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  4. New Synchron user..could you help me with some articulation questions..please.

  • New Synchron user..could you help me with some articulation questions..please.

    M
    M

    Hi. I'm still quite new to this whole virual instrument world...I've just upgraded to Synchron from SE 1, really like the new interface..

    but .wondering if someone can help me with a few basics I can't figure out..even afer watching tutorial videos etc..

    1.) What is a strategy to standardise articulation controls? Do you program it to the same spot? Use a second controller just for articulations? Buy a Komplete Keyboard with the fancy coloured lights?

    I've always found it tricky to navigate the way the keys to choose articulations / dimensions change locations on every instrument.

    ie. On one instrument they might be at C1...and then the sub dimension is up at C7, then on the next instrument if might be C1 and A1....to my thinking it would easier if this was standardised..

    I thought maybe I should customise every instrument to the exact same location...ie use the right hand side of my 88 keys for the playable area...and then place the core controls always at C0 and C1...

    Problem: Is there a way to choose the playable area position? 

    I can see I can change the articulation location...from C1 to C0 for example...but not where the playable range starts? (ie If I want to move it right? Up an octave...but just not in pitch)

    Or would it just be easier to use a dedicated articulation controller of some sort like one of those Maschine type things? How do you do it?

    2.) Can you program the articulations to actually use a different controller? Where do you do that? 

    3.) When you customise the articulations...how do you save the customisation? Sorry I couldn't find a save button!

    Thanks for any advice.
  • BenB
    VSL Team
    BenB

    Hi!

    1) You can move the playing range without altering pitch by changing the tuning settings of the selected slot:
    https://www.vsl.info/manuals/synchron-player/edit-tab#tuning

    2) Do you mean different CC's to switch articulations? You can set the controller to a keyswitch, program change, or Dimension Controller (which can be set to CC, aftertouch, speed, and more):
    https://www.vsl.info/manuals/synchron-player/dimension-tree-view

    3) Your customizations will be saved in the DAW project. But you can also save it as preset for use in other projects as well:
    https://www.vsl.info/manuals/synchron-player/browser#user-presets

     

    Workflow regarding articulation switching: It heavily depends on personal preference and your DAW. So here are a few examples:
    - Classic: Many users still prefer to work with plain keyswitches in the DAW's MIDI-editor (simply add the required MIDI notes)
    - Classic CC: Same as working with keyswitches, but using one or multiple CC to set the articulation.
    - Expression Maps: If you use Cubase or Nuendo you might want to take a look at Expression Maps (we offer free Expression Maps for our products in the download area under "Notation Related")
    - NEW: Sound Variation: Together with Presonus we developed a new articulation system called Sound Variation. Right now it works with the Synchron Player in combination with Studio One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-jHIVTI0u4
    Y    ou can check this out by downloading the demo version of Studio One 5.2 and downloading the demo projects from our download area under "Tutorials". There are a few projects using mostly the Special Editions.

    Best, Ben

    Ben@VSL | IT & Product Specialist
  • M
    M

    Thanks Ben..that is all really helpful. Much appreciated!

    With the articulations question I was wondering if I should use a dedicated extra midi controller...it looks like I can use the 'Learn' function to do that.

    Anyway thank you so much..appreciate your assistance!
  • W
    W
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    @Mavoz said:

    Hi. I'm still quite new to this whole virual instrument world...I've just upgraded to Synchron from SE 1

    As a fellow newbie, I’d urge you to consider the new Sound Variations feature in Studio One mentioned by Ben.  I switched from Logic to Studio One in order to use this, and it has been fantastic (and you can check around and see that other adopters have been very pleased as well).  You don’t have to think about how to program keyswitches, CC or program changes and the pros and cons of various methods - you can immediately focus on the musical possibilities of the articulations.  And you never have to worry if you’re doing the programming correctly or anticipating future changes - VSL is doing that for you!

    The extent of the benefit depends on which Synchron products you use, or are likely to use in the future.  If you just have Synchronized SE Vol 1 and are not planning on more, that’s only 12 articulations so it should be not as difficult to do yourself, and not worth switching DAWs for.  But if you have Synchron Strings Pro (or think you may in the future) - that’s 127 articulations.  (These numbers are based on the number of articulations programmed by VSL in their Sound Variations feature in Studio One.)  And Paul has mentioned that this Sound Variations feature will be available for future Synchron products as well ( and VSL’s future development efforts are focused on the Synchron line).

    As newcomers, you and I don’t have existing large templates or other switching costs in using the new Sound Variations.  In this case, being newcomers actually gives us an advantage that it enables us to leapfrog legacy techniques.
  • PaulP
    VSL Team
    PaulP

    Hi, 

    Sound Variations work out of the box with any Synchron products... that's the beauty of it!

    Regarding dedicated MIDI Controllers: There's a lot of choice out there, and once you have those controllers in your "muscle memory", you will not want to live without them. You just need to find the right ones!

    Best, 
    Paul

    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • M
    M

    Thanks again for these posts...actually have just returned to this question...there seem to be all manner of ways of adjusting the sound to get that more realistic sound...

    Breath controllers...Ring on finger Controllers...Slider controllers...Pallette gear etc..etc!

    At thsi point I think I'll just program my piano with a standard setup...so that the articulations are all in a standard spot...might even stick coloured dots on my piano or something!

    If I understand this correctly there is a choice between trying to play these live...or 'post editing' them in...

    I'm a Reaper user and can see there is an addon called 'Rearticulate'..that looks like it is similar to the Presonus plugin.

    Anyway..thank you! Really interested in the various workflows people have..but sounds like I'm best learning one and sticking to it...might have to invest in a new 'Slider controller' of some sort though....interested in any recommenations if you know of any...

    The Pallette gear one looks great...but also a bit pricey for a hobbyist like myself.

    Thanks!
  • S
    S
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    @Mavoz said:

    I'm a Reaper user and can see there is an addon called 'Rearticulate'..that looks like it is similar to the Presonus plugin.

    I've got just the thing for you:

    Guide on How to Use Reaticulate

    Guide on How to Program Custom Reaticulate Banks

    EDIT: Also, what Synchron library(s) are you using?  Depending on which ones, I may be able to give you pre-configured banks (articulation lists) so you don't have to make them yourself.  Most of mine are designed to work with the default presets.
  • M
    M
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    @Seventh Sam said:

    I've got just the thing for you:

    Guide on How to Use Reaticulate

    Guide on How to Program Custom Reaticulate Banks

    EDIT: Also, what Synchron library(s) are you using?  Depending on which ones, I may be able to give you pre-configured banks (articulation lists) so you don't have to make them yourself.  Most of mine are designed to work with the default presets.

    Thanks Sam..will definitely check those guides out. I've just got the Special Edition Volume 1 (and the Big Bang Orchestra which I haven't installed yet..just noticed I must have got that with the Synchron update)

    Have managed to get Lemur setup with my phone as a controller...but can see Reaticulate may be a better workflow for this kind of thing...thanks for the tips! Certainly interested in whatever presets are available..as I try and get my head around all of this. Thank you!
  • M
    M

    On the controller front I'm wondering whether the Novation Launch Control XL might be a good solution...with the customisation options of both Reaper and VSL I think I can potenitally map these articulations to sliders or buttons on the Novation. The fact that it has mappable colours on that controller could be perfect too.

    If anyone spots any 'gotchas' with this idea let me know..it just seems a lot cheaper option than a product like the Pallette Gear which others have used..

    Thanks!