ViennaSymphonicLibrary说明书.doc

Vienna Symphonic LibraryPerformance Tool V2 Beta 1for WindowsCopyright NoticeInformation in this training guide, including URL and other Web site references issubject to change without notice. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part ofthis document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, ortransmitted in any form, or by any means, or for any purpose, without the expresswritten permission of the Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH.Vienna Symphonic Library may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, or otherintellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except asexpressly provided in any written license agreement from Vienna Symphonic Library,the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents,trademarks, copyrights or any intellectual property.Copyright (C) 2003 All rights reserved.Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH.Draschestrasse 89, A1230 Wien, AustriaE-mail: officevsl.co.atGetting startedRegistrationIn order to download the appropriate Performance Tool, you have to register yourproduct at the Vienna Symphonic Library website. In case you havent done so yet,please follow the instructions in your products manual.Dear First and Pro Edition Users: in case you bought a Horizon Series product,you NEED to register it and download the current version of the PerformanceTool. Otherwise, the Legato Mode of the Horizon Series instruments will notwork adequately.Installing the Performance Tool2The first place to start after installing the DVDs, is to install the Performance Tool. Youcan download the Performance Tool from the Vienna Symphonic Library website(http:/www.vsl.co.at/user). As you have registered your products (see above), youhave access to the download area located in the user area. The Performance Toolcomes in a .zip file which is not very large, so it will download fairly quickly even with anaverage modem connection. Inside your Performance-Tool.zip you will find a separate readme file that will help youthrough the whole installation process. If your GigaStudio runs on a separate computer,simply burn a CD (or use a data stick!) on the computer that contains the file, theninsert the CD or the data stick into your GigaStudio computer and place thePerformance Tool on your desktop.This manual assumes that you are conversant with the functions of GigaStudio. Pleaserefer to the GigaStudio manual if any questions arise concerning its setup andconfiguration.The Performance ToolGeneral informationThe Vienna Symphonic Library Performance Tool is a stand-alone application that re-interprets the MIDI information it receives from your sequencer. It gives you access tocustomized MIDI events that bring out the exceptionally expressive capabilities of ourPerformance Set instruments. Depending on your purchases, you will find the following Modes within the PerformanceTool (if you are a proud owner of ALL Vienna Symphonic Library products, you can ofcourse access all of them, just as you can with this beta version!):First Edition and Pro EditionOrchestral Cube: Alternation ModePerformance Set: Alternation, Legato and Repetition ModeHorizon SeriesOPUS 1: Alternation and Horizon Legato ModeMallets: Alternation ModeGlass & Stones: Alternation ModeSaxophones 1: Alternation, Horizon Legato and Repetition Mode3Solo Strings: Alternation, Horizon Legato and Repetition ModeConcert Guitar: Alternation, Guitar Legato and Repetition ModeOverdrive: Alternation, Guitar Legato and Repetition ModeIMPORTANT: If you just extended your Library with a Horizon Series product,please make sure that you use the Horizon Legato for all Legato instrumentsof the Horizon Series. For the guitars, please use the Guitar Legato. Weapplied a new mapping scheme to these instruments, so they need thecorresponding Legato Mode.The Performance Tool is a stand-alone application that re-interprets your MIDIinformation to give you absolute authenticity in sound. It basically operates in threeModes chosen according to the selected Performance instrument: Legato,Repetition, or Alternation Mode. The Performance Tool settings of a giveninstrument are preconfigured for each Performance instrument. When you open, e.g.,“VC-8_perf-leg_porta_f” (a cello ensemble with forte portamento legato), simply load theLegato Mode into the corresponding channel on the right port of your PerformanceTool and you are ready to play!If you experiment with the settings, you should save them under a new filename so thatyou can load the default setting if anything goes wrong. For instance, one shouldntreally try to run a legato instrument in Repetition Mode if one doesnt want unexpectedresults.The Performance Tool is intended as a tool for real-time performance of legato,repetition, and alternation sequences played on the keyboard. If youre editing your MIDItracks in your sequencers editor, and skipping passages or running loops, the musicmay not always sound as originally recorded. Naturally, when you record and playbackyour completed sequence, you will hear the intended result.If something goes wrong after editing your sequence or the Performance Tool settings,the Legato and Repetition Modes has a reset function. For a soft reset, simply click theReset button. However, due to extensive testing and improvement of our performancealgorithms, the need for a reset should occur very rarely.The Bypass button in the Mode display does exactly that it works like a MIDI throughchannel, passing on MIDI events without going through the Performance Tool.For best performance control, we recommend using an 88-key master keyboard, soyou can access all preconfigured keyswitch functions while youre playing. But, ofcourse, you can also use the matrix