PAINE PEAKS

Dual Rhythm Sequencer — User Manual

Version 1.1.0

1. Overview

Paine Peaks is a dual-bar, 32-step rhythm sequencer plug-in that modulates an audio effect in sync with your host's tempo (or its own internal clock). Each of the 32 steps has its own level (0–99) and an optional attack/decay envelope, so you can sculpt rhythmic patterns that evolve bar to bar.

The sequencer can drive three different Sequence FX modes:

Tremolo Seq — rhythmic volume modulation with tone coloring.
Filter Seq — the step level controls a filter's cutoff frequency.
Arp Seq — the step level controls musical pitch, turning the filter into a resonant tone generator (arpeggiator).

An independent Filter Tremolo module (LFO-driven auto-filter) can be layered on top of, or used instead of, the Sequence FX.

2. System Requirements

Platform	Minimum OS	Formats
Windows	Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)	Standalone application, VST3
macOS	macOS 11 Big Sur or later (Apple Silicon & Intel)	Standalone application, Audio Unit (AU2), VST3

NOTE: A VST3- or AU-compatible host (DAW) is required to use the plug-in formats. The Standalone application runs independently and does not require a host.

3. Installation

3.1 Windows

Standalone Application

Run the Paine Peaks installer (.exe).
The installer places the app automatically into your system Program Files folder: C:\Program Files\PainePeaks\
Launch Paine Peaks.exe directly — no host application is required.
On first launch, open Preferences to select your audio driver, input/output device and channel routing (see Section 4).

VST3

The installer places the .vst3 file automatically into your system VST3 folder: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
Restart your DAW, or trigger a plug-in rescan from its plug-in manager.
Paine Peaks will appear under the manufacturer name "Acodestics" in your VST3 plug-in list.

3.2 macOS

Standalone Application

Open the Paine Peaks installer package (.pkg).
Launch the app from Launchpad, Spotlight, or /Applications. The first time you run it, macOS Gatekeeper may ask you to confirm that you trust the developer.
Open Preferences to configure your CoreAudio driver, input/output device and channel routing (see Section 4).

Audio Unit (AU2)

The installer places the component automatically in: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/PainePeaks.component
Restart your AU host (Logic Pro, GarageBand, MainStage, etc.) so it re-scans its plug-in cache.
Find Paine Peaks under Audio Units → Acodestics in your host's plug-in browser.

VST3

The installer places the component automatically in: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/PainePeaks.vst3
Restart your DAW or rescan plug-ins.
Paine Peaks will appear under "Acodestics" in your VST3 list.

NOTE: If a plug-in format does not appear after installation, verify the file landed in the correct folder for your OS/format above, and make sure your DAW's plug-in path settings include that folder.

4. Standalone Application: Audio & MIDI Setup

The Standalone build includes its own Preferences dialog (Audio Device Settings) where you choose:

Driver Type (e.g. CoreAudio on macOS, ASIO/WASAPI on Windows).
Input Device and Output Device.
Buffer Size and Sampling Rate.
Input 1 (L) / Input 2 (R) and Output 1 (L) / Output 2 (R) channel mapping.
Optional MIDI input/output device and channel.

NOTE: When changing the Input 1 (L) selection, Input 2 (R) automatically advances to the next channel. The dialog does not allow assigning the same hardware channel to both L and R inputs. If your audio interface only has one input connected and you need it duplicated to both plug-in inputs, either route the same source physically into both interface inputs, or use your audio interface's own control software to mirror the channel.

5. License Activation

On first launch (in any format), Paine Peaks displays an activation overlay until a valid license is confirmed:

Enter your license key (serial) in the activation field.
Click Activate.
The plug-in contacts the license server to validate the key against this device. On success, the overlay closes and the full interface becomes available.

Once activated, the plug-in re-validates the license automatically on each launch, without requiring you to re-enter the key.

NOTE: Each license key permits activation on up to two (2) devices per user. Please keep your license key in a safe place. If you need to transfer an activation to a new computer or manage your registered devices, contact support.

6. Interface Overview

The main window is organized into three areas: a top control row (sequencer mode, key, tempo and grid), a modulation row (Filter Tremolo + filter knobs), and the dual-bar step sequencer grid with a preset/save/load footer.

