MusicLab RealGuitar Version 2

User's Manual

Copyright 2000-2006 by MusicLab, Inc.

Table of Contents

About the program... 4 Installing RealGuitar 2.... 5 Installing RealGuitar PC version... 5 Launching RealGuitar... 6 Loading Guitar.... 7 Virtual Fretboard... 8 User Keyboard Map... 9 Performance Modes... 10 Solo Mode... 10
Controls.....10 Permanent Effects....11 Key Switch and Pedal Switch Effects...11 Bass Zone....11 List of Articulations/Effects available in Solo mode only..11 Hold button in Solo mode...12
Harmony Mode... 12 Chords Mode... 13

Controls.....13

Bass & Chord Mode... 14

Controls.....14

Bass & Pick Mode... 14

Controls.....15

Velocity Switch Effects... 17 MIDI Controllers pane... 18 Main Controls.... 19
Setup....19 Master....19 Mixer.....19 Sound Effects....20 Common....20
Chord Map.... 21 Using RG Rhythm Pattern Library and Pattern Manager. 24 Pattern Manager... 24
Pattern Manager Window...24 Finding Pattern in RG Pattern Library...25 Auditioning Pattern....26 Controlling pattern playback....27 Transferring Pattern to host's MIDI Track..27
Using Rhythm Patterns in a MIDI Track... 28
Controlling pattern playback....28
Creating Custom Styles for Pattern Library.. 29
Organizing Existing Patterns in Custom Styles...29 Creating Custom Patterns...29
RealGuitar Stroke Map... 29 Parameter Automation MIDI CC and VST Map... 31 Contacting MusicLab.... 33 How to purchase.... 33

About the program

RealGuitar is a sample-based specialized virtual instrument with an innovative approach to guitar sound modeling and guitar part performing on keyboard. It can be used as VSTi with any host application supporting VST 2.0, DXi and as a standalone version. The true power of RealGuitar lies in 3 brand new technologies incorporated in this innovative guitar performance tool: 1. New multi-channel sound layering technology, incorporating a custom library of specially recorded samples taken from every fret of all 6 strings of a real guitar. 2. The unique Floating Fret Position technology, which imitates change of fret position of a guitarist's hand on the neck. This gives the possibility of playing on up to 104 guitar frets using just 43 keys of a standard keyboard! 3. Our original Guitar Touch technology letting you easily imitate basic guitar techniques (tremolo, strumming, plucking, sliding, bending, muting, etc.), using standard MIDI keyboard and MIDI controllers, such as Pitch Bender, Modulation Wheel, Sustain Pedal, After Touch. These technologies allow to closely emulate live guitar sound and techniques, letting you perform guitar parts with a whole new level of realistic expression.

Installing RealGuitar 2

Installing RealGuitar PC version
Double-click RealGuitar2 Setup.exe file and follow the on-screen instructions. At the end of installation process RealGuitar Bank Manager will open and extract sound bank optimized for particular sample rate which allows using Quick Load mode realized in RealGuitar 2. You can find the Quick Load switch button in RealGuitar Setup window. In RealGuitar Bank Manager dialog check the appropriate sample rate box you normally use in your audio work, and click Select to select the destination directory for bank installation. Click Apply button to start sound bank extracting. Close Bank Manager when sound bank installation is completed. Note, that higher sample rate value will install larger target sound bank. Important! If Bank Manager window doesnt open automatically during installation process you have to run it manually from Start menu->Program Files->MusicLab->RealGuitar 2, or alternatively go to RealGuitar 2 installation folder (by default: C:\Program Files\MusicLab\RealGuitar2) and double click StgMan.exe file. Note, that if you want to change sample rate for your audio work you have to run RealGuitar Bank Manager and create sound bank optimized for the new sample rate value. In case your VSTplugins folder is not registered correctly RealGuitar installer will not automatically install RealGuitar2.dll there. So to let your VST host find RealGuitar you have to manually copy RealGuitar2.dll from RealGuitar installation folder to your VSTplugins directory.

Launching RealGuitar

Launching RealGuitar as a VST instrument: 1. Open the VST Instruments window 2. Click the No Instruments label and select RealGuitar on the pop-up menu 3. Open the RealGuitar window by clicking the Edit button in the slot for RealGuitar. 4. In the VST host application, select RealGuitar as the output for a MIDI track. Launching RealGuitar as a standalone version: In Start Menu go to Programs/MusicLab/RealGuitar 2 folder and select RealGuitar icon.

Loading Guitar

Click the black screen combo box in the upper part of RealGuitar window to select the guitar patch from the list of available ones installed to RealGuitar Sound Bank.
RealGuitar includes sample set featuring 8 Acoustic guitar patches: 1. Steel Picked 2. Steel Fingered 3. Nylon Picked 4. Nylon Fingered 5. Steel 2 Picked 6. Steel 2 (Doubling) 7. 12-string 8. Steel Stereo (290MB)

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 104 guitar frets using just 43 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 (2-6 strings) for all of our guitar patches, allows you to emulate a guitar performance with maximum sonic accuracy. In the center of the RealGuitar window we provided virtual Fretboard, one of the most important elements of the plug-in, which allows to visualize and control the Floating Fret Position while playing the guitar part.
The Fretboard has a number of functions: 1. Preview - allows to preview the loaded guitar patch by simply clicking on a string. 2. Display notes - shows the performed notes in accordance with visual representation on the fretboard and real sounding (you see the notes displayed on string and fret of exactly the same samples, which sound in a given moment). 3. Fret Position Auto control (the Auto button is pressed) - realizes automatical fret position change in Solo and Harmony modes, which moves the Capo strip along the Fretboard depending on the sequence of performed notes. 4. Fret Position Manual control (the Auto button is unpressed) - allows to manually change fret position by right clicking on any fret. A Capo strip will appear on the fretboard, which will prevent to play samples from any fret lower on the neck than the Capo position (except for the 6th string).

