Bend a String
One of the great advantages of guitar over other instruments such as keys, is the fact that pitch bends can be
incorporated into the music without your fingers leaving the fretboard. We did not forget about this with Expressiv. It allows
you to control not only pitch bend but also note parameters and effects such as velocity or frequency cutoffs by bending
a string while your playing. The MIDI mapping table above shows the exact MIDI control changes that you get when you
bend a note. Each string provides a separate parameter giving you 6 variable MIDI controls that you can use without your
fingers leaving the fretboard.
Enable String Bending
To enable String Bending by MIDI, press the Joystick ‘Click Button’ (1) once. You will see the infinity mirror flash Green when
it is enabled and Red when it is disabled.
JoyStick
By pushing the joystick forward and backwards, you can bend a string. To use the joystick for pitch bending, you need the
string bending disabled.
Recommended Strings
We strongly recommend you use Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings. These are USA made strings, are industry standard and are
probably the most popular string on the market. The Expressiv system has been fully tested and designed to work seamlessly
with these strings. However, you are free to try any other strings you wish. There should not be a problem unless there is an
electrically insulating coating on the string or the ball ends.
Changing the strings
1) Unlock the old string at the tuning head and remove the string
2) To avoid scratching your instrument, it is advisable to snip the strings with a cutter and slide them out through the through
holes on the body.
3) slide the new strings through the body from the back, ensuring that they go over the V in the bridge, and through the
tuning head
4) Pull them tight, lock the tuning head firmly and tune up the string as normal.
5) Depending on the new string, you may need to calibrate the MIDI settings on that string which should only take about 20
seconds. Follow the calibration instruction for this.
What is Calibrating?
Calibrating is done to optimize the performance of Expressiv.
Why do you need to calibrate Expressiv?
It generally only needs to be done if you change a string and it only needs to be done on that string. The calibration
process also allows you to only have strings output only a MIDI signal on say the first 12 frets. This means that you could play
MIDI on the bottom 12 frets and standard guitar on the top 12 frets.
How do you calibrate a string?
1) Generally, its better to calibrate after your frets have been cleaned using the fret cleaning card or after extensive
playing.
2) press and hold the octave up button and the joystick (note that if you push the joystick down you will feel it click like a
button).
3) While holding the two buttons, press the first fret of the string you wish to calibrate.
4) You will see the infinity mirror flash and hear a note play through MIDI. Immediately move up to the second fret. Again
you will hear the note so immediately move to the third fret and so on.
5) Continue to the top fret or as many frets as you would like to switch on.
6) Once you let go of the string, the calibration process will end and the number of frets you calibrated will be switched on.
The rest will be off.
