Version 5.2.0 (January 2024) | Back to fortinable.com
Groove Agent 5.2.0 is a multitimbral drum and beat production plug-in. It combines three distinct agent modules: Beat Agent, Acoustic Agent, and Percussion Agent. Up to four kits can be loaded simultaneously.
By default, Groove Agent loads with a stereo output. Up to 32 stereo outputs are available in Steinberg DAWs. To activate additional outputs: open the VST Instruments window, click the Activate Outputs button for the instrument, and enable the outputs you want. Each activated output creates a corresponding MixConsole channel.
Available in VST, AU (Audio Units), and AAX formats. In Logic Pro, load it as an AU instrument via the Track Mixer. In Pro Tools, use Inserts > multichannel plug-in > Instrument. Also runs as a standalone application.
Select multiple pads to edit their parameters simultaneously. If selected pads have different values, controls turn red to indicate mixed state. Complex controls (e.g., envelope editors) show only the focused pad's values. Drag the corona of an encoder to compress or expand the value range across all selected pads.
Two types: section/module presets (save a specific component) and VST presets (save the complete plug-in state). Factory presets are write-protected but may be overwritten on software updates. User presets are never changed by updates.
Assign via Options page > Key Commands. Hierarchical folder structure. Use the search field to find functions, type the shortcut in "Type in Key", then click Assign Key. Multiple key commands can be assigned to the same function.
Four kit slots allow any combination of agents simultaneously.
Contain all information to produce a drum kit sound: sliced loops, MIDI phrases, patterns or styles, and insert effects. Load and save via the kit rack or kit slot. Each kit carries information about which agent it uses.
A combination of up to four loaded kits. Allow agents to trigger a single global pattern pad together (e.g., Acoustic Agent style + Percussion Agent style). Load via the slot in the plug-in functions section.
Contain all Groove Agent settings: all four kits, MIDI patterns/styles, all insert and AUX effects. Also saved with the project. Load from the pop-up menu in the plug-in header.
MIDI patterns contain note and rhythm data. Styles are complex structures with multiple patterns for main, fill, ending, and intro sections.
At least one kit is required to produce sound. Ways to load:
Toggle between pad types with the button above the pads.
If you want to edit a style in the Pattern editor, it must be converted first. With the style's pad active and set up as desired, click Convert Style to MIDI Pattern on the Agent page. Performance settings are incorporated. Once converted, it can no longer be used in the Style Player.
Automation (Complexity, Intensity, etc.) will reflect live in all instances of the pattern.
The Overview page shows which kit contains which patterns, which pads they are mapped to, and which play simultaneously. Four columns = four kit slots; 16 slots = pattern pads for the selected pattern group.
Some Percussion Agent styles are in the Complements folder under Select Style, designed to pair with Acoustic Agent styles. Load an Acoustic Agent kit in slot 1 and a Percussion Agent kit in slot 2 (both without patterns). Assign matching styles. The percussion kit receives MIDI on channel 2.
If your host supports MIDI output from plug-ins, kits route to MIDI output ports Kit 1 through Kit 4.
After recording, dissolve the part according to MIDI channel to separate kits. Each kit's MIDI channel corresponds to its slot number.
Note Repeat repeats notes of a particular drum sound. Supports simple repeats (fixed interval) or complex phrase patterns with velocity and pitch curves. Each kit has its own Note Repeat settings, so multiple kits can perform different repeats on dedicated MIDI channels simultaneously. Note Repeat output is also sent to Groove Agent's MIDI output, allowing you to record repeats or trigger external plug-ins.
Open via: Perform tab in the edit display.
Active -- Activates all Note Repeat parameters.
Sync -- If on, repeat notes always start on the next valid note position relative to song position. If off, repeats start immediately.
Mono -- If on, only the last note played is repeated. Default: all triggered instruments are repeated simultaneously.
Trigger Source -- Keys: assign a key; Controllers: assign a MIDI CC.
Low Key / High Key -- Limits which notes are affected. Notes outside this range play normally. Useful for complex hihat patterns without repeating kick or snare from the same kit.
