clarinet
Clarinetist’s guide
music of expression
musicofx.com
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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clarinet: Clarinetist’s guide
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
www.musicofx.com
clarinet Orientation! 3
Playing Clarinet! 4
Fingerings! 5
Register breaks! 7
Tilt-Flex Control! 7
Configuring Clarinet control! 8
Clarinetʼs Sound! 9
The Visual Synth! 10
MIDI! 11
Clarinet Online! 12
Beyond Clarinet...! 13
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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clarinet Orientation
Welcome to clarinet!
clarinet is a performance instrument for the iPhone. It is a musical instrument in the same
vein as a MIDI keyboard, in that it enables you, the musician, to play musical sounds and
control other MIDI instruments.
clarinetʼs controls are based upon the
principles of a real clarinet. You can adjust this
control to include breath, touch, and/or tilt
control.
clarinet includes a sound engine that plays
sound samples of a Bb clarinet, an orchestral
A clarinet, the smaller Eb clarinet, and the
large Bb bass clarinet. You can play the whole
range of the two registers of the clarinet
smoothly with the result sounding satisfying
and realistic.
Like all music of expression instruments,
clarinet includes the Visual Synth. You can
create your own sounds with this “additive”
synthesizer, adding reverb, tweaking the lowpass filter, and sculpting the characteristic of
the sound wave.
You can control MIDI wirelessly with clarinet.
That means you can control Reason, Logic,
Garageband, SONAR, and any number of
other MIDI applications that include more
advanced synthesizers and samplers that take
advantage of the power of your home
computer.
Finally, you can record your clarinet playing and upload it online. You can download other
clarinet performances and play them, and watch how the performer has played as the
interface animates just as he or she did during the recording. You can also head to
musicofx.com to check out performances in your browser, send them in emails, or embed
them in your blog!
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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Playing clarinet
clarinetʼs controls are based upon the principles of a real clarinet. Pitch is controlled by the
keys on the instrument. As the player covers the holes on the left, and then the right, the air
must travel further, generating a lower pitch.
To play lower pitches, put down the fingers of your left hand, fore, middle, fourth fingers, then
the fingers of the right hand, fore, middle, fourth and pinky fingers, in the red positions.
F# key, E Key
F Key
C# Key
(Left pinky finger)
C hole
(Left fourth finger)
Eb key
(Left fourth finger)
D key, [thumb F key]
(Left middle finger)
E key
(Left forefinger)
G# key, A key
(Left forefinger)
F Key, E key
G# Key, F# Key
(Right pinky finger)
G key
(Right fourth finger)
F# “bis” key
(Right fourth finger)
A key
(Right middle finger)
B key
(Right forefinger)
Side Eb, F#
(Right forefinger)
[!] Note: The iPhone only supports five touches at a time -- so the rule is that if youʼre using any keys on the right
side, you can let go of the left side, and vice versa. (There are a couple exceptions, listed in the Fingerings
section.)
[!] Note: If clarinet is placed on a surface, you might need to have at least a thumb touching the outside of the
device somewhere, otherwise the iPhoneʼs multi-touch sensors might not catch all your touches.
To hold clarinet, we suggest propping the bottom against a desk, knee, or table, perhaps
using a pinky to hold it at the bottom.
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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Fingerings (Chalumeau register)
The fingering chart displays which keys to depress to play which notes. clarinet in fact has
more fingerings that “work” -- for example, to play D, you only need to have D pressed; F and
E are effectively optional. For the lowest notes, only one of the two pinky keys indicated is
required.
Also, due to the fact that not all of the keys on a real clarinet would fit on the iPhoneʼs screen,
some keys do double duty: the left D key is also the thumb key; and the G and and pinky keys
will trigger an “open” (no keys pressed) C# when in Touch mode.
[!] Note: The
device only
supports five
touches at a time -so the rule is that if
youʼre using any
keys on the right
side, you can let go
of the left side, and
vice versa.
The Eb key here
can be played with
the left middle
finger -- you donʼt
need to hold down
the D key, too.
Note how the
thumb F is
substitued by the
D key here, and
the thumb Bb is
substituted by the
D key also.
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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Fingerings (Clarion register)
In the second register, the fingerings are the same, and the notes are transposed up a twelfth
-- an octave plus a fifth.
[!] Note: The
device only
supports five
touches at a time
-- so the rule is
that if youʼre using
any keys on the
right side, you can
let go of the left
side, and vice
versa.
The Eb key here
can be played with
the left middle
finger -- you donʼt
need to hold down
the D key, too.
Note how the
thumb F is
substitued by the
D key here, and
the thumb Bb is
substituted by the
D key also.
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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Register breaks
The keys give complete control over the pitches within a diminished twelfth, from low E to
middle Bb. To change octaves, real clarinets have an “register key” at the left thumb. clarinet
uses the iPhoneʼs tilt sensor and the register slider to achieve the same effect.
