¶ 1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing underbridge-pro. With your help I´m able to maintain this program for three different platforms Win/Mac/Lin and can add features from time to time and hopefully new devices as well.
¶ 2. Installation
¶ 2.1 macOS
- Open the installer dmg and pull the ubridge-app into your application folder and hit replace.
¶ 2.2 Windows
- Launch the installer and follow the instructions.
¶ 2.3 Linux
- Extract and copy the contents to a suitable fodler like your home directory where yo have write access.
¶ 2.4 Register your copy
- In the last tab (6) enter you email and the received serial. Your copy will then be activated even if you are offline.
Restart the application for the registration to take effect and unlock the tabs.
¶ 3. Workflow
It is advised to close audio programs as well as web-browsers etc before starting underbridge. They can interfere with the audio and midi system.
¶ 3.1 Connect Tab
QUICKSTART : Choose your device, press "Assist" and set the directory to automatically try to detect all settings for the connected device. You can use this as a starting point.
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Select the preset you want to use or create one with "+1 new". This creates a new device preset.
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Factory presets contain specific settings for a device like.
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Optional: Press assist for a detection attempt affter the preset has been selcted on the left.
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Set the Midi in and Midi out port accordingly. <2> <3>
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Set the input you want to record sounds with. This can be the integrated audio device on the OP-Z or others but you can also use inputs from your audio interface in case you want to record insert effects etc. <4>
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The API setting is optional and defaults to the first entry. In most cases this works as intended. <5>
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The audio offset correction can be used to adjust the recording offset. This depends on latency of specific apis and the system. In case you recordings are cut off in the beginning, you can adjust this setting to the right and check for its results in the waves tab. This setting is safed to your defaults and should be the same on each recording. You just have to set this once. Check the screenshot for a typical window setting. Small values are usual enough. <6>
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Set your standard working directory. This is where the recordings will be saved. This is important so files can be written properly. <7>
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The "Get" button under latency will detect the latency reported by your hardware, additional adjustment of the slider based on this value is needed to perfectly hit the starting point. This is necessary once per hardware setup (rec device). (As in any daw)
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Save the current settings to a file to automatically load all settings on startup. <9>
TIP: If your Recordings are cut in the beginning increase the offset value to the RIGHT. This might be inverted to what you are used to from DAWs.
Always hit >apply< after a change so it is saved to the currently set preset.
Activating A+M mode (Device settings) in Model: Samples and Cycles is a requirement for the devices to show up as audio devices in underbrige-pro. Refer the manufacturers manual on how to enable it if you can´find it.
It is important to set a directory in this tab. On Windows a directory outside of the program directory is needed so it can write wave files properly. After hitting "Apply" this is set as your working directory and loaded on future sessions automatically.
On windows the assitant may not detect Elektron Model Samples and Cycles correctly. MIDI is fine but the audio input needs to be set to something like DigitalAudioInterface(Elektron...) since this changes with language it is hard to identify by the assistant currently. Please set the in and output devices manually.
¶ 3.2 Record tab
¶ 3.2.1 Teenage Engineering OP-Z :
¶ 3.2.1.1 Structure Tab
- Name: The Name of your pattern or project, will be used for the filename and directories.
- Tempo: The BPM of your pattern or project. Used to calculate the length of the loop.
- Bars: The numbers of bars your longest pattern has. 1-10
- Patterns: The number of patterns you want to record as part of a project 1-10
- Tracks: The number of channels or tracks your device has. It is automatically read form the devices.yaml at startup but you can use it to record only the first two etc...
- Tails in sec: The extra time after a track is stopped to record effect trails from reverbs or delays etc.
¶ 3.2.1.2 Settings Tab
- Exclude Mods: Exclude shown midi or audio effects form the export to get a dry recording.
- Rec_Mode: Project or Pattern record mode. In Project mode all patterns beginning from the first you selected on the device will be recorded.
- Capture Audio: This will record the wave files for the selected device.
- Capture Midi: This will additionally capture the midi files for each track.
¶ 3.2.1.3 RECORDING
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Press RECORD to start the recording process of midi and audio simultaneous when selected. The Time and Progress displays will show you how long the process takes.
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After Recording your waves are in memory and can be either saved with pressing >WAVES< or send to the Editor for editing with >EDIT<
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It may be a good idea to save them as waves first as a backup before you go to the non destructive editor (Just in case).
¶ 3.2.1.1 MIDI Settings recommended in OP-Z app.
