Tensor's NXT mode ("next") uses tandem buffers, playing back one while recording into the next. Alternating buffers disconnects the input from the output, allowing you to freely manipulate the sound with a fixed slice size.
Some possibilities are:
- real-time reverse, synchronized on beat or a fixed delay (like less advanced reverse pedals),
- time compression in real-time,
- playing rounds, with the Tensor following the melody
- real-time polyrhythms, using time stretch/compression,
- harmonizing with a fixed delay,
- slapback echo, and
- micro-glitching, by using a very short buffer length.
The HOLD switch sets the length of both buffers. Imagine the buffers as two tape decks, where one deck is recording while the other plays. Each time the HOLD LED blinks, they switch roles.
The recording is taken in real time, but playback occurs according to the control positions. This allows you to play in reverse in perfect time, if you think ahead and play now what you want to hear one "buffer" later.
With time compression, you can play a phrase up to four times faster in real-time. Applying time stretching or compression to the loop will create unique rhythms as the audio is repeated or truncated by the timing of the loop.
As always, the audio can be randomized, for surprising but largely musical glitch effects.