Velocity Controller -- Constant (127), Velocity (from trigger note), MIDI Controller, Aftertouch, Poly Pressure. Note: Poly Pressure generates repeats if value is above 0 even without a MIDI note.
Fetch -- When using aftertouch/poly pressure/CC: if on, the first note defines the initial velocity and controller takes over when it exceeds that value. If off, velocities are set directly from the controller.
Note Repeat Variation Buttons 1-8 -- Up to 8 different Note Repeat configurations. Pattern pad trigger notes take priority over variation trigger notes when they share the same key.
MIDI Follow -- If on, switching variations also switches the editor display.
Activate with the Active button. Use VEL to display velocity values per step; use PITCH to display pitch modulation curve.
Phrase -- Select from available phrases.
Swing -- Shifts timing of even-numbered beats. Negative = earlier; positive = later.
Number of Steps -- Drag the handle right/left to set phrase length (max 32 steps).
MIDI Controller -- When pitch curve is shown, selects the CC used for pitch modulation. Assign the same CC on the pad's Pitch page to affect samples.
Leave kit slot 1 empty (generates notes). Open the Perform page for slot 1 and activate Note Repeat. Load the drum kit in slot 2. Route the first DAW track to kit slot 1. Set the second track's input to Groove Agent Kit 1, MIDI channel 2. Record-enable the second track and activate recording. Avoid routing the recording track back to the kit generating the repeats.
Beat Agent only. Splits samples into noise and tonal components. Edit them separately, change the mix, combine different components from different sources, or create entirely new sounds. Saved with _noise and _tonal extensions. Files are never overwritten (a number is appended if a duplicate name exists).
Use Filter by Sound Component in the Browser to show tonal, noise, or all components. Drag combinations onto pads to layer them.
Sensitivity -- Minimum level difference between partials and the noise floor for a partial to be detected. Lower values treat more signal as tonal.
Cutoff -- Upper frequency limit for partial detection. Everything above is noise regardless of other settings.
Duration -- Minimum length for a partial. Signals shorter than this are noise. Lower this for samples with fast attacks or strong transients.
Shows the loaded kit name. Click it or the Load Kit button to open the Load panel. Right-click for the kit context menu.
Load Previous/Next Kit -- Steps through available kits.
Load Kit with Patterns or Styles -- Ensures kits are loaded with their patterns/styles.
Polyphony -- Adjusts kit polyphony.
MIDI Channel -- Sets the MIDI channel for the kit.
MIDI Input Indicator -- MIDI symbol blinks on incoming MIDI.
MIDI Out -- Deactivates MIDI output for the kit.
Velocity Curve -- Sets velocity response curve to match your MIDI controller or playing style.
Follow Transport -- Links Groove Agent playback to the DAW transport. Works differently in Jam Mode.
Song Position Counter -- Shows current position in bars/beats/16th notes. Starts at 1.0.0.0 when Play is clicked in Groove Agent.
Tempo Display -- Shows the host application's current tempo.
Overview of loaded kits and their agents. Click a kit to select it. Activate Mute or Solo buttons per kit (same as in the Kit mixer). Empty Beat Agent kits appear grayed out.
Right-click the kit slot or a kit in the kit rack.
Load Kit / Load Kit With Patterns -- Load a kit with or without patterns/styles.
Load/Save/Delete Pattern Group -- Manages predefined sets of MIDI file assignments for the 16 pads of the selected group.
Save Kit / Save Kit As -- Save the kit. Write-protected factory content opens a Save As dialog.
Remove Kit -- Removes kit and patterns from the slot.
Revert to Last Saved Kit -- Restores the originally loaded kit.
Cut / Copy / Paste Kit -- Standard clipboard operations including patterns.
Rename Kit -- Rename the kit.
Reset Agent -- Loads the Init preset of the agent.
Import (Beat Agent only) -- Import MPC and GAK files.
Export Kit With Samples (Beat Agent only) -- Exports the kit with its samples. Protected content cannot be exported.
Copy/Paste Global or Kit Pattern Pad Settings -- Transfer pattern pad settings globally or per kit.
