CCStepper

User Guide

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© 2018 CodeFN42
 CCStepper - User Guide

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

System Requirements 4

Installation 4

Setting up CCStepper in your DAW 5

Change scaling and skin 6

User Interface 7

User interface controls 7

Drop-down menus 8
Numeric input boxes 8
Check boxes 9

Editing Parameters 10

Selecting sequence 10

Setting number of steps, rate and other parameters 10

Steps 10
Channel (Ch) 10
CC# 11
Rate 11
Type 11
Order 11
Trigger 12
Smooth 12

Editing the sequence data 13

Randomize values 13

Sequence menu 14

Increase/decrease step values 15

Shift steps left/right 15

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MIDI CC Teach 16
To use the CC Teach feature 16

MIDI Control / Automation 17

To assign a MIDI CC message with MIDI learn 17
To assign a specific MIDI CC message 17
To remove a MIDI CC assignment 17

Presets 18
To save a preset 18
To load a preset 18
To delete a preset 18
To open the presets folder 18

Moving the data folder 19

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Introduction

CCStepper is a VST MIDI CC data sequencer plugin, suitable for controlling MIDI
capable software (soft synths or effects) or external hardware devices. CCStepper lets
you create up to 8 independent sequences with up to 128 steps each, and can either be
synced to your host or triggered by MIDI notes. The step rate can be set from 1/128
notes and up to 32 bars, and various randomization features allows you to create
unpredictable sequences.

System Requirements
To use CCStepper you need a VST2 compatible 32-bit or 64-bit DAW (Digital Audio
Workstation) running on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10.

Installation
To install CCStepper, simply open the downloaded zip file and extract the dll file to your
VST plugin folder (CCStepper32.dll if you use a 32-bit host, or CCStepper.dll if you use
a 64-bit host).

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Setting up CCStepper in your DAW

CCStepper is a MIDI only VST plugin. It does not produce any sound of its own. You
need to route the MIDI output to the synth/effect you want to control, and set it up so it
receives MIDI data if you want to trigger the sequence by incoming MIDI notes. How
easy (or even possible) it is to do this depends on your DAW's MIDI routing capabilities.

NOTE: CCStepper will generate MIDI CC data (Continuous Controller messages), not
MIDI notes. MIDI CC can for example be used to control a synth's filter or the feedback
of a delay. For more information about MIDI CC messages, see
electronicmusic.wikia.com.

Generally, you should add CCStepper to a new MIDI or instrument track. This is the
same procedure you would follow adding any VST instrument in your DAW. Then you
will have to route the output from CCStepper to another VST instrument, effect or
external hardware. If you are not sure how to do this, please refer to your DAW's
documentation.

NOTE: For detailed instructions on how to set up MIDI routing in some popular DAWs,
please see the FAQ on our website.

An alternative is to use a modular plugin that lets you route MIDI data between VST
plugins, for example DDMF Metaplugin, Blue Cat PatchWork or ImageLine Minihost
Modular.

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Change scaling and skin

You can select between five different scalings: 100%, 125%, 150%, 175% and 200%.

In addition, you can select Auto. This will auto select scaling based on the current
Windows scaling (and, if you move the plugin window between monitors with different
scalings, the plugin scaling will automatically change).

To change scaling, select the desired scaling from the main menu.

You can select between five different GUI skins from the main menu.

You must close and re-open the plugin window for the skin changes to take effect.

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User Interface

In the upper left corner of the plugin window you find the main menu. From this menu
you can initialize the plugin (reset all parameters), load and save presets, configure
MIDI CC assignments, and change GUI scaling and skin, etc.

In the middle you see the preset button. This shows the name of the current preset if it
is named. Click this button to open the 'Load Preset' panel. For more information on
how to work with presets, see the Presets chapter in this user guide.

In the upper right corner you find the info panel. This shows information about the
parameter you are editing.

Below you find the main section with all the parameters you can edit, including the step
sequencer. You find more information on this in the "Editing Parameters" section.

User interface controls

There are three basic types of user interface controls. How to edit the actual sequencer
will be explained in the next section ("Editing Parameters").

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Drop-down menus
For example, Trigger.

To select a value, simply click, then select from the drop-down menu.

Hold down the Ctrl key and click to select the default value.

Numeric input boxes

For example, Steps.

There are several ways to change the value:

 Click with the mouse, then drag up (to increase the value) or down (to decrease
the value). To slow down the selection, hold down the Shift key while you drag
(fine tuning).
 Position the mouse cursor over the control, then use the mouse wheel.
 Right-click and select a value from the popup menu.

 Double click, or right-click and choose Enter Value from the popup menu, to
manually enter a value.

Hold down the Ctrl key and click to select the default value.

