
    <li>
Switch to the networks's <strong>Routing</strong> notebook page.
    </li>
    <li>
Create an <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/InstrumentInput">InstrumentInput</a> and an <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/InstrumentOutput">InstrumentOutput</a> module.
    </li>
    <li>
Create the three modules making up the actual instrument: a <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/StandardOsc">StandardOsc</a>, a <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/SimpleADSR">SimpleADSR</a> (the envelope) and an <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Amplifier">Amplifier</a>.
    </li>
    <li>
To control the oscillating frequency, and to trigger the oscillator wave at note start, connect the output channels <strong>Frequency</strong> and <strong>Gate</strong> of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/InstrumentInput">InstrumentInput</a> module to the input channels <strong>Freq In</strong> and <strong>Sync In</strong> of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/StandardOsc">StandardOsc</a> module respectively.
    </li>
    <li>
To let the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Amplifier">Amplifier</a> shape the volume of the oscillating tone and to provide actual output, connect the output channel <strong>Audio Out</strong> of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/StandardOsc">StandardOsc</a> to one of the <strong>Audio</strong> input channels of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Amplifier">Amplifier</a> and connect the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Amplifier">Amplifier</a>'s output channel <strong>Audio Out</strong> to the two input channels <strong>Right Audio</strong> and <strong>Left Audio</strong> of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/InstrumentOutput">InstrumentOutput</a>.
    </li>
    <li>
It is recommended to intially reduce the <strong>Master Volume</strong> property of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Amplifier">Amplifier</a> to avoid overdriving the output later on. The properties of a module can be adjusted in it's property dialog which is offered by the Button-3 popup menu of each module.
    </li>
    <li>
Connect the input channel <strong>Gate In</strong> of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/SimpleADSR">SimpleADSR</a> to the output channel <strong>Gate</strong> of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/InstrumentInput">InstrumentInput</a> to trigger the envelope at note start. Connect the <strong>Ctrl Out</strong> output channel of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/SimpleADSR">SimpleADSR</a> to one of the <strong>Control</strong> input channels of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/Amplifier">Amplifier</a>.
    </li>
    <li>
<em><strong>IMPORTANT:</strong></em> Synthesis instruments are used to play multiple notes sequentially. In order to determine when an instrument has finished playing a certain note and is thusly free to play a new note, the <strong>Synth Done</strong> channel of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/InstrumentOutput">InstrumentOutput</a> must be connected to a signal going high at note end. For this example, connect the <strong>Synth Done</strong> channel to the <strong>Done Out</strong> output channel of the <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/SimpleADSR">SimpleADSR</a> module, this output channel produces a signal which is low while the envelope is active and goes high past the envelope end.
    </li>
  </ol>
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  <p align="left">
While the synthesis instrument is ready for use now, it can't be
used or tested directly, but has to be deployed in a song or <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/MidiSynth">MidiSynth</a>
(offered by the main menu under <code>/Project/New MIDI Synthesizer</code>) which
leads us to the next Topic.
  </p>
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  <h4>
 Setting Up Parts And Tracks
  </h4>
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  <p align="left">
Songs basically consist of notes kept in "Parts" which are arranged in
"Tracks". The tracks control the order in which parts are played and
what instrument is used to play a certain part.
So the steps to a simple test setup for a synthesis instrument are:
  </p>
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  <ol>
    <li>
Switch to the <strong>Tracks</strong> notebook page of a song and add a track to the song.
    </li>
    <li>
Click into the track's tact area to create a new part within it.
    </li>
    <li>
Click onto the newly created part to start up a piano roll editor to arrange notes within parts.
    </li>
    <li>
Use the piano roll editor to create some notes in the part to be played back.
    </li>
    <li>
Select a synthesis network (created as shown in the last section) as synthesis input for this track by editing the <strong>Synth</strong> property.
    </li>
  </ol>
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  <p align="left">
A song with parts, instruments and tracks setup can be played back via
the main menu by selecting the menu item <code>/Project/Play</code>.
  </p>
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  <h4>
 Postprocessing tracks and songs
  </h4>
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  <p align="left">
The sound generated by the tracks of a song and the song itself can be
postprocessed by synthesis networks to add effects and adjust the sound
to your needs.
Postprocessing networks are created as follows:
  </p>
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  <ol>
    <li>
Select <code>/Project/New Custom Synthesizer</code> from the menu to create a new network.
    </li>
    <li>
Add a virtual input and output, i.e. a <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/BseSubIPort">BseSubIPort</a> and a <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/BseSubOPort">BseSubOPort</a> module, to the network.
    </li>
    <li>
Connect the first two input and output channels between the two modules, these carry the left and right channel sound of a track respectively, so the sound signals may pass through the postprocessing network.
    </li>
    <li>
Alternatively, rather than simply connecting the inputs to the outputs, you may use an effect such as the free reverb module <a href="http://testbit.eu/wiki/BseFreeVerb">BseFreeVerb</a> inbetween the input and output connections.
    </li>
  </ol>
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  <p align="left">
To postprocess the sound of a single track in a song, select the synthesis network as postprocessing network for the track by editing the tracks "Post" property.
To apply the network to a song, select it as postprocessing network for the song by editing the songs "Custom Postprocess Net" property.
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