NIN!jA FAQ

How do I use this *.msi file for the installation?

For the internet distribution we use *.msi files. These files are Microsoft Installer files. All new Microsoft's operating systems for desktop computers "know" this file type. This installing/repair/de-installing system is part of the distribution. 
If you have a fault file link to such file extensions, so try to get the installation entry in the popup menu with the right mouse button. 
If you have an older windows system (95/98), the redistributables of the MS Installer are here: http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/instmsi.htm.

Why there a Message appears on startup " Your application uses buffers > 4096... " and NIN!jA don't work?

NIN!jA is a performance oriented Synthesizer, optimized for short latencies. Therefore "he" is limited to short processing buffers. As shorter as better. 
Try to reduce the buffer size of your host application, in the ASIO or DirectX panel.
NIN!jA is developed and optimized to Cubase compatible host applications. Some host applications are not fully supported. If you use Orion, there is a special unsupported BETA version for this host.

Why sounds NIN!jA so different to other synthesizers?

NIN!jA makes an aggressive sound. So "he" lives up his name. 
NIN!jA has a unique sound technology, witch has no other synthesizer on the market. NIN!jA don't use wave tables. It is a real virtual modeling analogue and hybrid synthesizer. So "he" needs much more processor power. But only in this way you can get some voices, you wouldn't get with other synthesizers in this price category.

Some voices let my processor overrun, I am not able to play these with many notes!

Check the single/dual processing mode. If it is switched to dual, much more processor power will be used. But this has also a very significance in the resulting sound quality. Dual means: real stereo processing. The oscillators and filters will be spitted. The filters will render twice (ones for the right and ones for the left channel). Switch this (temporarily) off, if you have not enough processor power.

Has NIN!jA fixed presets included?

Not directly. There is an external saved sound bank "ninja.fxb" in the package. This sound bank is also included in the demo song.
BUT: You can use a TRICK to load a preset bank automatically. NIN!jA searches on each startup a preset bank called "ninja.fxb" in the host directory. So You can make or collect Your own presets: Copy Your favorite sound bank in the folder with the cubase.exe (not the plugins folder) and this bank will be loaded on each new song. If the song, you try to load has always a NIN!jA bank included, this edited song bank will not be changed. (p.s.: i.e. on Fruity Loops this must be the VSTplugins folder for the preset bank.)

Can I change the the GUI knob modes?

Yes, on Cubase you can switch between circular and linear modes via the host preferences.

What does the single/dual switch?

Here you can switch between normal processing and real stereophonic processing. The second makes a significant difference in sound quality, but also in processor usage. In dual mode, the oscillators are separated (controlled with the spread parameter) and the filter processes twice (ones for each channel).

Why the sound don't change, while I'm editing on the GUI?

NIN!jA is a multitimbre/multichannel synthesizer. The channel, you are playing, must be the same channel, like the shown channel on the GUI. For instance: If you are playing on channel 3 and you tweak on the knobs on the GUI with the channel selector on channel 1, You will here no changes on Your playing channel, because You are playing on a totally different channel (3), and the editing channel is (1).

If I change the patch with the GUI selector, the voice is reset on starting the song!

NIN!jA is consequently MIDI dependent. It reacts on MIDI patch changes. Sometimes Cubase sends this patch changes on startup. The GUI views on all channels will be updated automatically.
Please use for (finally) patch changes the Cubase Inspector directly with the MIDI patch selector (or insert it explicit into the song data).
We recommend to use the plugins selectors only to search new (temporary) voices for the arrangement, because these "voice changes" are not remembered and finally lost on restarting, modifying and/or saving the song.

If I reload a saved song, all patches are reset to the first sound in the sound bank!

Please insert the MIDI patch changes explicit into Your tracks via the Inspector or a MIDI patch change. If You only select with the VSTi selectors on the GUI or the Inspector, these changes are only temporarily and not saved with the song. 
Make then sure, You have "send controllers" activated in Your Cubase to init the song on startup. Analyze also the demosong, so You can see, how it works.

I cannot play two channels with one and the same patch but different sound parameters!