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

Permanent Effects

H.O. - Hammer-on with automatic Pull-off on key release, assign the affected note range in Steps combo box Slide - automatic slide (up/down) between two legato played notes, adjust speed with Time slider, and assign the affected note range in Steps combo box Key Switch and Pedal Switch Effects
Any of 4 keys of Left Repeat zone (C1-D#1) as well as Sustain Pedal can be also used to temporarily switch the Main zone to new sound/articulation previously chosen in the respective combo box. Pressing the appropriate key or the sustain pedal switches the Effect on, while releasing the key/pedal reverts Main zone to the original sound/articulation. You can use various Key/Pedal switch FXs at a time. Bass Zone
Bass zone splits Main Zone into two parts that allows using individual performance techniques for both parts. Press Bass zone button and assign the right boundary key (E2 by default) now all upper notes will be out of the Bass zone. Bass zone notes have stronger velocity curve and are not affected by: Mute keys - that allows performing mutes/repetitions of higher range notes only without cutting bass notes Velocity switch FX - that allows to apply velocity switches only to higher range notes while playing bass notes in a normal way Tremolo FX - that lets you play normal accompaniment part within Bass zone while performing tremolo solo part in the higher range List of Articulations/Effects available in Solo mode only H.O. - Hammer-on with automatic Pull-off on key release (Permanent FX, Key/Pedal switch FX; assign note range (steps) in Permanent FX section).
Slide - automatic slide (up/down) between two legato played notes (Permanent FX, Key/Pedal switch FX; assign speed and note range in Permanent FX section). Tremolo - automatic note(s) repetition on key release to easily perform tremolo technique (Key/Pedal switch FX). Sustain 1-2 Mono - sustains all notes except for the notes played at a semi-tone or tone interval (step-wise melodic run): the next note 1-2 step apart mutes the previous one as if played on the same guitar string, while the thirds and larger intervals are being sustained (Key/Pedal switch FX). Velo Mute - notes played with lower velocity values trigger muted sound (Velocity/Key/Pedal switch FX; assign velocity threshold in Velocity switch FX section). Mono Bend - applies pitch bending only to the lowest of simultaneously played notes allowing to emulate guitar specific single-string bending techniques: Unison Bend, Bend/Release combined with sustained note(s), etc (Pitch Bender/Modulation Wheel controllers). Hold button in Solo mode In Solo mode the Hold button works differently from the other modes, where it actually substitutes the Sustain Pedal. In Solo mode when Hold button is on, any pressed and held key can be used for sustaining the following notes.

Harmony Mode

In this monophonic mode any key of the Main zone triggers an interval/chord based on the played note, previously chosen from following options: 4th down, 5th up, Octave (up), Power Chord 1 (5th + 4th up), Power Chord 2 (4th + 5th up), 2 octaves (up).
The keys of both Repeat zones (left and right) allow you to repeat the interval taken in the Main zone (white keys repeat full sound, while black keys repeat muted sound of the same notes). Muted sound Muted sound
Full sound C1 Melody zone Repeat keys

Chords Mode

In this mode the 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), then the program builds guitar version of the chord considering the selected Chord position and current position of a Capo strip on the Fretboard, and finally plays it using down strum technique. Any key of Repeat zone repeats the whole chord played in the Main zone: black keys play muted strums, while white keys play strums when the chord is still held and muted strums when the keys in the Main zone are released. Up and down strums are triggered by neighboring keys for both white and black keys of the Repeat zones, like C1 - up strum, D1 - down strum, C6 down strum, B5 - up strum and so on). Muted strum Muted strum
Strum C1 Chord detect (down strum play) Controls

Repeat keys

Chord position - selects the melodic position range for the built chords. I II III IV - the highest note is between E3 and G#3 - the highest note is between G3 and B3 - the highest note is between A#3 and D4 - the highest note is between C#4 and F4
KBD - the 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). Strings - allows disabling upper and/or lower strings in chords, so you can pare your strums down to any five, four, three, two or just a single string by selecting the first available string# in upper/lower combo boxes (e.g. selecting 2/5 will disable the 1st and 6th strings in the strums). Chord/Bass - switches on the X/Y chord detect mode letting you construct major/minor triad chords with any desirable note in the Bass, e.g. A/G (Amajor chord over G bass) for G-A-C#-E
voicing, D/F# (Dmajor chord inversion with F# bass note) for F#-A-D voicing, F/G (Fmajor chord over G bass) for G-A-C-F voicing, etc

Bass & Chord Mode

In this mode the program detects the chord taken in the Main zone of the keyboard, builds its guitar version and plays its Root note (Bass I) only. The Repeat zone keys now have following functions: C5 triggers Bass I (Root note), D5 triggers Bass II (Alternative bass, usually the 5th degree of the chord).
The rest of the keys in both right and left Repeat zones trigger up and down strums of the upper strings of the chord, black keys perform muted strums of the same strings). Muted strum Muted strum

I II C1 Chord detect (bass play) Controls Bass Strum
Chord position - selects the melodic position range for the built chords. Strings# - specifies the number of sounding strings in chords triggered by Repeat zone keys. Chord/Bass - switches on the X/Y chord detect mode letting you construct major/minor triad chords with any desirable note in the Bass. Alter Bass - automatically alternates between Bass I and Bass II when the same chord is taken in the Main zone. Bass Mono - mutes Bass I note when the next Bass II is played.

