moForte provides a video user manual with 8 chapters and over 30 application notes, an in-app and online reference manual, a complete FAQ collection, and the Jordan Rudess Master Class. Context-sensitive help is available throughout the interface via the '?' icon. For direct assistance, email support@moforte.com.

Yes. Google Translate can be used to view the reference manual in other languages, and YouTube user videos can be subtitled using Google Translate.

Yes. A search box at the top of the help system lets you search the entire reference manual.

There is no PDF manual. GeoShred provides an 8-chapter video user manual with over 30 application notes, an extensive in-app and online reference manual with full search, and a comprehensive FAQ.

Send any questions to support@moforte.com or use Menu > Help > Report a Problem inside the application.

Recommended educational resources include LivDemy (livdemy.com) featuring Mahesh Raghvan and Madan Pisharody, Swar Laya Music Production (swarlaya.com) with Madan Pisharody, Raji Krishnan's YouTube channel and classes, the Jordan Rudess Master Class, and the in-app video manual and application notes.

GeoShred Studio is the desktop AUv3 plugin version of GeoShred. It runs as a plugin inside any AUv3-compatible DAW on macOS, allowing GeoShred performances to be recorded as editable MIDI/MPE data directly into your workflow. GeoShred Studio supports MIDI and MPE controllers, and can also be driven wirelessly from the free GeoShred Control app.

GeoShred Studio integrates GeoShred performances directly into your DAW as editable MIDI/MPE data, allowing performances to be edited and re-rendered as part of your workflow. The complete GeoShred physical modeling engine and its integrated FX rack are available inside the host as a standard AUv3 plugin.

GeoShred Studio Essentials unlocks the GeoShred Studio physical modeling audio engine, the expressive Guitar model, 200 guitar-based presets, 22 modeled effects, and the preset editor with effects chain. Essentials is required for core GeoShred Studio functionality and is the foundation for adding any GeoSWAM or Naada instrument.

GeoShred Studio itself is a free download. GeoShred Studio Essentials is required to access the core audio engine. Individual GeoSWAM and Naada instruments are sold separately, and bundled collections offer discounted pricing compared to buying instruments individually. Current pricing is shown on each product page.

The on-screen interface can be operated with a mouse or trackpad for changing controls and voicings, but it is not intended to be performed that way. Trackpads do not support multitouch, and both mouse and trackpad introduce latency of 100 to 500ms, which is not workable for live musical performance. GeoShred is designed to be played with a touch surface, an MPE controller, or GeoShred Control.

The minimum required version of macOS to run GeoShred Studio and the GeoSWAM and Naada instruments is macOS 10.15.

A Windows VST version of GeoShred Studio is planned for late 2026. Windows audio latency is acceptable for plugin instrument work, but touchscreen latency on most current Windows hardware remains too high for direct touch performance.

GeoSWAM is a family of eleven physically modeled solo instruments developed in collaboration with Audio Modeling, the creators of SWAM. The collection includes GeoPizzBass, GeoCello, GeoViola, GeoViolin, GeoFlute, GeoBassFlute, GeoTenorSax, GeoClarinet, GeoOboe, GeoTrumpet, and GeoBassTrombone. Each instrument runs inside GeoShred Studio and is monophonic, modeling its real-world acoustic counterpart as an ongoing physical event in real time.

GeoSWAM instruments are not sample sound packs. Each is a full physical model that took many years to develop by Audio Modeling, the creator of the SWAM technology. The development effort is comparable to that of established premium instrument plugins.

GeoSWAM instruments run inside GeoShred Studio and are built around GeoShred's expressive performance surface, including its multi-row grid, continuous pitch layout, pressure response, gesture control, and integrated FX rack. The instrument's core parameters are curated and mapped for immediate, real-time musical control within the GeoShred environment.

SWAM is Audio Modeling's standalone product line. SWAM instruments operate independently or inside a DAW with their own interface, and provide deeper access to advanced model parameters and detailed customization.

Both use the same underlying SWAM physical modeling technology. The difference lies in interface design, parameter depth, and workflow architecture. They are separate products with no upgrade or crossgrade paths between them.

Yes. GeoShred Studio runs as an AUv3 plugin in any AUv3 host. GeoSWAM instances can be recorded and played back using GeoShred's keyboard or any MPE-compliant controller within the host.

Yes. GeoSWAM is best performed from GeoShred's isomorphic keyboard using the free GeoShred Control app, but the instruments can also be controlled from any MPE controller (set to MPE Channel Mode), from conventional MIDI controllers with a breath knob, breath headset, foot pedal, or expression pedal (Single Channel mode), and from wind controllers using CC-2 (Single Channel mode).

