SCALE PLAYER

MIDI Processor Plug-in

Manual
rfmusic.net

Rahman Fotouhi

Sarab, Iran

website: rfmusic.net

email: info@rfmusic.net
Version 1.0.0 b1 released in July 2016.
Version 1.0.0 released in Oct 2016.

Copyright 2016 - rfmusic.net

This document is created in 6/30/2016. Updated in 10/26/2016.

Scale Player Manual 2

Contents
Contents .................................................................................................................................. 3

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4

2. Installation .......................................................................................................................... 7

Registeration .................................................................................................................. 8

3. Reference ............................................................................................................................ 9

Interface Overview .......................................................................................................... 9

How To Use Scale Player ............................................................................................. 13

Setting Up ......................................................................................................... 13

How to play ....................................................................................................... 14

Credits ........................................................................................................................... 16

Scale Player Manual 3

1. Introduction
Scale Player is a midi effect plug-in that allows you to play different scales in any key
and mode using the idea of relative notes rather that static note values.

The plug-in calculates the intervals between pitches based on the selected scale and
the user can move up and down the scale playing melodies, arpeggios or even chords
using a few keys.

The result is an unusual way of playing instruments, which can be fun, inspirational and
much easier to play since you don't have to worry about hitting the wrong note,
memorizing all the scales in all the keys and practicing complex riffs and phrases that
can be a challenge to play the usual way.

Scale player is a new kind of instrument that like any other instrument may take a bit of
time to learn and master, but it will be a rewarding experience. It's ideal for live playing
and with some practice you can play complicated licks and phrases that would impress
everyone.

How does it work?

Scale player acts as an VST instrument plug-in that takes the input midi data and swaps
it with the processed one. The output can be routed to any other instrument in the host
application. The AU version works as a midi processor effect in hosts like Logic Pro x
that support the type.

There are 16 keys with offsets assigned to them that are used to move up and down the
scale and play different notes relative to the last note that has been played.

For example '+1' moves one note up the scale and plays it and 'Home' resets and plays
the root note for that scale. Home can be changed to one of the notes on that scale
(1st, 2nd, etc) using Home Note menu. The repeat key plays the last note.

In addition to playing keys there are control keys such as Scale -/+, Octave -/+, Key -/+,
Home Note -/+, Key Selectors, Home Selectors, Scale Selectors and Octave Selectors
that can be used to control settings with MIDI keyboard.

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Features:
Scales: A list of commonly used scales such as Major, Minor, Melodic Minor,
Harmonic Minor, Spanish, Arabic, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, Blues, In
Sen, Hirajoshi and more.

Edit or Add Scales: Users can edit existing scales or add their own scales.

Home Note: The home note can be changed from root to some other note on the
scale making it possible to play different modes of the scale.
For example in C major by setting Home to '2nd' the home note will be D and so
playing the D Dorian scale.

Playing Keys: These 16 keys are the main keys that actually will play the target
instrument. Each of these keys can have an offset value assigned to them.

o Home: Plays the home note (reset). 'Home + Octave' plays the home note
one octave higher and 'Home - Octave' plays the home note one octave
lower.
o Repeat: Plays the last note that's been played before.
o +1,...,+14: Moves up the scale, and plays the new note according to its
number. +1 plays next note, +2 moves two notes up and so on.
o -1,...,-14: Similar to plus keys but on the opposite direction.
Example: if in C major and the last note was C, -1 will play B.
Notice: Replaying the same + or - key will not repeat the last note but
moves relative to it. Example: If in C major, and the last note was C, +1
will play D an pressing +1 again will play E.

Control Keys: Main parameters on the plug-in can be assigned to midi notes so
they can be easily controlled with the midi keyboard.

Key -/+, Scale -/+, Home Note -/+, Octave -/+: If assigned to a midi note, these
keys can be used to change the Key(root), Scale, Home Note and Octave by
switching up or down their values.

Scale Select, Key Select, Home Select, Root Select: These assign a series of
midi notes to be used to switch between specific values just by hitting a single
note. For example by setting 'Key Select' to 'C2-B2', C2 will set the key to C, C#
will set the key to C# and so on.

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 Poly: Multiple notes can be played at the same time.

Notice: Same notes can be stacked on top of each other. For example in C
major, Home key plus two stacked +2 key will produce C major chord (C+E+G).

