4ms Company STS Stereo Triggered Sampler Module

Description

Turn Any Sound Into Music With The 4ms Company STS Stereo Triggered Sampler Module

Firmware version v1.4: Less latency, envelope controls, quantized 1V/oct mode, easier drag-and-dropping files and more!

The Stereo Triggered Sampler is a high fidelity, two-channel stereo sample recorder and playback module. The STS can record high quality stereo files, while simultaneously playing two different stereo files. A maximum of 600 samples can be loaded from the removable/swappable microSD card, in a variety of formats up to 96kHz/32-bit/stereo WAV. All sample parameters (1V/oct pitch, sample file selection, length, and start position) are CV controllable.

600 SAMPLES

A maximum of 600 samples can be loaded at once, arranged into banks of 10 samples each. Samples and banks can be re-arranged on the fly using the simple on-board Edit features. Newly recorded samples can be instantly played back and re-pitched, reversed, chopped up, etc… the result of which can even be bounced down and re-recorded to as a new sample! Sample files are limited to 4GB each, which is over 6 hours at 44k/16b/stereo. 

TWO STEREO PLAYBACK CHANNELS

Each playback channel has a knob and CV jack for Sample File selection, as well as a Start Position knob and CV jack for controlling where in the sample playback will begin. The Length knob and CV jack determine how much of the sample is played back: from tiny grains, to percussive hits, to longer loops… or just the entire file. These are powerful tools for re-arranging a sample, joining multiple samples, and creating dynamically re-sized loops within a larger sample. Combined with the Play Trigger jack and the 1V/oct jack, the STS can be two complete multi-timbral pitch-tracked stereo voices!  

There’s also a Reverse button and jack for backwards playback, and an End Out jack for synchronizing loops, or cascading sample playback with other events.

LOOPING AND SYNC 

Looping is easy: just hold the PLAY button down for two seconds to toggle loop or one-shot. The loop timing clock will output from the End Out jack. Or, send a clock into the Play Trig jack to sync the loop to external timing.

STEREO RECORDING 

Whether you patched 47 modules to create the ultimate percussive blast, or you want to capture your four hour ambient performance, recording high-quality .wav files on the STS is simple. Just hit the REC button or fire a trigger and a new stereo .wav file will be created on the SD card. Do as many takes as you need: the STS never deletes your files. Re-ordering or re-arranging samples into banks is easy, even without a computer.

You can even fill a bank with 10 different variations and immediately use them for playback.

By default the STS records at 44.1kHz/16-bit, with an option for 24-bit (a future update may increase the sample rate to 96kHz)

EASY SAMPLE LOADING 

Using a computer is completely optional with the STS, since samples can be recorded directly to the module and placed into the bank of your choosing. But for users with large existing sample banks, the intuitive automatic bank loading features make dragging and dropping your entire sample library a snap. You never have to rename your files again!

Up to 600 samples can be active in banks at one time (10 samples per bank)

Hundreds of samples included on microSD card

Extremely quiet, low noise and low jitter design

Stereo or Mono operation:

Stereo mode: Two stereo files are mixed and played through the L and R output jacks (L+L and R+R)

Mono mode: Each file is mixed to mono and output through the channel’s output jack (L+R and L+R)

Firmware can be updated by playing an audio file into the STS

TWO INDEPENDENT PLAYBACK CHANNELS:

Each channel can output in mono or stereo through the shared L/R jacks

Play button/trigger jack: Tapping the button or receiving a trigger starts/re-starts the sample

When Length is set to “All”, the Play button starts/stops the sample (see System Mode p.21)

Sample CV/knob: select which sample within the channel’s bank

1V/OCT CV and Pitch knob: playback pitch (-10 to +4.3 octave range)

Start Pos CV/knob: position in the sample to begin playback (loop start point)

Length CV/knob: playback time (loop end point)

Length knob at max: entire file is played

Length knob 50%-99%: 200ms – 5s of the sample is played (beginning at the Start Position)

Length knob <50%: Percussive decay envelope is applied to the playback (attack-only envelope if playing Reverse)

Length <1%: Tiny grains are played (can be used to sweep through sample file data manually)

Reverse button/jack: toggles forward/backwards

Bank button: selects channel’s bank

Tip: Hold Bank and turn the Sample knobs for fast selection of bank

Edit button allows basic on-board editing features:

Set loop/trim points with Scrub Start and Scrub End

Set Gain (boost/cut from 10% to 500%)

Re-organize samples with Next File

Move samples around within a bank

Assign files from any folder on the microSD card into any sample slot (sub-folders are ignored)

Copy sample to multiple slots, each with their own loop/trim/gain settings

Reverse+Start Pos button/knob combo allows for setting volume of each channel independently.

Maximum file size for playback: 4GB per file (6.7 hours per file at 44.1kHz/16b/stereo)

microSD Card is hot-swappable when Busy light is off: no power-down required to change cards.

Samples that are pre-loaded into memory can continue playing while card is swapped.

RECORDING CHANNEL:

Stereo recording can be simultaneous to operation of Play channels

Easily record output of sample playback, “bouncing” a play session into a new sample file

Recording initiated by button or trigger

Monitor mode lets you check the signal before starting a recording

Record into any sample slot in any bank

Every recording is saved as a wav file on the microSD Card and can be played back instantly

Edit features allow you to manually browse all the takes, and assign them to banks/sample slots

Recording can be disarmed to prevent accidental recordings

44.1kHz/24-bit stereo or 16-bit stereo recording, selectable in System Mode

“Unlimited” recording time (records continuously until card is full)

256GB card = 18 days of continuous recording (432.9 hours)

Audio data is split into maximum 4GB wav files on the microSD card

FILE ORGANIZATION:

Ships with a high-speed 16GB microSD card, loaded with over 200 samples from musicians such as Richard Devine, Wobbly, Moor Mother, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Joseph Pailo, Russell E.L. Butler, Hugo Paris & Marc Kate, Paul Barker, Baseck, and more (Sample List)

Intuitive bank/color organization system &em no need to rename your wav files

Record new samples directly to a bank with the Record Input jacks…

… or drag your folders of sound fil

20 HP Eurorack format module

10-pin Eurorack power header

0.98″ (25mm) maximum depth with power cable

Power consumption:

    +12V rail: 145mA

    -12V rail: 39mA

    +5V rail: not used

    Connect red stripe of power cable towards the bottom of the module, which is marked with a white stripe and the words -12V and POWER

Audio Inputs

    20Hz to 20kHz (-7.6dB rolloff)

    21V peak-to-peak maximum before clipping

Audio Outputs

    0Hz (DC) to 22kHz with maximum -1.8dB difference between file data and output

    +10.5V to -10.5V maximum output

Trigger inputs:

    Latency: 0.7us minimum

    Acceptable trigger voltage range: +2V to +12V

Trigger outputs (End Outs):

    +10V trigger pulse

    Pulse Width: 13ms typical, reduces to 2.75ms minimum with shorter loops

Manufacturer: 4ms
Model: STS
SKU: I562964-N-0-WHXB

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