Meta Devices

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Meta Devices

Meta Devices are effects that modulate or control other device parameters instead of manipulating audio. They can even be linked between different tracks, making for complex and powerful routing possibilities.

Common usages for Meta Devices are applying modulations with the *LFO Device or *Signal Follower Device, controlling plugin instrument automation via the *Automation Device, or sending MIDI to plugins using the *MIDI Control Device. There are also devices which can use various real-time inputs (notes, velocity, audio output etc.) to guide their behaviour, such as the *Key-Tracking Device or *Velocity Device. Finally, there are devices which can also be used to route and control other meta or audio effect parameters via the *XY Pad and *Hydra.


The devices are arranged into the following categories:


Modulation Devices

Modulation Devices, as the name suggests, modulate other effect parameters. They can be triggered and synced by pattern effect commands, automation, velocity values and even note values and volume envelopes of audio data.


*LFO Device

The LFO Device allows you to easily create a constantly looping Automation. Any effect parameters can be modulated this way, even those of plugin effects or instruments which cannot normally be modulated within the plugin itself.

LFO Device using a sine wave:

File:Vvoois renoise meta lfo.png

LFO Device using a custom shape:

File:Vvoois renoise meta lfo custom.png

  • Reset: Left-clicking resets the LFO's current phase, while right-clicking will automate the reset by placing a command in the current track's effect column. LFOs run constantly, even while the song is stopped. In order to sync the LFO's cycle to the song, you have to automate the "Reset" button. See below for more details.
  • Dest.: Destination track, effect and parameter, allowing you to specify the parameter to be modulated.
  • Amplitude: The maximum range that should be applied to the destination parameter. 100% will modulate the full range.
  • Offset: The modulation offset applied to the destination parameter.
  • Frequency: The speed of the modulation in Lines per Cycle. For example, an LPC of eight will cycle the LFO once every eight pattern lines.

Syncing LFOs

The "Reset" button can be triggered with the pattern effect command: x7yy, where x stands for the position of the LFO device in the DSP chain (if it's the first device: 1, if the second: 2 etc.) and yy is the offset value:

  • 00 restarts the LFO from the beginning.
  • 40 restarts the LFO from a quarter of the way through of the cycle.
  • 80 restarts the LFO from halfway through the cycle.
  • C0 restarts the LFO from three quarters of the way through the cycle.


*Velocity Device

The Velocity Device adds another dimension of control by responding to the velocity values of notes. For example, when modulating a Filter's cutoff value with a Velocity Device, the sound of an instrument can then be drastically altered by pressing the keys harder or softer.

File:Vvoois renoise meta velocity.png

  • Instr.: The instrument to be used for input. Selecting "All" will affect every instrument played in the current track.
  • Dest.: Destination track, effect and parameter, allowing you to specify the parameter to be modulated.
  • Dest. Min: The minimum value to be used from the destination parameter's range.
  • Dest. Max: The maximum value to be used from the destination parameter's range.
  • Scaling: The scaling that will be applied from the input to the destination. By default, the input will be mapped linearly, but you can also select from two exponential and two logarithmic scales.
  • Range: Minimum and maximum velocity range that will be used for input.


*Key-Tracking Device

The Key-Tracking Device works in much the same way as the Velocity Device, except it adjusts a parameter according to note value instead of velocity.

File:Vvoois renoise meta keytrack.png

  • Instr.: The instrument to be used for input. Selecting "All" will affect every instrument played in the current track.
  • Dest.: Destination track, effect and parameter, allowing you to specify the parameter to be modulated.
  • Dest. Min: The minimum value to be used from the destination parameter's range.
  • Dest. Max: The maximum value to be used from the destination parameter's range.
  • Scaling: The scaling that will be applied from the input to the destination. By default, the input will be mapped linearly, but you can also select from two exponential and two logarithmic scales.
  • Range: Minimum and maximum velocity range that will be used for input.

Range Modes

In addition to applying a scaling mode to the Key-Tracking Device's range, you can also set up how the range should handle notes:

  • Clamp: Each note within the range will trigger an event, while notes outside of the range will be clamped to the specified limits.
  • Soft: Notes outside of the range are completely ignored and will not trigger anything.
  • Octave: Notes played on different octaves will be handled equally, e.g. a C-5 will have the same effect as a C-4 or C-3.


*Signal Follower Device

The Signal Follower Device analyses a track's audio output via volume tracking, much like compressors do, and then uses it to automate a destination parameter. To set up a side-chaining effect, place the Signal Follower Device in the track you would like to use as a carrier and set the destination parameter as the volume of the Pre-mixer or Gainer in another track.

File:Vvoois renoise dsp signal follower.png

  • Dest.: Destination track, effect and parameter, allowing you to specify the parameter to be modulated.
  • Dest. Min: The minimum value to be used from the destination parameter's range.
  • Dest. Max: The maximum value to be used from the destination parameter's range.
  • Dest. Off: Offsets the destination's min and max values equally by the specified amount. This can be especially useful when you want to automate the modulation.
  • Scaling: The scaling that will be applied from the input to the destination. By default, the input will be mapped linearly, but you can also select from two exponential and two logarithmic scales.
  • Attack: Attack rate of the volume envelope. Lower values will respond quicker to volume changes in the audio input.
  • Release: Release rate of the volume envelope. Higher values will cause the volume tracking to react more softly when the input's volume drops.
  • LP Filter: Cutoff frequency of a LowPass Filter applied to the input. Used to restrict the frequency range that will trigger the volume envelope.
  • HP Filter: Cutoff frequency of a HighPass Filter applied to the input. Used to restrict the frequency range that will trigger the volume envelope.
  • File:Listen filtered input.png: Listen to the filtered input signal only. Gives you a better idea of how the signal will affect the destination parameter.
  • L/R/L+R: Select which channel(s) should be used for the input's volume tracking: left (L), right (R) or both (L+R).
  • Lookahead: Shifts the envelope back in time by the specified amount, which can be used for snappier attack rates. Activating this will add some latency to the device, so this option will only work if "Automatic Plugin Delay Compensation" is enabled via the "Options" menu.

Cross Track Routing with the Signal Follower

Unlike the other Meta Devices, the Signal Follower cannot affect devices that appear on tracks to the left of its own host track. It is also unable to control effects on the same track as itself, if that device appears before it in the DSP chain. Such tracks and effects will show in the "Dest." box with the suffix: "(N/A)" (i.e. Not Available). This is necessary to ensure that the Signal Follower does not add latency to the song's signal chain. If you want to affect a track or device that currently shows as "(N/A)", then simply reorder the tracks or reorder your effects so that the Signal Follower appears before (to the left of) the desired parameter.

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