Microfreak/UG/10 Keyboard/02 Keyboard Responsiveness

• 10.2 Keyboard Responsiveness

  • Set the keyboard to send aftertouch or velocity at Utility → Preset → Press Mode. This choice changes how the keyboard responds to touch.
  • Utility → Preset → Velo Amp Mod sets how strongly velocity affects the patch volume, from 0 to 10.

  • Note/Info Assign Press as the Matrix source and the Envelope's Sustain knob as a modulation target to experiment with keyboard and volume effects.
    

  • Hearing is more sensitive to pitch changes than to volume changes, so pitch can help when adjusting keyboard responsiveness. On an empty preset, assign pressure to pitch in the Matrix at the maximum amount. Hold one finger at a 90° angle against the upper edge of a key, then lower it so more skin touches the key. The increased contact sends more pressure and raises the pitch.
  • Pressing hard while keeping the finger at 90° will not reach maximum pressure because of the touch-plate design.

  • Note/Info Velocity, Aftertouch, and Velo Amp Mod settings are saved with each preset. Two presets with the same sound can use different Velo Amp Mod values, such as 5 and 10, for different keyboard volume response.
    

  • Microfreak/UG/10 Keyboard/02 Keyboard Responsiveness/01 Using Responsiveness

    • 10.2.1 Using Keyboard Responsiveness

      • The small variations of a capacitive keyboard make timbre and pitch useful modulation targets. Modulating the Cycling Envelope's rise and fall times can also produce interesting results.
      • The Matrix Assign buttons open up several options:
        • Modulate Oscillator Type with pressure.
        • Modulate Wave, Timbre, and Shape together with pressure to make abrupt timbre changes.
        • Modulate Glide with pressure or velocity.
        • Modulate envelope attack and decay times with pressure for a natural response.
      • Keyboard Pressure or Velocity can control modular gear. Set the keyboard's output voltage at Utility → CV/Gate → Pressure Range, from 0V to 10V. The signal is available at the MicroFreak's rear Pressure output and can open an external filter, change a sequencer's speed, or alter a resonator's damping.

      • Note/Warning Some Eurorack modules cannot accept 10V input and may clip above their maximum input voltage.