Chord Arpeggio (Strum)

Controls: Sgram/PT Dialog >> Pitch-to-MIDI >> Setup
Changes: Av=n

• Introduction
• Arpeggio Riffs
• MIDI Changes Script

Introduction:

Arpeggio means that the individual notes of a chord are played in sequence, one at a time, instead of all at once.

The Arpeggio control sets the amount of time between each of the notes, in units of the Trace Update interval (typically 10 msec). The root note of the chord is played immediately.

For example, suppose Arpeggio is set to 4 with Trace Update at 10. If the Note Pattern (or the current input note) is a C and the Chord Pattern specifies a Major (M) chord, we expect to hear the notes C, E, G. Assuming no Note Lag, the C would sound on the beat, the E would come in 40 msec later, and the G another 40 msec after that.

Once each note of the chord starts, it stays on until the end of the beat. With a full-sustain instrument like an organ or bowed strings, this means the sound builds in volume as the chord progresses. The effect is not as noticeable on a plucked or struck instrument like guitar or piano.

Strumming a guitar or similar instrument is really arpeggio. You can use the Arpeggio control to get realistic strums... something that is difficult to do when playing a MIDI synthesizer from a keyboard. The Arpeggio Direction button controls the strum direction.

The Arpeggio Beat button allows you to play each note of the chord on a separate beat. When you use this, the Hold Beats control should be set long enough so that all the chord notes have time to sound. For example, if Arpeggio is set to 1 it will take 4 beats to play a 4-note chord. If it is set to 2, it will take 8 beats, and so on.

Arpeggio Riffs:

You can use Arpeggio with Custom Chords to play quick riffs of up to 5 notes. Typically, you would use this on a voice that otherwise plays a melodic part without chords. Then wherever you want your preset riff, you insert the corresponding Custom Chord character in the Chord Pattern. The Arpeggio value controls how long each note of the chord will sound, as usual. With Arpeggio Beat off, these notes can be very quick.

This trick works best with a plucked or struck instrument like a guitar or piano, which doesn't have full-power sustain like an organ or bowed strings and so doesn't keep building in volume with each note of the riff.

MIDI Changes Script:

Use Av=n to set Arpeggio for Voice v to the value of n, which may be any unsigned integer or valid expression, including current MIDI control values, random values, current computer keyboard states or mouse position, input or buffered notes, or oscillators. The value will be limited to a range of 0 to 15.

For example, A2=3 sets Arpeggio for Voice 2 to a value of 3, which would give 30 msec between chord notes with the default 10 msec Trace Update interval.

You can use "voice" 9 to set Arpeggio for all 8 voices at once.

See also MIDI Voice Setup Dialogs, Pitch-to-MIDI dialog, Pitch Track Toolbox - Overview