Arpeggiator MIDI Plug-In Tutorial Handout PDF

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Summary

This Document is a handy Tutorial Handout which explains the features of the Arpeggiator MIDI Plug-In, found in Logic Pro X.
The Document was prepared for a Level 4 Sound for Moving Image Lecture by Unit Coordinator Dr. Andrew Dolphin and presented during Term 1 of the Academic Year of 2017....

Description

Arpeggiator MIDI plug-in Arpeggiator overview The Arpeggiator MIDI plug-in generates musically interesting arpeggios based on incoming MIDI notes. It provides split and remote features that allow you to control nearly all Arpeggiator functions without taking your hands off the keyboard, making it a powerful live performance tool. An arpeggio is a succession of notes in a chord. Rather than all notes being played at one time, they are played one after the other in a pattern: up, down, random, and so on. The Arpeggiator plug-in provides a number of preset patterns, inclusive of switchable variations and inversions. Inversions change the root note of the chord from the lowest note, resulting in a different start note in arpeggiated patterns. These features let you quickly switch between patterns and feels when performing live, or when creating new projects in the studio. Control parameters

Note order parameters

Click here to access Advanced parameters.

The Arpeggiator MIDI plug-in is divided into three areas. •

Control parameters: This area contains the Play and Latch controls. See Arpeggiator control parameters.

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Note order parameters: The note order parameters determine the arpeggio type and include four variations or inversions, the arpeggio octave range, and the arpeggio speed. See Arpeggiator note order parameters overview.

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Advanced parameters: The advanced Arpeggiator controls are divided into four tabs. Click the Pattern, Options, Keyboard, or Controller tab to open each parameter group. See Arpeggiator pattern parameters overview, Arpeggiator options parameters, Arpeggiator keyboard parameters, and Assign Arpeggiator controller parameters.

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Arpeggiator control parameters The control parameters start and stop the Arpeggiator and determine the latching behavior. You can also capture a live arpeggio as a MIDI region.

Control parameters Play button: Click to start or stop arpeggiated playback of note input from a MIDI keyboard or a MIDI region. The Play button is lit when in play mode. When the Arpeggiator plug-in is stopped, incoming MIDI notes are passed through, and the settings of the split and remote keyboard parameters are retained. See Arpeggiator keyboard parameters.

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When Logic Pro is in play mode: The arpeggio starts playing whenever the Arpeggiator Play button is on, including when the plug-in is first inserted. Arpeggio playback is linked to the Logic song position.

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When Logic Pro is stopped: Arpeggio playback stops. Incoming MIDI notes are passed through, and keyboard split and remote settings are retained.

Note: You can click the Arpeggiator Play button while Logic Pro is stopped to begin arpeggio playback from the first step in the arpeggio. •

Capture live performance button: Click the button, then drag the playing arpeggio to any software instrument track. The currently playing arpeggio pattern is placed as a MIDI region at the target position.

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Latch button: Click to turn Latch mode on or off. This enables an arpeggio to run without the need for you to hold down keys. Latch mode behavior is determined with the Latch mode pop-up menu.

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Latch mode pop-up menu: Choose a Latch mode: •

Reset: The first key played clears the currently latched notes.

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Transpose: Play a single key to transpose the arpeggio relative to the note value of the pressed key and the lowest arpeggiated note.

Note: Pressing more than one key simultaneously clears currently latched notes and starts a new arpeggio.

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Gated Transpose: This option is the same as Transpose Latch mode with the difference that the arpeggio only plays while a key is pressed. As soon as the key is released, the arpeggio is muted.

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Add: Play keys—one by one, or simultaneously as a chord—to add them to the latched arpeggio. You can play the same key multiple times and the note repeats the number of times it is struck.

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Add Temporarily: This option is the same as Add Latch mode except that played notes are added to the latched arpeggio only while held. When a temporarily added key is released, it is removed from the arpeggio.

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Through: All incoming MIDI notes are passed through the Arpeggiator plug-in, enabling you to play along with a latched arpeggio.

Delete Last button: Click to delete the last event—a note, rest, or tie—that was added to the arpeggio. Note: Each event is allocated a unique position identification number and the “last” event has the highest position identification number.

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Clear button: Click to remove all notes from the Arpeggiator plug-in latch memory. The arpeggio stops playing and all position identification numbers are reset to zero, enabling you to create a new arpeggio without turning off Latch mode, which can be useful in a live situation when preparing for a chord change.

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Silent Capture checkbox (extended parameter): Click the disclosure triangle at the lower left to display the extended parameters. Select the Silent Capture checkbox to capture an arpeggio step by step without being disturbed by the immediate response of the running arpeggiator. •

When enabled, the arpeggiator is stopped and Latch/Add mode is engaged.

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When disabled, Play is re-engaged (if previously active) and Latch mode switches to Transpose.

