So, I'm buying camelaudio's Alchemy soon.

[Flippity]

I was wondering if anyone who uses this soft synth would like to be my Q&A guy. I'm really pumped for it, so I want to be as prepared as possible. I'm also reading the manual so I get the controls all figured out, at least the basics, but I wanted to ask for some nifty tricks the manual won't explain or go into detail with.

[Electric_Head]

The nifty tricks list is just too long to mention.

[Flippity]

The nifty tricks list is just too long to mention.

Then list the top 5 of your favorite tricks, if you may.

[Electric_Head]

Automation of the morphing squares in conjunction with asdr morphing.

[Flippity]

Automation of the morphing squares in conjunction with asdr morphing.

That sounds like it can get interesting. What do you generally use that technique for? Specifically, do you use it for your pads, leads, basses, loops?

[Electric_Head]

Pads, Leads, basses, loops.
All of the above.

You can add immediate variation and change-ups.
The transition between morphing blocks is very smooth so the change is always very organic sounding.
Evolving leads, pads that develop into large soundscapes.

Use a big harmonic bass note or pad and load into the sampler and effect with granular effects.
Stretch, reposition the start, morph, reposition the asdr, morph, etc.

[Flippity]

Pads, Leads, basses, loops.
All of the above.

You can add immediate variation and change-ups.
The transition between morphing blocks is very smooth so the change is always very organic sounding.
Evolving leads, pads that develop into large soundscapes.

Use a big harmonic bass note or pad and load into the sampler and effect with granular effects.
Stretch, reposition the start, morph, reposition the asdr, morph, etc.

That all is so inviting! I'm extremely determined to start a psybient type feel to my music. Knowing I can stretch, morph and all that jazz gives me butterflies. No, when you automate you track to you use a live recording of you messing with midi controllers or do you set things up within your track by hand? I've been debating about only using midi controllers (i.e. behringer brc2000 and Akai Pro APC40) to put my hands on the actual sound and get a more nature feel to my mix. Nevermind about asking, I know that it's the right choice to go for the controllers. But, I am curious what you prefer, I listened to a few of your songs and dug them deeply.

[Electric_Head]

I use both options depending on what i`m going for.
I`ll record controller knobs as I play them and even then I`ll edit the automation lane to suite.
A controller naturally allows you to be more in the moment and do some awesome live tweaking but a lot of effects can just be controlled with an lfo or simple slopes.

[Flippity]

a lot of effects can just be controlled with an lfo or simple slopes.

That is completely understandable. I've tried recording manual modulation with my oxygen25 for this one bassline I was fiddling with, but it didn't have that exact feel I was looking for. When I shoot for a dubstep feel I tend to want to be sporadic, really fast on my switch ups for rates and frequency bending. That's why I agree with you. maybe if there were a way to set up buttons to switch from one predetermined variation to the next.

[Electric_Head]

Well you could just assign a macro to that variation change and assign a button on the controller to that macro.

[Flippity]

I have never heard of doing that. What exactly is a macro? That name is slipping my mind

[Electric_Head]

In most daws you can create commands called macros.
So be it a string of commands assigned to a macro or simply a key change, most things can be assigned to macros and in turn assigned an individual knob to control the macro.
One button push could for example jump your tune into a separate part with an entirely different feel.

[Flippity]

Oh! Alright, I know what you're talking about. Now I finally have the name for it. Thanks. I like that I can just assign a button to the variations.