First off, let me say that these libraries (VI series, in my case) are a godsend to a learning composer like myself. Thank you VSL for the amazing attention to detail and thank you all users who contribute their knowledge that help newcomers like myself! I couldn't ask for better tools/resources.
Now, to my question: Simply put, how can I write intersecting contrapuntal lines without messing up the stereo image?
I'll explain. I write two contrapuntal lines with two solo instruments that, at one point in the music, intersect on the same note. What I'm noticing is that no matter what I do or what instruments I use, the stereo image will collapse and it will sound like the instruments merge into one instrument and occupy the same space.
I've experimented with the transposition trick, using different samples, different articulations and even different instruments of wildly different timbres! But even when I have, say, a viola and a bassoon playing contrapuntally and then intersecting on the same pitch this occurs to a distracting extent.
To be clear, I'm aware that melody lines that go from contrary to unison by their very nature make the individual voices lose their sense of musical independence. That's not what I'm talking about. If I'm right smack inbetween two violinists playing (real life equivalent of panning hard right and left) and they go from different pitches to the same pitch, they don't magically teleport to the same physical location right in front of me. Yet this is exactly the impression I get in the digital realm.
Hopefully, there's a way to circumvent this. If not, there's always creativity to be found in limitation :). I've puzzled away at this for ages and any help in figuring this out would be seriously appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
Peace,
- Sam
