Flow Studio

Related manuals

https://www.softube.com/user-manuals/flow-mixing-suite https://www.softube.com/user-manuals/flow-mastering-suite https://www.softube.com/user-manuals/daw-control

Foreword

We have been making hardware controllers for quite a long time. Starting with Console 1, a groundbreaking concept with a knob-per-function philopsophy for controlling classic channel strips. Console 1 is built for the mix engineer that needs to dive into the details, relying on their muscle memory and ears to guide them.

Flow® Studio is built for the music producer who needs to work fast as inspiration strikes, and stay in the zone while building their session. The result of working with Flow Studio is fast and immediate. Big tonal changes are achieved by hands-on control of signal chains that cover almost every part of the production: reverbs, delays, guitar amps, EQ, compression, pitch correction, etc. The feeling of flow helps the producer find their sound, while saving time, and above all, by having fun!

Getting Started with Flow® Studio

Installation

Please go to https://www.softube.com/get-started-with-flow-studio for an up-to-date installation procedure!

The Parts of Flow Studio

Flow Studio consists of these parts:

• The Flow Studio hardware. The main controller for everything related to Flow Studio.
• The Flow Mixing Suite plug-in or the Flow Mastering Suite plug-in, the unit that actually process the audio.
• The Softube On-Screen Display, the big window that shows settings and information regarding your tracks, as well as being the main application that makes sure that the communication between the plug-ins and hardware units run smoothly.

Also included is Flow Studio Suite, a bundle that consists of 25+ effects, all of which can be loaded into the Flow plug-ins, and some that can be loaded as separate VST/AU/AAX plug-ins.

The rest of the manual will refer to using the Flow Mixing Suite plug-in. The operation is mostly the same for the Flow Mastering Suite plug-in, but note that this option is only available for users that own plug-ins included in Flow Mastering Suite.

All three parts are necessary for the Flow Studio workflow: you control your audio from the hardware, you can see the changes on the On-Screen Display and the audio gets processed in your DAW by the plug-in. It is possible to use only the Flow plug-ins without the hardware, although the whole experience is designed around the hardware, and that’s where you will notice the biggest improvement to your workflow.

Always make sure that the Softube On-Screen Display application is running. That’s the app that handles all communication between the hardware, the DAW, and the plug-in.

The Flow Studio Workflow

Flow Studio is designed to give you hands-on experience getting your production from 0-80% done in no time.

Flow Studio has three modes of operation: Flow Mode lets you control a chosen signal chain, Detail Mode selects specific plug-in parameters that you want to control, and DAW Mode lets you use DAW specific functions like Volume, Pan, Solo, and Mute.

These three modes let you move throughout your mix, making big tonal changes quickly. While Flow Studio can be used on any track in your mix, where it really shines is on the key parts of your production that rely the most on quality and inspiring sound.

The Flows

In psychology, the concept of "flow" refers to being in a mental state of immersion. This is when time slows down, you are deeply focused, and your body and mind are one with your work. With Flow Studio, we aim to let the music producer stay in that flow state, in the production mindset. To work faster, save time, and get the best results possible, while enjoying the process.

With Flow Studio, you get 20+ professional plug-ins used in tailor-made mixing chains, or "Flows", that fit every need. Each Flow has a maxiumum of eigth Flow Controls, that can be accessed from the hardware. These are macros that control several plug-in parameters within the signal chain.

Additional Flow Packs will be released from time to time. It is also possible to create your own Flows. Please refer to the manual for the relevant Flow plug-in for more information.

Hardware User Interface

All functionality of the hardware will be described in detail in following sections. First, general functions are explained, and then the three specific modes of Flow Studio are described.

• Screen: Displays the current state of Flow Studio, depending on what mode is enabled.
• Flow Controls: The four knobs below the screen. These are contextual to the mode you are currently in. Their current name and function is displayed in the text rows on the bottom of the screen.
• Omni Knob: The big knob in the center of the unit. The function is determined by the current mode. The two main uses are scrolling through lists and affecting sound and volume.

