Hello all,

I'm having issues accessing MIDI ports above 8, even though my preferences are set to 16. I'm using Pro Tools 2019.5 and the latest updated of VE Pro 6. Pro Tools AND VE Pro only show ports 1-8. Never had this issue before migrating to PT 2019. Compatibility issue perhaps?

Edit: When I launch VE Pro, I have all 16 ports available to me. But after I've connected the instances to Pro Tools, I "lose" ports 9-16.

Edit 2: Alright, I figured it out. Needed to specify the number of ports on the plugin itself as well in PT.

This could explain that... As I said, I've downgraded back to the old VI version in order not to lose too much time troubleshooting. If I get the chance, I'll reinstall the new VI and send you a crash log.

Thanks !

I've just made the switch to the newest version of VI/VE (NOT the Pro versions) and opened an older project in Pro Tools 9, but I quickly ran into problems and had numerous crashes. The program usually ran for a few minutes before crashing when either loading a new instrument or sometimes simply trying to open an instance of VI. This projects uses only VI (about 20-25 of them) and was running perfectly with the older VI, which was supposed to be heavier on processing.

I haven't done much more testing yet and I downgraded back to the previous VI version. Anyone else faced similar problems with the new versions of VI/VE?

(Im working on MacBook Pro w/ OSX 10.8 and 16 GB of RAM)

Cheers!

I kinda noticed a difference too. I opened an old, not-so-fine-tuned project and actually thought that it sounded better right off the bat, just because of the new VIs it seems. Perhaps these differences in parameter tuning helped improved the legato or quasi-legato passages in my case... can't say for sure, since I haven't pushed further the experiment.

Same issue here... I recenlty moved, so I need to change my shipping/billing address.

Hi,

Just did a small composition for demo purposes. I'm still learning how to use the VI properly, so I'd appreciate any comments and tips on programming, mixing, post prod details, etc!

The piece is called Winter Tales and uses the SE extended library.

www.vincentlpratte.com/audio/contesdhiver.mp3

Thanks for your time!

Hi,

I face the exact same problem trying to download a license for the SE Plus standard library. I've tried on both a PC and a Mac with the latest version of eLCC installed. Each time it takes a heck of a lot of time before it either says "download failed" or simply crashes. I also can't run a database update or I get the same error. I noticed once it said something like "could not connect to license server". Could it be that this license server is going through some technical issues at the moment?

Thanks,

Vincent

UPDATE: I tried over and over again and finally it worked. Nothing seems to have changed on my part, therefore it tends to confirm the thesis of a malfunction on the license server part.

I recently finished a new demo I intend to use for my portfolio. It's a piece freely inspired by Elfman's style, but with my own color in it too. I work with SE extended.

I'm still learning how to use the VSL patches and how to create realistic mixes, so any critics that could help me and improve my knowledge are more than welcome.

The piece is called Winter Waltz and is available here: http://www.vincentlpratte.com/demo/valsedhiver.html

Thanks!

Finally, here's the last piece I wrote for that video game. As its title suggests, it is meant to be played when your team attacks another, or something like that.

http://www.vincentlpratte.com/homeworld_-_attack.mp3

Thanks for listening!

Again, precious advices. Thanks for all.

Hi guys,

Thank you both for your comments, I can't stress enough how much I appreciate. I'll try to make to most out of them

I'm just wondering how could I make a passage more legato than it is, since I only have the standard legato patch to work with? And when you say there's too much tenuto, do you mean I should shorten the notes or use a shorter patch (e.i. staccato)? I think using staccato in such melodic passage would sound out of place, wouldn't it?

I've tried to blend in a few patches, for exemple full staccato with staccato/sustain (to keep the attack similar). But again, I don't have much choice in terms of variety of attacks. 

As for the velocity crossfade, I'm surprise you don't hear it that much because I use it all the time, especially in the more melodic passages. By the way, which method would you recommend: I use velocity crossfade coupled with the expression controller, but is it more efficient to have both working separately?

I see what you mean. Yet I did use a lot of staccato patches (and only staccato this time), especially for the sixteenth notes of the strings like you recommended before.

Here's my latest addition :

http://www.vincentlpratte.com/homeworld_-_theme.mp3

This is the main theme of the game. Again, any advice will be gladly taken! Thanks a lot!

Ok, I'll try that.

Thanks again.

