The modules in the Motion Tab send out orientation and motion data as MIDI messages.

If you are new to MIDI, to make full use of the Motion Synth App it would be worthwhile to learn some MIDI basics.

Learn about adding, removing, and saving modules via this introduction to the Motion Tab.

Click here for a description of the orientation and motion inputs available for these modules.

A list of the available modules, and instructions on how to configure them, are available below.

Note: If there are no Modules present and active in the Motion Tab, then no motion or orientation data will be sent out from the Motion Synth app.

The video below provides a detailed explanation of this module.

NOTE: The video below does not include the new 'Key Control of MIDI CC Output' capability of the Send Continuous Controller module (added in Motion Synth app release 1.3 and up - See description below).

This is the most important module available in the Motion Synth App.

Even if you only use one or more copies of this module in the Motion Tab (Main Menu) there is an unlimited range of musical possibilities you can explore.

Use this module to send a current motion or orientation to another app on your iPhone/iPod touch, or external software or hardware. These data are sent as an ongoing realtime stream of messages, referred to as Continuous Controller MIDI messages.

You can use multiple copies of this module in the Motion Tab at the same time to either:

• Output the same motion or orientation to different destinations (MIDI Controller Numbers)
• Output different motions or orientations to different destinations (MIDI Controller Numbers)

Click here for a description of the orientation and motion inputs available for this module.

This new capability was added to the Send Continuous Controller module in Motion Synth App release 1.3 and up.

Note that that this new capability is not yet described in the video above.

This functionality is designed for users wanting to control sound parameters or effects in a way that can be both precise and compelling from a performance perspective. It is probably less relevant for using the Motion Synth as a melodic musical instrument (but feel free to surprise us!).

For example, you could uses this functionality to expressively control an audio effect with motion, but ONLY while touching a specific key on the Key Screen.

As a performer this allows you to chose exactly when your physical movements are being translated into sound control. Importantly, this allows you to set sound parameters to a particular value without the need to hold a static posture, and to operate other hardware without interfering with your sound control via the Motion Synth.

If you wish, you could assign control of a different effect to every key on the Key Screen and then motion-control these effects individually or simultaneously by touching one or more keys at the same time.

Described more technically, this capability allows the Send Continuous Controller module to only output MIDI CC messages while a designated key on the Key Screen is being touched.

This capability is off by default, thereby allowing the Send Continuous Controller module to function normally (i.e. to continually send MIDI CC messages in response to motion, regardless of whether any key is being pressed).

To switch on Key Control of MIDI CC Output, tap on the 'Key Control of MIDI CC Output' row of the Send Continuous Controller module and select a key from the list. This selected 'designated key' will turn MIDI CC message output from this module on or off (depending on whether the designated key is being touched).

Note: If you would like to test this functionality with the Single-Key version of the Motion Synth App, select 'ON (Little Finger Key, Upper Row)' as the designated key for 'Key Control of MIDI CC Output'. With this choice, touching anywhere on the Key Screen will turn MIDI CC message output from this module on, and releasing the screen will turn this output off.

In the row below, the 'Key Control Release Value' can also be set. If set to 'MIDI CC Output Range Start', then releasing the designated key will cause the MIDI CC message value to return to the 'MIDI CC Output Range Start' value (set in another row of this module).

Alternatively, the 'Key Control Release Value' can be set to 'Last CC Output', whereby releasing the key will cause the module to simply cease sending MIDI CC messages.

Use the Smoothing of Output parameter to control the responsiveness vs smoothness of changes caused by touching and releasing keys.

You can use multiple Send Continuous Controller modules simultaneously, with each module using a different designated key (or the same key) on the Key Screen to turn its MIDI CC output on or off.

This module is identical to the Send CC module, except that it sends its output as channel pressure (channel aftertouch) messages.

It is useful when working with apps or devices that use channel pressure to control specific sound parameters. App examples of this are GarageBand (iOS) and Animoog for iPhone.

Multiple copies of this module can be used at the same time as long as each copy is transmitting on a different MIDI Channel.

Click here for a description of the orientation and motion inputs available for this module.

Most users can safely ignore this module.

This is because, for most musical use cases, the 0 to 127 resolution of a standard CC message is more than sufficient. However, for some specific use cases, especially non-musical ones, you may find you need to send messages at a higher resolution (at a 14 bit resolution of 0 to 16384).