Bass & Pick Mode

In this mode the program identifies the chord taken in the Main zone, builds its guitar version and plays only its Root note (Bass I).
The Repeat zone keys trigger each voice of the chord separately, just as if you'd play it string-bystring on real guitar in the following way: C5 triggers Bass I (Root note) D5 triggers Bass II (alternative bass) E5 triggers 4th string F5 triggers 3rd string G5 triggers 2nd string A5 triggers 1st string
The other keys function as chosen in the Add-on string keys combo box. The keys of the left Repeat zone strum 4 upper voices of the chord (black keys perform muted strums). Muted strum Add-on keys
I II C1 Chord detect (bass play) Controls Bass String keys
Chord position - selects the melodic position range for the built chords. Add-on string keys: Unison - doubles some strings for making performance easier: C#5 - Bass II, D# 5 - 4th string, F#5 - 2nd string, G#5, A#5, B5, C6 - 1st string. Chromatic - sets the Add-on string keys to play notes one semi-tone down from their respective string voices: C#5 - a semi-tone down from Bass II, D#5 a semi-tone down from 4th string, F#5 - a semi-tone down from 2nd string, G#5 - a semi-tone down from 1st string; however A#5 - C6 add a semi-tone each to the sound of 1st string.
Chord/Bass switches on the X/Y chord detect mode letting you construct major/minor triad chords with any desirable note in the Bass.
Alter Bass - automatically alternates between Bass I and Bass II when the same chord is taken in the Main zone. Bass Mono - mutes Bass I note when the next Bass II is played.

Velocity Switch Effects

There is a number of guitar effects automatically triggered by note velocity values employed in RealGuitar: Slow Strum on Higher Velo - in all chordal modes you can set a velocity value, after which the program will perform slow strum when playing a chord in the Main zone Slow Strum on Lower Velo - in the same way you can set a velocity value below which the program will perform slow strum when playing a chord in the Main zone
Slide up - slides up to taken note(s) Slide down - slides down from taken note(s) Bend - bends to the taken note(s) (Solo mode) Reverse Bend - pre-bend and release to taken note(s) (Solo mode) VeloMute - notes played with lower velocity values trigger muted sound (Solo mode) You can set the following independent parameters for each effect: Velocity (threshold) Time (effect duration)

Steps (range in semi-tones)

MIDI Controllers pane

Velo curve select the output velocity curve for your performance by pressing one of 4 buttons You can assign various guitar effects to standard MIDI controllers: P.B (Pitch Bender) - Pitch, Slide, MonoBend (Solo mode) M.W. (Modulation Wheel) - Pitch, Slide, Modulation, MonoBend (Solo mode) A.T. (After Touch) - Pitch, Modulation
In the combo box to the right adjust the range of the effect (in semi-tones). Modulation envelope is adjusted in Setup window.

Main Controls

Pitch - adjust the master pitch: Coarse (+/-12 semitones) Fine (+/-100 cents) Depth (0-100%) Freq (0.2 8.0 Hz)
Modulation - adjust the modulation envelope affected by Modulation controller (MIDI CC):
Chord Detect time (0-50ms) -set the suitable delay for detecting chords taken in chord modes Keyboard range (C1-C3/C4/C5/C6) - set the range of your keyboard Display chords (#/b) - select sharps or flats for the chord names Reset - resets all modified parameters in all modes to their factory values Quick Load - with Quick Load button pressed samples are not fully loaded to RealGuitar that allows to instantly load guitar patches and drastically save RAM. RnC button - switches on a special mode allowing the direct access for Rhythm'n'Chords MFX plug-in to RealGuitar multi-sample architecture (available only for Cakewalk/Sonar users). Master Volume (+/-10db) adjust output volume EQ - adjust internal equalizer parameters:
High (+/- 10db) Low (+/- 10db)
Mixer 2 mixers allow to adjust the volume of various noise effects and additional sounds that form the modeled guitar sound. Noises: Fret - volume and on/off of a fret noise Release - volume and on/off of a release noise Pick/Body - volume and on/off of additional pick and guitar body noises Muted volume of muted sound triggered by Repeat zone keys

Sounds:

Slow Strum volume of Slow Strum sound (Velocity switch FX in Chordal modes) Switch FX volume of additional sounds (Key/Pedal switch FX in Solo mode) Sound Effects
1. Tremolo - adjust stereo tremolo parameters: Depth (0-10%) Freq (0.2-12 Hz) Level (0-100) Freq 1 (0.1-6.0 Hz) Depth 1 (0-100%) Depth 2 (0-15) Common Hold (on/off) - actually substitutes the Sustain Pedal in all modes, except for the Solo. In Solo mode when Hold button is on, any pressed and held key in the Main zone can be used for sustaining the following notes. Strum time (20-60ms) - adjusts the time between the notes played in the strumming chords (Harmony, Chords, and Bass & Chord modes) as well as delay for more than one note played simultaneously in Solo and Bass & Pick modes. Release time (50-200%) - adjusts how long the note sounds after releasing the key (MIDI note end). Auto (on/off) - toggles between Auto and Manual mode of Floating Fret Position. Auto works only in melodic modes (Solo, Harmony). Manual mode allows to change the fret position by rightclicking on the Fretboard. Accent (0-127) - adjusts the velocity threshold between soft and hard performance dynamics Alter samples (1-5) - provides 5 positions of randomly alternating samples while performing repetitive notes (position 1 provides up to 3 different samples, while position 5 provides up to 10 ones). Direct - this button turns RealGuitar into plain guitar sampler, allowing you to play samples directly from keyboard with all intellectual features turned off, having previously selected the respective MIDI channel in the track. Pattern - switches on a Pattern playing mode. Note, with Pattern button pressed you will not hear any sound while playing in the Main zone. Only Repeat zone keys/notes can produce sound in pattern mode. PM - opens Pattern Manager window (available only in RealGuitar 2L version).

2. Chorus adjust stereo chorus parameters:

Chord Map

RealGuitar can detect 26 chord types. The following chart lists the available chord types and the degrees unnecessary for chord detection that you can omit while entering chords. Chord type Can be omitted C V, III C6 Cadd9 Csus4 Cmaj7 V, V+III Cmaj7(b5) Cmaj7(#5) Cm V Cm6 Cm(add9) Cm7 V Cm(maj7) V Cm7(b5) III, Cm9 V C7 V, III+V C7sus4 C7(b5) C7(#5) C9 V C9sus4 V C7(b9) V C7(#9) V C9(b5) C7(add13) V Cdim7 III, VII, III+VII Caug All chords except for ma6 and min6 are detected in all inversions and note combinations.

