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Realeight 4
User Manual
107 pgs7.59 Mb3

Musiclab Realeight 4 User Manual

RealEight 4 User's Manual
Copyright © 2000-2016 by MusicLab, Inc.
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Table of Contents
Installing RealEight ...................................................................................................................... 6!
Managing Sound Bank ................................................................................................................. 7!
Launching RealEight .................................................................................................................... 8!
RealEight Guitar Patches ............................................................................................................. 8!
Standard, Baritone, and Bass tunings ........................................................................................ 9!
Virtual Fretboard ........................................................................................................................ 10!
Virtual Keyboard ........................................................................................................................ 10!
RealEight Global Modes ............................................................................................................ 11!
User Keyboard Layout ............................................................................................................... 12!
Performance Modes .................................................................................................................... 13!
Solo Mode .................................................................................................................................... 13!
Harmony Mode ........................................................................................................................... 19!
Chords Mode ............................................................................................................................... 20!
Bass & Chord Mode .................................................................................................................... 21!
Bass & Pick Mode ....................................................................................................................... 23!
Chord Map ................................................................................................................................... 26!
User Chords ................................................................................................................................. 28!
Velocity Switch FXs (Harmony, Chords, Bass&Chord, Bass&Pick) ................................... 30!
MIDI Controllers pane (Chords, Bass&Chord, Bass&Pick) .................................................. 30!
Silent mode (Chords, Bass&Chord, Bass&Pick) ..................................................................... 31!
Left Menu bar .............................................................................................................................. 32!
Right Menu bar ........................................................................................................................... 34!
Common ....................................................................................................................................... 36!
Double- and Quad-Tracking ..................................................................................................... 36!
RealEight Effect Table and Description ................................................................................... 38!
Using MusicLab Rhythm Pattern Library and Pattern Manager ........................................ 43!
Using Rhythm Patterns in a MIDI Track ................................................................................. 48!
Creating Custom Styles for Pattern Library ........................................................................... 49!
RealEight Stroke Map ................................................................................................................. 51!
Working with Patterns ............................................................................................................... 53!
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Working with Chords ................................................................................................................ 55!
Time Line ..................................................................................................................................... 60!
Controls ........................................................................................................................................ 61!
Settings Panel .............................................................................................................................. 62!
Keyboard Shortcuts .................................................................................................................... 63!
Sound ............................................................................................................................................ 64!
Timing .......................................................................................................................................... 65!
Velocity ......................................................................................................................................... 65!
Pitch .............................................................................................................................................. 65!
Master section .............................................................................................................................. 65!
Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 66!
Which guitar controller? ............................................................................................................ 66!
Connecting Guitar Hero controller to RealEight ................................................................... 67!
Guitar controller Layout ............................................................................................................ 68!
Joystick Performance Modes ..................................................................................................... 69!
ColorTabs mode (manual chord changes) .............................................................................. 70!
ColorTabs Mode Playing Techniques ...................................................................................... 70!
SmartStrums mode (automatic chord changes) ..................................................................... 76!
SmartStrums mode (automatic chord changes) ..................................................................... 78!
Additional Techniques/Effects/Sounds ................................................................................. 81!
Joystick Global Mode Settings panel ....................................................................................... 84!
Guitar Strokes and Effects available in Joystick mode .......................................................... 85!
Joystick Button Map ................................................................................................................... 87!
Concept ......................................................................................................................................... 92!
Universal Chord Tab .................................................................................................................. 93!
Editing Universal Chord Tab .................................................................................................... 98!
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About the program
RealEight is a sample-based 8-string electric guitar virtual instrument, ideal for lead and rhythm, and even bass tracks in rock & metal style compositions.
RealEight provides incredible playability based on easy-to-use keyboard layout as well as the advanced key/pedal/velocity switch system allowing a keyboardist to perform guitar parts with a whole new level of realistic expression.
RealEight covers practically all sounds, articulations, and techniques a professional guitarist can produce on his 8-string electric guitar, including mute, bridge mute, harmonics, pinch harmonics, sliding, scraping, etc...
24-bit high quality dry samples recorded directly from pick-ups let you easily create any desired guitar sound using your favorite amplifier simulator.
RealEight features:
• Incredibly deep sound covering huge 5-octave note range (8 strings, 24 frets, drop E tuning, expandable to drop B tuning).
• Multi-channel layering technology, incorporating a custom library of specially recorded samples taken from every fret of all 8 strings of a real guitar.
