User Guide

Manual Version 1.0

 Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................ 3 Plugin Controls ........................................... 11

System Requirements & Product Support .... 3 Presets ...................................................... 11

Installation .................................................... 3 Master ....................................................... 12

Authorization................................................. 4 Envelope ................................................... 13

Filter .......................................................... 14
Operation............................................................ 6

LFO Mod ................................................... 14

Overview ....................................................... 6

Effects ....................................................... 15
Basic Concepts ............................................. 7
Equalization (EQ) .................................. 15
Chorus ................................................. 16
Adjusting the Controls ................................. 7
Delay.................................................... 17
Selectors ................................................ 7
Reverb ................................................. 18
Knobs ..................................................... 7
Sliders .................................................... 8
Keyboard .................................................. 19
Envelope................................................. 8

Trademarks & Licenses ................................... 20

Using Presets .............................................. 9

MIDI Learn ................................................. 10

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Introduction
System Requirements & Product Support

For complete system requirements, compatibility information, documentation, and product registration,
visit the SONiVOX website: sonivoxmi.com.
For additional support, visit sonivoxmi.com/support.

Installation

To install the Harpsichord software and content:

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1. Double-click the .exe (Windows ) or .pkg (Mac OS X ) installer file you downloaded.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to continue the installation.
Important: Due to the quantity and quality of samples included in the software, allow some time for
the installation to complete. This could take several minutes.
3. Authorize your installation of Harpsichord. See Authorization below to learn how to do this.

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Authorization

To authorize your version of Harpsichord:

1. Do one of the following to open the Harpsichord Authorizer:

• Double-click the Harpsichord Authorizer on your computer desktop.
• Open Harpsichord on a MIDI track in your digital audio workstation (DAW).

2. In the window that appears, enter the authorization code you received with your installation, and
then click Activate.
Alternatively, click Try to start using a trial version of the software, or click Cancel to exit the
authorization process.

3. After clicking Activate, the next window will ask you for your
authorization code. Enter the code you received with your purchase,
and then click Next.

4. The next window will ask for your e-mail address.

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If you already have an iLok account, enter your e-mail address,
check the Register with my existing iLok.com account box, and
then click Continue.
If you do not have an iLok account, enter your e-mail address, and
then click Continue.

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5. If you already have an iLok account, the next window will ask for
your account information. Enter your iLok User ID and Password,
and then click Next. Continue on to Step 6 below.

If you do not have an iLok account, the next window will where you
want to store your new iLok license. Click the Store button next to
On my computer.
The next window will confirm that your activation was successful.
Click Continue to finish the authorization. You’re now ready to use
Harpsichord—skip the following steps, and start making music!

6. Select where you want to store your iLok license. Any available
locations will appear in the panel in the window, including your
computer or any physical/hardware iLoks registered with your iLok
account (and are also connected to your computer).
After you have selected your desired location, click Next.

7. The next window will confirm that your activation was successful. Click Continue to finish the
authorization. You’re now ready to use Harpsichord!

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Operation
Overview

2 3 4 5 6

The graphical user interface (GUI) is divided into several parts, each of which contains different types of
controls. Click a section name below to jump to its section of the Plugin Controls chapter.
1. The Presets section has controls to manage your presets and MIDI assignments.
2. The Master section controls the global tuning, transposition, volume, and pan settings.
3. The Envelope section controls the amp, filter, and pitch envelopes.
4. The Filter section controls the filter settings.
5. The LFO Mod section controls the low-frequency oscillator (LFO) and its parameters.
6. The Effects section controls the various effects you can apply to the sound.
7. The Keyboard section contains the virtual keyboard and related controls.

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Basic Concepts

Adjusting the Controls

Selectors

Click a selector to turn it on or off. It will be lit when it is on, unlit when
it is off.

Knobs

Click a knob and then drag it up or down to adjust its setting.

Alternatively, click the field under it, use your computer keyboard to enter a number, and
then press Enter.
Press and hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS X) on your computer keyboard and then
click a knob to make it “jump” to the position of your mouse cursor.
Tip: Make finer (“higher-resolution”) adjustments by pressing and holding Ctrl (Windows) or
 (Mac OS X) while adjusting the knobs.

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Sliders

Click and drag a slider left or right to adjust its setting.

Alternatively, click the field under it, use your computer keyboard to enter a number, and
then press Enter.