Buttons have a primary function. Holding Shift while pressing a button activates its secondary function, shown as an indented item below.

• OSD: Opens the Softube On-screen Display application on the computer.
  • Display (Shift + OSD): Toggles the default visualization displayed on the screen.
• Favorites: Marks user favorite tracks, Flows and parameters.
  • Show (Shift + Favorites): Show favorites.
• Track: Displays the list of tracks in your session.
  • Bypass (Shift + Track): Bypass the sound of Flow Studio.
• Solo: Solos the sound of the track.
  • OK (Shift + Solo): Confirm selected choice.
• Mute: Mutes the sound of the track.
  • Cancel (Shift + Mute): Cancel selected choice.
• Action/Next: Activates specific function depending on mode / Moves to the next item in a list.
  • Prev (Shift + Next): Moves to the previous item in a list.
• DAW: Enable DAW mode.
  • Settings (Shift + Daw): Opens settings for Flow Studio.
• Detail: Enable Detail mode.
  • Compact (Shift + Detail): Shows compact lists.
• Flow: Enable Flow mode.
  • Save (Shift + Flow): Saves a user preset.

Your First Session

So, you’re new to Flow Studio? Follow these steps:

1. Place the Flow Mixing Suite plug-in as an insert on any track or bus where you want to use Flow studio. If it’s on a mono track, insert the plug-in as “Mono to Stereo” or “Stereo”.
2. Press Track to select which track to work on using the Omni Knob on the center of the unit and press OK.
3. Press Flow and select a signal chain that fits your track by pressing OK.

That’s all you need to get started! The next step is to hit play and start working:

1. Turn the Omni Knob. This activates all parts of the signal chain - the result should be obvious and immediate!
2. Turn the four Flow Controls to your liking: These control different parts of the signal chain according to their names, which appear at the botton of the Flow Studio screen. Press Shift for the Flow Controls to change to second layer of controls.
3. The Action button lets you choose the mode for the Omni Knob. If you need to adjust Input or Output Volume, hit Action and adjust the volume.
4. If you want to hear more clearly what your track now sounds like, press Solo to listen to only your selected track.
5. You don’t have to open the plug-in window. It’s enough to just place it on the track to control it through the hardware.
6. Select another track and keep going!

You should always use the VST3 version of the plug-in, unless you are using Logic Pro (AU) or Pro Tools (AAX). Use only one single plug-in per track: Track numbers in the DAW are unique for Flow Studio, so only one plug-in can be used per track. Having more than one will lead to unexpected consequences.

General Functions

Menus

To navigate in menus, such as Track, Flow, or Settings, use the Omni Knob, along with Solo/OK and Mute/Cancel, to select your choice. Alternatively, Next/Prev can be used to move to the adjacent item in the list.

OSD

Opens the On-Screen Display on your computer screen. The OSD is like a large secondary screen that you can use for a quick overview of your session and the track that you're working on.

The bottom section shows the tracks in your session, including solo/mute states. The side sections show information related to the current track: Input and output metering and levels, pan, and sends. The center section shows Flow, Detail, and DAW Mode specific functions and visualizations.

Display

Toggles the default visualization that the screen returns to after a Flow Control visualization. This visualization is only visible in Flow mode.

Favorites

Favorites is a way to easily access the Flows, tracks, and plug-in parameters that are most commonly used.

• Favorites: Marks an item as Favorite, indicated by a star.
• Favorites Show: Displays the items marked as favorites.

Track

Displays the list of tracks in your session. Tracks that have a Flow plug-in as an insert show the name of the loaded Flow to the right, or the name of the Flow plug-in if no Flow is loaded. Tracks that have no plug-in loaded show DAW. If your DAW supports Direct DAW Control you will be able to select any track and control some of the DAW functions. Otherwise, you will only be able to select tracks with a Flow plug-in.

