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Welcome to SBAM !
Welcome to SBAM !

The Manual to use SBAM

The Manual to use SBAM

Tom Avatars

The Slice Beat Amen Melee!

SBAM is a Falcon custom script and content made by

Tomavatars⁠

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If you’re here, that’s because you wan’t to know more about it. I made this document as a dynamic manual, for you to understand the instrument better.

SBAM is a sampler sequencer. You can load your own samples in 4 sampler engines. These sampler engines automatically slice your samples regarding transients.

Then, you’ll have a lot of options to play with:

Use the Layers sequencer to trigger the sample you want at the step you want

Use the Slices sequencer to trigger the slice of the current sample you want at the step you want

Use 10 other sequencers to modulate many types of parameters!

Edit 4 different patterns per sequencers

Control these patterns with a pattern player

SBAM comes with a sample library and a preset library.

You are invited to load your own samples and play with them.

You’ll be able to save and load your own presets.

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Special Thanks

To Marcus Beck and Trajectoires for the great testing and feedback! It wouldn’t be as good without your help!

To Joshua Dickinson and Michael Hetrick because they are the boss, they are the best and I learned so much with them!

To all the UA Underground peeps, thank you all for your support and your kindness!

To the Lazy Frogs crew, the best team!

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First Steps: Important notes

SBAM consists in 2 multis that you can load only with Falcon. These multis are:

Sbam-Tutorial.uvim

Start your journey with this one. Tutorial has all the levels locked except the first one. You’ll need to beat the different bosses to unlock the different levels. To beat bosses, use the 3rd and 4th sample layers to give punches. Then, you’ll be able to use the levels power to beat them better 😀

The Tutorial has the Save/Load presets buttons locked until you beat the game

When you finish the game, I encourage you to use the Unlocked multi as it is a full feature instrument

Why did I made 2 multis? Because I wanted to make a game, but I also wanted to let the user choose what experience to live.

Sbam-Unlocked.uvim

This multi is a full featured SBAM. Just launch it and have fun!

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Playing with SBAM

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SBAM is a sequencer but not only. There are two ways to play with SBAM:

The Yellow keys are the main way to play SBAM: they trigger the sequencer until they are released.

The root note is C3. Then it scales the samples per semitones. C2 being -12 semitones, C5 being +24 semitones.

The Red keys are playing individual steps from 1 to 16. So when you press one red key, it’ll trigger one step then stop. I added this feature to be able to control SBAM like a drum kit.

The 4 Green keys are selecting one of the 4 main patterns of all the sequencers.

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Main Window

Here’s SBAM Main window

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Top Bar

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An Init Patch button that’ll initialise your current patch to the default state of SBAM (keeping actual samples)

An option button with:

A cheat code to disable the game (hint, the 3rd candidate at the french 2022 presidential elections)

An option to turn animation off

A select Level menu for the default background and boss

4 Sample buttons that’ll open a sample panel on the bottom side of the Main Window.

A save and a load preset buttons

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Fight Panel

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Here, you’ll be able to look at the fight and have access to the 8 levels powers respectively:

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Level 1 → Pattern⁠

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Level 2 → Color⁠

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Level 3 → Noise⁠

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Level 4 → Filters⁠

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Level 5 → Distort⁠

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Level 6 → Kicks⁠

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Level 7 → Mod⁠

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Level 8 → Luck⁠

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Just click on the Level button to open a new panel on the fight screen.

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Main Sequencers Panel

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The Main Sequencers Panel contains 3 sections

A left panel to select 6 different sequencers

A central panel that displays the Layers and Slices step sequencers

A right panel that contains respectively the Layers and Slices sequencers options

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Bottom Panel

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The bottom panel can display:

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The Basics sequencer⁠

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The Envelopes sequencer

The Time sequencer

The Sends sequencer

The 4 samples control panels

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In Depth

In this section, I’ll try to explain how you can use SBAM 😀

Here’s a little video showing some of the features.

