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  • VSL Expression Maps for Cubase 5.0.1 and higher (UPDATE)

    VST Expression is a new technology, that was introduced by Steinberg for Cubase 5. It enables automatic key switching and other MIDI control data according to articulation changes.
    Cubase 5.0.1 introduced the possibility of sending MIDI Control Changes with VST Expression, which is necessary to integrate your Vienna  Instruments Collections.

    You will find VSL Expression Maps in your User Area under DVD Overview/Needful Things/Cubase Expression Maps
    http://vsl.co.at/en/68/141/460/1602/1288.htm

    Currently we offer the following Expression Map packages:
    - Special Edition
    - Special Edition PLUS
    - DVD Woodwinds + Brass (for users of the following collections: Woodwinds I+II, Brass I+II, Special Woodwinds, Special Brass, Saxophones)
    - Download Wind Instruments

    Edit (24.6.2009): The VST Expression Maps for our String collections are now also available for download.

    They can be used with the following products:
    Solo Strings I + II
    Chamber Strings I + II
    Orchestral Strings I + II
    Appassionata Strings I + II

    Note for users who have already worked with the other VST Expression Maps provided on this site: Although the date has changed, the content has not. The only difference is the layout of the readme file. That was impoved. So there is no need to download these Expression Maps again.

    Have fun,
    Andi


    Vienna Symphonic Library
  • Cool, thanks.


  • Wow!! This might even make me make the jump to cubase!!! Are you planning on adding strings, esp appasonate strings? I think that just might sway me!   


  • Hi Simsy,

    we are working on Expression Maps for strings, they will be released as soon as possible!

    Best,

    Paul


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • Whar exactly would be the advantage of VST Expression? As I understand it, it makes chages in notation audible, e.g. tremolo. To be honest: that doesn't really impress me. Is there more to it?

    Fritz.


  •  Hello Fritz,

    if I understand it right it avoids that in the notation mode of a sequenzer like Cubase or Logic also keyswitches are displayed as notes. Maybe it´s generally more ergonomic to work with this feature.

    Since I compose with Finale and have the notation in a perfect way before transferring the MIDI-Files to Cubase I also wonder if it´s really a big advantage or sooner just a nice gimmick. But for all users who compose directly with the sequencer it´s a great feature.

    Best, Rainer


  • Hello Fritz!

    Even if you are not interested in notation, you can take advantage of the Expression Maps. For example in the Key-Editor you can choose the articulations by their names and you don't have to type in or record MIDI Control Changes or key switches.

    Best,
    Andi


    Vienna Symphonic Library
  • Awesome!  I was hoping this would come.  I just quickly tried it out for SE and at first glance it looks great! (And I'm looking forward to the mapping for the App. Strings I.)

    For people wondering what the point is, for me, it looks like it will let me:

      a) enter articulations in english (either on a per-note basis, e.g. note accents, or as a musical direction, e.g. play portato until further notice), rather than doing the map in my mind to matrix selection + matrix row selection + matrix column selection + a-b selection (for each instrument, which may have a different mapping!), and

      b) move a part from one instrument to another without having to redo the (up to) 4 dimensional selection of a VI cell (matrix, row, column, a-b). (Of course, one still should be aware of the kinds of patches supported by each instrument) and

      c) unexpected but possibly interesting: have support for midi articulations: increase velocity (accent), shorten/lengthen note (staccato staccatissimo), etc.  I saw VSL put some of these in their map.  Perhaps one could also do other technical tweaks to VSL to do things like turn Attack & Release up and down, or tweak the filter or crossfader.

    And I can do this in a lane in the in-place editor, where I mostly work, which is great (or without it, I can still at least edit the per-note attributes in the event bar).   It takes up some screen space in order to expand the articulations controller lane to be readable, but on the other hand I save the space for lanes I'd otherwise need to manage 2-3 CC lanes for row/column/a-b along with the mental anguish of things like making sure my controller value goes from the 58-64 range down to 0-12 and back again etc., and that the CC events match the timing of notes & parts.  I'm new to Cubase/VSL and the world of composing and maybe I'm missing things (like I'm wondering if keyswitches are easier to manage than CC's), but if I spend less time fiddling with CC's and keyswitches, I think that qualifies as being more valuable than a gimmick to me.  (Like Rainer said, a great feature for composing into the sequencer.)

     (I don't have any use at the moment for scoring/notation, although it is nice that the articulations are integrated should that change.)

    It looks like the Cubase 5.0.1 patch added the ability to control extra controllers, which is great! (Maybe VSL gave Steinberg a nudge? :) )  I don't know yet if there is a way for Cubase to do all this at once (or if it's needed): set the matrix selector keyswitch (maybe the CC101-112 could be used instead), set the Matrix row keyswitch, set the matrix column controller, and set an A-B keyswitch or controller.  From the docs it sounds like it since now it supports 2 keyswitches plus 2 controllers?

    Thanks Andi and VSL for putting these expression maps together!

    Jared


  • Hello everyone!

    I feel bad asking since you all look so enthousiastic but I don't understand how it works. There is no tutorial given with these templates and I feel like my girlfriend playing with videogames! (sorry about that darling...)

    I have a Master PC with Cubase 5.0.1 and I use VE3.
    On the slave PC I have loaded the flute preset
    On the Daw PC, I've opened a Midi Track linked to channel 1 of the VE3 VST interface.
    Now I load the template from VSL for High winds.

    It works when I use the keyswitch but what about writing the music using the score edit and adding the artoculations directly on the score? When I do so, nothing happen. Then I go to the key edit and the articulations are well implemented but nothing happens although it should...

    Could you make a tutorial? It would be BIG help for people like me :))))


  •  Hi.

            As Ramu said most of us looking for tutorial..

    Shakuman.


  • Hi all,

    a video is in the works, should be ready next week [:)]

    Best,

    Paul


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • What can I say but : you're the best!

    Looking forward to this!


  •  As usual Paul best support..

    Shakuman.


  • I'm assuming this does not work with Logic?


  • VST Expression only works with Cubase 5 currently.

    Andi


    Vienna Symphonic Library
  • We now have a tutorial video for VST Expression and Vienna Instruments online. Check it out at the following location:

    http://vsl.co.at/en/68/141/1524/274/1245.vsl

    Best,

    Andi


    Vienna Symphonic Library
  • VST Expression will never work with Logic, because Logic can't run VSTs. I also doubt that Apple would want to implement technology invented by another developer, without calling it something else, making sure it's not compatible with other sequencers and then pretending that they invented it first. [;)]

    DG


  • Hmm! I've been using logic for years, should I switch to Cubase for this? Is it worth it? Any other options?


  • last edited
    last edited

    @Guy said:

    Hmm! I've been using logic for years, should I switch to Cubase for this? Is it worth it? Any other options?

    There are many reasons to consider a switch to Cubase, but I don't think that this is one of them.

    DG


  • hello,

    I tryied with trombone SE + it seems it encounter some problems that i didn't encountered with trombone SE map,on the bass notes , as well as bass trombone and tuba SE + ....