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  • Controlling attack with velocity

    Hi,

    I would like to control the attack rate of a sound with velocity. Play softer, and the attack is slower; play harder, and you get a faster attack. This is as it happens with real instruments.

    The problems is that attack control through velocity acts in reverse in VI. Higher velocity values produce a slower attack.

    Is there a way to make the controls work in reverse?

    Paolo


  • Well, I think I found a solution. It was there, but I'm a bit slow…

    Go to the Advanced page, then choose the Control Map pane. There, you can find the Master Attack control. Assign it the Velocity source, and select the Invert checkbox. Edit the curve at will.

    Now, playing softly makes the sound's attack play slower, playing harder makes it faster.

    If you are controlling the Velocity XFade with a continuous controller (I use the ModWheel), and it is sending a high volume value, when you play soft the sound's volume takes longer to reach the maximum level.

    However, it seems that assigning the attack control to a continuous controller is a better choice. Fine-tuning the attack can be done after recording, and a continuous controller is more precise than velocity.

    Paolo


  • Thanks for sharing your thoughts on attack. This is something I had not experimented with to date. 


  • Paul, I find that varying the attack and release rates is a great way to add realism. It's great to be able to do it in VSL. I'm adding these controls to all my presets, letting standard MIDI controls (CC#73 for Attack and CC#72 for Release) change their values. In the end, I'm fine-editing these details in post-pro, after having entered rough notes. I suspect that editing layers is a more precise way of working, with VSL, than recording a live performance.

    Paolo


  • That method you mention can be used to artificially alter the attack rate, however it is not true that higher velocities create a slower attack by default. In the default settings there is no effect at all on attack by velocity.   Note-on velocity is used only to trigger volume (amplitude) and switch between velocity layers.  The attacks are affected mainly by the way the original sample was played - softer dynamics are usually slower attacks. So in default settings you are hearing the original recording, not an alteration of it.  


  • William, I'm sorry if I was not clear. Yes, I intended the real behaviour of a real instrument, where usually a softer attack ("natural velocity rate", may we say?) also means a longer attack time. By default, by contrast, VSL instruments use velocity to control the selected layer and its volume.

    My goal is to enphasize the natural attack time recorded in the samples, by adding some control with the Attack parameter. While this may not be natural attack, but an artificial envelope, I find that moderate use of it can sound very realistic.

    Paolo