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Realguitar 5
User Manual
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Musiclab Realguitar 5 User Manual

REALGUITAR 5
USER'S MANUAL
COPYRIGHT © 2000-2017 BY MUSICLAB, INC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Installing RealGuitar PC version ...................................................................................................................... 7
Installing RealGuitar Mac version ................................................................................................................... 7
Launching RealGuitar ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Managing Sound Bank .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Virtual Fretboard .......................................................................................................................................................... 9
Virtual Keyboard ......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Loading Guitar Patches.......................................................................................................................................... 11
Guitar Tunings ............................................................................................................................................................... 12
About 12(14)-string guitar ............................................................................................................................ 12
About Nashville tuning ................................................................................................................................ 13
Audio Outputs ..............................................................................................................................................................14
Performance Modes ............................................................................................................................................... 15
User Keyboard Layout ........................................................................................................................................... 15
Solo Mode ......................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Controls ...................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Velocity Switch Effects ................................................................................................................................ 18
Permanent Effects .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Pedal Switch Effects ...................................................................................................................................... 19
Modulation Switch Effects ...................................................................................................................... 20
Key Switch Effects .......................................................................................................................................... 20
MIDI Controller pane .................................................................................................................................... 22
Hold button in Solo mode ....................................................................................................................... 22
Multi Mode ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Performance Presets ..................................................................................................................................... 23
Layout Section .................................................................................................................................................... 24
Chord Section .................................................................................................................................................... 28
Velocity FX Section ......................................................................................................................................... 32
Key Switch FXs .................................................................................................................................................. 38
Main Controls ............................................................................................................................................................... 40
Left Menu bar ..................................................................................................................................................... 40
Right Menu bar .................................................................................................................................................. 43
RealGuitar Effect Table and Description ............................................................................................. 46
MIDI controller additional FXs ............................................................................................................... 51
Additional FXs in Chordal Modes ....................................................................................................... 51
Chord Map ..................................................................................................................................................................... 52
Song Mode ..................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Working with Patterns ................................................................................................................................ 55
Working with Chords ................................................................................................................................... 58
Time Line ................................................................................................................................................................ 62
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Controls .................................................................................................................................................................... 63
Settings Panel .................................................................................................................................................... 64
Keyboard Shortcuts ...................................................................................................................................... 65
Humanize........................................................................................................................................................................ 66
Sound ........................................................................................................................................................................ 66
Timing ....................................................................................................................................................................... 67
Velocity ..................................................................................................................................................................... 67
Pitch ............................................................................................................................................................................ 67
Master section .................................................................................................................................................... 67
Importing/Exporting Global Settings ..................................................................................................... 67
Loading Guitar Patches....................................................................................................................................... 69
Virtual Fretboard ....................................................................................................................................................... 70
Virtual Keyboard .......................................................................................................................................................... 71
RealGuitar Classic Global Modes .................................................................................................................. 71
MIDI Keyboard Global Mode ............................................................................................................................ 71
User Keyboard Layout ................................................................................................................................... 71
Performance Modes ...................................................................................................................................... 73
Solo Mode ............................................................................................................................................................... 73
Harmony Mode .................................................................................................................................................. 74
Chords Mode .......................................................................................................................................................75
Bass & Chord Mode ....................................................................................................................................... 76
Bass & Pick Mode ............................................................................................................................................ 78
Velocity Switch FXs ........................................................................................................................................ 79
MIDI Controllers pane ................................................................................................................................. 80
Silent mode ........................................................................................................................................................... 81
Multi Global Mode ................................................................................................................................................... 82
Main Controls ............................................................................................................................................................... 83
Left Menu bar ..................................................................................................................................................... 83
Right Menu bar ................................................................................................................................................. 85
Common ................................................................................................................................................................ 88
RealGuitar Effect Table and Description .................................................................................... 88
MIDI controller additional FXs ............................................................................................................. 88
Additional FXs found in Chordal modes .................................................................................... 89
Chord Map ..................................................................................................................................................................... 89
User Chords ................................................................................................................................................................... 89
Pattern Global Mode ............................................................................................................................................ 90
Using MusicLab Pattern Manager .................................................................................................... 90
Using Rhythm Patterns in a MIDI Track ...................................................................................... 95
Creating Custom Styles for Pattern Library .............................................................................. 96
RealGuitar Stroke Map ............................................................................................................................... 98
Song Global Mode ................................................................................................................................................... 98
Humanize........................................................................................................................................................................ 98
Joystick Global Mode ............................................................................................................................................ 99
Overview.................................................................................................................................................................. 99
Which guitar controller? ........................................................................................................................ 100
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Connecting Guitar Hero controller to RealGuitar ........................................................... 100
Guitar controller Layout ............................................................................................................................ 101
Joystick Performance Modes ............................................................................................................. 103
ColorTabs mode (manual chord changes) ............................................................................. 103
ColorTabs Mode Playing Techniques .......................................................................................... 104
SmartStrums mode (automatic chord changes) ............................................................. 109
SmartStrings mode (automatic chord changes) ............................................................... 110
Additional Techniques/Effects/Sounds ....................................................................................... 113
Joystick Global Mode Settings panel ............................................................................................ 116
Guitar Strokes and Effects available in Joystick mode .................................................. 117
Joystick Button Map ..................................................................................................................................... 119
MIDI Guitar Mode ..................................................................................................................................................... 121
Direct Global Mode ................................................................................................................................................ 121
Importing/Exporting Global Settings .................................................................................................... 122
Concept ........................................................................................................................................................................... 123
Chord Function ................................................................................................................................................ 123
Universal Chord Tab ..............................................................................................................................................124
Basic Universal Chord Tab ..................................................................................................................... 124
Practicing Chord Progressions ........................................................................................................... 125
Chord Progressions ..................................................................................................................................... 126
Full Universal Chord Tab .......................................................................................................................... 127
Editing Universal Chord Tab ......................................................................................................................... 129
MIDI CC Automation, value to parameter map .......................................................................... 136
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ABOUT THE PROGRAM

