Note objects

***This page is written exclusively for the Advanced menu mode found in the upper left corner of the menu.***

## Purpose

Note objects are the only element in Keysight that can show a history of events.

## Shape

### Overview

Note objects can have one of five different base shapes. Black keys will use a thinner version of this base shape. This can be selected under *Effects > Note objects > Note body > Shape.*

FlatAngledOctagonSemi-roundedRoundedNote objects use up to two materials: note body material, and note border material. Note border width is controlled in *Effects > Note objects > Note border > Shape* and can be either none (0%), narrow (10%) or wide (20%).

### Technical details

Note objects are made up of 3 pieces: two caps, and a core. When a note is spawned: it will grow the caps until they reach their target size, and then the core will grow and move the caps accordingly.

Each piece has three material slots. When a border width is selected, different material slots are occupied by the body/border materials to give the chosen thickness. Therefore (unfortunately), note border width is not a continuous scale to edit.

If a note is released so quickly that the corresponding note object has not reached its target size (an aspect ratio of 1:1 by default), it will continue growing to the target size before releasing.

### Tips and tricks

#### Flat geometry on rounded objects

Note objects can have "curvature disabled" via *Effects > Note objects > Shape > Geometry normal strength*. This slider controls the influence that geometry angle has on reflecting lighting; a value of 0.00 will make the entire note surface "point upwards" for the purpose of lighting. This allows, for example, *Rounded* shapes to appear flat rather than spherically curved.

#### Shape determining light reflection

One important aspect to consider when designing your note object look is how the chosen shape reflects any lighting, with the strongest influence often being note lighting. A *Flat* note shape will often appear substantially brighter than a *Rounded* one, as the rectangular note light above the note object is cleanly reflected directly back into the camera.

## Layout

### Technical details

Height above backdrop, height above each other

Z-axis size

Independent to shape settings

Time taken to travel

### Tips and tricks

#### Flattening notes

Modifying depth

Moving height offset

#### Shadows

Enable them, have impact lights cast shadows on note objects

## Common questions

### Release with sustain pedal, not note-off

This can be done in another menu: *Core > Simulation > Sustain pedal effect extending*. However: despite this being the behaviour seen in many midi roll displays, it is not recommended to use sustain-pedal-release in Keysight. This effect causes excessive visual noise in most instances, and sustain pedalling can be visualised in a number of different ways (such as impact light extension, light bar activity, damper visualisation).

### Make the border thinner/thicker

Impossible due to material slot restrictions. If using a glowing border, brighter = more bloom, appears bigger. Less bright, less bloom, appears thinner.

### Note lights desynced from note objects

Probably due to perspective or angled view.