Cmaj7(b5)

Cmaj7(#5)

Cm(add9)

Cm(maj7)

Cm7(b5)

C7sus4

C7(b5)

C7(#5)

C9sus4

C7(b9)

C7(#9)

C9(b5)

C7(add13)

1-note chord detect system also included: C7 Cm Cm7
- obligatory - can be omitted
Using RG Rhythm Pattern Library and Pattern Manager (available only in RealGuitar 2L version)
RG Rhythm Pattern Library is a unique collection of 1250 guitar accompaniment rhythm patterns classified by various musical categories, such as meter, music style, guitar technique, rhythmic feel, tempo range. Using the prerecorded rhythm patterns of RG Pattern Library you can quickly create professionally sounding guitar accompaniment tracks for your songs. Then all you have to do is to choose the appropriate pattern(s) in RealGuitar Pattern Manager, copy them to your host sequencer's MIDI track, start sequencer and play chord changes on a MIDI keyboard, or alternatively enter chords to a MIDI track using sequencer's editor. To better understand how you can use rhythm patterns with RealGuitar check pattern demo MIDI files included with the installation folder (By default: C:/Program Files/MusicLab/RealGuitar2/RG Pattern Demos).

Pattern Manager

RealGuitar 2L is equipped with powerful multi-functional built-in Pattern Manager allowing to easily audition rhythm patterns of RG Pattern Library, quickly find the ones matching your musical needs, as well as drag'n'drop/export the chosen patterns directly to the host's MIDI track to use with your song. Pattern Manager Window Launch RealGuitar, load guitar patch, and select any of the chordal modes (Chord, Bass&Chord, or Bass&Pick) by pressing the appropriate mode button. Note, that you can use rhythm patterns with all performance modes, the mode selection depends on what harmonic part you want to play with the rhythm patterns: - Select Chords, Bass&Chord, Bass&Pick modes for automatically constructed guitar chords - Select Harmony mode to perform intervals with strumming patterns - Select Solo mode to perform your own chords with strumming or picking patterns Click PM button to open Pattern Manager window. Press Pattern button to activate RealGuitar pattern playing mode:

Finding Pattern in RG Pattern Library Rhythm patterns are organized within Pattern Library tree view by Category folders and Style subfolders including sets of MIDI patterns. The name of each folder/subfolder contains short musical information helping you to quickly find patterns matching your song. For instance: Category name - Basic Strumming: - includes a number of guitar strumming Styles Style name - 4'4_Basic_S_8th_90-250: - contains Basic style rhythm patterns in 4'4 meter (_4'4_Basic_) featuring strumming technique (_S_) and 8th note rhythm feel (_8th_), usable within the 90-250 bpm tempo range (_90-250).
Library Tree view. Style folder To read the details about RG Pattern library right-click on Pattern Library root folder, and select View Info item in pop up menu. To read the additional information about Styles included with the Category right-click on Category folder and select View Info item in pop up menu:
Selecting Category and Style To find the appropriate pattern set in Pattern Library tree view choose Category folder and click '+' below the folder to get access to the included Styles. Click the appropriate Style folder to load the available pattern set to Pattern List pane.
Pattern List All patterns of RG Pattern Library have unique names containing brief information as well, so you can easily identify them when using outside the Style folder.
For instance: Pattern name - S13_Basic_4'4 - indicates strumming technique used (S), pattern number (13_), and Style name (Basic_4'4) Selecting pattern Click on pattern name in the list to select it - pattern rhythmic contents will appear in Pattern view and it is ready to play. Pattern view graphically presents measures/beats as well as guitar 'Strokes' used in the current rhythm pattern. Differently colored 'Piano Roll' type bars and their vertical position allow to easily identify the stroke types: green bars present Full strums, red ones present Muted strums, blue ones present Slow strums, light green bars present Top strums, brown ones present individual 'string' picks (up strums bars of the same stroke type are in higher position than down strums):

Strumming Pattern

Picking Pattern Auditioning Pattern Host sequencer in stop mode (or RealGuitar in standalone run) Press chord on your MIDI keyboard to trigger pattern playback that will be visualized by position cursor moving along the Pattern view. Pattern will perform your chord(s) until you release the keys. Pattern stops when you release the keys and starts from the beginning when you press chord again. Pattern will continue playing if you change chords legato way (if at least one key is constantly pressed) Press Hold button or Sustain Pedal to turn pattern playback to 'Latch' mode - in that case pattern will continue playing the last chord even if you release all chord keys. Host sequencer in playback mode Start your host sequencer. Now pattern will 'silently' follow host's playback until you press chord on a MIDI keyboard (or alternatively insert chord changes to MIDI track). Releasing chord keys mutes the performance. Pressing chord again will continue pattern playing. Press Hold button or Sustain Pedal to turn pattern playback to 'Latch' mode - in that case pattern will continue playing the last chord even if you release all chord keys. Note, that using sequencer in playback mode allows you to easily choose pattern(s) for your song by previously entering chords to a MIDI track and selecting patterns in Pattern Manager 'on the fly' along with the song.