If you are serious about creating truly realistic sounding solo and accompaniment guitar stuff for your songs, our product called RealGuitar is just what you need. RealGuitar is a sample-based virtual instrument with an innovative approach to guitar sound modelling and guitar part performing on keyboard.
The true power of RealGuitar lies in brand new technologies incorporated in this innovative guitar performance tool:
• Multi-channel layering technology, incorporating a custom library of
specially recorded samples taken from every fret of all strings of a real guitar.
• 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 122 guitar frets using just 50 keys of a standard keyboard.
• 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.
• Guitar Rhythm Pattern technology providing huge MusicLab Guitar Pattern
Library for easily creating guitar accompaniment tracks. All you have to do is to find the appropriate rhythm pattern(s), 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.
• Song Mode turning RealGuitar into a powerful and easy-to-use song writing
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!
• Advanced Humanize section allowing to easily add realism to the
performance, both live and step-recorded in a MIDI track, or automatic.
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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WHAT’S NEW IN REALGUITAR 5

TWO INSTRUMENT COMBO PACK

• RealGuitar Classic – includes all of our original guitar models with loads of
new playability features.
• RealGuitar Steel String – features the debut of our new Steel String guitar
sample set with five patches and three tuning selections for each.

NEW STEEL STRING GUITAR SAMPLE SET

• New high quality 24-bit stereo samples.
• 6-string, 7-string, Baritone guitar tunings.
• 12-string Standard and Baritone guitars.
• 14-string Standard guitar.
• Nashville Tuning for Standard and Baritone guitars.
• Authentic, deep velocity response with controllable Buzz and Slap noises.
• Up to 30 different samples for repeated notes.
• Stereo, Mono, and Double output options.
• Stop Slap, Stop Strum sound FXs.
• Palm Mute sound with tightness control.

NEW MULTI PERFORMANCE MODE

• Combining various guitar techniques (strumming, soloing, string picking,
etc.) in a single performance layout.
• 25 new Key Switch FXs in chordal modes.
• Velocity controllable number of strings in strummed chords.
• Live control of solo and strum techniques.
• Live control of chord inversions/positions.
• Free voices leading in strummed chords.
• Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs in chords.
• Slider (Bottleneck) guitar emulation.
• Numerous performance options, effects, and their combinations.

NEW USABILITY FEATURES

• Advanced Velocity Curve control.
• Hi quality Reverb FX.
• Internal Loop in Song mode.
• Use of DAW MIDI track to edit and play Pattern track.
• Streamlined user interface for RealGuitar Steel String.

