Pluginboutique Scaler2 Manual

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MANUAL
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Getting Started
Load Scaler in your Favourite Software ....................................................... ...................................... 5
Virtual Instrument, Audio-FX & MIDI-FX ................................................................................ 5
Scaler2 ......................................................................................................................................... 5
ScalerAudio2 ........................................................................................................................... 5
ScalerControl2 ........................................................................................................................... 5
Interface
Header ....................................................................................................................... ...................................... 6
MIDI Panic Button ........................................................................................................................... 7
Instrument Panel ................................................................................................... ...................................... 8
Overview / Layout ........................................................................................................................... 8
Keyboard Visualisation ............................................................................................................. 9
Fretboard Visualisation .......................................................................................................... 10
Settings Panel ......................................................................................................... ................................... 11
Overview / Layout ........................................................................................................................ 11
Playback Menu ........................................................................................................................ 11
Chord Duration ........................................................................................................................ 11
Bind MIDI ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Expressions ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Arpeggio ...................................................................................................................................... 13
Strumming ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Keys Lock ...................................................................................................................................... 15
Voice Grouping ........................................................................................................................ 15
Humanize ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Preferences Menu ........................................................................................................................ 17
Session Menu (Import, Export, Sync & Commands) ................................................. 19
Browser (Section A) ............................................................................................. ................................... 23
Overview / Layout ........................................................................................................................ 23
Detecting Scales ........................................................................................................................ 23
Searching for Scales ........................................................................................................................ 24
Chord Sets ...................................................................................................................................... 25
Scale Explorer (Section B).................................................................................. ................................... 27
Overview / Layout ........................................................................................................................ 27
Chord Extensions, Voicings & Variations ............................................................................. 27
Modulation View ................................................................................................... ................................... 29
Overview / Layout ........................................................................................................................ 29
Progression ...................................................................................................................................... 29
Modal Interchange ........................................................................................................................ 30
Mediants ...................................................................................................................................... 31
Neo-Riemannian ........................................................................................................................ 31
Bind & Keyswitches ........................................................................................................................ 32
Progression Builder (Section C) ...................................................................... ................................... 33
Overview / Layout ........................................................................................................................ 33
Building Progressions & Working with Patterns ............................................................... 33
Saving and Exporting Your Progression ............................................................................. 34
Pad View ................................................................................................................... ................................... 36
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Edit Playback View ............................................................................................... ................................... 37

Chord Edit Panel.................................................................................................... ................................... 39
Help & Registration .............................................................................................. ................................... 40
Tips for Using Scaler
Identify Chords & Scales .................................................................................... ................................... 41
Detect from a MIDI File .......................................................................................................... 41
.......................................................................................................... 41
Selecting a Matching Scale .......................................................................................................... 41
Generating Unique Melody Lines ................................................................... ................................... 42
Working with Chords .......................................................................................... ................................... 42
Right-Click chord menu .......................................................................................................... 42
Multi-Selection of chords .......................................................................................................... 43
Controlling an External Instrument .............................................................. ................................... 43
MIDI Routing in Ableton Live with Scaler (VST) ............................................................... 44
MIDI Routing in Logic Pro with ScalerControl (AU) ................................................. 45
Appendix
Musical Notation ........................................................................................................................ 46
Chord Degree ...................................................................................................................................... 46
Chord Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 47
Troubleshooting
No MIDI Input ...................................................................................................................................... 48
No Audio Input ...................................................................................................................................... 48
No Sound ...................................................................................................................................... 48
Window size ...................................................................................................................................... 48
Hung/Stuck MIDI Notes .......................................................................................................... 48
License and Registration Issue ............................................................................................ 48
Help and Community ........................................................................................................................ 48
Legal
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comes complete with hundreds of chord progressions and musical performances made
in your own production.

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GETTING STARTED
LOAD SCALER IN YOUR FAVOURITE SOFTWARE

Scaler is an audio plugin compatible with most DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation) and is
available in multiple formats: VST (Virtual Studio Technology), AU (Audio Units) and AAX
(Avid Audio eXtension).
To start using Scaler you need to load it on a software instrument, audio or MIDI track in
your favorite DAW. Refer to your DAW manual if you need more information on how to
load a plugin on a track.
Plugin Boutique !
Scaler2.
VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT, AUDIO-FX & MIDI-FX

To accomodate most usage and maximise DAW compatibility, Scaler2 is distributed
alongside ScalerAudio2 and ScalerControl2.
All 3 versions contain the same detection features and exclusive content. The main
difference is how the audio and MIDI signal is routed in and out of Scaler.
Scaler2
A virtual instrument version usable on instrument tracks. It is able to detect from audio and
MIDI but also to control external instrument using MIDI routing*.
ScalerAudio2
An audio effect version built for simplifying the analyse of audio content from audio tracks.
Use this version if you wish to detect audio content by playing audio directly on the audio
track Scaler is located on.
ScalerControl2
contains the same detection features and exclusive content as Scaler.

