An example
As an example, consider this before-and-after graphic representation of the pitch of a vocal phrase that contains both vibrato and expressive gestures.
CORRECTED
BY ATR-1
ORIGINAL
PERFORMANCE
In the original performance, we can see that although the final note should be centered around D, the vocalist allowed the tail of the note to fall nearly three semitones flat. The “after” plot is the result of passing this phrase through the ATR-1a with a Program consisting of a D Major Scale (with C and B set to ”Blank”) and a Speed setting of 10. That Speed causes the pitch center to be moved to D, while still retaining the vibrato and expressive gestures. (Setting C and B to ”Blank” is necessary to keep the ATR-1a from trying to correct the seriously flat tail of the last note to those pitches. See Chapter 4 for more details.)
Program Mode vs. Song Mode
At its top level, the ATR-1a operates in one of two modes, Program Mode or Song Mode. Which mode you use depends upon your application and, to some extent, how radical are the required corrections.
Program Mode
In Program Mode, you call up one of the ATR-1a’s 50 individual Programs to control the correction algorithm. Each Program consists of a Scale, a Speed setting and Vibrato settings. You can step through Programs with a foot switch or via MIDI.
Use Program Mode when a single scale (or maybe two) is all that’s required for a particular correction.