AND MORE…

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INSTALLING REALGUITAR

INSTALLING REALGUITAR PC VERSION

Double-click RealGuitar Installer file and follow the on-screen instructions.
In case your VST/VST3 plugins folder is not registered correctly RealGuitar installer will not automatically install RealGuitar DLLs in the correct folder. Therefore, to let your VST host ‘find’ RealGuitar you have to manually copy RealGuitar.dll, RealGuitarSteel.dll, RealGuitar.vst3, and RealGuitarSteel.vst3 files from RealGuitar installation folder to your VstPlugins/VST3 directory.
If your Windows is 64bit, please note of installation folders:
32bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\MusicLab\RealGuitar 5
64bit: C:\Program Files\MusicLab\RealGuitar 5

INSTALLING REALGUITAR MAC VERSION

Double-click RealGuitar Installer icon and follow the on-screen instructions.

LAUNCHING REALGUITAR

RealGuitar 5 installer will install two individual instruments: RealGuitar Steel String and RealGuitar Classic.
Launching RealGuitar as a VST/AU instrument:
1. Open your DAW (host application).
2. Create Software Instrument track.
3. Add RealGuitar Classic or RealGuitar Steel String to the track.
4. Open the RealGuitar window by double-clicking the RealGuitar button/icon.
Launching RealGuitar as a standalone version:
(PC) In Start Menu go to Programs/MusicLab/RealGuitar 5 folder and click on the RealGuitar Classic or RealGuitar Steel String icon.
(Mac) Run HD/Applications/RealGuitar Classic or RealGuitar Steel String.
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MANAGING SOUND BANK

Note, that the installer will create 44.1 kHz sample rate sound banks. In case your audio settings has other than 44.1 kHz sample rate, RealGuitar 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 RealGuitar Bank Manager, which will automatically create the needed sample rate sound bank.
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REALGUITAR STEEL STRING

VIRTUAL FRETBOARD

In RealGuitar 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 122 guitar frets using just 50 keys of a standard keyboard. This, along with the fact that we have sampled 19 frets of the first string and 16 frets of the others (2-7 strings) allows you to emulate a guitar performance with maximum sonic accuracy.
In the center of the RealGuitar 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.
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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 mode, 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 6th string).

VIRTUAL KEYBOARD

In the lower part of RealGuitar window you see a virtual keyboard that visualizes RealGuitar keyboard layout (Main and Repeat zones), indicates activated Key Switches in Solo mode, and shows all MIDI notes incoming to RealGuitar 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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LOADING GUITAR PATCHES

RealGuitar Steel String has five guitar patches:
• Steel String
• 12(14)-string A
• 12(14)-string B
• Nashville Strum A
• Nashville Strum B
Click the black screen combo box in the upper part of RealGuitar window to load the guitar patch.
Actually, each guitar patch differs in string thickness, order, and tune combination.
Steel String - standard.
12(14)-string A - 1st and 2nd string pairs tuned to unison; 3rd through 6th (7th) string pairs tuned in octaves.
12(14)-string B - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string pairs tuned to unison; 4th through 6th (7th) string pairs tuned in octaves.
Nashville Strum A - 6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd strings tuned octave higher than standard.
Nashville Strum B - 6th, 5th, and 4th strings tuned octave higher than standard.
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GUITAR TUNINGS

RealGuitar Steel String has three tuning selections: Standard, 7-string, and Baritone, available by clicking the appropriate Tuning button.
STD - 6-string standard tuning: E-A-D-G-B-e, with 6th string expandable to C (Drop C).
7-STR - 7-string standard tuning: B-E-A-D-G-b-e, with 7th string lowered to A (Drop A).
BARI - 6-string Baritone guitar tuning: B-E-A-D-G-b, with 6th string lowered to A (Drop A). The 1st string is disabled on Virtual Fretboard.
Loading guitar patches and selecting this or that tuning for any of them allow you to gain up to eight differently sounding guitars at a mouse click.

ABOUT 12(14)-STRING GUITAR

The twelve-string guitar has twelve strings in six courses (pairs). The courses are most often tuned E-A-D-G-B-e similarly to a six-string guitar. The lowest three courses (E-A-D) are normally tuned at octaves, while the upper two courses (B-E) are tuned to unison. The G course is either unison or at octaves.
The fourteen-string guitar has 7 strings in seven courses tuned B-E-A-D-G-B-e. The lowest four courses (B-E-A-D) are normally tuned at octaves, while the upper the upper two courses (B-Ee) are tuned to unison. The G course is either unison or at octaves.
RealGuitar Steel String 12(14)-string guitar patches present either type of tuning, that is indicated with A or B symbols in the patch name.
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12(14)-STRING A AND B TUNING
A B
1 (e)
unison
unison
2 (B)
unison
unison
3 (G)
octave
unison
4 (D)
octave
octave
5 (A)
octave
octave
6 (E)
octave
octave
7 (B)
octave
octave
14-string patch (with 7 (B) string course added) is available only with 7-string tuning patch combination. 1 (e) string course is disabled with Baritone tuning patch combination.

