Step Modifiers are powerful, flexible tools that add specific behaviors to any step, allowing you to create complex and creative patterns.
Click on the square pane above each step to reveal the Step Modifier menu, then make a selection from the 5 fly-out menus.
None
“None” is the default state and no Step Modifiers are applied. If a Step Modifier is selected, you can select “None” to clear it.
Transpose
You can select the Transpose value by choosing the number of half steps the played note will be transposed up or down.
Range: +/- 24 half steps
When a Transpose modifier is selected, the transposition value will be displayed in gold.
Slide
You can select the Slide value by choosing the number of half steps the played note will bend up or down in a step, allowing you to create TB-303-style pitch slides as part of the arpeggiation. The speed at which the bends occur is set by moving the Rate Slider above the Slide value—all the way left is the fastest and all the way right is the slowest. Slide is the only Step Modifier that can be used multiple times over the length of a multi-step note, allowing for legato slides.
Range: +/- 24 half steps
Slide uses Pitch Bend messages to create the pitch slides. Once you engage Slide, Trilian’s Pitch Bend range is automatically changed to +/- 24 half steps. The Pitch Bend messages can be recorded using the Capture feature. When using captured MIDI Arpeggiator data with another instrument, make sure the Pitch Bend range on that device or VI is set to +/- 24 half steps.
NOTE: Slides are always relative to the played note.
Chord
When a Chord Modifier is applied to a step, that step will play a chord (some or all of the notes held in the pattern, depending on the selected modifier).
Chord Modifier Types
There are 9 Chord Modifier Types:
- Chord
Plays all held notes.
- Chord Voicing 1
Plays only the odd-numbered notes in the held chord.
E.G. If you play a 6 note chord, it will play a chord comprised of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes.
- Chord Voicing 2
Plays only the even-numbered notes in the held chord.
E.G. If you play a 6 note chord, it will play a chord comprised of the 2nd, 4th, and 6th notes.
- Chord Inversion +1
Plays the first inversion of the chord.
E.G. if you play C3-E3-G3, it will play E3-G3-C4. If you play C3-E3-A3-D4, it will play E3-A3-C4-D4.
- Chord Inversion +2
Plays the second inversion of the chord.
E.G. if you play C3-E3-G3-B3, it will play G3-B3-C4-E4.
- Chord Inversion +3
Plays the third inversion of the chord.
E.G. if you play C3-E3-G3-A3, it will play A3-C4-E4-G4.
- Chord Inversion -1
This is similar to Chord Inversion +1, but inverts downward one chord step instead.
E.G. if you play C3-E3-G3, it will play G2-C3-E3.
- Chord Inversion -2
Inverts downward two chord steps.
E.G. if you play C3-E3-G3, it will play E2-G2-C3.
- Chord Inversion -3
Inverts downward three chord steps.
E.G. if you play C3-E3-G3, it will play C2-E2-G2.
Hi-Low
- Lowest
The modifier will ignore the Arpeggiator mode and always play the lowest held note.
- Highest
The modified step will ignore the Arpeggiator mode and always play the highest held note.
Step Dividers
- Step Divider 2
This modifier divides the step into 2 equal parts and triggers the same note twice.
E.G. If the step was supposed to play one 8th-note on C4, it will play two 16th-notes on C4 in the same time.
- Step Divider 3
Divides the step into 3 equal parts.
- Step Divider 4
Divides the step into 4 equal parts.
- Step Divider 2 Rise
Divides the step into 2 equal parts that play with an increasing velocity.
- Step Divider 3 Rise
Divides the step into 3 equal parts that play with an increasing velocity.
- Step Divider 4 Rise
Divides the step into 4 equal parts that play with an increasing velocity.
- Step Divider 2 Fall
Divides the step into 2 equal parts that play with a decreasing velocity.
- Step Divider 3 Fall
Divides the step into 3 equal parts that play with a decreasing velocity.
- Step Divider 4 Fall
Divides the step into 4 equal parts that play with a decreasing velocity.
Strum
The Strum Modifiers in Omnisphere’s Arpeggiator are a fun collection of creative tools that let you simulate the strumming patterns of a guitar with a variety of Strum Patterns.
Guitar strumming is made up of downstrokes and upstrokes. Downstrokes start on the lowest-pitched string and move downwards towards the highest-pitched string. Upstrokes reverse the Pattern. Strumming patterns can alternate down and up or repeat the Down and Upstrokes.
The Strum Modifiers were designed with guitars in mind, such as the Sonic Extension, Nylon Sky, and can yield surprisingly realistic results. They can also be an excellent tool for arpeggiating a variety of Patches—even percussion, bass, and synth sounds, such as keyboards and plucks. We recommend that you experiment with them!
Strum Types
When a Step has a Strum Modifier engaged, the notes held down on the keyboard will be strummed in various ways, depending on the Modifier.
There are 10 Modifiers in the Strum menu—6 Downstrokes and 4 Upstrokes.
The Low Note / High Note Emphasis Modifiers strum only the lowest or highest notes being held in the chord, similar to the playing techniques of a guitarist.
Downstrokes
- Down Full
Full Downstroke - Down Lo
Downstroke of the lowest notes only - Down Hi
Downstroke of the highest notes only - Down Inv
Full Downstroke, inverted ( E.G. if you play C3-E3-G3, it will play E3-G3-C4) - Down Inv Lo
Downstroke of the lowest notes only, inverted - Down Inv Hi
Downstroke of the highest notes only, inverted
Upstrokes
- Up Full
Full Upstroke - Up Hi
Upstroke of the highest notes only - Up Inv
Full Upstroke, Inverted - Up Inv Hi
Upstroke of the highest notes only, inverted
NOTE: You can play chords with as many notes as you wish with the Down/Up Full and Down/Up Inversions and the Arpeggiator will strum them. However, no matter how many notes are held down, the Low Note / High Note Emphasis Modifiers will only focus on the outer ranges.
NOTE: Changing the Step length does not alter the timing of the Strum Pattern within the Step—the Strum will happen at the beginning of the Step and in the case of tied Steps, the notes will sustain for the full value of each Step.
Strum Speed Slider
The Slider in the top section of the Strum Modifier controls the speed of the Strum.
The Strums get faster as the Slider moves to the left and slower as it moves to the right.
NOTE: Note Patterns (such as Chord, Up/Down or Random) are ignored for any Step in which a Strum Modifier is engaged.
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