Yes, this is right. NIN!jA has no special temporarily edit buffers. The sound bank itself is definitively the edit buffer. If You change a voice parameter, these voice is changed on all channels, witch have mapped this voice! This seems to be a contra, but it has also a very useful pro:
You can save the entire arrangement with all editings of voices only per pressing the "save song" button on Cubase. You play direct with the patches in the sound bank and edit these. Your last state with all editing is automatically saved and loaded with each song, that includes the sound bank.
So You can work very quickly without the need to load any setups. Just load the song and play it!
But You must use different sounds on each channel, if You want to make different parameter changes. Don't forget to include the right patch changes, before you save a song. NIN!jA needs these patch changes to select the right voice per channel.

The view changes while editing and some knobs changes selfishly!

This is obviously an active automation. Check Your controllers and patch changes in the MIDI data and Your external control equipment.

How can I automate more channels at the same time?

If You use the cubase standard automation (internal sysex), so only the actual shown channel and voice will be automated. This is, because Cubase automation works directly together with the GUI editor. But if You want to automate different channels at the same time, You have to use the implemented continuous MIDI controllers. This is completely independent from the VST automation.
You can see the the remote automation on the GUI, if the automated voice is shown on the GUI.

Patches are switched a bit too late while playing sequences!

This is not a NIN!jA behavior. You should  edit a negative "send controllers delay" in the Cubase preferences to force Cubase to send the Patch change before the sequence starts, not after.

Why the spread parameter don't work?

Spread works only in dual processing mode and (currently) not with the cross modulation. It split the two oscillators in panorama position. You can combine The split with the voice pan parameter without any problems.

Why the spread parameter don't work with the cross modulation algorithm?

The cross modulation produces currently (and normally) only a monophonic signal (only the "carrier" (slave) is audible), so the spread and the dual processing mode have no audible effect (but the process is nevertheless dual because the special filter structure of the NIN!jA). So it needs unnecessary performance. Please don't use dual processing with cross modulation at the moment. This will be changed in a further update.

If I use the pitch selector while playing, nothing changes!

This parameter is not real time. It is more a mapping parameter. You have to retrigger a note to hear the changes. Please use the pitch bend or other modulation sources for for controlled pitch real time changes.

I have pressed the invert button but nothing to hear or very quiet!

This is a very subtile hybrid parameter and it is very useful with different waveforms. But this parameter can be somewhat dangerous. This parameter inverses the oscillator waveform and in some cases the phases will be identically contraire. If the two waveforms have the identical pitch, no sound is audible.
This parameter can change the sound character and the attack phase of a sound in a special way and is usefull for other advanced things too.

I can hear digital clicks on some note starts!

Check the reset and the phase parameter of each oscillator. Set it to zero, so the phase will reset to zero on each new note start. with the phase parameter You can specify an offset for the wave start up to 1/2 phase.
Some Voices needs this little "tick", a base drum or some basses for instance. These parameters is very useful also with longer attack times for more liveliness via phase differences between the two oscillators.

Why does the sine waveform sound so strange in some modes?

Check the edge parameter. With the edge parameter You can self modulate (feedback) the sine waveform. The two oscillators have a different ratio for this. Zero edge means an "ideal" sine waveform.

Why pitches the voice 1 octave down, if I switch to soft sync?

This is a special kind of oscillator synchronization. The slave oscillator waveform will be retriggered on each master cycle start AND changed in its direction. So this effect is sound-physically the consequence.

While playing the sound pitches down or up sometimes and changes somehow strange, but no modulators are on!

Check whether there is any aftertouch active. The aftertouch function can produce very impressive and somhow human "touchy" sounds.

What does this channel limiter?

It is a distortion limiter to prevent very high signal levels on polyphonic playing without modifying the signal character.

What means cat?

this is short for channel aftertouch. NIN!jA has NO polyphonic aftertouch. Only very few keyboards can send this.


I can hear clicks and pops, if I automate the bandwidth filters!

Yes, therefore we have specified this filter to a "static" filter. It is not thought for automation, but fixed usage.