Microtuning Kontakt instruments

Comments

• MSchnell

  September 2016 edited 4:01AM

  I don't know if that helps or is even necessary, nor did I try if it really works.
  
  
  
  I suppose that the microtuning values are VST parameters and hence the VST host you use should be able to deal with them.
  
  
  
  Usually all VST parameters are stored with the VHS host's "projects" and restored when loading a project.
  
  
  
  I use Reaper as a VST host, and here you can do "presets" for any plugin instance. These can be stored and loaded independently from projects and from the plugins' internal presets (if such do exist).
  
  
  
  There also are ways to tweak the VST parameters from outside the plugin.
  
  
  
  -Michael
• dickbarbour

  September 2016 edited 4:01AM

  MSchnell wrote: I don't know if that helps or is even necessary, nor did I try if it really works.
  
  
  
  I suppose that the microtuning values are VST parameters and hence the VST host you use should be able to deal with them.
  
  
  
  Usually all VST parameters are stored with the VHS host's "projects" and restored when loading a project.
  
  
  
  I use Reaper as a VST host, and here you can do "presets" for any plugin instance. These can be stored and loaded independently from projects and from the plugins' internal presets (if such do exist).
  
  
  
  There also are ways to tweak the VST parameters from outside the plugin.
  
  
  
  -Michael
  
  Michael,
  
  I guess I don't understand enough about Reaper or VSTs. I know how to save FX chains and load them in another track or project, but this doesn't really help in this case. I would like to save just the microtuning preset to load in another track or project. For instance, in this case there are up to 4 horns for unison plus a tuba if I decide to use them all (or if my PC can handle that much load). Now I have to laboriously enter the cents for each note in the microtuning panel, for each instrument. Surely there is a better way to do this. I searched for the Arabic presets that show up in the Trumpet v3, but can't find them. I thought maybe there was a way to create a custom preset and put them in the right folder. To do that I would have to know the preset format and location. Is this info available anywhere?
  
  
  
  Anyway, thanks for trying. Probably the only real solution is to have SM add the capability to name microtuning presets and save them, or at least make the information available to roll your own.
  
  
  
  Dick
• MSchnell

  September 2016 edited 4:01AM

  Of course in Repaer a solution can be found, as it is possible to link VST parameters of multiple plugins. I did not try to do something like this (but read about it): it should be possible to link the microtuning parameters of all your horns so that when tweaking one of them, all others will follow. Supposedly now, when loading a preset for one, all others will follow the microtuning setting.
  
  
  
  -Michael
• Giorgio Tommasini

  September 2016 edited 4:01AM

  Dickbarbour,
  
  
  dickbarbour wrote: I don't use a sustain pedal as discussed in the manual, so I'm setting the plus or minus cents for each note by dragging the block up or down. Why does it not offer a -4 or +4 setting? It always skips from 3 to 5 in both directions.
  It does offer setting to any value. Just press the shift key when dragging. It's the standard method for increasing resolution. One can increase the resolution even further by making use of the "Amount %" knob.
  
  
  dickbarbour wrote: The manual says that I don't have to save a numbered preset since it does it automatically for me.
  And it does. Any microtuning preset introduced by the user is automatically stored within the instrument. Saving the instrument under a different name makes the preset setting permanent. Furthermore, microtuning settings are saved in each Cubase session. This may not apply to other hosts, though.
  
  
  dickbarbour wrote: I'd like to be able to save a preset under a meaningful name.
  This is not possible. Presets can only be saved as numbers.
  
  
  dickbarbour wrote: This would also allow sharing of presets among users.
  This can be accomplished by exchanging saved instruments.
  
  
  dickbarbour wrote: Why are there no common presets such as Just Intonation available? The Horn & Tuba have none at all, but I notice the Trumpet and Trombone have a number of Arabic scales, which would seem to be of less general usefulness.
  Arabic scales are essential in Middle East Music. We believe that giving users the freedom to set any preset represents the best compromise. Individual requirements widely differ. Setting a preset for just intonation takes a few seconds, once and for all, if the instrument is saved under a different name.
  
  
  
  Best regards,
  
  
  
  Giorgio & Peter
• dickbarbour

  September 2016 edited 4:01AM

  Giorgio & Peter,
  
  Thanks for the informative reply. I've been able to get my desired scale temperament working well using microtuning and the Kontakt frequency adjustment after a considerable amount of work, some of which was the learning process. However, I strongly urge you to consider adding the capability to save named presets for a given microtuning setting. Saving it with the instrument, as Reaper also does, does not allow re-using the tediously-entered tuning in another instrument. I assume this would also be true of the timbral shaping panel, which I haven't used yet.
  
  Dick