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Realstrat 5
User Manual
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Musiclab Realstrat 5 User Manual

REALSTRAT 5
USER'S MANUAL
COPYRIGHT © 2000-2018 BY MUSICLAB, INC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Two instrument Combo Pack ........................................................................................................................... 7
New RealStrat Elite guitar sample set ............................................................................................. 7
New Multi Performance mode ............................................................................................................... 7
New Usability Features ................................................................................................................................... 7
And more… ................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Installing RealStrat PC version ......................................................................................................................... 8
Installing RealStrat Mac version ..................................................................................................................... 8
Launching RealStrat ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Managing Sound Bank .......................................................................................................................................... 9
Virtual Fretboard ........................................................................................................................................................ 10
Virtual Keyboard ........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Loading Guitar Patches......................................................................................................................................... 12
About 12-string guitar .................................................................................................................................... 13
12-string A and B tuning ............................................................................................................................. 13
Guitar Tunings ............................................................................................................................................................... 13
Pickup selections ........................................................................................................................................................ 13
Performance Modes ................................................................................................................................................14
User Keyboard Layout ............................................................................................................................................14
Solo Mode ........................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Controls ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Velocity Switch Effects ................................................................................................................................. 17
Permanent Effects ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Pedal Switch Effects ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Modulation Switch Effects ....................................................................................................................... 19
Key Switch Effects ........................................................................................................................................... 19
MIDI Controller pane ..................................................................................................................................... 21
Hold button in Solo mode ........................................................................................................................ 21
MIDI Guitar mode .....................................................................................................................................................22
Multi Mode ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Performance Presets ..................................................................................................................................... 23
Layout Section .................................................................................................................................................... 24
Chord Section .................................................................................................................................................... 28
Velocity FX Section ......................................................................................................................................... 32
Key Switch FX ..................................................................................................................................................... 38
Main Controls ............................................................................................................................................................... 40
Left Menu bar ..................................................................................................................................................... 40
Right Menu bar .................................................................................................................................................. 42
Common .......................................................................................................................................................................... 44
RealStrat Effect Table and Description ................................................................................................ 46
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MIDI controller additional FX ................................................................................................................. 51
Additional FX found in Chordal Modes ......................................................................................... 51
Chord Map ..................................................................................................................................................................... 53
Song Mode ..................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Working with Patterns ................................................................................................................................ 56
Working with Chords ................................................................................................................................... 59
Time Line ................................................................................................................................................................ 63
Controls .................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Settings Panel .................................................................................................................................................... 65
Keyboard Shortcuts ...................................................................................................................................... 66
Humanize........................................................................................................................................................................ 67
Sound ........................................................................................................................................................................ 67
Timing ....................................................................................................................................................................... 68
Velocity ..................................................................................................................................................................... 68
Pitch ............................................................................................................................................................................ 68
Master section .................................................................................................................................................... 68
Importing/Exporting Global Settings ..................................................................................................... 69
Guitar Patches ............................................................................................................................................................. 70
Virtual Fretboard ......................................................................................................................................................... 71
Virtual Keyboard ......................................................................................................................................................... 72
RealStrat Standard Global Modes .............................................................................................................. 72
MIDI Keyboard Global Mode ........................................................................................................................... 72
User Keyboard Layout .................................................................................................................................. 72
Performance Modes ...................................................................................................................................... 74
Solo Mode ............................................................................................................................................................... 74
Harmony Mode .................................................................................................................................................. 74
Chords Mode ...................................................................................................................................................... 76
Bass & Chord Mode ........................................................................................................................................ 77
Bass & Pick Mode ............................................................................................................................................ 79
Velocity Switch FX ........................................................................................................................................... 81
MIDI Controllers pane .................................................................................................................................. 81
Silent mode .......................................................................................................................................................... 82
Multi Global Mode ................................................................................................................................................... 83
Main Controls ............................................................................................................................................................... 84
Left Menu bar ..................................................................................................................................................... 84
Right Menu bar ................................................................................................................................................. 86
Common ................................................................................................................................................................ 89
RealStrat Effect Table and Description ....................................................................................... 89
Chord Map ..................................................................................................................................................................... 89
User Chords ................................................................................................................................................................... 89
Pattern Global Mode ............................................................................................................................................. 89
Using MusicLab Pattern Manager .................................................................................................... 89
Using Rhythm Patterns in a MIDI Track ...................................................................................... 95
Creating Custom Styles for Pattern Library .............................................................................. 96
RealStrat Stroke Map................................................................................................................................... 98
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Song Global Mode ................................................................................................................................................... 98
Humanize........................................................................................................................................................................ 98
Joystick Global Mode ............................................................................................................................................ 99
Overview.................................................................................................................................................................. 99
Which guitar controller? ........................................................................................................................ 100
Connecting Guitar Hero controller to RealStrat ............................................................... 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

