How it works
The order in which the score's sound is made, and which board each track plays through.
From notes to sound#
Sound passes from the string synthesis to the instrument’s resonance, then the pedalboard, then the overall volume.
First the voice computes string vibration from the notes in the score. Next the instrument’s own resonance is added: electric guitars and basses get the colour of their pickups, and acoustic guitars get the sound of their body. This stage isn’t a pedal, so it doesn’t appear on the pedalboard.
The sound then runs through the pedalboard from left to right and finally through the overall volume on its way out. A safeguard at the output keeps the sound from clipping, and you never need to touch it. The pedalboard meter shows the level after the overall volume, so turning the overall volume down lowers the meter too.
Which board a track plays through#
The board a track plays through is decided by its Sound.
The Sound follows from the track’s instrument sound and is shown on the track tab of the inspector. Tracks with the same Sound play through the same board. Boards are looked up in this order, and the first one found is used:
- The track’s dedicated board
- The song’s board (one per Sound)
- The app default board (one per Sound)
- The factory board
Song and track boards explains how to use each kind of board.
Piano and drums skip the pedals#
Instruments without strings, such as piano, and drums normally go straight to the output without passing through the pedalboard.
For these instruments, the song’s board, the app default and the factory board aren’t used. To send one through pedals, give that track its own board with Make dedicated. A dedicated board for these tracks starts empty, so add pedals to build it. The metronome never goes through the pedals.
The state of the Resonance Engine#
The Resonance Engine is always running; there’s no way to turn it off.
The lamp at the right end of the status bar shows its state. If the part that makes the sound couldn’t be loaded, the lamp changes colour, and hovering over it shows the reason. See Status bar for how to read the lamp.
Exported audio sounds the same#
Audio export records the sound played through the same boards, voice and volume as playback.
Mute and solo apply just as they do during playback. Exporting to a .gp file loses the pedalboard. See Audio (WAV) export and .gp export and the loss check for details.