MacroPresets are designed to allow you to take full advantage of Alloy's many modules and parameters in a quick, concise and creative way. MacroPresets in Alloy consist of a Macro screen layout comprised of individual MacroBlocks, displaying the most useful and applicable module parameters for that preset. MacroPresets can also include custom MacroFaders that provide instant control over parameters like warmth, width, or bass to get the results you want quickly.
MacroFaders link multiple parameters together across Alloy's modules so the user can quickly and intelligently make creative decisions about how a particular preset will affect your overall sound.
This innovative approach to preset design will instantly improve your workflow and will greatly increase your ability to refine standard presets and get the specific "sound" you are looking for.
Note: If you Shift+Click a MacroFader, it will jump to its last position for a quick A/B comparison of your settings.
MacroBlocks are predetermined layout and parameter configurations corresponding to each of the modules inside of Alloy. MacroBlock configurations are displayed in the Macro window on the Alloy user interface.
Alloy's Macro screen can be broken up into quarters, halves, or have the entire screen display whichever module controls you wish.
All of Alloy's Factory Presets contain their own defined MacroBlock configuration and Macro screen layout, however you can use the information below to design your own.
Designing your own MacroPresets
Clicking the Advanced button within the Preset Manager opens the MacroPreset editor. This allows you to custom design your own MacroPresets by selecting which MacroBlocks you would like visible and by linking multiple parameters to individual sliders (MacroFaders).
To begin creating or customizing your own MacroPreset follow the steps below.
1. Click on 'Advanced' button inside of the Undocked preset manager.
Note: The 'Advanced button' allowing you to create your own MacroPresets is not available in the Docked preset manager. To design your own MacroPresets, you must work inside of the Undocked preset manager.
2. There is a maximum of 4 selectable MacroBlocks corresponding to their positions in the Macro window.
Each contains a drop down list allowing you to choose which module and variation you would like to display as well as providing the option for a 'Custom' layout.
3. To create your own MacroFaders, first choose a 'Custom' layout in the MacroBlocks section. You can edit the Title of your Custom MacroBlock as it will be displayed in the Macro window by clicking on the 'Title' field.
4. Next, click 'Add Fader'. You can then edit the name of the MacroFader, set the range of the slider. (minimum, maximum, and default), and then begin to select which parameters you wish to link to this MacroFader.
You can add multiple parameters to a MacroFader and you can add multiple MacroFaders to each MacroPreset.
5. You can then use the swap arrow buttons to re-arrange or swap out the placement of your MacroBlocks in the Macro window.
Understanding MacroBlocks
Placement
These define the size and direction of a specific MacroBlock. The placement of each MacroBlock corresponds to its position in the Advanced MacroBlock page. You can then use the swap arrow buttons to re-arrange or swap out the placement of your MacroBlocks in the Macro window.
Quarter: This will place the desired MacroBlock in a 1/4-sized view in the Macro window.
Note: This option will not be available for MacroBlocks that cannot fit into the 1/4 sized view.
Half Horizontal/Vertical: This option will take up half of the Macro window display in the specified direction from where you originally placed the MacroBlock.
Full: The entire Macro window will display MacroBlock chosen.
Note: When choosing, Half Horizontal, Half Vertical, or Full MacroBlocks, any MacroBlocks present in the other available slots will be overwritten. You will be prompted by a dialogue box before Alloy removes any previously present MacroBlocks.
Simple: When selecting the 'Simple' forms of each module or process in Alloy, generally only the most essential parameters for that module are made visible in the Macro window. This can be very useful when choosing individual processes such as 'compression' or 'gate/expansion' or individual single band modules.
Advanced: The Advanced configurations for each module generally provide as much control as is possible for the parameters of that particular module.
Multiband: Only available for the Exciter, Transient, Compressor, Gate/Expansion, and Dynamics processes, this option will display all pertinent parameters as well as a mini-spectrum, allowing you to adjust your multiband crossover points from within your Macro window.