The Fender Stratocaster® is and has been the most popular electric guitar since its creation in 1954.
Its unique sound is the favorite of many of the world’s finest guitarists and has been featured on countless historic recordings in all genres of music.
RealStrat virtual instrument faithfully reproduces the Stratocaster sound from both the sonic and playability perspectives.
RealStrat is a sample-based virtual instrument with an innovative approach to guitar sound modelling and guitar part performing on keyboard.
RealStrat provides incredible playability based on the unique performance modes and 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.
RealStrat covers practically all sounds, articulations, and techniques a professional guitarist can produce on his Strat, including mute, FX mute, harmonics, pinch harmonics, unison bend, strumming, picking, chord choking, scraping, etc...
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High quality dry samples recorded directly from Stratocaster pick-ups let you easily create any desired guitar sound using your favorite amplifier simulator.
The true power of RealStrat 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 6 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 140 guitar frets using just 46 keys of a standard keyboard!
• Ready-to-use Double Tracking configuration with a single MIDI input.
• 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.
• Advanced Humanize section allowing to easily add realism to the
performance, both live and step-recorded in a MIDI track, or automatic.
• 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.
• Song Mode turning RealStrat 5 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!
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 REALSTRAT 5

TWO INSTRUMENT COMBO PACK

• RealStrat Standard – our original RealStrat model with loads of new playability features.
• RealStrat Elite – features the debut of our new sample set recorded from each of 3 Stratocaster pickups, having four patches and two tuning selections for each.

NEW REALSTRAT ELITE GUITAR SAMPLE SET

• High quality 24-bit samples, recorded directly from Neck, Middle, and Bridge pickups individually.
• 7 realtime pickup selections (Key Switch FX) giving you the exiting tonal options.
• Standard and Baritone guitar tunings.
• 12-string guitars (Standard and Baritone tuning).
• Stop Slap sound effect added.
• Pinch Harmonics now produce 2-octave up initial pitches.

NEW MULTI PERFORMANCE MODE

• Combining various guitar techniques (strumming, soloing, string picking, etc.) in a single performance layout.
• 25 new Key Switch FX 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 technique emulation.
• Numerous performance options, effects, and their combinations.

NEW USABILITY FEATURES

• Advanced Velocity Curve control.
• Internal Loop in Song mode.
• Use of DAW MIDI track to edit and play Pattern track of Song mode.
• Streamlined user interface for RealStrat Elite.

AND MORE…

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INSTALLING REALSTRAT

INSTALLING REALSTRAT PC VERSION

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

INSTALLING REALSTRAT MAC VERSION

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

LAUNCHING REALSTRAT

RealStrat 5 installer will install two individual instruments: RealStrat Elite and RealStrat Standard.
Launching RealStrat as a VST/AU instrument:
1. Open your DAW (host application).
2. Create Software Instrument track.
3. Add RealStrat Standard or RealStrat Elite to the track.
4. Open the RealStrat window by double-clicking the RealStrat button/icon.
Launching RealStrat as a standalone version:
(PC) In Start Menu go to Programs/MusicLab/RealStrat 5 folder and click on the RealStrat Standard or RealStrat Elite icon.
(Mac) Run HD/Applications/RealStrat Standard or RealStrat Elite.
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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 have other than 44.1 kHz sample rate, RealStrat 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 RealStrat 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 RealStrat 5->RealStrat Bank Manager, or alternatively double-click the StgMan.exe icon found in RealStrat installation folder (by default: C:\Program Files\MusicLab\RealStrat 5). Mac: Run RealStrat standalone version and select Sound Bank Manager in RealStrat Application menu.
PC/Mac: Click MusicLab logo and select Open Bank Manager in popup 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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REALSTRAT ELITE

VIRTUAL FRETBOARD

In RealStrat 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 140 guitar frets using just 46 keys of a standard keyboard. This, along with the fact that we have sampled 22 frets of all six strings for all of our RealStrat sounds, allows you to emulate a guitar performance with maximum sonic accuracy.
In the centre of the RealStrat 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:
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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 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 RealStrat window you see a virtual keyboard that visualizes RealStrat keyboard layout (Main and Repeat zones), indicates activated Key Switches in Solo mode, and shows all MIDI notes incoming to RealStrat 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 FX.
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LOADING GUITAR PATCHES