Export Mixer and FX to Cubase/Nuendo / Export Mixer to Cubase/Nuendo -- Transfers Acoustic Agent mixer settings to the Steinberg DAW MixConsole (with or without EQ and effects). Requires Cubase/Nuendo v10 or higher.
Click the Load Panel button in the top right of the edit display. Can be docked or undocked. Contains Kits, Instruments, Styles, MIDI, and Browser pages. Based on Steinberg's MediaBay technology.
Navigate to specific directories. Use the location tree, path breadcrumbs, and Previous/Next Browse Location buttons. Right-click the tree for: Collapse Tree, Refresh Views, Add Folder, Show in Explorer/Finder. Add a folder as a favorite location with Add Selected Media Node as Favorite Location.
To search subfolders: click the Search Subfolders button, enter text, optionally activate Search Names Only or filter by file type, then press Return or click Search/Stop Search. Results cap at 10,000 files.
Located on the left of the plug-in window. Contains transport controls, group buttons, and pads.
Up to 128 pads in 8 groups of 16. Orange LED above a group button = pads have samples mapped. Green MIDI indicator LED = a pad is receiving MIDI.
Up to 16 colors. Right-click a pad and select a color from Set Color. In individual mode, different colors can be set per kit slot.
Pattern pads always take priority over instrument pads when sharing the same trigger note. To separate:
Trigger samples. Click at the bottom of a pad for lower velocities; click at the top for higher velocities.
Load / Save Instrument (Beat Agent only) -- Load or save the pad with its samples and settings as a reusable instrument available on the Instruments tab.
Assign Output (Beat Agent only) -- Route to Kit Mix, Agent mixer channel (1-16), stereo output bus (1-16), or AUX channel. Selecting a plug-in output auto-activates it in the host. Samples routed to deactivated outputs fall back to Master.
Edit/Learn Trigger Note -- Type a value or play a note on your hardware controller.
Cut / Copy / Paste Pad -- Clipboard operations.
Trigger MIDI drum patterns or styles. Two players available:
Mute Pattern -- Mutes the current pattern.
Original Tempo/Time Signature -- Displays info from the MIDI file.
MIDI Export -- Drag to a MIDI track in your DAW (or any app supporting MIDI drag-and-drop).
Quantize -- 0% = original timing; 100% = hard-quantized. Iterative Quantize moves notes halfway toward the grid.
Swing / Swing Grid -- Timing offset for even-numbered beats; Grid sets the reference note value.
Pattern Dial -- Main, Fill (1-8), Ending, or Intro.
Complexity -- Modifies pattern complexity (more notes, instrument changes, etc.). Only available for main and halftime patterns. Drag the handle right/left or use the X/Y control.
Intensity -- Y axis of the X/Y control. Top = original velocity; lower = quieter.
Half-Time On/Off -- Extends the rhythm over two bars. Only affects main patterns.
Auto Complexity -- Randomly varies Complexity at set intervals: 1/1 Bar, 1/2 Bar, beats 1, 1+3, 2+4, 1+4, or on each Auto Fill.
Break -- Adds a pause before a fill starts. If off, the previous pattern plays up to the fill.
Auto Fill -- Plays a fill every N bars automatically. The fill number lights up yellow when active.
Auto Fill Options -- Choose which of the 8 fills Auto Fill can use. All fills re-enable when you change a pattern group or load another kit.
Crash Mode -- Always / Fill and Ending / Main / Off.
Hihat Mode -- All articulations, Tip only, or Shank only.
Ride Mode -- With or without bell articulation.
Global Intensity / Global Swing / Global Swing Grid -- Apply to all substyles.
Quantize -- 0% = original; 100% = hard-quantized. Does not affect rudiments.
Instrument On/Off -- Activate/deactivate playback per substyle.
Instrument Substyle -- Load a substyle. Right-click to Clear, Clear All Inactive, or Clear All.
Complexity / Random Complexity -- Per substyle. Random Complexity switches to a random complexity at each full bar.
Intensity / Tempo Scale (1/2, 1x, 2x) / Groove Offset / Swing -- Per substyle fine-tuning.
Exclusive -- Triggering an exclusive pad stops the current pattern. Non-exclusive pads can play simultaneously.