ABOUT NASHVILLE TUNING

Guitarists and record producers of all stripes have used Nashville tuning for years. This tuning can transform even the most familiar chord sequence into something fresh and inspirational. A lot of classic rockers injected life into their songs with Nashville tuning, including The Rolling Stones, Alex Lifeson of Rush, Richard Williams of Kansas, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Ry Cooder, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Joe Satriani. And we haven’t even mention countless country stars and session guitarists.
Learn more: https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Exploring_Nashville_Tuning,
http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Videos/DAddario_Nashville_Tuning. pdf
Nashville or high strung tuning refers to the practice of replacing the wound E, A, D and G strings on a six-string guitar with lighter gauge strings to allow tuning an octave higher than standard, while the highest two, the B and high E are left unchanged. The G string is either unchanged or octave higher.
RealGuitar Steel String Nashville Strum patches present either type of tuning, that is indicated with A or B symbols in the patch name.
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NASHVILLE STRUM A AND B TUNING
A
B
1 (e)
standard
standard
2 (B)
standard
standard
3 (G)
octave up
standard
4 (D)
octave up
octave up
5 (A)
octave up
octave up
6 (E)
octave up
octave up
7 (B)
octave up
octave up
7 (B) string is available only with 7-string tuning patch combination. 1 (e) string is disabled with Baritone tuning patch combination.
Note, that Nashville Strum patches provide Nashville tuning for Chord Strums only, while Solo, Melody, Bass, and String picking setups will use standard tuning.

AUDIO OUTPUTS

RealGuitar Steel String samples were recorded stereo, which gave us the possibility to implement four audio output selections: Stereo, Mono 1, Mono 2, and Double.
Stereo - initial stereo sound.
Mono 1 - left audio channel only.
Mono 2 - right audio channel only.
Double - double channel output; adjust the doubling width in Timing panel > Doubling Width numeric box.
Patch/Audio output combination table:
OUTPUT
PATCH
Steel String
12(14)-String
Stereo Mono 1 Mono 2 Double
Nashville Strum
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PERFORMANCE MODES

Repeat zone
Main zone
RealGuitar Steel String features SOLO and MULTI 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. Multi - a universal mode allowing you to perform various guitar
accompaniment techniques that use chords, such as Strumming, Bass and Strum, Bass and String picking, and much more.
The performance modes are selected by clicking the respective tab:

USER KEYBOARD LAYOUT

When connected to RealGuitar MIDI input the external keyboard is divided into 3 zones: Main zone (E1 - B4), left (C0 - D#1) and right (C5 – C7) Repeat zones.
In Solo mode Main zone extends to C1-B4 for 6-string standard tuning, and to A0­B4 for 7-string and Baritone tuning.
Main zone serves for playing melodic parts (Solo mode) and entering chords (Multi mode).
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
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strum, picking on your keyboard making them sound naturally as if they are played on a real guitar.
Repeat Key zone functions:
• In Solo and Multi 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 Multi mode/Bass setup you can trigger Bass I (Root) and Bass II
(alternative bass) notes as well as upper string strums.
• In Multi mode/Strings setup Repeat keys trigger individual voices (strings) of
a chord taken in the Main zone.
• In Solo and Multi modes Repeat keys, when activated in Key Switch panel,
can also be used as Key Switches to switch on various FXs.
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SOLO MODE

Muted sound
Full sound
Repeat keys
Melody zone
Muted sound
Full sound
C1
Click Solo tab to switch on the Solo performance mode.
Solo mode window
In this mode the Main zone (E1 – B4) of the keyboard works as a normal polyphonic keyboard, while both Repeat Key zones (left (C0 - D#1) and right (C5 – C7)) 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

RealGuitar Solo mode provides you with multiple permanent and switchable controls allowing you to easily add various specific guitar articulations and effects to your performance.
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VELOCITY SWITCH EFFECTS

On the left lower part of Solo window 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:
• 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.
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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 (E1, D1 or C1) 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 Drop D and Drop C tuning in Solo mode by selecting the D1 or C1 as the lower note for the 6th string.

