Keith McMillen Instruments StringPort User manual

StringPort Reference Manual
for Violin
StringPort Version 1649 for Mac OS 10.6
September 2010
Keith McMillen, Barry Threw, Chris Shaver, Ashley Adams, Nick Bonardi, Chuck Carlson,
Joel Davel, Raja Das, Diane Douglas, Sarah Howe, Mike McHam, Marielle Jakobsons,
Conner Lacy, Chris Muir, Miller Puckette, Danishta Rivero, Denis Saputelli, Mike
Zawitkowski, and Michael Zbyszynski

Copyright 2007-2010 Keith McMillen Instruments a wholly owned subsidiary of Kesumo
LLC. All rights reserved. Made in USA.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any purpose
without the express written permission of the copyright holders.
The content of this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change
without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Keith McMillen
Instruments. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is
accurate. No warranties, express or implied, are made with regard to the quality,
suitability or accuracy of this document. Keith McMillen Instruments reserves the right to
change the contents of this document and/or the associated products at any time
without the provision of prior notice to specific persons or organizations. Keith McMillen
Instruments shall not be held liable for damages of any kind arising from the use, or the
inability to use this product or its documentation, even if the possibility of such damage
is known.
Product and brand names contained in this document are used for identification purposes
only. Keith McMillen Instruments, the Keith McMillen Instruments Logo, the StringPort
and StringPort logo are trademarks of Kesumo LLC. Apple, Finder, GarageBand, Mac,
MacBook, Macintosh, Mac OS and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in
the U.S. and other countries. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation
in the United States and other countries. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel
Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. SONiVOX is the
brand name trademark of Sonic Network, Inc. VST and ASIO are trademarks and
software of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. ReWire, Recycle and REX2 are
trademarks of Propellerhead Software AB. All other product and company names are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. All other names and
designations of companies, products, trademarks, or brands used in this document are
the registered property of their respective holders.
maxim digital audio (mda) VST Plug-ins are Copyright ©1998-2000, Paul Kellett
([email protected]).
Mac conversions by Glenn Olander ([email protected]) and Brian Chrisman
([email protected])
BeOS conversions by Christopher Lenz ([email protected])
Based on the Steinberg VST PlugIn Software Development Kit which is Copyright ©1996, Steinberg Soft
und Hardware GmbH. These plug-ins are free software and are provided 'as is' with no warranty of any
kind. You may make and distribute copies. Check for the latest versions at http://www.maxim.abel.co.uk/
vst/. This file updated 21 October 2000.

Table of Contents
1. Welcome ........................................................................................ 5
1. Questions or Feedback? Contact Us!.................................................. 5
2. Before Getting Started ................................................................... 5
1. System Requirements ..................................................................... 5
2. What's in the StringPort Package ...................................................... 5
3. StringPort ...................................................................................... 6
4. The Hardware ................................................................................ 6
5. Getting Started .............................................................................. 7
1. Downloading the Software ............................................................... 7
2. StringPort Audio/MIDI Driver ........................................................... 8
3. How to Hook up the StringPort ......................................................... 9
4. VST Plugins ................................................................................... 9
6. Using the StringPort Software Suite .............................................. 9
1. MainFrame .................................................................................. 10
2. Navigating the StringPort Software Suite ......................................... 11
3. Audio Setup................................................................................. 11
4. Audio Input ................................................................................. 12
1. Automatic Trim.......................................................................... 13
2. String Assignment ..................................................................... 14
5. MIDI Input .................................................................................. 15
6. Preset Mod .................................................................................. 15
7. Presets ....................................................................................... 18
1. Creating, Editing, Saving Presets ................................................. 18
2. Factory Presets.......................................................................... 19
3. Managing Presets ...................................................................... 19
8. Analysis ...................................................................................... 20
1. Loudness Curves ....................................................................... 22
9. Processing ................................................................................... 22
10. Wave Guide ................................................................................. 23
11. Modulation .................................................................................. 23
1. String Select ............................................................................. 24
12. PolyFuzz...................................................................................... 24
1. Modulation................................................................................ 25
13. Phase Vocoder ............................................................................. 25
1. Modulation................................................................................ 27
14. SMACK........................................................................................ 27
15. VST Wall ..................................................................................... 32
1. Modulation................................................................................ 34
16. Synthesis .................................................................................... 35
17. Classic ........................................................................................ 36
1. Modulation................................................................................ 38
18. Synful......................................................................................... 38
1. Modulation................................................................................ 40
2. Synful Accompaniment ............................................................... 41
1. Modulation ............................................................................. 42
19. MIDI Out..................................................................................... 42
1. Synth Pitch Bend ....................................................................... 45
2. Modulation................................................................................ 46
3. MIDI Out Accompaniment ........................................................... 46
1. Modulation ............................................................................. 48
20. Control Out.................................................................................. 48
21. Notation...................................................................................... 48
1. Mouse Gestures......................................................................... 50
2. Key Presses .............................................................................. 51
3. Selection .................................................................................. 51
22. Integration With Digital Audio Workstations ..................................... 52