Use this version if your DAW is only compatible with AU plugins, like Logic Pro, and you
wish to control an external instrument from Scaler.
A MIDI effect does not have the ability to output sound so you won’t be able to use Scaler
internal sounds and need to load another instrument on the same track.
*Not compatible with all DAWs. Refer to the manual of your DAW for more information on how to
route audio & MIDI in your software.
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INTERFACE
In this section we will go through each part of the interface.
HEADER
Located at the top of the window, the header displays live feedback and allows you to apply
performances, global voicing and other settings to your chords.
THE SCALER LOGO
Click on the Scaler Logo to access help, registration, and information about your version of
Scaler.
THE STATUS BAR

Displays a live feedback of the MIDI and audio input.
The MIDI section displays the currently detected notes and chords from the MIDI input of
Scaler.
The AUDIO section displays the currently detected notes and chords from the audio input
of Scaler.
Scaler detection is always running to help you quickly identify chords.
if Scaler receives a MIDI signal, the name of the note played should be indicated in the
status bar.
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MIDI PANIC BUTTON

Send “All Notes OFF” message to get rid of jammed notes when controlling an external
instrument.
Simply press the MIDI Panic button to cancel any scheduled MIDI event and reset the state
of the keyboard.
AUDIO DETECTION BUTTON

Turn the audio detection engine ON/OFF.
When turned OFF Scaler will mute the audio input. This is useful to prevent a feedback
loop when detecting and playing chords in Scaler at the same time.
PERFORMANCE PANEL
This section offers a quick access to playback parameters. From here, you can enable/
disable chord performances, keys locking, voice grouping and humanization for timing,
velocity or both.
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INSTRUMENT PANEL
OVERVIEW / LAYOUT
The instrument panel allows you to visualize notes, chords and scales on a keyboard or a
fretboard.
Sound Selector
Display the currently selected internal sound.
Click on the " ! button in Scaler or the arrow keys on your keyboard to go to the previous
or next sound.
Select OFF to mute Scaler.
In ScalerControl2, the sound selector is disabled as MIDI FX plugins cannot output sound.
Display Selector
Select Keyboard or Guitar display.
Quick Navigation
Navigate to any screen easily. Use keyboard shortcut to navigate using the CMD key
(macOS) or the CTRL key (Windows) with the screen number you wish to go to.
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KEYBOARD VISUALISATION
shows the binding and keyswitches area when using the Bind MIDI functions.
The notes of the selected scale are indicated with a blue marker.
Active keys are highlighted in blue when they are part of the selected scale or grey if they are outside
of the scale.
Locked keys are marked with a lock icon.
Disabled keys are marked with a cross icon.
Binding area is highlighted in grey.
Keyswitches are highlighted in green.
Keyboard Visible Range

You can change the part of the keyboard that is displayed by using the " ! buttons to show
lower or higher octaves.
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FRETBOARD VISUALISATION
Find notes, scales and chords on fretted instrument. The fretboard helps you navigate the
neck of your instrument.
Scaler supports more than 25 tunings covering multiple instrument such as Guitar, Bass,
Ukulele and Banjo.
Tuning Selector
Select the tuning you want to use by scrolling the list under the “Fretboard Visualisation”
button.
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SETTINGS PANEL
OVERVIEW / LAYOUT
To open the “Settings Panel” , click on the cog icon ! in the top right corner of the window.
The settings panel slides open from the right side of the window.
The menu is divided in 3 sections: Playback, Preferences and Session.
PLAYBACK MENU
Chord Duration
Set the standard duration of a chord. This value is used as the basis for calculating the
duration of the Progression Builder playback, expressions and arpeggio patterns.
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Bind MIDI
You can trigger chords and notes generated in Scaler using MIDI. To do so, you need to bind
the MIDI signal to the area of Scaler you want to control.
The Bind MIDI controller in the settings menu gives you the ability to bind chords from any
of the three Sections A, B or C.
You can set the position of the keyboard area dedicated to chord triggers using the + or −
buttons. Switch between semitones or octave steps by clicking on the ST/OCT selector.
By default, Scaler will bind only the white keys of your keyboard (“Only White”), you can
select “All” in the list to bind to black and white keys. A third mode “True Scale” can be
selected to bind chords only to the notes of the currently selected scale.
You can also bind directly from each of the indicators located to the right of the Browser
(Section A), the Scaler Explorer (Section B) or the Progression Builder (Section C).
Expressions
Latch
Expressions will keep looping even after you release the chord trigger. This allows for
continuous one shot performances.
Only notes from triggered chords will be used for the expression. Allows you to play
individual notes outside the bound area.
Delays the start of the pattern to the next beat. Allows you to play in time and to tempo.
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Mode
Select one of the following
Performance
Phrase
Generates a melodic phrase based on your selected scale and currently played chord.
Bass
Generates a bass line depending on your selected scale and currently played chord.
Generates a melody line based on your selected scale and currenlty played chord.
Pattern
Select the expression pattern to apply to your chords.
Resolution
Choose between playing the melodic phrase alone or on top of the triggered chord.
Calculate the melodic phrase based on the chord you clicked or the currently selected
scale. Scale Based mode will keep the melody in the same position when switching chords.
Arpeggio
Latch
Arpeggio will keep looping even after you release the chord trigger.
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Only notes from triggered chords will be used for the arpeggio. Allows you to play
individual notes outside the bound area.
Delays the start of the pattern to the next beat.