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• The unique Floating Fret Position technology, which imitates change of fret position of a guitarist's hand on the neck. This gives you the possibility of playing on up to 200 guitar frets using just 60 keys of a standard keyboard!
• Ready-to-use Double Track and Quad Track patches with a single MIDI input.
• Standard and Baritone guitar tunings
• Bass mode: drops pitch to 8-string bass guitar tuning, letting you produce bass
parts as well.
• Advanced Humanize section allowing to add realism to the performance both live and step-recorded in a MIDI track.
• Song Mode turning RealEight 4 into a powerful and easy-to-use songwriting tool allowing you in no time create perfect guitar backing tracks for your songs. Simply insert chord symbols and rhythm patterns into the built-in Song Track - and your guitar part is ready!
• Guitar Rhythm Pattern technology providing powerful Pattern Manager completed with huge MusicLab Guitar Pattern Library for easily creating guitar accompaniment tracks. All you have to do is to find the appropriate rhythm pattern(s) in the Pattern Manager tree view, copy it to the needed number of measures, start your sequencer and use MIDI keyboard to play chord changes, or alternatively add chords to a MIDI track via sequencer's editor.
• Our original Guitar Touch technology letting you easily imitate basic guitar techniques (strumming, plucking, sliding, bending, muting, etc..), using standard MIDI keyboard and MIDI controllers, such as Pitch Bender, Modulation Wheel, Sustain Pedal, Aftertouch.
• The unique Struminator technology letting you use alternative MIDI controller (standard Guitar Hero game controller by Activision Inc.) for creating authentic guitar accompaniment parts with ease and fun.
These technologies allow to closely emulate live guitar sound and techniques, letting you perform guitar parts with a whole new level of realistic expression.
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Overview
Installing RealEight
Installing RealEight PC version
Double-click RealEight Installer file and follow the on-screen instructions.
In case your VST2 plugins folder is not registered correctly RealEight installer will not automatically install RealEight.dll in the correct folder. So to let your VST host ‘find’ RealEight you have to set your VST host to scan MusicLab VST2 folder below.
Please note of RealEight 4 installation folders:
Windows 64-bit
64bit: C:\Program Files\MusicLab\RealEight 4
32bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\MusicLab\RealEight 4
64bit VST2: C:\Program Files\Common Files\MusicLab\VST2
64bit VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
32bit VST2: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\MusicLab\VST2
32bit VST3: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\VST3
64bit AAX: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins
32bit AAX: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins
Windows 32-bit
32bit: C:\Program Files\MusicLab\RealEight 4
32bit VST2: C:\Program Files\Common Files\MusicLab\VST2
32bit VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
32bit AAX: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins
Installing RealEight Mac version
Double-click RealEight Installer icon and follow the on-screen instructions.
Please note of RealEight installation folders:
Application: Macintosh HD/Applications/RealEight
32bit/64bit AU: Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components/RealEight.component
32bit VST2: Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST/RealEight.vst
64bit VST3: Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3/RealEight.vst3
32bit/64bit AAX: Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-
ins/RealEight.aaxplugin
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Managing Sound Bank
Note, that the installer will create 44.1 kHz sample rate sound bank. In case your audio settings has other than 44.1 kHz sample rate, RealEight on launching will ask if you want to optimize the sound bank to match your audio settings.
Selecting ‘Create Optimized Bank’ button will bring up RealEight Bank Manager, which will automatically create the needed sample rate sound bank.
You can as well manually run Bank Manager to create sound bank(s) optimized for sample rate(s) you normally use in your audio work.
To run Bank Manager: PC: Go to Start menu->All Programs->MusicLab RealEight 4->RealEight Bank Manager, or alternatively double-click the RealEightStgMan.exe icon found in RealEight installation folder (by default: C:\Program Files\MusicLab\RealEight 4). Mac: Run RealEight standalone version and select Sound Bank Manager in RealEight Application menu.
In the opened Bank Manager window check the appropriate sample rate box(es) and click Apply button to start sound bank creating.
Close Bank Manager when sound bank installation is completed. Note, that higher sample rate value will install larger target sound bank.
