String playback note attack

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Bernard Kemp
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:20 am

String playback note attack

Post by Bernard Kemp »

I find the attack on the notes in the playback from MIDI of my piece for strings is too abrupt. Do you know of any way I can tone it down through the MIDI or SynthFont?
Bernard Kemp
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:20 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Bernard Kemp »

Whoa! I was a bit quick off the mark asking that! I have found control event 73 does the job. Pardon me.
Bernard Kemp
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:20 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Bernard Kemp »

Bugger! It doesn't - I was fooling myself. Any suggestions?
Admin
Site Admin
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Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:22 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Admin »

If this is an SSO instrument you can go in and edit the value in the SFZ file. The opcode is called "ampeg_attack". Here is a document you may want to read:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/173 ... ge_sfz.pdf
Bernard Kemp
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:20 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Bernard Kemp »

Thank you.
Bernard Kemp
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:20 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Bernard Kemp »

No, I want to be able to vary the instruments' attack on individual notes. As you would know, stringed instruments can "ease into" a note and this is the preferred way of playing, generally. However, on fast notes this isn't really possible or, indeed, desirable. In the playback of my latest piece for strings, which has many sequences of repeated short notes (staccato quavers, semiquavers), they come back as a series of rapid pulsations which is pretty unpleasant. In fact - and I know it is asking too much - each note should have, as well as a rapid attack, a quick scratchy sound at the start.

I think the MIDI control I mentioned, if implemented, would give me what I want.

Is there anything else you can suggest?
Bernard Kemp
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:20 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Bernard Kemp »

Now that I think a little more about it, I wonder if I can specify the value of the "attack rate" parameter ("ampeg_attack"?) as a function of the absolute length of the note (tempo times number of ticks), varying from zero for notes up to a certain length and then increasing proportionately up to the default full value for notes from a certain length and upwards.

The note decay rate should probably get the same treatment.

I will investigate but would be glad to read any suggestions you can make to help the process along.
Bernard Kemp
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:20 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Bernard Kemp »

I have found no input control which when added to the definitions in the .sfz file (under the group header) has any effect on the playback at all.
Admin
Site Admin
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Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:22 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Admin »

In order to have the attack time change on key value you need to create regions, one for each of the 128 keys or - for simplicity - group them together. There is a parameter (ampeg_vel2attack) which can be used to set the attack as a function of the velocity, but there isn't one for key (this would be ampeg_key2attack). Anyhow, ampeg_vel2attack is not implemented in SynthFont.

Using SoundFonts this problem can easily be solved by using modulators.
Bernard Kemp
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:20 am

Re: String playback note attack

Post by Bernard Kemp »

Are you saying that I would have to put the parameter in each of the regions rather than under the group heading as I did? Actually, I did put it in the region of the test pitch I was using, still to no effect.

I would rather vary attack times with note length rather than velocity. There are many .sfz parameters but I think I couldn't find one to do this.
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