Controlling pattern playback Dynamics control Pattern Manager has powerful real time velocity control options allowing to drastically change pattern performance:
+/- - add/reduce velocity Chord - check to apply velocity of trigger chord to pattern dynamics (+/- velocity) P.B. - check to assign +/- velocity to Pitch Bender controller for continuous dynamics changes on/off check to switch randomization on +velo - maximum deviation range -velo - minimum deviation range strength (%) - sensitivity of randomization, at 100% all pattern notes will be randomized Tempo Control Pattern Manager takes tempo value from the host sequencer, but you can make it twice lower or higher by simply selecting the appropriate item in Tempo combo box: Random (velocity):
Bypass Mode In case you use host's MIDI track for playing rhythm pattern to RealGuitar you must press Bypass button to disable pattern loaded to Pattern Manager, or else both will play simultaneously. In Bypass mode Pattern view is grayed out, showing that pattern will not play. Transferring Pattern to host's MIDI Track If you want to use more than one rhythm pattern for your song you have to copy the chosen patterns from Pattern Manager to MIDI track of your host sequencer. There are two ways to do that: Drag'n'Drop Pattern The simplest way to copy pattern to MIDI track is to drag'n'drop the selected pattern directly from Pattern view. To do this click on Pattern view (or pattern name in Pattern List pane) and drag the pattern to the needed measure of a MIDI track. You can automatically multiply pattern by the appropriate number of cycles if you previously set the desired number of repetitions in DnD Repeat box:
Note. Velo+ and Random parameters will be also applied to the exported pattern (MIDI file). Import Pattern to MIDI Track If your host doesn't support drag'n'drop MIDI data you can previously drag out pattern from Pattern view directly to Windows it will be exported as a Standard MIDI file, and then import it to your sequencer.
Alternatively you can import pattern right from RealGuitar installation folder (by default: C:/Program Files/MusicLab/RealGuitar2/Loops/Pattern Library), but in that case you get single original pattern and you have to multiply it manually in a MIDI track of your host.
Using Rhythm Patterns in a MIDI Track
When the appropriate rhythm patterns for your song parts are successfully found in Pattern Manager and copied to the host's MIDI track you must disable Pattern Manager by pressing Bypass button and work with pattern MIDI track only (or else pattern loaded to Pattern Manager will play simultaneously with pattern from the track). Check also that Pattern (Silent mode) button is pressed. There are two ways of creating guitar part with the help of rhythm patterns playing from MIDI track to RealGuitar: real-time and non real-time methods. 1. Non real-time method Create MIDI track for chords, output it to RealGuitar, and enter chord changes for you guitar part (step record chords from your MIDI keyboard or manually enter notes via sequencers editor) Start your sequencer to listen to the ready part.

2. Real-time method Create MIDI track for chords, output it to RealGuitar Start sequencer and play/record chord changes to RealGuitar from your MIDI keyboard
Real-time method is more intuitive and allows to control pattern playback adding various expressive adjustments to the performance. Controlling pattern playback You can control pattern playing from MIDI track with the help of chords played on a MIDI keyboard by pressing and releasing keys, using Hold button (Sustain Pedal), and also by triggering Slow Strum (Velocity Switch FX). Hold button (Sustain Pedal) With Hold button unpressed pattern will play only while you are holding the chord on your MIDI keyboard, and it will be muted when you release the keys. This allows you to play guitar pattern here and there along with the song. With Hold button (or Sustain Pedal) pressed pattern will continue playing even if you release the keys. Slow Strum Use Slow Strum velocity switch FX to add syncopes and accents to pattern playback: Temporarily mute pattern by triggering Slow Strum (the time window can be adjusted by 'SlowZone' Automation parameter) Completely stop pattern by triggering Slow Strum and quickly releasing the keys (to stop Slow Strum sound press the Mute key (Black) of the left Repeat zone). To continue pattern playback press the chord again.
Note. With Hold button (Sustain Pedal) pressed you can't completely stop pattern by triggering Slow Strum and releasing the keys.
Creating Custom Styles for Pattern Library
Organizing Existing Patterns in Custom Styles You can create your own pattern sets by copying the favorite patterns taken from the RG Pattern Library and organizing them as custom Styles within Library tree view for future use: Select pattern you are going to copy to your new Style - it will appear in Pattern view Right-click on a Category folder or Style subfolder of the Tree view and select Add Style in pop up menu. Name the newly created empty folder (the Pattern List pane will be empty)
Press 'Add' button under Pattern List pane to copy the current pattern to your new Style folder Find and audition other patterns, and copy them one by one to the new Style using the same method
You can also delete/rename Style folders by right-clicking on it and selecting the appropriate item in pop up menu. Creating Custom Patterns RealGuitar rhythm patterns are single track Standard MIDI files (SMF format 0) recorded with special RG Stroke Map notes, so advanced users can edit the existing patterns or create their own patterns from scratch in the host's MIDI track, and then save/export them as SMF directly to RG Pattern Library folder for future use (C:\Program Files\MusicLab\RealGuitar2\Loops). Guitar Stroke Map incorporated in RealGuitar allows to use up to 22 MIDI notes in the lowest octave range (from C#-2 to A#-1) for emulating a number of guitar techniques (Strokes) within a MIDI rhythm pattern. So you can use the Stroke Map notes for creating your own rhythm patterns including various guitar 'Strokes', such as chord strums (up/down), slow strums (up/down), individual string picks, bass note pick, muted strums (up/down), chord slides (using chromatic strums), etc.

RealGuitar Stroke Map Note #

Note name

A#-1 A -1 G#-1 G -1 F#-1 F -1 E -1 D#-1

Stroke name

"Slow Upstrum" "Slow Downstrum" "Muted Upstrum" "Muted Downstrum" "Full Upstrum" "Full Downstrum" "Full Downstrum 1 semi-tone lower" "Full Downstrum 2 semi-tones lower"
D -1 C#-1 C -1 B -2 A#-2 A -2 G#-2 G -2 F#-2 F -2 E -2 D#-2 D -2 C#-2
"Full Downstrum 3 semi-tones lower" "1st string" "2nd string" "3rd string" "4th string" "Bass I" "Bass II" "Muted Top Upstrum" "Muted Top Downstrum" "Top Upstrum" "Top Downstrum" "Top Downstrum 1 semi-tone lower" "Top Downstrum 2 semi-tones lower" "Top Downstrum 3 semi-tones lower"
Top strum - strum on the 3-4 higher strings (Bass strings omitted)
Parameter Automation MIDI CC and VST Map
RealGuitar MIDI CC # Master
Volume EQ, High EQ, Low 30 Volume EQ-High EQ-Low

