At the risk of sounding even whinier than usual, this is why I want some sort of VST Expression.

What -I- is some gizmo that sits next to my keyboard with some combination of levers/switches that I can set up for 'Stac', 'Sfz', etc... REGARDLESS of what VSTi I'm triggering. And -somehow-, using MIDI, usb, steam power or 'space magic!', the gizmo sends the proper 'command' to whatever MIDI track I have in focus in my DAW.

I don't want to have to remember that C#1 is stac for violins... and C#6 for CB... when using VSL and then F#1 for EW flutes. I just want a UNIVERSAL STACCATO BUTTON. I take a day (and a fifth of gin) and program the device like a garage door opener, write labels on each button and then I'm -done-.

In short, I think keyswitches should be disconnected from MIDI notes altogether so they can be 'transmitted' in some way that is universal and, above all, requires no memorisation of any kind. I thought Steinberg was -really- onto something with VST Expression and I'm sad that nobody else seems to have gotten on the bandwagon.

And while I'm ranting... I'm partially disabled. I have crap eyesight and mousing is tough as well. It always annoys me that most software, that is designed for 'creatives' is so poorly set up for disabled people. I can't imagine even a genius like Stevie Wonder using -any- of this software.... or even a web browser... without an assistant. I'm constantly griping because things like taking my eyes off the screen or switching from the mouse back to the keyboard back to the mouse a billion times a day SUCKS. I would MUCH rather go back to MS-DOS or Unix where there was a key command for -everything-. See... a blind guy or even a lot of people with hand problems can do perfectly fine touch typing. It's the MOUSE... which seems so 'creative friendly' which blows.

My point is that, music software, which should be one thing that disabled people can use to do really cool things, is -much- harder to use than say, BORING PRACTICAL programs like Word and Excel. Which seems kinda backwards to me.

In America there are standards for GUIs (Section 508) which software devs are -supposed- to work towards... every key has an accelerator, every screen object can be used with a screen reader, etc... Ya know which company is 1,000 miles ahead in compliance on this leftie-progressive ideal? Apple? Nope. Google. Hell no. Microsoft. Boring, outdated Microsoft.

I'm not sure disabled stuff is even on the radar for euro-software devs of -any- kind, which puzzles me considering how much more 'progressive' the EU is on so many issues. But I've groused at Steinberg (and now VSL) for -years- to make their products easier to use... at the very least to comply with the Windows UI guidelines (accelerators, default buttons for every window etc.) And that -really- puzzles me because, even before I was hurt, I worked MUCH faster when the UI had these kinds of refinements... I think everyone else would find it easier too.

OK, I'm done. I promise not to rant on this for a -long- time. But this seemingly 'minor' stuff is -maddening- for some of us.

---JC

I think you're ranting at the wrong company. All of what you want is possible with VSL. It's just that the rest of the developers are still living in the dark ages. There are ways to do what you want, even without VST Expression, but it will take detailed preparation and every time you get a new, inflexible library, you will have to go through the process again.

DG

That is the 'if everyone else would just do it my way, everything would be fine' argument all would be monopolists like to use. I agree that VSL has some pretty superior products, but standards -matter-. VSL has more and more taken the 'walled garden' approach. I understand their reasons but nevertheless...

Since VEP is a stand-alone app, Vienna can do a lot more than other VSTi developers to address the usability issues I raised. They are not as hamstrung by VST. And like other devs, they also have the option to conform to the standards that Steinberg has put forward (like VST Expression).

I'm not blaming anyone more or less than anyone else---and I'm certainly no Steinberg fanboy. But the whole DAW market has become so balkanized it drives me nuts. For what -I- do, even if I had all the $ in the world, I couldn't 'live' in a VSL world---they just don't have the product range.

And I'll go one step further... I think that at least -one- reason music in general is getting so crappy is because you've got these super-sophisticated apps like VSL that are more and more living in their own little gated communities walled off from the general DAW hoipolloi.

I roll my eyes at all these 'sound construction' libraries, with pre-recorded runs and stings or preset orchestral groupings, but when I think about how much sheer -work- it is to do an equivalent MIDI mock-up... because of all the importing and exporting and hand-editing between a proper notation program and a MIDI sequencer and then mixing and on and on... I start to understand why guys opt for the 'just add water' approach.