Jam State -- Active only when both Jam Mode and Exclusive are on. Standard (new pad plays exclusively), Next (jumps to next Standard pad), Return (jumps back to previous pad), Stop (playback stops when pattern ends).
Play Mode -- Hold (plays while key held), Toggle (start/stop toggle), One Shot (plays completely to end; note-off ignored).
Trigger Mode -- Pattern starts immediately, at the next beat, or at the next full measure.
Pattern Length Limit -- Sets when playback switches between pads in Jam Mode. Min = shortest pattern defines the switch; Max = longest; or a specific bar count.
Sync to Beat -- If on, triggering a pattern syncs it with other playing patterns.
Velocity Mode -- Original (saved velocities), As Played (keyboard velocities), or Original + As Played.
Automatically switches between pattern pads during playback. In Jam Mode, Play Mode and Trigger Mode are disabled for exclusive pads; those pads respond with a single click. Patterns switch only after complete bars. Non-exclusive pads behave normally.
When Global mode is deactivated, Jam Mode works independently per kit slot.
Available on the Pattern tab. Add/delete/move notes, replace drum sounds, quantize, define pattern length.
Shows MIDI CC events for the selected drum sound. Click to add events; use the Lines tool (Line, Parabola, Sine, Triangle, Square modes) to draw curves. For Acoustic Agent hihat open state, use CC#4 Foot.
Open the Pitch tab for a pad and assign a MIDI CC. In the Pattern editor, select that CC in the controller lane pop-up and draw data. Value 65 = no change; above 65 = higher pitch; below 65 = lower pitch.
When multiple notes are selected, handles appear on the velocity selection rectangle: Tilt Left/Right, Compress Left/Right, Scale Vertically, Scale Around Absolute/Relative Center.
Click Record MIDI on the Pattern editor toolbar or the Record button in the transport. Start by clicking Play, triggering the pattern pad, or activating Follow Transport and starting DAW playback. Notes are added to existing notes. New notes or controllers replace existing ones at the same position. Jam Mode and Record MIDI cannot be used simultaneously.
Full beat production instrument for electronic and urban music. Automatic loop slicing, drum hit replacement, onboard FX rack, sample manipulation. Supports MPC and GAK file import.
Open via the Edit button. Tabs: Main, Pitch, Filter, Amp, Sample, Slice, Decompose, MIDI FX, Recorder.
Available in SEL mode. When active, only the focused sample plays when the pad is triggered.
Drag from File Explorer/Finder, MediaBay, Project window, Pool, Sample Editor, Audio Part Editor, or LoopMash. Drop icon behavior:
Hold Shift and drag one pad onto another to exchange their full contents. Right-click > Reset Pad Order to restore chromatic ordering.
Shows sample velocity ranges for the selected pad. Focused sample in a lighter color. Drop samples to add, insert (red insert line), or replace (red frame). Change velocity ranges by editing Hi/Lo fields or dragging boundaries. Adjacent samples auto-adjust to prevent overlaps.
Via pad context menu > Assign Output. Options: Kit Mix, Agent mixer channel (1-16), stereo output bus (1-16), or AUX channel.
Right-click > Save Instrument to save a pad with all settings. Load via Load panel > Instruments tab.
Multi-microphone recorded drum kits with realistic articulations and a Style Player. Microphone channels for kick, snare, hihat, toms, ride, crash, plus room and overhead mics.
Open the Edit page. Click an instrument to show its parameters. Switch 16/24 bit versions via buttons in the upper right of the Edit page (16 bit = faster/less RAM; 24 bit = higher quality).
Kick -- Room Level, Tune, Beater Level, Attack, Hold, Decay.
Snare -- Room Level, Tune, Snares On/Off (Snares level if on), Attack, Hold, Decay.
Hihat -- Room Level, Overhead Level. Articulations: Shank (F#0, A#0), Tip (F#1, A#1), Foot/Pedal (G#0/G#1, A0/A-1). Open state controlled via CC#1 or CC#4. MW and FC filter buttons block incoming CC data. Hihat Open Min/Max sets the range of opening.