Notice: Playing keys will change the last playing note value and because of that
the order of notes are important. So even if you're using piano roll in your DAW
and placing them at the same point in time or even on top of each other, the first
note created will be the first one processed and so the second note's value is
based on the first one.

Octave Shifter: Shifts the output octave up and down. Input octave also can be
shifted to match a more preferable playing position.

Map Playing and Control Keys: Scale Player allows users to change the
default settings and map all the keys to desired midi notes.

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2. Installation
Notice: Use VST2 instead of VST3 when possible. VST3 MIDI in/out is not reliable in
some hosts.

Notice: AU Version is not an instrument like VST version. It's a MIDI effect and can be
used in hosts like Logic Pro x that supports this type of effect. In hosts like Live and
Reaper that support both AU and VST, use the VST version.

Installation guide: Extract the archive and copy the version you need in the related
plug-in folder used by your host.

WIN example:

VST 32bit. C:\Program Files (x86)\vstplugins

VST 64bit. C:\Program Files\vstplugins
VST3 32bit. C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\VST3
VST3 64bit. C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3

MAC example:

VST2: ~Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST
VST3: ~Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3
AU: ~Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/

Note that MAC OSX have different Library folders. Make sure you're copying the files in
the right path.

Tip: Navigating to the root library folder:

To reveal the Library folder open Finder. On the menu bar, select Go to reveal the drop-
down menu and then hold down the Option key (marked ALT) and you will see the
~/Library folder appear. You may now select this ~/Library folder.

Notice: Scale Player creates a folder named 'ScalePlayer' in application folder when
loaded first time.

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Demo Version Limitations

In demo mode only C Major is available and editing scales are disabled.

Registration
Note: Online authorization is not up yet and Challenge/Respond process is being done
manually.

If you have purchased the Scale Player and finished the payment through Paypal, then
you need to copy your "Machine ID", found on the about page of the plug-in
(Menu\About), and send it via email to "info@rfmusic.net". The respond code will be
sent to your email within few hours.

If you are using the plug-in in more than one machine, or your hardware has been
changed, we will provide additional but limited number of authorization codes at a
time.

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3. Reference
Interface Overview

1. Scale
Here you can choose a scale from the list.

- Use assigned '-' and '+' MIDI notes to move up and down the list.
- Scale Select determins the octave assigned to Scales (Top 12 only).
For example when we have C7-B7 for Scale Select, it means hiting C7 on the keyboard
will set the scale to Maor (first). C#7 will set it to Minor (second) and so on.

2. Octave
This shifts the output octave up or down so you can play higher or lower on the pitch.

- Use assigned '-' and '+' MIDI notes to move up and down the list.
- Octave Select determins the 5 notes assigned to Octave.
For example when we have C4-E4 for Key Select, it means:
C4: Set octave to -2.
C#4: Set octave to -1.
D4: Set octave to 0.
D#4: Set octave to +1.
E4: Set octave to -2.

3. Key (root)
Here you can choose a key (C,C#, etc).

- Use assigned '-' and '+' MIDI notes to move up and down the list.
- Key Select determins the octave assigned to Keys.
For example when we have C2-B2 for Key Select, it means hiting C2 will set the Key to
C, hitting C#2 will set it to C# and so on.

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4. Home Note
Here you can choose one of the notes in the scale to be set as Home Note.
The default is 1st which is the root note itself (first note of the scale). For example in C
major: 1st = C, 2nd = D and so on.

- Use assigned '-' and '+' MIDI notes to move up and down the list.
- Home Select determins the octave assigned to Home Note.
For example when we have C3-B3 for Key Select, it means hiting C3 will set the Home
to 1st, hitting C#2 will set it to 2nd and so on.

5. Playing Keys
16 Playing Keys can be used to play the target instrument. You can set a MIDI note (a)
and an offset (b) for each of the keys from the lists.

a) Offsets:

Home: Plays the home note. This is a only static note however its value can be
change by Home Note.
Home + Octave: Similar to Home but an octave higher.
Home - Octave: Similar to Home but an octave Lower.
Repeat: Plays the last note. Since up and down keys change the note every time
if you need to repeat a note use this key.
+1,...,+14: These keys move up the scale and plays the note relative to the last
note that was played. For example if we have set the scale to C major, and the
last note was E, +2 will play G. Note that if we play +2 again its going to play B.
-1,...,-14: Similar to up keys but in the opossite direction. They move down the
scale relative to tha last note.

b) MIDI Assigne:

Assign a MIDI note to the playing key from this menu.