RealStrat 5 installs three versions of RealStrat Elite soft instrument: RealStrat Elite, RealStrat Elite (2 mono), RealStrat Elite (2 stereo). RealStrat Elite is normal plugin with single stereo output, RealStrat Elite (2 mono) provides 2 mono outputs in your DAW, while RealStrat Elite (2 stereo) provides 2 stereo outputs respectively.
RealStrat Elite has four guitar patches:
• Strat Elite
• Strat Elite Double-track
• Strat 12-string A
• Strat 12-string B
Click the black screen combo box in the upper part of RealStrat Elite window to load the guitar patch.
On launching RealStrat Elite will automatically load Strat Elite guitar patch, which is mono guitar sample set and can be used in any version of RealStrat Elite plugin.
Strat Elite Double-track - when loaded in RealStrat single output plugin or in the standalone version is actually a stereo guitar patch, panned hard left and hard right.
If you want to emulate double-tracking technique you must run RealStrat Elite (2 mono) or RealStrat Elite (2 stereo) plugin in your DAW, and load Strat Elite Double-track patch into it. In the DAW’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 single MIDI track assigned to RealStrat Elite, and enjoy a wide, double-tracked sound!
Please refer to Appendix D. Double-Tracking for more details.
Strat 12-string A - 1st and 2nd string pairs tuned to unison; 3rd through 6th string pairs tuned in octaves.
Strat 12-string B - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string pairs tuned to unison; 4th through 6th string pairs tuned in octaves.
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ABOUT 12-STRING GUITAR

1 (e)
unison
unison
2 (B)
unison
unison
3 (G)
octave
unison
4 (D)
octave
octave
5 (A)
octave
octave
6 (E)
octave
octave
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.
Strat 12-string guitar patches present either type of tuning, that is indicated with A or B symbols in the patch name.

12-STRING A AND B TUNING

GUITAR TUNINGS

RealStrat Elite has two tuning selections: Standard 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).
BARI - 6-string Baritone guitar tuning: B-E-A-D-G-b.
Baritone tuning will change Main zone range to B0 - A4.
Standard and Baritone tunings are available with all four RealStrat Elite guitar patches, so 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.

PICKUP SELECTIONS

RealStrat Elite samples were recorded directly from each of three pickups of Stratocaster guitar, providing you seven tonal selections by simply switching between individual pickups and their combinations: Neck alone, Middle alone, Bridge alone, Neck + Middle, Middle + Bridge, Neck + Bridge, and Neck + Middle + Bridge.
To switch between pickups simply click the appropriate pickup button.
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Repeat zones
Main zone
C1
To select more than one pickup use CTRL+Click, or ALT+Click, or click “Pickups…” to open Pickup combinations list, allowing you to choose any of seven possible combinations with a mouse click.
Also, you can assign Pickup FX on any key/note you want in Key Switches panel, and use it for
selecting the needed pickup or pickup combination from MIDI keyboard or MIDI track.

PERFORMANCE MODES

RealStrat Elite 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 RealStrat MIDI input the external keyboard is divided into 3 zones: Main zone (E1 – D5), left (C0 - D#1) and right (D#5 – C7) Repeat zones.
In Multi mode Main zone range converges to E1-B4.
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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 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 FX.
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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 – D5) of the keyboard works as a normal polyphonic keyboard, while both Repeat Key zones (left (C0 - D#1) and right (D#5 – 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

RealStrat 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 FX 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 colour 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 RealStrat 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 FX 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 RealStrat 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

RealStrat numerous guitar Effects can be triggered in Solo mode using the advanced Key Switch system allowing to assign various FX on Repeat Zone keys as well as easily create and use custom presets in RealStrat 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, D#5-G6 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 colour to a light greenish-blue to indicate that FX is turned on.
Note, that activating FX Enable LED of any key switch will also be displayed on the RealStrat virtual keyboard. Moreover, triggering FX will also change colour 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 click Save icon at the right. Preset will be saved within RealStrat 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, Slide, Pitch, VeloAdd, MonoBend, Sustainer (triggers Sustainer FX simultaneously with pitch shifting).
• P.B. Down (Pitch Bender, lower combo box) - ‘same as Up’, Off, Slide, Pitch, VeloAdd, MonoBend, Sustainer (triggers Sustainer FX simultaneously with pitch shifting).
• M.W. (Modulation Wheel) – Off, Slide, Pitch, Modulation, MonoBend.
• A.T. (After Touch) – Off, 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 RealStrat 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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MIDI GUITAR MODE

If you prefer to use normal guitar via MIDI interface instead of MIDI keyboard you can switch to MIDI Guitar mode by activating Guitar button in Solo performance mode.
MIDI Guitar mode has multi-channel MIDI input: 1-6 MIDI channels for 1-6 guitar strings accordingly, with each string/channel having independent pitch bend control, though Modulation, Aftertouch MIDI controllers, and all other FX are common for all strings.
MIDI Guitar mode allows you to step record the guitar part with a pencil tool in your DAW on individual track/MIDI channel for each string. Note, that notes in a track going out of the appropriate string range will be played on the nearest string.
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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 76 for details.
Bass’n’Chord - refer to Bass&Chord Mode, page 77 for details.
Bass’n’Pick - refer to Bass&Pick Mode, page 79 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, RealStrat 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, RealStrat 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:
• Drop Bass (Kbd) - Drop Bass will be applied if the majority of chord notes are lower in pitch than E3.
• Drop Bass (Root) - Drop Bass will be applied if the Root note of the chord is lower in pitch than 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 RealStrat versions.
VELO STRUM
Velo Strum 1, 2, and 3 FX 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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