Better patches and better synths rule.

I have one module that varies the attack on the bass according to velocity. I don't know how many samples are used, and how much crossfade is used between them, but when playing loud you even can hear the wood rattle.

I have a snare patch that with velocities over 120 you can hear the stick hit the rim as well as the head.

My Physical Modeling synth plays like a real instrument with an uncountable number of attacks depending on the MIDI controllers and velocity applied. I can even get the sax to go "fwa-da" or the trumpet to do 'lip slurs'.

The best synths will recognize all 128 continuous controllers, the lousy synths will only recognize a few. Most are somewhere in between.

As a rule, better synths also have better sounding patches, but in my limited experience, not one synth has all the best ones. The guitar on one might be better and the sax will be better on another.

But learning how to use the continuous controllers is mandatory if you want to make good sounding MIDI files. Take it step by step, experiment with one at a time, research it on the web. Eventually they become second nature and the music just comes out better. Learning MIDI is like learning an instrument. And learning what each patch will do is also like learning an instrument without having to learn the fingering.

It's a little late and I feel I might be rambling a bit. I hope this comes through understandably.

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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