The Conductor Module: Advanced Expressive Control

The Conductor is the macro-expressive control center of PolySWAM. Located in the GUI's footer, its purpose is to translate MIDI messages (both continuous and impulsive) from your hardware into simultaneous, complex variations of the internal parameters of the SWAM instruments.

Conductor Layout

The Conductor is designed to be modular to suit your specific performance needs:

• Compact View: Displays the main Expression knob (controlling individual expression across all ensemble instruments), two default Macro Knobs, and up to eight buttons (Switches) for discrete macro states.

• Expanded View: By expanding the module, you gain access to the full view, which reveals up to eight total Macro Knobs.

How Macros and Switches Work

Each Preset has a dedicated configuration for Macros and Switches, allowing for tailored control based on the timbral nature of the loaded ensemble:

• Macro Knobs: Control complex timbral evolutions. For example, they can modulate character, reverb, or other specific properties defined within the preset.

• Macro Switches: Trigger immediate state changes. These are ideal for functions such as changing section size or toggling mutes (sordinature).

Pro Tip: For a "super expressive" orchestral performance, we recommend using the MIDI Mapping button in the Header to assign the Conductor’s knobs and switches to your preferred physical MIDI controller.

The "Link" Function: Intelligent Expression

For musicians with limited hardware or those performing one-handed, PolySWAM offers the Link function:

• What it does: It allows you to "link" secondary macros directly to the main Expression fader.

• Why use it: In the absence of additional controllers, the Link function simplifies management by allowing a single gesture to influence multiple parameters.

• Customization: You can define mapping curves for both direct and linked modes, allowing you to finely calibrate the acoustic response and instrument behavior even when centralizing expressive evolution into a single control.

Expressive Control Summary