Pitch Bend is one of the most expressive tools in the MIDI world, allowing musicians to add vibrancy and emotion to their melodies by simulating pitch slides, like on string or wind instruments. The standard behavior of pitch bend is often linear, which does not always meet the needs of a composer or performer, especially when working with specific virtual instruments.
midiPBCurve: Advanced Pitch Bend Control
The midiPBCurve plugin from Insert Piz Here offers a unique solution for those seeking more control over the Pitch Bend parameter. This user-friendly MIDI plugin allows you to redefine the standard linear behavior of pitch bend by applying your own, flexibly adjustable curve. Thanks to midiPBCurve, you can precisely shape the trajectory of pitch changes, giving instruments new, more expressive characteristics. This opens up wide possibilities for creating complex, non-linear bends that better imitate real instruments or create original sound effects.
Key Features of midiPBCurve
- Customizable Pitch Bend Curve: Instead of the standard linear dependency, you can define your own curve that controls how the Pitch Bend MIDI message affects the pitch. This allows you to create smooth, exponential, or any other types of bends.
- Separate Range Settings: The plugin allows you to set different pitch change ranges (in semitones) separately for “upward bend” and “downward bend.” This is extremely useful because many instruments require asymmetric pitch bend control.
- Intuitive Interface: Although detailed instructions are available directly in the plugin window (“Help” section), the basic controls for the curve and ranges are simple and understandable.
- Compactness and Efficiency: Like most plugins from Insert Piz Here, midiPBCurve is a lightweight and resource-efficient utility that works stably in your DAW.
The plugin is available in VST format and is designed for the Windows operating system (Win32). This makes it compatible with the vast majority of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) on this platform.
If you often use pitch bend in your music and feel the limitations of standard linear behavior, or if you need asymmetric control over bend ranges, midiPBCurve will be a valuable addition to your MIDI instrument arsenal. It provides the flexibility you need to accurately express musical ideas.
