How to soften the Trumpet Attack for more legato Jazz

Comments

• dickbarbour

  November 2011 edited 7:37AM

  I would like to have the same info. I have a number of soft synths and the only one I have this problem with is the Trumpet. I use the WX5, so it's not just your EWI. I have tried adjusting several of the settings related to attack, but with no luck.The only thing I have been able to do is to try to attack with a "duh" sound using more of the back of my tongue instead of a "tuh" sound with the front. This helps, but I'm still left with the question of why the Trumpet is a problem. I also have Mr. Sax T and the Trombone, neither of which have this problem.
  
  Dick
• Peter Siedlaczek

  November 2011 edited 7:37AM

  Hi,
  
  
  
  of course it´s difficult to make the right diagnosis without listening to any examples, but I suspect some wrong settings.
  
  Since it´s the VELOCITY what dictates the attack shape, the crucial question is: what does your Wind Controller send?
  
  Depending on your settings you can either:
  
  - send the velocity corresponding to the dynamics you are playing (i.e. Velocity = CC2), or
  
  - you send a fixed, medium velocity.
  
  Please check either setting - it should help. By the way - I asked Saxer, who posted recently (in the User Demo section) an incredible big band demo, played on Yamaha WX. His setting sends velocity corresponding to the CC2 value, so this is probably the best choice.
  
  
  
  However, there is a very important setting on the Trumpet GUI as well, and this probably leads to the behavior different from The Trombone: CC25, named "Velocity to Dynamics". As you know, if using this setting, the very initial dynamics can be dictated by the velocity; then, within a very short time, the dynamics moves toward the expression level given by CC11 or CC2. The degree of this behavior is controlled by CC25. This may additionally increase some unwanted side effects, if set to a wrong value. Please try different settings (I think "0" will do).
  
  
  
  If you still experience problems, please get in touch with us via the Contact page (or using our e-mail) and send us an example - just a few notes - as a simple MIDI file (.mid).
  
  This would clearly demonstrate the problem.
  
  However, I strongly believe that after correcting your settings your problem will disappear. After all, you don´t hear any attack problems in Saxer´s trumpets he is playing in his big band demo, do you?.. ;-)
  
  
  
  Peter
• dickbarbour

  November 2011 edited 7:37AM

  Peter,
  
  Thanks very much for the tips. I had already trying adjusting the CC25 value, but not to 0. When I tried that it made a big difference. I can still get a good sharp attack if I want it, but normally it responds very smoothly.
  
  Dick
• dcooper41

  November 2011 edited 7:37AM

  Peter,
  
  
  
  Thanks for the tip. So on the EWI there is a setting that you have to make in the configuration relating to velocity. The default setting is dynamic. Once I changed it to anything else the sharp attacks ceased and the instrument became very responsive. So looking forward to playing this now! Thanks again! Derek Cooper
• Daryl

  December 2011 edited 7:37AM

  dcooper41 wrote: Peter,
  
  
  
  Thanks for the tip. So on the EWI there is a setting that you have to make in the configuration relating to velocity. The default setting is dynamic. Once I changed it to anything else the sharp attacks ceased and the instrument became very responsive. So looking forward to playing this now! Thanks again! Derek Cooper
  Sorry for a slightly OT question, but the EWI manual is so sparse that I could find almost no information about anything. If you have time, I would be grateful if you could point me in the right direction for this setting. Currently I'm using a combination of MIDI compression and limiting of all Velocity information in the DAW, but would rather make a Global setting on the EWI, if possible.
  
  
  
  Thanks.
  
  
  
  D
• dcooper41

  December 2011 edited 7:37AM

  Daryl,
  
  
  
  In the EWI configuration page you will see a tab for controller config. That is where you will find the velocity option. Make sure it is not set to dynamic. I did not see a real difference in trying other settings so I think mine is set to 64... Hope that helps, Derek
• Daryl

  December 2011 edited 7:37AM

  dcooper41 wrote: Daryl,
  
  
  
  In the EWI configuration page you will see a tab for controller config. That is where you will find the velocity option. Make sure it is not set to dynamic. I did not see a real difference in trying other settings so I think mine is set to 64... Hope that helps, Derek
  Ah I see. That means I should really load some software then. I'll try that next.
  
  
  
  D
• Daryl

  December 2011 edited 7:37AM

  I've tried all the various options, and for me the combination of BC compression and Velocity limiting (all done with MIDI Input Transformers in Nuendo) works the best. Setting the Velocity to a fixed value didn't sound right to me.
  
  
  
  D
• dstong

  March 2012 edited 7:37AM

  The Aria interface for the EWI-USB is one of the absolute worst that I have ever seen. It shows total lack of common sense, so I hardly ever use it for anything.
  
  For example, I can't even get it to load a saved setting for all of the important performance variables. I called tech support and they told me, and it worked, but I have since forgotten and can't do it.
  
  
  
  In any case back to the trumpet attack query. For Flugelhorn where you want a softer attack, I found that turning up the gain of your amplifier channel and then using very soft, gentle air works well for the EWI instruments. Same goes for getting a more mellow sound out of the Saxophones.
  
  
  
  I have not had any problems with attack on any of the Trumpets, Trombone, or the new French Horn.