CC Events For Articulations?

[michael diemer]

I seem to recall seeing a post here on how to use CC events to change articulations. I hate key-switching. Is this in fact possible? Is anyone actually doing this?

[bbelius]

Hi Michael,

Yes, this is possible! Just set the keyswitches to an Dimension Controller like described here: https://www.vsl.info/manuals/synchron-player/dimension-tree-view#dimensions

Then you can change the CC below the dimension view, or in the CONTROL view. In the CONTROL view you can also set a curve and other behaviour changes.

I recommend to not use the Dimension Controller A and B, because these are often already used for different parameter changes in the default presets. Make sure to also use different Dimension Controller for the different dimensions :)

Best, Ben

[michael diemer]

Thank you Ben. I did study the manual, but must have missed this. I'll give it a go!

Michael

Addendum: I did it! All in all, both the keyswitch method and CC method are rather cumbersome, but at least with CC events I don't have a bunch of extra tracks to put the keyswitches on. Now, it would really be nice if I could just say to my computer, "Switch to Legato, normal with strong vibrato." I guess that's a ways off yet...

[bbelius]

If you use Cubase there are Expression Maps available here.

Personally I like to work with keyswitches 😊

[michael diemer]

I imagine it comes down to what you're used to, I learned the CC method, so keyswitching seemed a bit foreign to me. If I had learned keyswitching, and then tried the CC method, I probably would find that foreign. 

Another problem I had with keyswitching: in Cakewalk/Sonar, I have to transpose the keyswitches up an octave, because Cakewalk uses a slightly different scheme in numbering octaves., Their middle C is on the treble clef, leading users to believe that actually is middle C. Why they did this I'll never know.

Anyway, it all comes down to the CC method being better for me.

[jasensmith]

Things may be different now that Sonar is "Cakewalk by Bandlab" but Sonar was one of the only DAWs that correctly denoted middle C at C4 where it is supposed to be instead of C5 like other DAWs.  Also, with Sonar, you could change where middle C was.  For example, you could make C7 middle C if you wanted which is very useful when working with different libraries that have different middle C's.

[michael diemer]

Thanks for that info Jason, good to know. So Cakewalk had it right all along. I figured since it disagreed with the majority of DAWS, it must be wrong. Just goes to show, no good jumping to conclusions!

[Bill]

Ben, is there a reason why we can't just assign a CC directly, without having to first setup a Dimension controller? It seem unnecessarily convoluted...

[Macker]

Deleted by user - double posting

[Macker]

The Sy Player, especially when using large and complex libraries such as Dimension Strings (full), has taken us substantially beyond the familiar old ways of controlling virtual instruments.

One problem in particular I've been struggling with is how to provide convenient visibility of mappings between remote controls and Sy Player's computer-filing-system type of preset structure, without resorting to use of expensive external aids such as large-format programmable touch-screen devices, for example.

Then along came "Stream Deck"

I've recently spotted a small and fairly modestly-priced external device that strikes me as (potentially) heaven-sent for controlling Sy Player's multi-dimensional aspects while providing excellent visibility. This device, called Stream Deck, is essentially a grid of rather pretty programmable buttons - but with certain functional features that put it head and shoulders above other button-boxes.

Two of Stream Deck's great advantages are that it has a programmable 144x144 pixel colour display screen within each button, and also allows each button to be programmed as a folder (or sub-folder), offering access to plenty of nested dimensions - each of which in turn can access yet more nested dimensions.

From what I've managed to gather thus far, programming Stream Deck's buttons is very easily and simply done by using a nicely designed, user-friendly app provided as a free download by the principal marketer, Elgato. Many button images of various kinds are available in the app, and user-produced jpegs or gifs can be added to the app's stock of button display images.

Stream Deck's market originally was principally video streamers, especially gamers, hence the programmable button actions are typically about hot keys, launching or quitting other apps, triggering macros, etc. But now the app's functionality can readily be extended by a number of 3rd party applets, conveniently accessible and very easy to install and uninstall. One of these applets deals with programming buttons to send MIDI messages, either singly or in multiples; each MIDI message can be a note, CC or Prog Change. It appears that using Stream Deck in this way would to some extent skirt around the thorny issue of what type of remote MIDI command is best to use with Sy Player.

I'm still considering whether to buy a Stream Deck XL (32 buttons, just over £200 in Amazon); there are also 6-button and 15-button versions. I can't yet confidently say I recommend this device. I just wanted to offer this heads-up in case any pioneering IT wizards among you might fancy blazing a trail with Stream Deck in VSL territory - or if you already have, do please tell us about it.