How to use VI MIDI

From a MIDI-file to a VSL-Track

Dear VSL-Vienna Instrument-user
The following pictures, texts and sound examples will show you the way.

Yours
Beat Kaufmann
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This tutorial is optimized for using with the new Vienna Instruments (VI).

VI means in general Vienna Instrument > In this tutorial VI is also the abbreviation for
(Solo) VIOLIN. Sorry for this coincidence. But I'm sure you will get it... ;-)

Remark: The sound examples I took over from the corresponding VSL-Midi tutorial. So they are not played by the Vienna Instrument.

And finally: Clicking on the pictures will enlarge them!

Contents

The Midi-file
Step 1: Adjust tempo / Velocity 88 over all?
Step 2: Loading first sample articulation
Step 3: Setting keyswitches
Step 4: Loading more short articulations
Step 5: Loading special samples
Step 6: Loading performance samples
Step 7: Adjust the velocities
Step 8: Learn & Optimize
Step 9: Adding a room effect
Last word
Visit VSL's VI video tutorials / Printing the tutorial
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The Midi-file

All the next steps are based on this Midi-file: Midi tempo 120 Velocity 64 . Please load it down and import it into your sequencer. It contains just the notes you see in the score below.
The tempo is: 120 (over all)
The velocity: 64 (all notes)

or click Sample1

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Step 1: Adjust tempo / Velocity 88 over all?

I adjust at this time the coarse tempo values. I also set the velocity level for all notes on level 88 (one count before VSL's-ff). This is comfortable later on. Then you have only to increase the velocity +1 step and you will have the forte sound. (Click on the picture if you want to enlarge it)

Tempo adjusted

...or click Sample2

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Step 2: Loading first sample articulation

Now you are prepared to load the first samples with your sampler. I have decided to make a track for the solo violin. Let us take for the first impression the Sustain-Sample. Load up this sample articulation in the Vienna instrument. Check the picture beside how to do it.
You will find it at 01 Violin solo/ 01 SHORT + LONG NOTES

1.1 VI_sus_Vib (1.1 = Matrix Cell)
> Click Sample3 ...or play the buton.

A flat and "samply" sound, isn't it? And in reality? No tone sounds like the next one. If you want to come close to this natural sound you need to have hundreds of variations. This isn’t possible. But VSL offers plenty of different tone variations. Here is an example: Take the short notes: staccato, portato short (0,3s), portato medium (0,5s), portato long (1s -2s)
It is up to you to decide how close to the reality you want to be. A rule for practice: The more instruments you have the less different samples per instrument you need… So if you want to play a solo violin sonata you will need probably all available samples. You have to decide whether you want to come to a compromise or not... > More different samples or less.

Here we go. Let us take for the first short notes "stac-samples".
But first of all we have to expand the Matrix' Cells in the horizontal dimension (H, H-Span). Let's expand it for a total of 8 Cells - 1.1 >>> 1.8. So we will be able to load 8 different articulations. Please check the picture beside this text for this matter.

Attention: With the Vienna Instrument 1.1 and higher you have to expand the frame of the cells with the mouse. Click on the border of cell 1A > an arrow appears. Then you are able to widen the frame horizontal (H) or/and vertical (V).

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Step 3: Setting keyswitches

At this moment we need to set keyswitches. These are necessary if you want to switch between the 8 cells (articulation - possibilities) which you just created. So choose at Control Edit/Keyswitch "Keyswitch". It suddenly appears C1 ^ C#1 ^ D1 ^ D#1 ^ E1 ^ F1 ^ F#1 ^ G1 >>> VI's proposal. You can change it but I suggest we use these keyswitches.

Attention: Always choose keyswitches outside of the range of the used instrument. The violins lowest note is G3 and our highest keyswitch is G1 > so there is no problem.
Our first cell (1.1) has got the keyswitch C1 = VI_sus_Vib
Info: Keyswitches are "ordinary notes" (outside the instrument's range). So they also can be recorded while playing the melody with the keyboard or by writing it in the Midi - List Editor or by drawing in the Note Editor or... It's up to you to find the best solution for your situation.

Load now the staccato samples please.
You will find them at 01 Violin solo/ 01 SHORT + LONG NOTES
1.1 VI_sus_Vib
1.2 VI_staccato

Now you should able to switch between VI_sus_Vib and VI_staccato by setting keyswitches in your sequencer or by pressing (live) your keyboard. In the picture below you can see the inserted keyswitches (Piano-Editor)
Attention: The keyswitches always should be set a little before you need the new articulation (I suspect some ms).

Please check with the picture above how to set keyswitches now in your sequencer.
C0 = First Matrix line
C1 = VI_sus_Vib
C#1 = VI_staccato
D1 = not used until now
D#1 = not used until now
E 1 = .....
Click Sample4 or play the buton.

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Step 4: Loading more short articulations

As you can see in the score we take for d in the second bar the 0,5s-sample (detache medium). It has a nice sound. You will see it later on in a better way (when this sample will be played with ff). You have to load up the 0,3s–sample too.
You will also find both sample-types under 01 Violin solo/ 01 SHORT + LONG NOTES.

