Sustain

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

Real acoustical pianos have dampers that mute the string vibrations when a key is released. A foot-pedal allows you to eliminate this damping, which means the strings continue to ring and slowly decay after each note. This gives a more-spacious sound, like reverberation.

The Sustain button emulates this pedal action, not just for piano but for most other instrument sounds. When Sustain is active for a given Voice, each note is allowed to decay naturally, at its own decay rate, independent of new notes that may be added to the overall sound from that voice.

Sustain is most useful on struck or plucked instruments, like pianos and guitars. Bowed strings and wind instruments (including organs, brass, reeds, and pipes) don't have a natural decay during each note, so Sustain causes the sound to hang on at unrealistically high levels.

MIDI Changes Script:

Use sv=n to set Sustain for Voice v to the state indicated by 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. If the value is zero, Sustain is off; any other value sets it on.

Alternatively, you can use x instead of a value to toggle the current state. For example, s2=x toggles the current Sustain state for Voice 2.

You can use "voice" 9 to set or toggle all 8 voices at once.

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