Envelope

Click a “handle” or point on the envelope and drag it to adjust the

corresponding envelope phase: Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain, or
Release.
Alternatively, adjust the knobs below it.

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Using Presets

Patches are the sounds inside Harpsichord.

Any Harpsichord file with the extension .svx is
a patch file. The software includes dozens of
patches for you to get started.
To play a patch, you must load it first. You can
also edit any patch and save it as a new patch.

To load a patch:
1. Click the folder icon.
2. Choose Load SVX File.
3. Locate and select the patch file (.svx) you want to play, and click Open.
Tip: Each instance of the plugin can have one patch loaded at a time. If you want to use more than one
patch in a project, simply open another instance of Harpsichord on another track in your software.

To save a patch:
1. Click the downward arrow icon ().
2. Choose Save SVX File.
3. Select where you want to save the patch file (.svx), enter a name for the patch, and click Save.

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MIDI Learn

The MIDI Learn feature lets you to assign or “map” Harpsichord’s controls to any hardware MIDI
controller. You can create or “learn” a MIDI assignment in Learn Mode. You can later remove that
assignment (or all assignments), as well.

To create (“learn”) a MIDI assignment:

1. Click the Learn button (in the window’s upper-right corner) to enter Learn Mode, which lets
you to assign hardware MIDI controls to the parameters. The Learn button will turn blue.
2. Adjust the desired parameter in Harpsichord, and then move a knob or slider on your hardware MIDI
controller. That knob or slider will now control that parameter.
3. Click the Learn button again to exit Learn Mode.

To remove a MIDI assignment:

1. Right-click the software control you wish to reassign or unlearn. (You don’t need to be in Learn
Mode to do this.)
2. Select one of the two options:
• Remove Learn: Clears the hardware control assignment for the selected parameter only.
• Remove Learn [All]: Clears the hardware control assignments for all parameters.
You can now assign that knob to another MIDI hardware control.

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Plugin Controls

Presets

The preset selector displays the name of the

currently loaded preset. Click it and use the
menu that appears to select and load a preset.

The icons let you manage your presets, MIDI Learn files, and software settings:
• Click the folder icon to load a preset (.svx) or MIDI Learn file (.sml).
• Click the downward arrow icon () to save a preset (.svx) or MIDI Learn file (.sml). You can also
save your current MIDI Learn assignments as the default assignments for the software overall.
• Click the Learn button to enter or exit MIDI Learn Mode. See Basic Concepts > MIDI Learn to learn
how to assign or “map” the software controls to a hardware MIDI controller as well as how to save and
load them later.

See Basic Concepts > Using Presets to learn about loading and saving sounds in the software.

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Master

The global controls show the output level and global controls of Harpsichord, icons
that allow you to load and save your presets or MIDI Learn files.

The output meters display the real-time level of the stereo output. Use these meters
to gauge how “hot” your signal is.

Use the Volume knob to adjust the output level.

Use the Pan knob to adjust the balance of the signal between the left and right
channels.

Use the Tune knob to adjust the tuning in cents.

Use the Transpose knob to adjust the transposition in semitones.

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Envelope

Click the Amp, Filter, or Pitch selector to view the amplitude, filter,
or pitch envelopes (respectively) of the current patch.
These envelopes let you shape and control the volume (amplitude)
and pitch of the sound over a given period of time.

Harpsichord uses AHDSR envelopes. The following happens when

you trigger a note:
1. Within the period of time you have defined with the attack
parameter, the volume of the sound rises to its maximum value.
2. The sound’s maximum volume will be maintained during the
hold phase.
3. During the decay phase, the sound’s volume will gradually drop
to the sustain level.
4. The sound’s volume will stay at the sustain level until the note
stops.
5. After the note stops, the sound will trail off based on the release
parameter.

For the filter and pitch envelopes, use the Amount knob to set how
much the envelope affects the sound. At its minimum position,
sounds will bypass the envelope. At its maximum position, sounds
will follow the envelope precisely.

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Filter

This section contains the settings of the low-pass filter that is applied to the sound.

Use the Frequency knob (the lower one) to adjust the filter’s cutoff frequency.

Use the Q knob to adjust the filter's resonance—the frequencies just before the cutoff
frequency set by the Frequency knob. The higher the setting, the more those frequencies
will be boosted.