Octave Range
Duplicate played notes at higher octaves
Timing
Maximum duration between two notes in the arpeggio
1/1 1/1d 1/1t

1/2 1/2d 1/2t
1/4 1/4d 1/4t
1/8 1/8d 1/8t
1/16 1/16d 1/16t
Pattern
Order and repetition of notes in the arpeggio
Up Down
Up/Down Up/Down Repeat
Down/Up Down/Up Repeat
Doubled Up Doubled Down
Note Length
Duration of each note in the arpeggio
Quarter Half Full
Strumming
Slower Slow Medium Fast Faster

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Direction
Alternate Down Up Random
Keys Lock
Map keyboard keys to the notes of any scale or chord to play melodies with ease.
Scale notes
Lock all the notes out of the current selected scale to ensure you are always in key when
playing melody and chords. In this mode, all keys are playable but out-of-scale notes will be
scale is placed on C. This allows you to play any scale across the white keys of a C Major
scale.
Chord Notes
Black keys will be deactivated. The lowest note of the chord is placed on C. This helps you
create simple melodies using the same keys whilst triggering different chords.
Chord Extensions
the last chord you played. Black keys will be deactivated. The root of the extended chord
is placed on C. This helps you create more complex melodies using the same keys whilst
triggering different chords.
Voice Grouping
Allows for smooth changes between chords by automatically grouping notes around the
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tonal centre of the currently selected scale.

This prevents big jumps in intervals when moving from a lower diatonic chord to a higher
diatonic chord such as I > vi, for example from a C Major to an A Minor chord.
The Dynamic Grouping preset plays the bass note two octaves below the tonic, then
automatically chooses the best inversions of each played chord to minimise their
respective distance to the tonic of the scale. The upper extensions of the chord (9th, 11th,
13th) are grouped in a second octave unless the distance with the tonal distance becomes
restricting the range of octaves when using sample libraries that only play across certain
octaves.
Open Voicing
Automatically adapt your chord to play an open voicing.
Extracted Voicing
After extracting the voicing from a chord you can use Voicing Lock to preview other chords
as if they were played with the same voicing.
Scaler automatically adapts the source voicing onto the chord matching the playing
position and minimising the distance between each voices. Try creating your own preferred
voicing by editing a chord, extracting its voicing and applying it to all chords.
Humanize
Produces a more natural playing style by slightly randomising the velocity and or/timing of
each note.
Randomise the velocity of each note.
Timing
Randomise the timing of each note.
Both
Randomise the velocity and timing of each note.
Align the notes on a grid of the selected size.

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Swing
Add a slight offset to some of the played notes to add expressiveness to any performance.
PREFERENCES MENU
Tooltips on Mouse Hover

Disable to improve UI performances.
Play Chords on Change

Progression Builder items only. When enables Scaler won’t play the chord when changing
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interval settings in EDIT mode for example.
C. Of 5ths Preview
C. Of 5ths Display
Show Bass/Inversion
Display bass note in the chord name of inverted chords.
MIDI Channel
Select the output MIDI channel of Scaler.
Theme
Select a custom visual theme for your Scaler session.
Chord Items
Display chord items in light or dark boxes.
Font
Select your favourite font to use throughout Scaler.
Font Size
Select your preferred font size.
View Size
Select your preferred window size from the dropdown menu.
In order to reset Scaler’s window to its minimal size, hold the option key (MacOS) or alt key
(Windows) while clicking on the Scaler logo at the top left of the window.
Blink Effect
Disables all blinking effect in Scaler.
Sustain Pedal CC
Either consume sustain MIDI message internally or ignore them and pass them through.
Chordsets/Sounds Location
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SESSION MENU (IMPORT, EXPORT, SYNC & COMMANDS)
Import State
Export State
your session in another DAW.

