MIDI Performance Tools

[Currie]

This library looks (and sounds) great!

I'm curious about the MIDI performance tools and how they work. Do they operate as plug-ins that manipulate the output during recording; are they post-production editing tools; or both? Will they work with host apps like SONAR? Thanks!

~Currie

[Dietz]

May I chime in here -

these tools will (or at least should :-] ...) work anywhere in your virtual MIDI-data stream. So - while it is of course possible to plug them between the output of your (read: any) sequencing application and your sampler, I for one would suggest to use it on the way from your masterkeyboard to the MIDI-input of the sequencer. This way, you will be able to see and manipulate every command you (and our tools) created.

In a nutshell: Our tools are no plugins as you know them, they are stand-alone applications manipulating MIDI-data in (near-)realtime according to the demands of our Library.

Hope this helps,

/Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library

[Spacebass]

Hi Ev'ryone !

What an amazing and impressing library !!!!!

Just 1 Question :

What is MIDI Performance Tools..??

Cheers Spacebass

[Currie]

Thanks you Dietz - There are so many more questions about how these tools work, but we'll have to be patient [:)]

SpaceBass: In the thread "The Editions: Prices and Sizes", it's mentioned that there are two levels to the library - the 'Single Note Set' and the 'Performance Set' (which includes the MIDI tools). I'm guessing that the tools allow greater expression through smart-sample-switching, crossfading, etc. This is where all of the fun and power is going to be IMO. I'm anxious to hear some details [:)]

~ Bob

[Spacebass]

Thanx for Ur reply.!

Great ! - I'd love to start using that tool when I can afford the VSL.. [[;)]]

I wonder if a little environment thingy for Logic is provided for use with EXS24 [*-)]:

Just got a big brochure from bestservice.de today, and the last 3 pages is a VSL feature with all the prices (via bestservice ). It's really not THAT expensive, so I'll start saving.. [:)]

Cheers

Spacebass

[Paul]

Hi everybody!

Basically our Midi Performance Tools is providing you with the authentically played and prepared logical next tone of a Performance, this is for our Repetition Performances just as for the Legato-Performances.

Our basic idea is following the nature of making music: Musicians don´t think (and feel) in single notes but rather in tone sequences, melodies. So we established a system, that makes every tone of a sequence accessible, by dissecting the first, second etc. note, leaving the ambience of it´s predecessor to be the authentic and natural connector between the notes of the sequence (which is why we call it Performance!).

For Repetition Performances this means, you have freedom in tempo, articulation, velocity on your fingertipps!

And the Midi Performance Tool automatically provides the next tone for you.

This means: play repetitions LIVE staccato, legato, portato, it will always sound natural, because every tone you trigger was really played in the sequence, and as you finish playing your repetition, you trigger the last originally played note of the repetition by keyswitch.

For the Legato Performances: we have recorded every intervall from the minor second to the octave of every tone in the range of the instrument, always upwards and downwards, p and f, with/without vibrato and for the strings with/without portamento.
Then we dissected the starting tone, leaving the target tone with the ambience of the starting note (yes, to be the natural connector).

So within a Legato-Mode there´s lots of target notes waiting to be triggered (up to 24 in the middle of the instrument range, always depending on the interval you´re playing, up or down).

As you play an interval, the Midi Performance Tool automatically provides you with the target note you need. Additionally whenever you finish your melody line, it always provides you with a fresh starting note. And of course when you finish your line, you can trigger a release sample for the last tone by keyswitch.

Let me add my personal view of our Performance Set: This is something you have to get your hands on, it gives you a new understanding of each instrument (and I don´t know anybody who can play all orchestral instruments), for you virtually feel what happens with your instrument as you play a melody, and you don´t have to worry about whether it sounds natural, because what you hear IS natural and authentic.

I know this is massive theoretical info, hope it basically answers your questions.

All the best, Paul

[JP]

Hi
The more performance tools the better. Perhaps you should allow
third party development of them.

Add up the time you spend, in a day, key switching and sample hunting after you play a phrase. It's insane. If you can give me this time back (for smelling flowers etc) I will marry you.

[Paul]

Hi JP!
Time-management is exactly what we´re doing here, we´re talking about real-time midi processing. With our performance tools you don´t have to worry about keyswitching, all you have to know is when your repetition or legato line ends (simply because no midi-tool will posibly ever know your thoughts automatically in advance....).

So you´ll have plenty of time for smelling whatever you want, but I´m afraid you won´t get out of your studio, because you´ll enjoy working with the Vienna Symphonic Library so much [:D] !

Best wishes, Paul

[peter0302]

That's ok, we love living in our studios. [:)]

[Currie]

I often play a Yamaha VL-1 with a breath controller. Say, for instance, that I'm playing a french horn or trombone phrase with a broad, largamente style. There is a characteristic swell *before* the note change as the phrase "rolls" from note to note. Can I do this sort of thing with the MIDI tools? This is where I was headed with the question about post-production, or style-enhancing tools (i.e. non-realtime).

In general, can the intensity of solo instruments be effectively and realistically controlled (perhaps via filtering and level-based crossfading)? Thanks!

~Bob

[Dietz]

This may not be what you want to hear - but most of us here think that in the case of solo-instruments level based crossfading is problematic (phasing, "jumping" dynamics and harmonics, etc.).

We tend to do _real_ recordings for most of these cases. This concept of course is heavily oriented towards keyboard-based perfomance, as Paul pointed out in an earlier post. Nevertheless, you will most certainly find other possibilities to make use of your breath-controller.

All the best,

/Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library

[Currie]

Exactly! ( which is why I was wondering [:)] ) I've never had good success crossfading solo instruments for the same reasons you've stated. When I think of four horns playing four-part harmony, however, I'm basically looking at using individual instruments, right? So if I wanted a certain swell in the intensity over time, I would look for the sample with the closest- fitting articulation, right?

Thanks Dietz,

~ Bob

[Dietz]

In a nutshell - yes!

/Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library

[RixFlix]

Will these midi tools be on the same computer as GIGA or on the Sequencing Computer. If on the sequencing computer will it operate on a MAC.

[Paul]

Hi!
The Performance Tool is on the same platform as your sampler. In the case of Gigastudio, if you have a dedicated machine, it is on the Gigastudio-Computer.
And: it won´t be the Windows-Application on the Mac and there will be a Performance Tool for Mac, of course.
Best, Paul