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TipTop Audio Z-DSP Time Fabric Cartridge

Tiptop Audio

£59.00
In stock.
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Shipping info
This collection of Pitch Programs for the Tiptop Audio Z-DSP module use a pitch shifting algorithm
much like the earliest digital pitch shifters released. Sounds similar to the Eventide H910,
AMS 15-80 (with Pitch board) and Publison DHM 89 can be achieved. These programs are
intended more for pure effects rather than the complex multiple harmony lines later devices
and plugins became known for producing. Chords from single VCOs can easily be made using
the ‘Interval’ programs on the card though.

Pitch shifting in the Z-DSP uses a technique called ‘rotating tape head’ delay lines named after
pioneering tape based experiments in Germany in the 1960s. The tape heads move at speeds
independent of the tape playback path and two heads are crossfaded to make a continuous
output. Much of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s output of that era heavily (ab)uses the two tape
machine method of changing pitch. Digital memory and processing allows the same method
by manipulating two playback positions in memory and crossfading them using DSP. This is a
fairly primitive process compared to what can be done today using FFTs (phase vocoder) and
Time Compression and Expansion, but there is a certain sound associated with it that is undeniably
classic.

The first 6 programs all use the same basic algorithm for independent processing of the Left
and Right Inputs on the Z-DSP. The algorithm looks like this:
Left In ---> Pitch Shifter ---> Delay Line ---> Left Output ---> [Analog Feedback to Left In]
Right In ---> Pitch Shifter ---> Delay Line ---> Right Output ---> [Analog Feedback to Right In]
The differences in the programs come from the controls and their ranges to give more access to
certain parameters of the algorithm and make certain effects easier to create.
The delay lines have roughly 500ms of delay on the Left and 250ms on the Right channel. This
gives a nice 2:1 rhythmic effect to the delay.

How much is my shipping?

Shipping is automatically calculated before you submit your payment information. Simply add items to your cart and proceed to the checkout page, where you'll be offered shipping options and their prices. In the UK it's normally around £4 for order values under £150, and free above that. Shipping to mainland EU is typically between £7 and £20, depending on the shipping method and the size and weight of the order.

Do you ship to my country?

Almost certainly - the site will give you an estimate of shipping costs if you add an item to the cart and then enter your country and postcode. If you have specific requirements (such as if you prefer UPS over FedEx, for example) then let us know in advance and we'll try to work something out for you.

Shipping methods

We use a combination of Parcelforce, DPD, Royal Mail and UPS for the UK, and for international orders it's either Royal Mail, UPS, DHL or FedEx depending on where you are in the world. If you have a particular preference then try to let us know BEFORE you order so we can look into it for you. Please note that there may occasionally be additional shipping charges if you live in a remote area, depending on what surcharges are applied by the shipper. We'll get in touch to discuss this with you in such cases.

Dispatch times

For UK orders, we normally dispatch the same working day if we get the order before 15:00. If you have a really urgent situation then of course drop us an email before ordering and we'll always do our absolute best to accommodate you.

For international orders, we normally dispatch the same day if we get the order before 13:00 but again, occasionally it might be the next day before we can send it out, and sometimes FedEx or UPS may come a little earlier than scheduled which would also push an order into the next day.

Shipping times

Since April 2020 the couriers we use have suspended guarantees for shipping times, so even though we're paying them for priority services - 24-48 hours for most of the world - in practice it's often an extra day on top and sometimes it can be longer.

There is absolutely nothing we can do about this unfortunately. If you are outside the UK and it's a life-or-death situation where you absolutely MUST have that passive mult for the next day then... it may be better to find a local supplier.

Saturday shipping

If you're in the UK and you order before 15:30 on a Friday then we can send something for a Saturday delivery (NB: this applies to UK mainland addresses only). The success rate with DPD is about 95% so it's worth a punt most of the time. Please note that if you select Saturday shipping on an order placed earlier in the week, we'll wait until Friday to ship it.

Pre-orders

If a product is listed as a pre-order, it means we've ordered it from the supplier but it's not physically in stock yet. The product listing will include an estimated shipping date based on the best information we have from the supplier, but do bear in mind this is subject to change and is not a guaranteed date.

If you place an order containing a mixture of in-stock and pre-order items, we'll normally hold off on shipping anything until the pre-order item(s) have arrived, rather than splitting it into multiple shipments. If you need the in-stock items sooner, we'd recommend placing separate orders. As always, please get in touch if you have questions.