No. GeoSWAM instruments are monophonic, matching the behavior of their real-world acoustic counterparts. The Mono/String/Poly button is a separate keyboard play mode and is not related to instrument polyphony.

Violin and Cello: full string length (up to 25 notes, two octaves). Clarinet: one octave. Tenor Sax: a fifth. Flute: a fifth. Oboe: a fifth.

No. Previously purchased single-instrument licenses cannot be applied toward the purchase price of a collection.

Naada is a collection of 32 physically modeled instruments developed by AccelMatrix. The collection includes Acoustic Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Bansuri, Baritone Sax, Bass, Bass Clarinet, Carnatic Violin, Cello, Clarinet, Dizi, Duduk, Erhu, French Horn, Guan, Gaohu, Harmonica, Nadaswaram, Ney, Oud, Pan Flute, Pipa, Rudra Veena, Sarangi, Saraswati Veena, Sarod, Shehnai, Sitar, Suona, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Viola, and Zhonghu. Each Naada instrument runs inside GeoShred Studio. Multiple bundled collections are available offering discounted pricing.

Naada instruments are not sample sound packs. Each is a full physical model developed over many years by AccelMatrix, the creator of the Naada technology.

GeoShred Studio offers two families of physically modeled instruments. Both deliver deeply expressive performance through GeoShred's touch surface, FX rack, and MPE support, but they come from different modeling technologies and serve different musical goals.

GeoSWAM, developed with Audio Modeling, focuses primarily on Western orchestral and acoustic instruments such as brass, woodwinds, and strings. GeoSWAM instruments are designed for highly detailed expressive solo performance and operate as monophonic instruments, just like their real-world counterparts.

Naada, developed by AccelMatrix, emphasizes a broader palette of global instruments including Bansuri, Sitar, Veena, and many others alongside selected Western instruments. In contrast to GeoSWAM, Naada instruments are polyphonic, making them ideal for chords, layered textures, and rich ensemble-style performance.

Both families share the same expressive GeoShred performance environment.

Yes. Naada instruments can run in both monophonic and polyphonic modes. Each Naada instrument that supports polyphony has a dedicated Polyphonic button on its control surface. The Mono/String/Poly play mode of the keyboard is separate from instrument polyphony.

No. The two families use different modeling technologies. Each instrument includes its own parameter set tailored to its underlying physical model and the behavior of the instrument being modeled.

Yes. GeoShred Studio runs as an AUv3 plugin in any AUv3 host. Naada instances can be recorded and played back from any MIDI or MPE controller within the host.

Yes. Like GeoSWAM, Naada is best performed from GeoShred's isomorphic keyboard using the free GeoShred Control app, but the instruments can also be controlled from any MPE controller, from conventional MIDI controllers with expression hardware, and from wind controllers using CC-2.

No. Previously purchased single-instrument licenses cannot be applied toward the purchase price of a collection.

GeoShred Control is a free MPE controller application from moForte. It provides GeoShred's isomorphic multi-row keyboard with continuous pitch, pressure response, and gesture-based expression, and is used to control GeoShred Studio (and the GeoSWAM and Naada instruments running inside it) from a connected device. GeoShred Control sends MIDI and MPE only. It does not contain the sound engine.

No. GeoShred Studio supports any MPE controller, conventional MIDI controllers, and wind or breath controllers. GeoShred Control is one option among several, offered free of charge for users who want the GeoShred performance surface available as a touch controller to drive GeoShred Studio.

GeoShred Connect is the MIDI/MPE link between GeoShred Control and GeoShred Studio. Open GeoShred Control, enable GeoShred Connect's "Send" feature, and select your GeoShred Studio instance as the destination.

No. When GeoShred Connect's "Send" feature is used to control GeoShred Studio from GeoShred Control, you only need to own the instruments in your GeoShred Studio library.

MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) uses one channel as a manager channel that applies global messages to all voices, and a set of member channels (typically channels 2 through n) that each carry per-note expression data. On the member channels, pitch bend transmits horizontal motion (KeyX), CC74 transmits vertical position or brightness (KeyY), and Channel Pressure transmits the primary pressure axis (KeyZ). GeoShred supports two interpretations: channel-per-note (MIDI Mode 3) and channel-per-row (MIDI Mode 4).

