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  • Controlling Pitch Bend with a CC

    Hi,

    I need to control pitch bend with a CC, instead of the Pitch Bend message. In Vienna Instruments Pro this is possible by assigning to the Pitch Bend parameter any other controller.

    I can't find how to do this in Synchron Player. Is this possible? If not, may I file it as a feature request?

    Paolo


  • Please let me add a note on why this feature would be important for me.

    When composing, I using extensively microtones. This is an area unfortunately only half-backed in the sampling world. The uses I do of it are:

    - Sub-semitone scale division, in particular for pieces of the Spectral school and from other microtones-based styles (for example, music inspired to Partch).

    - Music based on systems different than the modern Western tuning; even the inclusion of some instruments from European folk traditions would require deviation from Equal Tuning.

    - Ancient music, up to Mozart and his preference for 1/6 comma-meantone.

    - Realistic reproduction of wind instruments, with their continual pitch adjustment in chords.

    There are several different systems to deal with tuning, and none of them compatible with the other. Steinberg insists on VST Detune controls; Logic uses MIDI Tuning Standard for his Hermode Tuning control; Vienna Instruments Pro expects pitch bend messages.

    Dorico can send VST Detune messages, and NotePerformer and HALion can understand them. VSL players can't. So, I try to use pitch bend to laboriously control microtuning.

    Dorico can use indications (playing techniques) in the score to send MIDI message bundles. This makes it easy to adjust tuning without going into the MIDI data. These bundles can't include pitch bend, but can include any CC message. With Vienna Ensemble, one can therefore replace Pitch Bend with, say, CC102 as the MIDI message controlling pitch deviation. This doesn't however appear to be possible with Synchron Player.

    This is the reason why I would like this feature to be added to Synchron Player.

    Paolo


  • Hi Paolo, 

    You can add the Pitch Bend in the CONTROL Page and then assign any controller you like. 

    Best, 
    Paul

    Image


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • Hi Paul, but isn't this the parameter controlling the maximum range of the Pitch Bend command? What I’m looking for is not how much the Pitch Bend command will change the pitch when pushed to 100% of its value, but the Pitch Bend command itself. Despite the name (Pitch Bend Range), is this the equivalent of moving the Pitch Bend wheel/lever?

    Paolo


  • Hi Paolo, 

    writing from my cellphone now, so I can't test. 

    But what speaks against giving that a quick try?

    Best, 
    Paul


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • Paul, I can confirm that the Pitch Bend Range parameter controls exactly what its name says: the pitch bend range. The parameter with the same name on the right side of the Perform page is changed accordingly.

    So, I would like to file a feature request to make Pitch Bend freely assignable as well (as is in Vienna Instruments Pro).

    Paolo

    Image


  • Hi,

    It's now on the wishlist. 

    Best, 
    Paul


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • Paul, thank you!

    Paolo


  • Paul, I see this was not included in the latest version of the player. Not to insist, but just to keep this topic alive and emphasize how relevant it can be for accurate virtualization.

    Paolo


  • Paolo, while you're waiting for this wish-list item to be implemented, I guess you already know about the CC-assignable Tuning (Master Concert Pitch) parameter in Synchron Player?

    I'd agree that using MIDI CC-controlled Pitchbend in both VI Pro and Synchron Players would be handy for you, but wouldn't (Master Concert Pitch) Tuning in Synchron Player provide a workaround for you for now? 

    Master Concert Pitch (labelled as "Tuning" in the parameter list in the perform tab) gives a range of about +77c to -81c: i.e. not only adequate range but also slightly better precision than the ± 100c Pitchbend range when assigned to a 7-bit MIDI CC (given that different MIDI CC scaling is used for each of course); in practice that's not too bad.

    Just a thought.


  • last edited
    last edited

    @Macker said:

    Paolo, while you're waiting for this wish-list item to be implemented, I guess you already know about the CC-assignable Tuning (Master Concert Pitch) parameter in Synchron Player?

    That's an interesting idea, thank you! While it may appear less related to local pitch adjusting, and more a general parameters, it is true that what I'm looking the instruments to do is this: retuning!

    It would become a bit less handy when using a master tuning other than the standard one, but if this is not the case, it can work!

    Paolo


  • Since a new release of the Player is out, and this feature is not included, I'll beg to ask for it again. Dorico 4 will not be out for a long time, and the only opportunity to create techniques for natural tuning of winds is the inclusion of a control of the Pitch Bend via CC.

    Paolo


  • Hi Paolo, 

    We will do our best to fit it in with one of the next udpates. 

    Best, 
    Paul


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • Thank you very much Paul, that would be great, and open new perspectives in realism!

    Paolo


  • Hi,

    Since you are probably working to a new version of Synchron Player for the next new libraries, just a quick note to push on this feature. It would be great for everyone dealing with any type of microtuning.

    Paolo


  • I also want this feature request added :)