Toms -- Room Level, Overhead Level, Tune, Attack, Hold, Decay per tom.
Ride -- Room Level, Overhead Level. Bow (D#2), Bell (F2), Edge (B2) articulation levels.
Crash -- Room Level, Overhead Level, Choke On/Off, Choke Controller (Note-Off, Aftertouch, or Poly Pressure; threshold: value above 64 triggers choke).
Specializes in percussion instruments recorded with multiple microphones. Over 20 instruments including bongos, congas, shakers, and tambourines. Dedicated Style Player for up to 8 simultaneous substyles.
Open the Edit page. Click an instrument to show its parameters and articulations. Same 16/24 bit switching as Acoustic Agent. Common parameters: Room Level, Tune, Attack, Hold, Decay. Crash cymbal adds: Choke On/Off, Choke Controller.
Activate Lock Pad Colors below the pads to preserve color assignments when switching kits.
All mixing is on the Mixer page. Signal flow: Agent Mixer > AUX Mixer > Kit Mixer > Master Mixer.
16 busses; accessed via numbered buttons 1-4 (busses 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16). Output defaults to Kit Mix but can be reassigned to plug-in outputs. Global Mute/Solo buttons reset all states.
Level, Pan, Mute, Solo, Peak Level -- Standard controls. Multiple channels can be soloed simultaneously. Click Peak Level to reset.
Insert Effect Slots -- Add insert effects to the bus.
AUX Sends 1-4 -- Send signal to the agent's AUX busses.
Bus Name -- Double-click to rename.
Channel strips for each microphone and group channel. Tabs: Kick/SN/HH, Toms, Cymbals, Percussion, Room/OH, REV/MIX.
Reverb channel strip for room character. Kit Mix channel with optional Tube Saturator effect (On/Off button; Drive parameter).
Width (Room/Overhead only) -- Stereo width from mono to stereo.
Output -- Route to Kit Mix, individual plug-in output, or AUX FX 1-4.
Room / Reverb Channel On/Off -- Deactivate to unload samples and reduce CPU.
The lower section shows insert effects for the selected channel. Drag tabs to reorder. Each channel offers: equalizer, vintage compressor, tape saturator, and envelope shaper (reduced versions of the included effects). Activate each via its On/Off button.
Save/load/delete from the left of the ROOM/OH tab. Contains all Agent, AUX, and Kit mixer settings. Only applicable to the kit they were saved for.
Right-click a kit in the Kit Rack: Export Mixer to Cubase/Nuendo or Export Mixer and FX to Cubase/Nuendo. Creates group channels in your DAW, routes instrument channels to individual plug-in outputs, and recreates the Groove Agent mixer structure. Requires Cubase/Nuendo v10+. Only one kit per Groove Agent instance. Reactivate the Groove Agent mixer by reloading the kit or using Revert to Last Saved Kit.
Channel strip per percussion instrument and articulation, grouped on tabs A, B, C, D. Room channel strip included. Same channel parameters as Acoustic Agent mixer. Output can be routed to Kit Mix, plug-in output, or AUX FX 1-4.
Four AUX busses per kit slot. Each bus has 4 insert effect slots. Classic send effects setup. Busses route to Master or individual outputs. All settings saved in kit presets.
Output -- Select from 16 available outputs or route to Kit mixer.
Level, Pan, Mute, Effect Slots -- Standard bus controls.
One channel per kit slot. Adjust levels between kits, solo/mute individual kits, apply per-kit insert effects (4 slots).
Output -- Select from 16 available outputs.
Level, Pan, Mute, Solo, Meter, Peak Level -- Standard controls.
Single stereo master bus with 4 insert effect slots (global EQ, compressor, etc.).
Each effect has factory defaults. To save your own default: set up the effect and save a preset named --Default--. Delete that preset to return to factory defaults.
Applies room characteristics using impulse response convolution. Import WAV or AIFF files. On saving a program, the reference path to the impulse response is saved.
Import -- Load (current program only) or Import (adds globally to user subpresets; copies sample files to IRSamples folder).
Reverse -- Reverses the impulse response.
Auto Gain -- Normalizes impulse response levels; use when files vary greatly in level.
