Some Mock Up Tips (Post #2)

Use of proper articulations (and common misuses)

A) Legato patches - there are two types of legato patches: the old kind, which was basically a slow attack and a slow release and was virtually pointless and the new kind perfected by VSL. These legatos allow for fast runs as well as connected and seemingly phrased contrapuntal lines. Many other libraries have tried to emulate this technology. Often by cutting of the front of the notes and inserting some kind of legato sound algorithm. These are inferior but can work better than a regular sustain patch at least. A common misuse related to legato is using a staccato patch (only) for fast material. Staccato patches are fine if used in conjunction with legato patches but used by themselves to play fast material (such as runs) they quickly reveal an unacceptable level of synthyness. The problem is finding a patch that has enough pitch on attack - VSL's performance legatos are the key to overcoming this problem. Another tip is when switching back and forth between legatos and staccatos on the same instrument dove the two patches on the changeover and make sure there isn't a noticable patch change.

Advanced Tip for VSL Users: Use other secret legatos from VSL - they really aren't secret but I know of very few people who use these excellent samples:

1. Performance legato grace notes - the Woodwinds are sampled up to a full octave on these and are superb for flourishes and other legato lines (try it out with the flute at least!) The release on pro edition is only 4 seconds and I am not sure about what they are called in the new CUBE which I have not had much of a chance to play with but I am sure they are looped in the cube which makes them even more usable.

2. Performance Trills for fast arpeggios - The performance trills are an excellent improvement over legatos in that each interval was sampled 4-8 times - so you can do trills, fingered tremolos and arpeggios up to an interval of a third without something similar to the machine gun effect happening.

Common Mistake of the week:

Writing TO a Drum Loop

Common mistake - don't do it. Write your music first then program the drums. If you need to use a loop fine but write the music FIRST.