For such use cases, this module can send ongoing realtime motion or orientation measurements at a resolution of 0-16384. It does so by sending the measurements as two standard Continuous Controller MIDI messages.

The 'least significant bit' (LSB) is sent on MIDI Controller Number 98, and the 'most significant bit' (MSB) is sent on MIDI Controller Number 99.

The MIDI recipient needs to be capable or constructed to receive High Definition MIDI messages (most synths will not respond to these messages at all). These messages are also referred to as 'Non-Registered Parameter Numbers' (NRPN).

The MIDI recipient must square the MSB (or bit shift it to the left by 7), and then add it to the LSB to produce a smooth range of values between 0 and 16384.

Not withstanding the features described above, this module is mostly identical to the Send CC module.

Multiple copies of this module can be used at the same time as long as each copy is transmitting on a different MIDI Channel.

Click here for a description of the orientation and motion inputs available for this module.

To learn more about this 14 bit use of 'Non-Registered Parameter Numbers' (NRPN) please visit this excellent introduction.

This module is identical to the Send CC module, except that the output controls the brightness of the colors displayed on the Key Screen.

The color hues are mapped to note values and cannot be changed.

This module has one unique input titled 'Key Press Only'. When this input type is selected, each key press immediately increases the color brightness to the 'Color Saturation Range End' value.

If this module is not loaded or off, key presses produce no color change on the key screen.

If more than one key is pressed, the color cycles through their respective hues.

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

Click here for a description of the orientation and motion inputs available for this module.

Adding this module anywhere in the Motion Tab will allow you to switch all other modules on or off. Switching all the modules off makes it easier to selectively switch on single modules.

This feature is convenient when working with laptop software that can perform automatic 'MIDI mapping' (like Ableton Live) based on which inputs are being received when MIDI mapping is on.

Some background on MIDI mapping is available here.

After this Master Switch module has switched off all your modules, you can go to the module that is sending the MIDI CC you want to map (to a parameter in your laptop software) and manually switch this module on. With the 'switched on' module active, you can then normally map the MIDI CC it is sending to the parameter in your laptop software that you want to control with motion.

In other words, by switching modules on individually you can ensure that the correct MIDI Controller Number is being registered in the mapping process.

Once the mapping is complete, the Master Switch module can be used to switch all the modules in the Motion Tab back on again. Once you have finished using the Master Switch module you can either leave it off, or delete it from the Motion Tab (swipe right at the top of the module to delete).

Of course, if the total number of modules you are using in the Motion Tab is low, you can also just switch them off and on manually, without needing to use the Master Switch module.

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

The Motion Legato module allows pitch bending to occur between the notes triggered by the keys on the Key Screen.

When the Motion Legato module is active, touching one key (the 'start note') and then touching a second key (the 'stop note') - while maintaining contact with the first key - will allow you to 'slide' the pitch from the start note to the stop note.

This pitch sliding occurs in response to Up-Down or Left-Right Motion.

An example Factory Preset using the Motion Legato module that you can try is Preset 8 (Guitar).

Since Motion Synth app release 1.4 and up the Motion Legato module allows the player to dynamically switch between monophonic legato and either Monophony (with note retriggering) or Polyphony. This switching is controlled in realtime by the user via the selected Input (Motion of Orientation).

Which alternative to monophonic legato is switched to can be selected via the Legato Alternative menu at the bottom of the module. The options are 'No Alternative' (Motion Legato always on), 'Switch to Monophony' (with note retriggering), and 'Switch to Polyphony'. The default option is 'Switch to Monophony' (with note retriggering).

During use, while the user is within the input range specified by the Input Range Start and Input Range End values, the alternative remains inactive. However, when the user reaches or goes beyond the Input Range End value, the alternative (monophony, polyphony, or no alternative) will become active.

You can opt to have the Monophony (with note retriggering) active at all times by setting the Glide Distance Low and Glide Distance High to the same value (see below).

'Pitch-shift travel distance' refers to the distance that must be travelled (in either the Up-Down or Left-Right axes) to shift the pitch between the start note and stop note.

The 'Glide Distance' is the Output value of this module. Glide Distance provides a baseline overall adjustment to the pitch-shift travel distance described above.

Lower Glide Distance values reduce the required pitch-shift travel distance, while higher values increase the required pitch-shift travel distance.