Predelay -- Time before reverb onset; higher values simulate larger rooms.
Time -- Reverb time; 100% = full original length of the impulse response.
Size -- Simulated room size; 100% = original room dimensions.
Level -- Impulse response level.
ER/Tail Split -- Split point between early reflections and reverb tail.
ER/Tail Mix -- Below 50%: sound source moves toward front. Above 50%: moves toward back.
Equalizer -- Built-in 3-band EQ.
High-quality reverb with early reflections and reverb tail. Three-band reverb time control.
Predelay -- Delay before first reflections arrive.
Early Reflections -- Select a reflections pattern (key for spatial impression).
ER/Tail -- Level balance: below 50% raises early reflections; above 50% raises tail.
Delay -- Delays the onset of the reverb tail.
Room Size -- 100% = cathedral; 50% = medium studio; below 50% = small room/booth.
Main Time -- Overall decay time; 100% = infinite.
High Time / Low Time -- Offset reverb time for high/low frequency bands.
High Freq / Low Freq -- Crossover frequencies for the three bands.
ER Size -- Length of the early reflections pattern.
Shape -- 0% = immediate attack (good for drums); higher = less immediate.
Density -- 100% = individual reflections inaudible; lower = more audible single reflections.
Tail High Cut -- Attenuates high frequencies in the reverb tail.
Width -- 0% = mono; 100% = stereo output.
Mix -- Dry/wet ratio.
Chorusing -- Pitch modulations enrich the reverb tail. Rate, Depth controls.
Delay Mode -- Stereo (independent L/R), Cross (cross-feeding feedback), Ping-Pong (echoes alternate L/R).
Delay Time -- Overall delay time. Sync = sync to host tempo as note values. Max 5000 ms.
Delay L/R -- Offset left or right delay from overall time (factor 1 = equal; 0.5 = half).
Feedback -- 0% = one echo; 100% = continuous echoes.
Feedback L/R -- Per-channel feedback offset (Stereo mode only).
High Freq / Low Freq -- Attenuate high/low frequencies in the delays.
Mix -- Dry/wet ratio.
Low and high bands are shelving filters; mid bands 2 and 3 are peak filters. All fully parametric with Gain, Freq, and Q. Higher Q on shelving filters adds a dip. Low-Cut and High-Cut filters with Slope options: 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 dB/octave.
Cut or boost each of 10 bands up to +-12 dB. Output level. Mode: True Response, Classic, Constant Q. Range adjusts global cut/boost range. Invert flips the curve. Flatten resets all bands to 0 dB.
Quick 3-band EQ. Low/Mid/High Freq knobs plus Cut buttons per band. Click and drag in the display to adjust values.
Two morphable filter shapes with distortion. Cutoff and morph controlled via manual pedal, LFO, or envelope follower.
Filter Shape -- LP (24/18/12/6 dB), BP, HP, BR, and various LP+HP/BP+BR/AP combinations.
Input -- Gain before filter (wet signal only).
Cutoff / Resonance -- Cutoff frequency and resonance. High resonance causes self-oscillation.
Distortion Type -- Off, Tube Drive (warm), Hard Clip (bright), Bit Red (quantization noise), Rate Red (aliasing).
Output -- Gain after filter (wet signal only).
Mix -- Dry/wet ratio.
LFO Section -- Waveform (Sine/Triangle/Saw/Pulse/Ramp/Log/S&H 1-2), Freq, Sync, Depth, Cutoff modulation, Morph modulation.
Envelope Follower -- Sensitivity, Attack, Release, Depth, Cutoff and Morph modulation amounts.
Pedal -- Pedal position, Depth, Cutoff and Morph modulation amounts.
Morphs between two filter shapes: A = low-pass or band-pass; B = high-pass or band-reject. Morph, Cutoff, and Resonance controls. Click and drag in the display to set Cutoff and Morph simultaneously.
Combine up to four distortion types freely. In Gain, Rate Red (aliasing -- lower = more), Tube Drive (higher = more), Hard Clip (higher = more), Bit Red (lower = more), Out Gain, Mix.