When selecting a track, Flow Studio enters the Mode (Flow, Detail, or DAW) that was last selected.

Compact

To only show tracks that have a loaded Flow plug-in, hold Shift and press Detail.

Bypass

Bypasses the sound of the loaded Flow. Only relevant if a plug-in is inserted on the track.

Solo/Mute

Activates solo/mute in the DAW. Some DAW's need a plug-in inserted for this to be available, while others don't. See DAW Control for more information.

Settings

The settings menu contains all user settings for Flow Studio. The reference for all settings can be found in the section Flow Studio Settings below.

Save

Saves the current Flow as a User Preset. This opens the On-screen Display for file management. User preset can be loaded from the Flow Selector (see below).

Flow Mode

To enable Flow mode, a Flow plug-in needs to be inserted on the track.

Flow mode button

Toggles between displaying:

• Flow Selector: A list of Flows that can be selected
• Flow: The Flow loaded on the current track.

Flow Selector

This is where all installed Flows are listed, including built-in and user created Flows.

Filter

Flow Controls 1 and 2, from the left Flow Studio, can be used to filter the selection.

• Flow Control 1: Filters Flows on category, such as Drums or Vocals.
• Flow Control 2: Filters built-in Flows based on the label "Factory", filters user created Flows based on the label "User", and filters user favorites based on the label "Favorites".

Flow

Displays the Flow loaded on the current track. This is where you make changes to the sound by turning the four Flow Controls.

Top Row

The top row shows track number and color, track name, favorite track marker (if set), and the name of the loaded Flow (or the name of the Flow plug-in, if no Flow is loaded).

Meters

Green input meter for the currently selected track is shown to the left, and green output to the right. The rightmost blue meter is a gain reduction meter.

Flow Controls

A Flow Control is a very powerful macro control that can adjust several parameters in several plug-ins with a single turn. Flow Controls 1 to 4 can be used to control macro functions in the Flow, according to the top row of names found at the bottom of the screen.

• Shift: Access a second layer of Flow Controls, if available in the Flow.
• Touch: Displays information about the function and the plug-in parameters it controls.
• Double tap: Return to the default value.
• Grayed out: If the Flow Control name is grayed out, the Flow Control macro is broken. See Parameter Linking for more information.

Visualization

The center of the screen shows a visualization that is specific for the Flow control.

Action

Toggles the mode of the Omni Knob.

Omni Knob

Controls Omni Mode or Volume, depending on the mode set by Action (see above).

Tip! Omni Mode is a powerful way to quickly audition the Flow. Turn the Omni Knob and listen for any sound that becomes "too much" (for example distortion or reverb), and then tweak the associated Flow Control to your liking.

• Omni Mode: The Omni Knob controls all Flow Controls in the Flow.
• Output Volume: The Omni Knob controls the output volume. In most DAWs, this is the DAW fader output on the track. In certain DAWs, it controls the output volume of the Flow plug-in instead. See DAW Control for your specific DAW.
• Input Volume: The Omni Knob controls the input volume of the Flow plug-in.

It's important to have a suitable input volume for the Flow to sound best. It is recommended to keep the peak input volume between -12 to -6 dB, as indicated by the "box" in the input volume visualization.

Display

As a Flow Control is turned, the screen will show a visulalization specific for that control. Afterwards, the screen will show the default visualization selected by pressing Display.

Detail Mode

To enable Detail mode, a Flow plug-in needs to be inserted on the track.

Detail

Toggles between displaying:

• Signal chain: A list of all plug-ins in the signal chain and their parameter sets.
• Detail: The currently selected parameter set. This can be from one specific plug-in in the chain or any specific parameters you want to control.

Signal Chain

This view shows the plug-ins present in the signal chain and their respective parameter set.

Flow Controls

Flow Controls 1 to 4 can be used to control the selected parameter set row directly from the list. Press Shift to toggle the selected row.

Load parameter set

Use the Omni Knob and press OK to choose a parameter set to be loaded into Detail Mode.

