Programming Sequencing Tips? (Bass Capsule)

[RayC]

I am posting this in regards to the Sonik Bass Capsule, but it is likely applicable to many libraries.

When sequencing a part, would you use several different patches for a given "performance"?

For example, in the Bass Capsule there are 18 different patches for the K5 Bass with names like:
K5 ST FNG 2DPRF1;
K5 ST FNG 2DPRF2;
K5 ST PCK 2DPRF1;
K5 ST PCK 2DPRF2;
K5 STR BS FRETNZ;
K5 STR BS SLDUPS;
K5 STR BS SHORT F;
K5 STR BS SHORT MF;
etc.

In order to get slides, fret noise, harmonics, etc., would you load up, say, 5 different patches assigned to different MIDI channels, then have 5 separate MIDI tracks, each with their respective part of the performance?

I've tried this, and it seems a bit awkward, so I'm wondering if I'm missing some nifty methods of doing this, or if that's just the nature of the beast?

Also, I now I've whined about this before, but a little information about the libraries and the samples or patches would be a big help. Even just to flesh out the patch names with a bit of a description. I can guess that "FNG" and "PCK" mean "Finger" and "Pick", and that PRF1 and PRF2 are maybe 2 different performances/performers (?) but have no clue what a "SHORT MF" is (although I do know a Short MF, but he doesn't play bass. )

Anyway, if anyone would share how they work with things like this, I'd be ever so grateful.

TIA,

Ray

[Mr. Tunes]

hi ray, great to see a fellow torontonian! how are you coping with the heat this summer?
i think you should try this:
load up similar sounds on the same midi channel, and you can try tweaking the velocities so that depending on how hard you hit the keyboard a different sound will trigger.
also try putting odd sounds like fret noise or harmonics an octave lower or above your main sounds so a different hand can trigger those.

are you using sampletank or something else?

[RayC]

Bah! I'm not looking forward to my next electricity bill!

I'm using Reason, and am also experimenting with SampleTank LE that came with the Capsule.

I guess that's sort of the way things like the Garritan Orchestra work: various MIDI controls are used to trigger different articulations.

It would be nice if these came pre-programmed to work that way; either through a controller, like the mod wheel to change which sample/articulation is used, or as you suggest with varying velocities or in different octaves.

Ray

[Mr. Tunes]

sorry to hear you are melting, it's nice and mild here in vancouver i dont even need air conditioning

how good are you with the NN-XT sampler? it's very flexible. you should have no problem getting some interesting patches going. if you havent layered sounds in this sampler before, here's how you get started:
1. load two nn-xts. similar patches in both, not the same
2. expand the views with the arrow
3. "select all zones" in one, copy... paste it into the other nnxt.
now they are layered. you can adjust the levels of each by highlighting and turning the levels, and tweaking various settings of the samples that are highlighted.

maybe you knew this already, maybe you didnt... if you did then hopefully someone else learned something from this short tutorial!

[Kim Lajoie]

PRF stands for "performance". Performance patches usually have multiple dynamics, and performance elements such as fret buzz, slides, muted strums, etc. The performance elements are usually assigned to keys below the usual range for the instrument.

-Kim.

[RayC]

PRF stands for "performance". Performance patches usually have multiple dynamics, and performance elements such as fret buzz, slides, muted strums, etc. The performance elements are usually assigned to keys below the usual range for the instrument.

Ah Hah! Thanks, Kim!!

I'll take a look for these elements within these patches.

Another example of where a little extra info with the library would be helpful...

Other than things like this, do folks generally use multiple MIDI tracks: one with the base(bass) sound, one with perhaps slides, another with hammers, etc.?

Ray