Keith McMillen Instruments StringPort Reference Manual

Hide thumbs

Table Of Contents

Table of Contents

Quick Links

Download this manual

StringPort Reference Manual

for Violin

StringPort Version 1649 for Mac OS 10.6

September 2010

Keith McMillen, Barry Threw, Chris Shaver, Ashley Adams, Nick Bonardi, Chuck Carlson,

Joel Davel, Raja Das, Diane Douglas, Sarah Howe, Mike McHam, Marielle Jakobsons,

Conner Lacy, Chris Muir, Miller Puckette, Danishta Rivero, Denis Saputelli, Mike

Zawitkowski, and Michael Zbyszynski

Table of Contents

Summary of Contents for Keith McMillen Instruments StringPort

Page 1 StringPort Reference Manual for Violin StringPort Version 1649 for Mac OS 10.6 September 2010 Keith McMillen, Barry Threw, Chris Shaver, Ashley Adams, Nick Bonardi, Chuck Carlson, Joel Davel, Raja Das, Diane Douglas, Sarah Howe, Mike McHam, Marielle Jakobsons, Conner Lacy, Chris Muir, Miller Puckette, Danishta Rivero, Denis Saputelli, Mike...
Page 2 Instruments. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. No warranties, express or implied, are made with regard to the quality, suitability or accuracy of this document. Keith McMillen Instruments reserves the right to change the contents of this document and/or the associated products at any time without the provision of prior notice to specific persons or organizations.
Page 3: Table Of Contents
5. Getting Started ................7 1. Downloading the Software ............... 7 2. StringPort Audio/MIDI Driver ............8 3. How to Hook up the StringPort ............9 4. VST Plugins ................... 9 6. Using the StringPort Software Suite ..........9 1. MainFrame .................. 10 2.
Page 4 7. Appendix..................53 1. StringPort Sources................ 53 2. Loudness Curves ................54 8. Troubleshooting................56...
Page 5: Welcome
Email: support@keithmcmillen.com Web: www.stringport.com Before Getting Started There's a few things that you need to know before you start using your StringPort. • When you first receive your StringPort, please check the StringPort downloads for the latest firmware, drivers and applications.
Page 6: Stringport
Stringed instruments simply don’t fit the simple event model on which MIDI is based. To avoid the limitations of MIDI technology, StringPort brings the actual sound of each string into the computer as an audio signal, where multiple analysis algorithms extract a string’s sonic properties with low latency and high resolution.
Page 7: Getting Started
Getting Started Before you can expect to get sound to come out of your StringPort with the software make sure you do all of the following in this order: 1.
Page 8: Stringport Audio/Midi Driver
StringPort Audio/MIDI Driver included in the StringPort package. Make sure that when you install the driver, the StringPort is off. If you get an updated version of the software you don't need to reinstall the driver unless you notice a newer version number.
Page 9: How To Hook Up The Stringport
• hook up the USB cable to the String Port and to your computer • plug your instrument into the D-13 input • plug in your speakers or headphones to the outputs in the back of the StringPort or the headphone jack in front •...
Page 10: Mainframe
All of these apps are contained within one main application: the StringPort MainFrame. Processing, VST Wall, Synthesis, MIDI Out, and Notation are all standalone applications that you need to launch in addition to StringPort.app in order to get them to instantiate in the MainFrame.
Page 11: Navigating The Stringport Software Suite
MainFrame. Audio Setup Once the StringPort driver and software are installed and you open the application for the first time, one of the first things you should do is check your audio settings. A convenient CPU meter shows how much of the CPU (as a percentage) the application process is using.
Page 12: Audio Input
Audio Input The Input window is used to adjust the gain for each string, and to map the StringPort inputs to application processing slots. The window has a row for each instrument string, with a Trim fader, spectrograph, monitor mute, a level indicator, and a tuner. There are simple tuning indicators on the Mainframe window as well for quicker access to the tuner.
Page 13: Automatic Trim
StringPort applications. You can still leave the Aux and Mono Monitor level up if you wish to hear these signals.
Page 14: String Assignment
If you have an instrument with fewer strings, you can re-route the Mono or Aux Inputs from the StringPort to the extra available processing slots. These slots only work with VST FX Wall and Processing. They will not function properly with Analysis, MIDI out or Synthesis applications.