Action

Toggles between only showing one row of parameters for the plug-ins, and showing the full parameter set.

Favorites

Select a parameter by touching a corresponding Flow Control. Press Favorites to mark this parameter as a favorite. Your favorite parameters will show up at the top of the signal chain list under Front Page.

Bypass

You can bypass a plug-in in the signal chain. This is done by selecting a row, then holding shift and pressing Bypass.

Tip! Favorites is a powerful way to build a custom set of important plug-in parameters that you want fast access to via the Front Page. Note that you can select parameters from different plug-ins in the chain.

Detail

Sometimes you need more control than what Flow Mode offers. This is when you use Detail Mode. From this view you can use Flow Controls to edit specific parameters of plug-ins that are in the signal chain.

Top Row

The top row shows track number and color, track name, favorite track marker (if set), and the name of the plug-in that contains the selected parameter set.

Meters

Green input meter for the currently selected track is shown to the left, and green output to the right. The rightmost blue meter is a gain reduction meter.

Flow Controls

Flow Controls 1 to 4 can be used to control the selected parameter set row.

• Shift: Access a second layer of parameters, if available.
• Double tap: Return to the default value.
• Parameter link: If a parameter is connected to a Flow Control, a closed chain link symbol is displayed next to the parameter name. If the symbol is an open chain link, it means that the parameter has been unlinked from the Flow Control. See Parameter Linking for more information.
• Grayed out: If the Flow Control name is grayed out, the Flow Control macro is broken. See Parameter Linking for more information.

Visualization

The center of the screen shows a visualization that is specific for the selected plug-in.

Omni Knob

Scrolls through the rows of parameters for the selected plug-in or Front Page.

Tip! The Equalizers plug-in has a custom view in detail mode. Scrolling through the parameter rows using the Omni Knob highlights the currently selected band of the EQ. This makes it easy to find the band you want to eq, and then use the Flow Controls to adjust gain, frequency or Q.

DAW Mode

In DAW mode the user can access specific DAW functions like Pan, Volume and Sends. The available functions depend on which DAW you are using. See DAW Control for more information.

Enabling DAW mode displays the DAW mode screen.

Top Row

The top row shows track number and color, track name, favorite track marker (if set), and the name of the DAW.

Flow Controls

Flow Controls 1 to 4 can be used to control the availale DAW parameters.

• Shift: Access a second layer of parameters, if available.
• Double tap: Return to the default value.
• Pan: Flow Control 1 controls the DAW's Pan (if available).
• Sends: Flow Controls 2-4 controls DAW Sends (if available).

Omni Knob

Controls output volume (DAW fader if available, otherwise the Flow plug-in output).

DAW Control

Most DAWs support DAW Control which allows you to use certain functions within the DAW from Flow Studio. Please see https://www.softube.com/user-manuals/daw-control for detailed information.

Parameter Linking

Plug-in parameters are linked to Flow Controls in the Flow plug-in, and the linked paramters can be viewed on the Flow Studio screen by touching and holding a Flow Control, or by hovering the Flow Control in the Flow plug-in.

It is possible to override a Flow control by adjusting a linked parameter directly from Flow Studio. If this happens, the macro is broken and the Flow Control name will turn gray. Adjusting the Flow Control again will in turn override this setting.

If you wish to unlink a parameter from the Flow Control, it is possible to do so by enabling the Unlink parameter when breaking Flow Control macros setting. Parameters can also be unlinked by using the Flow plug-in.

Flow Studio Settings

Flow Studio

Contains specific settings for the Flow Studio hardware.

• Show Flow control info on touch: Enable/disable touching and holding a Flow Control to display contextual information about the control.

• Omni Knob default mode: This is the mode that the Omni Knob will be in before pressing Action to change the mode. You can choose between Omni mode and Output volume, as these are the most commonmy used modes.

• Flow visualization timer: The time elapsed before the screen returns from showing the specific Flow Control visualization to the default visualization set by Display.