When exporting the session this way, the whole state of Scaler is saved as if you were
saving your session in the DAW. The detected chords, browsing state, selected sound,
progression...etc will all be recalled when re-importing your session.
Clear State
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Sync
Synchronise multiple open instances of Scaler. In order to keep multiple tracks in sync in
your DAW or to transfer your chords to a session open in another DAW. This is useful if
you have multiple instances of Scaler triggering sounds and you make a change to a chord
progression in one instance and would like to apply that to change to all open Scalers in
your session.
Open the “master” instance of Scaler, the one containing the content you wish to
synchronise with the other sessions you have running.
Scaler shows the number of open instances it has detected. Press refresh to get Scaler to
redetect open instances.
Select the content you wish to send to other open instances of Scaler. You can select “Entire
State” to replicate your session entirely in all open instances.
Be careful, synchronizing Scaler is a destructive operation. It will override any open
instance. Make sure you save your project or your Scaler session beforehand to prevent
any accidental loss of data.
Press the SYNC button.
Scaler pushes all the selected parameters to all other open instances. You can now start
using your synced content in any session you have open.
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Commands
Certain functions of Scaler can be bound to keyboard shortcuts or MIDI events. This
allows you to control the playback behaviour while performing. You can use MIDI Control
messages to automate Scaler from your DAW for complex compositions.
List of actionnable commands:
Navigate to Pattern
Select a pattern in the Section C. If the Section C is bound to MIDI, this action will replace
the currently bound chords.
Bind Section
Toggle Bind in Section A, B, or C.
Bind Row
Toggle Bind in Section A, B, or C.
wish to recall, attach controls (MIDI CC or Keyboard shortcut) to each action, then change
the playback behaviour of Scaler while performing.
Set Selected Scale

Change the currently selected scale. Most expression patterns in Scaler depend on
the selected scale to render. Modifying the scale live allows for more complex pattern
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movements and more expressive compositions.
Save State as XML
Load State from XML
Actions can be attached to key-press from your computer keyboard or MIDI CC messages.
You can create a command mapping by using Right-Click > Create Command Mapping directly
from the element you are trying to control. It works from the BIND indicators, the scales,
the pattern tabs and the toggle buttons in the performance panel.
Export MIDI Markers

When dragging chords to your DAW, Scaler will insert markers in the exported MIDI to
by all DAWs.
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BROWSER (SECTION A)
OVERVIEW / LAYOUT
chordsets.
DETECTING SCALES
In this mode, Scaler detects the scales compatible with what you are playing either from a
MIDI or audio signal.
Record & Detect MIDI Live

To begin detection click on the Detect button in the Browser (Section A) and select MIDI as
the source.
Press Record, the button turns red to indicate that it is recording. Start playing notes or
chords on your MIDI device or hit Play in your DAW if you wish to analyse MIDI already on
the Scaler track.
Every note played on Scaler’s MIDI channel will be recorded. The notes are evaluated
You can play back a detected note or chord by clicking on it. You can also use the Bind MIDI
button and replay detected chords using your MIDI controller.
If you wish to modify the detection, you can remove items by using a Right Click ! Remove.
You can reset the detection by clicking the Clear button.
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Record & Detect Audio Live

Click on the Detect button in the Browser (Section A) and select Audio as the source.
The input level meter and the detection threshold adjustment control are located over the
source selector when Audio is selected.
The blue dot repesents the current threshold for the chord detection. Adjust the threshold
to improve the quality of the detection.
Drag it towards the left in order to have Scaler detect chords from a quieter source and to
the right if the source is too loud.
SEARCHING FOR SCALES

Scales button in the Browser (Section A). Every
scale supported by Scaler is listed here.
Filtering and searching
looking for.
scales like the F Phrygian mode, the F Phrygian b4 scale and the F Phrygian Dominant
scale.
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CHORD SETS
A chord set is a list of chords representing a chord progression or a song saved in Scaler.
works in those progressions and songs.
You can choose a chord set by selecting it from one of the 3 menus representing the
different types of chord sets:
" Song sets, organised by genre.
" Artists sets, crafted by artists.
" User sets, created by users.
Transposition Controls
You can easily transpose the selected chord set using the transposition controls located on
the left side of the Browser (Section A).
“ST” is short for semitone which is the smallest amount of pitch variation in Scaler.
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Preview Chord Sets

Press the play button to preview the currently selected progression.
While playing press the stop icon to stop the currently played progression.
Maintain Scale / Tonic
Maintain Current Scale

Keep selected scale while browsing. Allows you to browse chord sets in your preferred
scale.
Scaler will keep the scale you chose to maintain instead of selecting the most likely scale in
the list when navigating.
Maintain Current Tonic

