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Performance Settings

Config

Play Mode

• Mono: Only one string is played by all of the keys — can be used for solo lead-guitar presets — no polyphony possible unless Mono Mode Intervals are enabled. For MIDI Out, GeoShred will only send notes on a single channel.
• String: Each row of the playing surface represents a string — most common way of playing in a lead guitar style. Polyphony accomplished by playing keys on one or more strings at the same time. For MIDI out, this corresponds to MIDI mode 4 using a channel-per-row.
• Poly: All keys on the playing surface are treated like separate voices. Most common way of playing in a piano style, especially from a MIDI controller that sends out on a single channel. For MIDI Out, this corresponds to MIDI Mode 3 using a channel-per-note.

In addition, there are two modifiers that can be applied to the Play Mode:

• Spec. Vel. This is called "Special Velocity" because we couldn't come up with a short way to say it. First of all, the Guitar, and all GeoSWAM instruments have Enable Velocity Override and Velocity Override controllers. However, the GeoSWAM instruments all share the same controller, even though they appear to be independent. Now, if Special Velocity is enabled, then notes coming in from MIDI, Key Y velocity or Force Touch velocity are used instead of the Velocity Override value. If Special Velocity is not enabled, which is the default, then the velocity value of incoming notes is overridden by the Velocity Override value.
• Key Y Touch: With Key Y Touch turned on, the vertical position of the initial touch on the key will be used to determine the velocity, with the min velocity on the bottom of the key, and the max on the top of the key.
• Curve:This is a graphical curve for the Key Y Touch Velocity.
• Legato: Legato us used to perform legato passages where there is a new noteOn before the noteOff for the previous note. For the GeoShred Guitar, the legato note is not rearticulated with a new excitation.

Quantization (Pitch Rounding Modes)

Pitch Rounding, or Quantization, allows playing in tune without having to touch the exact horizontal-center of each key. There are several settings related to this in the Quantization pane under Config:

• Piano: In Piano Mode, each Key is quantized to Standard Pitch in the current Scale, with no bending or finger vibrato. The next row of settings is disabled because they would have no effect in this mode: Conceptually, Snap is on and Round and Slide Speed have nothing to do because no pitch-bend is allowed.
• Guitar: Piano Mode plus Vibrato: In Guitar Mode, a key-touch starts out on Standard Pitch for the current scale, so Snap is always on. Horizontal finger motion gives pitch-bend in a one-semitone range, allowing vibrato to be performed. A new note is played when your finger crosses into the next Key to the left or right, like crossing a "fret". When Round is on, any pitch-bend relaxes back to the key's center pitch at a speed controlled by the Slide Speed setting. In addition to hearing it, you can watch the motion of the circle around your touch indicating the currently playing pitch.
• Slide: "No Frets": In Slide Mode, you can slide left or right along the same string to get large amounts of pitch bend (or wide vibrato) without triggering a new note, like on a slide guitar or fretless fingerboard, or when bending a note along a fret. Whenever your finger enters a new key, the pitch will start to approach the new key's pitch according to the Slide Speed setting. Snap, Round, and Slide Speed operate as in Guitar mode.
• Round: When on, the pitch will drift exponentially toward the current key's assigned pitch at the current Slide Speed.
• Snap: When on, the key's assigned pitch is initially played no matter where your finger happens lands on the key, except when sliding into the key from the left or right in Slide Mode. When Snap is off, the initial pitch is sharp or flat according to where your finger lands to the right or left of the key center, respectively. If Round is on, the pitch will drift toward the key-center pitch at a rate controlled by the Slide Speed setting.
• Slide Speed: Could also be called Round Speed: Controls the speed at which the playing pitch slides toward the key-center pitch. A large value for Slide Speed (towards the right on the slider), means the pitch will move faster, a small value for Slide Speed (towards the left on the slider) means the pitch will move slower. Watch the circle drawn around your fingertip to see it in action.

Mono Mode Intervals

Here you can define a list of intervals that will sound when playing a single note. This is called a Mono Mode Interval or an MMI. Currently 8 MMIs can be defined for each preset. You can also define a separation time, in seconds, so the chord plays as an arpeggio. The separation time can also be set from Arpeggiator or Master Rate. If you enable the Arpeggiator, the separation time controls will become unavailable. If you select use Master Rate however, the separation time derived from the Master Rate will stick.

Note: If Mono Mode Intervals are enabled without the arpeggiator then there are no noteOffs between noteOns. If the arpeggiator is enabled then there are noteOffs between noteOns, i.e. With arpeggiator: noteOn, noteOff, noteOn, noteOff..., without arpeggiator: noteOn, noteOn, noteOff, noteOff.

Arpeggiator

If the arpeggiator is enabled, notes that are being played will be arpeggiated. You can arpeggiate chords you play if the preset is in String Mode or Poly Mode, or you can arpeggiated Mono Mode Intervals.

Tempo

Speed of the arpeggio, can be tied to Master Rate.

Note Order

The Note Order determines which order the arpeggio will be played.

Octave

Octave indicates how many octaves the arpeggiator will play.

