New VSL user

[Nitrox 32]

Hi Everyone, I'm using Finale 2012 as my notation program. I was able to set up my custom human playback preferences without any problems and was able to set up some basic articulations (standard, legato, staccato, and trills)using keyswitches. At this point I would like to expand my use of VSL's articulations. In human playback there are three types of attack: Standard, Legato, and Staccato. If I use a Portato keyswitch for the Standard attack, the sound will not sustain indefinitely. This is fine if you are playing a fast rhythmic passage but if I want to sustain a note, the note eventually stops. The other option is to use the sustain patch for the Standard attack. Is there a way to use both or am I limited to only one? Also what is "velocity X-fade" and how does it work? Thanks, Aric

[fratveno]

Hi!  Human Playback doesn't "understand" Portato as a Key switch trigger (i.e. will not change anything in the VSL matrix), but if the articulations on such notes have a playback definition in Finale, they will be interpreted using the current articulation, typically sustain.  The techniques that HP understands are listed in the drop down menu "Techn."  If you need others you have to use "custom text".  The triggers should be expressions (articulations won't work) in the Technique text category, and must be terminated by "ord." otherwise the built-in techniques are overruled.  The various playing techniques in sample libraries are sampled at various dynamic levels (for instance p, mf, ff). XFADE will attempt to smooth the transitions between those so that the aural effect is seamless from pp to ff...