editor and enter the notes and functions step bystep, or fine-tune what youve recorded.he instruments and their settings are documented in the Vienna Symphonic Library4manuals, which you can refer to if youre unsure how to set up a specific performance.You can also download the Range Finder guide (PDF) from the user area of our websitewww.vsl.co.at, which gives brief descriptions of the instruments and their playingranges.IMPORTANT: You have downloaded a time-limited public Beta version (v2Beta1) ofour redesigned Performance Tool. You can use it for 45 days from the day youinstalled it on your computer. Some additional features will be implemented beforeX-mas 2003, mainly within the Alternation Mode. We want to make sure that all ofthese additional functionalities work perfectly fine before handing out the finalversion of the Performance Tool, so please rest assured that you will be informedvia newsletter when the final version of the Performance Tool will be released.Setting up the Performance ToolAs the Performance Tool is a stand-alone application, you have to make sure toconnect your applications in the right order.For a test run, you can skip the sequencer (or the keyboard if you want to play anexisting piece or compose a sequence for testing purposes), but the normal setup willlook like in the diagram above.In the upper right-hand area of the Performance Tool display, you will find drop-downmenus for “MIDI INPORT” (where your MIDI comes from) and “MIDI OUTPORT” (where itgoes to up to 4 with each GigaStudio and depending on your soundcard).We suggest that you assign “OUT” 14 (for the different ports of the Performance Tool)5to “Nemesys InPort14”.For the “MIDI IN PORT” choose the right port of the ports available on your GigaStudiocomputer.Click on the buttons “PORT 1” to “PORT 4” of the Performance Tool to adjust thesettings for each one of the four ports.Editing the Performance ToolGeneral navigationThe key switches from one item to the next within the highlighted category,e.g., MIDI-Channels or channel tool settings.To select a Mode for the selected MIDI channel, use the drop-down menu or the up anddown Arrow keys.NavigationUse and to jump to the next position in e.g. the RepetitionMode matrix or the Style Display.Click an edit button and move your mouse up and down to adjust the value. You canalso enter a number in a highlighted field.Use “0” and “1” to set the values within a matrix or the Style Display.To “fine-tune” ms-values, click in the field and use “+” and “” to increase or decreasethe value step by step.To adjust MIDI notes (e.g. in the Play Zone), use the virtual keyboard that pops up whenyou click into the field and hold the left mouse key.With our re-designed Performance Tool you will find the “Style Display” for the6Alternation and Repetition Modes very useful, as it always shows what you are currentlyplaying. If you dont need to see the matrix for editing resons, you can adjust thedisplay by clicking the “Reduce/Expand” button.Legato ModeLoading instrumentsThe Legato Mode enables you to perform authentic monophonic legato lines on yourkeyboard.Specific Legato instruments have been created that work in Legato Mode. Legatoinstrument files will always have “PERF-LEGATO” in their name, e.g., “20 VI-14_PERF-LEGATO”, containing violin ensemble Performance Legatos. The instrumentsthemselves are named “perf-leg”, so “VI-14_perf-leg_p” will be a piano legato, played bythe violin ensemble.To load an instrument, scroll through the GigaStudio instrument display and select thelegato performance of your choice. For now, well stay with the piano violins on Channel1/Port1 of your GigaStudio, but of course you may try any other legato instrument you like.Once the instrument is loaded, assign Legato Mode to Channel 1/Port1 of thePerformance Tool and load “VI-14_perf-leg” by clicking on the “OPEN” button in the lineabove the legato mode settings. The tool will take care of the complex keyswitching foryou to create a perfect legato performance as you play.Please bear in mind that when you use an instrument of the Horizon Series, you have touse the corresponding Legato Mode, e.g., “HOR-LEGATO” for “Saxophones I”, “Opus 1”or “Solo Strings”, and “GUIT-LEGATO” for the guitars (currently “Overdrive Performance Distortion Guitar” and “Vienna Concert Guitar”).The Settings of a Legato Instrument7The settings of the violin ensemble Performance Legato will look like this:Play Zone and Octave OffsetThe most important settings for every legato instrument are its Play Zone and itsOctave Offset. These are located in the lower left of the Legato Mode display.If the octave offset isnt set to the right value, the software wont be able to track theright keyswitches for your legato performance, resulting in erratic if not altogetherunlistenable music.Legato thresholdIt may be that your performance on the keyboard leaves something to be desired. So, ifyou get too many starting notes (non legato) for your liking, you can use the Legatothreshold slider to adapt the time within which the tool will recognize two consecutivenotes as legato. If you set this too high, however, almost every sequence will be playedlegato even if you intend to play a new starting note. Just experiment with the setting toadjust it to your playing style or play your sequence first and set the legato thresholdduring playback.We suggest setting Release Time and Legato Threshold to the same value, sothat possible “gaps” between the notes are covered correctly!Release timeThis slider sets the release time of the sample. The higher you set it, the longer thetone takes to fade after you release the key.Function Keys: Ghost, Release Trigger, Repetition Trigger8With the help of function keys, you can access special functions directly on