Please pay attention to the selected midi channels per track. The required setting is (Factory standard):
Buttons on the OP-Z:
Type|BD|SD|HH|Perc|Bass|Lead|Arpeggio|Chord
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Channel|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|
You can change them in the app if they have been altered. For example press the Bassdrum pattern on the device and the app should show channel one in the bottom left. All important settings are marked with the yellow rectangles. Usually these are the standard settings on a new OP-Z and dont need to be altered.
¶ 3.2.2. Elektron Model:Cycles
The USB audio level of the Model series can clip and produce overly distorted glitchy sound that is not noticable when listening to the pattern in the headphones or main out. Make sure to lower the channel volume (Level/ Data) when driving the channel into creative clipping/distortion to not overload the digital USB sum signal. You can test this in the live tab.
¶ 3.2.1.1 Structure Tab
- Name: The Name of your pattern or project, will be used for the filename and directories.
- Tempo: The BPM of your pattern or project. Used to calculate the length of the loop.
- Bars: The numbers of bars your longest pattern has. 1-10
- Patterns: The number of patterns you want to record as part of a project 1-10
- Tracks: The number of channels or tracks your device has. It is automatically read form the devices.ini at startup but you can use it to record only the first two etc...
- Tails in sec: The extra time after a track is stopped to record effect trails from reverbs or delays etc.
- Select Pattern: Selects the selected Bank and Pattern as a starting point for a „Project Recording“. Can be used to listen to the patterns wehn the Model:Cycles is playing.
- T1 – T6: Refers to the buttons on Model:Cycles. Bank A- Bank F. 1 – 16 Buttons: The Pattern Number.
- Rec_Mode: Project or Pattern record mode. In Project mode all patterns beginning from the first you selected on the device will be recorded.
¶ 3.2.1.2 Settings Tab
- Capture Audio: This will record the wave files for the selected device.
- Capture Midi: This will additionally capture the midi files for each track.
- Set to Program_change mode for any device then OP-Z
¶ 3.2.1.3 RECORDING
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Press RECORD to start the recording process of midi and audio simultaneous when selected. The Time and Progress displays will show you how long the process takes.
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After Recording your waves are in memory and can be either saved with pressing >WAVES< or send to the Editor for editing with >EDIT<
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It may be a good idea to save them as waves first as a backup before you go to the non destructive editor (Just in case).
Example for a project (mode) after entering the top parameters:- Select Bank B2 (Trigger2)
- Select Pattern 8
- Amount of Pattern set above is for example 4
- Ubridge will record 4 patterns with 6 tracks each starting with pattern 8 to pattern 11.
Selecting the starting pattern is necessary to let the program know where we currently are.
On OP-Z the starting pattern is the currently selected on the device if "next pattern" setting is enabled. It is automatically selected when choosing the OPZ factory preset.
¶ 3.2.2.1 MIDI settings required in Model:Cycles
These are mostly default settings on the Cycles.
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Set MIDI Clock in to on so Model: Cycles reacts to the icoming tempo and start signal.
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Enable MIDI input from the USB port. (And the DIN jack in this case)
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Enable „Program Change“ for „Project mode“ (Pattern Chain)
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Set the Midi Channel for Program Change to Channel 16.
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Enable Filter pass through for CC Signals
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Enable Midi Out for each Channel you want to output.
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These Settings usually dont intefere with normal use of the Model : __ Series
¶ 3.3 LIVE Tab
This tab is intended to be for jams and live performance or simply as a pass trough or router for certain audio hardware. It works parallel with the OP-Z app on macOS so you can see all parameters at the same time.
¶ 3.3.1 Setup
- Choose an input audio source in the connection tab
- Choose an output on the conenction tab -> Should not be the same as input or you get a feedback loop. Make sure your OS Speaker setting is not the OP-Z for example.
- Choose directory if not done already for multitrack recording.
- Press Save!
Audio will be initialized upon changing the preset in the device selector display.
¶ 3.3.2 Section Dynamics
The build in limiter is meant to keep your levels at bay while performing.
Dials:
- Threshold sets the level at whtich point the limiter should start to reduce the signal.
- Makeup lets you compensate the level you reduced dynamically. (Introduces a bit of digital noise)
- Speed sets the time window that is used to analyse the signal. Similar to a release setting. -> Keep at the middle for smooth response.
- Pump sets the reaction time of the limiter. The more to the left the smoother the limiter will operate as the reaction is averaged. -> Keep low for live performance
The Limiter button activates this function. With the load and save buttons you can permanently keep your settings in this section.
