Just got VI-Pro: My thoughts, suggestions, & issues with time stretching...

[JT3_Jon]

First off, let me say that the potential in VI-pro is AMAZING!! The performance abilities are truly mind blowing, and the new features like humanize and time stretching show great promise! With that said, here are my thoughts / issues with VI-Pro.

1. VI-pro keeps crashing whenever I try to time stretch. I followed the instructions on time stretching in the manual and attempted to turn my appassionata violin staccatos into short staccatos (50%) but it doesn't seem to function correctly while open as an instance in Logic (it loads to 11% but then freezes when drop the new preset to a cell). I then attempted to time stretch it in 64-bit standalone mode and VE-pro froze when it hit 15% (see screen shot). I have my Directory Manager setup correctly (see screen shot 2) so I don't know why its freezing. I'm running a 2009 8-core 2.93 Mac Pro, OS 10.6.4, Logic 9.1.2, VI pro 1.0.7043, 6GBRam and I have 88GB free on the hard drive selected in the Directory Manager. Note, I tried the same thing with the Special Edition Appassionata strings and it WORKED, but I have not been able to get it to complete loading a time stretched file in any of my full libraries (solo strings, chamber strings. Appassionata strings). Any idea why? 

On a side note, is there any chance we can get an option of tempo in the time stretch window, and not just percentage? I do like the idea of percentage for some applications (like the staccato one above) but for runs tempo would be the obvious choice. 

2. Is there a way to copy-paste my X-Y cell switch configurations from one matrix to another? For example, I have my VSL setup to switch cells via midi CC 85 (x) and CC86 (y). This is great for my working method as I personally hate key switches (dont have an 88 key controller), however all the VSL factory Matrix files use key switches! It would be great if I could load these and simply copy-paste my X-Y cell switch configuration so I play these new matrixes with ease. Its not as simple as assigning the X to CC85 & Y to CC86, as I have specific values assigned to my midi controller that correspond with specific buttons (i.e. button 1 for cell 1 is CC 85 at a value of 1, button 2 a value of 10 = cell 2, etc). 

3. The humanize Area section of the manual is not written in text, but instead musical notes? Weird

4. Can you use midi CC to control the actual faders on the slot editors mixer? I tried right clicking on the fader to midi learn, but nothing happened. If not, that would be a cool addition, as you could mix and match the balance of each slot in relation to each other, and have it change over time given the musical material.

5. The reverb sounds GREAT! Is this the same convolution reverb from vienna suite or a different one? If its the same, can you tell me which preset room it is as I would like to use this reverb, but I'd like to EQ it a bit (just the reverb) which you cant do in VI-Pro. I've tried to match it on my own in Vienna Suite but cant seem to match it!! If its a different reverb, any chance Vienna Suite users can get it as a separate plugin? 

6. Pitch bend happens AFTER the reverb? This seems wrong to me! Shouldn't it be an instrument performance setting? And why is it limited to 200? I know it sounds fake if you do much more, but I've created decent 8vb slides / falls with pitch bend. 

Thanks in advance for your feedback and help! If other users like any of my suggestions, please respond with an "I agree" so VSL knows users want these changes. Thanks!

[Paul]

HI Jon,

I just answered your mail to , here is the answer for everybody else to read:

1) Time-Stretching: Works like a charm here. I´ll look into this and get back to you. Could it be a permission issue? Did you try to assign a different time stretch folder in the DM?

Re percentage: Unfortunately we don´t have the meta-data to introduce bpm to stretching... with 1.000.0000 samples it´s quite a task and will take some time, if we decide to do this.

2) Unfortunately there´s no quick option to do this, you´ll have to assign your controllers manually. The presets and matrices are basically designed to give you a quick overview, most users adapt theses settings to their needs anyway (so many different ways to work).

3) Manual: That must have something to do with your Acrobat Reader... did you check on a different system? Everything looks fine on my computers.

4) Slot Editor automation: We had to draw a line somewhere. I know what you´re aiming at, but we decided against it, as VI PRO is such a beast already. I´d probably just copy the given matrix and change the settings manually.

5) The reverb is an algorithmic reverb that is only included with VI PRO and Vienna Imperial at this point. We might add it in an update of Vienna Suite, but it´s not planned in the near future.

6) Pitch bend is limited to 200 because then the sound starts to crumble and/or the CPU demands are getting too high (depending on the polyphony). I agree that Pitch Bend should be before the reverb, I hope this can be fixed quickly. For now, I´d simply add another reverb for all instruments that use pitch bend.

Hope that helps!

Best,

[Captain]

@Paul said:

I agree that Pitch Bend should be before the reverb, I hope this can be fixed quickly.

I also noticed that expression and volume happen after the reverb, which is kind of wrong? At least expression should be before it, according to my logic. Fortunately I found a workaround: put any other instrument (could be the same) to the neighboring slot, enable slot crossfade, then mix another slot to -inf, and use a controller to crossfade between the slots. Not very elegant, feel free to enlighten me if there's a better way to do it. [:D]