Yes. Set the MIDI configuration to MPE Channel Mode. GeoShred Studio responds expressively to any MPE-compliant controller.

Yes. In Single Channel mode, GeoShred Studio responds to standard MIDI plus expression hardware: breath controllers (CC-2), foot pedals (CC-4), and expression pedals (CC-11).

Yes. Use the Single Channel MIDI configuration with CC-2 (breath control). The model responds to continuous breath input in real time.

Open Menu > MIDI in GeoShred and select the "Roli Seaboard" MIDI configuration. A video tutorial is available.

Video tutorials are available for each of these controllers covering the correct MIDI configuration and any controller-side setup steps.

A video tutorial is available showing how to route GeoShred's MIDI and MPE output to the standalone SWAM instruments on the desktop.

As an AUv3 plugin in a desktop DAW, GeoShred Studio performances can be recorded both as audio and as editable MIDI and MPE data. Recording as MIDI/MPE allows the performance to be edited and re-rendered through the engine inside the DAW.

MIDI Out presets identify whether the receiving instrument supports MPE or is multitimbral, and whether it expects MIDI Mode 3 or Mode 4. Presets labeled "CC74" send only CC74 for vertical key slide. Presets labeled "Channel Pressure" send only Mono Aftertouch (not poly). Presets without either label send both CC74 and Channel Pressure. Available modes include MPE Mode 3, MPE Mode 4, Multi Mode 3, and Multi Mode 4, each with CC74-only, Channel Pressure-only, and combined variations.

When "Snap" is on, the first touch on a key is perfectly in tune in the current temperament, regardless of exactly where the finger lands relative to the center of the note. When "Round" is on, sliding the finger left or right of the center of a key rounds the pitch toward the perfectly tuned position at the rate set by Slide Speed.

Mahesh's presets are built into GeoShred in the "All Presets" setlist at locations #195, #196, and #197.

Western music transposes by changing the root, but South Asian music keeps the root as 'Sa'. To transpose within that convention, use GeoShred's preset and global transposition mechanisms rather than changing the root note. Change note names to svara via Menu > Settings > Note Name Fonts > Svara. Adjust coarse tune (semitones) and fine tune (cents) under Menu > Model & FX > Guitar > Guitar. For frequent changes, place the tuning controls on the control surface as sliders. For global transposition, use Menu > Settings > Tuning > Global.

GeoShred allows custom scales in any temperament using ETdiffs (percent difference from Equal Temperament). A video tutorial demonstrates the process.

Not at present. Scala file import is planned for a future release. In the meantime, custom scales can be built with ETdiffs.

Enable iCloud sync for automatic backup to your iCloud Drive, or manually back up via Menu > Files > Export to copy presets to iCloud storage. Use Import to restore previously saved presets.

Use Menu > Share for any edited preset. GeoShred opens an email composition window with the preset attached.

Factory and user presets are shown in white. Edited factory presets that have not yet been saved appear in red. Edited factory presets that have been saved appear in yellow. The Revert command returns a preset to its original state and the name returns to white.

Setlist creation is covered in detail in Chapter 6 of the video user manual, available via Menu > Help or on the moForte YouTube channel.

Yes. Starting with GeoShred 6.000.0.1.8, the control surface can be moved from the top to the bottom via Menu > Model & FX > Perform > Strum > CS Bottom.

Open Menu > Control Surface, tap Whammy, and change the range, for example from the default -24..24 to -2..2 for a full step. A video tutorial demonstrates the process.

No. GeoShred is not intended to replace acoustic guitars. It makes the expressive vocabulary of guitar (bends, slides, vibrato, articulation control) available to all musicians, and adds features beyond a physical guitar including arpeggiators, curves, and direct manipulation of physical model parameters that yield sounds an acoustic instrument cannot produce.

No. Sampling is the right solution for many musical situations. Physical modeling provides a different value: many physical parameters that can be shaped by expressive gesture in real time, yielding an interactive performance experience.

This is intermodulation distortion, the same phenomenon that occurs with a real distorted electric guitar. Clean distorted chords can be obtained using GeoShred's hexaphonic string mode, which sends each string through its own distorted signal path. A video tutorial demonstrates the technique.

A key of G# requires a double sharp in its key signature, so it is conventionally notated as its enharmonic equivalent, Ab. The cycle of fifths determines which sharps or flats are in each key. Keys generally range from Db to F#, and in equal temperament G# = Ab, Gb = F#, and Cb = B. GeoShred provides 12 selectable keys under Menu > Performance Settings > Keyboard > Scale > Root.