Faster String Attack Times <Sigh>

[Pyre]

Hi all,

Basic question (perhaps the basic question) - what would you recommend as the best way for getting a quicker attack on a quiet sustain articulation?

I'm working on a cello run of seven staccato notes, followed by one sustain. The velocity of the staccatos is around 70, and I am hoping for a sustained note at the same overall level, but a sustain that quiet has a very slow attack. I am currently using the sus_Vib_fA_auto articulation in the hope that the attack is a bit faster, but unfortunately it's not nearly fast enough for my purposes. I know there are various ways around this, my question is which is best?

I tried fiddling with start offset, but couldn't hear any difference when moving the slider, even with the start offset and start offset attack parameters set to maximum. The start offset mode was set to all, but given that the other options there relate to legato, and the video tutorial on start offset talks a lot about lengthening portamento times, am I correct in thinking that Start Offset is purely for legato and portamento articulations, and does nothing for any others? ...Or am I using it wrongly (again)?

I also tried using time stretch, but even with the stretch diagram set to a +50% or -50% shelf, I couldn't hear a difference in attack when A/Bing with the time stretch on/off button. Maybe I just have really bad ears? That might be it, actually...

So now I'm wondering about whether it's best to turn up the velocity for the sustained note and turn the articulation down in the slot mixer, or to add a staccato note into slot 2 and set it lower in the mix.

What is generally suggested for when a quiet sustain with a fast attack is required?

Many thanks for your help.

Pyre

[jasensmith]

@Pyre said:

Hi all,

So now I'm wondering about whether it's best to turn up the velocity for the sustained note and turn the articulation down in the slot mixer, or to add a staccato note into slot 2 and set it lower in the mix.

Pyre

 

If you end up going with this method try using detache samples rather than staccatos because you'll have more flexibility with detaches.  Assuming the Attack slider is all the way down, velocity high with expression low.  Of course, you want to slightly adjust these parameters in real-time.

If detaches aren't strong enough then use the staccatos. 

[jasensmith]

@Pyre said:

Hi all,

What is generally suggested for when a quiet sustain with a fast attack is required?

Pyre

 

I'm not a string player but wouldn't a quiet sustain with a fast attack sound unnatural?  In order to achieve a quiet sustain you would have to apply less pressure on the bow so wouldn't the attacks be a bit blurred (if that's the correct term) anyway. 

Again, I'm not a string player so don't take my word for it.

[mohurwitzmusic]

Orchestral, Chamber, and Solo strings all come with Sustain Fast Attack patche (sus_Vib_fA).

HTH

Edit*** That totally didn't help because you already mention you were using this patch. Sorry my bad. Should have read the whole post.

[DG]

This sort of attack normally happens when the player has been playing spiccato, and there is no time to get the bow on the string before the sustain is played. What you get is a slight accent at the start, so a way to fake it is using the start of a staccato and then crossfading quickly into the sustain portion of a sustain.

DG

[jasensmith]

@DG said:

so a way to fake it is using the start of a staccato and then crossfading quickly into the sustain portion of a sustain.

 

 

[I][I][I] Ahh.... Crossfading.  Of course.  Well this is a better idea than what I had.  Man, DG you're one sharp cat.  I could live to be a thousand years old and I would have never come up with that one[:$]

[Pyre]

Thanks very much guys, using a combination of crossfading and stacking I've been mostly able to get the results I'm after. Gotta love the brass instruments though, portato medium being used for both shorter and longer notes makes the whole process much easier!

Sorry for the delayed response, I unplug my router when I'm trying to concentrate on working, so this is the first time I've been back here in a couple of weeks.

Pyre