Do y'all layer articulations?

[SJSF]

Sust + Trem = great for xfade

Legato + Spic = marcato attack

 

This is all I ever do. Anyone have any other useful suggestions?

 

-Sean

[stephen limbaugh]

For my non-synchron instrument...

I have a primary matrix and a secondary one for very particular musical instances where I need to craft something together.

In that secondary matrix, I'll make some xfade stuff, some time stretch stuff, and triggers for the APP sequencer... all depends on what is happening musically.

I find myself frequently using some of the APP presets for arpeggiated string chords... VSL has already done the orchestration and programming work so when you need a violin e minor chord arpeggio wash in 16th triplets, they'll have it so the bottom note is that open G, then E... etc.  Those chords are a mix of articulations (port, leg, perf trill, etc) based on the real player's behavior.

I've made a slow trem to fast trem xfade before... also a sFFz to trem...

I've also altered a layered articulation to emulate a nice german downbeat (see Egmont overture, or the opening of Schumann's 4th symphony) where the "attack" setting in one half of the layered articulation is turned up... it allows the mid-high register instruments to bloom into the peak of the slower responding instruments, like double basses, tubas, etc.

[PaoloT]

Staccato + Sustain is something I do often with SE instruments (where a real Marcato articulation is missing).

Other layering I do often is Sustain + Sul Pont or Sul Tasto, two xfade movements I do frequently in my pieces.

In sort of my own Inspiration Presets, I also use layering for adding instruments, like some contrabass or piccolo reinforcements.

Paolo

[johnstaf]

Layering like this is great for Dimension Strings. It’s a lot of work, so it’s really a matter of finding an efficient way of working.