Keep tonic while browsing.
Allows you to browse chord sets in your preferred root key. This is a good option for
browsing artist and genre based chord sets whilst retaining the character and unique
properties of the chord set.
Force into Scale
Please note that this will adapt notes inside and outside of a scale into a different scale thus
potentially losing the characteristics of a unique artist chord progression for example.
This will transform the chords which creates new interesting voicings and allows you to
generate more content from any chordset regardless of its original scale.
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SCALE EXPLORER (SECTION B)
OVERVIEW / LAYOUT
The Scale Explorer lets you discover a scale in depth by showing you the notes and chords
it contains. You can explore the chords of the scale and discover chord substitutions to
easily create variations in your compositions.
When you select a scale, the scale explorer window automatically appears. Its window can
be dismissed by clicking on the Close button located in the top right corner of the section B.
the most basic to the most complex one. Three different views are available.
CHORD EXTENSIONS, VOICINGS & VARIATIONS
Diatonic Chords View

Explore triads, 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th chords of a currently selected scale. Use the the " !
buttons to switch to a different chord style.
Voicings View
voicings menu to select a voicing. This is a useful tool for introducing artistic variety to any
scale as the voicings have been created by established artists.
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Chord Variations View

This more advanced view allows you to navigate through the degrees of the scale. It
displays all the chord variations grouped by note. Use the " ! buttons to switch to a
different degree.
Octave Control
Change the octave of all chords in this section by using the " ! buttons.
Preview Scale
Click the Play button of the section B to preview the chords of the scale in the current view.
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MODULATION VIEW
OVERVIEW / LAYOUT
Explore more content related to your selected scale, borrow chords from a relative mode,
Opening the modulation section overlays the detection and scale selection area.
The modulation views offers multiple presets covering different aspects of modulation
(tonicization, borrowed chords, modal mixture...etc.)
PROGRESSION
This preset helps you modulate from your currently selected pattern (from Section C).
The top row represents your current progression.
Once selected, your progression is automatically transposed into the destination scale,
allowing you to hear your chord progression in a new scale. You can change the scale type
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by clicking the name of the destination scale at the bottom left of the modulation view.
To create a smoother transition, use Maintain Suggestion Voicing in order to force the
suggested chords to adapt to your progression’s voicing.
SECONDARY SCALE
This preset helps you modulate from your currently selected scale into a second scale.
The top row shows your current scale and its diatonic chords.
Once selected, the bottom row populates with the diatonic chords of the destination scale.
You can change the scale type by clicking the name of the destination scale at the bottom
left of the modulation view.
Above the destination scale is shown the secondary dominant path to the chord. You can
move the cursor using the < > buttons to display the secondary dominant and predominant
of any chord of the scale.
MODAL INTERCHANGE
Your selected scale is displayed at the top followed by other modes of the same family.
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MEDIANTS
This artist curated preset helps you generate mediants chords starting from any chord of
the currently selected scale, enabling stylistic and subversive chord progressions.
Clicking on a chord generates a new line containing its mediants chords.

A mediant chord is a minor or major third above or below the root of your chord. For
example, from a C chord Scaler will generate the following chords:
G# Min / G# Maj - One major third below C
A Min / A Maj - One minor third below C
D# Min / D# Maj - One minor third above C
- One major third above C
You can stack up to three line of mediants to keep moving further by thirds.
The last chords played are shown at the bottom allowing you to explore and copy your new
chord progression to a new or existing pattern.
To prevent jumps in octave between distant chords, you can enable the Group Voicing
option.
NEO-RIEMANNIAN
This preset based on the Neo-Riemannian theory allows you to create chord progressions
Drag a chord into the each slot to generate related chords.

The Minimise Movement option will try to maintain the number of voices and reduce the
amount of movement between chords.
The Triads Only will simplify all chords to triads ignoring the original voicing of the chord.
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BIND & KEYSWITCHES

Each line can be bound to MIDI using the bind buttons (1 to 7) on the right of the screen or
using the keyswitches highlighted in green on the keyboard.
In order to trigger chords from your MIDI keyboard, press the notes highlighted in grey on
the keyboard.
The green keys are keyswitches, you can switch bound areas by clicking a keyswitch or
triggering the key via MIDI.
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PROGRESSION BUILDER (SECTION C)
OVERVIEW / LAYOUT
The Progression Builder gives you the tools to create your own chord progressions, export
it to your DAW or save it as a chord set.
BUILDING PROGRESSIONS & WORKING WITH PATTERNS
Working with Chords

You can Drag and Drop chords to any slot on the progression builder to start creating your
progression.
Create a Chord
Press the + button in an empty slot anywhere in your pattern to create a chord. The
chord editing view will open and help you create your chord by selecting the keys on the
keyboard.
Edit a Chord
Modify any chord in your progression by using Right-Click ! Edit Chord on the chord.
Remove a Chord
You can remove a chord from your progression by using Right-Click ! Remove on the chord.
You can copy any chord by holding the Option key(MacOS) or Alt key (Windows) while
dragging to a new position.
Insert a Chord
You can insert a chord between any two chords by dragging it between two existing chords.
You can replace a chord from your progression by a rest using Right-Click ! Replace by Rest on
the chord.
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Press the Play button to hear your progression.
Press the Loop button to hear your progression repeated in a loop.
Working with patterns

