Setting up Kontakt2 for wx-5 and ewi4000s

jazzmanjazzman
edited March 2010 in General Questions
Yes, I am a newbee to Mr Sax T and to the EWI4000s but I have been playing the WX-5 for over 10 years. I was wondering if someone could help with the setting required for the software to accomodate the WX5 /EWI?

I know I am not set up correctly. I can only get 3 octaves on either instrument and when I go to key transpose and select a different setting, the key does not change. I find that any change to settings will require a reset and it goes back to keyboard. Is there a way around this problem? I want to play live but so far I am not able take advantage of the multi octave ranges of either intrument. Also the third octave up of the three octaves that do play goes into an overblown sound. Also, are there any specific settings required on the WX-5 or EWI4000s to facilitate playing in Kontakt2?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated....Jazzman :|

Comments

  • Pat SPat S
    edited 6:45AM
    I've used both a WX-5 and an MDT with The Trumpet, and all I have to do is select "wind controller" from the drop down box, then start blowing. I don't know if Mr. T is quite this simple...

    Pat
  • Phil999Phil999
    edited 6:45AM
    the limited note range is defined by the instrument itself. I never transpose the EWI4000s or inside the DAW, I play each Samplemodeling instrument as it comes. With windcontroller settings of course, like Pat suggested.



    To extend the note range, one has to use a different instrument, like in the real world. We are all waiting for the trombones to be released, so that we have a broader choice like with the saxes.



    Just for fun I tried the pitch shifter that comes with Cubase 5. Pitched down 24 halftones, the Samplemodeling trumpet still sounds rich and interesting, something like an euphonium or tuba. The breathing noises that are pitched down as well clearly reveal the trick, but it's still musical. :)
  • jazzmanjazzman
    edited 6:45AM
    My WX-5 will play many more octaves when using the VL70M than it will in Kontakt2. The same goes for my EWI. That tells me that the limited octave problem exists in the Kontakt2 software (setup?) and not in the instrument itself. I have a high end audio card (ECHO Audiofire 8) that has never restricted the full range of my WX-5/EWI. Is anyone else seeing a 3 octave limitation in their instruments?
  • Ben HBen H
    edited 6:45AM
    Yes.



    The range of the saxes is limited to the actual playable range of the REAL instruments.
  • jazzmanjazzman
    edited 6:45AM
    and what about transposing keys....? Mr. Sax T won't do that either?
  • jazzmanjazzman
    edited 6:45AM
    To Ben H.



    You talk about limits of the REAL instruments. well guess what... Your REAL instruments are just advanced modifications of the bamboo recorder. My WX-5 and EWI4000s are REAL instruments also. I play them every day and they sound great! Not only that but they are extremely more flexible than your REAL instruments and will certianly replace your REAL instruments in the future. If MR Sax T is going to accomodate these future replacements they need to start selling software that supports 5 to 8 octaves and transposes in every key.If they are not going to do that then they should be clear about it in thier documentation. I paid a lot more than I wanted to and got a limited product. Why is the transpose feature in there but does not work?
  • Ben HBen H
    edited 6:45AM
    I'm not going to get into semantics here... FYI I play a WX5 myself... have done for nearly 10 years... the SM saxes are DESIGNED to reproduce a sax... hence the design DECISION made by Sample Modeling to accurately reproduce their acoustic counterparts, and thus restrict the range...



    This has been mentioned in many posts here on the forums, and also in the accompanying documentation...



    Anyway, if you want a sax that can reproduce an 8 octave range, then perhaps you would be better off with a synth.



    Regards,



    Ben H



    EDIT: You can combine the instruments by creating a Kontakt multi (*.nkm) file. To do this click in the instrument options icon, and set the instrument ranges. Then click "Save as multi" from the top menu options.



    Transposing:

    The transpose button in the Instruments option does not work as it conflicts with the scripting. Instead you need to use the transpose option in the "MIDI CC remapping tab" (or whatever it is called, as I am not at my music PC atm), at the bottom of the instrument.