Other Controls

Enable

Enable the arpeggiator

Latch

Latch the arpeggio on Note On. The arpeggio will not stop with Note Off, and will be reset with a new Note On

Reset On Note On

Reset the Mono Mode Interval on Note On

Control

Master Rate

System-wide Master Rate. Master rate can be taken from MIDI Clock, tapped out or specified in terms of bpm, Hz or seconds. Certain parameters on given effects, such as Echo delay, can subscribe to Master Rate, and also specify a multiplier. Anywhere you see a Master Rate button this can be done

Preset's MIDI Configuration

MIDI Configuration used by the current GeoShred Preset, overrides the default MIDI configuration

Preset's MIDI direction

Sets the MIDI direction of a preset to In or Out

Finger Expression

Finger Expression provides a way to either take input from the Expression Pad Y axis or Key Y/Key Z, or both.

If Enable is turned off and Finger Expr is turned off or on then there is no effect.

If Enable is turned on and Finger Expr is turned on then parameters assigned to the Expression Pad Y direction are NOT sent when finger is moved on the Expression Pad. Parameters assigned to Poly Expression ARE sent when a finger is moved up and down a key, (Key Y) or pushed into a key if Key Z is used.

If Enable is turned on and Finger Expr is turned off, then it's the reverse, the Expression Pad Y direction are NOT sent and Poly Expression ARE sent.

Debugging tip: Turn on Parameter Trace in the Trace Window to verify what you are hearing

Keyboard

Layout

Number of Strings is the number of rows on the playing surface.

Number of Frets is the number of columns on the playing surface.

Width and Pan can be used to modify the width of the keys, and their horizontal translation.

Diatonic changes the keyboard from Chromatic (all notes) to a Diatonic Keyboard (only notes in the current scale).

Scale/Root

Scrape

The effect of Scrape parameter is repeated excitation of the strings that are being played.

The faster you move your finger, the louder the scraped notes will be, with the maximum velocity being 1.0

The value of the Scrape parameter is not settable from Performance Settings, but it is a parameter you can choose when you make Control Surface, Expression Pad or Key Y mapping.

• Create a new Preset, and map Scrape to Expression X.
• Play a note and hold it down
• With another finger touch down on the left side Expression Pad and move it to right
• You will hear the scraping sound
• Increase the value of scrape parameter to make it louder.
• Decrease the value of the scrape parameter to make it softer.
• A value of zero means no scraping, a value of 1 means minimal scraping, and value of 1000 means maximum scraping.
• The faster you move your finger, in one direction the louder the scrape
• The slower you move your finger, in one direction the louder the scrape
• If you switch directions the scrape get louder as you turn around then proceed as described above.

You can turn on Note Update trace to see the effect your choice of scrape has

You may want to pick different scaling factors for Key Y scrape mappings than you do for the Expression Pad or Control Surface sliders, because the keys are often physically smaller.

Play Track

Play a backing track. Play always rewinds

Backing Track Volume

Volume of a Backing Track

Madhyama Tuning

Indian Music is usually sung in the range of Lower Octave Pa through higher Octave Pa. Tanpura tuning "Pa, High-Sa, High-Sa, Low-Sa (5,8,8,1)", also called "Pa-Shruthi", is ideal for this range and provides rich resonating harmonics for the background. However, in some ragas the highest note in the scale may be limited to P or D* or N*, and may not even go to Higher Sa. For these ragas, performers treat Ma as the Sa, thereby shifting the center of singing to become aligned with the center of the Raga scale. This makes the raga sound much more pleasant, full and beautiful.

This is referred to as using the Madhyama Shruthi or "Ma Shruthi". It is enabled by the GeoShred Madhyama Tuning Panel, where one can choose the Ma-Low or Ma-High settings. GeoShred does all the adjustments to the Drone and also to Swaras on Glass, in sync, making the madhya tuning performance easier and authentic. Note, if the raga does not have a Pa in its scale, it is important to set the drone Pattern to "M1, High-Sa, High-Sa, Sa (4,8,8,1) ", to remove Pa from the drone. It does not become Madhyama Shruthi, and does not require the use of the Madhyama Tuning Panel, unless Ma is actually used as Sa.

MIDI Out

Place an object on the control surface that can directly send MIDI to MIDI Out

Palm Mute

A special version of the Guitar "Material" control that can be used as a Palm Mute. For the guitar model only

Pitch Bend

Place an object on the control surface that can directly send MIDI Pitch Wheel Change to MIDI Out

Strum

The Strum feature in GeoShred offers the ability to emulate the techniques of strumming and finger-picking guitar strings. You may also assign controllers along the length of each strum string. The velocity of the strummed notes is determined by the speed at which you move your finger across the strings.

The controls for configuring strumming can be found in the Strum inspector under "Menu> Model & FX> Perform> Strum"

Chords may be defined and assigned to chord buttons using a chord picker. All chords are based on guitar chords and custom chords are supported. Chords can be also played by directly holding the notes of a chord on the keyboard.

Strum string controller assignments are accomplished using the control surface editor under "Menu> Control Surface> Poly Expr". Within the "Expression" assignment for a controller, you have the option to select "Strum" instead of KeyY or KeyZ.