Patterns help you organise your project in logical parts. You can have up to 7 patterns in
one session. Each pattern can contain up to 8 chords.
Add a new pattern

Click the plus (+) button located on the right of the last pattern selector.
Rename a pattern
Double-Click the pattern selector to edit its name.
Duplicate a pattern
You can duplicate a pattern and its contents by Right-Click ! Duplicate on the pattern.
Remove a pattern
Right-Click ! Remove - on the pattern selector.
Clear a pattern
Right-Click ! Clear - on the pattern selector.
You can re-detect the content of a pattern at any time. Add or edit chords and then use
Right-Click ! Detect to determine your new scale.
SAVING AND EXPORTING YOUR PROGRESSION
MIDI Capture
Capture the MIDI output of Scaler and export it by dragging it to your DAW
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Once you click on the the MIDI CAPTURE button, everything you play inside scaler is
recorded as a MIDI clip.
Press the STOP button and then press the DRAG button to drag the recorded MIDI clip
into your DAW.
Press the CLEAR button to delete the recorded MIDI clip.
Save a Chord Set

You can save your progression at any time by pressing the SAVE button.
You will then be prompted to name the chord set, once you have named your new creation,
it will be added to the User Sets menu.
You can access your saved progression from the User dropdown in the Browser (Section A).
Once selected, the chord set is automatically loaded and its content is analysed by Scaler’s
engine. Chord sets can be deleted, imported/exported from the same dropdown menu.
User ! Import Chord Set(s), then select the chord
set(s) you wish to import.
The chord sets you create within Scaler are saved on disk. You can access the chord sets
folder from the dropdown User ! Open Folder. Keep your chord sets organised by grouping
them in subfolder directly on your hard drive.
When moving, adding or removing chord sets directly from the folder, use the User ! Refresh
List
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PAD VIEW
The pad view allows you to play your patterns easily using keyswitches to select which
pattern is bound to your MIDI keyboard while performing.
The pad view is updated automatically as you add new chords and patterns.
Each line can be bound to MIDI using the bind buttons (1 to 7) on the right of the screen or
using the keyswitches highlighted in green on the keyboard.
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EDIT PLAYBACK VIEW

Edit your progression playback using chord by chord settings for voicings, articulation,
timing and repetition.
Voicings
Finely tune your chord progression by selecting the octave and inversion of each chord
Octave
Increase/Decrease all notes of the chord by one octave.
Inversion
Select the inversion to play.
Semitone
Increase/Decrease the chord tonic by a semitone.
Timings
Duration
The amount of time each chord will be playing. This is a multiplication of the DEFAULT
PLAYBACK DURATION located in the side panel.
Repeat
The number of times you want to repeat the chord.
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Performances
Group
By default, all chords are in a global group. The global group is controlled by the current
settings in the Performance Panel and the Settings Panel.
In order to customise your progression playback you can assign a chord to a new group.
You can then specify the playback parameters you wish to apply for all the chords of the
group.
Mode
Select the playback mode of the current group.
Refer to the Settings Panel section for the complete list of parameters for each of the
articulations.
Perform Mode
Follow
When changing chords, melodic and phrase content will continue at its current
position but in the new key.
Retrigger
When changing chords melodic and phrase content will retrigger from the beginning.
Undo-Redo in Progression
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CHORD EDIT PANEL

The chord edit panel allows you to add/remove individual notes and change their velocity.
Use the Notes button to add and remove notes by clicking on the keyboard or fretboard.
Use the button to set individual velocities to each notes of the chord by dragging
on the keys.
Adjust semitones, octave and inversions using the dedicated controls.
Chord Suggestions
Scaler offers suggestion of chords matching the notes you selected.
Circle of Fifths
Click any note on the circle to get chord suggestions.
Chord Search
Search for any chord in Scaler by name.
40
HELP & REGISTRATION

Open the popup by clicking the Scaler logo at the top left of the window.
The version of Scaler you are currently using can be found at the bottom left of the
window.
HELP POPUP
Click the Scaler logo at the top left of the window then select Help to access the manual,
video guides and tutorials directly from Scaler.
REGISTRATION POPUP
Click the Scaler logo at the top left of the window then select Registration to register your
Scaler license or check how many days you have left on your trial.
How to register license
account.
If the license is valid, the popup will close and you can start using Scaler.
41
TIPS FOR USING SCALER

IDENTIFY CHORDS & SCALES
DETECT FROM A MIDI FILE
DETECT FROM AN AUDIO FILE
Supported formats
wav aif
Supported samplerates
44.1KHz up to 88.2KHz
SELECTING A MATCHING SCALE

