Strings, chords and ringing
Automatic and explicit strings
Auto string weighs the current hand position, finger reach, string crossings and held voices. It remembers a recent hand position across short releases and open strings. It uses the played history without future-note lookahead, so it cannot know an upcoming phrase before you play it.
Tap a string switch when color or fingering requires a specific string. For F♯5/MIDI 78 on A, tap MIDI 50, then play 78. Tap MIDI 52 to return to Auto.
A latched string must be able to produce the requested pitch. A note below that string's open pitch cannot be stopped on it. A large pitch jump may require a high position; use an adjacent string when that is the intended fingering.
The current model accepts these per-string input ranges:
| String | MIDI range | Note range, middle C = C4 |
|---|---|---|
| G | 55–79 | G3–G5 |
| D | 62–86 | D4–D6 |
| A | 69–93 | A4–A6 |
| E | 76–105 | E5–A7 |
Hold one part while another moves
For a drone and melody:
- Select Chords/MIDI 34 and Auto string/MIDI 52.
- Hold A4/MIDI 69.
- Play E5/76 → F♯5/78 → G5/79, releasing the outgoing upper note as the next arrives.
- Hold Slur or CC64 if you want the changing upper part to remain in one bow.
- Release the phrase and the slur hold deliberately.
For a lower-string example, hold G3/55 and move E♭4/63 → D4/62 → E♭4/63 above it. Chords retains the G drone while the changing finger stays on D.
Double, triple and quadruple stops
The instrument has four physical strings, rather than unrestricted keyboard polyphony. Chords allocate feasible notes to them. Brief finger overlaps can replace a moving voice while preserving an unrelated held voice.
The upper voice is normally favored in a double stop. In a two-note octave, the lower voice is favored. Preferred chord voice / CC27 sets the balance difference, 0–6 dB.
Chord roll / CC28 sets the lower-to-upper progression of larger chords, 10–1000 ms. The lower contact can continue ringing after the bow has moved to the upper pair. Increase the roll for a deliberate slow chord arrival; shorten it for a quick gesture. The one-second maximum allows an especially deliberate lower-to-upper spread. The slider gives more travel to shorter values for fine adjustment; MIDI CC28 remains linear across the full range.
Shared string resonance and body response remain active during runs and string crossings. Lower stopped positions generally ring more than very high stopped positions; open strings and harmonic relationships can add stronger sympathetic support. Finger damping / CC72 controls release damping. Higher values shorten stopped-string release.
One track with explicit string channels
For prepared polyphony, enable MIDI → Channels 2–5 select G / D / A / E and preserve the MIDI event channels:
| MIDI channel | String |
|---|---|
| 2 | G |
| 3 | D |
| 4 | A |
| 5 | E |
A single MIDI track can contain all four channels. Make sure the DAW does not force its events onto one output channel. Keep the plug-in's input accepting the channels you use.
Use this when you need explicit string placement, separate channel bends or detailed per-string preparation. The ordinary grouped map remains the live keyboard workflow.
Body and tone
The instrument uses the Air & wood body model, with fuller lower radiation and open upper projection. The Open resonance setting is fixed at 1. These settings apply to every instance.
Choose Resonance → Tone to adjust the overall sound:
| Tone | Sound |
|---|---|
| Preset | The original instrument tone; selected by default |
| Focused | Less upper buzz, keeping the low register intact |
| Round | Fuller low register and a softer upper edge |
| Responsive | Softens the upper edge more as you play louder |
Tone changes blend smoothly during playback. The choice is saved with your project and can be automated using Tone in your DAW. It leaves the performance profile and MIDI controls in place. Reset defaults returns it to Preset. There is no dedicated Tone keyswitch or CC.
Use Body resonance / CC113, limited to 0.8–1.2 × with a default of 1 ×, for the body contribution and Shared string resonance / CC71 for interaction and ringing between strings. These have different roles.
G-string depth / CC114 adds warmth and weight to low G-string notes. Try G3 (MIDI55) to hear the range. At 0 it preserves the factory tone; increasing it supports the lower overtones without changing pitch. The effect gradually withdraws in higher positions and does not recolor other strings or harmonics. Upper E response / CC118 controls the dedicated upper response. Body brightness / CC74 is a broad tonal adjustment. Raise them gradually while listening to both held notes and runs.
Bow hair sound / CC24 adjusts the audible contact layer; its factory level is 0.08. Finger force / CC25 changes physical contact. For a rougher bow experiment, combine speed, force, point and hair instead of only increasing the noise slider.
Con sordino / CC67 applies the mute.