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Launching RealEight
Launching RealEight as a VST/AU instrument:
1. Open your DAW (host application).
2. Create Software Instrument track.
3. Add RealEight to the track.
4. Open the RealEight window by double-clicking the RealEight button/icon.
5. Launching RealEight multi output version: One of the most powerful RealEight features is the ability to simulate ‘double­tracked’ or even ‘quad-tracked’ guitar part. To use this feature you must run RealEight multi output version, RealEight (4 mono) or RealEight (4 stereo), depending on mono or stereo amps/FXs you are going to use. These plugins provide 4 outs in your DAW’s mixer. In a DAW’s mixer pan each output being used, then add the amps/FXs of your choice on each channel.
6. Launching RealEight as a standalone version:
PC: In Start Menu go to Programs/MusicLab RealEight 4 folder and click the RealEight icon.
MAC: Run HD/Applications/RealEight 4.
RealEight Guitar Patches
RealEight installs three versions of RealEight soft instrument: RealEight, RealEight (4 mono), RealEight (4 stereo). RealEight is normal plugin with single stereo output, RealEight (4 mono) provides 4 mono outputs in your DAW, while RealEight (4 stereo) provides 4 stereo outputs respectively. Choosing between them depends on what guitar patch you are going to use.
RealEight has three guitar patches: Single, Double-track, and Quad-track, loadable by clicking the appropriate Multi-track button.
Single
On launching RealEight will automatically load Single guitar patch, which is mono guitar sample set and can be used in any version of RealEight plugin.
Double-track
Double-track, when loaded in RealEight single output version, is a stereo guitar patch panned hard left and hard right.
When used in multi output versions Double-track patch gives you the ability to easily simulate double-tracked guitar parts. To use this feature you must run RealEight (4 mono) or RealEight (4 stereo) version – these plugins provide 4 outs in your host’s mixer. Double­track patch will use first two of them. In host’s mixer, pan each output being used hard left and hard right, then add the amps + FX of your choice. For best results, we recommend different amps/settings for each output. Play or sequence notes on the MIDI track assigned to RealEight, and enjoy a wide, double-tracked sound!
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Quad-track
Quad-track patch can only be used in RealEight multi out version. Quad patch gives you ready-to-use quad-track output with single MIDI In (keyboard or track), allowing you to easily create quad-tracked guitar parts. For quad-tracking, the process is the same as for double-tracking, but with FOUR audio outputs. You can try panning these outputs differently in your host mixer, too (e.g.: 100%Left - 80%Left - 80%Right – 100%Right).
The loaded patch name will be displayed on the central Info screen.
Standard, Baritone, and Bass tunings
RealEight has three tuning selections: Standard, Baritone, and Bass, available by clicking the appropriate Tuning button.
STD
8-string guitar standard tuning: F#-B-E-A-D-G-b-e, with 8th string lowered to E (Drop E, expandable to Drop B).
BARI
7-string baritone guitar tuning: F#-B-E-A-D-f#-b with 7th string lowered to E (Drop E, expandable to Drop B). The 1st string will be disabled on Virtual Fretboard.
BASS
Activating Bass button will drop pitch to 8-string bass guitar tuning: F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-F. Notes played by MIDI will now trigger lower by octave sounds, thus keeping the whole keyboard layout unchanged. Bass mode allows to use RealEight for bass parts as well.
Note, that Bass tuning is available only in Solo mode.
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Virtual Fretboard
In RealEight we have realized the Floating Fret Position principle, which imitates change of fret position of a guitarist's hand on the neck. This gives a unique possibility of playing on up to 200 guitar frets using just 60 keys of a standard keyboard! This, along with the fact that we have sampled 24 frets of all eight strings for all of our RealEight sounds, allows you to emulate a guitar performance with maximum sonic accuracy.
In the center of the RealEight window is the virtual Fretboard, one of the important elements of the plug-in, which allows you to visualize and control the Floating Fret Position while playing the guitar part.
The Fretboard has a number of functions:
1. Preview - allows audio previewing the loaded guitar patch by simply clicking on strings.
2. Display notes - shows the performed notes (with names) in accordance with visual representation on the fretboard and real sound (you see the notes displayed on string and fret of exactly the same sound samples currently playing).
3. Fret Position Auto control (the Auto button is pressed) - realizes automatic fret position change in Solo and Harmony modes, which moves the ‘Capo’ strip along the Fretboard depending on the sequence of performed notes.
4. Fret Position Manual control (the Auto button is released) - allows manually changing fret position by right clicking on any fret. A ‘Capo’ strip will appear on the fretboard, which will prevent playing samples from any fret lower on the neck than the ‘Capo’ position (except for the 8th string).
