Reference Manual

458 Live Instrument Reference
ple, when felt is applied to the strings by releasing the keys and sustain pedal. The vibration from
the string is then transmitted to the body of the instrument, which can radiate sound efficiently.
In some instruments, the string vibration is transmitted directly to the body through the bridge. In
other instruments, such as the electric guitar, a pickup is used to transmit the string vibration to an
amplifier. In addition to these main sections, a filter section has been included between the string
and body sections in order to expand the sonic possibilities of the instrument.
The Tension interface is divided into two main tabs, which are further divided into sections. The
String tab contains all of the fundamental sound producing components related to the string it-
self: Excitator, String, Damper, Termination, Pickup and Body. The Filter/Global tab contains the
Filter section, as well as controls for global performance parameters. Each section (with the ex-
ception of String and the global Keyboard section) can be enabled or disabled independently.
Turning off a section reduces CPU usage.
24.9.2 String Tab
The String tab contains the parameters related to the physical properties of the string itself, as
well as the way in which it’s played.
The Excitator Section
Tension’s Excitator Section.
The modelled string can be played using different types of excitators in order to reproduce
different types of instruments and playing techniques. The excitator is selected using the Type
chooser, and the choices available are Bow, Hammer, Hammer (bouncing) and Plectrum.
Bow — this excitator is associated with bowed instruments such as the violin, viola or cello. The
bow sets the string in sustained oscillation. The motion of the bow hair across the string creates