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<A NAME="CHILD_LINKS"><STRONG>Subsections</STRONG></A>
<UL CLASS="ChildLinks">
<LI><A NAME="tex2html570"
HREF="node11.html#SECTION001110000000000000000">Tuning</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html571"
HREF="node11.html#SECTION001120000000000000000">Capo</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html572"
HREF="node11.html#SECTION001130000000000000000">Patterns</A>
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<H1><A NAME="SECTION001100000000000000000"></A>
<A NAME="chap-plectrum"></A>
<BR>
Emulating plucked instruments: Plectrum Tracks
</H1>
<P>
P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL><A NAME="tex2html48"
HREF="#foot5419"><SUP><SPAN CLASS="arabic">11</SPAN>.<SPAN CLASS="arabic">1</SPAN></SUP></A>tracks are designed to let
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> create tracks that sound, remarkably,
like real, strummed instruments (guitars, mandolins, banjos, etc).
<P>
As mentioned earlier in this document, the biggest difference between
P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> and other tracks is that a duration is not used. This
means that each string (note) in P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> patterns continue to
sound until they are changed (a new note) or muted.
<P>
When creating a P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> pattern or sequence you simply set an
offset, strum duration and volumes for each string of the
“instrument”.
<P>
To aid in debugging, a special D<SMALL>EBUG</SMALL> option P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> is
provided. When enabled this will display chord shapes for generated
chords. See <A HREF="node24.html#debugging">here</A> for
information to enable/disable this option.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION001110000000000000000">
Tuning</A>
</H1>
<P>
By default the P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> tracks are set to a standard
guitar. However, it's very easy to change with with the T<SMALL>UNING</SMALL>
command. This command requires a note setting for each string in the
instrument. For example, to duplicate the default:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Plectrum Tuning e- a- d g b e+ </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
In this case we have set six strings. The first string is a low “e”,
the second a low “a”, etc.
<P>
Similarly, you could define a tenor banjo with:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Plectrum Tuning g- d a e+ </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
Only one T<SMALL>UNING</SMALL> setting can be set for a sequence. It applies
to all bars in the current sequence. It is saved and restored in
G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>s.
<P>
If you change the T<SMALL>UNING</SMALL> for a P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> track after
setting a S<SMALL>EQUENCE</SMALL> you must ensure that the number of strings
in the P<SMALL>ATTERN</SMALL> and T<SMALL>UNING</SMALL> are the same. A mismatch will
generate an error. However, setting a different T<SMALL>UNING</SMALL> with the
same number of strings is just fine.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION001120000000000000000">
Capo</A>
</H1>
<P>
A “capo” is small bar which is placed on the neck of a guitar, banjo
or other stringed instrument to raise its pitch. They are quite useful
when a song is in a pitch too low for a singer ... a capo placed
on the guitar raises the pitch of each played chord. Much easier for a
player than having to change (raise) each chord in the song. In
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> the use of a P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> C<SMALL>APO</SMALL> setting is a bit different:
it doesn't change the chord pitches. A “C Major” chord remains a “C
Major” chord. However, the actual note assignments to the different
strings on the instrument can (and most likely) changes. Depending on
the tuning of the “instrument” a “C” chord with a C<SMALL>APO 2</SMALL>
will be created as a “B” <SPAN CLASS="textit">chord shape</SPAN> played above the second fret. In most cases
a chord with a positive C<SMALL>APO</SMALL> value will have a higher tonality.
<P>
To change the C<SMALL>APO</SMALL> value:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Plectrum Capo 2 </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
In addition to raising the pitch of the instrument, you can use
negative values ... in a real instrument you would need to stretch
the neck for similar results! There are no limits on the capo
values. Very high or low values will have no different effect over
moderate ones since the generated notes will always be in the MIDI
range of 0 to 127.
<P>
Only one C<SMALL>APO</SMALL> setting can be set for a sequence. It applies to
all bars in the current sequence. It is saved and restored in
G<SMALL>ROOVE</SMALL>s.