This Glide Distance parameter is adjusted in real-time by the user depending on the selected Input (Orientation/Motion) value. This in turn provides the user with real-time control over the pitch-shift travel distance while playing.

The Input Range Start and Input Range Stop values constrain the Input (Orientation/Motion) range over which this adjustment of Glide Distance is controlled.

The Glide Distance Low and Glide Distance High values adjust the range of Glide Distance output values that are mapped to the Input (Orientation/Motion) values. When the user has reached the Input Range Start value, the Glide Distance value will be Glide Distance Low. When the user has reached the Input Range End value, the Glide Distance value will be Glide Distance High.

The default Input (Orientation/Motion) is Forearm Rotation, with an Input Range Start of 20 degrees, an Input Range End of 5 degrees, a Glide Distance Low of 10%, and a Glide Distance High of 40%.

With these default setting, rotating the forearm clockwise from 5 to 20 degrees orientation and beyond (pointing the thumb towards the floor) will increase the Glide Distance output value from 10% to 40%. This will in turn increase the necessary pitch-shift travel distance (the distance needed to shift the pitch from the start to the stop note).

Conversely, rotating the forearm clockwise from 20 to 5 degrees orientation and beyond will reduce the Glide Distance value from 40% to 10% and thereby reduce the necessary pitch-shift travel distance.

The Intervals setting gives you the choice of either Diatonic or Chromatic.

Select Diatonic to simply shift from the start note to the stop note (the notes corresponding to the held keys on the Key Screen).

The Chromatic option allows the pitch to be shifted to a value between the start note and stop note (as long as the start note and stop note are at least one tone apart).

The pitch value will always shift to a middle value that is a semitone increment between the the start note and stop note.

When the Chromatic option is selected the pitch bending can be controlled in the following way: While the first key and second key remain pressed, the pitch will shift to the nearest semi-tone between the start note and stop note (the notes corresponding to the first and second keys).

If the first key is then released, but the second key remains pressed, the pitch will continue to bend up to the stop note (the pitch of the note corresponding to the second key).

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab (Main Menu) at any one time, and avoid using an instance of the 'Specialized' module 'Legato trigger (mono)' at the same time.

Click here for a description of the Input (Motion or Orientation) available for this module.

This module achieves pitchbending via pitchbend MIDI messages, and thus can be used with any synth or sampler that responds to pitchbend MIDI messages. When loaded or activated, this module sends out a standard pitchbend range message, setting the pitchbend range to 36 semitones. If the synth or sampler you are using does not respond to standard pitchbend range messages, then set the pitchbend range manually to 36 semitones. The synth or sampler will be controlled monophonically; i.e. each MIDI Note On message will be followed by a Note Off message before another Note On message is sent).

This module converts the force with which you strike the keys on the Key Screen into MIDI note velocity values. If you are working with a synth that responds to note velocity values (most do) you will notice that this allows you to trigger notes at different volumes (and with different sound qualities depending on the synth).

Use the Minimum and Maximum range controls to adjust the note velocity range you are working in. This module works better for sounds that have a sharp onset (like a guitar or piano).

As an example, see the use of this module in factory Preset 4.

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

Each time a note is triggered via the Key Screen, this module generates two additional notes: one note exactly one octave above the triggered note, and another note exactly one octave below the triggered note. When the triggered note is released, these 'octave duplicate' notes will switch off also.

The volume (note velocity) of these octave duplicate notes is determined by Forearm Rotation when the primary note is triggered. While the triggered note is held, Forearm Rotation changes will not affect the volume of the octave duplicates.

The full range of Forearm Rotation for octave duplicate volume control is 0 degrees (quietest) to -180 degrees (loudest). Therefore, (assuming your forearm is roughly horizontal to the ground) when your palm is facing down the duplicates are quiet, and when your palm is facing up they are at their loudest.

Use the Minimum and Maximum range controls to adjust the volume (note velocity) range you are working in.

As an example, see the use of this module in factory preset 6.

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

This module allows you to send MIDI pitch bend messages in response to motion. Most synths respond to pitch bend MIDI messages.

Possible uses are creating precisely controlled vibrato effects or immediately 'sliding up' to a note after it is triggered.