Virtual Keyboard
In the lower part of RealEight window you see a virtual keyboard that visualizes RealEight keyboard layout (Main and Repeat zones), indicates activated Key Switches in Solo mode, and shows all MIDI notes incoming to RealEight or played on virtual fretboard with a mouse:
Additionally, virtual keyboard duplicates the external MIDI keyboard input, so everything you can play by MIDI can be produced on virtual keyboard with a mouse. Shift-clicking will hold down the pressed key allowing to preview chords/Key Switch FXs.
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RealEight Global Modes
RealEight 4 provides 6 Global Modes implementing different working methods:
1. MIDI Keyboard - MIDI keyboard/MIDI track input
2. Pattern - automatic accompaniment using rhythm patterns from MusicLab Guitar Pattern Library
3. Song - songwriting tool featuring the built-in Song track where you can insert chords and patterns to construct the complete guitar accompaniment part
4. Joystick - Guitar Hero game controller input (Struminator technology)
5. MIDI Guitar - normal guitar input via guitar MIDI interface (8 strings to 8 MIDI channels)
6. Direct - works as plain sampler with multi-channel MIDI access to all internal sounds/noises individually with all intelligent features turned off.
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MIDI Keyboard Global Mode
User Keyboard Layout
When connected to RealEight MIDI input the external keyboard is divided into 3 zones: Main zone (E0 – E5), left (C-1 - D#0) and right (F5 – A6) Repeat zones.
In Solo mode with Drop B tuning selectable in Bass zone left combo box, the left part of Main zone expands to B-1.
Main zone serves for playing melodic parts (Solo and Harmony modes) and entering chords (Chords, Bass & Chord, Bass & Pick modes; Joystick SmartStrums, SmartStrings modes).
Any key of the Repeat zone repeats notes and chords played in the Main zone.
This way of keyboard mapping allows you to play guitar parts with 2 hands - you play various notes or chords in the Main zone with one hand and repeat them by pressing the pre-mapped keys in Repeat zone with the other hand without changing its position. This is very important for carefully preserving rhythm pattern accuracy and groove feel.
Using such a performance technique you can easily imitate the most characteristic details of guitar performance, such as tremolo, strumming, bass and strum, picking on your keyboard making them sound naturally as if they were played on a real guitar.
Repeat Key zone functions:
• In Solo, Harmony, Chords, and Bass & Chord modes you can repeat notes and chords played in the Main zone (any white key repeats the full sound, while black key repeats the muted sound). Also with the keys of Repeat zone you can alternate up/down/muted strokes to produce strumming and tremolo techniques (C, E, G – trigger up stroke; D, F, A - down stroke; C#, F#, A# - muted up stroke; D#, G# ­muted down stroke) with both single notes and intervals/chords.
• In Bass & Chord mode you can trigger Bass I (Root) and Bass II (alternative bass) notes as well as upper string strums
• In Bass & Pick mode Repeat keys trigger individual voices (strings) of a chord taken in the Main zone.
Repeat zones
Main zone
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• In Solo mode Repeat keys, when activated in Key Switch panel, can also be used as Key Switches to switch on various FXs.
Performance Modes
RealEight MIDI Keyboard Global Mode includes 5 separate guitar performance modes, each of which is a separate performance tool meant for imitating special guitar performance style:
1. Solo - polyphonic mode for performing melodic parts.
2. Harmony - monophonic mode for performing parallel interval melodic parts.
3. Chords - chord mode for performing accompaniment strumming parts.
4. Bass & Chord - chord mode for performing bass and strum parts.
5. Bass & Pick - chord mode for performing picking/plucking parts.
The performance modes are selected by clicking on a respective tab:
Solo Mode
Click Solo tab to switch on the Solo performance mode.
Solo mode window
Muted sound
Full sound
Repeat keys
Main zone
Muted sound
Full sound
E0
E5
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In this mode the Main zone (E0 – E5) of the keyboard works as a normal polyphonic keyboard, while both Repeat Key zones (left (C-1 - D#0) and right (F5 – A6)) allow you to repeat notes taken on the Main zone (white keys repeat full sound; black keys repeat muted sound of the same notes).
Controls
RealEight Solo mode provides you with multiple permanent and switchable controls allowing you to easily add various specific guitar articulations and effects to your performance.