<P>
It is also possible to change the pitch or tonality for individual
chords with the “barre” chord name extension (detailed
<A HREF="node30.html#barre-chords">here</A>).
<P>
Yet another way to change the pitch is to use the O<SMALL>CTAVE</SMALL>
settings <A HREF="node24.html#octave">here</A>.
<P>
<SPAN CLASS="textit">Remember: unlike a real instrument, neither <SMALL>CAPO</SMALL> or barre chords
change the pitch (transpose) the chord in
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> . The same chord is played,
but with a higher tonality.</SPAN>
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION001130000000000000000">
Patterns</A>
</H1>
<P>
Setting a pattern for a P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> track is similar to that of
other tracks: you simply set the offset and volumes for the different
strings. In addition you must specify a “strum”<A NAME="tex2html49"
HREF="#foot5421"><SUP><SPAN CLASS="arabic">11</SPAN>.<SPAN CLASS="arabic">2</SPAN></SUP></A> value (used as a delay between
strings). The formal definition for a P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> pattern is:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Offset Strum Strings:Velocity [...Strings:Velocity] </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
where:
<P>
<DL>
<DT><STRONG>Offset</STRONG></DT>
<DD>A beat or offset into the bar. This is used in the same
manner as in all the other MMA patterns.
<P>
</DD>
<DT><STRONG>Strum</STRONG></DT>
<DD>The strumming delay between hitting each string. Use a
positive number for a downward strum and negative number for an
upward strum and use zero for all the notes to be played together. “3”
is a fast downward strum and “-10” is a slow upward strum.
<P>
</DD>
<DT><STRONG>Strings</STRONG></DT>
<DD>The string or strings that are to be plucked. Details
below.
<P>
</DD>
<DT><STRONG>Velocity</STRONG></DT>
<DD>The MIDI velocity (loudness) for each string. “127”
is the maximum volume, A value of zero is used to mute the string or
strings. Guitarists often mute the strings with the side of their
hand when strumming.<A NAME="tex2html50"
HREF="#foot5422"><SUP><SPAN CLASS="arabic">11</SPAN>.<SPAN CLASS="arabic">3</SPAN></SUP></A>
<P>
</DD>
</DL>
<P>
For a basic strumming guitar you might use:<A NAME="tex2html51"
HREF="#foot5423"><SUP><SPAN CLASS="arabic">11</SPAN>.<SPAN CLASS="arabic">4</SPAN></SUP></A>
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Begin Plectrum-Strumming
<BR> Voice NylonGuitar
<BR> Volume m
<BR> Sequence 1.0 +5 120 120 120 120 120 100; \
<BR> 2.0 +5 90 80 80 80 80 80;\
<BR> 2.5 -5 - - 50 50 50 50;\
<BR> 3.0 +5 90 80 80 80 80 80;\
<BR> 3.5 -5 - - 50 50 50 50;\
<BR> 4.0 +5 90 80 80 80 80 80;\
<BR> 4.5 -5 - - 50 50 50 50;
<BR>
End </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
This gives eight strums per bar. Note the strum values at beats 2.5,
3.5 and 4.5: using a negative strum value causes the strum to run in
the opposite (high to low) direction.
<P>
Also, notice the use of “-” values for certain strings. A “-” lets
that string continue to vibrate until the next pattern. If you want to
disable (mute) a string use a “0” for the volume.