Vintage tape recorder simulation. Mode: One Stage or Two Stage (higher saturation/compression). Oversampling (higher accuracy, more CPU). Drive, Auto Gain, Low Filter (+-3 dB below 1000 Hz), High Filter (24 dB/oct high-cut), Output.
Adds tube harmonic characteristics. Oversampling, Drive, Low Filter (up to -6 dB before saturation), High Filter (+-6 dB before saturation), Output.
Thickens and broadens via pitch modulation. Rate, Sync, Depth, Phase (widens to stereo), Shape (0% = continuous; 100% = less steady), Mix.
Thickens via pitch modulation. Rate, Sync, Depth, Phase, Shape, Mix. Feedback adds jet-like resonances. Cross FB mixes L/R feedback (influenced by Phase). Tone controls feedback brightness.
Flanger plus "sample and hold" section. All Flanger parameters plus: Type (Short = sharper; Long = more blurred), S&H Mix (normal vs. stepped modulation), Smooth (ramps between steps), Steps (up to 32).
Phase modulation. Rate, Sync, Depth, Shift (moves modulation higher in spectrum), Phase, Feedback, Low Cut, High Cut, Mix.
Sine oscillator multiplied with the input, creating metallic/bell-like frequencies. LFO modulates sine oscillator frequency. Envelope follower modulates frequency based on input level. LFO: Waveform, Shape, LFO Freq, Sync, LFO Depth. Frequency: the sine oscillator frequency. Mix.
Shifts each frequency by a fixed amount (not by ratio). Changes harmonic relationships; large shifts create disharmonic sounds. Freq Coarse/Fine, L/R Coarse/Fine (stereo offset), Mod Coarse/Fine (LFO/EF modulation range), Feedback (phaser-like effect), Notches. LFO and Envelope Follower sections. Mix.
Classic ensemble modulation emulation via LFO-modulated delay. Rate, Sync, Depth, Shimmer (secondary fast modulation intensity), Shimmer Rate (ratio of primary to secondary speed), Low Cut, High Cut, FX Level, Mix.
Threshold -- Level above which compression is applied.
Ratio -- Gain reduction above threshold (e.g., 2:1 means 4 dB above threshold becomes 2 dB above).
High Ratio -- Sets ratio to maximum (limiter behavior).
Soft Knee -- More gradual onset of compression.
Make-Up / Auto Make-Up -- Restore gain lost by compression.
Attack / Hold / Release / Auto Release -- Timing controls.
Peak/RMS -- 0% = Peak sensing only (faster, for transients); 100% = RMS only (for sustained sounds).
Live -- Disables look-ahead for zero latency.
Modeled after vintage hardware. Input (compression amount), Ratio, Attack (0.1-100 ms), Punch (preserves early attack even with short Attack), Release (10-1000 ms or Auto), Output. In/Out and GR meters.
Tube simulation with internal side-chain filter. Input, Limit (increases ratio for limiting), Drive (tube saturation, 1.0-6.0), Attack, Release/Auto, Output, Mix. Side-Chain: Filter On/Off, Monitor, Filter Type (LP/BP/HP), Center, Q-Factor.
Prevents level from exceeding the set output. Input, Output (max level), Release/Auto.
Hard ceiling with very fast attack; 1 ms latency. Threshold, Release/Auto. Link Channels (uses highest-level channel as reference). Detect Intersample Clipping (oversampling to prevent distortion in D/A conversion). Not designed for constant limiting.
Raises loudness without clipping. Optimize (loudness), Output (max level), Soft Clip (adds soft limiting with tube-like harmonics).
Reduces gain below threshold (opposite of compression). Threshold, Ratio, Soft Knee, Attack, Hold, Release/Auto, Peak/RMS, Live.
Passes sound only when input exceeds threshold; silences sounds below. Internal side-chain filter for frequency-selective triggering. Threshold, Filter (On/Off, Type HP/BP/LP, Monitor, Center, Q-Factor), Attack, Hold, Release/Auto, Peak/RMS, Live.
Attenuate or boost attack and release phases. Attack Gain, Attack Length, Release Gain, Output. Caution: boosting gain can cause clipping; reduce Output if needed.
