LDK-1 - L.Dre Kit Player-1 (Windows)
====================================

LDK-1 (L.Dre Kit Player-1) is a free drum player for L.Dre's drum kits:
32 pads in two banks, with its own look for every kit. It comes with a
free Starter Kit (78 L.Dre sounds) and also plays the L.Dre drum kits you
own. VST3 (FL Studio, Ableton Live, Studio One, Reaper...) and a
standalone app. Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit.


INSTALL
-------
1. Double-click "LDK-1 v... Setup.exe". If Windows says "Windows
   protected your PC", click More info, then Run anyway (the installer
   isn't code-signed yet).
2. Follow the steps (license, then what to install). It installs:
     - the VST3 into C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
     - the LDK-1 app into C:\Program Files\L.Dre\LDK-1 (Start menu)
     - the Starter Kit sounds into C:\ProgramData\L.Dre\LDK-1
3. Restart your DAW and let it scan for new plugins:
   FL Studio: Options > Manage plugins > Find installed plugins.
   Ableton Live: Settings > Plug-Ins, "Use VST3 Plug-In System Folders"
   on, then Rescan. LDK-1 is under Plug-Ins > L.Dre.


YOUR KITS
---------
The Starter Kit is installed with LDK-1 and plays right away. LDK-1 finds
your L.Dre drum kits by itself when they're in your Music folder (or
Music\Drum Kits). Kits kept somewhere else: SOUND... > Find my packs...
and choose the folder they're in (this PC remembers). The PACKS key
(shown once you have more than one kit) switches kits. LDK-1 only reads
your kit folders; it never changes, moves or deletes anything in them.


ABLETON LIVE: SHARP WINDOW
--------------------------
If LDK-1 looks blurry in Live: right-click the LDK-1 device's title bar,
untick "Auto-Scale Plug-In Window", then remove and re-add the device
(or reopen the Set). LDK-1 then draws at your screen's real resolution.


HOW IT PLAYS
------------
Bank A (C1-D#2 in Ableton; C3-D#4 in FL Studio's piano roll): kicks,
snares, hats and open hats. Bank B (E2-G3; E4-G5 in FL): perc and
foley. Both banks always play from MIDI; the A / B buttons only change
the view. Hats choke each other, and so does foley. Padlock / M / S on
each pad: lock (SHUFFLE KIT skips it), mute, solo. Click a pad to select
it; hover a pad to preview it.
Window size: the SIZE key by the name (Small / Medium / Large). At some
Windows display scales a size is nudged a little so the pixel art stays
crisp.
SOFT CLIP DRIVE: master soft clipper (0 = off; same loudness at any
setting). SOFT: rounder, darker drums for mellow lofi (1 light,
2 medium, 3 heavy). Double-click a knob to reset it.

STEMS: every pad also plays on its own output (A01 ... B16), clean (no
soft clip).
FL Studio: in LDK-1's window, click the gear (plugin settings) >
Processing > Auto map outputs: each pad gets its own mixer insert.
Ableton Live: make an audio track, set Audio From to LDK-1's track and
pick the pad (e.g. A01), and record (set the stem tracks' Monitor to Off
so you don't hear the pad twice).

PRESET (top right): save and load whole kits; saved in
    %APPDATA%\L.Dre\LDK-1\Presets

Without a DAW: open LDK-1 from the Start menu (click Options at the top
left to choose the audio output).


TO UNINSTALL
------------
Settings > Apps > Installed apps > LDK-1 (L.Dre Kit Player-1) >
Uninstall (this also removes the Starter Kit sounds). Your presets and
settings in %APPDATA%\L.Dre\LDK-1 stay; delete that folder too if you
want them gone.


QUESTIONS
---------
info@prodbyldre.com