1.1 VI_sus_Vib
1.2 VI_staccato
1.3 VI_detache_short (0,3s)
1.4 VI_detache_long_Vib (0,5s)

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Step 5: Loading special samples

To get the real violin sound we have now to load up more articulatons. Most time it is a good thing to combine the sfz-sample with stac-samples.

We will play in our example the very first note with sfz. They are integrated in a sample package called "...dyn...Xs". The end of our track we play with two different diminuendo-samples: 1,5s and 3s. Unfortunately you get the "dyn" articulations only with VI's Extended Library.
Tip: Longer dim-samples are also good for longer notes because they have in its first second a “sweller”. This fact takes a very natural course with the velocity. “Dims” with long notes are nearly a must in baroque music. > The dim-time should be longer then the tone-time in this case.
Please load now the dynamic-samples at 01 Violin solo/02 DYNAMICS:

1.1 VI_sfz_Vib >> please overwrite the "VI_sus_Vib"
1.2 VI_staccato
1.3 VI_detache_short
1.4 VI_detache_long_Vib
1.5 VI_dyn_me_Vib_1,5s (only Extended Library)
1.6 VI_dyn_me_noVib_3s (only Extended Library)

With dynamics we need one more controll: We have to tell the VI if we want to have a crescendo or a diminuendo. For this matter we set at A/B (Control Edit page) the Keyswitch on "Keyswitch". Either we take the proposed keyswitches or we set them. Attention: It is not allowed to set already used keyswitches. If you do that you give the VI two orders at once...
A#0 = crescendo
B0 = diminuendo

Set the keyswitches like it is shown in the upper picture. If all the settings are correct it should sound this way...
Click Sample5 or play the buton.

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Step 6: Loading performance samples

We will come one more step closer to the reality with this performance samples. Unfortunately they use a lot of RAM space. But anyway - load now please VI-perf-legato and VI perf-portamento.
You will find them at:
01 Violin solo/10 PERF INTERVAL/01 VI_perf-legato and
01 Violin solo/10 PERF INTERVAL/01 VI_perf-portamento

1.1 VI_sfz_Vib
1.2 VI_staccato
1.3 VI_detache_short
1.4 VI_detache_long_Vib
1.5 VI_dyn_me_Vib_1,5s (only Extended Library)
1.6 VI_dyn_me_noVib_3s (only Extended Library)
1.7 VI_perf-legato
1.8 VI_perf-portamento

Click Sample7 or play the buton.
(This sample is already "velocity-adjusted" > no more level 64. Please read more about this subject in Step 7 .)

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Step 7: Adjust the velocities

A very important thing is the adjusting of the velocities. There are no rules for the velocity "calibration". On the one hand you have the composer’s fortatos and pianos and on the other hand you have the limitations of the VSL-samples. So try, turn, trim, increase, decrease, check, change... until you have the best result(s).
You can do this work only by hearing...
Please check also the picture above

Once more the "perf-legato loading picture". You will also find on it how to save the Matrix C0 - this means our collection of articulations. Please press "Save Matrix" and give it a name (VI-midi?)

By clicking on "Perform" you are able to check how much RAM you used but also that our Matrix line has got a name...

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VI_Basic_Presets

I have created VI-presets for almost all Symphonic Cube Instruments. Once you have worked out the keyswitches like we've done it above you will be able to exchange the instrument. If you want to know more about the BK-VI-Presets and their advantages.


Please use this link.
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Keyswitches table (PDF) Chamber Violins

Step 8: Learn & Optimize

This function has nothing to do with the sound of our little melody. It only helps to save RAM above all you are short of RAM. It's an easy process. Activate "LEARN" on your VI-Instrument, then play the Midi track. After the the piece has ended press "OPTIMIZE". The VI removes all the samples exept those used while playing the Midi-track. You will notice that the value decreases quite a lot at "MEMORY USED". If you want to get al the unused samples back press "RESET"
Tip: It is not necessary to play the Midi track in real time it also works with the function "Audio Mixdown" in Cubase. I'm not able to test it in LOGIC with the function "BOUNCE" but it should work as well.
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Step 9: Adding a room effect

Our solo violin sounds even more realistic in a natural room. If you have no Reverb please check up this home page:
SIR http://www.knufinke.de/sir (free VST-Convolution-PlugIn)
and Noisevault http://www.noisevault.com/ (free impulses for Convolution-Reverbs)

And now... The solo violin with some reverb
Click Sample8 or play the buton.

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Last word

This completes the short basic introduction in "How to use the Vienna Instrument with Midi". Without batting an eyelid you will use 10 and more different samples for creating a real sound of an instrument. That's not a problem for the VI. It is able to load 12 x 12 articulations per Matrix. Further you are able to load 12 such Matrices in total. So theoretically you can load up to 1728 articulations. The limitation is more given by your RAM-configuration.
Attention: The 1 VI is able to play 1 articulation - even if you have load 1728 of them. Single notes like sus, dim, staccato, detache etc. are polyphon playable, legato articulations (only) monophonic

And now I wish you successful sessions with this powerful instrument(s)

Yours
Beat Kaufmann

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Visit VSL's VI video tutorials

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Printing the tutorial

Would you like the tutorial as a document?

Please use the Printable Version at the bottom of this page.

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