Arpeggiator note order parameters Arpeggiator note order parameters overview The note order parameters provide control of a pre-programmed order of notes that are played at a preset playback rate. Once all notes are played, the arpeggio cycles from the start. When you play a single key, it is repeated. When you play multiple keys, the held notes are played one after the other. As you play additional notes, these are seamlessly added to the arpeggio. When you release notes, they are removed from the arpeggio. The arpeggio stops when you release all played keys (unless Latch mode is turned on in the Arpeggiator control parameters). The Arpeggiator plug-in automatically assigns position identification numbers to each note in the order they are played. These position identification numbers associate an event, such as a note, rest, or a tie, with a particular step. This lets you switch between note order presets while retaining a rest on the third step, for example.

Note order parameters All note order parameters can be changed while an arpeggio is playing. Changes are immediate and are seamlessly applied to the running arpeggio. •

Rate knob and field: Rotate to set the arpeggiator rate. Choose from: 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 (including triplet and dotted notes), and 1/32. You can also click the field to choose a value from a pop-up menu. The LED indicates the rate and briefly changes color at the start of each new cycle.

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Direction buttons: Click a button to set the arpeggio direction. •

Up: The arpeggio is played from the lowest note to the highest note.

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Down: The arpeggio is played from the highest note to the lowest note.

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Up/Down: The arpeggio plays up and down, from the lowest note; the highest and lowest notes repeat.

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Outside-in: The arpeggio plays the highest then the lowest notes, then the second highest and second lowest, the third highest and third lowest, and so on.

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Random: Arpeggiated notes play in a random order.

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As played: All notes play in the order they were triggered.

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Lock button: Works in conjunction with the As played button. When you first click the As played button, an open lock symbol is shown. Click the open lock symbol once you have triggered an arpeggio to lock the current note order, indicated by a closed lock. This note order and feel is retained for any newly triggered arpeggios, but with new notes replacing the original notes. Click the lock symbol again to clear the locked note order and to revert to the standard “as played” behavior. The lock state and note order can be saved with a setting.

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Variation switch: Move to one of the four positions to determine the type of variation. See Arpeggiator note order variations for details.

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Oct Range/Inversions button: Click to switch between two modes: Octave Range or Inversions. The four-position Oct Range/Inversion switch below the buttons is used to determine the octave range or the chord inversion pattern.

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Oct Range/Inversion switch: Move to one of the four positions to determine the octave range or the chord inversion pattern. See Arpeggiator note order inversions for details on the four switch position behaviors in Inversions mode. In Octave Range mode: •

Position 1: The arpeggio repeats without transposition.

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Position 2: The lowest note is transposed by one octave. Once repeated, the arpeggio restarts in the original octave.

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Position 3: The first repetition is transposed by one octave, and the second repetition is transposed by two octaves. Once the second repetition is played, the arpeggio restarts in the original octave.

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Position 4: The first repetition is transposed by one octave, the second by two octaves, and the third by three octaves. Once the third repetition is played, the arpeggio restarts in the original octave.

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Position 1: The arpeggio repeats without inverting the held notes.

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Position 2: The arpeggio is inverted once during the first repetition. Once repeated, the arpeggio restarts.

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Position 3: The arpeggio is inverted twice, once each during the first and the second repetition. Once the second repetition is played, the arpeggio restarts.

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Position 4: The arpeggio is inverted three times, once each during the first, second, and third repetitions. Once the third repetition is played, the arpeggio restarts.

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Arpeggiator note order variations The table outlines the Arpeggiator behavior in each note order preset when the Variation switch is set to the four available positions. Note order

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation 3

Variation 4

Up

Plays from the lowest to highest note in consecutive order and restarts when all keys are played.

Plays the second step first. This variation consists of four steps; all pressed keys are divided into groups of four with the note order applied to all groups. If there are fewer than four notes, the steps without an assigned key are skipped. Once all keys are played, the arpeggio restarts with the lowest note.

Plays the third step first. This variation consists of four steps; all pressed keys are divided into groups of four with the note order applied to all groups. If there are fewer than four notes, the steps without an assigned key are skipped. Once all keys are played, the arpeggio restarts with the lowest note.

This variation, which consists of three steps, plays up and overlaps; all pressed keys are divided into groups of three with the note order applied to all groups. If there are fewer than three notes, the steps without an assigned key are skipped. Once all keys are played, the arpeggio restarts with the lowest note.

Down

Plays from the highest to lowest note in consecutive order and restarts when all keys are played.

Plays the second step first. This variation consists of four steps; all pressed keys are divided into groups of four with the note order applied to all groups. If there are fewer than four notes, the steps without an assigned key are skipped. Once all keys are played, the arpeggio restarts with the highest note.

Plays the third step first. This variation consists of four steps; all pressed keys are divided into groups of four with the note order applied to all groups. If there are fewer than four notes, the steps without an assigned key are skipped. Once all keys are played, the arpeggio restarts with the highest note.

This variation, which consists of three steps, plays down and overlaps; all pressed keys are divided into groups of three with the note order applied to all groups. If there are fewer than three notes, the steps without an assigned key are skipped. Once all keys are played, the arpeggio restarts with the highest note.

Up and down

Plays from the lowest to highest note in consecutive order, then plays from the highest to the lowest note, and restarts when all keys are played.