your MIDIkeyboard, or insert them in your recorded MIDI track to make your performance evenmore realistic. By clicking within the appropriate fields, you can set the trigger notes forthe function keys.Ghost: Press this key to have the next starting note muted. For instance, you could latercopy these notes to another track to have them played in another technique of your choice.The Ghost function makes it possible to start a legato passage from any other startingnote (from another MIDI track), e.g., from a crescendo, a diminuendo, a sforzato.An example: In your sequencer, you record a three bar legato passage in piano (soft),using legato performances. But you want a strong accent on the first note of thispassage, instead of the now recorded piano tone. So you decide you want to use afortepiano tone from the Special Dynamics.In this case you put a ghost function key prior to the first note. Now the first note wontbe played, but the second note still has the right transition from the ending of the (nowsilent) first note to the second note.Now you copy this first note to the MIDI track that is to play the fortepiano note. (Leavethe muted note in the legato track, as the second legato note still needs to know wherethe transition comes from!) Playing both MIDI tracks, you will get the proper transitionfrom the fortepiano note to the legato passage.Release trigger: Use this if you want to have the last note of a sequence end with aspecial release sample for increased authenticity. To activate this function, press thetrigger note after the last note is played. The release sample will be played after thespecified release time (see above). Attention: if you hold a note too long, the releasesample will still be triggered after the natural duration of the note, and you will hear thesample as a distinct extra tone. The notes of legato performances are quite long, ofcourse, but for the sake of your computers memory they are far from endless Repetition trigger: This key has the function of providing a legato repetition instead of9a fresh starting note. Press it before the repetition note when it should be part of acontinuing legato sequence rather than the beginning of a new one.Repetition ModeThe purpose of Repetition Mode is to enable you to create realistic sounding repeatednotes. Specific Repetition Instruments have been created to work in Repetition Modeusing a variety of articulations and tempos to achieve the most natural performance.In the Vienna Symphonic Library, instruments for use with Repetition Mode have thedesignation “PERF-REP” included in the file name. These are the only instruments thatwill work in Repetition Mode. The file name also provides information about the numberof repeated notes played by that instrument, plus the tempo and articulation used. Forstarters, lets select “VC-8_port-rep5_4-148_ff” from the folder “23 VC-8_PERF-REP_port_4-150” on Channel2/Port1 of your GigaStudio. The instrument contains acello ensemble with five fortissimo portato repetitions, played in 4ths at 148 BPM.Setting upNow just load “VC-8_PERF-REP_port_4-150” into the Performance ToolsChannel2/Port1. Now, the editor will look like this:The Style Display11Within Repetition Mode, you will find a style display and a matrix. The style displayshows the function keyswitch of the selected matrix line, the number of repetitions, andthe repetition entries themselves. The entries can be toggled only between 0 and 1,defining whether a sample is to be played or not.But first, lets check the basic settings again. The cellos Play Zone is C2 to E5, theKeyswitch Start Key is C6. The Base Function Key for switching matrix lines shouldbe set, e.g., to C1 so as not to interfere with the play zone. Depending on the BaseFunction Key setting, the settings for Jump to Last and Skip First will also change.These keys will be described below.Another important setting is the First Keyswitch Delay. This assures that yourperformance will be aligned with the meter youre in, and that the repetitions dont lagbehind the tempo of your piece. For our current instrument, it is set to 50 ms.IMPORTANT: to get the timing of your repetition track right, set the MIDI delayof your sequencer track to the negative amount of the First Keyswitch Delay(in this case, 50 ms). This will compensate the delay that is needed toconnect the repetition tones correctly.Release Time defines the time you have to play the next tone of the repetition. It canbe set roughly to the time of the first keyswitch delay or a bit higher to get goodresults. If it is too long, you will get unwanted repetitions, whereas if it is too short, theperformance may not sound very natural. It is best to experiment to find the settingsyoure comfortable with.The MatrixThe matrix displays 12 lines of repetition sequences with 9 entries each, which you canconfigure according to your needs. The first entries show the number of repetitions,which should always correspond with the number of repetitions the instrument has. Asour current instrument has five repetitions, the basic patterns are all set to five entries.Each matrix line now has five entries. The sequence of “1s” and “0s” defines which ofthe instruments repetitions are to be played; a sequence of “10101” will play thefirst, third, and 5th note. You can now configure the lines for the repetitions you have inmind.Please note that it is not possible to have a matrix line without repetitions you will notbe able to toggle the last “1” in a repetition sequence.Make sure that you select the proper instrument for your purposes. You can alwaysplay faster than the designated speed of a repetition instrument the 150 BPM cellorepetitions can easily be stepped up to 200250, but you cannot go below 150 withoutunwanted glitches and artifa