Reference Manual

459 Live Instrument Reference
friction, causing the string to alternate between sticking to the hair and breaking free. The fre-
quency of this alternation between sticking and slipping determines the fundamental pitch.
The Force knob adjusts the amount of pressure being applied to the string by the bow. The sound
becomes more “scratchy“ as you increase this value. The friction between the bow and the string
can be adjusted with the Friction control. Higher values usually result in a faster attack. Velocity
adjusts the speed of the bow across the string. Finally, the Vel and Key sliders below these three
controls allow you to modulate their behavior based on note velocity or pitch, respectively.
Hammer and Hammer (bouncing) — these two excitator types simulate the behavior of soft ham-
mers or mallets. Hammer models a hammer that is located below the string and strikes it once
before falling away. This type of mechanism is found in a piano, for example. Hammer (bounc-
ing) models a hammer that is located above the string and is dropped onto it, meaning that it
can bounce on the string multiple times. This playing mode can be found on a hammered dulci-
mer, for example.
The mass and stiffness of the hammer are adjusted with the (surprise) Mass and Stiffness knobs,
while Velocity controls the speed at which the hammer is struck against the string. As with the
Bow excitator, these three parameters can be further modulated by note velocity and pitch by
adjusting the Vel and Key sliders. The behavior of the hammer is further controlled by the Damp-
ing knob, which adjusts how much of the hammer’s impact force is absorbed back into the ham-
mer. It is somewhat analogous to the Stiffness parameter, but instead of controlling the stiffness
of the hammer’s surface it adjusts the stiffness of the virtual “spring“ that connects the hammer to
the mass that powers it. As you increase the Damping amount, the interaction between the ham-
mer and string will become shorter, generally resulting in a louder, brighter sound.
Plectrum — a plectrum or “pick“ is associated with instruments such as guitars and harpsichords.
It can be thought of as an angled object placed under the string that snaps the string into motion.
The Protrusion knob adjusts how much of the plectrum’s surface area is placed under the string.
Lower values results in a “thinner,“ smaller sound, as there is less mass setting the string into mo-
tion. The Stiffness, Velocity and Damping knobs behave similarly to the Hammer mode. Protru-
sion, Stiffness, Velocity and Position can be modulated by velocity or note pitch via the Vel and
Key sliders.
The Position knob is applicable to each excitator model, and specifies the point on the string
where the excitator makes contact. At 0%, the excitator contacts the string at its termination
point, while at 50% it activates the string at its midpoint. The behavior is a bit different if the Fix.
Pos switch is enabled, however. In this case, the contact point is fixed to a single location, rather
than changing as the length of the string changes. This behavior is similar to that of a guitar,