http://www.moforte.com/mahesh-raghvan-shares-his-xitar-1-5-extreme-geoshred-preset/
There are many resources to help you with questions that you may have about GeoShred. Here are some resources that you might find helpful.
Video User Manual and Application Notes
There is an 8 chapter video user manual, and over 30 "how-to" application notes covering many common scenarios
Reference Manual
FAQs
The extensive FAQ topics cover the most common questions that we have been asked over the years.
Jordan Rudess Master Class
Context Sensitive Help
Help in Other Languages
email Support
Here is a video showing how to access the GeoShred Help Resources
Here is a video that shows how to access the GeoShred Help Resources in other languages using Google Translate:
It's possible to view the reference manual in other languages using Google Translate. The User Videos can also be subtitled using Google Translate. Here is a video that shows how to access the GeoShred Help Resources in other languages using Google Translate:
Yes, there is a search box at the top of help that you can use to search the help system:
Unfortunately, the GeoShred help resources cannot be seen in China unless you are using a VPN. In the future, we plan to host the GeoShred help resources inside China.
Because GeoShred is a complex product, we feel that explaining how GeoShred works, is best done with a video user manual. There is also a reference manual under "Menu > Help". Because the reference manual is deeply linked it does not translate well to PDF. Here is information on where to find the user video manual, and the reference manual.
Video User Manual and Application Notes
There is an 8 chapter video user manual, and over 30 "how-to" application notes covering many common scenarios
Reference Manual
FAQs
The extensive FAQ topics cover the most common questions that we have been asked over the years.
You can mail questions to support '@' moforte.com, or in GeoShred you can go to "Menu> Help> Report a Problem".
Nope! a review is not an effective way to get support. It takes 2-3 days for your review to appear, and 2-3 days for our response to reach you. It's really better to reach out to us directly at support@moforte.com. We usually respond within a few hours during California working hours and often within minutes.
If you like GeoShred please consider writing a review. The reviews help us keep the features coming. You can write a review for GeoShred by tapping on "Menu > Help > Review Button" (on the bottom of the page).
Here are several resources for learning how to play GeoShred.
GeoSWAM was never intended to be a replacement or competitor for Noise. It's a different concept, fundamentally about merging the fluidity of playing on the glass using GeoShred, and the SWAM models.
There is no connection between Roli Noise and Wizdom GeoShred. Roli is a different company. Audio Modeling licensed some early SWAM instruments to Roli. GeoShred is developed by Wizdom/moForte. We collaborated with Audio Modeling on more up-to-date models.
The SWAM Models that are integrated into GeoShred are known as the GeoSWAM Instruments. The GeoSWAM instruments are expressive multidimensional instruments. Because the MPE protocol was designed for controlling multidimensional instruments, the GeoSWAM instruments can be performed from the GeoShred keyboard, or MPE controllers ONLY.
In the near future, Audio Modeling will release native SWAM as iOS Apps. These Apps will offer the most suitable interface for full MIDI control and have been designed specifically to guide the user for correct use and control.
The GeoSWAM instruments are monophonic and are optimized for the GeoShred keyboard and MPE controllers. Not all controls found on the native SWAM instruments are available in the GeoSWAM instruments, and some controls are handled differently. A complete list of the controls for each instrument can be found here:
Yes, GeoShred can be hosted in any AUv3 host. As an AUv3 plugin instance, GeoSWAM instruments can be recorded and played back using GeoShred's keyboard or an MPE compliant controller.
