Hello Husky,
here are some excerpts from our last newsletter, with some further explanations:
"The Orchestral Cube, including Strings, Brass & Woodwinds and Percussion in EXS24 mk II format had its worldwide debut two weeks ago. The Vienna Symphonic Library is now available as the first fully integrated orchestral sample library for Logic 5.5 and Logic 6, for Mac or PC.
The Performance Set in EXS24 mk II format is rapidly being finalized as well. Currently we're workingtogether with Emagic to implement our Performance Tool with EXS24 mk II. And here's the good news: Unlike the GigaStudio version, the EXS Performance Tool will not be a stand-alone program. It will be a plug-in directly accessible in EXS24 mk II. You'll be able to use all of our tools of expression without leaving Logic. It will be available for Mac OS 9 and OS X and is expected to be ready for download for registered users from our User Area by the end of May/beginning of June.
The EXS Performance Tool plug-in will offer the same features as the GigaStudio version:
• Alternation Mode: As you play in real-time, you step automatically from one articulation to the other, without being distracted by having to operate key switches.
• Legato Mode: For the first time in the history of electronic music it is possible to perform naturally fluid and authentic passages like legato, portamento or glissando in real-time. Just play – without any additional need for pedals or key switches.
• Repetition Mode: Perform repeated notes without the notorious "machine gun effect", with the timing and accents of your choice in real-time.
Of course we're not only finalizing the First Edition, but we're especially focused on completing the massive Pro Edition, which is due for release this summer. Complete details on this and all of our future products will be sent to you in upcoming Vienna Symphonic Library newsletters."
So, to answer your question, Husky: One mode of the Performance Tool, the Alternation Mode, is for use in combination with the multisamples of the Orchestral Cube, as it switches automatically between articulations, e.g., up and down bows, or, more elaborated, e.g., staccato, staccato, detache, staccato, staccato, sfz., pfp, pizz., pfp, etc... It's easyto create longer patterns with many different articulations and you just play them in real-time. If you are a registered user of the Orchestral Cube, you will be able to download this "Alternation Tool" (which is actually the Performance Tool with the Alternation Mode activated) from the User Area of our website as soon as it will be available by the end of May/beginning of June. It will be a plug-in for the EXS24 mk II on Mac OS 9 and OS X and therefore fully integrated. So there's no need for a stand-alone program like our Performance Tool for the Giga platform.
In a nutshell: Yes, you'll have a great Performance plug-in for the Orchestral Cube as well!
I hope that answered your question!
Best regards
Martin Tichy, Vienna Symphonic Library