Just uploaded a new version of the defense piece based on your advices.

http://www.vincentlpratte.com/homeworld_-_defense.mp3

Indeed I have staccato patches, but I thought they were too short. I haven't though of mixing them with detaché articulations though. I'll try that.

I've already done that. Strings are at around  -10db, woodwinds at more or less -14db and brass at -17db. Percussion have almost not dry signal. I also have extra reverb plug-ins for my brass and percussion tracks.

Thanks again for these valuable advices!

Hi guys,

I'm glad you took the time to listen and to make comments, I really appreciate.

I work with VSL SE, so I don't have much articulations to work with. I struggle especially with the short notes for the strings, because even the détaché patch takes too much time to develop than what I would have needed. Perhaps this is what made you think I only used sustain patches. Until I can get my hand on the SE+ package, I can't really do anything in that regard. Even when I shorten the attack time in the Patch Edit window, it doesn't really do much of a difference. Anything I'm missing there?

I do make use ot keyswitches, velocity crossfade (coupled with expression controller) and pre-send reverb exactly as you described. Do you still think all instruments sound like they are too close to the micrcophone? If so, what tips could you give me in order to improve my sound? Quickly, how would you level the different sends for a standard orchestra? By the way, I don't really like the reverb plug-in I use but I'm stuck with it because it's the only one I have. It's D-verb and it comes with Pro Tools. Too few options and the result sounds synthetic no matter what.

Hi guys,

I'd really like to get your views on these two pieces I made for a video game a friend of mine is working on. It's a massive multiplayer based on the Homeworld platform.

http://www.vincentlpratte.com/homeworld_-_neutral.mp3

http://www.vincentlpratte.com/homeworld_-_defense.mp3

"Neutral" is the normal music playing when nothing in particular is happening.

"Defense" is heard when your base is attacked by the ennemy.

Any advise on the music or the especially the post-pro will be gladly taken!

Thanks for listening!

Indeed. I just did that. Now it'll be up to him.

Thanks again.

Hi Cristian,

Thanks for the tip. I had thought of similar solutions before and, although it would improve the situation, a cross-fade would still be necessary for a smooth transition. I'm just not sure if it is possible for my friend to create one in his program. Still, I'll try to work my way around from there and see what I can come up with.

Another solution might be to do a very quick fade-out (a few milliseconds) at the end of my track, so that at least there won't be a click. The transition wouldn't be very subtle though, but it might be enough for our needs.

Hi guys,

I hope I can be clear enough so that you won't struggle too much to help me!

So my question to you guys, because I'm certain that some of you have faced similar situation, is how to you prep an audio file for looped playback? Is there a way to bypass the issue with the reverb?

Hi guys,

I just finished a new piece. It's actually the first one I write specifically for the VSL. It's called Romance d'automne (Autumn Romance) and it's a sort of romantic/tragic mood. Hope you enjoy it!

http://www.vincentlpratte.com/demo-romancedautomne.html

Here is a piece I wrote 2 years ago for a small concert band. Intrumentation includes 2 flutes, oboe, 2 Bb clarinets, Bb bass clarinet, bassoon Eb alto saxophone, Bb tenor sax, Eb Baryton Sax, Horn, 2 Bb trumpets, Trombone, Timpani and percussions.

It's called "Récits Héroïques" (Heroic Tales in French). I used sounds from VSL SE Extended Library.

Here's the link to the piece: http://www.vincentlpratte.com/demo-recitsheroiques.html

I'll gladly take any comments on the piece itself or the mixing with VSL!

I removed Contrapunctus from my website and instead replace it with a new, more complete, piece. This one is called Fugato In Memoria and was written in memory of my grandfather who died a few days ago. It was played at his funerals. The original version is for organ only, but I added a few baroque instruments in this one.

You can listen to the piece here : http://www.vincentlpratte.com/demo-inmemoria.html

Thank you all in advance for your comments!

Just worked a little on that second entry you talked about and the tritton. I think I've found a solution. First I've changed the last note on the first measure of the second entry for a natural B. Thus instead of hearing melodically a diminished chord, we hear a fourth fallowed by a minor second. Plus, instead of stopping on the A#, creating a reference point for the hear, I do a broderie to G#, thus changing the melodic contour of this passage to a minor 6th (E-G#) instead of a dimished 5th.

But since it's better hearing and seeing than talking, I've updated both the audio and PDF file so you can comment on those changes.