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  • Get rid of "wah" effect

    Hi all,

    I'm doing a simple phrase with the sustained cello section (whole notes, 40 bpm, velocity at or around 100), and I notice a "wah" (sucking) effect between notes. Does anyone have any tricks or techniques that I can use to minimize this effect and smooth the transition between notes?

    Thanks in advance...

  • There are several things you can try.

    Are you playing these notes in from a keyboard? If so, make sure you are phrasing as expressively as possible and that your line is moving dynamically.

    If you have the performance set, this is exactly the role that the performance legato instruments are designed to play. They will move perfectly from note to note as a section.

    If you do not have the performance set, you might try some post-editing on the finished track once it is in the audio domain. Using a volume envelope, draw a decrescendo everywhere the tone "blossoms" and draw a little swell on the transition attack itself. This can really remedy the situation you describe.

    In the overall design of VSL the sustain patches are really that, single note sustains. For moving lines, the Performance Legato is the way to fly.

    Good luck,
    Bruce

  • Thanks for the advice Bruce. I do have the performance set, but the problem I run into with the legato strings (which have great note to note transitions) is that notes die out me (whole notes at 40bpm). Maybe I am using the legato tool incorrectly?

    BTW, are you the "Bruce Richardson" from prorec.com? Had to ask...

  • last edited
    last edited

    @damoy said:


    BTW, are you the "Bruce Richardson" from prorec.com? Had to ask...


    Guilty.

    Definitely use the performance legatos where you can. They're perfect for this. I understand the extreme slow tempo problem here. Perhaps you can double perf legato with sustains, or even try some crossfading tricks in your mixdown application.

  • Wow. There sure are a lot of great people flocking to this site. I think I've read just about every review you've done, and they've been a fantastic source of guidance for many of my purchase decisions.

    Getting back to the topic... the legato cross fade with a second track actually works quite well. It gives me the result that I'm looking for (I just wish there was a less time consuming way to do this). Thanks for the tip.