Page 15: Midi Input
MIDI/OSC Routing window. Make sure you have plugged your MIDI device to the MIDI In on the StringPort. If you plug in the MIDI device after the StringPort software has been launched, you will need to hit the "MIDI update" button to recognize the device.
Page 16 MIDI notes from the first string. See the Sources section of the Appendix for a list of available StringPort sources. raw - the raw values coming from the selected source. gain - this is the first place where you can use math to modify the signal.
Page 17 The next step is choosing a source. MIDI sources are selected from the ten MIDI input lines available in the MIDI Input window. A complete list of StringPort sources is available in the appendix. Next select a parameter destination. These are different depending on which app your Modulation window comes from.
Page 18: Presets
Anywhere that you see the word "save" or "preset" you have the option of saving the settings in that window or application. A preset can also be saved for the entire StringPort suite in the main window, so that settings from multiple applications can be recalled all at once.
Page 19: Factory Presets
Managing Presets In order to ensure that your presets are not lost when updating the StringPort software, you should be aware that all presets are saved within a folder in your StringPort directory called "presets".
Page 20: Analysis
Analysis Analysis is a single window that allows you to set up and see the data being analyzed by the StringPort software. You can turn the flow of data on or off for each individual string. We also support alternate tunings. If you change the tuning of any string of your instrument you just have to indicate how many halfsteps above or below you've moved from the standard tuning of that string.
Page 21 number the longer the string will stay on. Gates also have a master trim that will increment or decrement both the gate on and the gate off together. The Trigger sensitivity allows you to set how sensitive Analysis will be in recognizing each new pluck.
Page 22: Loudness Curves
There is no modulation controller for Analysis because this application is what sends data to the rest of the modulation controllers throughout the StringPort software. Loudness Curves You can modify incoming loudness data by a loudness curve in order to provide different types of dynamics in response to your playing.
Page 23: Wave Guide
Wave Guide Our Wave Guide application allows you to use Digital Waveguide Synthesis with your instrument. It's an established physical modeling tool giving you the ability to guide your sound in exciting ways. The physical model that we're emulating is a mesh like the skin on a drum.
Page 24: Polyfuzz
String Select Modulations are mapped to each individual string so that you can change different parameters for each string if you want to. You can also copy and paste modulations from one string to another if you decide to make some of the modulations the same. Once you have selected the 'copy' button it will become darker and the rest turn into 'paste' buttons.
Page 25: Modulation
EQ, Filter, Amp Simulator, RingMod, etc. Phase Vocoder The StringPort Phase Vocoder uses the phase information of specific audio files to scale both the pitch and speed of the samples. There are 6 tracks for 6 different samples making it possible to polyphonically control samples using modulation parameters of the StringPort.
Page 26 The samples that come with the StringPort software are kept in a folder that the software refers to when populating the menu where you select which audio file to use. This folder of audio files can be found in the directory where the StringPort folder was installed, most likely in Applications>StringPort>samples>...
Page 27: Modulation
Modulation There are six modlines in Phase Vocoder's modulation window. The first 4 allow you to send your values through a table. The last 2 give you the option of using a toggle instead of a table. Like in PolyFuzz Modulation, the Phase Vocoder Modulation window gives you access to the modulation sources available from Analysis and MIDI Input.
Page 28 the sources can be further processed on the "Processes" side through Octave Generation, VCF, EQ, Pitch-shifter, and/or VCA. First let's take a look at the "Sources" side, starting with the top: The input is where the clean sound comes in and here you can set the gain. At the input is a low-pass filter whose base-frequency is shifted according to the open-string tuning of your chosen instrument (chosen in the String Port Input section).
