Saxlab 2.02-Pc- ECS works :) Install tips

[Lotuzia]

I've just installed Saxlab 2.02 PC and Ecs works

Really opens Great new possibilities for expressivness.

Install tips :

1/ The installer is 19 Mo (and not 39 Mo as mentioned on the site) (No version notes either atm on the site. This fixes at least the Ecs bug)

2/ You'll have to re-locate the directory where Saxlab was formerly installed.

3/ You dont have to reinstall the Syncrosoft drivers. So uncheck this option.

4/ You might want to save you Ecs settings with your presets, for easier and coherent back up purposes. This can be found in your My Documents folder.

hope this helps.

Ltz

[Peter from LinPlug]

Thanks Lotuzia,

the update installer is 8.5 Mb obn PC and 38 Mb on Mac. It also _not_ contains the the Syncrosoft LCC anymore, as its supposed to be installed already.

Updated this minute

[Beardedone]

Edit

[Lotuzia]

Sorry but what is ECS again? I have bought most of the Linplug and do recall this one.

Gordon

Hi Gordon,

Ecs allows you to assign any midi controller to any Saxlab 2 parameter, like Body, keys, Lfo rate or envelope parameters, for real time automation.

It completes the matrix modulation features and is really great to access a higher level of programmation, and therefore, realism or any other unrealistic programmers dreams.

This allows Saxlab to sound more realistic than lets say basic "static" samples libraires. And this makes it quite flexible and easy to operate when using a keyboard to play the sax for example.

LtZ

[Lotuzia]

Thanks Lotuzia,

the update installer is 8.5 Mb obn PC and 38 Mb on Mac. It also _not_ contains the the Syncrosoft LCC anymore, as its supposed to be installed already.

Updated this minute

At least it was helpfull for one person

Edit : + Thanks for offering us this beautiful instruments. Really having fun with it


LtZ

Undercover betatesting since 1876

[Beardedone]

Beardedone wrote:
Sorry but what is ECS again? I have bought most of the Linplug and do recall this one.

Gordon


Hi Gordon,

Ecs allows you to assign any midi controller to any Saxlab 2 parameter, like Body, keys, Lfo rate or envelope parameters, for real time automation.

It completes the matrix modulation features and is really great to access a higher level of programmation, and therefore, realism or any other unrealistic programmers dreams.

This allows Saxlab to sound more realistic than lets say basic "static" samples libraires. And this makes it quite flexible and easy to operate when using a keyboard to play the sax for example.

LtZ

Thanks Lotuzia,

Still have not really explored Saxlab2 very much and not used it in any music since I cannot get it to play without sounding stiff and GM-like. I was planning to use a wind controller but perhaps the ECS feature should help. What I would really like is a tutorial on how to optimally play Saxlab2. Any chance that one is in the offing Peter?

Cheers,
Gordon

[Beardedone]

I am still having trouble getting Saxlab2 to sound more natural. Any hope for a tutorial?

Cheers,
Gordon

[Peter from LinPlug]

Not really. At least not in near future. We do RMV videos as there is quite some complexity, but we had few requests for SaxLab so far.

[Beardedone]

Thanks Peter,

Essentially I want to know is how to use the controls to make it sound perform a less stiff.

Cheers,
Gordon

[Dave Bourke]

This is the problem that most pianists have when they sit down to try and play a synthesizer - from strings to brass, guitar to wind, everything sounds like a piano. I know pianists who can out-Rachmaninov Rachmaninov, but give them a synthesized or sampled sound to play and they're lost. Because they're pianists. They look at a synth and they see a keyboard with black and white keys and all their training and experience makes them think: "Piano."

In my opinion, the only way to play a synthesized/sampled instrument convincingly is to get to know the real instrument intimately. What are its various articulations? How does a real player transition pitches and amplitudes? What tonal differences exist between legato and staccato playing? Between notes played softly and notes played "al dente." And so on.

In effect, you almost have to learn the real instrument you're trying to play on the synth. One way to do this is to listen very carefully to the real instrument being played well by a real player. Analyse what's going on with pitch and amplitude. Experiment with and get to know the performance controls on the synth, then try to use those controls to reproduce what you've learned.

It takes a very skilled synth player indeed to do this in a live situation. The less-skilled among us, such as myself, will generally play the piece into the sequencer roughly, then go into the editors to layer in all the performance niceties with velocity editing, MIDI control envelopes, etc.

It takes time, patience, and experimentation. But so does baking a cake.

Kind regards.

[Beardedone]

Thanks Dave,

Excellent points. I do not play a wind instrument but I do have a pretty good sense of what goes into playing a sax having coached my son through many hours of practice on alto and being lifelong fan of the amazing playing of Parker, Young, Coltrane, Hawkins, Gordon, Rollins, Adderley, Desmond, Brecker etc. I have good idea what I want to achieve. It is just that I need to know what saxlab 2 controllers to link to my expression pedal and Mod wheel. Are there any other controls I should link be using, though I cannot see how I can feasibly play the keyboard with more than three - if I include pitch bend?

Cheers,
Gordon

[Dave Bourke]

Well, as I said, it takes a really skilled synthesist to do it convincingly live. Personally, my performance days are long gone now so I can take the time to perfect the piece in my sequencer's editors.

With regard to controllers, since sax is a monophonic instrument, you only need one hand to play SaxLab, leaving the other free for pitchbend and (depending on your keyboard controller) modulation. You could also assign aftertouch to a SaxLab parameter and control that with your playing hand. Plus, you have (hopefully ) two feet, each of which may be given the task of controlling another aspect of SaxLab's performance.

As I said, what control you have available in real time depends on which keyboard controller you use. I use a Korg Prophecy for many of my VIs because it gives me, in addition to pitchbend and modulation, wheels for breath control and CC3, and a control strip for CC16 and CC17. It also has a bunch of knobs that can send other CCs.

Also, depending on the piece, I've found that pitchbend may not always be appropriate for sax. Glissing up or down to the target note may sound much more convincing and natural than bending the pitch. It's important to remember, too, that some real instruments can't bend their pitches the way a synthesizer can - the flute, for instance, or the piano and organ.

Kind regards.

[Beardedone]

Excellent stuff Dave. I have an M-Audio Axiom 61 and a couple of good expession pedals. So I will give these a try and practice, practice, practice!

Cheers,
Gordon

[Beardedone]

I have been experimenting with assigning Modwheel (CC1)and Expression (CC11)to all of the Saxlab 2 controls using ECS. I am finding that with the exception of pitchbend there appears to be no control that do very much of anything to modulate the sound. I am at a loss.

Best regards,
Gordon

[Beardedone]

I just realized to my complete embarassment that the LED bars in the LFO section are not imply for displa but can be linked to midi controllers and that they really affect the sound in a interesting. Also I found that applying aftertouch (AT) results in vibrato. Now I just need to find the most effective combination of controllers. What parameter should I link my expression pedal, Mod wheel whuch are the three most accessible controls on my AXIOM 61 since AT is automatically linked to LFO rate.

I would really appreciate any help from an experienced Saxlab 2 user.

Cheers,
Gordon