VST name

Pitch, Coarse Pitch, Fine Tune Modulation, Depth Modulation, Freq Mixer_Muted_sound, Volume Mixer_Slow_Strum, Volume Mixer_Key_switch_FX, Volume Mixer_FretNoise, on/off, Mixer_FretNoise, Volume Mixer_ReleaseNoise, on/off Mixer_ReleaseNoise, Volume Mixer_Pick/BodyNoise, on/off Mixer_Pick/BodyNoise, Volume FX_Tremolo, on/off FX_Tremolo_Depth FX_Tremolo_Freq FX_Chorus, on/off FX_Chorus_Level FX_Chorus_Depth FX_Chorus_Freq FX_Chorus_Depth2 Alter_sample, mode Accent_Threshold Performance_Mode, select Release_Time Strum_Time Fret_Position, select Auto_Fret_Position, on/off Hold, on/off Pitch_Bender, Mode PtchCrse PtchFine ModDepth ModFreq MxMuted MxSlStrm MxKeyFx MxFrtN_ MxFrtNse MxRelN_ MxRelNse MxPckB_ MxPckBdy MxTremol TremDpth TremFreq MxChorus ChLevel ChDepth1 ChFreq1 ChDepth2 AltSmple VelThrsh Mode RlseTime StrmTime FretPos AutoFret Hold PBMode

Sound Mixers

Sound Effects

Common

Controllers
PBender_to_Slide, Range PBender_to_Pitch, Range Modulation_Wheel, Mode ModWheel_to_Slide, Range ModWheel_to_Pitch, Range Aftertouch, Mode Aftertouch_to_Pitch, Range Velocity_Curve, select Velo_Switch_Slide_mode, select VelSw_SlideUp, Velo VelSw_SlideUp, Steps VelSw_SlideUp, Time VelSw_SlideDown, Velo VelSw_SlideDown, Steps VelSw_SlideDown, Time VelSw_Bend_mode, select VelSw_Bend, Velo VelSw_Bend, Steps VelSw_Bend, Time VelSw_ReverseBend, Velo VelSw_ReverseBend, Steps VelSw_ReverseBend, Time Slow_Strum_on_high_velo, select Slow_Strum_HighVel, Velo Slow_Strum_HighVel, Speed Slow_Strum_on_low_velo, select Slow_Strum_LowVel, Velo Slow_Strum_LowVel, Speed Chord Position, select Alter_Bass, on/off Bass_Mono, on/off Chords_mode_Strings#, select Bass&Chord_mode_Strings#, select Harmony_Mode_Interval, select Solo_Mode_Mono, on/off Solo_Mode_Legato, on/off Solo_mode_Key_Switch_FX, select Slow Strum time zone (Ptrn. mode) Pattern_mode_switch

PBSldRng PBPtcRng WhMode WhSldRng WhPtcRng AtchMode AtchRng VelCurve VelSlide SldUpVel SldUpStp SldUpTim SldDnVel SldDnStp SldDnTim VelBend BendVel BendStep BendTime RBendVel RBendStp RBendTim SlStrmHi SlStrHVe SlStrHSp SlStrLow SlStrLVe SlStrLSp ChordPos ChdAltBs ChdMnoBs ChdStr# BnCStr# HrmIntr1 SoloMono SoloLegt SolKeyFX Slowzone Pattern

Velocity Switch FX

116 117

Mode Controls

Contacting MusicLab
Web site: http://www.musiclab.com/ Technical support: mailto:supportbox@musiclab.com

How to purchase

Please visit http://www.musiclab.com/shop to purchase RealGuitar.

RealGuitar 2L

New in RealGuitar 2 RealGuitar 2 features User Interface Review: Sound on Sound 9/2006 Review: Sound & Recording 6/2006 Videos PC Videos MAC
If you are serious about creating truly realistic sounding solo and accompaniment guitar stuff for your songs, our new product called RealGuitar is just what you need. RealGuitar is a sample-based virtual instrument with an innovative approach to guitar sound modeling and guitar part performing on keyboard. Please dont forget to check out the RealGuitar video clips on our page. They show you how the keyboard layout works and they also give a very good impression about the different playing styles. Real Guitar is shipping including an easy to understand printed Manual and a Video Tutorial! The true power of RealGuitar lies in 3 brand new technologies incorporated in this innovative guitar performance tool: New multi-channel layering technology, incorporating a custom library of specially recorded samples taken from every fret of all 6 strings of a real guitar. The unique 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 104 guitar frets using just 43 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. These technologies allow to closely emulate live guitar sound and techniques, letting you perform guitar parts with a whole new level of realistic expression. Furthermore they made it possible to get that special recognizable sound of a real 12-string guitar using samples taken from an ordinary 6 string guitar, as well as to achieve true Doubling (double track) effect. RealGuitar allows to use rhythm patterns from MIDI Pattern Library for easily creating guitar accompaniment tracks. All you have to do is to copy rhythm pattern 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.

New in RealGuitar 2:

Built-in Pattern Manager added letting you use RG Pattern Library in the whole new and convenient way (RealGuitar 2L version only) 'Silent' key switching implemented 4 keys (C1, C#1, D1, D#1) can now be used as Key Switches letting you assign and use up to 4 various guitar effects at a time

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Pedal Switch FX added allowing to switch on various guitar articulations/effects by pressing Sustain Pedal Bass Zone added - splits Main Zone into two parts for seperate use of various effects Mono Bend added - applies pitch bending only to the lowest of the simultaneously played notes allowing to emulate guitar specific single-string bending techniques: Unison Bend, Bend/Release combined with sustained note(s), etc. Hammer-On with automatic Pull-Off on key release added Legato Slide added - automatic slide (up and down) between two legato played notes Tremolo FX added - automatic repetition of played note(s) on key release Velo Mute added - notes played with lower velocity values trigger muted sound Chord/Bass option added - allows to construct major/minor triad chords with any note in the Bass, such as A/G, D/F#, Dm/C, etc.
Legato Chords implemented, letting note(s) sustain on chord change if the same note(s)/fret/string was triggered in the previous chord In Chords mode now it is possible to disable upper strings in a chord
A number of new unique features added to version 2 let you emulate guitar performance in even more realistic way while creating solo and accompaniment parts for your songs.

