Keyswitches and Dropouts?

[JWL]

Hi all:

I'm using Barber's Adagio for Strings as an excercise, which is proving to be quite daunting of a project, but I hope it will be educational and worth the effort.

I've been putting in key switches to change sample cells, but as the scrollbar crosses the keyswitch midi data (as observed in my midi edit window), the note sustaining drops out breifly and comes back in once the key switch location has passed. The keyswitching takes effect just fine.

The patches I'm using (so far) are Performance Intervals, being portamento or legato mainly. I don't seem to hear the dropouts when regular patches are key-switched.

My current workaround is to use the PE method of using a different instance of VI on different track, but somehow I don't think VI was designed to work this way.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks.
JWL

[herb]

The only circumstance I know when this could happen is, when you play any key out of the playrange of the instrument, but this key is not defined as keyswitch. (Maybe performing in the wrong octav?)
Here the intervall logic triggers "silence" because there is nothing mapped.
If you perform the next regular not in the playrange the instrument starts sounding again.

best
Herb

[JWL]

Thanks Herb-- makes sense.

Here's what happened whe using violin patches-- it seemed easier (for what I wanted to accomplish) to set keywitches for both horizontal and vertical cells. VI automatically assigned C2 and C#2 to the vertical cells since C1 and C#1 were already assigned to the horizontal cells. it seemed like a good idea, easy to remember and easier to navigate, but it doesn't sound as if using keyswitches for more than one purpose is a workable idea, even if those keyswitches are in different octaves.

Hmmm..

As for the legatos themselves, I've really been experimenting with numoerous ways to effect a solid and consistent legato with only moderate success. Some notes are still breaking off before the next note begins. I've set my attacks (in both PERFORM and Cell Edit windows) to zero, but some notes are still jumping out.

I've spent most of the day using the EXPR feature to duck the attacks, but I'd rather use it just for overall dynamic expression instead of using it to fix what stumps me with making a smooth legato. I've tried this with the Velocity X-fade on, all the way down, and off, but the legato sound more like portato. I've also adjusted the releases in the Cell Edit window. The best I've been able to do with this has been to "fix" about a third of the intervals. Other intervals which worked well sustain for too long.

Request:

Can you suggest a legato patch (or combination of legato patches) that YOU might use for Barber's Adagio or Mahler's Adagietto? I'd also be interested in knowing a little more about your technique of manipulating the Velocity X-fade, what adjustments you might suggest for the Cell Editor and Perform Editor... and other settings? Making a convincing string legato is proving to be quite a challenge.

I know-- it's not as if you have nothing else to do!! [:D] But it may be easier than my sending you an mp3 of a bad string part.

Thanks,
JWL

[herb]

You can transpose the keyswitches as you need it.
Holding control or shift (I don't know it exactly at the moment) you could also transpose all keyswitches at once.
You only have to be carefully not setting multiple keyswitches on the same key (Matrix, horizontal, vertical and also A/B switches)

I think Christian Kardeis Orchestral Strings universal-mode demo is a good showpiece for slower legato movements.
http://www.vsl.co.at/Player.aspx?DemoId=4635&Lang=2

You can download midifile and VI preset for analysing.

The first part of the chamber strings universal mode demo also offers slower legato movements:
http://www.vsl.co.at/Player.aspx?DemoId=4626&Lang=2

Stacking with solostrings is also a very good option to get an extra amount of expression.

best
Herb

[JWL]

Thanks, Herb. This will work.

[[;)]]

[musos]

@Another User said:

You only have to be carefully not setting multiple keyswitches on the same key (Matrix, horizontal, vertical and also A/B switches)

Herb, maybe in a future version there could be a list (like the controller list) for used/unused keyswitch notes? I mean for the whole instrument overall.

I tried your modifiers (on Mac): In the control edit page, <shift> transposes all keyswitches. (nice!) It seems one can't transpose more than one matrix keyswitch at once.

Thanks and regards - Colin

[JWL]

@herb said:

The only circumstance I know when this could happen is, when you play any key out of the playrange of the instrument, but this key is not defined as keyswitch. (Maybe performing in the wrong octav?)
Here the intervall logic triggers "silence" because there is nothing mapped.
If you perform the next regular not in the playrange the instrument starts sounding again.

best
Herb

Hi Herb-- sorry to bother you again with this.

In the example I was using, this was a violin patch. The secondary key switch was C2 and C#2 would have also been out of range of the violin. Still, I'm getting dropouts with keywsitches 1.5 octaves below the lowest note on the violin.

Unfortunately, I just erased these examples, so it's more difficult to explain now. I needed to find another solution, but it does seem to me that they way you explained it *should* work-- but I'm still having to work around it.

Thoughts?

[herb]

If you perform a performance intervall patch (the "auto" patches are performance intervalls) you will get dropouts if you hit any key outside the playrange which is no dedicated "keyswitch".
Please keep also in mind, that the keyswitch labeling is based on c4=middle c. Logic for example labels c3 as middle c

You will find all keyswitches of all matrix and presetfiles listed in the downloadable pdf files.

best
Herb

[JWL]

Thanks, Herb.

Still, I had set up a sequence to switch between matrices and it still happens. All the keyswitches are outside the instrument range. I have checked to make sure that there are no extra MIDI notes within the range of the instruments.

I have experimented with setting the keyswitches for a viola matrix to C7 and C#7 to change matrices, but the same dropouts are still taking place. Those particular notes should not interfere with the viola range... (?) There are no other patches on the viola MIDI channel that use these same keyswitches.

I've sent an mp3 and a jpg of the midi edit screen to VSL support which might help to explain this.

I do understand your clear descriptions, and it makes me aware that what I am experiencing is something that should not happen. Please forgive me if I've misunderstood something...