Panel parameters

On the front panel of Neptune, you will find the following parameters and displays:

Level Meter and Bypass/On/Off switch

| Parameter	| Description
Bypass/On/Off switch	In Bypass mode, the input signal passes through unaffected to the main outputs of the device. The separate Voice Synth outputs are automatically muted. In On mode, the device outputs the processed signal. If the Voice Synth is used, its output signal are routed to the separate Voice Synth outputs. Off mode mutes the inputs, silencing the device.
Level meter	Shows the input signal level.

Bend and Vibrato wheels

Choose what the Bend and Vibrato wheels should control by selecting desired destination in the MIDI Input section - see “MIDI Input”.

•	The Pitch Bend wheel is used for bending the pitch of notes, much like bending the strings on a guitar or other string instrument.

•	The Vibrato wheel can be used for applying vibrato to pitch corrected signals or to the Voice Synth harmonies.

Most MIDI keyboards have Pitch Bend and Modulation controls. Use these to control pitch bend and vibrato, or use the wheel controls on the panel by clicking and moving the mouse.

Bend Range

The Range parameter sets the maximum amount of pitch bend, i.e. how much it is possible to change the pitch by turning the wheel fully up or down. The maximum range is ±12 semitones (±1 octave). You change the value by clicking the spin controls above of the display.

Vibrato Rate

Use the Rate knob to set the rate of the vibrato controlled by the Vibrato wheel.

Input signal type

Here, you define the characteristics of the input signals you use.

Low Freq

Activating Low Freq mode will ensure more accurate tracking of low-frequency audio signals, such as bass voices. Low Freq mode is suitable for input frequencies below the note F1, which is approximately 44 Hz. The detection in Low Freq mode will work down to approximately 22 Hz which corresponds to note F0.

Note that the pitch detection latency will be somewhat longer in Low Freq mode due to the longer cycles times of low frequency signals.

Wide Vibrato

If your input audio has a heavy vibrato, this can cause Neptune to detect the wrong pitches. The result can be wobbling notes, unwanted swoops and glides etc. Activating the Wide Vibrato button will make the pitch detection ignore any vibrato in the input audio, eliminating the problems.

Note however that the vibrato can still be retained in the processed sound, by raising the Preserve Expression parameter (see “About the Preserve Expression parameter”).

Live Mode

This is an ultra-fast tracking mode, perfect for when you want to monitor your pitch adjusted signal in real-time. However, we recommend that you turn this off when it's time to play back and mix your recordings, for the highest audio quality.

MIDI Input

The MIDI Input section features a radio button which allows you to route incoming MIDI to either of the following destinations:

Pitch Adjust

Routes incoming MIDI Note data to the Pitch Adjust section for manual control of pitch correction, see “Using manual pitch correction”. Pitch Bend and Vibrato (Mod Wheel) MIDI data will also be routed to the Pitch Adjust section.

Voice Synth

Routes incoming MIDI Note data to the Voice Synth for generating additional harmony voices, see “Using the Voice Synth”. Pitch Bend and Vibrato (Mod Wheel) MIDI data will also be routed to the Voice Synth.

Pitch Adjust section

Pitch Adjust section On/Off

Click the Pitch Adjust button to activate/deactivate the Pitch Adjust section.

Root, Scale and Keyboard

Set the Root key and Scale with the spin controls. You can also create your own custom scales by selecting individual notes in the Keyboard display. See “Setting Root Key and Scale” for more details on how to use these functions.

Scale Memory

The purpose of Scale Memories is to allow for automation of different Root Key, Scale and Catch Zone settings. A selected Scale Memory slot automatically stores which Root Key and Scale notes are active. The Scale Memory slots also store Catch Zone settings.

The edits you make of the Root, Scale and Catch Zone parameters are automatically stored in the selected Scale Memory slot. The settings of the Scale Memory are saved together with the rest of the Song data. Refer to “About the Scale Memory” for details on how to use the Scale Memory slots.

Catch Zone Size

With the Catch Zone Size slider you set the range of the input pitches to be corrected to specific notes. Refer to “Setting Catch Zone Size” for details on how to use this function.

Correction Speed

Set the time is should take to adjust the pitch to the set scale. See “Setting Correction Speed” for more details.

Preserve Expression

Set how much vibrato in the input audio should be let through when you use a fast Correction Speed setting. See “About the Preserve Expression parameter” for more details.

Transpose section

Click the Transpose button to activate the Transpose section. When active, the output pitch will be transposed according the settings of the Semi and Cent parameters. The Transpose function can be used either on pitch corrected signals (with the Pitch Adjust section active) or on non pitch corrected signals (with the Pitch Adjust section deactivated).

Semi and Cent

Set desired transposition value, in semitones and cents, with the spin controls. The range is ±12 semitones and ±50 cents.

See “Using pitch shifting (Transpose)” for more details.

Formant section

Click the Formant button to activate the formant control function. When active, the formants of the input signal will be preserved and won’t move with the adjusted output pitches.

The Formant section settings have effect on the Pitch Adjust section and on the Transpose section, if they are active. However, the Formant section can also be used stand-alone to only displace the formants of the input signal.

Shift

Use the Shift knob to displace the formants within an range of ±1 octave.

See “What are formants?” and “Using the Formant function” for more details.

The Output Mixer section

The Pitch Adjust and Voice Synth parameters control the output from the Neptune in the following way:

Pitched Signal

This slider controls the total output volume of the Pitch Adjust, Transpose and Formant sections routed to the Left and Right outputs (see “Audio Out”).

Voice Synth

This slider controls the output volume of the Voice Synth routed either to the main Left and Right outputs or to the separate Voice Synth Left and Right outputs if these are connected (see “Voice Synth Out”).

Note that the Voice Synth function must be activated, otherwise this control will have no effect - see “Using the Voice Synth”.