Velocity Switch Effects
On the left lower part of Solo panel you see Velocity Switch FX section including two FX boxes:
Using the Velocity Switch FX controls, two FXs can be dynamically engaged depending on the velocity of the MIDI notes played. For low velocity notes, set the numeric box on the left side to the threshold at which notes played at a lower velocity will trigger the FX selected in the lower FX selector. For high velocity notes, set the numeric box on the right side to the threshold at which notes played at a higher velocity will trigger the FX selected in the upper FX selector. As notes are played below or above the two thresholds, the two FX selector boxes will change to a light grey color to indicate they are being engaged. As with all FX selectors, each of the two Velocity Switch FX selector boxes have a FX Enable LED button so you can enable one, both or neither.
Permanent Effects
Permanent FX Box - allows selection of Effect in the pull-down menu and activate it by clicking on FX Enable LED button in the upper left corner.
Slide > Capo - controls the movement of the capo along the fretboard while performing either a Slide or Hammer-On effect. You can select any of 3 modes in a Slide>Capo combo box:
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• Fixed - Capo is not affected. All notes will be played to the right of Capo position moving from string to string (except for the notes on the 6th string which the capo does not affect).
• Ignore - Capo is not affected. Slides ignore Capo position; notes will be performed along the string moving to another string only in case of reaching first or last fret.
• Move - Capo moves with Slide or H.O. (Hammer-on) notes along the fretboard.
Legato - enables producing notes played legato within semi-tone or whole-tone from each
other without triggering attacks and being in mono mode (next will mute previous). The effect is as if the notes were played on the same guitar string when only the first note is picked and the following notes are played by the left hand alone.
H.O. - enables Hammer-On Effect with automatic Pull-Off on key release, affected note range is specified (in semi-tones) in numeric box.
Bass Zone - splits the Main Zone of keyboard into two parts to allow individual performance techniques for each part. The Bass Zone button is toggled on and off. There are two additional combo boxes to set the lower note (E0, or B-1) and the upper note (ranging from E1 to E4) of the zone. Bass zone notes have a stronger velocity curve and are NOT affected by:
• Mute keys - this allows performing mutes and repetitions on the notes played outside Bass zone without cutting bass notes.
• Velocity Switch FX - this allows applying velocity switches only to notes played outside Bass zone while playing bass notes without the velocity switch.
Left combo box works independently of Bass zone button and allows to expand the guitar range to Drop B tuning by selecting B-1 as the lower note for the 8th string.
Pedal Switch Effects
You can trigger various RealEight Effects selected in Pedal Switch FX box by pressing normal Sustain Pedal controller.
Pedal Switch FX box has five different controls:
• 1-2 Mono LED (On/Off)
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• FX Enable LED (On/Off)
• FX Selection pull-down menu
• Toggle LED (On/Off)
• Sustain LED (On/Off)
1-2 Mono:
On - sustains all notes except for the notes played at a semi-tone or whole-tone interval (step-wise melodic run): the next note 1-2 steps apart mutes the previous one as if played on the same guitar string, while the thirds and larger intervals are being sustained.
Off - pedal sustains all notes played non-legato, and legato (in the case Hammer-On and Legato FXs are off).
FX Enable LED indicates if the Pedal FX is enabled or not. When LED is On, the FX is enabled when the Sustain Pedal is pressed.
FX Selection pull-down menu selects which FX is controlled by the Sustain Pedal.
Toggle:
On - indicates that the FX is toggled on and off each time the Sustain Pedal is pressed.
Off - indicates that the FX is only enabled when the Sustain Pedal is kept pressed. When the Sustain Pedal is not pressed, the FX is not enabled.
Sustain:
On - indicates that the Sustain Pedal both turns on the FX as well as sustains notes.
Off - indicates that the Sustain Pedal controls only the FX, and no notes are sustained.
Modulation Switch Effects
You can switch on various RealEight Effects selected in Modulation Switch FX box by simply moving normal Modulation Wheel of your MIDI keyboard. Releasing Modulation Wheel to ‘0’ position turns the Effect off.
Note, when Modulation FX box is activated effect assigned in M.W. box at the right will not work.
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Key Switch Effects
RealEight numerous guitar Effects can be triggered in Solo mode using the advanced Key Switch system allowing to assign various FXs on Repeat Zone keys as well as easily create and use custom presets in RealEight Key Switch panel.
To open Key Switch panel click on Key Switches button on the left lower part of Solo mode window:
Key Switch panel
You see two columns of FX boxes corresponding to Left and Right Repeat Zone keys (C-1 through D#0 for the Left zone, F5 through A6 for the Right zone).
