Garritan Orchestral Libraries Announces
Ground-Breaking “Sonic Morphing” Technology
Garritan Stradivari Violin First to Feature New Technology
Demonstrates Monumental Realism and Expression of Unique Instrument
NAMM 2005/Anaheim, CA – January 20, 2005 (BusinessWire) - At the NAMM show today, Garritan Orchestral Libraries, an award-winning developer of affordable and high-quality orchestral software libraries, announced a technological breakthrough in virtual orchestration. This new technology allows sample sound waves to be harmonically aligned, something that has never been available until now. Sonic Morphing creates the most expressive and realistic-sounding solo instrument samples available.
Sonic Morphing Technology vs. Traditional Sampling
Sonic Morphing technology aligns sound samples so they can flow into each other seamlessly. Morphing can be seen in motion pictures where there is a gradual transformation from one image into another. This basic concept has been applied to sound samples using our revolutionary and exclusive technology. Traditional sample libraries use discontinuous samples and transitioning between different dynamic levels (pp, mp, mf, ff) or different vibrato levels (non-vibrato, normal vibrato or lush vibrato) cause the listener to hear two distinct instruments (doubling) during transitions with disjointed tones and phasing issues. It simply was not possible to have smooth transitions applied to solo instruments samples. The diagram below illustrates what a user hears during traditional sampling transitions.
Sonic Morphing, on the other hand, aligns sound samples so they can flow into each other seamlessly. The result is extraordinary levels of realism and expressiveness while preserving the natural characteristics of the instrument.
In the diagrams below, users continue to hear a single continuous instrument played during each transition phase.
Garritan Stradivardi Violin Sample Library
Stradivari is a name synonymous with quality. The Stradivari Violin is regarded by experts as the best violin ever made. An instrument of this distinction required a new way to faithfully capture its sound quality. Sonic Morphing is the answer. Sonic Morphing provides a unique way to provide extraordinary levels of realism and expressiveness. With the Garritan Stradivari Violin, users can actually play this instrument in real-time and change articulations while playing. In addition, users can seamlessly morph between different dynamics and hear changes in timbre as notes become softer or crescendo louder. Finally, users can control the onset, intensity and rate of vibrato; impart portamento, and much more.
"We have spent several years researching and developing this process,” said Dr. Giorgio Tommasini, developer and patent owner of sonic morphing technology. “Sampling technology is regarded as the best way to reproduce the sound of real musical instruments, but it has not been possible to get the expression of solo instrument samples due to its limitations. This new approach will provide unprecedented levels of fidelity and expression.”
The Garritan Stradivari Violin is the first instrument based on this innovative technology. Garritan Orchestral Libraries has exclusive use of this groundbreaking technology and other libraries to follow will be a string quartet and eventually the rest of the orchestra. The Garritan Stradivari Violin will be available for Macintosh and PC platforms during the 1st quarter 2005 for a suggested retail price of $199.00. To hear samples of this amazing technology, visit http://www.garritan.com.
Quicktime MOV movie:
http://www.garritan.com/mp3/StradivariLarge.mov
MPEG movie:
http://www.gpo-uploads.com/StradivariLarge.mpg