Every time the content of the detection changes, the Scales list updates automatically and
Scaler selects the scale most compatible with the notes or chords played.
More than one scale can apply to a given tune or chord progression. Some scales can work
You can see how closely your current analysis matches the notes of the scale in the Notes
and Chords column which represents how many notes and chords of your tune are present
in the scale.
Press the icon # next to a scale name to hear the notes it contains.
alternative name by clicking the note in the scale name. This will rename the notes and
chords of the scale accordingly.
42
Each melody pattern in Scaler is composed of 4 parts and can be played as a whole or
individually. This allows you to combine patterns in unique ways.
Patterns are built around a common melodic idea and contain variations in the form of
question-answer and revised question and answer.
Scaler also lets you navigate between the different parts live, using keyswitches.
When the melody mode and the MIDI bind are active, the melody keyswitch are displayed
on the left hand side of the bound area. Clicking or triggering them from your MIDI
keyboard will change the currently selected melody pattern.
WORKING WITH CHORDS
RIGHT-CLICK CHORD MENU

Use Right-Click on a chord to display a contextual popup menu.
Add to Progression
pattern or to the currently selected one.
Substitutions
Contains suggestions of substitutions from different presets. You can use substitution to
43
give your chord progression more character.
Edit Chord
Open the voicing editor allowing you to modify the chord notes or voicing.
Copy the selected chord names as text into your clipboard so you can easily take notes on
your progression.
Detect
Run a detection onto the selected chord(s) to identify notes and scales.
Add to Selection
Allow you to build a multi-selection of chords by adding chords to your current selection.
Explore Scales / Common Scales

Lists all scales the selected chord(s) belongs to. In case multiple chords are selected, the list
shows the scales containing all the currently selected chords.
Extract the voicing of any chord and apply it to another chord of your choice. This will
replicate the voicing of the selected chord and adapt it to the destination chord. Once
extracted, a voicing can be applied globally by selected “Extracted Voicing“ in the Voicing
Generate a chromatic progression from the selected chord over 2 octaves.
MULTI-SELECTION OF CHORDS
Hold CMD (MacOS) or Ctrl (Windows) and click on any chord to create a multi-selection.
You can also use the lasso selection by holding Click and dragging over an area containg
chords.
You can pick chords from any section, the order of selection is maintained. Once selected,
you can then drag them to the Progression Builder (Section C) or directly to your DAW.
You can also Right-Click on a selected chord to add to a new or existing pattern.
CONTROLLING AN EXTERNAL INSTRUMENT

Because of differences in implementation, VST plugins can have their MIDI output routed
to other tracks whereas AU plugins lack this ability. Scaler overcomes this limitation by
offering ScalerControl as an AU MIDI Effect plugin.
44
MIDI ROUTING IN ABLETON LIVE WITH SCALER (VST)

Load Scaler on a MIDI track. Navigate to your plugin list and drag Scaler to the MIDI track
of your choice.
Arm the track Scaler has been loaded on and press a key on the piano roll in your DAW or
your MIDI controller.
Scaler should identify the name of the note in the status bar:
If the sound output of Scaler is enabled you should hear the note you just played through
Scaler’s integrated sound.
Triggering another instrument from Scaler (VST)

Because of limitations in the Audio Unit plugin format, it is not possible to trigger another
instrument using the AU version of Scaler.
After loading Scaler on a MIDI track, load the instrument you wish to control on another
track.
In the “In/Out” section of the track, Select “Scaler” in the “MIDI From” dropdown and set
the Input Channel to “Scaler”. Arm both tracks and start triggering chords from Scaler, the
45
MIDI ROUTING IN LOGIC PRO WITH SCALERCONTROL (AU)
Triggering Another Instrument from Scaler (ScalerControl)

Load ScalerControl on a MIDI track as a MIDI FX and on the same track load the
instrument you wish to control as a standard MIDI instrument.
Select the track to ensure that the MIDI signal is sent to Scaler and start pressing keys on
the piano roll or your MIDI controller.
Scaler should identify the name of the notes in the status bar :
Start triggering notes or chords from Scaler, the sound should be rendered through the
instrument you have selected.
46
APPENDIX
MUSICAL NOTATION
the most general (non altered) part of the chord.

" For example, a min7 chord refers to a minor seventh chord made up of a minor third and
minor seventh above the root.
between parenthesis. Alterations affect the chord by taking precedence over the pitches
that would normally establish the named chord.
" For example, a min7(b5)
The third part of the name are the extensions. This part is also optional and separated by
spaces.
" For example, a min7(b5) b9
There can be multiple alterations and extensions to a chord.