Page 29 Phase Mod: This is where the signal of the string gets analyzed for its phase information. From here, the phase information is used to drive synthesis in the "Harmonics", "Wave Table", "Formants", and "Wave Shaping" sections. You can add a certain amount of modulation to this phase information by changing "offset hz"...
Page 30 Wave Shaping (WS): The Wave Shaper allows you to shape the soundwaves that are coming from your guitar string. Adding partials adds harmonics to your sound and you can choose basic waveforms around which to shape the partials (triangle, sawtooth, and rectangle waves). Use 'duty' and 'sym' to condense, stretch, and shift the phase-cycle of the emulated waveform.
Page 31 There are 2 envelope tables for each filter, one for the amplitude and the other for the frequency. The envelope tables allow you to draw in your envelope. You can increase the "smooth" value if you're not perfectly satisfied with your ability to make smooth lines using this type of envelope table.
Page 32: Vst Wall
PolyFuzz, there is also a master processing section where three VST's can be applied to all strings at once. We have included a few VST plugins in the StringPort Package to get you started: • SoundHack Delay Trio • SoundHack Freesound Bundle •...
Page 33 VST Wall does a series of tests on each plugin in that folder to see if there are any initialization errors, or if there are any VST instruments (Since these do not process incoming sound they are not useful in VST Wall.) A plugin's functionality is further confirmed by a green check mark which appears to the left of the selection menu when a VST is loaded.
Page 34: Modulation
In this view you can choose 3 parameters for each plugin that correspond with parameters in that plugin's window. The number boxes next to the chosen parameters allow you to control that parameter from the VST Wall window or from the Modulation screen instead of the plugin window. Note: some plugins display their parameters in a different way.
Page 35: Synthesis
As you can see from the above picture you no longer choose from a dropdown menu which parameter is your destination because you have already chosen which parameters you want to modulate in the "mod assign" screen in the VST Wall window. Each line is labeled indicating which effect it is for (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) and which of the 3 parameters within that effect (A, B, or C) that line controls.
Page 36: Classic
Classic Open up the Classic window and take a look at the Frequency Modulation app. StringPort's Classic app uses Analysis to allow you to drive audio synthesis with every note you play. Trigger Noise In this section you can use the Analysis of your instrument to affect noise. With the "loudness curve"...
Page 37 and "release" times for the amplitudes of both the carrier and the modulation waves separately. The frequencies relative to the notes you are playing are set using the "offset" for both the carrier and the modulator. Subtractive Use Subtractive synthesis to make the notes you play trigger a Sawtooth or Square wave (or both).
Page 38: Modulation
Synful Orchestra is an amazing software synthesizer designed and sold by Eric Lindemann. Normal price is $479. A 15 day trial version is available. You may purchase a special StringPort-only version for the special price of $199 at our store: http://www.stringport.com/store/ The StringPort-only version will not work with any third-party host, but you can upgrade to the full version for full functionality.
Page 39 At the top of the Synful window you can enable pitch quantize, semitone retrigger, retrigger, or fixed velocity. Choose the "loudness curve" (in other words the amplitude envelope) for each note. You can also turn up the "vibrato" and the "attack noise". pitch quantize - if this is set to on your notes will always be quantized to the nearest semitone.
Page 40: Modulation
If you open up the "Synful Window" you will see the Synful Orchestra interface. As you move some of the dials and change the voices in the StringPort window you will see things changing in the Synful Orchestra window. Clicking the accompaniment button will take you to the Accompaniment window for Synful.
Page 41: Synful Accompaniment
String Select section on page 22 for a more in depth explanation of the string select and copy functions.) Here you can map sources to the "offset" number boxes, the "voice" menu, "vibrato", "attack noise", "volume", "pan", etc... Synful Accompaniment Here you can set an accompaniment to play along with you and output through Synful Orchestra.
