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The Time node is an all-in-one time stretcher, pitch shifter, and buffer shuffler for chopped beats and unique grooves.
Audio coming into the time node is read into a buffer that is displayed on the UI. This buffer defaults to one measure long, but it’s length can be modified using the Duration control. The buffer is split up into multiple sections (defaulted at 4 different sections). Each section has unique speed, buffer shuffling, and pitch properties, determined by the graph. Furthermore, users can modify the Stretch parameter to globally set the speed of each section.
The Time node has two distinct modes: Resample and Texture. In Resample mode, the audio is simultaneously re-pitched and stretched like in a classic tape effect. In Texture mode, the speed and pitch of the sample are decoupled using granular processing. The Pitch section of the graph is only available in Texture mode, along with the Size control which controls the grain size of the time stretching algorithm.
By dragging the lines on the Speed graph, users can modify the playback speed of each section. The playhead snaps to the start of each section, so that the rhythm of the sections are preserved. For example, if you have four evenly spaced sections, the time node will preserve the rhythm of four evenly spaced beats.
The Shuffle graph allows users to change the playback order of the sections. This can be used to create stutter effects. Furthermore, by clicking a section in the shuffle graph, each section can be reversed. Note that if you request a future section (say, section 3) be played in place of an earlier section (say, section 1), you will hear audio from the previous pass through the buffer outputted. This is also the case when you want to reverse a section that targets itself. Since the end of section 1 is not ready to be played when section one is beginning, the time node takes audio from the last time section 1 was played.
The Pitch graph is similar to the Speed graph but is only available in texture mode. It allows users to control the pitch of a section independently of the playback speed. This effect is highly dependent on the Size parameter. When size is small, pitch may be less accurate, but transients will be sharper. when size is larger, pitch is preferred over transients.
When speeding up a section, the Time node will not attempt to read into the future by default. When the time node hits the present, it will modify its playhead based on the Loop Mode, which defaults to Repeat mode. In Repeat mode, the playhead will bounce back to the start of the current section instead of reading into the future. In Reverse mode, the playhead will start moving backwards until it hits the beginning of the section, and then it will bounce forwards again. In Stop mode, the playhead stalls at the beginning of the section until it has enough time to play the section through once at speed. In Free mode, the time node reads back into whatever was in the buffer from the previous pass of audio.
Since the Time node introduces discontinuities in the audio, there is an option to smooth out clicks that are introduced. Smooth is on by default. While smooth makes the experience of using the time node much more pleasant, you may choose to turn smooth off to preserve all transients on certain input signals such as drums.