Simply tilt clarinet away from you, so that the outer edge
of the phone is pointing more downwards, and the red
register indicator will move up the register track. When
it passes an Register Break slider, the resulting pitch
will shift from one register to the other, rising or falling a
perfect twelfth.
The Register Break and Register Flex slider are
adjustable, so you can customize how you want clarinet
to respond depending on your posture and your
preferred way of holding clarinet. Simply touch the
Register tabs and drag up or down to adjust them.
Tilt-Flex Control
The Tilt-flex option is an advanced control method for
smoother, faster playing. The idea is that you smoothly
tilt clarinet as the pitches you play rise and fall. The
register indicator is an analogy for embouchure, where
certain lip pressures and throat and tongue alignments
predispose the instrument to play certain pitches.
Under this control method, the register mark where a middle Bb is most “stable”. The closer
you are to the middle Bb, the closer you want the register indicator to be to the Register Break
slider.
Adjusting the Register Flex slider will widen or narrow the tilt range of the registers. A wider
range will require more tilting of the device for register shifts, and vice versa. The tilt range of
the two registers will be highlighted, seen in the screenshot above.
When the register indicator is at a slider, pitches further from Bb are less stable and closer to
jumping the break. G at the top of the staff is half a register away from middle Bb, so when
you want to play a G at the top of the staff, tilt clarinet so that the indicator is half a registerʼs
width beyond the register break. Similarly, if you want to play a low F, tilt so that the indicator
is well before the register slider.
Therefore, the way to play with Tilt-flex on is to try to have the indicator match up with the note
youʼre playing. Notes near Bb are stable near the Register Break, notes below Bb, before the
break, and notes above, after the break. Whether “before” and “after” mean above or below
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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depends on whether or not “Reverse register breaks” is on in the options -- by default,
“before” is above and “after” is below.
The result is that you can smoothly play scales and arpeggios up all three octaves of clarinet
by smoothly tilting it forward and back, and pressing the appropriate keys. See a demo of TiltFlex control at http://musicofx.com/clarinet.php.
Configuring clarinet control
Press the (i) info button to access the clarinet control configuration screen.
Volume control refers to how you will control the
loudness of clarinet. [Breath] enables you to blow
into the iPhoneʼs speakerphone mic or a connected
headsetʼs mic. [Touch] means clarinet will play
whenever you press a key. (Remember open C#
plays if you press the low C or Eb keys.)
Register control refers the control of the register
breaks of the clarinet. [Tilt-exact] means the
register always changes when you tilt it past an
register slider. [Tilt-flex] means the registers shift
around the slider; pitches change according to their
distance from middle Bb. (See explanation above.)
[Touch] means tilt is off, and you drag the register
slider to specify your octave.
Breath Sensitivity allow you to tweak how quickly
the iPhone will react to breath control.
Enable animation is by default set to ON, but you
can turn it off to give clarinet that extra
performance edge. For when advanced players
want to play advanced stuff!
Press Reset to restore clarinet to the settings it
had when you first installed it.
How to play clarinet will open this manual.
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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clarinetʼs Sound
clarinet includes four sample sets, featuring the standard Bb clarinet, an orchestral A clarinet,
the Eb clarinet, and the Bb bass clarinet. These sounds were recorded from a real musician
playing real instruments, and clarinetʼs sound engines knits together the recordings to create
a smooth and realistic result when you play clarinet.
Access the sound control view by pressing
the (i) button and selection the Sound tab.
Select [Clarinet] to play with the sampled
clarinets. The Octave and Key settings will
automatically set. (You can still change
them.)
Changing the Octave setting will raise or
lower the pitch of clarinet by the number of
octaves you select.
Similarly, Key will alter the tuning of clarinet.
Setting Key to Bb means playing a C on
clarinet results in a concert Bb, or down a
whole step. A Eb setting would transpose
clarinet up three half steps.
Tuning adjusts the micro-tuning of clarinet.
Portamento refers to how fast the pitches
change from one to another. A high
Portamento creates a sliding, glissando
sound, while a low Portamento can sound
unnatural and machine-like.
Reverb is the level of echo in clarinetʼs
sound. High Reverb values simulate a large
hall or church, while a low Reverb simulates
a sound booth or small room.
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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The Visual Synth
Select [Synth] in the sound control bar to reveal the synth interface.
clarinet includes music of expressionʼs Visual Synth. This is an additive synthesizer that can
combine up to two customized waveforms that you have designed yourself. Both Synth 1 and
Synth 2 can be configured with their own tunings and wave characteristics.
Each Synth is set to a waveform type. [Sine]
refers to a gentle S curve and creates softer,
more organic sounds. Triangle creates a zigzag wave like a mountain range, and Square
creates a wave with corners, like a cityscape.
