@bhartmann said:

DG, Don't want you to take a lot of your time to answer 😊 but I am curious if the purchased Pro Player or whatever it is called would be worthwhile for me. I am mainly adding orchestration to pop music (think more Broadway or late Beatles style with sometimes extensive orchestration) using Sonar X1. I do a film or TV thing once in a while but not often. The money for the player is not that much--I just try to avoid confusing myself or complicating my set-up with plug-ins I don't need. If you tink this would be a great benefit to getting better realism though, I will order it. For the record, I am extremely impressed with the efficiency of the VSL matrix system and the free player.

There are specific reasons to buy it. However, I would recommend really getting to know the regular player first, and then see what it doesn't do for you, before upgrading. You may not need any of the extra features.

DG

@bhartmann said:

OK, X-Fade was not on. I turned it on. Any guidance on the slider? It basically just seems to decrease the overall volume as I move it down. How do I find the right setting for legato? Thanks.

There is no right setting. it's all a question of how the music should be phrased. If you are trying to emulate a violin section, that fader should be continually moving with the ebb and flow of the phrase.

However, one thing you need to know; it  is not a volume control. The timbre of a string instrument is much more strident when playing loudly (generally speaking) so as you move the fader up and down, not only does the volume change, but the timbre changes as well.

One other thing to note; when velocity xFade is active, the velocity that you play on the keyboard is irrelevant.

DG

There could be another possible issue or two, though these might be something of a long shot.  You mention that you were able to see the articulation changing within the matrix.  What articulation were you using prior to the first legato note?  Sometimes, if you use a note that is too short for the first note of the phrase, the phrase will not sound natural.  The initial note will end, but briefly resound as a transition sample as part of the first legato note.  Also, using a legato note for the first note of the phrase can also cause problems, as doing so will cause a transition from the previous note to be played, even at the start of a new phrase.

Hi,

Did you watch the video about Velocity Xfade yet?

Also used quite a lot in the Special Edition Tutorial Videos.

To crossfade between articulations, check out Slot Xfade, also with a video ("Stacking and Layering Patches")!

Best,

Paul

Hi,

As you have Special Edition Volume 1&2 including PLUS: Did you check out the Special Edition Tutorial Files? Do you like the legato sounds in there?

I have just sent you demo licenses for Vienna Suite and Vienna Instruments PRO, so you can open ALL arrangements right away.

All software is available in your USER AREA.

These demo licenses work for 30 days/30 starts.

Once the 30 starts are used up, you can recharge them as often as you like by clicking "Maintenance" in the eLicenser Control Center (within 30 days).

Of course adding a little reverb won´t hurt on our instruments. If you like to experiment with the transition sounds, you can use the time-stretching feature in VI PRO and see if that does the right thing for you.

Best,

Paul

Bill,
Have you experimented with the release settings? IMO they are generally quite low. Success with your further inquiries!

As you found out, velocity-Xfade has no direct connection to legato performances. Using it will simply help improve the realism of the overall sound. Instead of simply switching between samples recorded with different intensity levels of the instrument, you will be able to blend them with a nice transition.

For legato however,

1. Legato patches will create a smooth transition between two notes at the end of the first note. For this, the first note must be already a legato patch. But that is not your problem because you said you already got all your notes as legatos.

2. There must be a small overlapp from the first to the second note. Without overlapp, it will start the performance with a newly set bow. This is a way how you can use lagato and still switch between smooth transitions and starting with a new bow. The overlapp does not need to be large but just touching will not suffice.

 Actually, I nedd to revise my last statement.

I just tested it in detail again and found out that both are not true.

The first note can be something like a sustain patch for example and the second a performance patch and there will be a transition. As well there is no real overlapp needed.

Strange, I have no idea why I remembered it like this?[*-)]

But the legato effect for certain instruments is quite subtle. You can easily hear it from the trombone ensemble.

Or just try portamento instead and see if this works first.

ANother thing to consider is that the performance pathes are sampled only one octave up and down from the starting note.

You really need to post an example, with corresponding MIDI file, not only because it will make sure that we are hearing the same thing, but also those of us without SE can hear if it is the same when played though the full Collections.

DG