7. Appendix...................................................................................... 53
1. StringPort Sources........................................................................ 53
2. Loudness Curves .......................................................................... 54
8. Troubleshooting........................................................................... 56

Welcome
Thank you from Keith McMillen Instruments! We are excited to welcome you to the world
of the StringPort polyphonic string-to-USB 2.0 converter.
Questions or Feedback? Contact Us!
If at any time you have any questions, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.stringport.com
Before Getting Started
There's a few things that you need to know before you start using your StringPort.
• When you first receive your StringPort, please check the StringPort downloads
for the latest firmware, drivers and applications.
•Keith McMillen Instruments cannot be held liable for damage resulting
from installation and operation errors or improper use.
System Requirements
We recommend the following for using the StringPort and StringPort software:
• An Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz or greater Mac OS 10.6 or later.
• StringPort is a multi-core/multi-threaded application suite so more and faster is
always better. Expect long load times and inability to run multiple applications
simultaneously on slower machines.
• has 30 MB free hard disk space
• An instrument with a polyphonic pickup to provide audio to your computer
through the D-13 input.
What's in the StringPort Package
When you open up the box you should find:
• 1 StringPort
• 1 USB A-to-USB B cable
• 1 Power supply

StringPort
StringPort is a polyphonic string-to-USB 2.0 converter with a unique, powerful, and
extensible software suite that greatly expands the synthesis and processing palette of
guitarists, violinists, bassists, and other stringed instrument players.
While string instruments are some of the most expressive ever created, it is a struggle
for string players to wring emotion out of the computer based musical instruments that
have been introduced to keyboard players over the last 25 years.
Coupled with an instrument with a polyphonic pickup and the industry-standard DIN-13
connector, StringPort allows string players to finally enter the world of synthesis,
sophisticated processing and notation.
Stringed instruments simply don’t fit the simple event model on which MIDI is based. To
avoid the limitations of MIDI technology, StringPort brings the actual sound of each
string into the computer as an audio signal, where multiple analysis algorithms extract a
string’s sonic properties with low latency and high resolution.
The resulting data is used to control software synthesis with an unprecedented degree of
intimacy and expressivity. The entire system is optimized for the characteristics of string
behavior and produces much more information than simple MIDI conversion.
The Hardware
The audio enters the StringPort through a
13-pin polyphonic output (such as a GK3
pickup or the output on a Zeta violin), Aux
Input (with phantom power), or Instrument
Input and is routed via USB2 into the
computer. The StringPort also has a MIDI
input and MIDI output.

The StringPort then sends a separate audio
channel for each string, along with a summed
mono signal, to the computer via USB2. The
StringPort also includes a D13 output to pass
through to legacy devices commonly used with
polyphonic pickups.
The audio signals leave the StringPort hardware via USB2 and are fed into the powerful
collection of bundled StringPort applications running on the host computer. The hardware
also delivers processed audio information via balanced line outs and headphone jack.
Getting Started
Before you can expect to get sound to come out of your StringPort with the software
make sure you do all of the following in this order:
1. Purchase a StringPort with the software at www.stringport.com
2. Download the Software from www.stringport.com
3. Unzip the software file into your Applications folder
4. Install the StringPort driver before hooking up the StringPort
5. Restart your computer and plug in the StringPort and turn it on
6. Hook up speakers and plug your instrument into the Din13 input on the
StringPort Hardware
7. Check your System Preferences and Audio/MIDI setup to make sure your
computer can find the hardware
8. Open up the SP-MainFrame application in your StringPort folder (highlighted in
green)
9. Make sure you are connected to the internet and paste your license code into the
field and license the software (see the separate licensing guide document)
10. Quit the Application and then re-open it so the license changes can take effect
11. Open up Audio Setup and make sure the StringPort driver is selected as the
device
12. Open the Audio Input Window and make sure you can see signal coming in when
you strum your instrument
13. Run Automatic Trim and save a preset for the trim settings
14. Turn up the Strings Monitor to make sure you can hear your instrument
15. Now your ready to start playing around! Open up an app of your choice and
start exploring!
If you have trouble with any of these steps consult the chapters of the manual devoted
to them (and linked to) for more information before trying to move to the next step. If
you continue to have problems consult the Troubleshooting chapter. If these problems
continue e-mail us at [email protected] with an explanation of your problem.
The more descriptive you are about your problem, the more we will be able to help you.
Thanks!
Downloading the Software
The first step after opening your StringPort package is to check your e-mail. You should
receive an e-mail with a link to to download the StringPort Software along with a key
code appropriate for the software you purchased.
Once the software has finished downloading, drag and drop the entire "StringPort" folder
into your Applications folder.

