04 · CHOPPING

Drop a Break, Chop It

DMC60 offers multiple ways to slice samples — from live tapping to automatic transient detection. Slices are non-destructive markers that reference the original sample.

Four Ways to Chop

Live Chop

Tap pads to the beat while the sample plays. DMC60 drops slice points in real-time at each tap.

Transient Detection

Let smart detection find and mark every transient automatically. Adjust sensitivity to catch more or fewer hits.

Auto-Divide

Split the sample into equal slices. Quick and precise for evenly-spaced material or when you want consistent slice lengths.

Manual

Drag markers directly on the waveform. Full control for surgical edits or unusual source material.

NEW · RECORD TO THE GRID

Record Straight to Slices

The four modes above chop a sample you already have. The Record Input recorder can also chop as you record: turn on Auto clips, pick a clip length, and DMC60 counts you in, captures live input, and slices the take into tempo-locked bar clips on the fly. Every clip lands on the next pad, and the pad you are recording to shows a ring that fills as the bar goes by, so you can see the next clip coming — a jam becomes a playable chop kit with no editor step. Instant flow state.

Clip length1 · 2 · 4 · 8 bars, at project tempo
Count-inOff · 1 · 2 · 4 bars of click before clip 1
AssignmentEach clip to the next pad, in order
ReachFills across banks A–H, up to 128 slots
LevelsQuiet clips optionally auto-normalized on capture
Mute groupEach run choked together — a new take never cuts an older part

Transient Detector

The onset detector uses spectral flux analysis to find transients. It's tuned for drums and percussion but works on any rhythmic material.

AlgorithmSpectral flux (FFT-based)
FFT size1024 samples
Sensitivity0.0–1.0 (adjustable)
Min gap30 ms default
SnapZero-crossing for click-free cuts

Non-Destructive Slicing

Slices are markers, not cuts. The original sample is never modified. This means you can adjust slice points at any time, undo mistakes, and preserve the source material.

SLICE REFERENCE MODE

Slices reference the source sample buffer rather than copying data. This is memory-efficient — a 10-second loop chopped into 16 slices uses no additional RAM for the slices themselves.

Slice to Pads

Once you've set your slice points, assign slices to pads with a single action. Slices land on consecutive pads with a shared mute group, ready to play. A tagged Live-chop slice keeps the exact pad you tapped; the rest fill the lowest free slots in order.

DestinationCurrent program or new program
Pad assignmentConsecutive from the start pad
ReachFills across banks A–H, up to 128 slots
Mute groupAuto-assigned (optional)
NamingDerived from source sample
WARP ON COMMIT

Choose a warp mode before committing and every slice is set to follow the project tempo as it lands on its pad — Repitch to fit by speeding up or slowing down, or Stretch to fit while keeping the pitch. Set the loop length in bars so DMC60 knows the tempo the break was cut at. See Warp & Tempo Sync for the full picture.

Mute Groups for Slices

When slices are assigned to pads, they can share a mute group. This means triggering one slice silences the others — essential for rearranging a chopped break without overlapping tails.

Zero-Crossing Snap

Slice points automatically snap to zero-crossings in the waveform. This eliminates clicks at slice boundaries without requiring manual fades or crossfades.