6.1 Top Row — Sequencer Transport & Mode

Control	Description
Run/Stop	Starts or stops the sequencer. When stopped, audio passes through unprocessed.
SEQ FX	Cycles the Sequence FX mode: TREMOLO → FILTER → ARP. LEDs turn red while Filter Tremolo (FTREM) is active, since Sequence FX is bypassed in that state.
KEY	Sets the root note (C–B) used by the Arp Seq mode. Always visible; dims when SEQ FX is not set to ARP.
OCTAVE	Shifts the arpeggio range down one octave (−12), keeps it as-is (0), or shifts it up one octave (+12).
SNAP	Arp pitch quantization: MICRO (continuous/microtonal) or SEMI (snap to the nearest semitone). Only affects ARP mode — see Section 7.3.
BPM SYNC	Toggle switch. When on, the sequencer tempo follows your host's tempo instead of the BPM knob.
BPM	Knob and 3-digit readout setting the internal tempo (40–300 BPM), used when BPM SYNC is off.
GRID	Sets the step subdivision: 1/16, 1/8, or 1/8T (eighth-note triplet).

6.2 Modulation Row

Control	Description
MOD FX	OFF or FTREM (Filter Tremolo). When FTREM is selected, an LFO-driven auto-filter is layered on the signal, and Sequence FX is bypassed.
MOD SRC	Selects the modulation source for Filter Tremolo: OFF or LFO.
LFO WAVE	LFO shape used by Filter Tremolo: triangle, sine, saw, pulse, or random (sample & hold).
FILTER TYPE	Filter shape applied across Filter Seq, Arp Seq and Filter Tremolo: LP2 (2-pole low-pass), LP4 (4-pole low-pass), BND (band-pass), NOT (notch), HIP (high-pass).
TOPOLOGY	Filter engine: BIQ (classic biquad), TPT (zero-delay-feedback state-variable filter, smoother under fast modulation), COMB (tuned resonant delay — generates a pitched tone from the input).
Attack / Decay	Shape of the per-step envelope (only applied on steps with ENV enabled).
Freq	Base cutoff/sweep reference frequency used by Tremolo Seq and Filter Tremolo.
Resonance	Filter resonance / Q (and feedback amount for COMB topology).
Depth	Overall wet/dry mix of the active effect (Sequence FX and/or Filter Tremolo).
Vol	Global output gain control.

6.3 Step Sequencer Grid

The grid has two 16-step bars (BAR 1 and BAR 2), totaling 32 steps. Each step column contains:

A mountain-peak slider — drag vertically to set the step's level (0–99). The peak color reflects the active SEQ FX mode (white/grey for Tremolo, blue for Filter, amber for Arp).
An ENV toggle below the slider — enables the per-step attack/decay envelope for that step (using the Attack/Decay knobs). When off, the step holds its level as a flat gate for the full step duration.

While dragging a step slider, the BPM readout temporarily displays the step's live value (0–99) in green, then returns to the normal BPM/sync display when you release the mouse.

A playhead overlay highlights the currently playing step in real time as the sequencer runs.

6.4 Footer — Presets

The footer contains a factory preset navigator and Save/Load buttons for your own preset files (.ppk):

Preset navigator — browse and recall the factory presets (see Section 8).
Save — opens a file dialog to save the current state as a .ppk file.
Load — opens a file dialog to recall a previously saved .ppk file.

7. Sequence FX Modes — In Depth

7.1 Tremolo Seq

The step level modulates output volume (gated/enveloped according to ENV and Attack/Decay), and the signal is additionally passed through a filter for tone coloring. The filter's cutoff is set by the Freq knob, optionally swept by the LFO when Filter Tremolo's MOD SRC is active.

7.2 Filter Seq

The step level sets the filter cutoff frequency directly. On steps with ENV enabled, the attack/decay envelope modulates the cutoff itself (a classic synthesizer filter-envelope behavior), rather than volume — producing a sweeping, "breathing" filter motion synchronized to the grid.

7.3 Arp Seq

The step level sets musical pitch instead of volume or cutoff: each of the 32 steps maps to a note between the root KEY and two octaves above it. The filter is driven at high resonance so it rings at the chosen pitch, effectively turning it into a simple tone generator excited by the input signal.

Because the level→semitone mapping is continuous (0–99 spread linearly across 24 semitones), most step levels do not land exactly on a semitone — by design, this gives a natural microtonal drift (MICRO mode). If you prefer steps to always play perfectly in tune, switch SNAP to SEMI, which rounds every step to the nearest semitone above the root key.

NOTE: SNAP only has an effect while SEQ FX is set to ARP and Filter Tremolo (FTREM) is not active. In any other mode, its LEDs turn red to indicate it has no effect — but it remains clickable so you can pre-set it before switching into ARP mode.

7.4 Filter Tremolo (MOD FX)

An independent auto-filter ("wah"-style effect): the LFO sweeps the filter cutoff up and down around a base frequency derived from the Freq knob, scaled by Depth. Its rate is tempo-synced — one full LFO cycle lasts exactly one GRID step — so the sweep always stays rhythmically locked to the sequencer, even when BPM or GRID change. When Filter Tremolo is active, it replaces Sequence FX rather than stacking with Tremolo/Filter/Arp Seq.

