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App Settings: velocity, sensitivity & breath response curve
These settings are really key. The three that are most relevant are Velocity, Sensitivity and the Breath Response Curves. These interact to a certain extent, but we’ll consider them separately.
VELOCITY
Think of this as a volume control. To alter the velocity setting, go to ‘Settings’, select ‘Midi’, turn on ‘Advanced Mode’ and then select ‘Sensitivity’. Velocity is shown on a slide bar. The default ‘factory’ value is 80. Basically, the higher this number is, the louder the re.corder will play at maximum volume. Some users actually set it to 127, although some instruments can sound a bit harsh if they hit this volume. Remember to send this setting to the re.corder by holding the circle button and touching save. Continue holding the circle button until you get a confirmation message.
SENSITIVITY
To change the sensitivity setting, go to ‘Settings’, select ‘Midi’, then ‘Sensitivity’ – it doesn’t matter if you have ‘Advanced Mode’ enabled or not.
There are three sensitivity settings. High’, ‘Default’, and ‘Low’. Select the one that best suits your playing, send the change to re.corder.
EDIT – If you have the latest version of the app, the names have been reversed – so set the threshold to ‘Low’, rather than ‘High’ as above.
There are three sensitivity settings. High’, ‘Default’, and ‘Low’. Select the one that best suits your playing, send the change to re.corder.
EDIT – If you have the latest version of the app, the names have been reversed – so set the threshold to ‘Low’, rather than ‘High’ as above.
BREATH RESPONSE CURVE
To alter the response curve setting, go to ‘Settings’, select ‘Midi’, turn on ‘Advanced Mode’ and then select ‘Pressure’.
This is the most important of all. The re.corder app has 17 available response curves, the default ‘Linear’ and ‘Embedded’ 1 to 16. It’s important to match the response curve you are using to the type of music you are playing. Some of the curves are designed for expressive, legato playing – others have no dynamics at all and play at full volume (as set under ‘Velocity’) at the slightest breath pressure. Some of them are actually quite weird and are there with midi in mind rather than playing tunes. You can try them out, but the following are the ones that work best for most users.
Expressive, legato playing – Embedded3
A balance between expression and being able to play fast without delay and attain high volume without blowing hard – Embedded1
Fast and furious – Embedded7 or Embedded10 (these have no dynamics at all but also no delays, because they play at full volume at minimal air pressure
Most users “default” setting is Embedded1, which seems to work nicely for almost everything.
You’ll notice a number on the slide bar which, if you haven’t changed it, will be 11. Don’t change it, or if you have, set it back to 11. This is the value that allows the recorder to respond to your breath. If you change it to something else then (a) you lose all dynamics and (b) you may introduce some random behaviour that you don’t want.
Remember to send your selection to the re.corder.
All of the above applies to playing through the app. It also applies when using the re.corder as a midi controller, but there are many other aspects to consider.
(Guide by John Harrison – re.corder Community expert)
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