Each selectable input motion type also has a pitch bend direction (up or down) already assigned. Because motion is being used as an input, pitch bending is only occurring when the Motion Synth is moving, and as you come to a stop the pitch returns to its normal value.

The 'Pitchbend Range' value sends a MIDI message to the MIDI recipient to change the semitone range (both up and down) over which it bends pitch. Therefore if this value was set to 24, the maximum pitch bend would be two octaves up and two octaves down. To achieve a subtle bend effect, keep this value around 1.

If the MIDI recipient is not responding as expected, try turning this module off and on again (top right hand corner switch in module), as this will resend the module's currently set pitch bend range value.

'Sensitivity' determines how responsive the pitch bending is to the motion input. For subtle bending effects, keep the Sensitivity value low.

Multiple copies of this module can be used at the same time as long as each copy is using a different motion as input or is transmitting on a different MIDI Channel.

As an example, see the use of this module in factory Preset 4. In this preset, one copy of the module uses Right Motion (lowers pitch) while another uses Left Motion (raises pitch). By combining the two, a vibrato effect can be created by 'wobbling' the hand left and right.

This module allows you to trigger notes through changes in Up-Down Orientation (while holding at least one note via the Key Screen). This is particularly well-suited to triggering sounds that have a fast attack; e.g. plucked (e.g. harp or guitar) or struck notes (e.g piano or dulcimer).

See a demo of the glissando module in action here: https://youtu.be/l6oGFd5Wz5A?t=4m48s

Imagine you are playing a harp with the strings stretched horizontally, and by pressing a key on the Key Screen and swinging your arm up and down from the elbow you can trigger notes from the scale selected in the Notes Tab (Main Menu). This effect may be better described as 'discrete glissando'.

Both the MIDI Channel and Note velocity of these triggered notes can be controlled independently of the notes triggered by tapping keys on the Key Screen. This means the glissando notes could be played by their own separate sound, with their own distinct volume.

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

This module is intended for use with GarageBand for iOS. It is useful if you are switching between custom Motion Synth presets designed to be used with GarageBand.

By including this module in the Motion Tab, each time it is loaded as part of a preset it will send a set of MIDI messages to the GarageBand app that return GarageBand instruments to their default parameters.

For example, if this module were not used, switching between factory Presets 3 and 4 could result in the Guitar instrument volume being left stuck at zero (because Preset 4 does not use motion to update the instrument volume)

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

If saved as part of a preset, this module will send a single MIDI CC message when the preset is loaded.

This is very useful if the synth you are controlling needs to have a particular parameter switched on or off via MIDI before use. For example, many synthesisers require a MIDI CC message of 127 or 0 to be sent to MIDI Controller number 65, in order to switch portamento on or off.

The channel and MIDI CC controller of the message to be sent number can be set within the two interface rows of this module.

If this module's switch is in the ON position, it will send a MIDI CC value of 127 when loaded. If this module's switch is in the OFF position, it will send a MIDI CC value of 0 when loaded.

Adding this module anywhere in the Motion Tab activates a slider in the Key Screen that can be used to adjust the vertical division between the top and bottom row of keys.

Click here for VIDEO instructions on using the Show Divider module.

Once you have finished using this module it can be switched off or deleted: Whatever adjustments you have made to the Key Screen will persist, regardless of whether you change presets or quit and relaunch the app.

Load this module again at any time to make subsequent adjustments.

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

This module allows you to activate Single-Key mode on the Key Screen.

Single-Key mode allows you to progress through melody sequences by touching any point in the central area of the Key Screen.

See also this guide on changing the Single-Key melody.

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

Use this module to select from a small set of special-purpose applications.

This module can be ignored for the time being, but will become relevant as we provide additional use demos and associated materials.

TIP: For application Legato trigger (mono), to control the note on velocity of the retriggered notes use the Velocity slider in the Notes Tab.

Only one copy of this module should be used within the Motion Tab at any one time.

TIP: Earlier versions of the Motion Synth App mistakenly describe the messages below as being sent on #CC numbers 1 and 2.

Pressing the buttons 1-8 will produce the following CC messages on #CC number 2:

1 = 51, 2 = 59, 3 = 68, 4 = 76, 5 = 85, 6 = 93, 7 = 102, 8 = 110.

If one or more buttons are pressed then a CC message of 127 will be sent on #CC number 3. When all buttons are released a CC message of 0 will be sent on #CC number 3.