• Unlink parameter when breaking Flow Control macros: When enabled, a warning appears that prompts the user to confirm that they want to unlink the parameter. See Parameters and Flow Controls for more information.

• Use sticky filters in Flow selector: When enabled, the last filtered selection will remain when selecting Flows.

Analyzer Mode

Select the decay smoothing of the frequency analyzer. Default is “Hold Average.”

• Fast: Quick updates, useful to discover problem areas.
• Slow: Slower updates which correspond more to how we experience differences in sound levels over different frequencies.
• Hold Average: This section will calculate the average frequency response over a very long period of time and is useful to see the overall frequency response of a song or to find troublesome resonances.
• Hold Peak: Same as Hold Average, but with a preference to emphasize peak values in the frequency spectrum. Useful to see the overall frequency response of a song or to find troublesome resonances.

Analyzer Position

Select if the frequency analyzer should be placed at the input, output, or to disable it. Default is on output.

Analyzer Blocksize

Blocksize is a trade-off between update speed and frequency resolution. A higher block size will lead to a frequency analyzer that is slower to react to audio changes but has a better frequency resolution. Default is 2048.

• 1024: 40 Hz frequency resolution, updated 40 times per second.
• 2048: 20 Hz frequency resolution, updated 20 times per second.
• 4096: 10 Hz frequency resolution, updated 10 times per second.

DAW Settings

Settings specific for how Flow Studio communicates with the DAW.

• DAW Control Settings: Turn on/off features related to how Flow Studio communicates with the DAW (DAW Control). Only applicable for DAWs with DAW Control.

DAW Control

Turn DAW Control on/off. Turning it off will disable DAW Volume, DAW Pan, Sends, etc.

Track Number

Turn on/off automatic track numbering.

Track Selection

Turn on/off mutual track selection. When you select a track in the DAW, it will get selected in Flow Studio and vice versa.

Track Color

Turn on/off automatic track coloring.

• Rename tracks...: Rename the tracks. Only applicable with DAWs that don’t support track name and number.
• Rearrange tracks...: Move/reorder tracks. Only applicable with DAWs that don’t support track name and number.

Not all DAW Settings options are available for all DAWs.

Software Settings

Contains general settings for Softube On-screen Display.

• Set current window position as default: Save the position of the On-Screen Display as default.
• Set auto display delay: Set the amount of time before the On-Screen Display disappears in Display Auto mode.

Hardware Settings

Contains general settings for the Flow Studio hardware.

• LED brightness: Sets the brightness of the LEDs on the Flow Studio hardware. If the unit is in Low Power Mode, it might not be possible to set the LEDs to the brightest setting. Press OK to toggle through preset values, or hold Shift while scrolling with Volume/Select to set value. Press Cancel to exit the menu.

• Hardware display brightness: Sets the brightness of the screen on the Flow Studio hardware. Press OK to toggle through preset values, or hold Shift while scrolling with Volume/Select to set value. Press Cancel to exit the menu.

• Time showing clock before sleep: When Flow Studio is not used, it shows a clock on its screen. This sets how long the clock is shown before the unit turns off and goes to sleep.

• Enable reset value on double tap: Engage to set the current parameter to its default value when the knob cap is double tapped.

System Info

Shows and copies system information regarding Flow Studio.

• Copy system info: Copy all relevant, and de-personalized, information to the copy/paste clipboard, so that you can easily paste it into an email in case you need to contact support.
• Open legal notices: Show legal notices, licenses, and copyrights for third party libraries. Opens in a separate window.
• About Flow Studio: Shows version info of software and hardware.

About Flow Studio is a good way to trouble shoot DAW Control and Direct DAW Control. At the bottom of the text it will say which features (for example DAW Track Selection) are currently being used in the DAW, and it will also state which Direct DAW Control protocol is being used (for example "Steinberg MIDI Remote" or "Pro Tools PTSCL").

Credits

Everyone at Softube has contributed to developing and bringing this product to market!