Manybass - how does it avoid the machine gun effect?

[chagzuki]

If I buy manybass I'd be using the picked and palm muted articulations & I'd like to know if there's any sample swapping or other technology to avoid the attack from sounding fake, especially on fast picking sections?

Plus, how does alternate picking work? Can you simply switch it on for constant up/down alternation?

[manytone]

Hi

I'll quote Greg from a thread on page 2 of our forum about ManyBass.

I just listened through the ManyBass demos - JEEZ!
I can't believe how good it sounds!
I only have one question:
Does ManyBass use alternating/'round robin' samples to avoid the 'machine gun' effect?
If so I'll order it today - I'm totally sold!
Great work guys!

You have a separate, full range of staccato notes sampled in every soundset that you can cycle between to avoid the machine gun effect, since when playing fast notes is when the machine gun effect becomes noticeable. You have multiple velocity layers in all the note ranges, so that's there, too.

Check out the rock/metal ManyBass demo to hear how the machine gun effect is avoided: http://www.manytone.com/music/manybassdemo3.mp3

The cycling is not automatic though. The whole range of staccato notes are in the upper end of the keyboard. This actually works very well as then when you are sequencing you can hammer on the 2 notes on 2 different keys on your controller keyboard, instead of the same note. It makes it very easy to play fast pieces.
Also tweaking the velocity of the lower range full notes, will add to the effect.

You can also switch out any of the soundsets with others and all the mappings will be the same.

BaldByChoice (Quoted above) ended up buying it and in other posts I believe he said he Loves it.
Thanks
Paul

[chagzuki]

I can see the advantage of that system, though in many situations it'd be great to be able to not have to program to achieve humanisation. Do you have any plans to add automatic alternating picking? Or perhaps there are existing midiFX plugins that could automate this.

"You have a separate, full range of staccato notes sampled in every soundset that you can cycle between to avoid the machine gun effect," - I'm not sure what this means in terms of programming. You have to add controller data for every note?

[manytone]

Hi
ManyBass could see some cool automating additions in the future. We'll just have to see though exactly where future development takes us.

About your second question where you asked:

"You have a separate, full range of staccato notes sampled in every soundset that you can cycle between to avoid the machine gun effect," - I'm not sure what this means in terms of programming. You have to add controller data for every note?

Well if you are not using a keyboard and programming in the "notes" by hand, then just entering the notes is all that is needed. There is no extra controller data. In fact you could program your notes all on the full range of the sounds, and then just drag a few notes up to the staccato range (in your piano roll or sequencing environment) to make slight variations. (the staccato notes are up higher on the key range of the 127 midi notes). With a keyboard controller you obviously can just play them with no controller data msgs other than note on.

You can set up Keyswitches though that will further allow you to cycle through the different soundsets. (Pick, Tap Slap etc.) These can be set up via midi note or by controller msgs.

Does this answer what you need to know?
Paul

[chagzuki]

Yes, thanks. I'm going to have a look for a midi plugin that can automate alternating picking.

[Gregjazz]

Yes, thanks. I'm going to have a look for a midi plugin that can automate alternating picking.

What I was considering doing is creating pre-made MIDI snippets for use with Sonar's brush palette capability, for example. That way you have a pre-sequenced assortment of alternating picking, slides, and other such effects.

[manytone]

Yes, thanks. I'm going to have a look for a midi plugin that can automate alternating picking.

What I was considering doing is creating pre-made MIDI snippets for use with Sonar's brush palette capability, for example. That way you have a pre-sequenced assortment of alternating picking, slides, and other such effects.

Hi Guys
First for anybody that is reading this thread and does not know... Gregjazz (quoted above) created ManyBass with us here at Manytone.

These midi files he mentions above would also have the ability to load in any host that you use ManyBass in. You could then transpose them to any pitch and edit as needed. The mention of Sonar's brush palette only adds to the simplicity for Sonar users. (Which by coincidence, Greg and I both use as our main sequencers, so this Brush Palette idea should make sense to Sonar users.)

I think this is a very nice idea for a project here for Greg and I. That said, there may be other options in the future development of ManyBass also. But that would perhaps be more longer term.

We try our best to please and definitely put our best effort into making a usable, great sounding product here.
That's what product development is all about and it really helps to hear from the users or potential users, ideas of what they want.
Thanks
Paul