8. Factory Presets

Paine Peaks ships with sixteen factory presets, accessible from the preset navigator in the footer:

Preset	Description
Future Mutation	Filter Seq pattern with sweeping cutoff motion.
Future Mutation 2	Filter Seq mode, Band-pass BIQ, moderate resonance, random LFO.
Voracious Star	Filter Seq pattern, alternate rhythmic feel.
Like a King	Filter Seq pattern with a driving groove.
Computer Talk	Arp Seq melodic preset, tuned with SNAP set to SEMI so its transcribed notes play perfectly in tune.
More Computer Talk	ARP mode, COMB topology, full resonance, SEMI quantisation.
Another Computer Talk	Arp Seq melodic preset, an alternate transcription of Computer Talk, also tuned with SNAP set to SEMI.
Southern Peaks	Arp Seq melodic preset in the key of C#, left in MICRO (continuous/microtonal) mode.
Inertia	Filter Seq pattern with a random LFO sweep driving the filter cutoff.
Turn It On	Filter Seq pattern, tempo-synced to the host BPM.
Lonely Road	Tremolo Seq pattern with every step sustained and enveloped for a steady pulsing feel.
Too Much Resonance	Filter Tremolo at high resonance, for an aggressive auto-filter sweep.
Kinda Wah Wah	Filter Tremolo using a triangle LFO, for a classic wah-wah motion.
Triplets	Filter Tremolo on a 1/8 triplet grid, for a swung sweep.
Duck Man	Tremolo Seq with LFO-modulated tone coloring (Filter Tremolo off) for a subtle ducking-style movement.
Modem Talking	Same LFO-driven tone modulation as Duck Man, tuned to the key of F with a random LFO.

Use Save to store your own patterns as .ppk files, and Load to recall them later — useful for backing up custom patterns or sharing them between projects.

9. Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Plug-in does not appear in my DAW.	Confirm the file is in the correct folder for your OS/format (Section 3), then rescan plug-ins in your DAW.
Standalone only outputs to one side (L or R) when only one input is connected.	The Standalone app does not auto-sum a single input the way a DAW's mono track does. Either route the same signal physically into both interface inputs, or use Input 1 (L)/Input 2 (R) channel mapping in Preferences with both channels fed from the same source.
Arp Seq notes sound slightly out of tune.	This is expected in MICRO mode (continuous pitch mapping). Switch SNAP to SEMI for exact semitone tuning.
SNAP control LEDs are red and clicking seems to do nothing audible.	SNAP only affects ARP mode with Filter Tremolo off. Set SEQ FX to ARP first.
Activation overlay reappears after restarting the plug-in.	Verify you have an active internet connection during the first launch on a given device, and confirm your license key was entered exactly as provided.

10. Support

For licensing issues, bug reports, or general questions, contact:

Acodestics

www.acodestics.com

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11. Changelog

Version 1.1.0 — August 16, 2026

Added
- Master Volume knob: global output gain control (−40 dB to +6 dB). Fully mutes signal at minimum position.
- Octave selector: new LED cycle control (OCTAVE) located between the KEY and SNAP controls in the top row. Shifts the arpeggio range down one octave (−12), keeps it as-is (0), or shifts it up one octave (+12). Follows the same active/inactive color rules as SNAP.
Changed
- Resonance: smoother behavior across all filter types and sequencer modes. The resonance knob now produces a consistent peak gain across LP2, LP4, Band-pass, Notch, and Hi-pass filters, as well as Filter Seq, Tremolo Seq, Arp Seq, and Filter Tremolo modes. LP4 in particular was corrected: each cascaded stage now runs at √Q so the combined output peaks at Q rather than Q², eliminating the aggressive sub-bass buildup that appeared at high resonance values. Maximum effective Q was also reduced and the minimum filter cutoff was raised to keep the resonance away from the guitar's low-E fundamental.
- Preset list cleaned up: removed placeholder "Init 15" through "Init 28" slots. The preset browser now shows only named, curated presets.
New presets
- More Computer Talk: ARP mode, COMB topology, full resonance, SEMI quantisation.
- Future Mutation 2: Filter Seq mode, Band-pass BIQ, moderate resonance, random LFO.

Version 1.0.1 — July 27, 2026

Fixed: Resolved an issue where the preset parameter state was overwritten by factory preset defaults upon re-opening saved DAW sessions.
Fixed: UI control synchronization updated to properly reflect current preset state on plugin initialization without overriding host automation or user tweaks.

Version 1.0.0 — July 17, 2026

Initial Release: First public commercial release of Paine Peaks.