RealGuitar 2 features:

Pattern Manager (available only in 2L version): RealGuitar is now equipped with powerful multi-functional built-in Pattern Manager letting you use RG MIDI Pattern Library for creating guitar accompaniment parts in the whole new and convenient way. Complete RG MIDI Pattern Library (1250 rhythm patterns) Pattern Tree view, allowing to find/select rhythm patterns right from RealGuitar Pattern view, graphically presenting guitar 'Strokes' contained in the current rhythm pattern (differently colored 'Piano Roll' type bars allow to easily visualize Up/Down, Up/Down Muted, Slow Strums, individual string Strokes, etc.) Auditioning selected pattern by simply pressing chord on the external keyboard without starting your host sequencer, even with RealGuitar standalone run Total synchronization with host's tempo, start/stop, beats, loop, time signature. Drag'n'Drop selected pattern from Pattern window right to your host's MIDI track (pattern is automatically multiplied by the assigned number of measures) Real time pattern arranging (dramatic changing pattern performance on the fly): o Add/reduce dynamics (velo+) o Randomize dynamics o Apply velocity of trigger chord to pattern dynamics o Continuous dynamics changes (+/- velocity assigned to Pitch Bender controller) Features added to Solo mode: Hammer-on, Pull-off Hammer-on with automatic Pull-off on key release Legato Slide (up and down) - automatic slide between any two pressed notes Note-Off Repetition - automatically repeating the released note(s) to easily perform tremolo technique 4 Key Switch FX keys (C1, C#1, D1, D#1) let you assign and use up to 4 various guitar effects in the same performance 'Silent' Key Switch mode - allows to switch to new sound (Key Switch FX) without muting the previous one (e.g. performing Harmonics over sustained bassnote) Pedal Switch FX - switching to various guitar effects/articulations by pressing Sustain Pedal

Feature added to Chords mode: Number of Strings - now it is possible to also disable upper strings in a chord (similar to current version lower strings disabling), so you can play chords without 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. strings, i.e. reduce # of strings used for the chord up to any middle one

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Features added to Chords, Bass&Chord, Bass&Pick modes:
Slash Bass Chords - all chordal modes now have '/Bass' option that allows to perform major/minor triads with any note in the bass (including its own III, V (and Root of course)). That adds 800 (!) more new chord voicings to 1000 available in version 1.5 Legato Chords - allows to sustain note(s) on chord change if the same note(s)/string/fret is being triggered in the previous chord.

User Interface:

Review: Sound on Sound 9/2006 Music Lab Real Guitar 2L & Steinberg Virtual Guitarist 2
There have been some famous twin-guitar line-ups in rock history and, even if you can't strum a note, you can now have the virtual equivalent - both of these software instruments will play on time and in tune, and won't want a solo in every song! But are they both equally good? When it comes to guitar virtual instruments, Steinberg's cunningly named Virtual Guitarist would probably be the first product to spring into the minds of most SOS readers. However, Steinberg are not without competition and, for acoustic guitar sounds at least, the recently released Real Guitar 2L a collaboration between Music Lab and Best Service provides a competitively priced alternative. At first sight, these two products would seem to be direct competitors. However, a brief comparison of the respective feature sets reveals some obvious differences. For example, Real Guitar 2L only provides acoustic guitar samples, while Virtual Guitarist 2 (combining what was in the original Virtual Guitarist and Virtual Guitarist Electric Edition) provides both acoustic and electric guitar options. The other major difference is in the 'engines' of the two products. Virtual Guitarist 2 is very much based around Parts, essentially a set of pre-recorded phrases in a wide range of styles, which are pitch- and tempo-shifted to fit the chord and tempo needs of the project. In contrast, Real Guitar 2L provides a series of multisampled

