The use of "Single Notes"
INTRODUCTION
"Single Notes" or "Single Samples" are articulations that have been recorded as single samples. They can be recalled as such. Typically, they can be played polyphonically. This "normal form" of samples can be found not only in VSL libraries, but also in other products. This chapter will cover some things to keep in mind when using VSL single notes that can lead to better results.
The examples will show that selecting/switching samples with the mouse or by hand on the keyboard is not always fast enough. Especially when e.g. the articulation has to be changed within 16 beats for only one note...
CONTENTS
LEARNING TARGETS
- You get to know the big amount of single-notes in the complete Sample Library - You learn how to enhance the brio of Sample-Music by sample variation - You learn how to adjust the trills - You learn how to adjust and exploit Fast Repetitions - You notice that Keyswitches are often set with the mouse |
OVERVIEW
Below the "Single Notes" / Single Samples of the Solo Violin Library
(SE-users can compare the big amount of samples the complete Library comprehends)
In this chapter primarily the following articulations are used:
Solo Violin
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staccato | detache short | detache long | sustain (Vib) | sforzato (Vib) | Diminunendo 1.5s |
In spite of the small choice of possible Single Notes, there is an enormous potential to create a spirited music.
Unfortunately "detache_long" and "diminuendo" are no SE-articulations.
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PLAY SAMPLE LENGTH
Mind: If you want to get a "staccato" with Midi, play the note short.
It is different with Samples: There exists a short tone!
Let the samples entirely play, if possible, so that they can fade away in a natural way. (A staccato does not fade away).
This "fading away" is especially important for final notes.
Attention: The example below is made with Solo Cello. So Keyswitches are 1 octave lower.
Download: bk_tu09_5_sample_length.mid [ KB]
DIVERSIFYING ARTICULATIONS

Live music lives from the fact, that every tone is played a little bit different, even tones which are alike.
If we wish to simulate this fact by samples it would mean that we would have to choose another sample or articulation for each new tone.
This may seem somewhat exaggerated, but can be worthwhile. Listen to what I mean:
Example 1 played with permanent "Sus-Vib".
Download: bk_tu09_5_var_original.mid [ KB]

Variation 1
If we replace the short tones by staccatos, a more natural situation is the result (Music Example 1).
However, the "sus_vib" tones are definitely too week. A certain "pep" is missing in the stroke of the bow.
If we add a "staccato" to the "sus_vib", we can straighten a bit.
Still, it is not yet near a live performance (Music Example 2)
Download: bk_tu09_5_var_1.mid [ KB]

Variation 2
For relatively short tones "detache long" ("portato long" for woodwinds) is quite suited.
It is sort of a 0,5s-swell.
New at the end: a 1,5s-diminuendo.
Download: bk_tu09_5_var_2.mid [ KB]

Variation 3
"detache_long" was replaced by "detache_short".
Newly set: "sfz_vib" samples in the 2nd part.
Some staccatos are artificially shortened; they simulate "spiccatos".
Admittedly they are not very authentic. It is a suggestion for those who do not have spiccatos available.
Download: bk_tu09_5_var_3.mid [ KB]

Variation 4
Here the "sus_vib" resp. the "detache short/long" have been replaced by "sfz_vib".
In the staccatos following one other, "sfz" and "stac" are alternating.
At the end the diminuendo becomes a crescendo - an interesting ending.
Downoad: bk_tu09_5_var_4.mid [ KB]
3 EXAMPLES
Example 1 (from BWV 565, Fugue, s Violin) Download: bk_tu09_5_beisp1.mid [ KB]
Samples: "sus_Vib" / "staccato" / "detache short" / "detache long" / "sfz_Vib"
EXAMPLE 2
(from BWV 565, Fugue, sViolin) Download: bk_tu09_5_beisp2.mid [1 KB]
Samples: "staccato" / "detache long" / "sfz_Vib"
EXAMPLE 3
(from Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto, sViolin) Download: bk_tu09_5_beisp3.mid [1 KB]
Samples: "sus_Vib" / "staccato" / "detache short" / "detache long" / "sfz_Vib" / "dyn-me_Vib_2s"
FAST REPETITIONS
Fast repetitions are - at least with VSL - 8 notes played one after the other and this with a fixed speed. e.g. 150 BPM, 160BPM, 180BPM or other speeds. There are musical passages where it makes more sense to play these samples instead of playing the same note several times with staccato, for example. The danger that the result sounds very mechanical with 8x staccato would be great.
The Fast Repetition Samples from VSL offer to let a group of repetitions end with a Release Sample. This sounds very natural.
So if you want to play 5 repetitions, you have to adjust the "midi bar length" in the DAW so that exactly 4 such repetitions are played. If the playing time ends and "RS" is activated, the RS sample is automatically appended at the end So you get 4+1 = 5 Repetitions. The real difficulty is to find the right Midi playing time for the desired number of repetitions.

In this example, the midi lengths of the notes are set so that exactly 4 repetitions (150BPM) are played.
At first without RELEASE NOTE.

In this example, the "RS" function is also switched on. This causes a release sample to be appended at the end of the played repetitions. It doesn't matter whether this is to be done after 1, 2, 4, 5, or 7 repetitions. So you are very flexible.
To what extent other libraries offer similar possibilities is not known to me. With VSL there are the "performance-repetitions" which can be loaded in free speed.
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TRILLS
Similar to the "Fast Repetitions", you can also end the fixed Trilllers "naturally". This again with a "Release Sample". The only thing to keep in mind with trills is that you have to search for the correct length of the trill that allows the release sample to end the trill harmonically.
In the sample notes below you can hear that not all notes are perfectly adjusted in length.
Trill with Release, not correct in Timelength
Trill with Release
SUMMARY
1. Do often vary articulations!
You hear it from the examples: Even if you only switch between 3 - 6 different articulations, you put more life to your music; the “rigidity” disappears.
And bear in mind that we have only used "Single Notes" for these examples.
2. Do set Keyswitches with the mouse!
From the last examples, it becomes clear that your own switching (manual setting of the switches) on your keyboard is not possible any more. The switching sequences are too short.
If you want, e.g., to emphasize the first of four semiquavers by a sforzato, the automatic Sample-Selection of the Sample Player "portato_long - portato_short - staccato" does not work anymore.