Playback Controls

Overview

The Playback Controls set how Lucid moves through the captured loop over time. In Stretch mode, playback slows down, reverses, or freezes in sync with your project. In Scrub mode, you move through the loop by hand or with modulation, resequencing it in new ways. Both modes stay locked to your timeline whenever you want.

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Playback Mode

Selects how captured audio is played back.

• Stretch: Time-stretches captured audio while keeping playback synchronized to the timeline or incoming audio. Ideal for freeze effects, rhythmic manipulation, and evolving time-based textures.

• Scrub: Lets you manually move through the captured audio. Automate or modulate the playback position to create expressive resequencing and real time performance effects.

Stretch Mode

Determines what triggers a new stretch.

• Grid. Retriggers stretching at tempo-synced intervals, keeping playback aligned with the project timeline.

• Transient. Retriggers whenever a transient is detected in the incoming audio, following the natural rhythm of the source material.

• Manual. Starts a new stretch each time Activate is pressed, making it ideal for live performance, automation, and manual freeze effects.

Stretch Retrigger

Sets how often stretching retriggers when using Grid mode.

Shorter note divisions retrigger more frequently, while longer divisions allow each stretch to continue for a greater duration. If the retrigger interval is shorter than the current Grain Rate, playback may reset before new grains are generated, making the stretch effect inaudible.

Stretch

Controls how much the captured audio is stretched without affecting its pitch.

At 1x, audio plays at its original speed. Increasing the value progressively slows playback until the incoming audio is completely frozen. Stretching follows the selected Stretch Mode.

Push Stretch to maximum and raise Blur to turn any input into a smooth, sustained pad.

Stretch Sync

Locks the Stretch control to tempo-synchronized values.

When enabled, stretching snaps to musical divisions for rhythmically aligned playback. When disabled, Stretch can be adjusted continuously for unrestricted time manipulation.

Stretched BPM

Displays the effective tempo of the stretched audio.

The displayed value is calculated from the project tempo and current Stretch amount. You can also enter a target BPM to automatically set the closest matching Stretch value.

Stretch Sensitivity

Adjusts how easily incoming transients trigger stretching when using Transient mode.

Higher values respond to quieter sounds, while lower values focus only on stronger transients, helping stretching follow the primary rhythm of the source material.

Scrub Position

Sets the playback position within the captured audio.

Move through the recorded loop manually, or automate and modulate the control to create dynamic playback and time-based effects. The available scrub range depends on the current Loop Length.

Modulate Scrub Position to build new sequences that stay locked to your loop.

Scrub Mode

Determines how Scrub Position moves through the captured audio.

Free provides smooth, continuous movement, while synchronized modes snap playback to tempo-based note divisions for rhythmically precise sequencing.

Scrub Record Hold

Freezes the current recording buffer.

When enabled, incoming audio is no longer recorded, allowing you to manipulate a fixed section of captured audio. Disable Hold to resume recording live input.

Input Meter

Displays the level of the incoming audio being recorded.

A recording indicator shows when audio is actively being captured. Click the meter to toggle Scrub Record Hold, allowing you to freeze or resume recording.

Stretch Activate

Enables or disables Stretch playback manually.

Disabling Stretch returns playback to the live input. Re-enabling it starts a new stretch from the current input, making it useful for manual triggering, automation, and live performance.

Reverse

Reverses playback through the captured audio.

When enabled, both the playback position and generated grains play in reverse for a natural reverse effect. In Manual mode, enabling Reverse starts a new stretch. In Grid and Transient modes, playback direction changes immediately.

Try combining this with the Grain Delay for unique reverse delay effects.

Reverse Probability

Sets the likelihood that individual grains will play in reverse.

At 0%, all grains play forward. At 50%, forward and reverse playback occur equally often. At 100%, every grain plays in reverse. This affects only the playback direction of each grain, while Scrub Position continues to determine where playback begins.

Reverse Indicator

Displays the current playback direction of generated grains.

Click the forward or reverse indicator to force all grains to play in the selected direction.

Spray

Randomizes the playback start position of each grain.

Lower values keep grains close to the current playback position, while higher values spread them across a wider section of the captured audio, producing more diffuse and ambient textures.

Blur

Applies phase randomization to smooth granular playback.

Increasing Blur reduces artifacts during stretching and freezing, creating softer and more natural sounding textures. Lower values preserve a sharper and more defined character.

Level

Adjusts the volume of newly generated grains.

Because the level is applied as each grain is created, changes occur gradually rather than affecting all currently playing grains immediately.