Breath controller. I assign it to control the expression as well as bow pressure. I have vibrato rate and depth assigned to the wheel. With the new SWAM version, you can create a window for the range of modulation. So even though the vibrato depth goes from 1-127, I have the rate in a window of about 50 to 100. (can't really remember off hand)
If I may toot my horn, I've been pushing for this feature (modulation range) on SWAM for a couple of years. I beta tested the Viola and really made a case for it and they incorporated it. (Maybe some other folks pushed as well) I'm hoping they make new versions of all the SWAm instruments with this feature.
DanRad wrote:
I assign it to control the expression as well as bow pressure.
At the same time ??? DanRad wrote:
I have vibrato rate and depth assigned to the wheel.
At the same time ???
Yes. By using the controllers to control two related items, I feel I get more variation and a more realistic sound. For example, often as a singer or musician increases the depth of their vibrato, the rate may change, generally faster.. (Note to developers, an "invert" button would be nice next to the modulation range adjustments)
With a bowed instrument, varying the bow pressure also creates a more dynamically responsive instrument. (Damn, I'm giving away my secrets here…. don't forget to thank me in your grammy speech)
DanRad wrote:
With a bowed instrument, varying the bow pressure also creates a more dynamically responsive instrument. (Damn, I'm giving away my secrets here…. don't forget to thank me in your grammy speech)
What Dan writes is actually not a secret, but something I asked to be implemented in the standard instrument long ago. While independent control of bow speed and pressure may seem attractive, it requires simultaneous use of two physical controllers, which is impractical for normal use.
IMHO bow pressure should be assigned to two different controllers, each with a different scaling and weight. This way, a linear rise of CC11 (expression) would yield a real crescendo. More subtle changes in bow pressure could be independently shaped by a dedicated CC.
DanRad wrote:
(Note to developers, an "invert" button would be nice next to the modulation range adjustments)
Using Reaper, I could easily find or do a pluging for this (which usually is called "Morphing").
E.g. I could find or do a plugin that e.g. listens to a definable CC and outputs multiple definable CCs with definable start and end values with linear interpolation.
(in fact the start and end values could optionally be definable by CCs, again and on top of that such plugins could be cascaded.)
I could work with Kobi to make this happen....
There even is a translator that creates a standard VST from such Reaper scripts, but I did not try this one.
It is already possible to “invert" the incoming MIDI CC values: just set the Min value greater than the Max value in the MIDI mapping page ;-)
So I will play with that.
As to Giorgio's comment… he's right, but for me in my work, down and dirty is sometimes what I have to go for. By using one controller to control two things, I can quickly address two issues, the most obvious one; the vibrato speed. I like that SWAM has a random option for vibrato, but I find that I can "get away with" raising the vibrato (within a certain window) as I increase vibrato depth (with the mod wheel) and get a nice human variation in the vibrato rate.
As for bow pressure, again, it would be nice to have a third hand or more subtle foot pedal to use as an independent control for bow pressure, but I feel that the BC works very nicely for bow pressure along with the "expression" variable.
To me, all that matters is that I have to fool the average person/producer/director etc. into feeling that the instrument sounds natural and real.. and carries the right emotion for the cue.
Regardless, this Viola is nothing less than another Superb expressive instrument. I can hardly wait for the other members of the string section.
THANK YOU SampleModeling Team! Again you have made my musical life more fun and expressive.
Comments
Thanks for sharing !
-Michael
If I may toot my horn, I've been pushing for this feature (modulation range) on SWAM for a couple of years. I beta tested the Viola and really made a case for it and they incorporated it. (Maybe some other folks pushed as well) I'm hoping they make new versions of all the SWAm instruments with this feature.
At the same time ???
DanRad wrote: I have vibrato rate and depth assigned to the wheel.
At the same time ???
-Michael
With a bowed instrument, varying the bow pressure also creates a more dynamically responsive instrument. (Damn, I'm giving away my secrets here…. don't forget to thank me in your grammy speech)
Dan
What Dan writes is actually not a secret, but something I asked to be implemented in the standard instrument long ago. While independent control of bow speed and pressure may seem attractive, it requires simultaneous use of two physical controllers, which is impractical for normal use.
IMHO bow pressure should be assigned to two different controllers, each with a different scaling and weight. This way, a linear rise of CC11 (expression) would yield a real crescendo. More subtle changes in bow pressure could be independently shaped by a dedicated CC.
Giorgio
Using Reaper, I could easily find or do a pluging for this (which usually is called "Morphing").
E.g. I could find or do a plugin that e.g. listens to a definable CC and outputs multiple definable CCs with definable start and end values with linear interpolation.
(in fact the start and end values could optionally be definable by CCs, again and on top of that such plugins could be cascaded.)
I could work with Kobi to make this happen....
There even is a translator that creates a standard VST from such Reaper scripts, but I did not try this one.
-Michael
It is already possible to “invert" the incoming MIDI CC values: just set the Min value greater than the Max value in the MIDI mapping page ;-)
So I will play with that.
As to Giorgio's comment… he's right, but for me in my work, down and dirty is sometimes what I have to go for. By using one controller to control two things, I can quickly address two issues, the most obvious one; the vibrato speed. I like that SWAM has a random option for vibrato, but I find that I can "get away with" raising the vibrato (within a certain window) as I increase vibrato depth (with the mod wheel) and get a nice human variation in the vibrato rate.
As for bow pressure, again, it would be nice to have a third hand or more subtle foot pedal to use as an independent control for bow pressure, but I feel that the BC works very nicely for bow pressure along with the "expression" variable.
To me, all that matters is that I have to fool the average person/producer/director etc. into feeling that the instrument sounds natural and real.. and carries the right emotion for the cue.
Regardless, this Viola is nothing less than another Superb expressive instrument. I can hardly wait for the other members of the string section.
THANK YOU SampleModeling Team! Again you have made my musical life more fun and expressive.
Thanks,
Dan