LFO Mod

This section contains controls for the low-frequency oscillator (LFO). The
LFO can affect the amp envelope, the filter envelope, and/or the pitch
envelope with an amount and rate of modulation that you set. Each
envelope has its own independent LFO.
Important: To turn an LFO off, just set its Depth to its lowest/minimum
value.

Use the Hz/Note selectors to determine whether the LFO rate uses a
specific frequency (Hz) or is synchronized to a time division of the tempo
(the note icon).

Use the Rate knob to adjust the rate of LFO modulation. Use lower rates for a more subtle modulation or
higher rates for a more dramatic one.

Use the Depth slider to set the amount of LFO modulation. This controls the “watery” sound of this effect.

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Effects

Click the EQ, Chorus, Delay, or Reverb selector to view the equalization, chorus, delay, or reverb effect
settings of the current patch.
These effects let you change the sound of the patch after it has been sent through the envelope, filter,
and LFO.

Equalization (EQ)

This applies equalization to the sound, boosting (increasing) or cutting

(reducing) different frequency bands to shape it.

On/Off: Use this selector to activate/deactivate the equalization.

Lo: Use this knob to set a shelving equalization that will boost or cut the
low (bass) frequencies.
Lo-Mid: Use this knob to set a standard equalization that will boost or
cut the low-mid-range frequencies.
Hi-Mid: Use this knob to set a standard equalization that will boost or
cut the high-mid-range frequencies.
Hi: Use this knob to set a shelving equalization that will boost or cut the
high (treble) frequencies.
Q: Use these knobs to set the slopes at which the Lo-Mid and Hi-Mid
frequencies are boosted or cut. Use a higher value to narrow the
frequency band or a lower value to widen it.

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Chorus

This applies a chorus effect, a short modulated delay that adds depth
and space to the sound.

On/Off: Use this selector to activate/deactivate the chorus effect.

Depth: The amount of LFO modulation. This controls the “watery” sound
of this effect.
Delay: The delay applied to the effected signal, offsetting it from the
unaffected/original signal.
Rate: The rate of LFO modulation. Use lower rates for a more subtle
modulation or higher rates for a more dramatic one.
Feedback: The amount of the effected signal that is sent back through
the effect again. Be careful not to turn this up too high!
Wet: The volume level of effected (wet) signal only.

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Delay

This applies a delay effect, emulating the echoes of the sound in a room.

On/Off: Use this selector to activate/deactivate the delay effect.

Hz/Note: Use these selectors to determine whether the delay rate uses a
specific time (the clock icon) or is synchronized to a time division of the
tempo (the note icon).
Delay L / Delay R: The rates of the delay in the left channel (L) and right
channel (R) in the stereo field. Use slightly different values for these to
give more depth and space to the effected sound.
LP Filter: Use this knob to adjust the delay filter’s cutoff frequency.
Feedback: The amount of the effected signal that is sent back through
the effect again. Be careful not to turn this up too high!
Wet: The volume level of effected (wet) signal only.

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Reverb

This applies a reverberation effect, emulating the sound traveling and

reflecting off of surfaces in a virtual room or space.

On/Off: Use this selector to activate/deactivate the reverb effect.

Time: Use this knob to set the rate at which the reverberation decays.
Size: Use this knob to set the size of the virtual room—the emulated
reverberant space.
HF Time: Use this knob to adjust the decay characteristics of the
reverb’s high frequencies. Negative values dampen the high frequencies
while positive values boost them.
Width: Use this knob to adjust the “spread” of the effect’s signal in the
stereo field.
Mix: Use this knob to set the balance of the effected (wet) and
unaffected (dry) signal.

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Keyboard

The virtual keyboard at the bottom of the window shows which notes are being played. You can also
click a key to play its note. The two wheels to the left of it determine its performance.

Use the pitch-bend (P) wheel to bend the pitch of the keyboard. The wheel’s center point corresponds to
no pitch adjustment.

Use the modulation (M) wheel to adjust the amount of modulation applied to the notes. The lowest
position corresponds to no modulation.

Use the Mod Wheel LFO Depth knobs to set how much the modulation wheel affects the depth of the amp,
filter, or pitch LFOs. Any increase in depth is added to the current Depth setting in the LFO Mod section.

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Trademarks & Licenses

SONiVOX is a trademark of SONiVOX LP, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
inMusic Brands, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of SONiVOX.
iLok is a trademark of PACE Anti-Piracy, Inc.
Mac and OS X 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.
All other product names, company names, trademarks, or trade names are those of their respective owners.

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