Plays from the lowest to highest note in consecutive order, then plays from the second highest to the second lowest note, and restarts when all keys are played.

This two-step variation works with pairs of notes. The second note of the pair plays first. In a four-note chord, the order is 2, 1, 4, 3. Once the pattern is played, the note order is reversed, then the arpeggio restarts.

This three-step variation works with trios of notes. The note order is 1, 3, 2. Once the pattern is played, the note order is reversed, then the arpeggio restarts.

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Note order

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation 3

Variation 4

Outside-in

Plays the highest note, then the lowest note, then plays the second highest and the second lowest note, and so on. The arpeggio restarts when all keys are played.

Plays the lowest note, then the highest note, then plays the second lowest and the second highest note, and so on. The arpeggio restarts when all keys are played.

This is an insideout variation. The number of played keys is divided by two (rounded up to the nearest whole number). The highest center note is played, then the low-center note, and so on. In a six-note chord, the order is 4, 3, 5, 2, 6, 1. The arpeggio restarts when all keys are played.

This is an insideout variation. The number of played keys is divided by two (rounded up to the nearest whole number). The lowest center note is played, then the high-center note, and so on. In a six-note chord, the order is 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 6. The arpeggio restarts when all keys are played.

Random

Played note order is randomly generated and can include duplicate notes.

Played note order is randomly generated but no note is played twice. The arpeggio restarts when all keys are played.

This variation favors low notes. Played note order is randomly generated and can include duplicate notes.

This variation favors high notes. Played note order is randomly generated and can include duplicate notes.

As played

Plays all notes in the order they were played, then restarts.

Plays all notes in the reverse order they were played, then restarts.

Plays all notes in the order they were played, then plays notes in reverse order, doubling the first and last played notes. The arpeggio restarts once all notes are played.

Plays all notes in the order they were played, then plays notes in reverse order, but does not repeat the first and last played notes. The arpeggio restarts once all notes are played.

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Arpeggiator note order inversions The table outlines the Arpeggiator behavior in each note order preset when the Oct Range/ Inversion switch is set to the four positions in Inversions mode (set with the Oct Range/ Inversions button). Inversions change the root note of the chord, resulting in a different start note to arpeggiated patterns. Note order

Inversion 1

Inversion 2

Inversion 3

Inversion 4

Up

Plays the original chord, then three inversions in consecutive order and restarts. Playback order: original, 1, 2, 3.

Plays the second inversion first. Playback order: 1, original, 2, 3.

Plays the third inversion first. Playback order: 2, original, 1, 3.

This variation, which consists of three steps, plays up, and overlaps. Playback order: original, 2, 1, 3.

Down

Plays the original chord, then three inversions in consecutive order and restarts. Playback order: 3, 2, 1, original.

Plays the second step first. Playback order: 2, 3, 1, original.

Plays the third step first. Playback order: 1, 3, 2, original.

This variation, which consists of three steps, plays down, and overlaps. Playback order: 3, 1, 2, original.

Up and down

Plays the original chord, then three inversions in consecutive order, then reverses the order, repeating the first and last. Playback order: original, 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, original.

Plays the second step first. Playback order: 1, original, 3, 2, 2, 3, original, 1.

Once the pattern is played, the order is reversed, then the arpeggio restarts. Playback order: original, 2, 1, 3, 3, 1, 2, original.

Once the pattern is played, the order is reversed, but the third inversion is not repeated. Playback order: original, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1.

Outside-in

Plays the highest inversion, then the original, then plays the second highest and the second lowest inversion, and so on. Playback order: 3, original, 2, 1.

Plays the original, then the highest inversion, then plays the second lowest and the second highest inversion, and so on. Playback order: original, 3, 1, 2.

This is an inside-out variation. Playback order: 1, 2, original, 3.

This is an inside-out variation. Playback order: 2, 1, 3, original.

Random

Played inversion order is randomly generated and can include duplicate chord inversions.

Played inversion order is randomly generated but no chord inversion is played twice.

This variation favors low chord inversions. Played inversion order is randomly generated and can include duplicate chord inversions.

This variation favors high chord inversions. Played inversion order is randomly generated and can include duplicate chord inversions.

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Arpeggiator pattern parameters Arpeggiator pattern parameters overview Click the Pattern tab to open the Arpeggiator pattern parameters. The Pattern tab includes two distinct functional modes: Live and Grid. The modes are mutually exclusive, so turning on one turns off the other. It also provides a unique Live Capture to Grid facility. When Grid mode is active, it controls the arpeggio’s velocity, cycle length, rests, ties, and chords. All live input of available grid parameters, such as velocities, is ignored. When you switch to Live mode, the arpeggio performance is controlled live by your input. For example, the velocities of arpeggiated notes are determined by the way you played them. Any existing grid values are retained but are disabled until you return to Grid mode. Note: When you capture a live performance, grid values are not retained.

Pattern parameters Live button: Click to turn on Live mode. See Arpeggiator Live mode.

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Arrow button (Live mode only): Click to capture the currently playing velocities, rests, ties, and chords. Grid mode is autom...