Virtual Playing Orchestra - official release

[Paul Battersby]

(02-11-2017, 05:59 PM)kneedeep Wrote: you commented on my blog a while ago and I never got back to you. I really like your sample library. Like I said, some things such as the trombones sounded a bit synthy to my taste. I probably wasn't very diplomatic in my blog post - I'm German. People here tend to be somewhat blunt.

I thought your blog post was fine. I'm glad I read it because I realize you're right about the trombones and there is an easy fix.

(02-11-2017, 05:59 PM)kneedeep Wrote: I was recently thinking that something like a multi-drum sample (Godzilla hits or whatever it's called) would be nice to have for those slightly more epic parts.

After I'm done revising what I already have, I may consider a few things as separate downloads, but no promises. I want to get back to making music and less time messing with samples for a while.

[Michael Willis]

(02-11-2017, 05:59 PM)kneedeep Wrote: Michael: I use Linux, but so far simply use Reaper and Windows plugs under Wine. Is Ardour ready for primetime by now?

I think it depends on what you're doing. I'm not familiar with Reaper's features, so it may still be the best thing for you.

As a Linux user, here are some nice things about Ardour:

• It's native, so it doesn't require WINE.
  
• It fully integrates with Jack, and thus you can route in and out of other JACK-compatible apps, like Guitarix, Bristol, Rakkarack, and many many more.
  
• It can use plugins available on Linux: LADSPA, LV2, and Linux VST.
  
• Using a combination of carla-rack, carla-win32-bridge, and carla-win64-bridge, it can also use Windows VST plugins.
  

I've tried a number of midi sequencers on Linux, and oddly enough I've found that I'm the most happy with Ardour, which specializes in audio and purportedly only supports midi as an incidental side feature.

[kneedeep]

Interesting. Thanks Michael, I may take another look at Ardour.

[peastman]

Quote:I might go back and loop all the samples (that would be version 2.0)

Let me add a big vote for doing that.  Realism is good, but right now a lot of the samples are unrealistically short.  With the horns and trumpets especially, they often aren't long enough to get through a single measure.

[Paul Battersby]

(02-20-2017, 11:30 PM)peastman Wrote:

Quote:I might go back and loop all the samples (that would be version 2.0)

Let me add a big vote for doing that.  Realism is good, but right now a lot of the samples are unrealistically short.  With the horns and trumpets especially, they often aren't long enough to get through a single measure.

I've just recently completed looping all the sustain samples. Been working on it since about Xmas time. I have a completed 2.0 version that I'm testing now.

[bigcat1969]

Awesome I love me some looping (and am terrible at doing it)! Grats on a massive project.

[Paul Battersby]

(02-21-2017, 06:27 PM)bigcat1969 Wrote: Awesome I love me some looping (and am terrible at doing it)! Grats on a massive project.

I've developed a few tricks to loop some very challenging samples but looping samples has been so tedious! I'm glad it's all finally done.

[peastman]

That will be awesome!

[Samulis]

Congrats Paul! You deserve a drink for that... or 100!

[Paul Battersby]

Can open .... worms everywhere.    

In other words I just opened a can of worms, (if you're familiar with the expression) as result of learning something new about sfz opcodes.

I just learned how to use sfz opcodes to get actual expression control, to adjust the timbre of a note while it's being held. Previously, I thought that with .sfz, only note velocity could be used to select which sample would play. Specifically with my brass patches with 2 velocity layers,  a light touch would play the low, soft samples, hitting the keys harder would play the louder, bright, more brassy samples although I did cross fade the velocities to try to avoid a harsh threshold from one velocity layer to another. But, if I wanted to do a volume swell, it wouldn't sound very realistic because the timbre wouldn't change with the volume. BUT NOW, using CC controlled cross fading, I can have truly expressive sustain notes. I've tested it and I like the way it sounds.

Knowing what I do now, I'm going to have to include this in Virtual Playing Orchestra, 2.0 as an option. The can of worms is open, I'm deep in the rabbit hole now.