PEDAL SWITCH EFFECTS

You can trigger various RealGuitar 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)
• FX Enable LED (On/Off)
• FX Selection pull-down menu
• Toggle LED (On/Off)
• Sustain LED (On/Off)
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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 Hammer­On 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 RealGuitar 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.

KEY SWITCH EFFECTS

RealGuitar 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 RealGuitar Key Switch panel.
To open Key Switch panel click on Key Switches button on the left lower part of Solo mode window:
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Key Switch panel
You see two columns of FX boxes corresponding to Left and Right Repeat Zone keys (C0-D#1 for the Left zone, C5-E6 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 RealGuitar 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).
‘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.
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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 RealGuitar and added to Preset list.
To delete preset simply click on Delete icon at the right.

MIDI CONTROLLER PANE

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 semi-tones). Modulation envelope is adjusted in Tune panel (Left Menu bar in the upper left corner of RealGuitar window).

HOLD BUTTON IN SOLO MODE

In Solo mode the Hold button works differently from Multi mode. 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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MULTI MODE

Multi mode is a universal mode allowing you to easily assign various guitar techniques you want to produce on the keys of Main and Repeat keyboard zones, such as strumming, muting, and individual string picking. You can also create custom performance modes by combining different techniques in a single set and adding many specific guitar effects, articulations, and additional sounds to the performance.
Click Multi tab to open Multi mode window.

PERFORMANCE PRESETS

On the lower central part of Multi mode window you see the Preset combo box
The most popular guitar accompaniment techniques that use chords are Strumming, Bass and Strum, and Picking ones. You can find the appropriate presets in Multi mode Preset combo box.
Chords - refer to Chords Mode, page 75 for details.
Bass’n’Chord - refer to Bass&Chord Mode, page 76 for details.
Bass’n’Pick - refer to Bass&Pick Mode, page 78 for details.
Preset combo box also allows you to save all settings made in Multi mode window and create your custom performance presets for future use.
Simply click the combo box, type in the name, and press Enter.
Upper part of Multi mode window presents four parameter sections: Velocity FX, Layout, Chord, and Controllers.
Most important is Layout section, including main performance setups and controls.
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LAYOUT SECTION

