AAS String Studio VS-1 manual

USER MANU AL[...]

2 Information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Applied Acoustics Systems D VM Inc. The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement. The software may be used only in accordance of the terms of this license agreement. It is against the law to copy this s[...]

Contents 1 Introduction 7 1.1 System requirements . . . .............................. 7 1.2 Installation . . . ................................... 8 1.3 Authorization and Registration . . .......................... 8 1.3.1 Unlocking String Studio o n W i n d o w s X P .................. 9 1.3.2 Unlocking String Studio o n M a c O S................[...]

4 CONTENTS 4 Parameters 29 4 . 1 G e n e r a l F u n c t i o n i n g o f t h e I n t e r f a c e ......................... 2 9 4.1.1 T weaking Knobs . . ............................. 2 9 4.1.2 Buttons . ................................... 2 9 4.1.3 Drop-do wn menus and Displays . ...................... 2 9 4.1.4 In verting a Signal . . ............[...]

CONTENTS 5 4.14 The Ke yboard Module . ............................... 4 6 4.14.1 Tuning . . .................................. 4 6 4.14.2 Mode and Priority . . ............................ 4 6 4.14.3 Unison .................................... 4 7 4.15 The Portamento Module . . ............................. 4 7 4.16 The V ibrato Module . . . .....[...]

6 CONTENTS 6 A udio and MIDI Settings 55 6.1 Audio De vice Settings . ............................... 5 5 6.2 MIDI Settings . . . . ................................. 5 5 6.2.1 Selecting a MIDI De vice . .......................... 5 5 6.2.2 Creating MIDI Links . . ........................... 5 5 6.2.3 Editing MIDI Links .............................[...]

Introduction 7 1 Intr oduction The String Studio is a synthesizer dedicated to the emulation of string instruments. The synthesizer is entirely based on the A | A | S physical modeling technology and uses no sampling nor wav e tables. Instead it produces sound by solving, on the fly , mathematical equations modeling the different components inv ol[...]

8 Introduction • MIDI Keyboard (recommended) K eep in mind that the computational po wer required by the String Studio depends on the num- ber of voices of polyphon y and the sampling rate used. These computer configurations will enable you to play the factory presets with a reasonable number of v oices. 1.2 Installation Mac OS Insert the String[...]

1.3 A uthorization and Registration 9 1.3.1 Unlocking String Studio on Windows XP Step 1: Generating the challenge key After launching the installer for the first time, a pop-up window will appear asking you to enter your serial number . T ype your serial number as it appears on the back of the slee ve of the String Studio CD-R OM. If you purchase[...]

10 Introduction Step 2: Generating the Response key and Registering your Product If your computer is connected to the internet, the installer will automatically launch your web bro wser and connect you to the unlock page of the A | A | S web server . Y our serial number and challenge key will automatically be printed in the form. Enter your email a[...]

1.3 A uthorization and Registration 11 Figure 4: Generation of the response key on the A | A | Ss e r v e r . Step 3: Completing the unlock process The r esponse ke y corresponding to your serial number and challenge ke y will be printed in your bro wser window . In order to complete the unlock process, copy the response key and paste it into the l[...]

12 Introduction • Y ou change or upgrade your operating system • Y ou uninstall the program 1.3.2 Unlocking String Studio on Mac OS Generating the challenge key A utomatically After launching the installer for the first time, a pop-up window with information on the unlock process will appear . Click on the right arrow to continue. In the secon[...]

1.3 A uthorization and Registration 13 Figure 7: Enter your email address. Figure 8: Enter your serial number . information about yourself including your mailing address and phone number . This information will be used to register your product. Note that only a valid email address is required to regis- ter your product. W e nevertheless recommend t[...]

14 Introduction team is able to contact you to resolve any future support issues, and notify you of product updates promptly . This information is kept completely confidential. Registration of your product will en- title you to receiv e support and do wnload updates when available, as well as take adv antage of special upgrade prices of fered from[...]

1.3 A uthorization and Registration 15 Figure 11: Final step of the unlock process. Enter your response ke y in the window . Generating the challenge key Manually If your computer is not connected to the internet, choose Manually in the second page displayed by the installer , as sho wn in Figure 12, and click on the right arro w . In the third win[...]

16 Introduction Figure 12: Choose the manual unlock mode if your computer is not connected to the internet. Figure 13: Generation of the challenge key during manual installation. • Y ou change your computer • Y ou uninstall the program[...]

