Synchronizing
Forma Labs // System Initialization
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Twelve independent preset slots, each holding a complete orchestration. You move between them live — the transition is instant at the audio block boundary.
Triggering Keyswitches
UI
Click any of the 12 keyswitch buttons in the keyswitch bar along the bottom of the main view.
MIDI
Keyswitches are triggered by the lowest octave of notes on a standard keyboard:
1: A0 (21)2: A#0 (22)3: B0 (23)4: C1 (24)5: C#1 (25)6: D1 (26)7: D#1 (27)8: E1 (28)9: F1 (29)10: F#1 (30)11: G1 (31)12: G#1 (32)
More flexible keyswitch mapping is planned for a future update.
Seamless Transitions
Keyswitch transitions are designed for live performance—you don't need to hold the keyswitch note while playing.
- 1Press and release a keyswitch note. The switch is now primed.
- 2Your currently held notes are stored. You can release them—they'll continue to sound until you play the next chord.
- 3When you play the next chord, the keyswitch activates automatically—the new notes go to the new configuration.
This creates seamless transitions between keyswitches without any audible gap or the need to time the switch perfectly with your playing.
Tip: Combine with Latch Mode to hold notes indefinitely while preparing your next keyswitch. Latched notes continue sounding and seamlessly hand over to the new keyswitch when you play the next chord.
Reordering Keyswitches
Drag and drop keyswitches in the keyswitch bar to reorder them. This lets you arrange your configurations in whatever order makes sense for your performance—put your most-used keyswitches on adjacent notes for quick switching.
Naming
Keyswitches cannot currently be given custom names or colours. However, when you load an orchestration into a keyswitch slot, the slot displays the orchestration's name—so you can see at a glance what configuration each keyswitch holds.
What Is Saved Per Keyswitch
Each keyswitch independently stores:
- •All 8 voice layer configurations (type, key range, input delay, split settings, intelligent chord revoicing mode)
- •The full routing matrix (which voice layers connect to which outputs, with transposition values)
- •All per-output-row module settings (arpeggiator patterns, clip launcher clips, smart modifier curves, articulation roles)
What Is Shared
The mixer (instruments, effects, volumes, pans) is shared across all keyswitches. Only the musical content changes when you switch — the instruments stay loaded.
Use Cases
Live Performance
Switch between verse, chorus, and bridge arrangements instantly using MIDI notes from your controller.
Shifts in Colour
Keep the same basic orchestration but shift the tonal colour—Keyswitch 1 routes to warm strings, Keyswitch 2 adds woodwinds, Keyswitch 3 brings in brass. Same harmonic content, different instrumental palette.
Variation
Create variations on a theme—Keyswitch 1 plays the melody straight, Keyswitch 2 adds an arpeggiator, Keyswitch 3 uses a different chord voicing. Switch between them to add interest and movement to your performance.
A/B Comparison
Set up two different voicings on adjacent keyswitches and switch between them to compare arrangements while composing.
Articulation Layers
Keep the same voice routing but different articulation trigger settings—sustain on Keyswitch 1, pizzicato on Keyswitch 2, tremolo on Keyswitch 3.