Select Effect for a key in pull-down menu and click FX Enable LED button in the left part of FX box to activate it. Now pressing the correspondent key of Repeat zone will turn on selected FX, and change the box color to a light grey to indicate that FX is turned on.
Note, that activating FX Enable LED of any key switch will also be displayed on the RealEight virtual keyboard. Moreover triggering FX will also change color of a virtual keyboard key to a light blue, giving you full visual control.
Three small buttons (clickable on/off) at the left of each FX box allow additional control of the Key Switch and FX:
‘T’ button (‘toggle’):
On - indicates that the FX is toggled on and off each time the key switch is pressed (releasing the key is ignored).
Off - indicates that the FX is only enabled while the key is kept pressed (releasing the key turns the FX off).
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‘K’ button (‘key through’) - when activated allows to switch FX and let the key switch simultaneously function as normal Repeat key (white for Full sound, black for Muted sound).
‘S’ button (‘sustain’) adds sustain function to FX, similar using the Sustain Pedal.
Note, Right Key Switches (Right Repeat zone) are ‘toggles’ by default, while Left Key Switches (Left Repeat zone) are not.
You can save all settings made in Key Switch panel as user presets for future use.
To create a preset, click on Preset combo box to activate Edit mode, type in the preset name, and press Enter on computer keyboard. Preset will be saved within RealEight and added to Preset list.
To delete preset simply click on Delete icon at the right.
MIDI Controller pane (Solo Mode)
Velo curve - select the output velocity curve for your performance by pressing one of 4 buttons.
You can assign various guitar effects to standard MIDI controllers:
• P.B. Up (Pitch Bender, upper combo box) - Off, Pitch, Slide, VeloAdd, MonoBend, Sustainer (triggers Sustainer FX simultaneously with pitch shifting).
• P.B. Down (Pitch Bender, lower combo box) - ‘same as Up’, Pitch, Slide, VeloAdd, MonoBend, Sustainer (triggers Sustainer FX simultaneously with pitch shifting).
• M.W. (Modulation Wheel) - Pitch, Slide, Modulation.
• A.T. (After Touch) - Pitch, Modulation, Sustainer, FeedBacker.
In the combo box to the right adjust the maximum range of pitch shifting/sliding (in semi­tones). Modulation envelope is adjusted in Tune panel (Left Menu bar in the upper left corner of RealEight window).
Hold button in Solo mode
In Solo mode the Hold button works differently from the other modes, where it actually substitutes the Sustain Pedal. In Solo mode when Hold button is on, any pressed and held key can be used for sustaining the following notes.
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Harmony Mode
Harmony mode window
In this monophonic mode any key of the Main zone triggers an interval/chord based on the played note, previously chosen from following options: 4th down, 5th up, Octave (up), Power Chord 1 (5th + 4th up), Power Chord 2 (4th + 5th up), 2 octaves (up).
The keys of both Repeat zones (left and right) allow you to repeat the interval taken in the Main zone (white keys repeat full sound, while black keys repeat muted sound of the same notes).
Muted sound
Full sound
Repeat keys
Melody zone
Muted sound
Full sound
E0
E5
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Chords Mode
Chords mode window
In this mode RealEight detects the chord played in the Main zone of the keyboard (the root note and the name of the chord appear on the black info screen), builds a guitar version of the chord considering the selected Chord position and current position of a ‘Capo’ strip on the Fretboard, and finally plays it using a down strum technique.
Any key of Repeat zone repeats the whole chord played in the Main zone: black keys play muted strums, while white keys play strums when the chord is still held and muted strums when the keys in the Main zone are released. Up and down strums are triggered by neighboring keys for both white and black keys of the Repeat zones, like C0 - up strum, D0 - down strum, C5 – down strum, B4 - up strum and so on.
Muted strum
Repeat keys
Chord detect (down
strum play)
Muted strum
Strum
Strum
C0
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Controls
Chord position - selects the melodic position range for the built chords.
I - the highest note is between E3 and G#3
II - the highest note is between G3 and B3
III - the highest note is between A#3 and D4
IV - the highest note is between C#4 and F4
Kbd - the melodic position range of the built chord depends on the octave position of the chord taken in the Main zone of the keyboard (with borders between E and E of the next octave).
User Chords - opens Chord Editor.
