Processor Feedback Shift

s3g Processor Feedback Shift is an eight-input, eight-output CLAP audio effect for performing one coupled feedback network. Eight shift/ring nodes, a signed 8-by-8 matrix, paired scenes, energy-responsive governors, virtual patch splicing, per-node inserts, an in-network aux return, and a post-network granulator form one playable system rather than eight unrelated channel effects.

Every node may process its matching external input, excite itself from noise, tone, sub bass, or MIDI hits, or run only from matrix feedback. The plug-in remains an audio effect in the host even when an internal source is selected; it does not advertise itself as a CLAP instrument.

Workflow

1. Set a REAPER track to eight channels and insert s3g Processor Feedback Shift. Feed as many matching input lanes as the patch requires.
2. Route the eight ordinary output lanes to the intended main speaker outputs, a downstream direct panner, or Output Autogain Stereo/Quad for fold-down monitoring.
3. Begin with COLD START, keep OUTPUT low, and choose a SOURCE for each active node. Use EXTERNAL when the incoming lane should drive the network directly.
4. Build a sparse matrix first. Click an empty crosspoint to create it, click an active crosspoint again to remove it, and Option-click to create a negative connection.
5. Set each node's SHIFT, REGEN, COLOR, and BODY, then introduce an INSERT only where it adds a distinct role.
6. Edit Scene B into a contrasting but related network and move MORPH between the scenes manually or with an energy envelope, edge, LFO, chaos, or pulse driver.
7. Add SPLICE, REST, and the aux return gradually. Use PANIC whenever the network must be cleared immediately.

Workspace Pages

The editor follows the focused-page organization used by Processor No Input Mixer. PATCH owns the signed matrix, scene operations, and selected crosspoint. INSERT owns node selection, the node core, insert family, and contextual insert controls. ECOLOGY owns source excitation, virtual splicing, sub bass, morph and governors, per-node activity, and output topology. AUX owns the eight scene sends, in-network bus processor, and post-network granulator. Scene A/B selection and RANDOM A/B remain in the common page strip.

Matrix crosspoints follow the No Input Mixer visual grammar: every connection is square; positive routes are orange, negative routes are cyan, and the brighter inner square indicates live route magnitude. The gray outline identifies the selected crosspoint.

Signal Flow

1. The selected internal source or matching external input lane enters its node.
2. The signed matrix adds returns from any of the eight source columns to the node's destination row.
3. SHIFT or RING, COLOR, and the fractional BODY path reshape the combined excitation.
4. The selected node INSERT processes the result before continuous containment and lane level.
5. Scene-specific sends feed the aux bus; its processed RETURN re-enters the matrix sources rather than acting as an ordinary master insert.
6. The optional granulator processes the dry node outputs after the feedback network and before the selected output topology.

Matrix columns are sources and rows are destinations. The selected crosspoint exposes a continuous signed gain with three-decimal precision, polarity action, and clear action. A negative value inverts that route before it reaches the destination node.

Scenes, Morph, and Virtual Splices

Scene A and Scene B each store the complete matrix plus node SHIFT/RING mode, frequency, regeneration, color, body, level, and aux-send values. SOURCE, INPUT gain, INSERT choice, and insert parameters remain shared. The A and B editor buttons choose which scene is being edited; they do not move the audible morph position.

MORPH interpolates the two authored networks. ECOLOGY ENV follows network energy, while ECOLOGY EDGE reacts primarily to rising energy. LFO, CHAOS, and PULSE provide autonomous motion. DEPTH preserves the manual morph point as the base, INERTIA smooths travel, and HOLD freezes the live driver position.

The virtual-patch splice engine operates above the two scenes. Every lane may temporarily change matrix relationships, polarity, processing mode, shift family, regeneration, color, body, level, aux send, and audible presence. RANGE spans approximately one event per minute through 384 events per second per lane; FINE trims that result from half to double speed. CONTRAST sets how far a splice departs from the authored network, and SPACE creates asynchronous lane holes. Changes are committed at the bottom of a short fade seam so high-density cuts remain decisive without raw sample discontinuities.

Engine Controls

Sources are NOISE + HIT, NOISE, MIDI HIT, TONE, SUB BASS, EXTERNAL, EXT GATE, and OFF. INPUT provides −60 to +12 dB per node. External lane 1 feeds node 1 through external lane 8 feeding node 8. MIDI channels 1–8 strike the corresponding node; other channels strike all nodes.

Node Inserts

Each node has one insert selected through exactly two levels: CATEGORY, then EFFECT. Families whose circuit identity is part of the sound expose every circuit directly at the EFFECT level; there is no third navigation menu.

Macro Shred exposes Pressure, Shred, Feedback, Color, React, Tune, Body, and Mix. Macro Pitch exposes coarse and fine pitch, window, glide, and mix. Macro Delay exposes time, feedback, tone, character, smear, glide, and mix. Rotor and Chorus use the shared No Input Mixer modulation circuits with independent state for each node. Repeater and Time listen for transients and do not depend on host transport.

Each node selector on the INSERT page has an adjacent RND action. It randomizes only that node's insert identity and insert-control storage. It does not alter the source, core shift network, either scene matrix, aux sends, morph system, governors, or output topology.

Aux Return and Post Granulator

The aux feedback bus receives independent Scene A and Scene B sends from all eight lanes. Press, saturation, fold, clip, and tilt shape the combined bus before RETURN sends it back into every matrix source according to the visible routing. This makes the aux processor part of the network rather than a post-output effect.

The granulator is deliberately post-network. SIZE, DENSITY, SCATTER, PITCH, COHERENCE, LANE DRIFT, EDGE, SPACE, SHAPE, and GRAIN MIX define its behavior. A nonzero SPACE waits for existing grains to finish and then inserts a real silent interval. At intermediate mix values the grain envelope ducks its source lane so grains remain legible instead of sitting over an unchanged dry layer.

Output and Safety

The CLAP port remains one fixed eight-channel input and one fixed eight-channel output. 8CH DIRECT preserves all lanes. QUAD RING projects the node ring to outputs 1–4, and STEREO RING projects it to outputs 1–2; unused lanes are silent. ROTATE turns the ring before either projection without rebuilding host routing.

Continuous containment responds only when loop energy becomes unsafe. REFLEX first tries to move a dominant mode, the amplitude governor reduces persistent excess, and REST may withdraw individual lanes. A transparent output ceiling remains a final safeguard. PANIC clears feedback, processor, delay, modulation, and granulator memories and returns the network from silence.

Presets, Randomization, and State

The factory bank contains COLD START, ZERO WEATHER, RUSTED RING, IMPACT CAVITY, EXTERNAL TEAR, HARSH WALL, MICRO CUTS, MILLION SPLICES, and SUB FRACTURE. Each preset defines a complete paired network rather than one static patch.

RANDOM A and RANDOM B alter only the named scene. The opposite scene, shared source and insert choices, manual morph position, output level, output mode, rotation, and governor topology remain unchanged. COPY A > B and COPY B > A establish a new destination without clearing the running network.

Project state stores all 397 controls, both scenes, inserts, aux routing, granulator settings, and output topology. Selector changes crossfade into the new processor without clearing the surrounding network. State from incompatible earlier builds is rejected rather than partially recalled, so archive important projects together with the plug-in build used to author them.