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BlueAttitude #483829 07/29/18 04:37 AM
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dcuny Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
With the midi guitar VSTi, do you compose the melody on a midi keyboard to make a midi file and then send it to the VSTi? (Sorry if that is a dumb question, I'm totally ignorant on midi stuff :))
It's not a dumb question!

I used my DAW, but only because I'm more comfortable using that MIDI editor, but I could just as easily done it all in BiaB.

I set up the VSTi in the DAW, assigned it to a MIDI channel, and then played my MIDI controller keyboard into my computer, recording the performance in my DAW. Afterwards, I edited the heck out of it. Exactly the same as it would work in BiaB.


With this instrument, various articulations (such as slides or hammer-ons) can be triggered via velocity or MIDI keys, which helps a lot with realism.

The Indiginus instruments are pretty cheap, but require a full version of Kontakt. I happened to be eligible for up upgrade during their sale the other month, but prior to that I'd been running it in the Kontakt player, which meant reloading it every 15 minutes when the demo mode expired.

I picked up some different guitar VSTis during Orange Tree Sample's annual group buy, which got down to a 60% discount. I ended up "saving" a bit too much money, if you get my drift. grin

Note - VSTis looks pretty stupid, doesn't it? But I can't bring myself to write VSTi's, because that's just wrong. wink

The OTS instruments are more expensive because they run in the free Kontakt player, and automatically figure out what articulation via clever scripting. For example, if you hold down a note and then play a nearby note, it'll automatically slide to that note, or a hammer-on if the note velocity is fast enough. The articulations can also be triggered by velocity or MIDI keys, or even a controller.

Unfortunately, the scripting is a bit too clever for me, so I haven't got the hang of them yet. In the right hands, they can sound very convincing.

Fortunately, BiaB already does most of what I need, but it's always nice to have another tool in your arsenal. Plus, they're fun to play! laugh

Last edited by dcuny; 07/29/18 10:11 AM. Reason: Fixed missing space, comment on VSTis.

-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
dcuny #483830 07/29/18 04:54 AM
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David..I think this is a real good backdrop for you to pop in a lyrical thought when the right one comes along. I really like the overall feel, and the 'arrangement' is fine for now--if it were me, I would just set it aside...I'd be 100% confident that, with the concept stuck in my mind, I'd encounter an "a-ha!" moment that would lead me to a solid lyrical storyline. I also like the half-step/diminished thingee that you used--takes the listener temporarily out of a comfortable/familiar set of changes for this style of music...that's good!

Try the godfather of psalmody...maybe he's got some stuff you can use!


Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
Tano Music #483841 07/29/18 06:47 AM
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dcuny Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: Tano Music
David..I think this is a real good backdrop for you to pop in a lyrical thought when the right one comes along.

Thanks! I think I was unclear actually got an entirely different backing track I've been struggling with. This is entirely built just to play around with the MIDI guitar, and practice mixing.

I'm going to call this done, and move on. smile

In retrospect, the other thing this song showed me was that I focused too much to writing something that stayed in a narrow vocal range, instead of really taking advantage of the guitar's unique capabilities. In the future, I'll try to focus on being more idiomatic to the instrument.

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it!

As for Mr. Watts, he's got plenty of excellent people who have set his stuff (yourself included). But thanks for the suggestion.


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
dcuny #483855 07/29/18 07:59 AM
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David,

I really enjoyed the feeling of this instrumental- its fine as is, but I hope that feeling leads to words one day!
Very interesting lead guitar ( and explanation of how you created it).

Robert

dcuny #483914 07/29/18 07:52 PM
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Hello, David

I think your aiming for a sort of "Ventures" sound without the surf is successfully done.
I loved the Ventures very much in my childhood.
And I remember the Ventures used dim7 chords sometimes.

I also often use dim7 chords in my songs.
But I just use them very carefully because they are not so often used in the pops of the present era.

I think that it was very difficult to make a natural guitar sound with MIDI guitar.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

dcuny #483946 07/30/18 03:45 AM
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Nice work on this, David smile I saw some people criticizing it for being too heavily layered, but I personally liked it. It gave it a lush sort of feeling, to me personally. It's got a great groove too, and the RealTracks selection is superb. Each instrument compliments the other wonderfully.

Great job, and thanks for sharing!

Last edited by Deryk - PG Music; 07/30/18 03:45 AM.

Cheers,
Deryk
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