    This will successfully allow you to change which key of your windsynth plays which note, but I still don't believe that it will allow you to stretch the instrument beyond its natural keyrange.



    To do that you will need to either use the method described above, or you could use another 3rd party software. There are other posts in the forum describing how to do this, if you are interested. Personally I thought the results sounded pretty unnatural myself, and not my cup of tea.



    Hope this helps.
  • jazzmanjazzman
    edited 6:45AM
    Hi Ben,



    Sorry for my last reply... I was a bit frustrated because of my own lack of understanding the software and what the limitations might be. Your feedback is Great and I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I played Mr. Sax T for an hour today and I am hooked!!!

    Wow, what a realistic sound. I layered it with my trumpet out of the VL70M synth and I swear I thought I was back in a horn section, it sounded so real. I wish I could play in all keys but I can't. I played trumpet for 35 years and learning the sax fingerings for just one key was enough for me. So that is why the transpose is so important to me. I use a BCR2000 Midi controller and assigned all 12 keys to one rotory switch. It send commands to 3 different synths now and Mr. SaxT will be the fourth.

    Question: Do I need Kontakt 3.5 to upgade to Mr. Sax T version 1.51? I just ordered Mr. Sax T last week but got the old version (ver 1.02) I think I need the new version for the Key transpose function don't I?

    Oh, check out my website: http://www.aljazzmanking.com

    Thanks again...... Jazzman
  • Ben HBen H
    edited March 2010
    Yeah, it can be pretty addictive. :mrgreen:



    As to whether you need Kontakt 3.5 to use the Mr Sax v1.51 update, I can't remember.



    Check to see if there is a MIDI CC remap tab down underneath the instrument when you have it loaded in the Kontakt Instrument window. If not, then you'll need to update your Kontakt Player. That's where the transpose function is located.



    You are entitled to the free Kontakt Player updates though, so you can go ahead and DL the latest version from the Native Instruments website (which is currently at version 4.05).



    OT: I think that Sample Modeling still offer a discount for owning multiple instruments. ;)



    Will have to check out your website when I get home later.



    BTW sorry for your wallet cos I know you are going to have to buy them all now. :mrgreen:
  • jazzmanjazzman
    edited 6:45AM
    Your right Ben.... I will probably end up buying the trumpet and alto (and maybe the bari). Right now I have to figure a way to take this on the road. I have a powerhouse home computer that plays Mr Sax T without even breathing hard but when I loaded a copy on my laptop it failed miserably. I would like to find out what is the minimum cost required to buy a laptop with sufficient power to realistically reproduce the sax sound OR what people out there are using..... I even used my high end external audio card with a firewire interface from my laptop and it still would not work. Is there a list of suggested laptops from anyone using laptops to play "live"? Any thoughts or POC's would be a great help. Thanks. Jazzman

    P.s. I got the latest player and it is working fine.
  • Ben HBen H
    edited 6:45AM
    Hey Jazzman,



    I checked out your site. Good stuff. ;)



    Ok here is MY take on purchasing a laptop and stuff:



    I always try to advise people NOT to buy the minimum spec, because although it may meet your immediate needs it will not last long. E.g. If you get a laptop that can handle Mr T, then what happens in 6-12 mnths time when you want to run The Sax Brothers + The Trumpet + whatever else? You will likely run out of juice and be dissapointed.



    On the same token, I also don't recommend people buy top of the line. It's simply a waste of money to pay a premium price for the best/fastest whatever, unless your work requires this and you can justify the expense.



    So pick something in between that is not bleeding edge, but is still going to have a decent lifespan.



    I noticed you have the VL70 and XV2020 hardware modules too, so maybe you don't need as powerful a system if you still intend to use these in your setup?



    As to the specifics of what laptop specs you need, I don't use one so I can't be much help there.



    Basically just determine your needs and then buy the best one you can afford. :lol:



    Sorry. I probably haven't been much help.

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