1.4 Getting started 17 1.3.3 Obtaining your response key and registering by fax or over the phone: Should you not have access to the internet, A | A | S support representativ es are av ailable to assist you in the unlock and registration process Monday to Friday , 9am to 6pm EST . Y ou may contact us by phone at: • North America T oll-free number[...]

18 Introduction MIDI Configuration • Windows - Select your MIDI port from the list in the MIDI Configuration dialog from the Edit > Prefer ences > MIDI Settings ...m e n u . • Mac OS - Select your MIDI port from the list in the MIDI Settings dialog from the String Studio > Preferences > ... menu. For more detailed information on M[...]

1.5 Getting help 19 1.4.3 Using String Studio as a Plug-in The String Studio integrates seamlessly into the industry most popular multi-track recording and sequencing environments as a virtual instrument plug-in. The String Studio works as any other plug-in in these en vironments so we recommend that you refer to your sequencer documentation in cas[...]

20 Introduction • Bold characters are used to name modules, commands and menu names. • Italic characters are used to name controls on the interface. • Windo ws and Mac OS k eyboard shortcuts are written as W indows shortcut/Mac OS shortcut.[...]

Bro wser and Presets 21 2 Br owser and Presets String Studio comes with se veral f actory presets covering a wide range of sounds. This collection of presets lets you play and familiarize your- self with this synthesizer without having to tweak a single knob . Soon, ho wev er , you will be experimenting and creating your own sounds that you will ne[...]

22 Bro wser and Presets Ctrl-S/Apple-S shortcut. Be careful, howe ver , as using this command will overwrite the original preset. In order to create a new preset, use the Save Preset As command from the File menu and a window will appear asking for a name for the ne w preset. Once the preset is saved using this command, a ne w preset icon will appe[...]

2.5 Defining a Default Preset 23 2.5 Defining a Default Preset It is possible to define a default preset that will be loaded automatically when String Studio is launched. T o define a default preset, select a preset by clicking on its icon in the browser . Then launch the Edit Pr eset Inf ormation window as explained in the preceding paragraph [...]

24 Bro wser and Presets 2.9 Customizing the browser The Bro wser structure can be customized in various ways. New folders can be created from the File drop down menu using the Create New Folder command. One can also mov e presets, MIDI maps, and folders from one place in the browser to another by using the Copy and Pas te commands from the Edit dro[...]

Architectur e of String Studio 25 3 Ar chitecture of String Studio String Studio is a synthesizer b uilt around a String module. The graphical interf ace of the dif ferent modules of the synthesizer have been grouped into two panels as shown in Figures 14 and 15. In the first page (Panel A), one can find the modules related to the control of the [...]

26 Architectur e of String Studio Figure 15: Synthesis modules of String Studio (Panel B). 3.1 General Signal Flow The general architecture of String Studio is presented in Figure 16 and follo ws the functioning of a real string instrument. It is the vibration from the String which constitutes the main sound production mechanism of the instrument. [...]

3.2 Modulation Sources 27 Finger Damper Fret Body of the Instrument Excitator String Pickup Bridge or Figure 16: General representation of String Studio . Damper Termination String Excitator Pickup Output Effects EQ Filter Body Distortion R L Env, LFO, pitch Geometry, pitch pitch, velocity pitch velocity Geometry Figure 17: Signal flow of String S[...]

28 Architectur e of String Studio 3.3 Output Effect At the end of the signal path, the audio signal from the instrument is sent to the output effect stage for further processing. A Reverb , Delay ,a n d Chorus module are av ailable in this effect stage allo wing for a wide range of processing possibilities. Effects can be applied before or after mi[...]

Parameters 29 4 Parameters 4.1 General Functioning of the Interface 4.1.1 T weaking Knobs All the knobs on the interface are selected by clicking on them. Once selected, the y can be con- trolled in dif ferent ways depending on the ef fect you want to achie ve. • For coarse adjustment click-hold on a knob and drag the mouse upwards or downwards t[...]

30 Parameters 4.1.4 In verting a Signal The different modulation signals acting on the String , Excitator , Body , T ermination ,a n d Filter modules can easily be in verted by clicking on the small button appearing on the upper right of the corresponding gain knob . The signal is inv erted when the button is on (LED lit on and value of 1). 4.1.5 B[...]

4.2 The String Module 31 lo w notes which is a feature found in man y keyboard instruments. Clicking on the in verter LED at the top of the modulation knob in verts this beha vior . 4.2 The String Module In a string instrument most of the sound we hear is radiated from the body of the instrument. The strings themselves radiate just a small amount o[...]

