As of GeoShred 2 (Dec 2016), there is extensive support for MIDI IN/OUT as well as the MIDI standard MPE, Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression. It's both a powerful synth and a formidable iOS/iPadOS based MIDI/MPE controller!
You can control GeoShred from a MIDI Controller with some caveats
- Note that the Plucked String Models, the GeoSWAM Models (from Audio Modeling) and the Naada Models (from AccelMatrix) are all physics based models designed to respond to 3D expression. This is very important for realism.
- The best controller to use to control the Guitars, GeoSWAM and Naada models is in fact, the GeoShred Keyboard. It's very fluid, it's sampled at a far higher rate than MIDI and it has Magic Pitch Rounding which is how you are able to play in tune when sliding.
- The best type of MIDI controller to use is an MPE MIDI controller. MPE controllers support per-note 3D expression (KeyX, KeyY, KeyZ). Specifically KeyX is used for pitch fluidity (very important for South Asian Music) and KeyZ (sometimes KeyY) is used for the primary control for expression, including things like tremolo, flutter,growl... etc etc).
- Examples of MPE MIDI Controllers are the Roli Seaboard, the Roli Lumi, the LinnStrument, the KMI MPE Controllers, the Erae Touch. There are more.
- MPE speaks MIDI on multiple channels using Channel Rotation so that each note can have per-note pitchBend, Expression, Mod Wheel, ... etc, etc. Independent expression.
- Here is our Nutshell Guide about MPE
- Channel 1 is the manager channel. Messages sent to this channel go to all channels on the receiver. This is where to send modWheel (cc1) , global pitchBend ... Note that messages sent to channel 1 apply to all voices on all channels.
- Channels 2 ... n are the voice channels. There are 2 common interpretations of this, channel/note and channel/row
- MPE messages, per channel
- pitchBend aka KeyX (this is how independent pitchBend is achieved)
- cc74 aka KeyY, usually used for "brightness" but can be used for swells as well.
- Channel Pressure (Mono Aftertouch, NOT poly Aftertouch) aka KeyZ. Can be used for swells, or other pressure related expression
- Conventional single channel MIDI Controllers generally send just noteOn/noteOff on a single channel. Because of this there are limitations.
Generally you will not be able to perform pitch fluidity, pitch sliding. - For the GeoSWAM Models, you can use CC-2 for expression. So you can either program a wheel to send CC-2, or if you are using a wind controller it will by default send CC2.
- For the Naada Models, you can use CC-2 for expression. So you can either program a wheel to send CC-2, or if you are using a wind controller it will by default send CC2.
- If you control GeoShred Studio from an convential MIDI controller you should chose one of the "Single Channel Breath" or "Single Channel Foot" MIDI Configurations under "Menu> MIDI". You will need to provide some kind of expression control, either Breath (CC2) or Foot Control (CC4)