Certain settings in this tab can lead to sudden volume increases, especially with the "pump" dial in combination with high makeup settings. Please familiarize youself with the limiter with low output volume settings.
¶ 3.3.3. RECORD
This is a real time stereo-mix channel recorder for USB or another selected analog input.
Enter your Artist name and the name of the project before recording and hit record while audio is playing to record into a wave file. After hitting the stop button the results will be displayed in the preset window.
You can record a full midi performance here together with the audio. By selecting an entry with "M->" in the display on the left you can play back a specific song (all midi tracks) with the play and stop button in the middle.
You can send the recorded file to the editor and seperate drums from the melodic parts in case you want to isolate a specific element. This is a mroe simple method so don´t expect high quality sound afterwards. (lofi)
It is advised to keep the maximum recording length to no more than 60 min.
¶ 3.4 Editor Tab
¶ 3.4.1 Effects
¶ Trim
This is used to cut silent sections with zero value from the audio (currently)
¶ Lo High cut
Used to uncut unwated frequencys in the low or high spectrum
¶ Compressor
Even out level differences in audio. Set the sials and hit pply. The result can be checked with holding the "play" button.
¶ Normalize
Sets a specific peak level the audio is amplified to. Use the slider on the left or the presets and hit apply. Check with holding the play button.
¶ 3.4.2 Tools
¶ Drumkit
This tool analyses a piece of music for unique sounds and sorts them into single file thats compatible with the OP file length. Sounds are sorted form low to high eg kickdrum to hihat.
Use the sliders to ajust the red slice markers in a way so that single sounds are within two lines. These are sliced and analysed.
Energy Filter This can be used to filter weak sounds not suitable for drums hits.
Time Filter This is set to force a minimum length for a sound so it doesn´t get cut early accidentally.
Press process when done to start.
¶ Note
This tool checks all the notes in the audio to determine the root note statistically.
¶ Seperate
This will seperate audio based on percussive or harmonic content. This can be used to extract drum transients for further processing or layering or removing drum sounds from a loop to work with the melody.
The sound is not very clean but should be usable in a remix or layering scenario.
¶ Convert
This is used to convert folders of drum sounds for different hardware samplers.
Examples
The Sonicware Sampletrek can only use files below 24bit. With this you can convert sample packs to this format in one go.
Convert OP-1 Aif files to wave so you can upload it to certain samplers.
Bonus: Lofi 16 bit 22kHz mode. Smoothes out harsh frequencies or can be used save space on samples with little space like electribe2.
¶ 3.5 Autosampler
The Autosampler records a range of notes C1 to C7 and converts the recordings into a SFZ multi sampled instrument. You can have up to four velocity layers per note. Loops are autoamtically detected so you can hold the key of an instrument and it will sustain playing and fade out when releasing the key. Of course this only works with sounds that have a section that does not alter in level to much. Although the loop is crossfaded it works best with longer sounds.
You can use the deafult preset from the device section on the left and set input and ouput of audio and midi in the settings to have a permanent setup. You can the use the channel slider to select a midi channel that corresponds with certain instruments in your hardware setup.
Name: The name for oyur instrument, this is used for the filenames.
Note Low: The lowest note you want to sample.
Note High: The highest Note you want to sample.
Note On (s): The duration you want the key to be pressed.
Decay(s): The time the recording will go on after key release to capture the release of the sound.
Velocity^: The maximum velocity value the layers should have. Eg if you have one layer and set this to 100 the layer will have 100. the layers below will be equally divided from this value.
Vel. Layers: The number of layers for each note.
You can set the note range by clicking and holding the mouse and drag to the hgihest note you wish to sample. A yellow bar will indicate the range and the sound fo the key will be played on the ouput selected in settings.
After setting all up and saving your settings press RECORD to start. Once the recording is finished press AUTO to apply slicing, loop detection and tuning. Only the note names of the first layer will be displayed.
Find Loop button: Currently no effect.
Tune button: Calculates the average tuning offset from all notes into one value that is applied to all notes individually.
You can safe the results as SFZ format that can easilty be imported into multiple sample players. Tested with Bitwig. Loops and layers will be mapped accordingly.
¶ 3.6 Custom device
Can be accessed by presssing "+1 New" on the settings page.
The User Tab can be used to experiment with custom devices.
Minimum required is a CC message for "mute" and the nr of tracks the device has.
To add a device press New enter the data of the device. Press „Commit Changes“ and „Save →D“. On the next start of the program your device should be present.