The GeoSWAM instruments are not sample sound packs, each is a full physics model that took many years to develop by Audio Modeling, the creator of the SWAM technology. Versions of these instruments are also available on the desktop from Audio Modeling with a cost upwards of $100 - $300.As an example if If you compare all the the products that offer physically modeled bowed strings, SWAM Desktop, Expressive E Arche, the EaganMatrix, all of these products range from $100 to $1800 (osmos). Based on competitive products, we feel $15 for a Cello is good value. Here is what DiscChord had to sayd about the price of the GeoSWAM instruments. https://discchord.com/appnews/2020/10/21/geoshred-5-the-swam-update
The Apple app store sells apps and IAPs in 175 countries and we (an all developers) don't have access to Apple's database of what the current price conversions are. The only thing we have access to is setting the initial price in USD. Apple takes it from there. Further, the price displayed in the GeoShred store is Apple's current price for the IAP. It changes in real time in response to world market conditions and the local laws for each country. Because it changes in real time, it's not possible to quote it in an email. The only thing that is constant is the USD price that is initially set for the product which is why that appears in the email campaign.
To make matters more complex each of these 175 countries have ever changing laws around adding taxes like GST, HST, VAT. Apple makes these changes in real time. In particular India adds a great deal of taxation to Apps and IAPs. Even Apple does not have control over that.
We, and essentially all app developers, don't like this. We would prefer to have control over the price in other countries; and even have different prices in different countries. But that is how we, and all developers, must work with Apple.
The GeoSWAM IAP store is available for both GeoShred Pro, and GeoShred Play. If GeoShred Control users wish to purchase the GeoSWAM instruments, they must upgrade to the functionality of GeoShred Pro first.
No, each version of GeoShred (Pro, Play, Control) has it's own IAPs. Also note that you should not have more than one GeoShred on your device because they all share the same AUv3 App ID and this will cause confusion for hosts. They share the same App ID to facilitate migration of projects.
Unfortunately, due to App Store limitations, previously purchased instrument IAPs can not be applied to a purchase of the collection.
The minimium required version of iOS to run the GeoSWAM instruments is iOS 11.4
Yes, the GeoSWAM instruments use 3D touch for both velocity and pressure. Here is a list of phones that support 3D touch. Many of these can be purchased used and are an excellent value to use for a full KeyX/KeyY/KeyZ MPE controller.
On an iPad, velocity is taken from KeyY Touch, the vertical distance where the key is tapped, with 0 at the bottm and 127 at the top. Pressure is mapped to KeyY sliding.
Here are the slide ranges for each of the GeoSWAM instruments. These instruments are limited to this range to maintain realism.
For more detailed information click here.
The GeoSWAM instruments are all mono.
Mono/String/Poly is the "Play Mode" of the keyboard and is not related to the polyphony instrument in the preset.
The Naada Models that are integrated into GeoShred are known as the Naada Instruments. The Naada instruments are expressive multidimensional instruments. Because the MPE protocol was designed for controlling multidimensional instruments, the Naada instruments can be performed from the GeoShred keyboard, or MPE controllers. They can also be performed from Conventional MIDI Controllers and Wind Controllers with some limitations.
Yes, GeoShred can be hosted in any AUv3 host. As an AUv3 plugin instance, Naada instruments can be recorded and played back using GeoShred's keyboard, and MPE compliant controller a conventional MIDI controller or a wind controller.
The Naada instruments are not sample sound packs, each is a full physics model that took many years to develop.As an example if If you compare all the the products that offer physically modeled bowed strings, SWAM Desktop, Expressive E Arche, the EaganMatrix, all of these products range from $100 to $1800 (osmos). Based on competitive products, we feel $15 for the Naada Carnatic Violin is good value.
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The Naada IAP store is available for both GeoShred Pro, and GeoShred Play. If GeoShred Control users wish to purchase the Naada instruments, they must upgrade to the functionality of GeoShred Pro first.
No, each version of GeoShred (Pro, Play, Control) has it's own IAPs. Also note that you should not have more than one GeoShred on your device because they all share the same AUv3 App ID and this will cause confusion for hosts. They share the same App ID to facilitate migration of projects.
Unfortunately, due to App Store limitations, previously purchased instrument IAPs can not be applied to a purchase of the collection.
The minimium required version of iOS to run the Naada instruments is iOS 11.4
Yes, the Naada instruments use 3D touch for both velocity and pressure. Here is a list of phones that support 3D touch. Many of these can be purchased used and are an excellent value to use for a full KeyX/KeyY/KeyZ MPE controller.