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Check boxes
For example, Smooth.

Simply click to turn the parameter on or off.

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Editing Parameters

Selecting sequence
CCStepper lets you create up to 8 independent sequences. You change the active
sequence with the buttons numbered 1 to 8 to the left. If a sequence is active the
number is underlined.

By default, only sequence #1 is active. To activate or deactivate a sequence, click the

on/off switch to the left of the sequence title.

You can edit the sequence title by right-clicking the title and then choosing Edit Title
from the popup menu (or simply double-click the title).

Setting number of steps, rate and other parameters

Steps
This is the number of steps in the sequence. Can be from 1 step and up to 128 steps (1
step can be useful if you randomize the step value).

Channel (Ch)
The MIDI channel (1 to 16) to send the CC data to.

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CC#
The MIDI Control Change message number (0 - 127). Some of these are predefined, for
example #1 to control the mod wheel. By default, CC# 20-27 is used for sequence 1
through 8.

Use MIDI CC Teach to link a CC message number of a sequence to a specific

parameter in the synth/effect you want to control. For more information about this, see
the "MIDI CC Teach" section.

Rate
This is step rate that determines the length of each step. The quarter note (1/4) will
advance the sequencer one step per beat, an eighth note (1/8) is twice as fast, etc.
Possible values go from 1/128 (128th notes) and up to 32/1 (each step lasts 32 bars).

Type
You can choose between normal, dotted or triplet times.

Order
This determines the order of the steps:

 Forward - From the first to the last step.

 Forward < - From the first to the last step, then back to the first step.
 Backward - From the last step to the first step.
 Backward > - From the last step to the first step, then back to the last step.
 Each 2nd - Will skip every other step. For sequences with an even number of
steps, only step 1, 3, 5, ... will be executed. For sequences with an odd number
of steps, the first run through will execute step 1, 3, 5, ..., the next run through
will execute step 2, 4, 6, ..., then step 1, 3, 5, ... again, and so on.
 Each 3rd - Every third step will execute.
 Each 4th - Every fourth step will execute.
 Random - The steps are chosen totally at random. The same step may be
chosen twice in a row.
 Random Unique - The order of the steps are randomized, but the same step is
not chosen in the same run through. For example, if you have a sequence with 4
steps, and step 2 and 4 are chosen first, the next step will be either 1 or 3.
 Drunk - Same as Forward, but this option introduces jitter and random changes
of direction.

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 Drunk < - Same as Forward <, but this option introduces jitter and random
changes of direction.

Trigger
This controls how the sequence is triggered:

 Sync to Host - The sequence is synced to the host and will run as long as the
host's transport is running.
 Note - The sequence is triggered when a MIDI note is received. The sequence
will continue to run for as long as the note is playing.
 Note 1-Shot - The sequence will start when a MIDI note is received, but will
stop at the last step (or when the note stops).
 Note Retrigger - Same as the Note option, but the sequence will restart when a
new note is received.
 Note Retrigger 1-Shot - Same as the Note 1-Shot option, but the sequence will
restart when a new note is received.
 Note Step - The sequence will move one step for each incoming note/chord.
Note that when this option is selected the Type, Order and Smooth parameters
are ignored.

IMPORTANT: CCStepper will only generate CC data if the host transport is running.

Smooth
When Smooth is activated, the steps in the sequence are "smoothed out".

Here is an example with a sequence of 4 steps.

Smooth is on:

Smooth is off:

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Editing the sequence data

You set the value of each step in the sequencer with the mouse. Each step can have a
value between 0 and 127. Simply click, and drag up or down. While you hold down the
mouse you can also drag to the left or right to set the value of multiple steps. To slow
down the selection, hold down the Shift key while you drag (fine tuning).

Alternatively you can also use the mouse wheel to set a step value (makes it easier to
set an exact value).

Randomize values
CCStepper gives you the ability to randomize the value of each step. To add a
randomization range, hold down the Alt key while you change the value. The random
range has a different color.

For example, if the "normal" value is 63 (blue in example above) and the "random" value
is 127 (green), the actual value generated by CCStepper will vary between 63 and 127.

You can also manually enter values by right-clicking the sequencer and choosing Enter
Value from the popup menu. This will open the Enter Value window.

Here you can enter both the main value, and a random value, of a specific step.

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Click Apply to save the last edited step value and update the sequencer without closing
the window.

Click OK to save all changes and close the window.

Click Cancel to cancel ALL changes since you opened the window.

Click Prev or Next to edit the values of the previous or next step respectively.

Sequence menu
To the right of the sequencer you find the sequence menu.

This menu gives you various options to edit the active sequence. First of all, you can
reset all steps values to the default value (63) by choosing Default, and create new
values by random by choosing Randomize Values. Note that both commands will
remove all randomization values.

