not sure if swell is the right word, but this is often used in soundtrack music etc. what i mean is strings sort of softly fade in and fade out, and the chord changes when it reaches the climax. what's this really called musically?

i've tried doing it by fiddling with envelope controls and automating volume, but i haven't been able to reach any satisfying results. or maybe it's because i'm using EWQL? i've always found the envelope controls in Play....not working entirely as i expect.

It's called Crescendo and the opposite is Decrescendo.

Some romplers have patches like these, but otherwise, you should just try using your mixer faders as in DP7 or Logic or etc.

To be honest, it doesn't sound exactly authentic because a single string patch going from piano to forte doesn't sound like REAL string players doing the same thing, but it's not too bad.

Also, the chord doesn't have to change at the end of the Crescendo and usually doesn't, unless you're doing a Tierce de Picardie (love that term).

Try modulating CC11 (expression).

Or just get a expresion pedal to do it live while recording. Cheap and very good investment.

These expressions can be recorded afterwords as well - live while playing back.

Many samplers and string patches have modulation wheel set the fade in time as well. Fast attack->slower attack.

Check it out.

i just found that there's a parameter called "instrument volume" among Play's automatable parameters that seems to work reasonably well, it just takes some programming to get there. i'm going to have a go with CC11 and attack times again as well to see which one works best.

an expression pedal sounds like a great idea too, for all kinds of applications!

thanks for the help guys!

Instrument volume is most probably CC07.

CC07+CC11+velocity works together to make up total velocity for each note used somehow.