Page 42: Modulation
(if you're using the polyphonic input and you have Analysis running) are turned into MIDI notes and can be sent to other programs on your computer or out the MIDI output on the back of the StringPort.
Page 43 In MIDI Out you can set up a different MIDI channel for each string or just use the poly channel at the bottom to send all MIDI notes out to one channel. If using a separate channel for each string you can set your base channel which will put string 1 onto whatever channel you set to be your base channel and the rest of the five strings counting up from there.
Page 44 If you connect an external synth to the MIDI Output on the back of the StringPort you can choose "KMI- StringPort" as your device and be able to send MIDI to that device. The diagram to the right shows how...
Page 45: Synth Pitch Bend
loudness curve - this applies a loudness curve table to your notes velocity curve - this applies a velocity curve table to your notes RPN/NRPNs - see the Syth Pitch Bend chapter immediately following this chapter. Clicking on the accompaniment button at the bottom will take you to the MIDI Out accompaniment page.
Page 46: Modulation
The fourth number (editable) is the LSB. For RPNs if you leave the MSB and LSB numbers at 0 then the remaining numbers will refer to the Pitch Bend Sensitivity of your Synth. If you are using the NRPN messages, the parameter numbers and values input as MSB &...
Page 47 Here you can set an accompaniment to play along with you and go out via the MIDI Output. You can enable the poly channel at the bottom and it will add together all of your accompaniment lines and send them out one MIDI channel. If you are using the poly channel the rest of the lines should not be enabled.
Page 48: Modulation
(page 14) for a more specific explanation of the modline. Notation The Notation Application in StringPort records the Analysis data and then does a secondary analysis to determine note start and stops, dynamics and accurate pitch. Because this secondary analysis is done out of real time, Notation can get a contextual...
Page 49 understanding of each note and make a very accurate file for use with MIDI sequencers and notation software (Cubase, Sibelius, Finale, etc...). It also allows you to save a recording of the 6 separate audio files for each string. Notation has a metronome/click to play along with for more accurate rhythmic representation.
Page 50: Mouse Gestures
If you've analyzed your recording you can view the MIDI roll to preview and modify your Analyzed recording. You can perfect the MIDI notes using your mouse and key commands. Bar lines are indicated for your convenience. The commands are all listed on the right side of the Window.
Page 51: Key Presses
click on the tail of an event : select it for editing, and drag to alter the event's duration. click on the body of an event : select it for editing, and drag vertically to alter the event's velocity. command-click and drag to move the pianoroll canvas (like a "hand-tool" in some applications).
Page 52: Integration With Digital Audio Workstations
StringPort software and you can get MIDI from StringPort to drive Software Instruments. To get audio into the DAW from the StringPort software you need to set up your sound in StringPort how you want it and then open the Audio Setup window from the Mainframe.
Page 53: Appendix
Appendix StringPort Sources The following StringPort sources are available in every modulation line: Str1 Note - the pitch of the note you are playing on this string Str1 Trig Note - the pitch of the note at the moment it is triggered...
Page 54: Loudness Curves
Last Note Fret MIDI A through MIDI J Loudness Curves The following are diagrams and descriptions of the StringPort loudness curves. The x- axis represents the played loudness and the y-axis represents the result loudness. Compresses loudness range using an Linear, no change to loudness.
Page 55 Extreme expansion of Extreme dynamic range loudness range. compression. Outputs low values. Compresses loudness range using a cosine Sinusoidal loudness range. curve.
Page 56: Troubleshooting
• hitting the resync button in MainFrame can fix problems in latency and problems with audio clicks should they arise. If you are having trouble getting the StringPort hardware to show up in the Audio/MIDI Setup: • turn the StringPort off, re-install the driver then reboot the computer and turn the StringPort back on •...