The ATG-­‐1 Lap Steel+ Pedal Application Version 3.32 Author: Dr. Andy Hildebrand October 2015 Chapter 1 The Lap Steel+ Features What's different about the Lap Steel+ Application The Lap Steel+ application is only available for the ATG-­‐1 Floor Processor. The Lap Steel+ application is the same as the Core Pack (the basic application pack) with two additional features: the Glissando parameter and an expanded PITCH SHIFT dialog. Consequently, we will only be discussing the new features in this manual. Other information for operating the Floor Processor can be found in "ATG-­‐1 Floor Processor Manual v3.32.pdf" The PITCH SHIFT dialog The PITCH SHIFT dialog works completely differently than the PITCH SHIFT in the Core Pack (that is installed at the factory). We did not what to take the old functionality away from users, many of whom are accustomed to the Core Pack PITCH SHIFT. So we decided to create a separate application (the Lap Steel+) and price it very inexpensively. That means you can install the Lap Steel+ application along side the Core Pack application and chose which application you want to run by using with a few button presses or a specific MIDI Control Message (discussed below). In the Lap Steel+, the PITCH SHIFT dialog is accessed by lighting the CONTROL Led and then pressing the PITCH SHIFT button. The PITCH SHIFT dialog allows you to set a unique pitch shift for each string. The PITCH SHIFT can be set from -­‐1250 cents to +1250 cents. That is slightly more than a two octave range (every 100 cents is a semitone in the equal tempered diatonic scale). Because these pitch shifts depend on the string, as you use the pedal to shift one string up and a different string down in pitch at the same time. First, you set the string by using the arrow button to move the cursor under the string name. You then turn the DATA dial to set the string. Second, you set the pitch shift amount by using the arrow button to move the cursor under the "Cnts:" field. You then turn the DATA dial to set the pitch amount in cents. At this point you can hear the pitch shift by moving the pedal. To allow quick pitch shifts, only the first half of the pedal travel is used. Moving the pedal back to the heel down position will remove the pitch shift (provided the pedal travel had been correctly calibrated -­‐ see "Set the Pedal Range Calibration" in the Floor Processor Manual). 2 The Pedal remains in the PITCH SHIFT-­‐ing mode unless it is needed for setting other controls (Like CAPO, etc.) This means as you change from preset to preset, the pedal will always be used for PITCH SHIFT. The PITCH SHIFT parameters are Control Parameters You already know that "Controls" are saved in presets and Global applies to all presets. The PITCH SHIFT parameters are Control parameters. So, for example, you can set PITCH SHIFT amounts and one tuning (say an Open E) and save it in Bank 2 Preset 5. You can set different PITCH SHIFT amounts and a different tuning (say an Open A) and save it in Bank 2 Preset 6. As you switch from Bank 2 Preset 5 to Bank 2 Preset 6, you change tuning from E to A and PITCH SHIFTS from one to the other as well. The Glissando parameter There are three controls that cause sudden changes in pitch: CAPOs, ALT TUNINGs, and DOUBLINGs. In the Core Pack, changing any of these results in an instantaneous pitch change (flawless and artifact free) but still instantaneous and unnatural. To the rescue: The Glissando parameter. The Glissando is accessed by lighting the CONTROLS Led and turning the DATA dial two clicks to clockwise. You will see "Control Glissando". Use the arrow buttons to access the Glissando field and use the DATA knob to set the value. This number ranges from 0 to 100, representing 0 seconds to (roughly) 10.0 seconds in time. Set it to 10 for 1.0 seconds. Now change CAPO or ALT TUNING. Instead of an instantaneous pitch change, the change will be spread over a 1 second time period. The Glissando parameter is a Control Parameter You guessed it! Use Glissando 10 setting in Preset 3 and Glissando 20 in preset 4, say with an additional CAPO change. When you call up Preset 4, it takes 2.0 seconds to make the pitch change. When you call up Preset 3, the pitch change is done in 1.0 second. 3 PITCH SHIFT parameters, Glissando and Custom ALT TUNING: the perfect Trifecta These are the three magic ingredients that let you create any alternate tuning and make a Glissando transition or pedal transition to any other alternate tuning. If you want a temporary transition or embellishment (like a B-­‐bender) and back to the original, use the PITCH SHIFT. Remember the pitch shift amounts are unique to each string and can change whenever you change presets. Taken all together, your guitar can now achieve any sound that a pedal steel could produce and have a single pedal to assist as well. More over you can do something practically impossible on a pedal steel -­‐ Solid Tune puts everything in perfect diatonic intonation. Just Intonation Speaking of intonation, you might have questioned why the Custom Alt Tuning, Custom Doublings, and PITCH SHIFT amounts are all controlled in cents. Why not use half-­‐steps? The answer is because we have designed these features to be used by a growing following of enthusiasts interested in Just Intonation. More specify, the diatonic equal tempered intonation in common use today works well because the evenly spaced pitches approximately match pitches whose frequency ratios have integer relationships. Just intonation is built on using pitch intervals that are exactly integer relationships. As a result, when you tune a piano to C-­‐major Just, then a C major chord will sound fantastic. It dominate, the G major 7th also sound pretty good, but the pitch of the F will be way off because it will be tuned so the Mediant F major cord to sound good. God forbid the terrible sounds that result if you make a modulation to a different key, even one close by. But the tools we have with the product release have much more potential than a single Just scale. We can tune every chord to whatever integer ratios we wish. Baring chords up the neck also work perfectly. But if we want to finger a chord the intervals have to be incremented differently -­‐ voila, the PITCH SHIFT could be used to pull us back perfect ratios. Another approach would be to have multiple open tunings (ex. multiple Open E tunings) each corresponding to different fingering. So that all the chords we play have perfectly sonorous pitch intervals. I am personally looking forward the amazing works of art that are going to evolve from this technology! 4 Chapter 2 Changing Application Packs There are two ways to switch from one application to another. The first is to use the "Select Application" page in the CONTROLS menu. The second is to use a MIDI controls message. This is controlled with a MIDI Control Change (MIDI CC) message. The Control Change messages have a Channel Number which can be any value (OMNI mode), a control number and a control value. The control number and control values are as follows: Function Control Number Control Value Startup new Pack 24 string numbers 1 to 6 for high E to low E In the "Select Application" page, after you press the right cursor ">", you will see a number in the top left hand position. This is the number you use in the MIDI message. Using MIDI, it is possible to make very fast changes between applications. 5