Product Overview

This collection of Pitch Programs for the Tiptop Audio Z-DSP module use a pitch shifting algorithm
much like the earliest digital pitch shifters released. Sounds similar to the Eventide H910,
AMS 15-80 (with Pitch board) and Publison DHM 89 can be achieved. These programs are
intended more for pure effects rather than the complex multiple harmony lines later devices
and plugins became known for producing. Chords from single VCOs can easily be made using
the ‘Interval’ programs on the card though.

Pitch shifting in the Z-DSP uses a technique called ‘rotating tape head’ delay lines named after
pioneering tape based experiments in Germany in the 1960s. The tape heads move at speeds
independent of the tape playback path and two heads are crossfaded to make a continuous
output. Much of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s output of that era heavily (ab)uses the two tape
machine method of changing pitch. Digital memory and processing allows the same method
by manipulating two playback positions in memory and crossfading them using DSP. This is a
fairly primitive process compared to what can be done today using FFTs (phase vocoder) and
Time Compression and Expansion, but there is a certain sound associated with it that is undeniably
classic.

The first 6 programs all use the same basic algorithm for independent processing of the Left
and Right Inputs on the Z-DSP. The algorithm looks like this:
Left In ---> Pitch Shifter ---> Delay Line ---> Left Output ---> [Analog Feedback to Left In]
Right In ---> Pitch Shifter ---> Delay Line ---> Right Output ---> [Analog Feedback to Right In]
The differences in the programs come from the controls and their ranges to give more access to
certain parameters of the algorithm and make certain effects easier to create.
The delay lines have roughly 500ms of delay on the Left and 250ms on the Right channel. This
gives a nice 2:1 rhythmic effect to the delay.

Technical Specs

Shipping Details

How much is my shipping?

Shipping is automatically calculated before you submit your payment information. Simply add items to your cart and proceed to the checkout page, where you'll be offered shipping options and their prices. In the UK it's normally around £4 for order values under £150, and free above that. Shipping to mainland EU is typically between £7 and £20, depending on the shipping method and the size and weight of the order.

Do you ship to my country?

Almost certainly - the site will give you an estimate of shipping costs if you add an item to the cart and then enter your country and postcode. If you have specific requirements (such as if you prefer UPS over FedEx, for example) then let us know in advance and we'll try to work something out for you.

Shipping methods

We use a combination of Parcelforce, DPD, Royal Mail and UPS for the UK, and for international orders it's either Royal Mail, UPS, DHL or FedEx depending on where you are in the world. If you have a particular preference then try to let us know BEFORE you order so we can look into it for you. Please note that there may occasionally be additional shipping charges if you live in a remote area, depending on what surcharges are applied by the shipper. We'll get in touch to discuss this with you in such cases.

Dispatch times

For UK orders, we normally dispatch the same working day if we get the order before 15:00. If you have a really urgent situation then of course drop us an email before ordering and we'll always do our absolute best to accommodate you.

For international orders, we normally dispatch the same day if we get the order before 13:00 but again, occasionally it might be the next day before we can send it out, and sometimes FedEx or UPS may come a little earlier than scheduled which would also push an order into the next day.

Shipping times

Since April 2020 the couriers we use have suspended guarantees for shipping times, so even though we're paying them for priority services - 24-48 hours for most of the world - in practice it's often an extra day on top and sometimes it can be longer.

There is absolutely nothing we can do about this unfortunately. If you are outside the UK and it's a life-or-death situation where you absolutely MUST have that passive mult for the next day then... it may be better to find a local supplier.

Saturday shipping

If you're in the UK and you order before 15:30 on a Friday then we can send something for a Saturday delivery (NB: this applies to UK mainland addresses only). The success rate with DPD is about 95% so it's worth a punt most of the time. Please note that if you select Saturday shipping on an order placed earlier in the week, we'll wait until Friday to ship it.

Pre-orders

If a product is listed as a pre-order, it means we've ordered it from the supplier but it's not physically in stock yet. The product listing will include an estimated shipping date based on the best information we have from the supplier, but do bear in mind this is subject to change and is not a guaranteed date.

If you place an order containing a mixture of in-stock and pre-order items, we'll normally hold off on shipping anything until the pre-order item(s) have arrived, rather than splitting it into multiple shipments. If you need the in-stock items sooner, we'd recommend placing separate orders. As always, please get in touch if you have questions.