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Layers Sequencer

The Layers Sequencer is the main component of SBAM and it allows you to trigger samples one at a time with a step sequencer, as well as mute them.

You can access to the step sequencer by clicking on the Layers button on the left panel. Here is the Layers step sequencer panel.

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You can also access to it if Slices panel is selected but in a reduced shape.

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Layers Step Workflow

The Layers Step Sequencer allows you to trigger a sample from the 4 available samples at a rate determined by the Resolution control on the Layers Options Panel (right). The step currently playing is highlighted on the top bar.

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There are four rows that represent that 4 sample slots.

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Layers Options

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On the right side, when the Layers Sequencer Panel is activated, you have access to the Layers Sequencer options. Except from the number of max steps and Play All Layers, every sequencers shares the same kind of options (Resolution, Random, Number of steps - Max 16 for every sequencers except Layers and Slices - and Patterns 1/4).

Layers Steps: you can set the number of steps for the sequencer loop → between 2 and 32 steps.

Layers Resolution: you can set the resolution rate at which the sequencer plays → from 2/1 to 1/64. There’s also a button on the left to set the timing → S = Straight; D = Dotted; T= Ternary.

Random Steps: when enabled, each steps playing will be determined randomly.

Play All Layers: only the Layers Sequencer has this option. It allows you to stack samples steps instead of playing one sample at a time.

1,2,3,4 buttons: these buttons allows you to select which of the 4 patterns you want to edit/play.

Step Mute

Finally, the top bar allows you to mute steps. Simply click on the upper part of the bar to mute, and the lower part to unmute. Muted steps wont trigger samples and sound will be cut.

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Slices Sequencer

The Slices Sequencer is the secondary component of SBAM and it allows you to select which slice of the current sample (determined by the Layers Step Sequencer) will be played.

You can access to the step sequencer by clicking on the Slices button on the left panel.

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Slices Step Workflow

As you can see on the Gif below, when selecting the Slice sequencer, you can draw which slice of the sample you want to play per step.

You can also draw slices when the panel is reduced.

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Slices Options

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On the right side, when the Slices Sequencer Panel is activated, you have access to the Slices Sequencer options. It is relatively the same as Layers except that the Play all Layers is replaced by Slices Max.

Slices Steps: you can set the number of steps for the sequencer loop → between 2 and 32 steps.

Slices Resolution: you can set the resolution rate at which the sequencer plays → from 2/1 to 1/64. There’s also a button on the left to set the timing → S = Straight; D = Dotted; T= Ternary.

Random Steps: when enabled, each steps playing will be determined randomly.

Slices Max: set the max Slice value. E.g. if the value is 4, the max value to draw on the sequencer will be the 4th slice of the sample engine.

1,2,3,4 buttons: these buttons allows you to select which of the 4 patterns you want to edit/play.

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Important: Seq Length

From now on, I’ll present you all the other sequencers. For all of them (so except Layers and Slices) you’ll be able to set the length of the current pattern by dragging the play bar/top bar size like this:

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Basics Sequencer

The Basics sequencer is displayed on the bottom panel by default and is accessible while clicking on the Basics button.

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Basics Workflow

The Basics Sequencer allows you to set per step Pitch, Pan and Gain.

Pitch sets the pitch of the current step, is represented by the yellow knobs and goes from -24 semitones to +24 semitones.

Pan sets the stereo panning of the current step, is represented by the turquoise knobs and goes from -1 (left) semitones to +1 (right).

Gain sets the volume of the current step, is represented by the red knobs and goes from -infinite semitones to +3 DB.

Basics Options

Basics Resolution: you can set the resolution rate at which the sequencer plays → from 2/1 to 1/64. There’s also a button on the left to set the timing → S = Straight; D = Dotted; T= Ternary.

Random Steps: when enabled, each steps playing will be determined randomly.

1,2,3,4 buttons: these buttons allows you to select which of the 4 patterns you want to edit/play.

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Envelopes Sequencer

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The Envelopes sequencer is displayed on the bottom panel and is accessible while clicking on the Envelopes button.

