The use of "Performance Notes"
INTRODUCTION
"Performance Notes" or "Performance Samples" are those articulations which also contain "crossing sounds" from the first to the second tone.
"Crossing Sounds" could be key tones, finger- and key noises and so on.
These Samples are monophon playable articulations.
Performance-Samples are the special thing of the VSL-Libraries. It is the legato samples which make the Libraries attractive.
CONTENTS
- LEARNING TARGETS
- INTRODUCTION
- OVERVIEW
- PERFORMANCE SAMPLES
- CROSSING POSSIBILITIES
- 1. PPERFORMANCE SAMPLE > PPERFORMANCE SAMPLE
- 2. SINGLE SAMPLE > PERFORMANCE SAMPLE I
- 3. SINGLE SAMPLE > PERFORMANCE SAMPLE II
- 4. LEGATO SAMPLES > SINGLE SAMPLES
- PERFORMANCE TRILL
- EXCERPT 1
- EXCERPT 2
- EXCERPT 3
- EXCERPT 4
- EXCERPT 5
- SUMMARY
LEARNING TARGETS
- You get to know the characteristics of "Performance Samples" - You learn how to address "Performance Samples" accurately - You get to know the transitions from "Performance Samples" to "Single Samples" - Various examples will teach you how to use "Performance Samples" and "Single Samples" |
OVERVIEW
As an example: The "Performance Samples" of the Solo Violin Library.
(SE-User: Compare your Library Content with the full one)
PERFORMANCE SAMPLES
By choosing Performance Samples the Vienna Instrument is going to connect two tones with the corresponding "crossing noise" (keys, fingers, changing tones).
The Libraries contain these crossing sounds and tones for an octave up and down each. So that makes quite a lot of samples for all tones of an instrument. That's why legato articulations need more RAM.
The Heckelphone shows the crossing sounds and tones in a beautiful way:
Typical Performance Samples are:
- perf-legato
- perf-marcato
- perf-trill
- perf-portamento
- perf-repetition
Listen to a selection of legato articulations for the Violin (bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_demo.mid [2 KB]
)
Performance...
legato / marcato / spiccato / trill / portamento / repetitions
For certain instrument groups there exist more typical Performance Samples - see here (Strings).
With older Vienna Instruments you can't play Performance Samples in a polyphony way!
Basically, there is a conflict:

Solution 1: Split "Two Part Performance-Sample-Melodies" into two Parts and assign a VI each.
Solution 2: Use the Vienna Instrument Pro or the SYNCHRON-Player with synchronized Libraries.
Top
CROSSING POSSIBILITIES
As we know now: The changings from one the the next tone trigger the "Performance-Samples".
It is helpful to know some "rules" for this case.
There are 4 Main Crossing Situations:
1. PPERFORMANCE SAMPLE > PPERFORMANCE SAMPLE
On these conditions trigger the Performance Samples (crossing sounds):
Even if it is not necessary I overlap the legato samples within the Roll Editor of the DAW.
So I get the Legato as an optical result as well.
Top
2. SINGLE SAMPLE > PERFORMANCE SAMPLE I
Even if you start with a Single-Note you are able to get the legato sound when you play the next tone.
Place the keyswitches for a certain Performance-Sample just while the Single-Note is playing.
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_crossing-point1.mid [ KB]
3. SINGLE SAMPLE > PERFORMANCE SAMPLE II
You will get a problem when a Single-Note is closer than 50ms at the following Performance-Note - but you don't want the crossing sound of the legato.
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_crossing-point2.mid [ KB]
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_crossing-point2b.mid [ KB]
(korrigiert
1. without CC64 (pedal controller)
2. with CC64
4. LEGATO SAMPLES > SINGLE SAMPLES
This situation doesn't need any attention.
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_crossing-point3.mid [ KB]
PERFORMANCE TRILL
These samples are prepared to be used together with trills or... see the
The Performance-Trills articulation contains more than one crossing sound for each variant.
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_trill.mid [ KB]
- "Perf-Trill" is suitable for Trills, fast Runs etc.
- "Perf-Trill" contains "Crossing-Notes" for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 semi tone steps (depends on the instrument).
5 EXCERPTS
EXCERPT 1
sfz / perf-leg / sfz / stac
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_example1.mid [ KB]
EXCERPT 2
sfz / perf-marcato / sfz / stac
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_example2.mid [ KB]
EXCERPT 3
sfz / perf-leg / sfz / perf-leg
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_example3.mid [ KB]
EXCERPT 4
Some different articulations
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_example4.mid [ KB]
EXCERPT 5
"Performance-Legato" with "X-Fade"
Download: bk_vi_tu09_6_perf_example5.mid [13 KB]
SUMMARY
Important to know in connection with the "Performance-Samples":
> Gap between 2 notes < 50ms: The crossing sound (legato sound) will be triggered.
> Gap between 2 notes > 50ms: The crossing sound will not be triggered.
Remark: If you listen to the music examples you will make out, that it is no more possible to set the Keyswitches in the meantime. > Use the Mouse
"Changing the Articulations as often as possible" > This increases the feeling of the naturalness of the instrument.