" For example, a min11(b5 #9) is a minor eleventh chord with two alterations on the
min7 b9 #11 is a minor seventh chord with no alterations but two
CHORD DEGREE
For each chord, its position in the scale is indicated with roman numerals.
47
CHORD QUALITY
The different qualities of the chords are represented on each chords using one or a
combination of the following symbols:
Major UPPERCASE NUMERALS or M[n*]

Minor Lowercase numerals or m[n*]
Diminished °[n*]
Augmented +
Suspended sus[n*]
Added note add [n*] or space separated
Sharpened # [n*]
Flattened b[n*]
Dominant [n*]
Omitted Note no[n*]
*Note number
48
TROUBLESHOOTING
NO MIDI INPUT
Scaler. Depending on your software you might need to select or arm the track you wish to
send MIDI to.
NO AUDIO INPUT
When using Scaler, check that you have routed the audio signal correctly into Scaler.
When using ScalerAudio, make sure there is audio content playing on the track.
NO SOUND
Check that the sound output in Scaler is enabled.
Check that the channel on which you loaded Scaler is not muted in your DAW.
When using ScalerControl, ensure that an instrument with a sound output enabled is
loaded on the same track as the MIDI effect plugin.
WINDOW SIZE
If you have trouble viewing the whole window, you can try to reset the Scaler window to its
minimal size, maintain the option key (MacOS) or alt key (Windows) while clicking on the
Scaler logo at the top left of the window.
HUNG/STUCK MIDI NOTES

Simply press the MIDI Panic button located in the Header section to cancel any scheduled
MIDI event and reset the state of the keyboard.
LICENSE AND REGISTRATION ISSUE

support@
pluginboutique.com
HELP AND COMMUNITY

Find help and join the community at: forum.scalerplugin.com
49
LEGAL
VST PLUGIN TECHNOLOGY
VST PlugIn Technology by Steinberg Media Technologies
DAWGDIC
Copyright © 2009-2012, Susumu Yata
All rights reserved.
the following conditions are met:
- Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
following disclaimer.
- Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
- Neither the name of the University of Tokushima nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT
SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY
WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
FF METERS
Copyright (c) 2017 Filmstro Ltd. / 2017-2020 Foleys Finest Audio Ltd. - Daniel Walz
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or
SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
50

LIBSAMPLERATE
Copyright (c) 2012-2016, Erik de Castro Lopo <erikd@mega-nerd.com>
KISS FFT
Copyright (c) 2003-2010 Mark Borgerding. All rights reserved.
3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or
51
EIGEN
Copyright (c) 2011, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
* Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote
SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
52

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Edit Playback View ............................................................................................... ................................... 37

in your own production.

LOAD SCALER IN YOUR FAVOURITE SOFTWARE

VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT, AUDIO-FX & MIDI-FX

contains the same detection features and exclusive content as Scaler.

THE SCALER LOGO

THE STATUS BAR

MIDI PANIC BUTTON

AUDIO DETECTION BUTTON

Keyboard Visible Range

The menu is divided in 3 sections: Playback, Preferences and Session.

Delays the start of the pattern to the next beat.

1/1 1/1d 1/1t

Quarter Half Full

Slower Slow Medium Fast Faster

tonal centre of the currently selected scale.

Randomise the velocity of each note.

Align the notes on a grid of the selected size.

Tooltips on Mouse Hover

Play Chords on Change

interval settings in EDIT mode for example.

SESSION MENU (IMPORT, EXPORT, SYNC & COMMANDS)

your session in another DAW.

List of actionnable commands:

Set Selected Scale

movements and more expressive compositions.

Save State as XML

Load State from XML

Export MIDI Markers

Record & Detect MIDI Live

Record & Detect Audio Live

SEARCHING FOR SCALES

Filtering and searching

works in those progressions and songs.

" Artists sets, crafted by artists.

" User sets, created by users.

Preview Chord Sets

Maintain Scale / Tonic

Maintain Current Scale

Maintain Current Tonic

Force into Scale

SCALE EXPLORER (SECTION B)

CHORD EXTENSIONS, VOICINGS & VARIATIONS

Diatonic Chords View

Chord Variations View

Clicking on a chord generates a new line containing its mediants chords.

Drag a chord into the each slot to generate related chords.

BIND & KEYSWITCHES

PROGRESSION BUILDER (SECTION C)

BUILDING PROGRESSIONS & WORKING WITH PATTERNS

Working with Chords

Press the Play button to hear your progression.

Press the Loop button to hear your progression repeated in a loop.

Working with patterns

Add a new pattern

SAVING AND EXPORTING YOUR PROGRESSION

Save a Chord Set

EDIT PLAYBACK VIEW

CHORD EDIT PANEL

HELP & REGISTRATION

How to register license

TIPS FOR USING SCALER

DETECT FROM A MIDI FILE