On an iPad, velocity is taken from KeyY Touch, the vertical distance where the key is tapped, with 0 at the bottm and 127 at the top. Pressure is mapped to KeyY sliding.
The Naada instruments are both Mono and support Duophony.
Mono/String/Poly is the "Play Mode" of the keyboard and is not related to the polyphony instrument in the preset.
We have a flier for the family of products at http://www.moforte.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GeoShred-4.0-one-sheet.pdf Look at page 2 there is a comparison. Basically Pro is everything. Play is a preset player, no MIDI, no AUv3 plugin. Control is a MIDI/MPE controller, no built in engine. GeoShred Play+Pro or GeoShred Control+Pro and GeoShred Pro are identical.
GeoShred Pro and Play contain all the the presets based on the guitar pluck model. GeoShred Pro, GeoShred Play+Pro and GeoShred Control+Pro include the Pro features of: Preset Editing, MIDI, Auv3 Plugin, and iCloud Support.
Note that all presets are based on physics modeling and are NOT samples. There are currently 214 presets based on the guitar pluck model including:
There are also 21 effects including modeled distortions, EQs, Flangers, Phaser, Chorus, Echos, Looper, Tremelo, Sympathetic Resonator, Reverb, Wah, Moog VCF, and more
There is a store with In-App-Purchases for the GeoSWAM and Naada Instruments both individually and as collections. In GeoShred, look under "Menu> Store".
The GeoSWAM instruments are available as In-App-Purhcases from are our partner Audio Modeling. They include: GeoTrumpet, GeoBassTrombone, GeoBassFlute, GeoPizzBass, GeoViola, GeoViolin, GeoCello, GeoTenorSax, GeoFlute, GeoClarinet and GeoOboe. You can see previews of these instruments here.
The Naada instruments are available as In-App-Purhcases from are our partner AccelMatrix. They include: Bansuri, Bass, Bass Clarinet, Carnatic Violin, Cello, Duduk, Erhu, Nadaswaram, Pan Flute, Rudra Veena, Sarangi, Shehnai, Saraswati Veena and Viola. You can see previews of these instruments here.
It's not a good idea to have more than one GeoShred on your device because they all share the same AUv3 AppID and this will cause confusion for hosts. They share the same AppID to facilitate migration of projects.
GeoShred Play and GeoShred Control can be upgraded to the functionality of GeoShred Pro. This includes:
You will see this:
After you have upgraded all the grayed out [PRO] menus are now available:
And the launch screen will say "+ Pro upgrade":
If you download GeoShred Play to a second device using the same Apple ID (Apple Allows up to 5 devices, App download will NOT download your IAP. You can manually download it with "Restore Purchases"
There is not a trial version of GeoShred because the iTunes App Store does not support trial versions of Paid Apps. Apple's App Approval Guidelines specifically disallows Paid Apps that are trial versions. There is a lower cost version of GeoShred called "GeoShred Play" which is a player for GeoShred Presets, no MIDI, no preset editing, no AUv3 plugin interface. It can be found here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/geoshred-play/id1227932062
Apple's policy is that you can download an app up to 5 different devices as long as they share the same Apple ID.
Normally the way that this works, is on the second device, you go to the App Store App, search for the version of GeoShred that you own (GeoShred Play or GeoShred Pro or GeoShred Control) and you should see a cloud icon to download it again.
If you are transferring an in-app-purchase to a second device, you need to tap on the "Restore Purchase" Menu item to restore the purchase
It's not good to have more than one GeoShred on your device. For instance, GeoShred Play and GeoShred Pro.
This is because all GeoShreds share the same AUv3 interface to assist users with migrating projects from Play to Pro or from Control to Pro.
Having more than one GeoShred can cause hosts to become confused about which GeoShred should be hosted. If you do happen to have more than one, chose the GeoShred that you plan to keep, usually Pro, and delete the other one, Play or Control. Be sure to backup your presets with "Menu > File" before deleting.
