Alchemy morph use and tips for MainStage

Source components are shown only in advanced view. Click the Advanced button to switch to advanced view, then click the Morph button to view and use the morph controls. See Alchemy morph controls in MainStage.

It is important to choose the same analysis mode for all morphed sources. See Alchemy Import browser in MainStage.

Though you can morph with any synthesis type, the best morphing results are achieved with the spectral or additive engines. Spectral is the most suitable import method to use for the majority of audio material. Use Additive or Add + Spec import mode if dealing with pitched, monophonic sounds. Make sure the Formant button is turned on when importing sounds because this generally results in a higher quality morph.

If you are not creating a pitched instrument that requires the root note to remain at the default pitch, irrespective of the morph position, turn off the Fixed Pitch button, because this will result in a higher quality morph.

The time alignment of sounds is crucial to achieving a good morph. Selecting sounds with similar timing and loop characteristics tends to deliver the best results. Aim to have a similar loop duration and loop location within the selected samples. If the sounds you are morphing are comprised of more than single note samples or the timing of your sources doesn’t align as you would like, adjust the warp marker positions. See the Manually time-aligning morphed sounds task in this section.

Morphs that move from 100% of all elements in a sound to 100% of another sound can often be suitable for sound effects but may be more difficult to shape into new playable instruments. You may find it better to mix the levels of individual elements for this type of use.

Note: Images shown in tutorials are not specific to presets used in tasks. They are included as a guide to help you find areas and parameters in the Alchemy interface.

Manually time-aligning morphed sounds in Alchemy

This task covers manual alignment of sources. Alchemy features an auto align function (see Alchemy morph controls in MainStage) that can make this an automatic process, but in some cases you may need to manually intervene to achieve the best results.

When morphing is turned on for a source, warp markers are displayed in the zone waveform editor. See Alchemy zone waveform editor in MainStage.

When you morph from a sound with a fast attack to one with a slow attack, Alchemy smoothly adjusts the attack time according to the morph all position, or the envelope position if in elements mode. Warp markers define the attack phase boundaries of each sound. More generally, warp markers define the boundaries of a series of time-aligned segments when two

MainStage User Guide

Alchemy morph use and tips for MainStage

Manually time-aligning morphed sounds in Alchemy