MNDALA 2: Desbloqueando el Poder del Motor de Sonido Animista de MNTRA Instruments

Here’s how to get started with MANTRA’s MNDALA 2 sound engine and how to get the most out of it. There aren’t many instruments that look like MNDALA 2. The sound engine from MNTRA Instruments is a sample player like Kontakt, but it very much follows its own rules. The Perform View, emphasis on sound-morphing axes, and unique visual language offer a new way to work with sampled instruments. You may feel a little intimidated the first time you load it up but don’t worry. Once you know the lay of the land, you’ll soon be taking advantage of all of the flexible parameters that MNDALA 2 offers. MNDALA 2 Overview MNDALA 2 is a free sound engine from MNTRA Instruments. Designed to play the company’s proprietary sample packs, it features a distinct visual language that may be unfamiliar at first. However, much like visiting a foreign country, once you understand how the local customs work, you’ll find yourself on firm footing. MNDALA 2 is like this. It’s got everything that you already know, like samples, modulators, effects and sequencers, just presented via a unique GUI. The main thing to remember is that MNDALA 2 is focused on Real-Time Parameter Controls, or RTPCs. These are expressed through three axes of macro-like controls, with almost everything within the engine mapping to them. Once you understand this, the rest should fall in line. And if you ever get lost, look to the lower left when mousing over a button or parameter for a helpful explanation. Samples, Browser and Library Once you have the free engine installed, navigate to the Library. This is where you can download the instruments. There are both free and paid instruments, but they all sound really good. This is because MNDALA 2 can handle Extended Resolution Audio and ultrasonic content recorded at 32-bit/384kHz. After choosing the library (and paying, if necessary), you’ll be prompted to choose a location for the sample download. You’ll need to do this each time you acquire a new library. Once downloaded, head to the Preset Browser (accessible from the upper left corner), where you can choose the Instrument, Type, Character, and Preset. You can also modify existing presets and subfolders, and create your own. MNDALA 2 Library view Perform View The Perform View is the main screen for MNDALA 2. Sort of like the Play View on Pigments, the Perform View is where you do the work of composing. This is also where you get to enjoy the work of MNTRA’s art department, as each instrument has a gorgeous image that moves as you engage with the three macros. So, about those macros. As indicated before, MNDALA 2 is all about the three axes . As each preset can be comprised of up to six sample layers, each with its own modulation, effects, and sequencers, plus global effects, things can get complicated. By bringing everything together in the three global controls, you can concentrate on playing and composing rather than on individual parameter changes. The three nameable macros are presented as a trio of axes, X, Y and Z, and represented by an equal sign, triangle, and circle, respectively. Remember these symbols, as they’ll appear throughout the GUI, indicating how you can tie a parameter to that macro. You can access the axes in the Perform View by dragging on the three translucent sliders on the left, mousing over the main graphic, or via a MIDI controller. Now would be a good time to map those macros to your MIDI controller. You can also automate them from within your DAW. Perform View [quote align=right text="The main thing to remember is that MNDALA 2 is focused on Real-Time Parameter Controls, or RTPCs"] Matrix Page Work on the axes starts on the Matrix page, which is the next tab to the right from Perform. Here you can make adjustments to the volume and pan of each of the six sampler lanes for the X and Y axes. The rows have individual gain and pan tables for each axis. The left of the table is the starting position of the macro, the right is the ending position. The table defaults to a ramp rising to the right but you can configure this any way that you like. Click on the square icon at the bottom right to enlarge the table for more precise adjustments. Here you’ll find preset shapes. You can also make custom shapes by clicking on the line to create nodes and then dragging. Pull on the line for curves. You’ll also notice graphics of the circle, triangle, and equal signs on the right of the screen. These grant remote access to the axes so you can test how your macro programming is coming along. You’ll find these shapes on other pages, too. Matrix Page Samplers The Samplers page is where the synthesis takes place. If you’ve ever programmed your own sounds on a synthesizer, then you should feel at home in this section. Again, you have the six possible samplers arranged in a column on the left. Choose the sample - or more accurately, sample map, as it may contain multiple articulations - and then edit it with the parameters on the right. There are too many to cover them all in this walkthrough, but some that you’ll recognize include tables for adjusting Velocity Range and Velocity to Gain (only available when a sample map offers multiple dynamics), tuning and vibrato, an envelope with AHDSR (Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain, Release) points, and Sample Start Modulation for using velocity to alter sample playback starting position, as well as the Multi Mic Mixer, Heat saturation, and EQ settings, the latter three of which are located next to the sample volume knob. You may have noticed that some parameters feature a link button, like the envelope and portamento. Click this to force all samplers within the preset to conform to the same indicated parameter settings. Below these controls are slots for a Generator and three effects, with a fifth slot (called Shaper) reserved for a future update. Generators are synthesizer-style oscillators, and can be added to a sample or used on their own with no sample loaded. There are three types: Additive, FM and a Simple Synth, which is a VA-style single oscillator with sine, triangle, square, saw and noise shapes. The three Colours slots are reserved for stereo effects, with a massive list of effect types that run the gamut from reverbs and delays to filters, modulation types and compressors. Choose a type and up to three parameters will appear below it. Adjust these by dragging on the graphic, and then pin the dry/wet to the axes or modulators (more on these soon). Along with the three per-sample effects, MNDALA 2 gives you five stereo buss effects available under the Global FX tab. Samplers Sequencers MNDALA 2 offers a comprehensive step sequencer section. This provides a separate sequencer for each sampler, with lanes for Note, Velocity, and Length. Click the link button to standardize these three settings across all samplers in the preset . There are also randomize and reset buttons for each lane. At the bottom, you can dial in shuffle, speed (synced to DAW tempo), number of steps, and Stride. Stride defines the number of sequencer steps between each note. For example, a setting of 2 will play the sequencer note every other beat, while 1 will hit it every time. Sequencers AniMod Global Modulation System Much like a synthesizer, MNDALA 2 lets you control instrument parameters via modulators. To access the AniMod Global Modulation System, click on the word ‘AniMod’ in the lower right corner. Once inside AniMod, you can use the source modulators to affect targets as assigned in each sampler. There are six modulation sources, arranged in a column on the left. Each has its own set of controls. Shape does what you assume, with sine, triangle, square, random, custom, and stepped types. Custom gives you the opportunity to draw points on a viewer to define your own shape. You can also set the speed and intensity of each modulator, and assign them to the X, Y, and Z axes. Use the Paths window to monitor assignment information. Tuning Lastly, you can adjust a variety of tuning parameters in the Tuning section, accessible by clicking on the tuning fork graphic in the lower right-hand corner. You can set tuning on a per-sampler basis; click the link button to conform tuning across all samplers. There is a variety of tuning presets available. You can also make your own manually in the editor. Find out more about MNDALA 2 on the MNTRA Instruments website. There's also a tonne of free tools you can grab too here . While you're here, we recently hosted Brian D'Oliveira on the Attack Podcast . Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . [social-links heading="Follow Attack Magazine" facebook="https://www.facebook.com/attackmag" twitter="https://twitter.com/attackmag1" instagram="https://www.instagram.com/attackmag/" youtube="https://www.youtube.com/user/attackmag" soundcloud="https://soundcloud.com/attackmag" tiktok="https://www.tiktok.com/@attackmagazine"] [product-collection]