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Envelopes Workflow

The Envelopes Sequencer allows you to set per step Envelopes, with Attack, Decay and Gate length parameters.

Bypass enable the envelope.

Attack sets the attack time of the currently played slice.

Decay sets the decay time of the currently played slice.

Gate sets the gate time of the currently played slice.

Envelopes has a unique feature which are the 3 bulk edit beside Bypass, Attack and Decay. If you click on theme respectively, you’ll be able to drag you mouse to bulk edit the steps values.

Quick note: when bulk editing Bypass, to enable the button, drag at the top of the button, at the bottom for disable.

Envelopes Options

Enveloppes Resolution: you can set the resolution rate at which the sequencer plays → from 2/1 to 1/64. There’s also a button on the left to set the timing → S = Straight; D = Dotted; T= Ternary.

Random Steps: when enabled, each steps playing will be determined randomly.

1,2,3,4 buttons: these buttons allows you to select which of the 4 patterns you want to edit/play.

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Time Sequencer

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The Time sequencer is displayed on the bottom panel and is accessible while clicking on the Time button.

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Time Workflow

The Time Sequencer allows you to set per step timing options. There are some crazy features here. Notice that there are 2 different sequencers here: Roll and Division.

Roll:

Roll triggers as much notes for the current step duration as there are indicated in the roll num box. From 1 to 32 triggers.

Flam is the Roll playing behavior:

Straight timing

Decrement timing

Increment timing

Decrement pitch

Increment pitch

Shuffle adds a timing offset for the current step triggering.

Division:

Division multiplies or divide the whole SBAM timing up to 8 division.

Time Options

Time Resolution (Roll and Division): you can set the resolution rate at which the sequencer plays → from 2/1 to 1/64. There’s also a button on the left to set the timing → S = Straight; D = Dotted; T= Ternary.

Random Steps (Roll only): when enabled, each steps playing will be determined randomly.

1,2,3,4 buttons (Roll and Division): these buttons allows you to select which of the 4 patterns you want to edit/play.

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Sends Sequencer

The Sends sequencer is displayed on the bottom and is accessible while clicking on the Sends button.

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Sends Workflow

The Sends Sequencer allows you to send the current step audio signal to 4 different reverbs and delays auxiliary channels.

Send type allows you to select 3 different reverbs or 1 delay to send the signal to.

Wet determines how much signal you feed in the send effect.

Decay is the decay/feedback time of the effect

Shape is a parameter that determines the shape of the room

Sends Options

Sends Resolution: you can set the resolution rate at which the sequencer plays → from 2/1 to 1/64. There’s also a button on the left to set the timing → S = Straight; D = Dotted; T= Ternary.

Random Steps: when enabled, each steps playing will be determined randomly.

1,2,3,4 buttons: these buttons allows you to select which of the 4 patterns you want to edit/play.

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Levels

All levels are more features :)

They are displayed on the fighting pit at the center of the screen. You can open them by clicking on their respective buttons.

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In the Tutorial UVIM, they will all be locked except the Level 1. To unlock them, give some punch to the bosses using the 3rd and 4th layers or levels steps. You’ll also be able to fight them with the powers of the levels later on.

All the levels except the Level 1 and 8 has some common sections:

Resolution: you can set the resolution rate at which the sequencer plays → from 2/1 to 1/64. There’s also a button on the left to set the timing → S = Straight; D = Dotted; T= Ternary.

Random Steps: when enabled, each steps playing will be determined randomly.

Step Copy/Paste: when selecting a step, you can copy all it’s parameters. Then if you select another step with the button (under the enable step button) you’ll be able to press paste to paste these parameters.

1,2,3,4 buttons: these buttons allows you to select which of the 4 patterns you want to edit/play.

To enable a step, click on the I on the upper section, click on the 0 on the lower section to disable it. To select the step and edit it, click on the button underneath the step.

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The levels have a handy quick auto copy function. When you edit a step, if you enable another step after it (with the I), it’ll copy all the previous step parameters.