<P>
Another example shows how to set up a finger picking pattern:
<P>
<Table Hspace="40%" CellSpacing=0 CellPadding=10 BGColor="OldLace" Border=3>
<tr><td>
<B>Begin Plectrum-FingerPicking
<BR> Voice NylonGuitar
<BR> Volume m
<BR> Sequence 1.0 0 - 100 - - 90 -;\
<BR> 1.5 0 - - - 90 - -;\
<BR> 2.0 0 - - 90 - 90 -;\
<BR> 2.5 0 - - - 90 - -;\
<BR> 3.0 0 - - - - - 90;\
<BR> 3.5 0 - - - - 90 -;\
<BR> 4.0 0 - - - 90 - -;\
<BR> 4.5 0 - - 90 - - -;
<BR>
End </B>
</td></tr>
</Table>
<P>
To make creation of volume tables a bit easier, you can shorten the
notation by setting a range and volume. This is done by using
“n-m:v” where n is the start string number and m is the end string
number and v is the volume. <B>Please note that the strings are numbered
in “reverse” order, just like a guitar.</B> The last string (the bottom
and usually the highest pitch) is string “1”, the first string
(assuming 6 strings) is “6”. So,
<P>
<UL>
<LI>“1.0 0 2:50” is the same as “1.0 0 - - - - 50 -”
</LI>
<LI>“1.0 -5 2-4:80” is the same as “1.0 -5 - - 80 80 80 -”
<P>
</LI>
</UL>
<P>
It is not possible to mix range and individual string settings. So,
<SPAN CLASS="textit">you cannot do</SPAN>:
<P>
<UL>
<LI>“1.0 0 2:50 90” <IMG
WIDTH="28" HEIGHT="28" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"
SRC="img2.png"
ALT="\includegraphics[height=3ex]{stop.eps}">
</LI>
</UL>
<P>
Missing volume settings are expanded just like in C<SMALL>HORD</SMALL>
tracks. So, assuming a 6 string guitar:
<P>
<UL>
<LI>“1.0 0 90 ” is the same as “1.0 0 90 90 90 90 90 90”
</LI>
</UL>
<P>
However, do note that you must specify either one or all the strings
if you are not using a range. Again, <SPAN CLASS="textit">you cannot do</SPAN>:
<P>
<UL>
<LI>“1. 0 80 90” <IMG
WIDTH="28" HEIGHT="28" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"
SRC="img2.png"
ALT="\includegraphics[height=3ex]{stop.eps}">
</LI>
</UL>
<P>
Please note that the following options have no effect in a
P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> track: A<SMALL>RTICULATE</SMALL>, V<SMALL>OICING</SMALL>,
S<SMALL>TRUM</SMALL> M<SMALL>ALLET</SMALL> and D<SMALL>IRECTION</SMALL>.
<BR><HR><H4>Footnotes</H4>
<DL>
<DT><A NAME="foot5419">...P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL></A><A
HREF="node11.html#tex2html48"><SUP><SPAN CLASS="arabic">11</SPAN>.<SPAN CLASS="arabic">1</SPAN></SUP></A></DT>
<DD>The concept and code base for the Plectrum
track was developed by Louis James Barman
<SPAN CLASS="textbf"><louisjbarman at googlemail dot com></SPAN>. Send compliments to him!
</DD>
<DT><A NAME="foot5421">... “strum”</A><A
HREF="node11.html#tex2html49"><SUP><SPAN CLASS="arabic">11</SPAN>.<SPAN CLASS="arabic">2</SPAN></SUP></A></DT>
<DD>A
“P<SMALL>LECTRUM </SMALL>S<SMALL>TRUM</SMALL>” setting is ignored by these tracks. Strum
must be set as part of the pattern.
</DD>
<DT><A NAME="foot5422">... strumming.</A><A
HREF="node11.html#tex2html50"><SUP><SPAN CLASS="arabic">11</SPAN>.<SPAN CLASS="arabic">3</SPAN></SUP></A></DT>
<DD>The P<SMALL>LECTRUM</SMALL> track differs from
other
<FONT Face="Serif" Color="Navy"><I>MMA</I></FONT> tracks as the duration of each note is not given but
instead like a real guitar the note on the string will continue
to sound until either it is muted by using a velocity of zero or
until another note is played on the same string.
</DD>
<DT><A NAME="foot5423">... use:</A><A
HREF="node11.html#tex2html51"><SUP><SPAN CLASS="arabic">11</SPAN>.<SPAN CLASS="arabic">4</SPAN></SUP></A></DT>
<DD>These examples
use B<SMALL>EGIN</SMALL>/E<SMALL>ND</SMALL> shorthand notation. This is explained in
the “Begin/End Block” chapter <A HREF="node25.html#sec-blocks">here</A>.
</DD>
</DL>
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bob
2010-11-07
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