ReBoard - User Manual

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Published on:: 27-05-2023
Edited:: 27-08-2023

ReBoard is a Midplayer based on playing relative notes, where it’s possible to play lines that you probably wouldn’t do on a usual Piano Keyboard.
With only a few keys you can play the whole range of a piano or synthesizer. You are able to select a scale and a root note and only the notes from the selected scale could be played. There are three playing modes where you can set up a certain range of notes.

This is the ReBoard Manual. ReBoard is a Max for Live Device based on the Samchillian, which is invented by Leon Gruenbaum. It's a Midi Keyboard Controller based on changes of pitch, rather than fixed pitches.

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Overview

This is a Screenshot of the ReBoard Max for Live Device, based on the Samchillian Keyboard Controller.

On the left side you see the main window, where you can map up to 11 intervals to an incoming midi note, from a keyboard or an Pad controller.
You have access to the settings of the Device here and you can also store your settings to a file and relaod it again, so you don’t have to do all the work twice.

In the middle you can select a scale and set the root note. The notes of the selected scale are displayed on a piano keyboard.
There’s alos a button where you can get information about the Device, which Version you’re using and if there’s an update available (only if your computer is conected to the internt).

on the right side ther are 16 additional keys you can map to different functions. this view is hidden, when you first load the Device and you have to clik on the little (+) on the top right side of the Device to unfold it.

Select a Scale

Here you can set the Scale & the Root Note in the Max for Live Device. — Here you can select a scale and set the root note

Basic Setup

Here you can map a Midi Keyboard to ReBoard — In this section you can map your pad controller or your keyboard to the intervals you want to play.

Here you can set the Interval Range to be played in the set musical Scale. — You can assign any note to any interval you want to play.So, you're absolutely flexible to customize the Device. The intervals are going from -12 to +12. If you set the interval to 0 it will repeat the last played note.

Map a Keyboard or Pad Controller

Here you can see how to map a keyboard controller to the ReBoard Max for Live Device. — You can map a key or Pad for an interval by clicking on the round button. If a Key is mapped you see the Name of the Note in the field.
You can unmap a key by clicking on the round button again.

Extra Functions

With the extra functions in ReBoard you are able to assign additional actions to the basic relative pitches. You have just a biot more flexibiltiy to set the Device up for your needs.

Here you have two options:

relative pitches, which is similar to the basic function on the left side
fix Notes, here you can define a fix Note of the selected Scale

Reboard has some extra functions, these can be configured here in this section. — on the (+) symbol you can unfold the Device to have access to the extra functions

Relative Intervals

with the exatra functions, you can expand the possibilities of your basic settings and add some more, probably less needed intervals like, one octave up (+12) or down (-12)

Fix Notes

With the option “Fix” Notes you can assign a fixed Note to a Key / pad on your Controller.

You have the following options:

- Startnote
- Rootnote / Set the Octave
- 2nd-11th Note in the Scale / Set Octave

So, that should be quite easy, you can set some fix points where you can always go back in the selected scale. These will be changing of course depending on what Rootnote and which Scale is selected.

Connect ReBoard

To connect ReBoard you have to drag & drop the Device into an Midi Track. It works just like any other Midi Effect in Max for Live.

Set the Input Monitor to “IN” to receive Midi Notes from your Keybaord.

and place an Instrument behind ReBoad.

Set the Track Monitor inside Ableton and connect a Keyboard or Ableton Push — connect a keyboard or Controller to Ableton

be sure your Keys / Pads of your Controller are mapped to Reboard. If so, you should here something on the Output.

Reboard is based on the Samchillian — connect a keyboard or Controller to Ableton

Settings / Output

Reboard set the scale range is visible thru the keyboard in the GUI

On the Top left side you can access the Settings, where you can see that you can set up two Output Ranges. To be clear, because it could be a bit confusing, these two Output ranges will not be send to different Midi Tracks. In this case it´s recomended to use another Device in another Track.

Set up a Range

with the possiblility to set up two different ranges where you can play, you have quite a bit more flexibility to express your playing.

here you see how to set the output range of the notes.

Playing Modes

Set the mode, how the range behaves on the highest and the lowesd note. — Here you can choose between three different playing modes, where you're able to set the behaviour of what happens when you reach the lower or upper range of the scale.

Mode 1: If the note is reached the lowest or highest range it will repeat the last not in the range.
Mode 2: If the note is reached the lowest or highest range it will play the last triggered interval above the range.
Mode 3: in this mode the range is “looped”, when the notes reaching the lowest note in the range, you come out on the other side of the range …

Outputs

assign the triggers to intervals A or B. — On every trigger you see a button A/B where you can individually assign the triggered interval to one of the two scale ranges. This can get quite interesting.

Store Settings

You can Store & load your settings of ReBoard into a file, so you don’t have to do the whole work in every Live Project or for every controller you’re using.

here you see how you can recall the settings from a file.