Layout section includes four combo boxes titled Strum, Melody, Strings, and Black.
Note, selecting an item in any section will give you access to its additional options at the right.
STRUM
Strum combo box features Chord, Bass, and Silent selections.
CHORD
With Chord setup, RealGuitar 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, and plays it using a down strum technique.
Chord options:
• Upper/Lower String - allow disabling upper and/or lower strings in played
chords.
• Chord/Bass - switches on the X/Y chord detect mode letting you construct
major/minor triad chords with any desirable note in the Bass.
BASS
With Bass setup, RealGuitar detects the chord taken in the Main zone of the keyboard, builds its guitar version, and plays its Root note (Bass I) only.
Bass options:
• Top Strum Voices - specifies number of strings in chords triggered by
Repeat zone keys.
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• Chord/Bass - switches on X/Y chord detect mode letting you construct
major/minor triad chords with any desirable note in the Bass.
• Bass Mono - mutes Bass I note when next Bass II is played.
• Alter Bass - automatically alternates between Bass I and Bass II when same
chord is played in the Main zone.
• Drop Bass - lowers Bass I (Root) note by octave to be played on the lowest
string possible for current chord position.
Drop Bass option has four selections - Off, On, Kbd, and Root.
With Drop Bass (Kbd) and Drop Bass (Root) options dropping Bass I note depends on the position of the chord notes played in Main zone or its Root note pitch:
o Drop Bass (Kbd) - Drop Bass will be applied if the majority of chord notes
are lower in pitch than E3.
o Drop Bass (Root) - Drop Bass will be applied if the Root note of the chord is
lower in pitch that E note.
SILENT
With Silent setup, the keys in the Main zone do not make any sound - they just define the chords; all strumming and picking is done with keys in the Repeat zone. You can use the option any time you want to control chord definition and strumming/picking independently.
MELODY
Melody setup allows you to play solo licks or bass lines in Main zone without switching from Chord mode or jumping to different position on keyboard, and even move individual voices within the played chord.
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Melody combo box features four selections: Off, Melody, Voice Leading, and Melody + Voice Leading.
Melody
When in Chord setup, you can easily alternate between chord strums and melody licks in Main zone by changing the velocity of the played notes. Higher velocity will produce chord strums, while lower velocity will produce individual notes (i.e. real pitches you press on the keyboard). The velocity is completely user definable.
Melody options:
• Velo – input velocity threshold.
• Velo+ - add velocity value to melody notes if they are too soft.
• Octave - transpose Melody by octave.
• Hammer-On - On/Off Hammer-On effect when playing Melody.
Voice Leading
With this setup, you can change individual voices of the chord after it is played. Release any chord note while holding any other and then press another note with lower velocity. This will produce new note over the sustaining chord.
Voice Leading options:
• Velo - velocity threshold.
• Velo+ - add velocity value to new voice notes if they are too soft.
• Bass Only - will trigger the lowest notes possible.
Melody + Voice Leading
This setup is a combination of Melody and Voice Leading setups.
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STRINGS
Strings setup lets you assign String keys of various ranges to Left or Right Repeat zones.
Strings combo box includes four selections: Off, Right Hand (C-C’), Right Hand (C­A#), Left Hand (C-A#), and Left Hand (E-A):
The selected key range will be greyed out on the virtual keyboard in the appropriate Repeat zone.
Key to string layouts:
• Right Hand (C-C’) - C, D, E, F, G, A keys trigger Bass I, Bass II, 4th, 3rd, 2nd
strings, while A, A#, B and C’ trigger the 1st string.
• Right Hand (C-A#) - C, D, E, F, G, A keys trigger Bass I, Bass II, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st
strings, while B and C’ trigger Up Strum and Down Strum.
• Left Hand (C-A#) - C, D, E, F, G, A keys trigger Bass I, Bass II, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st
strings.
BLACK
Black setup allows you to assign individual sounds and effects on black keys of the string group. Black combo box features six selections: Unison, Chromatic, Harmonics, Strum, Mute, and ‘Do Hi velo FX’:
• Unison - doubles some strings for making single-string tremolo
performance easy.
• Chromatic - sets the black string keys to play notes one semi-tone down
from their respective string voices.
• Harmonics - black keys trigger Harmonics for current chord notes.
• Strum - C#, D#, and A# trigger Full Strum chords, while F# and G# trigger
Muted Strums.
• Mute - all black keys trigger Muted Strums.
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• ‘Do Hi velo FX’ - black keys produce velocity free Hammer-On or Slider
effect selected in Hi velo combo box of Velocity FX section.

CHORD SECTION

Chord section allows you to assign various velocity controlled strumming techniques, change chord position/inversion, and gain access to User Chord Editor window and Options panel.
DYN
Clicking Dyn (Dynamics) combo box gives you four selections: Full Strum, Velo Strum 1, Velo Strum 2, and Velo Strum 3.
FULL STRUM
Full Strum setup works similar strumming layout for both Main and Repeat zones used in Chords performance mode of the previous RealGuitar versions.
VELO STRUM
Velo Strum 1, 2, and 3 FXs allow triggering fewer strings in a strummed chord controlled by velocity of pressed keys (lower velocities will proportionally omit one by one the upper strings in a chord, up to the single Bass I note produced with lowest velocity value).
Velo Strum options:
• Velo - low and high velocity threshold numeric boxes.
• Voices - minimum number of voices (strings) in the chord played with lower
velocity threshold value.
Repeat keys work differently with Velo Strum 1, 2 and 3:
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• Velo Strum 1 - Repeat keys are not affected and work similar Repeat keys
with Full Strum.
• Velo Strum 2 - Repeat keys follow velocity options and work similar Main
zone keys.
• Velo Strum 3 - Repeat keys are not affected, but simply reproduce the
number of strings of the last chord played in Main zone.
CHORD POSITION CONTROL
Chord position buttons - select the melodic position range for the built chords.
I - highest note is between E3 and G#3
II - highest note is between G3 and B3
III - highest note is between A#3 and D4
IV - highest note is between C#4 and F4
Kbd - 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).
Chord Position/Inversion can be as well changed (up&down) via Key Switches during “live” performance.
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USER CHORDS
Click User Chords button to open Chord Editor window.
Chord Editor allows to easily change any factory chord to any fingering you want, and save edited chords within User Chord banks for future use.
Chord Editor window
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.
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)
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