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Level 1 → Pattern

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The First Level is accessible at the start of the fight. It is a pattern manager as well as a handy utility section. The pattern player is disabled by default. You can enable it clicking on the Lock Seq button. When the sequencer is unlocked, it’ll play the patterns you select on the upper section, at the resolution you choose on the lower section at the length you choose on the draggable slider.

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The top section has

16 steps with a numbox to select the patterns you want to play

A draggable slider for the length of the sequence

You unlock the sequencer with the Lock Seq button

You can select the pattern for all the sequencer with the Select Pattern buttons (1 to 4)

You can choose which pattern to copy from one pattern to another with a menu (from all to individual patterns) just after the Select Pattern text

You can choose the destination pattern to Copy To with 4 buttons (1 to 4)

Then you can copy the selected pattern to the destination pattern clicking on the Copy button

There are also some handy features beside the pattern section

A Rotate menu where you can choose which pattern to rotate to the right or the left

Rotating to the right or left is done with the arrow buttons below the menu

Set the timing of all the sequencers from straight to dotted to triplets

Set the resolution of all the sequencers

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Level 2 → Color

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The Colored Punch Level (Color) allows you to color the sound per step with an EQ and apply some compression.

Threshold: the threshold to apply to the compressor

Ratio: the ratio to apply to the compressor

Low Freq: the frequency of the Low Shelf EQ

Gain: the gain to apply to the Low Shelf EQ

Mid Freq: the frequency of the Mid EQ

Mid Type: the type of the Mid EQ - Peak or Notch

Gain: the gain to apply to the Mid EQ

Bandwidth: the Mid frequency width

High Freq: the frequency of the High Shelf EQ

Gain: the gain to apply to the High Shelf EQ

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Level 3 → Noise

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The Noisy Slap Level (Noise) allows to trigger noise synth sounds.

Noise Type: Select from 15 different noise algorithms

Attack: The attack of the noise envelope

Hold: The hold duration of the noise envelope

Decay: The decay of the noise envelope

Option: Depending on the algorithm, a knob will appear, might be Bandwidth, Density or even Chaos

Gain: The gain of the Noise

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Level 4 → Filters

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The Focused Filters Level (Filters) enable per step filtering from five types of filters.

Filter Type: Choose from UVI filter, VCF20, Comb, Phasor or SVF

Cutoff: The Cutoff frequency of the filter

Q: The Resonance of the filter

Envelope: a simple linear envelope to apply to the filter (positive → filter up, negative, filter down)

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Level 5 → Distort

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The Destroying Distortion (Distort) allows you to distort the sound per step from 11 different options.

Disto Type: Choose between Diode, Magnetic Bass Shaper, Wave Shaper (Sine, Fold-back, Tanh, Rectifier, Halfwave, Exp, Diode Rectifier), Overdrive and Redux (Bitcrush/Sample Rate)

Amount: The amount of distortion. Redux amount corresponds to the sample rate of the bitcrusher.

Option 1: Depending on the distortion, change the sound 🤖

Option 2: Depending on the distortion, change the sound 🤡

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Welcome to SBAM !Welcome to SBAM !

The Slice Beat Amen Melee!

Special Thanks

First Steps: Important notes

Playing with SBAM

Main Window

Top Bar

Fight Panel

Main Sequencers Panel

Bottom Panel

In Depth

Layers Sequencer

Layers Step Workflow

Layers Options

Step Mute

Slices Sequencer

Slices Step Workflow

Slices Options

Important: Seq Length

Basics Sequencer

Basics Workflow

Basics Options

Envelopes Sequencer

Envelopes Workflow

Envelopes Options

Time Sequencer

Time Workflow

Time Options

Sends Sequencer

Sends Workflow

Sends Options

Levels

Level 1 → Pattern

Level 2 → Color

Level 3 → Noise

Level 4 → Filters

Level 5 → Distort

Welcome to SBAM !
Welcome to SBAM !