32 Parameters 4.3 The Excitator Module The String module can be played using different types of exci- tators in order to reproduce different types of instruments and play- ing techniques. The excitator is selected using the Ty p e drop-down menu. The choices a vailable are Plectrum , Hammer 1 , Hammer2 or Bow . These different types of excitators s[...]

4.3 The Excitator Module 33 4.3.2 Hammer The Hammer is used to play instruments such as the piano or other percussi ve instruments. W ith this excitator , the string is set into free vibration following a f orce impact with the hammer . The hammer can be used in two modes, Hammer and Hammer 2 , as illustrated in Figure 19. In the Hammer 1 mode, the[...]

34 Parameters slip phase and moves in the opposite direction to that of the bow . When the string motion changes direction once more, it sticks to the bo w again, mo ving with the bo w until it breaks free and repeats the cycle. Note that the frequency of this stick-slip motion is exactly the same as that of the string oscillation; or , in other wo[...]

4.5 The Damper Module 35 of the Size drop-down menu from Ti n y to Huge . Basically , reducing the size of the Body , shifts its frequency response tow ard higher frequencies while increasing it, results in a shift to ward lo wer frequencies. In addition to its shape and size, the material of the body also influences its radiation and filtering e[...]

36 Parameters Damping Mass Stiffness Velocity Figure 21: Functioning of the Damper 4.6 The T ermination Module This module is used to model the fret/finger/string interac- tion as illustrated in Figure 22. In a real instrument, this inter- action is used to change the effecti ve length of the string and thereby fix the pitch of the note played. T[...]

4.7 The Geometry Module 37 4.7 The Geometry Module The Geometry module is used to set the location of the point of action of both the excitator and the damper on the string. These positions are adjusted with the P osition knobs under the Excitator and Damper labels and can be set to any value between zero (the point of fixation of the string) and [...]

38 Parameters 4.9 The Distortion module The Distortion module implements a simple distortion ef fect, such as that found in electric guitar distortion pedals for e xample. Different distortion algorithms, ranging from mellow to metal , can be selected from the Ty p e drop-down menu. The Drive knob is a gain control used to adjust the le vel of the [...]

4.11 The Filter Module 39 Amplitude (dB) 0dB Freq Frequency (Hz) Amplitude (dB) 0dB Frequency (Hz) Freq Gain = −30 dB Gain = 10 dB Gain = 20 dB Gain = 30 dB Gain = 30 dB Gain = 20 dB Gain = 10 dB Gain = −30 dB Figure 23: Low and high shelf filters. Amplitude (dB) 0dB Gain = 30 dB, Q = 20 Gain = 20 dB Gain = 30 dB, Q = 50 Gain = 10 dB Gain = 30[...]

40 Parameters The cutof f frequency and resonance of the filters can be modulated with different modulation sources. The modulation sources include the keyboard pitch signal ( Kbd ) and the output of the Filter En v en velope generator ( En v )a n d LFO modules. Modulation signals with a positive value will increase the cutoff frequency and Q-fact[...]

4.11 The Filter Module 41 4.11.2 Resonant High-Pass Filter Amplitude (dB) Frequency (Hz) 0dB −3dB Cutoff Frequency Slope (dB/Oct) Q=2 Q=1 Q=4 Q=10 Figure 26: Frequency response of the high-pass filter . The high-pass resonant filter works in exactly the opposite manner as the low-pass resonant filter by removing the frequency component of a si[...]

42 Parameters frequency and to attenuate the frequencies outside of this band as shown in Figure 27. The band- width of the band-pass filter is set with the Q knob while the center frequenc y is set with the Cutof f knob . The Order control sets the order of the filter . This parameter affects the slope of the roll-of f on both sides of the cente[...]

4.12 The Filter En v Module 43 Amplitude (dB) Frequency (Hz) F1 F2 F3 Male Voice Female Voice Formant Frequencies Figure 29: Frequency response of the formant filter . and child (right position). The Q knob is used to cycle between vo wels. Note that changing these parameters can be automated by using the dif ferent modulation signals. 4.12 The Fi[...]

44 Parameters attack decay release sustain key pressed key released 1Volt 1Volt Figure 30: Response curve of an en velope generator 4.13 The LFO Module The LFO module is used as a modulation source for the Filter mod- ule. On the LFO module, one can adjust the wa veform, rate and fade-in behavior . 4.13.1 W ave Shape The wa veform of the LFO is sel[...]