In the Sound Spectrum window you can
configure the strength of each overtone
node. A node at the bottom of the window
means that overtone is not being played,
while a node dragged to the top will
accentuate that overtone as much as
possible. Not sure what that all means?
Feel free to explore and experiment!
Filter applies a low-pass filter to the entire
sound. The higher you set the filter, the less
“edgy” the resulting sound.
Synth 1-2 Bal refers the balance between
Synth 1 and Synth 2. Dragging this all the
way to one side or the other will mean you
hear only one synth, while middle settings
mix the two. Notice that the color of the
Synth 1-2 Bal label changes depending on
the mix. The bluer it is, the more Synth 2 is
in the mix.
Again, Portamento refers to how fast the
pitches change from one to another.
Reverb is the level of reverberation (echo) in clarinetʼs sound.
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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MIDI
clarinet can control MIDI instruments and MIDI-powered software, including Logic, SONAR,
Reason, Garageband, and more. With the help of the musicofx MIDI tool, available at
musicofx.com, you can use clarinet to take advantage of all the myriad synthesis options your
music studio offers.
To use clarinet as a MIDI instrument, select the [MIDI] option in the Sound control bar.
The basic tuning options Octave and Key
remain, and will affect the pitch being sent to
your MIDI setup.
moxChannel refers to the moxChannel in
the musicofx MIDI tool. The musicofx MIDI
tool accepts up to 8 individual connections,
identified by their moxChannel.
Reset connection will terminate any existing
MIDI connection and try to establish a new
one.
When clarinet is searching for a new
connec t i on, the te x t “S e a rching f or
connection...” will be displayed. When it is
c o n n e c t e d , t h e t e x t “ S e n d i n g t o
[192.168.1.104]” will be displayed (with your
IP address substituted in.)
Additionally, in the instrument view, an icon
will be displayed in the upper-right hand
corner of the interface indicating the status of
the MIDI connection.
You can get musicofx MIDI tool on the
musicofx website -(http://www.musicofx.com/midi-tool.php) where you can also find more information on
configuring your computer setup for music of expression instruments, including video demos
and tutorials.
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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clarinet Online
clarinet has the same online sharing options included in other music of expression
instruments. Not only can you record and play your own recordings, but you can download
othersʼ performances, listen to them, and rate them as you like.
To record yourself playing, press the red Record
button in the Instrument View. Press either the
red Record button or the green Play button to
finish the recording.
The recording will be saved if it is longer than 5
seconds. You can only save up to 8 recordings
on your device, so be sure to upload your best
takes online!
In the Online tab, you can see your saved
recordings. Access the Online tab by pressing
the (i) button in the Instrument View.
The red “X” deletes the recording.
The blue arrow uploads the recording.
The green triangle play button will play the
recording back. After listening to a recording,
you will be prompted to vote on it automatically.
Selecting anywhere else on the recording will
bring up the Recording Info view. (See below).
If Auto-upload Recordings is on, the recording
will be uploaded and saved on the musicofx
servers.
The folders “Your Online Performances”, “Top Rated Performances” and so on let you
explore the online performances.
Press Activate to activate your instrumentʼs name online and get your online login code. You
can use this code to log in to the forums at musicofx.com in addition to tracking all your saved
online recordings. You can use this button to change your username, too. Your other musicofx
instruments installed on that device will automatically adjust to that name as you use their
online functions.
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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The Recording Info view shows the recordingʼs attributes up
close. Here, you can edit the title and description of your own
recordings, and vote on othersʼ.
Note that in order to vote on a recording, you need to listen to
it! After listening to a performance, youʼll automatically be
prompted to vote on it.
Large versions of the Delete, Upload, and Play buttons have
the same effect as the small versions in the Online view.
At musicofx.com, you can continue to edit your recordingsʼ
information, listen to other performances and vote on them,
and get information on how to email links to the recordings
and embed them in your website or blog.
Beyond clarinet...
clarinet is only one of a series of instruments in the music of expression series. These
instruments are great for learning the principles of their real-life counterparts, and theyʼre
powerful enough to be expressive tools for musicians who already have some understanding.
music of expressionʼs series of instruments currently includes:
TRUMPET - the first in our series of instruments, simulating a brass trumpet.
clarinet - toot away on this instrument -- enjoy the woody warmth of the clarinet sound.
TROMBONE - a slide trombone for your iPhone or iTouch!
flute - an expressive flute, featuring a variety of flute sample sets.
Saxophone - jam out on musicofxʼs flexible and expressive Saxophone!
Keep an eye on musicofx.com as we continue to create the best musical instruments for the
iPhone! Thanks for playing clarinet, and good luck in your musical adventures!
(c) 2009 mode of expression, LLC
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