Sculpture string parameter sliders in MainStage

The sliders on the outer ring of the Material Pad refine the properties and behavior of the string. High Scaling sliders are blue. Low Scaling sliders are green.

String parameter sliders

Resolution slider: Set the maximum number of harmonics contained in (and spatial resolution of) the sound at C3. Changes to the Resolution value alter the interaction of the string with the objects, which has a corresponding effect on overtone frequencies—very low Resolution values result in inharmonic spectra, even with Stiffness set to 0. Higher resolution values enhance the precision of calculations, increasing computer processing requirements. Resolution behavior can be changed with the Render Mode pop-up menu in the extended parameters. In Keyscale view, the Resolution High and Low Scaling sliders are shown:
- Resolution High Scaling slider: Set the key tracking resolution—the accuracy of key tracking—for notes above middle C (C3).
- Resolution Low Scaling slider: Set the key tracking resolution for notes below middle C.
Media Loss slider: Set the amount of string damping caused by the surrounding media (the atmosphere)—for example, air, water, olive oil, and so on. These losses are independent of frequency. This provides control over the duration of the exponential amplitude decay, after the excitation of the string has stopped.
- Media Loss High Scaling slider: In Keyscale view, set the key tracking resolution for notes above middle C (C3). In Release view, set media loss behavior when the key is released.
- Media Loss Low Scaling slider: In Keyscale view, set the key tracking resolution for notes below middle C (C3). In Release view, set media loss behavior when the key is released.
Tension Mod slider: Set the momentary detuning of the string.
- Tension Mod High Scaling slider: Set the tension modulation behavior for notes above middle C.
- Tension Mod Resolution Low Scaling slider: Set the tension modulation behavior for notes below middle C.
Note: This nonlinear effect can deliver surprising results and can also make the entire model unstable, especially when combined with low Media Loss and Inner Loss values. If your sound spikes or drops out during the decay phase, try reducing Tension Mod, and perhaps Resolution.

Adjust Resolution key scaling

In MainStage, click the Keyscale button.
Drag the green low slider inside the top of the Material Pad ring for low notes—or the blue high slider around the top of the outer ring for high notes.

Adjust Media Loss key scaling

In MainStage, click the Keyscale button.
Drag the green slider inside the left side of the Material Pad ring.

Adjust the Media Loss release time

In MainStage, click the Release button.
Drag the blue slider in the outer ring at the left side of the Material Pad.
Values above 1.0 cause media losses to increase when the key is released. This parameter can be used to simulate a string that is dropped into a bucket of water after initially vibrating in air, for example. Obviously, this is not what the average violinist or pianist would do, but it can be useful for some interesting sound variations.

Adjust Tension Mod key scaling

Strings, such as those of a guitar, exhibit a particularly prominent nonlinear behavior—if the string excursion is large, the string is detuned upward. Because this detuning is caused by the momentary, rather than the average, excursion of the string, the detuning occurs very quickly. This phenomenon is known technically as tension modulation nonlinearity. Nontechnically, setting or modulating the Tension Mod slider to values above 0.0 emulates this momentary detuning effect in Sculpture.

In MainStage, click the Keyscale button.
Drag the green low slider inside the right side of the Material Pad ring for low notes—or the blue high slider around the right side of the outer ring for high notes.

Tip: If your instrument seems slightly sharp or flat as you play up or down the keyboard, consider adjustments to the Tension Mod, and perhaps Media Loss, Keyscale parameters.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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