4.13 The LFO Module 45 4.13.2 Rate There are two ways to adjust the rate, or frequency , of the output of the LFO module. If the Sync control is in its off position, the rate is fixed with the Rate knob . When the Sync control is on , the frequenc y of the oscillator is fix ed relativ e to the frequency (tempo) of the master clock (see 4.18.1) an[...]

46 Parameters 4.14 The Keyboard Module The Keyboard module controls ho w the synthesizer voices respond to the e vents coming from an external MIDI ke yboard or from a MIDI sequencer . The first row of controls ( T uning , Oct , Semi ) is used to fix the pitch of the k eyboard, and transpose the overall keyboard by octaves or semi-tones. The Stre[...]

4.15 The Portamento Module 47 4.14.3 Unison The unison mode allows one to stack voices, in other words, play two or four voices for each note played on the keyboard. This mode creates the impression that several instruments are playing the same note together , adding depth to the sound. Each v oice can be slightly detuned relative to the others by [...]

48 Parameters when it is turned clockwise the depth of the vibrato will increase when the modulation wheel is used. The increase is always relati ve to the position of the Amount knob and will be greater as the Mod knob is turned clockwise. The vibrato can be adjusted not to start at the beginning of a note but with a little lag. This lag is set by[...]

4.18 The Output Effect Section 49 4.17.2 Rhythmic Patter ns The rhythmic pattern is shown on the P attern display . Different rhythmic presets are av ailable through the utility menu. Notes will be played as the 16-step display is scanned and the corre- sponding step is selected (green button on). The little arrow on the top of the display is used [...]

50 Parameters 4.18.1 The Clock Module This module is used to control the tempo of the dif ferent ef fects of the output section as well as that of the LFO and Arpeggiator modules. The Sour ce drop do wn menu is used to determine if the sync signal comes from an e xternal source or from the internal clock of the module. The Te m p o display indicate[...]

4.18 The Output Effect Section 51 The Delay drop down menu is used to choose between different delay algorithms. The ef fect can be synchronized to the Clock module with the Sync drop-do wn menu. Sync values range from 1/8 of a quarter note (a thirty-second note) to 16 quarter notes (4 whole notes) where the duration of the whole note is determined[...]

52 Parameters In the first configuration, the Chorus module is first applied, then the Delay and finally the Rev erb module. In the second configuration, the signal is first processed by the Delay , then by the Chorus and the Reverb module. Note that each of the effects can be muted by selecting the Bypass preset in its respective algorithm s[...]

T oolbar 53 5 T oolbar The toolbar at the top of the String Studio interface allows you to monitor important information related to your current set-up. 5.1 Preset Display Displays the name of the currently opened preset. The + and − buttons on the right of the preset name, or alternati vely the + and − keys on the computer keyboard, are used t[...]

54 T oolbar 5.7 MIDI LED The red MIDI LED toggles when a MIDI signal is recei v ed by the String Studio . This is very useful to see if String Studio is recei ving MIDI signal from your k eyboard or other controllers. If the LED does not blink when you play your keyboard, check your connections and the transmit/receiv e channels you are using or th[...]

A udio and MIDI Settings 55 6 A udio and MIDI Settings This chapter e xplains ho w to select the audio and MIDI devices used by String Studio as well as ho w to create and edit MIDI links and MIDI maps. When referring to commands that are dif ferent on W indo ws and Mac OS systems, the commands are listed in the following order: W indows command/Ma[...]

56 A udio and MIDI Settings • Move a knob or slider on your MIDI controller (this can be a keyboard, a knob box, or any de vice that sends MIDI). This will link the control of the String Studio to the MIDI controller you just mov ed. MIDI links can also be created in the MIDI Links window which is launched by choosing the Edit MIDILinks command f[...]

6.2 MIDI Settings 57 • Click on the OK button and the link appears in the list of controllers link ed to the control. • Click on the OK button again to confirm the change and to lea ve the MIDI Links windo w . • Note that the Minimum V alue and Maximum V alue of a MIDI link can also be set by right/control clicking on the corresponding contr[...]

58 A udio and MIDI Settings 6.3 A udio Contr ol Panel T o launch the audio configuration panel, choose A udio Contr ol Panel under Prefer ences of the Edit menu on Windo ws or the String Studio menu on Mac OS systems. This panel allo ws you to select the bit depth sample rate (22.05, 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz) and b uffer size, which affects how quickly[...]

