Is there a clear and simple document or video that explains how to use Vienna? I downloaded a few free videos and they're OK, but they don't really explain Vienna's terminology and (even worse) you can't see the demonstrator's clicks, drags, or key switches so it's a bit difficult to tell what's going on. In addition, he does not always explain what he is doing or why.
I am fairly experienced with synths, samplers, and virtual instruments, but I am not clear on the basic Vienna concepts (e.g., vertical and horizontal aspects of a matrix, preset vs. matrix, etc.) Vienna does not operate like any other software I have ever used, but I think once I am clear on the structure, it should be pretty easy.
I will mostly be using this as a VST in Sonar X1, but that shouldn't matter as far as the basic go.
Thanks!
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Vienna Basic
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Welcome bhartmann,
Thanks for your interest.
Vienna Instruments are probably best explained in these Video Tutorials. Of course this becomes much easier once you can experiment with the software yourself.
You can also check out the video tutorials for the Special Edition Demos, available here.
The concept of the matrix is really simple: You can fill the matrix with different articulations, and then choose different controllers (CC, Speed, Velocity, Key Switches and more) to move horizontally and vertically through the matrix.
Hope that helps for a start.
Best,
Paul
Paul Kopf Head of Product Marketing, Social Media and Support -
Thanks, Paul. Is there a difference in putting something vertically rather than horizontally? For example, could I choose to put three short string sounds (e.g. staccato, short detaché, long detaché) beside each other horizontally with legatos below just as well as three short string sounds vertically with legatos beside them horizontally? I haven't quite picked up the basic concept of how and why to choose where sounds go. Also, perhaps the presets already have everything I need but I just have to figure out which controllers move around in the matrix. I believe key switches move one way in the matrix and controllers move the other, but I'm not 100% sure yet. Thanks again for the help! Konrad PS I am unbelievably impressed with the quality of the sounds in Vienna. I have powered off two of my samplers since I got Vienna and Ivory II. (Ivory II is very easy to use, but that's because you don't have so many articulation choices with a piano.)
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I just watched all the videos and watched a couple twice. They are very good and very helpful, but there is still some missing information, since (a) the narrator assumes we understand Vienna's terminology and (b) we cannot see or know what he is doing sometimes. For example, in the video on Performance Trills, he talks about using performance trills v. intervals, but without defining those terms. To play the trills, does one actually perform the trill, or hold down two notes, or hold down the root note and activate a key switch? Same question about intervals. Again, the sound is fantastic--I just need a basic explanation of the concepts and terms. Thanks again.
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I haven't quite picked up the basic concept of how and why to choose where sounds go. Also, perhaps the presets already have everything I need but I just have to figure out which controllers move around in the matrix. I believe key switches move one way in the matrix and controllers move the other, but I'm not 100% sure yet.
A lot of this depends on how you like to work. I would suggest trying to work within the parameters of the presets as a basis and then customize to your liking the more you work. If you do stick with keyswitches try to standardize them for every instrument that way you don't have to try to remember which key is which articulation, eg, C1 = short stac. C#1 = long stac, D1 = short detache, etc.
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Hi bhartmann,
@bhartmann said:
For example, in the video on Performance Trills, he talks about using performance trills v. intervals, but without defining those terms. To play the trills, does one actually perform the trill, or hold down two notes, or hold down the root note and activate a key switch? Same question about intervals. Again, the sound is fantastic--I just need a basic explanation of the concepts and terms. Thanks again."Intervals" in melodies are best played with one of the Performance Legatos (connecting intervals), which we have recorded in 2 speeds (normal and fast, with different transition speeds from one note to the next one).
"Performance Trills" are very fast Performance Legatos that offer a round robin of intervals - which lets you play trills in real-time (this simply wasn´t possible before).
Our wording should always give you a hint: Whenever you read "Performance", this means that notes are automatically connected the way the are connected in reality. But YOU are playing it with the help of the Vienna Instruments Performance Algorithms.
All articulations without "Performance" (staccato, sustains, also recorded "trills") are simply playing back recorded so-called "Single Notes".
Hope that helps.
Best,
Paul
Paul Kopf Head of Product Marketing, Social Media and Support -
Paul, Thank you for taking so much time to reply and explain. My equipment is being reconfigured and reinstalled right now and as soon as it is returned this week, I will start experimenting with your suggestions. Thanks again for all the great assistance. Best regards, --Bill (aka Konrad)
