Squids SR NAMM report 07

[pricer]

i think even I could do some I-Map finger drumming on that beast - saves a great deal of desktop space for the amount of keys too. Out of interest, can the big developers just move in and make their own variation of that interface, or is it more likely that c-thru-music have exclusively patented that design?

[pough]

Anyway, it's really cool! You can play 192 notes from a space not that much larger than a laptop. But also the way it is set up you can play in different directions and sound musical easily. So, the irony is that it is maybe even easier to play than a traditional keyboard.

It kinda reminds me of the left hand buttons of an accordion. And it's not ironic, it's something that totally makes sense. The piano keyboard is really quite crazy. For the key of C (major), it's cool. For everything else, it really sucks quite hard and long. Sure you can adjust to it (obviously), but why should you need to? Why not simply have an interface that's smart?

If only it weren't so expensive! I'd love to have a keyboard that makes sense!

[Squids]

I think the price will eventually come down (if you think that's expensive look into getting a Continuum Fingerboard!).

I think the design is patented but I am sure they'd license it to big keyboard manufacturers if there was interest. First it has to hit the market. But yeah I want one too. The sheer amount of notes per the space ALONE is worth it let alone the schemes for getting interesting scales and chords out of it. It's a fun box!

[bduffy]

When or where can we get more information on that new El Cheapo Miroslav deal??

[shamann]

Neat. It looks like Chordspace in hardware.

[Squids]

When or where can we get more information on that new El Cheapo Miroslav deal??

What do you want to know?

It's very simple actually. It has a complete orchestra and contains most of the material from the ORIGINAL Miroslav sample library (that was over $3,000). The whole set is about 1.5 gigabytes and only has a little bit of the choirs but that is one area it differs heavily in compared to the full Philharmonik plug-in. Also, the full version has more articulations and patch programming, combis etc. But, Miroslav Philharmonik Classik Edition for $249 is a great meat and potatoes orchestral module. The software features are exactly the same as the full so the only difference is the size of the sound set. For some people the Classik Edition is all they need! So this is a nice option (many people before perhaps bought GPO in that price range... and in fact it is a great complement TO GPO as well because it offers lush ensembles to go along with it).

It will be available some time in February.

[bduffy]

When or where can we get more information on that new El Cheapo Miroslav deal??

What do you want to know?

It's very simple actually. It has a complete orchestra and contains most of the material from the ORIGINAL Miroslav sample library (that was over $3,000). The whole set is about 1.5 gigabytes and only has a little bit of the choirs but that is one area it differs heavily in compared to the full Philharmonik plug-in. Also, the full version has more articulations and patch programming, combis etc. But, Miroslav Philharmonik Classik Edition for $249 is a great meat and potatoes orchestral module. The software features are exactly the same as the full so the only difference is the size of the sound set. For some people the Classik Edition is all they need! So this is a nice option (many people before perhaps bought GPO in that price range... and in fact it is a great complement TO GPO as well because it offers lush ensembles to go along with it).

It will be available some time in February.

That's it, exactly - thanks!

I was just curious to how cut-down it is compared to its progenitor and when it's coming out. I've been trying to figure out which orchestra collection to go with...tough decision...does the Sampletank engine allow for Keyswitching, round-robin, etc, for more realistic articulations?

[Squids]

When or where can we get more information on that new El Cheapo Miroslav deal??

What do you want to know?

It's very simple actually. It has a complete orchestra and contains most of the material from the ORIGINAL Miroslav sample library (that was over $3,000). The whole set is about 1.5 gigabytes and only has a little bit of the choirs but that is one area it differs heavily in compared to the full Philharmonik plug-in. Also, the full version has more articulations and patch programming, combis etc. But, Miroslav Philharmonik Classik Edition for $249 is a great meat and potatoes orchestral module. The software features are exactly the same as the full so the only difference is the size of the sound set. For some people the Classik Edition is all they need! So this is a nice option (many people before perhaps bought GPO in that price range... and in fact it is a great complement TO GPO as well because it offers lush ensembles to go along with it).

It will be available some time in February.

That's it, exactly - thanks!

I was just curious to how cut-down it is compared to its progenitor and when it's coming out. I've been trying to figure out which orchestra collection to go with...tough decision...does the Sampletank engine allow for Keyswitching, round-robin, etc, for more realistic articulations?

Not on its own currently. That could change in the future though. But, there are ways to do those things with an extra tool. I think Yellow Tools has one actually. A utility that keyswitches and alts midi channels or something. There IS the ability to use control messages (CCs) to switch articulations in Philharmonik though (but not the Classik Edition).

[bduffy]

Cool, thanks, Squids.

[Beardedone]

There IS the ability to use control messages (CCs) to switch articulations in Philharmonik though (but not the Classik Edition).

I did not know that. How is that done?

Best Regards,
Gordon

[Squids]

There IS the ability to use control messages (CCs) to switch articulations in Philharmonik though (but not the Classik Edition).

I did not know that. How is that done?

Best Regards,
Gordon

We figured out a trick to do it because in this engine the solos and mutes are midi controllable. (kind of cool huh? they weren't before in the ST engine). BUT, the reason I didn't make this feature a prominent thing is that while it DOES work it isn't exactly as smooth as I REALLY wanted it to be so I left it as a hidden feature with me being able to make a few disclaimers about it.

So, here's how you do it. In the combis there are patches called "multi" (I am not in front of it now so I forget the exact name of it), it's the combi that brings up 6-8 articulations of one instrument or ensemble on different midi channels. What you do is set them ALL to the SAME midi channel and then you can use the following CC's to mute/solo each one:

Part 1 CC71
Part 2 CC72
Part 3 CC73
Part 4 CC74
Part 5 CC91
Part 6 CC92
Part 7 CC93
Part 8 CC94

(those are just CC's that are usually not assigned to anything important otherwise).

This works pretty good! But, you have to do the switching carefully because when it cuts one out mid playing SOMETIMES (not always) you can hear a tiny click (the kind when you cut off a sample without an envelope to smooth it). If you switch in between a phrase it's fine. But only sometimes during mid-play do you hear this. At some point there will be better switching than this though where it is always as smooth as I'd like. However, I am very picky so for a lot of people this is exactly what they want and it's just fine how it is. Sorry I kept it a secret! We try certain programming tricks that don't always make it to a final product because we're not 100% happy with the results. Sometimes an idea in theory is better than in reality. However, it IS nice that it can do this at all (couldn't do it at all with the previous engine) so maybe I am overly secretive. Haha. Well, either way, updates down the line to look forward to will increase performance with the full Philharmonik no worries (and buyers of the Classik Edition can also upgrade to the full any time).

[Beardedone]

Thanks so much Dave! I will have go at this tonight.

Cheers,
Gordon

[Squids]

Thanks so much Dave! I will have go at this tonight.

Cheers,
Gordon

That's what she said.

(sorry too much of The Office over here hehe)

[Beardedone]

OK Try this: Say, "That's what she said at the Bell Canada Picnic" for any choice risque or quasi-risque phrase. In your case substite the Bell South Picnic. It's loads of good clean or at least quasi-clean fun.

Cheers,
Gordon

[Squids]

OK Try this: Say, "That's what she said at the Bell Canada Picnic" for any choice risque or quasi-risque phrase. In your case substite the Bell South Picnic. It's loads of good clean or at least quasi-clean fun.

Cheers,
Gordon

I don't get it. But, you rock Gordy.

Hey, by the way, you are famous at IK Italy. You are called "Beard-a-donay" (phonetic) and beloved.