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  • Changing positions in string instruments

    Hi everybody,

    In a quest to make my string mockups sound more natural, just wondering how you guys simulate the sound of a change/shift to another position on say a violin. To understand what I mean check out this video. 



    resembles the sound of a portamento/glissando, but the portamento part sounds thinner and more like a harmonic glissando, and of course the target note is bowed again. The sound effect is subtle but would add a lot more realism.

    I've tried this: use a portamento patch, layer it with a delayed (like 20ms) short sample with an attack (like staccato). It sounds OK but could be better. Whenever there's a point in a melody where it's sensible for a violonist to change position, I would switch to that cell.

    Anyone here tried something similar?


  • Live players try their hardest to make that sound inaudible, so it's highly exaggerated in the video.  He even does it once very quickly to show that it can be done in a way that you can't even hear.  Generally for effects like that I'd mix a legato with a portamento between various sections or players if I really want the sound to be audible, but in a way, it's like trying to intentionally simulate "bad" playing.


  • Yes, you're absolutely right; it's true that string players try to make shifts as inaudible as possible. It is nevertheless audible to be. It's subtle but I can hear it happen. It adds to the realism and that's what I'm after.

    I don't think it's "bad playing", it's just that human touch. I love imperfections. At times I want my mockups sound as real as possible, especially when there's no budget for live overdubs.

    Thanks, I'll try mixing a legato with portamento patch. Actually, come to think of it, "slur" patches in Chamber Strings sound a bit like they're really legato samples mixed with portamento samples. Maybe that patch + a delayed attack sample might work, will try that soon.


  • IMO, it really does represent bad playing.  For the several years I took lessons (double-bass), my teacher drilled into my head that shifting on the old bow (what causes the audible slide when one shifts) is an absolute no-no.  To be technical, a player generally will shift at the very start of the new bow stroke, before the bow has really gripped the string and the sound for the new note has started.  When the shifts are over very large intervals, a slight sound towards the end of the shift is more likely.

    However, the sound of a slide will happen whenever the player shifts positions while playing slurred notes as in that case, the bow is still moving, as the shift is taking place in the middle of the bow stroke - not at the start of a new bow stroke.  The sound of the slide will be most pronounced when the shift is made playing two notes on the same string.  If the two notes are being played on different strings, the length of the shift will be reduced, resulting in a smaller slide.


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    @noldar12 said:

    IMO, it really does represent bad playing.  For the several years I took lessons (double-bass), my teacher drilled into my head that shifting on the old bow (what causes the audible slide when one shifts) is an absolute no-no.

    That's not the case when playing the Violin or the Viola. Both old bow and new bow shifts are possible. The technique you describe for the Double Bass wouldn't work for Violin playing.

    DG


  • Thanks for your thoughts guys. Whether you find it sloppy or not, it's a sound I like artistically. I will experiment a little.