You can create various step shapes with the Ramp, Sine and Triangle options (the 1/2
options will create step values in the 0 - 63 range instead of 0 - 127).

Add Random lets you add the same random value to all steps.

Remove Random will remove all random values.

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Invert and Reverse will invert and reverse the sequence respectively.

Copy Steps will copy the steps to the Windows clipboard. You can then paste the steps
into another sequence with Paste Steps.

Increase/decrease step values

You can use the up and down arrow buttons to the right of the sequencer to increase or
decrease all step values (hold down the Alt key to edit the random values). Hold down
the Ctrl key to add or subtract 5 instead of 1 for each click.

Shift steps left/right

You can use the left and right arrow buttons to the right to shift the steps to the left or to
the right. Hold down the Ctrl key to shift the steps 5 steps at a time.

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MIDI CC Teach

Use the Teach CC function to link the MIDI CC data CCStepper outputs to the desired
parameter in the synth or effect you want to control.

NOTE: This will only work if the synth/effect has a midi learn feature!

To use the CC Teach feature

1. Make sure the DAW's transport is stopped.
2. Make sure the CC# parameter is set to the correct CC number.
3. Open the main menu in CCStepper, and choose MIDI CC Teach.
4. In the synth/effect you want to control, enable MIDI learn. This is usually done by
right-clicking the parameter (knob, slider, etc.) and choosing 'MIDI Learn' from
the popup menu.
5. The knob/slider/etc you want to control should now move.
6. Open the main menu in CCStepper again, and choose MIDI CC Teach again to
turn the CC teach feature off.

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MIDI Control / Automation

CCStepper can be remote-controlled / automated via MIDI messages from a hardware

controller, or from your DAW. MIDI learn is used to assign MIDI CC (continuous
controller) messages to CCStepper's parameters (controls).

NOTE: You can assign the same MIDI CC to different parameters, but you cannot
assign different MIDI CCs to the same parameter.

To assign a MIDI CC message with MIDI learn

1. Open the main menu and choose MIDI CC Learn.
2. Click on the control (for example the Rate list) you want to remote-control.
3. Move a knob or fader on your MIDI device.

To assign a specific MIDI CC message

1. Open the main menu and choose MIDI Set CC.
2. Click on the control you want assign the CC message to.
3. Enter the CC message number (from 0 to 127) and click OK.

This is useful if you if you know the CC message number to assign, for example a
standard CC message (like CC #1 for the mod wheel).

To remove a MIDI CC assignment

1. Open the main menu and choose MIDI CC Remove.
This will open a sub-menu that shows all currently assigned MIDI CC messages.
2. Choose the MIDI CC assignment you want to remove.

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Presets

To save a preset
1. Open the main menu and choose Save Preset.
2. Type the name you want to give the preset, and click OK.
The preset button shows the name of the preset you just saved.

NOTE: If you name the preset "init", it is automatically used when you choose Init from
the main menu to reset the plugin parameters, or add a new instance of the plugin.

To load a preset
1. Either open the main menu and choose Load Preset, or click the preset button.
You see the 'Load Preset' panel.
2. Select the preset you want to load and click OK (or simply double-click the preset
name).
The preset is loaded, and the preset button shows the name of the preset.

To delete a preset
1. Open the 'Load Preset' panel.
2. Right-click the preset you want to delete, and choose Delete from the popup
menu.

To open the presets folder

1. Open the 'Load Preset' panel.
2. Right-click the preset list and choose Show in Explorer from the popup menu.

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Moving the data folder

By default, the presets, and the plugin settings, are stored in your "Documents" folder in
a subfolder named "\CodeFN42\CCStepper".

The full path to the presets folder is usually

"C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\CodeFN42\ CCStepper \Presets".

If you would like to move the data folder, you can create a shortcut file that links to a
new folder location:

1. Right-click the Windows Desktop, and choose Create Shortcut from the popup
menu.
2. In the 'Create Shortcut' window, click the Browse button and specify the new
folder (for example "D:\Documents").

3. Click the Next button.

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4. Name the shortcut "CodeFN42_Data", then click the Finish button.

The shortcut file is created on your desktop.

5. You must now move this shortcut file to either the Documents folder, or the folder
the plugin is located in.
When you have done so, double-click the shortcut to make sure the correct folder
is opened.

NOTE: All plugins from CodeFN42 use the same shortcut file. In the folder the shortcut
links to, the CCStepper settings will be stored in a subfolder named "\CodeFN42\
CCStepper " and the presets in "\CodeFN42\ CCStepper \Presets".

NOTE: You must manually move any existing preset files to the new preset folder.

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