Upper/Lower Strings - allow disabling upper and/or lower strings in chords, so you can
pare your strums down to any five, four, three, two or just a single string by selecting the first available string# in upper/lower numeric boxes (e.g. selecting 2/5 will disable the 1st and 6th strings in the strums).
Chord/Bass - switches on the X/Y chord detect mode letting you construct major/minor triad chords with any desirable note in the Bass, e.g. A/G (A major chord over G bass) for G-A-C#-E voicing, D/F# (D major chord inversion with F# bass note) for F#-A-D voicing, F/G (F major chord over G bass) for G-A-C-F voicing, etc…
Bass & Chord Mode
Bass & Chord mode window
In this mode RealEight detects the chord taken in the Main zone of the keyboard, builds its guitar version and plays its Root note (Bass I) only. The Repeat zone keys now have the following functions:
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• C4 triggers Bass I (Root note).
• D4 triggers Bass II (Alternative bass, usually the 5th degree of the chord).
The rest of the keys in both right and left Repeat zones trigger up and down strums of the upper strings of the chord, black keys perform muted strums of the same strings).
Controls
Chord position - selects the melodic position range for the built chords.
User Chords - opens Chord Editor
Number of Strings - specifies the number of sounding strings in chords triggered by
Repeat zone keys.
Chord/Bass - switches on the X/Y chord detect mode letting you construct major/minor triad chords with any desirable note in the Bass.
Alter Bass - automatically alternates between Bass I and Bass II when the same chord is taken in the Main zone.
Bass Mono - mutes Bass I note when the next Bass II is played.
Drop Bass
Drop Bass option allows to lower Bass I note by octave (will play it on the lowest string possible)
Drop Bass has three selections: Off, On, and Keyboard.
Muted strum
Strum
Repeat keys
Chord detect
(bass play)
Muted strum
Strum Bass
I
II
C0
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With Keyboard mode dropping the bass note depends on the position of the chord taken in the Main zone of the keyboard (in higher ranges Bass I note will be played on a normal string).
Bass & Pick Mode
Bass & Pick mode window
In this mode RealEight identifies the chord taken in the Main zone, builds its guitar version and plays only its Root note (Bass I).
The Repeat zone keys trigger each voice of the chord separately, just as if you'd play it string-by-string on real guitar in the following way:
• C4 triggers Bass I (Root note)
• D4 triggers Bass II (alternative bass)
• E4 triggers 4th string
• F4 triggers 3rd string
• G4 triggers 2nd string
• A4 triggers 1st string
The other keys function as chosen in the Add-on string keys combo box.
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The keys of the left Repeat zone strum 4 upper voices of the chord (black keys perform muted strums).
Controls
Chord position - selects the melodic position range for the built chords.
User Chords – opens Chord Editor
Add-on string keys:
• Unison - doubles some strings for making single-string tremolo performance easy: C#4 - Bass II, D#4 - 4th string, F#4 - 2nd string, G#4, A#4, B4, C5 - 1st string.
• Chromatic - sets the Add-on string keys to play notes one semi-tone down from their respective string voices: C#4 - a semi-tone down from Bass II, D#4 – a semi­tone down from 4th string, F#4 - a semi-tone down from 2nd string, G#4 - a semi­tone down from 1st string; however A#4 – C5 add a semi-tone each to the sound of 1st string.
• Mute - all add-on keys trigger Muted chord.
• Harmonics - Add-on black keys (C#4 through A#4) trigger Harmonics for current
chord notes.
• Pinch Harm - Add-on black keys (C#4 through A#4) trigger Pinch Harmonics for current chord notes.
Chord/Bass - switches on the X/Y chord detect mode letting you construct major/minor triad chords with any desirable note in the Bass.
Add-on keys
String keys
Chord detect
(bass play)
Muted strum
Strum
Bass
I
II
4
3
2
1
C0
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Alter Bass - automatically alternates between Bass I and Bass II when the same chord is taken in the Main zone.
Bass Mono - mutes Bass I note when the next Bass II is played.
Drop Bass
Drop Bass option allows to lower Bass I note by octave (will play it on the lowest string possible)
Drop Bass has three selections: Off, On, and Keyboard.
With Keyboard mode dropping the bass note depends on the position of the chord taken in the Main zone of the keyboard (in higher ranges Bass I note will be played on a normal string).
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Chord Map
RealEight can detect 30 chord types.
