Legato transitions when playing chords.....how?

[mattdean]

I am using the Chamber Strings to play a chordal pad in a song. I tried using the Chamber strings patch to play the chords but it sounded like I was plunking out chords on a keyboard. Each chord was detahced from the next. So, I used each section to play one part of the chord, but I am still getting separation between the chords, even though each section is essentially playing a line. Unfortunatley, I cannot use the legato patches because the chords hold for a longer time than they allow, so I must use one of the SUS patches.

How do I get the transitions between chord changes to be fluid?

thanks for the help
MATT

[Paul]

Hi Matt,

one trick to prolongue the notes is to use the Cell Xfade option:

Load a Legato patch into the first slot of a cell, load a sustain into the second slot and activate Cell Xfade on the Perform page.

Now assign a Controller to the Cell Xfade slider and you can easily crossfade from a Legato to the sustains, this way you get both Legato transitions and sustained notes.

Best,

Paul

[Christian Marcussen]

@mattdean said:

I am using the Chamber Strings to play a chordal pad in a song. I tried using the Chamber strings patch to play the chords but it sounded like I was plunking out chords on a keyboard. Each chord was detahced from the next. So, I used each section to play one part of the chord, but I am still getting separation between the chords, even though each section is essentially playing a line. Unfortunatley, I cannot use the legato patches because the chords hold for a longer time than they allow, so I must use one of the SUS patches.

How do I get the transitions between chord changes to be fluid?

thanks for the help
MATT

Matt are you using Vienna Instruments, or the old giga/exs version? I recall that legatos are looped in VI? But I may be wrong.

[mattdean]

Thanks for the responses.

Paul, I will try the cell xFade. Good idea. Hadn't occurred to me to do that. Will I still get the legato effect going from a sustain to the legato? I was under the impression it had to be from legato to legato to get that.

Christian, I am using the VI. Unless I have something 'off' the legato patches don't loop. Too bad, that would save a great deal of key switching.

Cheers

[Vagn Luv]

@Another User said:

Matt are you using Vienna Instruments, or the old giga/exs version? I recall that legatos are looped in VI? But I may be wrong.

Nope, they are not looped unfortunatly.

[DG]

@mattdean said:

Thanks for the responses.

Paul, I will try the cell xFade. Good idea. Hadn't occurred to me to do that. Will I still get the legato effect going from a sustain to the legato? I was under the impression it had to be from legato to legato to get that.

To get the legato you will have to cell xfade back to the original patch very accurately in order to hear the transition material. I would say that this is an occasion where using the legato instruments is not really practical. I think that with slow moving chords legato is minimal anyway, so I would be tempted to go with the sus fa auto patches instead.

DG

[mattdean]

DG, I was thinking today that it would difficult to make the cell fade work. Unfortunately, I only have the standard library so i can't rely on the fa patches [:(] Maybe if I put two perf-legato patches and faded between them it may work. i could draw a sine wave looking automation, I'll post whether that works or not.

I thought about messing with the release to blend the notes a bit, or simply overlapping them slightly, but everything seems to have an artificial transition, not connected like a real player woudl play. Curious that this isn't something that is needed by everyone.

[herb]

Did you use 01 VI-6_perf-legato patch you find in the folder 10 PERF INTERVAL?
This patch support loops for all intervalls and the startingnotes.
Only the repetition trigger samples are not looped.

The patch 01 VI_perf-legato_me (placed in 98 RESOURCES/03 Speed variations)do not have loops. This patch is used in the L1 VI-6 Perf-Legato Speed + porta matrix, for faster movements.

best
Herb

[mattdean]

Hi Herb,

First of all - incredible software. Best I've ever used!

I tried the perf-legato patch and it only loops about %20 of the time, and when it does, it changes tone-velocity - after a few seconds. Am I doing something wrong?

I'm using Logic 7.2 on a Dual 2.5Ghz G5 w/4 gig od RAM.

[herb]

Hm, do you use a sustainpedal?
The loops are triggered after a few seconds, but you have to hold the key, only holding the pedal does not work with these patches, they stop after a few seconds.
There calso ould be light timbre changes on some notes, when the loop part starts.

best
Herb

[mattdean]

No, I don't use a sustain pedal. I always hold the note. It's still intermittently looping. Most of the time, the note just crops. Could it be cropping due to aftertouch? Or could it be a certain velocity is needed?

the timbre change isn't a problem, however, it seems to be more than light, it's quite noticable. I can live with it as long as I can get the legato connection between notes.

[Vagn Luv]

I'm having same problem as Matt. The note suddenly drops in velocity after a few seconds, and it's very noticable. Actually, it renders it completly useless for sustained playing. Thought it was me doing some thing screwed.. [8-)] [:D]

[mattdean]

Well, my solution so far is to raise the attack to 65 and the release to 75. It's not exactly what I was hoping for (still hoping top find a better solution) but it is better.

At least I know it's not just me encountering the volume changes on the looped perf-legato patches.

[JBacal]

Another trick to try is a short slight pitch scoop (up or down depending on previous note) at the beginning of sustain samples.

Best,
Jay