You may also want to reboot your device, to get iOS to re-index the AUv3 Plugins.
We are sorry that you don't like the app. Note that Apple is responsible for all eCommerce. Here are instructions for how to get a refund from Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204084
GeoShred is exclusively available on iOS devices due to a fundamental reason - most Android devices currently lack support for low latency audio. Without this feature, even a simple touch on the screen could result in a delay of up to one second before any sound is produced, rendering GeoShred unplayable as a musical instrument on Android devices. However, Google offers a solution called the Low Latency Audio Path, and it is hoped that in the next few years, device manufacturers will adopt this technology. This could potentially enable a version of GeoShred that is compatible with Android devices that support the Low Latency Audio Path. Andrew Huang has a nice video about the topic of porting iOS apps to Android https://youtu.be/-sPbcTcUmcI
Audio latency for Windows is reasonable. We will likely have a windows VST for GeoShred late 2024. However the Surface touchscreen latency can be poor. We measured 310 ms on an ASUS surface. It needs to be more like 10ms to 20ms. Touch screen latency is really not a function of how fast the device is. It's related to buffering in the the hardware/software path between the touch screen and the CPU. We don't see that hardware manufacturers have any incentive to improve this to reach the level of performance found on iOS devices.
Connecting an iOS device for MIDI to Mac or PC based VSTs
GarageBand does not publish its MIDI port. GarageBand is setup to only respond to physical MIDI controllers. Thus GeoShred (or any iOS MIDI controller) is not able to send MIDI to GarageBand. There is a work around using an app called "midiflow" which has figured out how to bridge virtual MIDI into GarageBand.
Here is our video on how to control GarageBand Virtual Instruments from GeoShred using midiflow. Please look at this carefully. You must follow all the steps, like turning on background audio for GarageBand, MPE, etc, etc.
We have a video showing how to setup SWAM on a desktop to be played by GeoShred:
Apple has deprecated IAA in favor of AUv3. We feel that IAA remains an important use case for recording projects. That being said, for the time being IAA still works, but we are noticing some things that don't work as well. Here are some tips for getting IAA to work well
Mahesh's presets can be found in moForte's blog at the link below. Be sure to use Safari to open this page because Chrome does not have the rights to launch GeoShred which is necessary to install the presets.
http://www.moforte.com/mahesh-raghvan-shares-his-xitar-1-5-extreme-geoshred-preset/
Western Music and South Asian Music handle transposition differently.
In order to transpose a raga, it's best to use the preset or global transposition mechanisms rather than changing the root. Here is a procedure that you can use to do this
You can create your own scales, and the scale can be in any temperament that you define using ETdiffs (percent difference from Equal Temperament). Here is a video that shows you how to create your own scales and temperaments:
At the moment, GeoShred does not support reading Scala files. We plan to support this in a future release.
However, you can create your own scales, and the scale can be in any temperament that you define using ETdiffs (percent difference from Equal Temperament). Here is a video that shows you how to create your own scales and temperaments:
You can record GeoShred to an iOS DAW as either and audio track or MIDI track. Audio tracks can be recorded using either Inter App Audio (IAA) or AudioBus. MIDI tracks can be recorded using GeoShred's AUv3 plugin interface. You can also record GeoShred's Audio directly to a host based DAW using the IDAM interface.
Here are the app notes on using GeoShred's AUv3 Interface, Audio Bus and iDAM.
The exact iPad and configuration is really a personal choice. We recommend that you can get the most powerful iPad that you can afford. Here are some additional parameters.
"Menu > Files" can be used to backup your user presets.
Under "Menu > Files", the "Export" button can be used to copy your preset to your iCloud storage. You can also use "Import" to copy previously saved presets into GeoShred
"Export" and "Import" will bring up the standard iCloud file browser.
Here is a video with further information:
Yes, As of January 2017 GeoShred supports both the iPad (iPad 2 or better) and the iPhone (iPhone 4s or better).