The following chart lists the available chord types and the degrees unnecessary for chord detection that you can omit while entering chords.
Chord type
Can be omitted
ma
V, III
6 - add9
-
sus4
-
sus2
-
6/9
V
maj7
V, V+III
maj9
V
maj7(b5)
-
maj7(#5)
- m V
m6 - m(add9)
-
m7 V m(maj7)
V
m7(b5)
III,
m9
V
m7(11)
VII, V
7
V, III+V
7sus4
-
7(b5)
-
7(#5)
-
9
V
9sus4
V
7(b9)
V
7(#9)
V
9(b5)
-
7(add13)
V
dim7
III, VII, III+VII
aug
-
All chords except ma6, min6, min7(11), ma6/9 are detected in all inversions and note combinations.
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C6
Cadd9
Csus4
Cmaj9
Cmaj7(b5)
Cmaj7(#5)
Cm
Cm6
Cm(add9)
Cm7
Cm(maj7)
Cm7(b5)
Cm9
C7
C7sus4
C7(b5)
C7(#5)
C9
C9sus4
C
Csus2
C6/9
Cmaj7
Cm7(11)
C7(b9)
C7(#9)
C9(b5)
C7(add13)
Cdim7
Caug
C7
Cm
Cm7
1-note chord detect system also included:
- obligatory
- can be omitted
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User Chords
Chord Editor implemented in version 3 allows to easily change any factory chord to any fingering you want, and save edited chords within User Chord banks for future use.
Being in any chordal mode click User Chords button to open Chord Editor window:
Chord Editor window
Chord Editor
Select chord you want to edit by pressing keys on external MIDI keyboard, or by selecting Root/Type/Bass/Position in chord select boxes
Editing chords
• Click on fret to change/insert a note
• Click Compare button to compare edited and initial chord
• Click Add/Apply button to add edited chord to current bank
• Click Delete button to remove the selected chord from current Bank.
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Note, that any User Chord lowest note will be used as Bass I Stroke for Pattern, Bass&Pick, and Bass&Chord layouts, regardless of Root note in the chord name.
Auditioning chords
a) Press button with speaker icon
Small button at the right with a dot symbol activates Auto audition mode (any loaded or selected chord will be played automatically)
b) Right-click fretboard and strum strings with a mouse.
Saving User Chord Bank
Press Save button, or rename bank and press Enter to save chord bank to Chord Library.
Delete Bank from Library by pressing ‘Delete icon’.
All user chord names will be displayed with ‘*’ symbol in the Info bar.
User Chords view
In the right part of Editor window you see the list of all user chords of all Banks you've created (except for current Bank selected in Bank view at the left), which allows you to compare edited chord fingerings from different Banks, as well as copy any user chord from one Bank to another by simply selecting chord in User Chord view list and pressing Add button.
Note, the Bank you select in User Chord Bank combo box will be used for all modes working with chords.
Exporting/Importing User Chord Banks
You can export/import single Chord Banks as well as the whole User Chord Library by clicking button with triangle icon and selecting the appropriate item in pop up menu:
If you want any Bank to load as default every time you run the plug-in, load the bank and check ‘Set as default’ item in popup menu.
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Velocity Switch FXs (Harmony, Chords, Bass&Chord, Bass&Pick)
There are a number of guitar effects automatically triggered by note velocity values employed in RealEight:
• Slow Strum on Higher Velo - in all chordal modes you can set a velocity value, after which the program will perform slow strum when playing a chord in the Main zone.
• Slow Strum on Lower Velo - in the same way you can set a velocity value below which the program will perform slow strum when playing a chord in the Main zone.
• Slide up - slides up to taken note(s).
• Slide down (Fall) - slides down from taken note(s).
You can set the following independent parameters for each effect:
• Velo (input velocity threshold).
• Time (effect duration).
• Steps (range in semi-tones).
MIDI Controllers pane (Chords, Bass&Chord, Bass&Pick)
Velo curve – select the output velocity curve for your performance by pressing one of 4 buttons
You can assign various guitar effects to standard MIDI controllers:
• P.B. (Pitch Bender) - Pitch, Slide, VeloAdd.
• M.W. (Modulation Wheel) - Pitch, Slide, Modulation.
• A.T. (After Touch) - Pitch, Modulation.
In the combo box to the right adjust the range of the effect (in semi-tones).
Modulation envelope is adjusted in Tune panel (Left Menu bar in the upper left corner of RealEight window).
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