GeoViola

GeoViola – Physically Modeled Solo Viola for GeoShred Studio

THE VIOLA'S BOW DYNAMICS AND REGISTER CONTRAST IN REAL TIME
GeoViola runs inside GeoShred Studio, where the viola's full expressive range becomes available through GeoShred's multi-row continuous pitch surface. Press into the grid to control bow dynamics and vibrato depth; shift position to move contact point from sul tasto to sul ponticello. The instrument's dark C-string weight, its slightly nasal upper register, and its capacity for long singing legato phrases all respond continuously to gesture. The SWAM engine by Audio Modeling drives the underlying acoustic simulation; GeoShred's integrated FX rack adds reverb, echo, and amp modeling as part of the signal chain throughout.

What's Inside GeoViola:

• Multi-row continuous pitch surface across the viola's full four-string range with fluid portamento and slide expression built into the layout
• Direct access to bowing parameters: contact point from sul tasto to sul ponticello, bow pressure and speed, vibrato depth and rate
• GeoShred's integrated FX rack including EchoMT, Reverb, AmpCab, and more running as part of the signal chain, not as an afterthought
• MPE controller, wind and breath controller, and GeoShred Control companion app compatibility
• SWAM continuous physical modeling by Audio Modeling: bow-string interaction simulated as a live acoustic event, not a sample trigger

The Viola's Acoustic Identity

Tuned a perfect fifth below the violin on C, G, D, and A strings, the viola's body must be acoustically large enough to resonate its lower strings while remaining small enough to hold under the chin. That structural compromise is the source of its character: darker than the violin, slightly pinched on the C string, with an inner-voice quality that defines the middle of the string section. In GeoShred Studio, those tonal characteristics respond continuously to bow pressure and contact point across the full four-string range.

GeoShred Studio and GeoShred Control

GeoShred Studio is moForte's professional desktop performance platform, a VST3, AU, or AUv3 plugin that runs inside your DAW or standalone. Its isomorphic surface is tuned in perfect fourths, providing melodic continuity across strings and enabling slide-based phrasing that maps well to bowed string technique. Real-time pressure and gesture response are native to the platform, not layered on top of a static MIDI instrument.

GeoShred Control is a free companion app for iPhone and iPad that connects to GeoShred Studio over USB, putting a second expressive surface in a performer's hands during live play. Wind controllers, breath controllers, and MPE hardware all connect directly.

GeoSWAM vs. SWAM Viola

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 Viola is Audio Modeling's standalone instrument and plug-in, which can operate independently or inside a DAW. It provides deeper access to advanced model parameters and detailed customization within its own interface.

Both use the same underlying SWAM physical modeling technology and are capable of highly expressive performance. The difference lies in interface design, parameter depth, and workflow architecture.

They are separate products developed independently, and there are no upgrade or crossgrade paths between the two product lines.

FAQ

• What is GeoViola?
  GeoViola is a physically modeled solo viola powered by SWAM technology from Audio Modeling, running inside GeoShred Studio. It delivers bow dynamics, register contrast, and vibrato across all four strings (C, G, D, A) with continuous pitch control, pressure-responsive dynamics, and real-time expression across GeoShred's performance surface.
• What's the difference between GeoSWAM and Naada instruments?
  GeoShred offers two families of physically modeled instruments: GeoSWAM and Naada. While both deliver deeply expressive performance through GeoShred's touch surface and MPE support, they come from different modeling technologies and are designed with different musical goals in mind.
  
  GeoSWAM instruments are developed in collaboration with Audio Modeling and are closely related to their acclaimed SWAM instruments. These models focus 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 instruments are developed by AccelMatrix and emphasize a broader palette of global instruments, including instruments such as 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.
  
  In short:
  GeoSWAM: monophonic, orchestral focus, highly detailed solo performance
  Naada: polyphonic, broader global instrument palette, ideal for chords and layered textures.
  
  Both instrument families share the same expressive GeoShred performance environment, giving players an intuitive and powerful way to perform physically modeled instruments.
• Do GeoSWAM and Naada instruments use the same parameters?
  No. Because the two families use different modeling technologies, each instrument includes its own parameter set tailored to its physical model. These parameters control aspects of the instrument's behavior and performance response.
• What controllers work with GeoViola?
  GeoViola works with MPE controllers, wind and breath controllers, the free GeoShred Control iOS companion app, and standard MIDI controllers.
• Is GeoViola monophonic?
  Yes. Like all GeoSWAM instruments, GeoViola is monophonic, mirroring the behavior of its acoustic counterpart. For polyphonic performance, GeoShred Studio offers the Naada instrument family, which supports chords, layered textures, and ensemble-style playing.