MIDI mock-ups are just too frickin' hard to do given the current state of tech. End of story. And I've concluded that the lack of proper integration between the various components (DAW, sample libs, notators) is the big stumbling block. VSL can improve on VEP and MIR as much as they like, but until all the vendors do a -much- better job of working -together- on some sort of common integration, it's gonna remain much tougher than it should be. I -know- I'm in the minority, but I think the tools to write -text- are, after all these years, still about 1,000 miles ahead of the tools to write music.And everyone keeps focusing on polishing sound quality and making excuses instead of tackling that basic -speed- issue. By -speed- I mean the time it takes to convert my thought into a finished recording. -Way- too slow. It should take no longer to do a decent midi mock-up than it would to write out a score in pencil. Not parts. Just the score. That's the only way to counter all these stupid pre-fab libraries and other sonic wallpapers that pass for 'music' these days.

@Another User said:

MIDI mock-ups are just too frickin' hard to do given the current state of tech. End of story. And I've concluded that the lack of proper integration between the various components (DAW, sample libs, notators) is the big stumbling block. VSL can improve on VEP and MIR as much as they like, but until all the vendors do a -much- better job of working -together- on some sort of common integration, it's gonna remain much tougher than it should be. I -know- I'm in the minority, but I think the tools to write -text- are, after all these years, still about 1,000 miles ahead of the tools to write music.And everyone keeps focusing on polishing sound quality and making excuses instead of tackling that basic -speed- issue. By -speed- I mean the time it takes to convert my thought into a finished recording. -Way- too slow. It should take no longer to do a decent midi mock-up than it would to write out a score in pencil. Not parts. Just the score. That's the only way to counter all these stupid pre-fab libraries and other sonic wallpapers that pass for 'music' these days.

 I certainly agree that i would like to be able to type a score and then it play back the way i want it. as long as I could over-ride the settings when I disagree with the default. However, I can't imagine how much time just working out the playback algorithms would take, and then you have to consider that even when sequencing by hand, some very simple things don't sound good.

I don't think that writing text is remotely comparable though. What you're really asking for is that the text can sound as if it's spoken by the best actors in the world. I have yet to hear any text speaking program that doesn't make Stephen Hawking sound like a first rate Opera singer. [;)]

DG

OK, here's someting else that you can try.

http://www.bewaryprods.com/software/products/TransMIDIfier/

DG

Thank you. I take yer point that there are no 'actor' plug-ins for Microsoft Word. If there were, I'm sure we'd all be hearing these dreadful Ian McKellen phrases everywhere. YOU SHALL NOT PASS!

I appreciate the suggestion. I do think you understand what I'm saying but just disagree with my basic ideas. Sadly, that's exactly the kind of 'translator' program that shouldn't need to exist if all the players would simply work together. Same goes with my UI gripes for disabled people. Like most companies, VSL puts 100% of it's effort into the best sounding products. For most users, my issues are way down the priority list. I suppose the market decides.

I dsagree with something you wrote about 'construction sets'. I'm noticing more and more guys I run into who -have- the training to write cues reach for the construction set instead out of sheer convenience; not lack of ability. -That's- the soul killer. There's just no incentive to put in the time to do really creative orchestrations. No one has a budget for real players and doing a MIDI orchestration that really -kills- takes a LOT longer to do than generating a score and booking players. I don't have a figure, but I guess it takes -several- times as long to do a good mock up as it would to write the same cue and have it played. And if it's an unfamiliar orchestration, where you're experimenting? It might take even longer to work it out. No wonder guys reach for the construction set. Or record the same boring stuff over and over. It's the smart play.

My point is that, I think it's in every company's interest with a stake in 'MIDI orchestration',  to make the workflow faster. A -lot- faster. The whole focus now is on better sound quality, which seems to me somewhat short-sighted.

YMMV,

---JC

@Suntower said:

My point is that, I think it's in every company's interest with a stake in 'MIDI orchestration',  to make the workflow faster. A -lot- faster. The whole focus now is on better sound quality, which seems to me somewhat short-sighted.

I do agree with you, but I'm afraid that ti will never happen, because each company has a different idea of what the ideal should be. At least with VSL you can choose your own keyswitches and controllers, whereas with most other companies you have to put up with what you get given.

I can tell you now, that whatever standard was arrived at, it wouldn't suit me, so I have a vested interest in all of this. For example, Cubase VST Expression is very good, but too basic for my needs. If all developers were locked into that, I would have to go down the road of recording my own sample libraries, and these wouldn't obey the "standard". Straight away I would have people wanting to buy my libraries because they would be more flexible, and we would be back to square one.

However, as VST Expression exists there is nothing to stop sample developers adopting it up to a point, but then you would have to persuade the sequencer developers to do the same. We all know what the answer from Apple would be. [;)]

DG

 The reason none of this is really a problem is that you can set up a template which works exactly how you want, and then stop thinking about it.  

No point in saying the same stuff over and over. You know how much I respect your work, sir, but in this case you are incorrect.... at least about the issues I raised.

Regards,

---JC

Well, to put it seriously, no, there is not an instant MIDI performance button. never mind.