The contents of the StringPort folder should look like this:
The folder has everything you
need, including the driver, the
software, a folder containing all
the presets, another folder with
samples, another folder with
VSTs, and a support folder
containing things the
applications need to run.
There are also several useful
documents including a readme
file which includes information
about the current version you
have downloaded, a EULA
(licence agreement), a
Licensing Guide to help you out
if you have trouble licensing the
software, a Quickstart Guide for
when you're first starting out,
and the full StringPort Manual.
The SP-MainFrame application is highlighted because this is the main application. All
other applications can be opened from within the Mainframe.
If it is your first time installing the software onto your computer you'll want to start by
installing the StringPort driver.
Upgrading the Software
After downloading an upgrade from the StringPort downloads site you can just unzip the
file into your applications folder. At that point you can either delete your old version or
not. If you should decide to delete your old version remember to save your presets.
See the Managing Presets chapter of the manual for more information on how to
transfer your presets to a new version.
StringPort Audio/MIDI Driver
In order to use the StringPort polyphonic string-to-USB 2.0 converter, you will need to
install the StringPort Audio/MIDI Driver included in the StringPort package. Make sure
that when you install the driver, the StringPort is off. If you get an updated version of
the software you don't need to reinstall the driver unless you notice a newer version
number.
Once you install the driver you'll want to connect and turn on the StringPort hardware
and check your System Preferences and Audio/MIDI Setup to make sure it is showing
up. If you are having trouble with this see troubleshooting.
Note: If the StringPort driver is not properly installed and the StringPort hardware is not
connected and turned on the software will automatically quit after a few seconds.

How to Hook up the StringPort
Back of the StringPort
• make sure the string port is powered by plugging it into the wall
• hook up the USB cable to the String Port and to your computer
• plug your instrument into the D-13 input
• plug in your speakers or headphones to the outputs in the back of the StringPort
or the headphone jack in front
• turn on the String Port
VST Plugins
We have included a few VST plugins in the StringPort Package to get you started:
• SoundHack Freesound Bundle
• SoundHack Spectral Shapers (Trial version)
• mda-vst (VST bundle from Smartelectronix)
• Frohmage (Ohmforce)
Note: Pluggo is not currently supported
These plugins are contained in a folder within the StringPort directory called "vstfx". In
order for the StringPort software to recognize other VST effects put the .vst file in the
"vstfx" folder. Once you have successfully installed the VST plugins, they will become
available to you in the VST Wall application of the String Port software (see VST Wall
chapter on page 31 for more information) in the drop-down menu on each signal slot
(string) upon starting the StringPort applications. Note: VST instruments do not work
with VST Wall so don't put VST Instruments into this folder.
Using the StringPort Software Suite
The StringPort Software Suite gives you multiple apps to work with, all with their own
way of allowing you to manipulate and control the sound of your instrument. You can
stay simple and pick your favorite or you can explore different combination and use

multiple apps simultaneously (only limited by the number of cores and the speed of your
computer). All of these apps are contained within one main application: the StringPort
MainFrame. Processing, VST Wall, Synthesis, MIDI Out, and Notation are all
standalone applications that you need to launch in addition to StringPort.app in order to
get them to instantiate in the MainFrame.
If you do not plan to use the features of an application, do not launch it. Your computer
will run faster without it. Also set all unused applications to the Off preset as this will
also conserve CPU cycles. In addition close any windows you are not using, especially
graphics intensive windows such as Analysis and Input.
MainFrame
At the top you have the apps that involve set up:
•Audio Input - this is where you set up your string assignments and input levels
•MIDI Input - here you can set up an outside MIDI controller to use with the
software
•Preset Mod - here you can set a source for controlling jumps between individual
and main presets
The next line is where you can save a Preset that tells all of the apps below this line
which preset of their own to use:
•Analysis - this is where
the incoming audio from
the Din13 input gets
analyzed for use with
various other apps
•Processing - open this up
to check out other apps
that will process your
sound in their own unique
way
•VST FX Wall - here you
can use and control VST
effects to process the
sound from your
instrument
•Synthesis - this app
contains Synful and
Classic, two applications
that will allow you to
synthesize your own
sounds with your
instrument
•MIDI Out - if Analysis is
running your sound can be
converted to MIDI notes
that you can send out to
other applications or out
the MIDI output on the
back of your StringPort
•Notation - here you can
create recordings of your
instrument to preview and
convert into a MIDI file
that you can then open in
any notation software.