Modulation & Emotion

This tutorial explains how modulation works on MAINFRAME-B and how to use it to bring expression, emotion, nuance, and variation into your lighting patterns in response to MIDI input. Modulation allows parameter values to be dynamically influenced by note pitch, velocity, or random values, giving lights a more organic, responsive feel.

Modulation types:

• Pitch-based modulation: maps incoming note pitch to parameter values
• Velocity-based modulation: maps note velocity to parameter values
• Random modulation: generates variation using seeded random values for each note

How to modulate a parameter:

• Navigate to a parameter using the encoder
• Press Mod to enter modulation mode for that parameter
• Continue pressing Mod to cycle through modulation sources (pitch, velocity, random)
• To disable modulation, cycle past all modulation types until no source is selected

Adjusting modulation range:

• When a parameter is modulated, the LED bar shows a range (from minimum to maximum)
• Turning the parameter knob sets the offset (minimum value)
• Holding Function and turning the knob sets the range (maximum spread above the offset)

Setting pitch and velocity ranges:

• Press Function + Mod to access the looped modulation setting (for cyclical color effects or octave cycling)
• Press Function + Parameter while in pitch or velocity range mode to activate cutoff (notes or velocities outside the defined range will be ignored)
• Use pitch and velocity range settings to scale modulation behavior to your instrument’s actual MIDI output range

Visual feedback:

• Red modulation LEDs indicate the parameter cannot be modulated
• Green modulation LED (with Function held) shows a looped modulation is active
• The LED bar changes to show modulation range when modulation is active

Practical uses:

• Pitch modulation adds melodic structure to color and animation
• Velocity modulation emphasizes performance dynamics
• Random modulation adds variation for hands-off generative lighting
• Combined modulation across multiple parameters can create expressive, living lighting responses that evolve with the music

Modulation is central to turning MAINFRAME-B into a true visual instrument. It gives you the ability to shape and animate light in ways that reflect the emotional and musical qualities of your performance.

‍