Performing

There are two ways to strum, horizontal mode and vertical mode. In horizonal mode, the strings run horizontally and you strum up and down. In this mode you may select a chord from the chord buttons or directly play it on the keyboard. When you switch to a different chord the Note Offs are sent for the previous chord. For the last chord you can tap the current chord button a second time to end it.

In vertical mode the strings run vertically and you strum left to right. Unlike in horizontal mode you do not need to hit a chord button to change chords, you just strum directly in area next to the given chord button.

Some players like having an automatic strum played when a chord button is tapped. Automatic strums alternate between a down and up strum. Note that you can set the separation time between notes in the chord.

In addition to strumming you can tap a string directly, similar to finger picking style while playing a guitar

You can continue to play the GeoShred keyboard at the same time when you strum. There are some things to note when you do this. If no chord is defined any notes you play on the GeoShred keyboard will be activated on the Strum view, and you can strum these notes, except that now you can continue strumming as you move the notes around that you are holding down. This is a much more free and flexible way to play and strum, but the technique is more difficult to master.

Also note, there are always 6 strings placed on the Strum view because GeoShred has a maxium of 6 strings. Even if the GeoShred keyboard shows fewer than 6 strings the notes associated with the missing strings (always lower notes) are used in the chord. This means that instrument with a high range may not support a chord you create or choose from the chord picker.

Note there is a an animation of a vibrating string that runs whenever a string is strummed or hit directly. This is a visual effect.

The Strum Inspector

There are several parameters associated with strumming:

Note: Turn on the Enable button before any of these controls become active

Keyboard/Strum/Chords Position Slider

Tap down on the boundary between each section to adjust it's size. If you hold down for about a second you will see a magenta higlight appear - once you see this move your finger to reorder the position of the item (Keyboard/Strum/Chords) you held down on

Num Chords

Number of chord buttons

Size

Fraction of the strumming area devoted to the strings

Vertical

Draw the strings vertically so that they can be strummed left to right. If Vertical is turned off then the strings are drawn horizontally left to right so that you can strum up/down.

CS Bottom

Put the control surface on the bottom instead of the top - some players prefer this because you can see the key names and chord names easier when holding an iPhone in their hand

Strum Speed Curve

Curve applied to strumming speed. Also, you can scale the curve by giving a value to the Strum Speed parameter- which you can put on the control surface.

Enable

Turn on the Strum view

StrmTap

Strum on Button Tap - When a chord button is tapped, strum the chord. The direction of the strum alternates between upwards and downwards. Control the speed of the strum with the SepTime parameter and the OffTime parameters described below

Strum Type

Type of strum: Up, Down, Down/Up, Up/Down

From the persective of holding a real guitar Down means from the low string to the high string, and Up means from the high string to the low string, not the usual meaning of going up on the iPad versus up on the iPad.

This is the usual meaning for Down and Up in guitar literature.

SepTime

Separation Time - Amount of time between each Note On of an automatic strum

OffTime

For an automatic strum, the time, in seconds when a note off is sent after the note on

StrmTap Vel

Strum Tap Velocity - Velocity of each note in an automatic strum

ChdHopo

Chord HOPO - This means enable "chord hammer-on pull-off, or Chord HOPO for short. With this behavior notes played on the GeoShred Keyboard will HOPO with the current chord definition.

HopoOffTime

Time, in seconds when a note off is sent after a note on generated by Chord HOPO is sent.

FPick Vel

Finger Picking Velocity - Velocity of finger picked (direct hit on a Strum view string) note

OpenStr

Open Strings - If enabled, place the open string notes on the Strum view when no chord is defined. The open strings are defined as the notes furthest to the left of the GeoShred keyboard and will depend on the keyboard's tuning. Open String is used in conjunction with directly playing the notes of a chord on the keyboard

Chords

You select chords with the Chord Picker - which is activated when you hit on a chord button. This can only happen when you are in the FX Chain Editor or the Control Surface Editor. We purposely did not use something like a long press to activate the chord picker since it could accidentally come up in a live performance. Custom chords can be defined in the chord picker, in the style of a guitar chord diagram.

Strum Controller Assignments

Strum controllers (controllers you want to assign to the strum strings) only support Absolute Tracking, Curve, and Set Value On Release. Any thing else (Initial Value, Range, Relative Tracking, Flip) is supported they are unncesary (and ill-defined).

To make these assignments, go to the Control Surface Editor, and add controllers to the Poly Expr inspector the way you would normally for Key Y or Key Z, but instead pick Expression: Strum.

IMPORTANT: If you intended to use Strum and Key Y, Key Z in the Poly Expr inspector you will need to use at least 2 MIDI controllers. By convention we use Brightness (74) and Attack Time (73) and then assign MIDI Exceptions so the strum controllers only listen for Attack Time (73) and the Key Y, Key Z controllers only listen to 74. If you don't do this properly strum controllers will not properly record and playback. By default GeoShred attempts to keep the MIDI Exceptions to follow this convention, but double-check it.