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  • Hi, 

    What do you think about the multitude of recorded dynamics samples with the brass instruments in the bigger collections Full Libraries?

    It really pays off to use those. Another tip is to use the dynamic Performance Repetition samples to access more dynamic stages for short notes. 

    Best, 
    Paul


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • The problem is not with big crescendos or repeated notes; as Paul mentioned, these are well covered in the libraries. Where I have not found an adequate solution is in melodies with long notes. A real player will always produce small changes of timbre, like a little swell. But it has to be subtle. When I use a midi cc to sculpt the note, I need a barely audible change, and that's what I can't do. Either it's too stable, like an organ, or else the change is too dramatic.

    Please note that I was not criticizing all VSL libraries, that would be silly, since my big VSL collection is the foundation of my work! :-)

    Btw the subtle timbre change I am discussing in brass instruments does exist in some other libraries, so it is certainly doable. I'd much rather be able to do it in VSL than to have to use EW, which is what I now have to do for those kinds of melodic situations, since their PLAY software is so awful!


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    @belkina said:

    The problem is not with big crescendos or repeated notes; as Paul mentioned, these are well covered in the libraries. Where I have not found an adequate solution is in melodies with long notes. A real player will always produce small changes of timbre, like a little swell. But it has to be subtle. When I use a midi cc to sculpt the note, I need a barely audible change, and that's what I can't do. Either it's too stable, like an organ, or else the change is too dramatic.

     

    If you have the extended libraries I find the 1.5 sec pfp patch in the lowest velocity useful for this.  Also with Brass I tend to use the Expression fader in conjuction with velocity X fade much more frequently.  If you are having problems with BLARING BRASS🎵😐 tap the filter down a wee bit. 


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    @jasensmith said:

    If you have the extended libraries I find the 1.5 sec pfp patch in the lowest velocity useful for this.  Also with Brass I tend to use the Expression fader in conjuction with velocity X fade much more frequently.  If you are having problems with BLARING BRASS🎵😐 tap the filter down a wee bit. 

    I hadn't thought of that. I just tried using the higher velocities and playing with the filter, and it's much better! Thanks!  😊

    Such a great forum!  😊


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    @Paul said:

    Hi, 

    What do you think about the multitude of recorded dynamics samples with the brass instruments in the bigger collections Full Libraries?

    It really pays off to use those. Another tip is to use the dynamic Performance Repetition samples to access more dynamic stages for short notes. 

    Best, 
    Paul

    I think the Bb trumpet standard library is absolutely outstanding.  I did not see it in the full library offering when I ordered, but this instrument in only the standard library is exceptional.


  • using dynamic samples for sustain notes can be helpful.


  • For the small changes, use cc11 instead of cc2 or velocity.


  • Another problem I often have is that the brassiness of the staccato patches is not mapped to velocity xfade at the same values as the sustained and legato patches. In the piece I am working on now there are lots of phrases alternating pairs of quick legato notes and staccato single notes. So I have to go through and reduce the staccato notes velocities differenty from the legato notes. It's very time consuming and annoying. Any ideas about how to solve the problem? This also happens in other orchestral families, but the timbre change is much more marked in the brass. Thanks in advance for any suggestions ....

  • This is because there are more velocity layers for staccato than legato in general, also legato will be attacked less forecefully than staccato.  One thing that can be done is to use a third articulation that is before the legato target, such as a portato.  The two notes will have a legato connection as long as they overlap, and the portato will match more closely the velocity of the staccato.  Also, the second note of a legato pair naturally sounds a little softer than the first.   


  • Thanks for your comments, William. :-)  

    I just checked the Trumpet in C, from Brass 1, and it has the same number of velocity layers in the staccato patch as in the perf-leg patch (if I look at the graphic in the upper right of VIPro).

    Also, if, as you say, "legato will be attacked less forecefully than staccato", shouldn't the velocity mapping go the OTHER way?

    Am I missing something here?