SHREDDER QUICK START GUIDE

CONNECTING


You can connect your guitar to SHREDDER in 3 basic ways (always follow the hardware manufacturer's instructions for use and device compatibility),

1) USB: a connection that goes in the iPhone's docking port (such as Apogee Jam, iRiffPort, Griffin GuitarConnect PRO, or Sonoma GuitarJack 2. (Note: Some USB interfaces do not currently support iPod Touch.)

2) Headphone Jack Guitar Adapters: A connection that goes in the iPhone's microphone jack (such as iRig). Jack/Mic connections are subject to latent feedback due to headphone input crosstalk. Excess feedback will interfere with a clear guitar signal and introduce alien overtones. If you're having tracking issues, such as "ghost notes", decrease the volume on your iPhone or on SHREDDER Control Panel as much as possible, and amplify your audio output by using an amp, amplified speakers or a headphone with volume control/active electronics. It also helps to increase the GATE RELEASE and GATE ATTACK knobs (in the MAX direction) on the SHREDDER Control Panel to compensate for crosstalk.

3) Mic: Use the built in or external microphone to pick up the guitar signal (headphones must be used with this connection).

  • You can view your current connections on the Control Panel
  • Once connected, turn on the "GUITAR SYNTH" toggle. SHREDDER synth will now be triggered by your guitar.
  • Use the "GATE ATTACK" and "GATE RELEASE" knobs to adjust SHREDDER's trigger response. When used carefully, you can obtain a "sweet spot" to track your playing that depends on your current guitar, connection method and playing style.
  • GATE ATTACK adjusts the sound level at which your guitar triggers a note. Increasing this requires a harder attack on the guitar string to trigger a note.
  • GATE RELEASE changes the sound level at which SHREDDER stops tracking your guitar. Increasing this value causes a sooner "note off" message to be relayed. You may want to increase this value in situations where there's background noise such as 60-cycle hum, or feedback from guitar adapter.

Using SHREDDER as a guitar-to-MIDI interface


With SHREDDER you can use your guitar to control other virtual MIDI compatible iOS apps or even MIDI-enabled hardware devices.

  • Open the Virtual MIDI compatible app you wish to control, and make sure that the app's audio is running in the background. Configure the app if necessary to allow Virtual MIDI input.
  • Now return to SHREDDER and go to the MIDI screen. Select the Virtual MIDI compatible app you just opened from the MIDI Destinations list. Also on the same screen, make sure the appropriate MIDI Out channel is selected.
  • In the SHREDDER Control Panel, turn on the "MIDI Out" button to start controlling the Virtual Midi compatible app.
  • If you want to keep using your guitar for control and go to other apps, make sure the "RUN IN BACKGROUND" button from the Control Panel is selected.

(Note: while SHREDDER is designed have the minimum possible impact on the device CPU when used as a guitar-to-MIDI interface, it's observed that some 3rd party apps have a significant impact on the CPU. Depending on the CPU power of your device, launching such apps may either cause other backgrounding apps, including SHREDDER, to be automatically suspended by the operating system, or cause a "jittery" sound when the CPU draw nears its limit. Neither is a fault generated by SHREDDER)

BEST PRACTICES


  • Always make sure your guitar is in tune and is intoned. You can use SHREDDER's built in tuner, which allows silent tuning.
  • Single coil pickups may generate loud background hum that "colors" the guitar audio. When this applies, it is recommended that you use a "hum canceling" pickup selector position for audio output into SHREDDER.
  • If using a type of guitar adapter that plugs into the headphone jack, and you encounter crosstalk feedback (symptoms will be seemingly random notes triggered), reduce/eliminate feedback by turning down guitar volume and adjusting the GATE ATTACK/DECAY knobs on the SHREDDER control panel. You can always amplify the audio in the post-output stage using external amplification or amplified headphones.
  • To get best results, attempt to play clearly, and make sure your guitar isn't subject to too much fret buzz.