Input Swap (swap L/R channels), Pan (stereo position for mono and stereo signals), Width (adjust stereo width).
Expands stereo width of stereo material (not usable with mono). Width (clockwise = more enhancement), Delay (increases L/R differences), Color (additional channel differences), Mono (switch to mono to check for coloring).
Both kit parameters and global parameters (AUX effects, etc.) can be automated. Groove Agent provides 512 automation parameters. Multiple Groove Agent parameters can be assigned to one automation parameter for simultaneous control. For Beat Agent: automated parameters control whole pads, not individual samples.
Options page > Automation tab. Tabs: Kit, Global, or All. Left = automation parameter name; right = assigned Groove Agent parameter(s). Click the trash icon to remove one; Delete All Parameters to clear all. Double-click a name to rename it (name appears in the host). Refresh All Parameter Names to replace all names with pad names.
Right-click any parameter control > Assign to New Automation. Assigns to the first available slot. To assign multiple parameters to one slot: right-click additional controls > Assign to Automation Parameter > select the target slot. To remove: right-click > Remove Automation Assignment.
Right-click a parameter control > Assign to MIDI Controller > select or learn a controller. Multiple parameters can share the same controller. MIDI controller assignments are saved with the project and VST presets.
At the top when used as a plug-in. Contains: multi preset management (load/save the entire multi), and the Steinberg logo (click for help, contacts, version info).
View toggles (instrument/pattern pads), pattern group selector, pad display options, pad editing mode (SEL/PAD, ABS/REL), and recording mode toggle.
Expand from the bottom of the window. Shows which keys trigger which pads.
Key Commands, Load Preference (16-bit or 24-bit default for Acoustic and Percussion Agent), MIDI Controller assignments (global MIDI learn), and Automation parameters. Load Preference can be overridden per kit on the Edit page without changing the global setting.
Groove Agent runs as a standalone application independent of any host. An extra section at the top of the window provides standalone-specific functions.
Configure MIDI input and audio output devices in the Preferences dialog. Set MIDI input sources and audio output device and sample rate.
Simple built-in recorder for capturing ideas quickly without a DAW. Record, play back, and clear audio directly.
Load MIDI files directly from disk. Save patterns as MIDI files. Master Volume controls the overall standalone output level.
Via kit context menu > Import. Supports Akai MPC program files and GAK files. Mapped to Beat Agent pads automatically.
Via kit context menu > Export Kit With Samples. Packages the kit with all associated samples. Protected VST Sound content cannot be exported.
If samples have been moved or deleted, the sample info shows "Sample not found." Reload the program, restore missing samples, and save with the correct paths.
Use the MIDI Export field on the Agent page. Drag to a MIDI track in your host. Performance settings (Auto Complexity, Auto Fill, Quantize, Swing, etc.) are baked into the exported MIDI. Supports any host accepting MIDI drag-and-drop.
From the Load panel > MIDI or Styles page, select a file and drag it onto a MIDI track in the DAW. Performance settings (style part, complexity/variation) are taken into account. The resulting file is a standard MIDI file.
Signal flow overview:
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Instrument Pads | Each pad outputs to an Agent mixer bus or directly to a plug-in output (Beat Agent). |
| Agent Mixer | Beat Agent: 16 busses. Acoustic: per-microphone + group channels. Percussion: per-instrument. Each has insert FX slots and AUX sends 1-4. |
| AUX Mixer | 4 AUX busses per kit slot, each with 4 insert FX slots. Routes to Master or individual outputs. |
| Kit Mixer | One channel per kit slot; 4 insert FX slots per channel. Routes to one of 16 outputs. |
| Master Mixer | Single stereo master bus with 4 insert FX slots. |
| Plug-in Outputs | Up to 32 stereo outputs. Individual pads, agent busses, and AUX busses can be routed to specific outputs for DAW MixConsole processing. |
MIDI output: each kit slot routes to MIDI output ports Kit 1 through Kit 4. MIDI channel per slot is configured in the kit slot section.
Groove Agent 5.2.0 Operation Manual — Reference compiled for fortinable.com | Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2024 | Back to fortinable.com