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guitar instruments and, while it includes preset playing patterns, these are MIDI-based and can be edited as such. Via keyswitching options, Real Guitar 2L is a 'playable' instrument. Of course, the aim of both products is to achieve credible guitar parts within a musical project, so we figured that a comparative review might be in order, to find out which virtual guitarist is best at this in practice? Real Guitar 2L SOS readers will be familiar with the Music Lab name through a number of products, but most notably the Rhythm'n'Chords MIDI plug-in that provided a way of creating realistic guitar parts from keyboard-based MIDI data. This technology eventually evolved into Real Guitar, the original version of which was released in early 2004. This new version adds a number of new features and comes in two flavours: a basic version and the top-of-the-range 2L version reviewed here. The sample library is based entirely around acoustic guitars, and its primary aim is to provide a samplebased acoustic guitar instrument that can be played via a MIDI keyboard. The sampled guitars include two different steel-strung guitars, a nylon-strung instrument, a 12-string, and a stereo steel-string. Picked, fingered, and 'doubling' options are provided amongst these. As with the original version, Real Guitar 2L features a number of different performance modes; Solo, Harmony, Chords, Bass & Chords, and Bass & Pick. Some of these are described a little more fully below, but their names clearly indicate their functions. For each guitar type, the different performance modes result in a different set of sample keyswitch options appropriate to that style of playing. However, common to all modes is that Real Guitar 2L responds to your MIDI keyboard in three distinct zones. Note ranges C1 to D#1 and C5 to C6 form two Repeat Key zones, while all the keys in between form the Melody zone, where notes or chords are played. The exact function of the Repeat Key zones changes in the various performance modes. For example, in Chord mode the white keys simply play a strum of whatever chord is being held in the Melody Zone, allowing complex strumming patterns to be played with ease. The black keys generate a muted version of the same chord, allowing more percussive elements to be added to the strumming pattern. The end result of these various control options is that each mode provides a 'playable' sampled guitar instrument which, with appropriate practice with the keyswitches, can be used to create credible real-time performances directly from a MIDI keyboard. Real Guitar 2L recognises some 26 different chord types, including seventh and ninth chords and inversions, so even jazz fans ought to be reasonably well catered for. Perhaps the key new feature in the 2L version is the Pattern Manager. This provides over 1200 preset MIDI patterns for use with Real Guitar 2L, and these cover a wide range of musical styles including simple strumming, picking, blues, jazz, Latin, pop, reggae, rock, and a number of others. While Real Guitar 2L is not compatible with styles from Rhythm'n'Chords, this feature is not dissimilar in function. The individual MIDI performance patterns can simply be dragged and dropped into your sequencer to an appropriate MIDI track to build a complete performance. Of course, because the performance is controlled entirely from MIDI, the parts created are fully editable. Installation of Real Guitar 2L from the dual Mac/PC CD-ROM proved straightforward, and the short printed manual is supplemented by a PDF document that contains the most up-to-date documentation. I'd hesitate to say that the documentation was the best I'd ever read it explains the basics of the control set and not much else but for a real insight into what Real Guitar 2L can do, Music Lab's video tutorial is excellent. This is included on the installation CD, and there are further video and audio examples on the company's web site. These are well worth looking at for new users and potential purchasers alike. Interface Overview The main window of Real Guitar 2L is perhaps not the slickest looking of software interfaces, but it does manage to cram a lot of features into a relatively small amount of screen real estate. The display is split into three main areas. The upper half of the window provides controls for the selection of the guitar and various options for modifying the sound. For example, under the Noises tab the user can adjust the simulation of the noises generated by the handling of the guitar in various ways, while the Tremolo and Chorus provide the expected effects, although the options are fairly limited. The centre panel of this upper section also displays the current chord arriving via the MIDI input. The centre section features a guitar neck display which shows the fingering being simulated by Real Guitar 2L during playback. Real Guitar 2L features samples from every fret of every string, and it is therefore

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possible to simulate the differences created by playing particular chords or notes in different neck positions. One way of controlling this is to change the virtual Capo position on the neck, although an Auto mode also tries to simulate this variability depending upon the part being played. The bottom section of the display allows the user to select the performance mode, change elements of the MIDI control (for example, the velocity curve response), and adjust some aspects of the velocity switching, and also provides access to the Pattern Manager. The exact controls featured here vary depending upon the performance mode selected. For example, in Chord mode the user can control the neck position in which chords are voiced. In Solo mode, the user can specify four performance articulations (such as harmonics, muted, palm muted, smacks, velo mute, slide, and tremolo) to be controlled by keyswitches via C1 to D#1. Combined with the various other real-time control options available using the pitch-bend, modulation, sustain pedal, and velocity control, it makes for a very expressive solo instrument. The only additional window is for the Pattern Manager, opened by pressing the PM button. The upper portion of this window provides a browser to search through the preset patterns provided, while the lower window provides a visual impression of the MIDI data within the currently selected pattern. It might have been nice if this window could have been resized for easier browsing, but, this minor gripe apart, auditioning patterns is simply a matter of activating the Pattern button in the main window, selecting a pattern in the Pattern Manager window, and playing a chord via your MIDI keyboard. The patterns cover both strummed and picked playing in a wide variety of musical styles. Playing Real Guitar In use, there are two approaches to getting an acoustic-guitar performance out of Real Guitar 2L: either enter a basic MIDI chord progression and then use the extensive list of supplied patterns and the Pattern Manager to create the performance you need; or, for more specific control, play Real Guitar 2L directly in one of its five performance modes, making use of the various keyswitch and control options to add the realistic nuances required of a believable guitar performance. The Pattern Manager can be thought of as a collection of pre-programmed MIDI performances for Real Guitar 2L. Placing a pattern onto a sequencer track is simply a matter of selecting the required pattern in the Pattern Manager window and then dragging and dropping it onto the appropriate MIDI track. Within Cubase SX, I found it easiest to have two MIDI tracks routed to a single instance of Real Guitar 2L. In the first, I had recorded my basic chord sequence, while in the second, I dragged and dropped the required patterns. As can be seen when the patterns are inspected within a MIDI editor, they contain various combinations of notes from the Repeat Key zones. With basic strumming patterns, for example, this simply defines the rhythm of the full or muted strums and as it is simple MIDI data it can easily be quantised or edited by the user. This system is both easy to use and very flexible. From a technical point of view, creating your own performances with Real Guitar 2L works in exactly the same fashion, but you have to play both the chord sequence and the various Repeat Key options. Doing this in one recording pass (or trying to do it 'live' in a performance context) does take a little practice. However, this is no different from keyswitching with any multisample-based virtual instrument (such as those found in many orchestral libraries), and very realistic results can be created with a little practice. It is also possible to record the chord data and the control data in two separate passes and, initially at least, I found this easier to do while I found my way around the Real Guitar 2L control system. The technical side of the plug-in's operation aside, how does it actually sound? While it bothers the guitarist within me somewhat to admit it, Real Guitar 2L sounds very good indeed. The samples themselves have been very well recorded crisp highs and full, solid lows. The 'doubled' steel-strung produces a wonderfully full sound that can be made to fill the stereo spectrum, as does the stereo steel string, although the two instruments obviously produce very different characters. When used with some suitable picking patterns, the 12-string evokes an instant '60s pop vibe. For me, the only slight weakness was the 'picked' version of the nylon-strung guitar, which sounded just a little too aggressive to my ears, although the 'fingered' version sounds absolutely beautiful especially coupled with some slow picked patterns and a little reverb. Despite the somewhat retro look of the user interface, Music Lab have created an acoustic guitar instrument that is easy to use and very playable. This last point is worth emphasising: Real Guitar 2L is designed from the bottom up to be a 'playable', MIDI-controlled, sample-based instrument. Whatever the mechanism, however, the end results can be totally believable.