GeoShred's synthesis engine is based on advanced Physical Modeling Synthesis. Geo Synthesizer uses a sample based engine. Both instruments have isomorphic keyboards, but the controller facilities are quite different. The GeoShred Keyboard has also been extended to support any tuning.
This muddy sound for conventional chords is caused by something called intermodulation distortion and it's just like a real distorted guitar. Here is an example of how to get clean distorted chords using hexaphonic strings
Generally there is not a key of G# because it requires having adouble sharp in the key. That is why it's often notated with itsenharmonic equivalent Ab. Here is a reference on thattopic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-sharp_major andhere aswell: https://www.basicmusictheory.com/g-sharp-major-key-signature, The number of flats and sharps that are in a musical key aredetermined by the cycle of 5ths.
Key Cb Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F C G D A E B F# C#Number #|b 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7The "Sharp keys" add sharps with the pattern F,C,G,D,A,E,BThe "Flat keys" add flats with the pattern Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb
Because, in equal temperament,
in sheet music the keys used are generally the 12 keys that rangefrom Db to F#. In GeoShred under "Menu > Performance Settings >Keyboard > Scale > Root", you can chose any of these 12keys.
If you want your iPad to stay current for several years, then we recommend that you get the most powerful device that you can afford, and always keep up with the latest version of iOS. GeoShred works on all iPads back to iPad 2/iOS 9.3. However if iOS is less than 11.4, some features are not supported. Specifically iCloud, AUv3 plugin and the GeoSWAM and Naada instruments.
Here is a list that might help you with your decision:https://everyi.com/by-capability/maximum-supported-ios-version-for-ipod-iphone-ipad.html
Sometimes there can be issues with how the AUv3 plugin window for GeoShred looks for some hosts. This can usually be fixed by double tapping the mini-control surface icon '^' in the upper right.
Plugin window issues are due to ambiguity in how AUv3 hosts should handle setting the bounds of a plugin window, and how plugins should interpret the bounds. Over time, we have been making special-case code for specific hosts.
Here is how you change the range of the Whammy. For instance from +/-24 to +/-2: .
Here is a video that shows how to do this:
https://youtu.be/cyl4z_In9vw"For devices that support 3D touch, Velocity and Pressure (KeyZ) come directly from the screen. You can set 3D touch parameters from "Menu > Settings":
You can modify the 3D Touch velocity sensitivity curve under "Menu > Settings > 3D Touch Velocity":
You can modify the 3D Touch pressure sensitivity curve under "Menu > Settings > 3D Touch Pressure":
For devices that DO NOT support 3D touch, velocity can be set by using the KeyY vertical position (KeyY Touch), and Pressure is automatically mapped to KeyY. You can set KeyY touch parameters from "Menu > Settings":
You can modify the KeyY Touch velocity sensitivity curve under "Menu > Settings > KeyY Touch Velocity":
There are two menu items that are relevant for backing tracks. "Set Backing Track" and "Play Backing Track"
A backing track can be assigned to the current preset, or globally. 
There are 3 ways to set the backing track.
It's also possible to put a backing track "Play" button on your control surface.
We have a video that covers backing tracks in GeoShred:
Creating setlists is covered extensively in Chapter 6 of the video manual:
You can't delete factory presets, they are burned into the app.
"All Presets" is not intended for workflow. Most users navigate the presets by setlist. Thus you can just skip the setlists for instruments that you don't own.
"All Presets" is nothing more than an unordered pool of presets for the setlists to draw on. Even if all the presets where unlocked, using "All Presets" for navigation will be chaotic at best because the only order, is the order that we add them to the preset pool. Further the list is too long for 7 bit program change (127 presets) to work in a MIDI controller environment.
The setlists, including your own personal setlists, are the intended way to navigate the preset space. They are organized by type of preset. They are also small enough to fit into the 7 bit (127) program change enumeration. This is described in Chapter 6 of the video manual.
