PolyBrute - Split and Layers

Yes. You can perform two-way splits. Press the Timbrality button until the Split LED is lit.

While in Split mode, hold the Timbrality button and press a key. That key is now the bottom note of the Upper part.

When the Sequencer is running, this also lets you transpose the key of the pattern by striking notes in the Lower part, while the Upper part remains as the regular keyboard playback area.

You don’t need to, because the PolyBrute creates splits differently than other synthesizers. It does so within the same Preset, using its signature Morphing function.

• The Lower part is always equivalent to the sound with Morph all the way in the A position:

• The Upper part plays the sound of however much the Morph knob is turned (or modulated) away from the A position, all the way up to the B position:

• This means that if Morph is all the way at A, you will not hear any difference between the Lower and Upper parts.

So, wait, the same preset? Can I still create a split where the two parts sound completely different from each other?

Yes, absolutely. Because Morphing provides a continuous variation between virtually all PolyBrute synth parameters, B can sound totally different from A. Synth bass in the Lower part and a lead or pad in the Upper? No problem.
The bonus is that the Upper part can sound like anything from A to B, depending on the value of the Morph knob/function.

But suppose I hear a different preset that I’d really like to combine with the current one and make a split or layer? Can I do that?

Yes. Because timbrality relies on Morphing, you can use the “Pick B” function of the Morph page (on the Matrix Panel) to pick a Preset for the Upper Part in split mode or one of the Layers in layer mode. The Preset you Pick will then become the B state of the current Preset. To do this:

1. Press the Morph button on the Matrix Panel.
2. Press numeric button 4 to select “Pick B”. The Presets button will light up.
3. Select a Preset in the usual manner. The A state of the Preset you select will become the B state of the current Preset.
4. Press and briefly hold the Save button to save the new Preset.

Note: there are different ways to save Presets. Consult section 6.5 of the PolyBrute User Manual for details.

Yes. You can easily do this to have (for example) a mono synth bass in the left hand and a polyphonic sound in the right.

• Pressing the Polyphony button while holding the Timbrality button changes the Lower part to poly, mono, or unison.
• Pressing the Polyphony button by itself does the same to the Upper part.

You can customize this in the Polybrute’s settings.

• Press the Settings button, then button 1, then button 4.
• There you will find options for Poly voice allocation and Unison/Mono allocation. These are independent for the Upper and Lower parts, and cover how the PolyBrute uses available voices as well as what happens when it needs to “steal” a voice.

More details on voice allocation can be found in section 12.2.4 of the PolyBrute User Manual.

Option 6 in the menu shown above, Unison Voice Count, brings up options for whether the maximum “stacked” unison voices are 2, 3, 4, or 6:

This can be done independently for the Upper and Lower parts.

One, or the other, or both, depending on where the Morph knob’s value is set.

• If the Morph is all the way at position A, it will affect A all the way across the keyboard.
• If it’s all the way at B, it will affect the Upper part only.
• If it’s somewhere between A and B, it will affect both parts proportionally, based on what that position is.

They are saved per Preset and can be different for each Preset.

When connected to the PolyBrute Connect, MIDI channels are dealt with in a specific manner. Please check out our PolyBrute Connect - General Questions FAQ article.