Please use the official device ID (or partials thereof) you can see as MIDI device in the connection tab or shown with "lsusb" commands. This is used internally to detect devices properly.
Custom devices will use the sequencing strategy of the elektron model series. (internally) This means it is sending a MIDI clock permanently and the start signal is seperate. (OP-Z does not need a midi clock). For Project mode it is required to set at least one pattern/patch through the GUI T1-T6 and Number. This sets the starting pattern/patch for automatic program_change recording.
For program_change commands to work please set input channel to "16" or "all" on your device. This is currently hardcoded but will be selectable in the future.
On a single track synthesizer like the MicroFreak you could use Project mode to record all your recorded sequences on the device up to Nr 96, if they are saved with the blue sequnce button in "on" state. If no sequence exists in the patch the wave file will simply be blank.
¶ 3.7 Update Tab
Here you can check for updates and visit the appropiate websites to download or view the changelog etc.
¶ 3.8 About Tab
Here you should enter your E-Mail and the token you received to unlock the program. This is offline and the token is safed in the config.ini file.
This section records all messages that have been created during the session. You can send them via email in case you had any problems while using the app. This helps to recognise problems faster and safes time on both sides.
Please send a error log from this tab first before contacting support if possible. Thank you!
It will send the last recorded log messages that can be seen in the left window and some very basic system info like OS and CPU type.
¶ 4. Known Problems and solutions
¶ 4.1 General Advise
- Always turn on and connect your OP-Z or any other device before you start underbridge so it can properly initialize.
¶ 4.2 API specific
- Not all apis work. ALSA (Linux), MME (windows) and coreaudio seem to work best.
¶ 4.3 OS specific
¶ 4.3.1 Windows
- On windows the needed sound device „Synthesizer OP-Z“ may be disabled by default in the settings. Enable it first before you use underbridge. Should look like in the picture if „allow“ has been clicked.
- On windows the assitant may not detect Elektron Model Samples and Cycles correctly. MIDI is fine but the audio input needs to be set to something like DigitalAudioInterface(Elektron...) since this changes with language it is hard to identify by the assistant currently. Please set the in and output devices manually.
¶ Example Configuration:
¶ 4.3.2 macOS
¶ Tips for earlier versions than 2.x
Most problems should be gone with the 1.3 release.
- If your recorded wave files are emtpy please try this solution provided by apple. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209175
- If you still have emtpy wave files and can’t save your settings or serial you might want to try this workaround:
- Use the terminal and locate the executable inside ubridge-pro.app/Contents/MacOs/
- Launch the executable and macOS will ask you for the missing permission.
- Might work with the binary file in the folder
Thanks to user „anton“ from the OP-Forums for finding this workaround. This might only be a problem on M1 and M2 arm macs. Should work on anything intel as it has been tested working together with another user. - On MAC 10.5 and previous the may not start. There is currently no fix for that as the support for early versions than macOS 11 is discontinued on some components.
Known bugs in 1.3:
- Exiting the program while in the live tab can cause a error where you manaually have to close it forcefully. A workaround is to switch to another tab before closing.
¶ 4.3.3 Linux
- No known problems
¶ 4.3.4 General information
Most problems seem OS and write or mic/line access related now and currently cant be handled via code improvements but can be solved within the OS. Changing API or the output device may help.
All rights reserved Copyright raise Inh. Thomas Herrmann
¶ 9. Open Source Librarys used:
Huge thanks to the geniouses who wrote and maintain these awesome librarys.
- Python is beautiful.
- mido - https://github.com/mido/mido
- pyaudio - https://people.csail.mit.edu/hubert/pyaudio/
- pyside - https://pypi.org/project/PySide/
- nuitka - https://nuitka.net/
- pydub - https://github.com/jiaaro/pydub
Incredible people. 
¶ 10.EULA
Underbridge-pro EULA
**End User License Agreement (EULA)
for "underbridge-pro" hereinafter referred to as Software or Software Product.
IMPORTANT!
PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT carefully before proceeding with the installation of the program: raise Inh. Thomas Herrmann End-User License Agreement (EULA) is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or a legal entity) and raise Inh. Thomas Herrmann for the köllisch software product(s) and possibly related software components, media, printed materials and online or electronic documentation. By installing, copying or otherwise using the software product, you agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA. This License Agreement constitutes the entire agreement concerning the Program between you and raise Inh. Thomas Herrmann and supersedes all prior agreements, representations, or understandings between the parties. If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, do not install or use the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
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