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  • Help for strings newbies

    M
    M

    Hi all,

    I am new to strings when it comes to editing with MIDI. I am more usd to editing piano MIDI.

    I am planning to record with keyboard.

    Is there a manual or reference to how to change the articulation, etc of individual notes when in MIDI?

    Thank you!
  • rACR
    rACR

    @musicos what are you using for your DAW or score editor? If you specify that you may get better fed back.

    Just a beginner
  • M
    M

    What library you are using is also helpful. From the keyboard entry, key switches to change articulations there is not really any difference with a piano but there are of course dependent on the library many more articulations.

    Have a look at the SY Strings Pro manual to get an idea on key switches for strings libraries and also the VSL academy. It shows you more about playable ranges for strings. There are also many Youtube videos on „writing for strings“. There is a niece free course for starters in the virtual orchestral instrumentation world from Berklee Schhool of Music called Virtual Orchestration. It uses a VSL competitor product but you can do all they show with the VSL Prime library using the Sychron Player.
  • M
    M

    Hi all,

    I am currently using celestial strings, and may be using studio strings in future.

    I am using Ableton.

    I can see that there is a tab called MPE (after notes and envelopes), and I can raise something for each note called "st." but the sound remains the same. Also adjusting MIDI Note velocity has ne effect on the sound (maybe this is specific to celestial strings?)

    Thanks!
  • Beat KaufmannB
    Beat KaufmannB

    Hello Musicos
    The following video shows how you can produce music with VSL samples using Duality Strings. Of course, all of this also works with the Orchestra Studio Strings.

    The topic of keyswitches is also covered. Unfortunateli everything is only shown in a rough overview. Nevertheless, you can read a lot from the video. Perhaps it makes sense to stop the video briefly when something is of particular interest...

    And as always, there are of course different ways to produce music, especially because the SYNCHRON Player is so flexible. Nevertheless, the production steps shown are those that have proven themselves over the years.

    Enjoy the video:

    Content Video

    Part 1 (Preparation of the Midi file)
    - Basic preparations in general for music pieces which are to be realized with samples.
    - Tempo things
    - Compiling custom presets (creating an articulation library)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Part 2 (Midi Things)
    - Note input / Midifile
    - Setting articulations, volume adjustment via velocity
    - Velocity XF
    - Use of controller tracks (dynamics, timbre, filter, expression)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Part 3 (Audio Things)
    - Use of mix presets
    - Use of default preset followed by own positioning of instruments
    - Rendering instruments > in audio file
    - audio mix
    - Use of effects (EQ, compressor)

    ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    All the best

    Beat

    - Tips & Tricks while using Samples of VSL.. see at: https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/vitutorials/ - Tutorial "Mixing an Orchestra": https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/mixing-an-orchestra/
  • M
    M

    Hi Beat,

    Thank you very much, your videos are very helpful.

    I see that the Studio strings have many different articualtions.

    When I look at Celestial Strings, I can't see the different articualtions...

    Does celestial strings have only 1 articulation?

    Thank you!
  • PaulP
    VSL Team
    PaulP

    Hi musicos,

    Indeed, our free Celestial Strings come with one articulation only, and you can choose from a few mixer presets. Fabio explain it here:



    CC1 controls Velocity XFade, from piano to forte...

    May I also ask: What is your budget, and what kind of music do you want to write/produce?

    You can also get in touch with our product specialists via support@vsl.co.at, if you prefer a personal conversation.

    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • M
    M

    Hi Paul,

    When I use Ableton, with celestial strings, I am using VelFX preset.

    When I play the strings, it is at a certain volume and charater.

    At the envelopes tab, I choose "MIDI Control > CC01", when I click on it to edit the envelope, the control changes automatically to "Vienna Synchron Player > Vel.FX."

    Without making any changes to the Vel.FX envelope, the strings are softer than before I select the MIDI Control/Vienna Synchron Player Control.

    If I change the Vel.FX envelope, there is no change in sound.

    (When I try this with the Velocity preset, the starting sound is softer than the VelFX preset, and editing the CC01/Vel.FX envelope makes no difference in sound.)

    So if there is a sound change by selecting CC01 but making no changes, is this because of some reason? Or perhaps an issue with Ableton?

    Many thanks for any info.
  • marnixM
    VSL Team
    marnixM

    Hi Musicos,

    @musicos said:
    At the envelopes tab, I choose "MIDI Control > CC01", when I click on it to edit the envelope, the control changes automatically to "Vienna Synchron Player > Vel.FX."

    I am not sure I understand what you mean by that - would you please rephrase? What do you refer to as "envelopes tab"? And what do you mean by "the control changes automatically to "Vienna Synchron Player > Vel.FX.""

    @musicos said:
    (When I try this with the Velocity preset, the starting sound is softer than the VelFX preset, and editing the CC01/Vel.FX envelope makes no difference in sound.)

    Yes, this is by design - in the Velocity preset, Velocity XFade is disabled by default.

    Best, Marnix
  • M
    M

    Hi Marnix,

    In Ableton, on the bottom half of the screen, there are 3 tabs: Notes, Envelopes, and MPE.

    So when I select Envelopes, I then see on bottom left on a dropdown, I can select Midi Ctrl or Mixer, So I select Midi Ctrl, and next to it, anotnher dropdown I select the parameter eg "1: Modulation Wheel".

    So the envelope shows that it is at zero (dotted line on bottom representing the envelope).

    If I click on the envelope to drag it up from 0 to a higher value, the dropdown options automatically change to Vienna Synchron Player, and Vel.FX.

    Hope this helps.