6.4 Latency Settings 59 In order to optimize the resources allocated to the calculation of audio by String Studio ,i ti s possible to decrease the ratio of resources dev oted to the calculation of graphics for the interface in fav or of audio related calculations. T o adjust this ratio, choose the General command under Prefer ences in the Edit menu[...]

60 Using the String Studio as a Plug-In 7 Using the String Studio as a Plug-In String Studio is a v ailable in VST , DXi, AudioUnit and R T AS (for Mac OS only) formats and integrates seamlessly into the industry most popular multi-track recording and sequencing en vi- ronments as a virtual instrument plug-in. The plug-in versions will work exactly[...]

7.6 Sa ving Projects 61 7.6 Sa ving Projects When saving a project in a host sequencer , information on the position of all the controls on the interface, the MIDI links, and the preset name are sa ved. Note that if the preset was modified after it was loaded, the original v ersion of the preset is not ov erwritten. 7.7 MIDI channel Make sure that[...]

62 Quick reference to commands and shortcuts 8 Quick re ference to commands and shortcuts File Menu Command Windo ws Mac OS Description Ne w Folder. . . Apple+Shift+N Ne w Folder in the Bro wser Open Preset Ctrl+O Apple+Option+O Open the selected preset Sav e Preset Ctrl+S Apple+S Sav e the current preset Sav e Preset As. . . Sav e the current pres[...]

Quick reference to commands and shortcuts 63 Edit Menu Command Windo ws Mac OS Description Undo Ctrl+Z Apple+Z Undo last command Redo Ctrl+Y Apple+Shift+Z Redo last command Cut Ctrl+X Apple+X Cut selected item Copy Ctrl+C Apple+C Copy selected item Paste Ctrl+V Apple+V Paste Delete Del Delete selected item Select All Ctrl+A Apple+A Select all items[...]

64 Quick reference to commands and shortcuts Edit/Prefer ences Menu on Windows, String Studio/Prefer ences on Mac OS Command Windo ws Mac OS Description General Display the Edit General Preferences windo w Audio Settings Display the Audio Settings windo w MIDI Settings Display the MIDI Settings windo w Audio Control Panel Display the Latency Settin[...]

License Agreement 65 9 License Agr eement IMPOR T ANT! CAREFULL Y READ ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS A GREE- MENT BEFORE OPENING THIS P A CKA GE. OPENING THIS P A CKA GE INDICA TES Y OUR A CCEPT ANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IF YOU DO NO T AGREE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS A GREEMENT , PR OMPTL Y RETURN THE UN- OPENED P ACKA [...]

66 License Agreement 5. LIMIT A TION OF LIABILITY . TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLI- CABLE LA W , IN NO EVENT WILL AAS BE LIABLE TO THE LICENSEE OR ANY THIRD P AR TY FOR ANY INDIRECT , SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENT AL OR EXEMPLAR Y D AMA GES WHA TSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF REVENUE OR PR OFIT , LOST OR DAMA GED D A T A,[...]

License Agreement 67 rendered inoperati ve b ut the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and ef fect. 9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT . This Agreement is the entire agreement between AAS and the Licensee relating to the Software and: (i) supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written communications, proposals and representations with resp[...]

Index adsr , 27, 43 architecture, 25 arpeggiator , 48 latch, 49 pattern, 48 rate, 49 rhythmic pattern, 49 synchronization, 49 ASIO dri vers, 58 audio, 55 audio configuration, 17, 58 audio de vice, 55 audio format, 58 band-pass filter , 39, 41 body , 34 bo w , 33 bro wser , 18, 21 customizing, 24 hiding, 24 buf fer size, 58 buttons tweaking, 29, 3[...]

INDEX 69 priority , 46 sustain pedal, 46 tuning, 46 unison, 47 knobs, 29 tweaking, 29 latency , 58 legato, 47 le vel, 52 lfo, 27, 44 fade-in, 45 rate, 45 wa ve shape, 44 lo w-pass filter , 39, 40 master clock, 50 MIDI, 55 de vice, 55 settings, 55 MIDI configuration, 18 MIDI controller , 55 MIDI links, 18 creating, 55 editing, 56, 57 MIDI links ra[...]

70 INDEX shortcuts, 62 signal flo w , 25 soundboard, 34 standalone mode, 17 string, 31 sustain pedal, 46 synchronization, 49, 50 system requirements, 7 termination, 36 toolbar , 53 transposition, 46 tuning, 46 undo, 22 unlocking, 8 Mac OS, 12 W indo ws, 9 user library , 19 vibrato, 27, 47 website, 19[...]