In a future release may make "All Presets" invisible except to the setlist editor. If you have a workflow, please consider putting the presets you use in a personal setlist with the setlist editor. The most common workflow that our users use is to put the presets that they intend to use for a particular song or set into a personal setlist. Note that setlists are different than banks because they can contain multiple instances of the same preset. Thus you can go back and forth between Shred Lead, GeoViolin, Shred Lead, GeoFlute by simply stepping to the next preset in the setlist.
Sometimes iOS does not correctly index an AUv3 plugin when GeoShred is installed. The first thing to try is to reboot the device. If the AUv3 plugin is still not visible, you may need to delete and install GeoShred again.
We usually have a sale on Cyber Monday. The Monday after US Thanksgiving. We sometimes have a sale in mid summer with no specific date.
Starting with GeoShred 6.000.0.1.8, you can swap the control surface from the top to the bottom. To swap the control Ssurface to the bottom go to "Menu> Model & FX> Perform> Strum> CS Bottom"
Factory presets and User presets are in white text.
If a Factory preset is edited but NOT saved, it's red
if a Factory preset has been edited and saved it's yellow.
Factory presets may be reverted with the "Revert" command and will return to being white text.
Edited presets can be shared by email using the Menu item "Menu > Share"
Under "Menu > MIDI" chose the "Roli Seaboard" MIDI configuration.
Here is a video showing the Seaboard controlling GeoShred:
We have a video showing how to setup the LinnStrument with GeoShred
We have a video showing how to setup the Continuum to work with GeoShred:
We have a video showing how to setup GeoShred to work with the Orba2:
We have a video showing how to setup GeoShred to work with different KMI MPE controllers:
There are a number of MID Out presets that are relevant to MPE as well as Multi Mode. Here is further information:
MIDI Out MPE Mode 3 CC74
MIDI Out MPE Mode 3 Channel Pressure
MIDI Out MPE Mode 3
MIDI Out MPE Mode 4 CC74
MIDI Out MPE Mode 4 Channel Pressure.
MIDI Out MPE Mode 4
MIDI Out Multi Mode 3 CC74
MIDI Out Multi Mode 3 Channel Pressure
MIDI Out Multi Mode 3
MIDI Out Multi Mode 4 CC74
MIDI Out Multi Mode 4 Channel Pressure
MIDI Out Multi Mode 4
Nope! We love guitars. We are passionate about the whole stringed instrument family (technically known as chordophones). We own and play many varieties of these instruments. GeoShred makes it possible for musicians (not just guitar players) to experience some of the expressive opportunities that, until recently, have only been available to guitar players. Things like feedback/distortion, power chords, harmonics, string scraping, polyphonic slides and bends. Plus, it goes beyond what a real guitar can do. With the arpeggiator, curves and physical parameters like stiffness, you can create guitar inspired expressive sounds that could not be achieved on a real guitar.
Currently GeoShred runs on all iPad models except the original iPad, which was discontinued in March of 2011.
The iPad 2 is not as powerful as later generation iPads. As such, GeoShred may not be able to run as many effects as a more recent device. GeoShred has a red CPU LED that will light up if the processor is overtaxed. The user may turn off some effects if this situation occurs.
The GeoSWAM and Naada instruments cannot run on the iPad 2 because their minimum requirement is iOS 11.4
You can simply turn off "Background Audio" under "Menu> Settings> Audio> Enable Background Audio". In this case GeoShred will not compute/use battery, when it is in the background. Just be sure to turn it back on if you want to control GeoShred from MIDI when GeoShred is in the background.
Bluetooth audio is not designed to support real time performance. It has a built in delay that can be up to 1 second long. Note that the same is true of AirPlay. Note that this is an issue with how BlueTooth Audio works, and note a GeoShred issue.
Typically you need to use an 1/8" (3.5mm) adapter cable.
It's also possible to use a digital interface. There are many models available.
Note that Bluetooth and AirPlay will not work because they have built in delay.When we hear about this problem, it often has to do with mute being stuck on, frequently on an iPad 2, early iPad Mini, early iPhone.