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  3. Legato phrase strategies

  • Legato phrase strategies

    J
    J
    I posted a query on this in the EXS forum, but no-one really addressed this issue. As I imagine this is a problem for GIG users too, I'm bringing it up here:
    What do you do for a legato phrase with long notes in the middle or at the end - as I understand the legato tool's "Ghost Note" utility, it's only useful for the FIRST note of a phrase. Is crossfading to another (non-perf_leg) instrument the only option for a long note?
  • W
    W
    Yes, the ghost note would only be useful to go to one of the short legato destination notes. Crossfading is what I've done a number of times and it worked well partly because the destination tones are matched very closely to some of the sustain sounds.
  • J
    J
    Thanks, William - I'll try it.
    Have you found any settings which work particularly well? I'm thinking especially of the length of the destination Perf_leg note which will crossfade with the sustained note.
  • S
    S
    I found the crescendo/diminuendo articulations particularly helpful at the ends of phrases.
    Also, even if the last note required isn't long, the legato notes don't finish nicely on release unless they happen to match exactly the note value. So when a last note is shorterthan that of the legato instrument, I sometimes start one (on another track) earlier, using expression (or volume would be the same effect) to suppress it until the note should officially start, and align it such that it reaches its natural end at the point of the end of the phrase.

    A lot of words to say not very much [:O]ops:

    That's my offering anyway on the topic...

    All the best,

    Simon
  • J
    J
    That sounds good and, er, I bet it sounds good too.
    Thanks!
  • S
    S
    ...and it's not as fiddly as it sounds, once the tracks are set up. Well, actually it is as fiddly as it sounds [8-)] ...but doesn't need to take that long to do!
  • S
    S
    Okay, okay, it takes ages!!
    [:@]
    But then again, we're all beginners by definition - these libraries are still pretty new - and so it can only get quicker... [[;)]] surely...
  • N
    N
    What about the 0sus instruments, which are long notes with the attack removed?

    I like the cresc/dim programs as well, mostly because they let you give held notes some movement.
  • S
    S
    ...yes, and of course there's nothing to stop you mixing together a whole pile of different articulations for the ensembles - like legato plus crescendos/diminuendos, or whatever...
  • J
    J
    Mmmm!
    Food for thought - delicious!

    Great suggestions everyone - thankyou!!
  • W
    W
    Those are all excellent suggestions. That technique Simon mentions of turning off the sound with controller 7 so you can start a note early is essential, especially concerning the dynamic samples. That way you can tailor the intensity of the cresc/dim more exactly to the phrase. One other thing I've noticed is all the espressivo (espr) strings are exact matches for the forte legato (and actually use the same espr sample as the start note prior to the dissected legato transition note). Likewise the flute progressive vib is matched to the p legato.