Keyboard Controls
This part of Trident is your set of performance tools. They allow you to add real-time expressive flourishes that make a performance come alive under your fingers. These controls don’t change a sound, they control how you play it, bending, sliding, and adding vibrato in dramatic ways.
Pitch Bend
That little joystick to the left? Push it up or down to bend pitch in real time. The Bend Amount knob sets how far those bends go: a subtle half-step for realistic brass slides, or a wild dive-bomb for whammy-bar dramatics. When Trident is played from an external MIDI controller keyboard, this joystick is automatically mapped to your controller’s pitch wheel.
Vibrato
The second joystick works the same way, except instead of bending pitch directly, it adds vibrato modulation to the sound. The Speed knob controls how fast it pulses, while Intensity controls how deep it digs in. At slow speeds and low intensity, it adds a soulful growl. Crank both these parameters and you’re in “UFO about to lift off” territory. With an external MIDI controller, this joystick is mapped by default to the mod wheel.
Synthesizer Glide
The Synthesizer Glide knob controls how quickly the synth section glides from one note to the next (portamento). Turn it up for liquid swoops between notes. This is useful for lead lines that slither and slide. Keep it low for just a touch of legato smoothness.
Master Speed
This knob sets the overall modulation rate for Trident’s Sequencer and Arpeggiators.
Sequencer/Arp Controls
The row of switches and buttons handle Trident’s onboard sequencing and arpeggiation:
SEQ/ARP Off – disables both functions when you want straight manual playing.
SEQ Start – fires up the sequencer manually.
Auto Start / Stop All – tells the sequencer and arpeggiator to automatically trigger when you play a note, and lets you kill them all instantly with one tap.
Tips
Bend for Natural Expression: A small Bend Amount can make brass stabs or string lines sound more human. A large Bend Amount can simulate guitar whammy bar effects.
Glide as Glue: When blending multiple sections, a bit of Glide in the synth section can make everything feel more unified and legato.