a Question(s) about "Key switches" with samplers and keyboards

[morecookies]

I noticed that most (if not all) of the samplers have this key switches function, looking like a few keys usually colored red onto the keyboard layer of the plugin's interface and they switch between types of sound that will play as a result of touching the regular keys.
I was wondering how to use it "right", if there is any particular way to use these during a play/edit/record session. I have a 61-keys keyboard, they are too short from being able to touch these key-switches that usually located too low or too high on the key spectrum, am i suppose to even hit a note with the keyboard in order to switch or is it only a mouse thing?

Thank you

[enroe]

1. You can transpose you keyboard so that the keyswitches are in range.

2. You can choose a specific keyswitch - then play the part you want to.
After that you set this specific keyswitch in the editor.

In a second session you now play the part of another keyswitch (of
another articulation or sound). And again you set the keyswitch
afterwards in the editor.

[jancivil]

I don’t know why two sessions for two articulations was advised, or why the selection of the ks are set after the performance. You can do the former if it’s so difficult to accomplish, but afterwards doesn’t make sense unless this is just an experience of a very strange UX in a sampler I don’t know. I use one MIDI part (track, event, whatever) for the entire performance, otherwise gets real cluttered real fast.

The first thing I do with such is set all the ks for the articulations I figure will be used for a virtual performance. Now, I tend towards heavy use and in any case go for full realism so I tend to use quite a few; and am not a very skilled keyboard player so I usually write them in in the piano roll and play the eg., staccato bit until the next articulation in my idea is needed. A real keyboardist might trigger the articulations live. These very happening keys players that can pull it off live like an 88-key controller accordingly.
The smaller controller should have an octave switch.

A rule of thumb here: a bass instrument can run into conflict with ks in its range, so we set them on the other end of the keyboard. Things that aren’t bass use the lower keys typically.

Advice specifically how to set up must be approached from a specific interface. VSL is basically drag and drop articulations from a browser to its keyboard in the GUI initially, then we set up kind of templates, while Kontakt… is harder to describe. (I’d want to proceed using images.) If it’s Sfz IDK.
But read the manual FIRST.

[enroe]

... am i supposed to even hit a note with the keyboard in order to switch ...
Thank you

Ideally, for performance and smooth running, it would be best if you practice
playing in with keyswitches in the same way you normally practice an instrument.