Be aware that currently the plug-in doesn't prevent the user from setting the same note
for multiple controls.

c) Playing Key Labels:

These are just simple labels that reperesent the playing key, and will turn green when
that key is played.

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6. C2
If you wish to move all the playing keys up or down an octave or two, use this menu. Its
like an input octave shift. So if you have set C2 = 12 instead of 24, you're going to play
an octave lower on your keyboard.

C2 = 24 is default and its the number we named the notes based on. so when you
assign HOME playing key to C2, HOME is going to be the note number 24 on the
standard midi controller. (C2=24, C#2=25, D2=26, D#2=27,...,etc).

7. Edit Page
To open up the edit page hit edit button on the main page.

Important Note 1: Scales are being stored in a file on the hard drive and they are
independant from the plug-in preset system. So if you change them it will effect other
projects that are using the same scale.

Important Note 2: Nothing will change before clicking the save button

Important Note 3: Your'e responsible for the correct input format and range, since the
plugin doesn't yet control them before saving.

Important Note 4: You can reset the all scales using the 'Reset Scales' option from the
menu.

a) Scale Name: Edit the scale name here. When editing is done hit the save button.

b) Number of notes: Enter the number of notes in the scale here. For example 7 for a
Major scale. Maximum number can be set to 12.

c) Intervals: Edit interval values for the scale here. 1 is half step, 2 is whole step and so
on. Ther are ordered from left to right.

For example: Major: C (2) D (2) E (1) F (2) G (2) A (2) B (1).

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8. Menu
Options:
Save a preset to file or load it from file. Scales wont be effected by presets.
Reset Scales to default.
Open about page.

9. MIDI Mode
Use this to bypass the plug-in when needed. When pass through is enabled you can
play the target instrument normally.

10. Readout
Displays the name and number of the last note that has been played.

11. Virtual Keyboard

This helps with setting things up and figuring out where they are and what they do.
Bottom label on each key shows the actual MIDI note number, and top label displays
the assigned control.

Playing keys: If the note is a Playing key the label will display the offset value in light
blue color.

'-' and '+' Control keys: These will be displayed in yellow.

<S and S>: Scale Down (-) and Scale Up (+).
<O and O>: Octave Down (-) and Octave Up (+).
<R and R>: Key Down (-) and Key Up (+). R as in Root.
<H and H>: Home Down (-) and Home Up (+).

Scale Select keys: These are labeled as S1,..,S12 and colored in light pink.

Octave Select keys: These are labeled as O1,..,O5 and colored in light violet.

Key Select keys: These are labeled as RC, RC#..,RB and colored in green.

Home Select keys: These are labeled as H1,..,H12 and colored in cyan.

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How to use Scale Player
Setting up
The details depend on the host application you're using but basically you need to insert
the Scale Player as an instrument plug-in in your project, then route its MIDI output to
the instrument you want to play it.

In order to do that we have to set Scale Player's MIDI output to the MIDI input port of
the target instrument track or device.

Note: AU version is a bit different and it can only be used in hosts like Logic Pro X that
suppoert Midi effect (Processor) type of AU plug-ins. Use the VST version if your host
suppoerts it.

Example 1 - FL Studio

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Example 2 - Ableton Live

How to play
Picture blow shows how some of the controls and keys are placed on the keyboard.
These settings can be changed to meet user's preferences.

Playing Scale Player needs a bit of time to get comfortable with since we are used to
traditional keyboard.

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Tip 1: Use and remember the home key like an ancor to stay in a good range and find
your way back when getting too far up or down.

Tip 2: You can set multiple repeat keys or keys with same offset to play particular
phrases more easily.

Tip 3: Turn off any unecessary keys and controls to prevent accidental hits.

The example blow show how things work in scale player. Look how repeating the same
key (+1 or -1) produces a new note each tme.

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Credits
Developing, Coding and GUI design by Rahman Fotouhi.

Visit rfmusic.net for latest updates and news.

Contact info@rfmusic.net for support.

* The idea used in this plug-in is simillar to the Samchillian midi device invented by the
keyboardist Leon Gruenbaum.

Special thanks to our customers for their support. We hope Scale Player help you in
your future projects and bring you more creative ideas.

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