Key switches VS Articulations - Sample Libraries

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[@andybullemor-music5928]

Whenever I'm feeling a bit lost and wondering if I should give up trying to be a composer I find a video from Guy that inspires me and gives me renewed enthusiasm! Thanks Guy!

[@ComposingGloves]

If you use the BRSO articulate plug-in you can control them via midi channel, allowing you to use all the articulations on one midi channel via color. So one instance can provide each articulation saving memory, cpu and its way easier to compose with. It was made by Blake Robinson, the guy who does the gui's for spitfire. Once you try it, you will never want to go back.

[@bmlu1832]

Yes.BRSO Articulate is the best way to use articulations.But i guess BRSO Articulate is just for FL Studio and reaper.

[@EndlessEndlesss]

Awesome!

[@wizendweaver]

It's available for cubase? I only saw it in FL Studio.

[@daniella11287]

This video is SO helpful! Bonus, he has a bit of humor tossed in to make things less "boring". Very grateful for this channel!

[@lando2051]

I don't know if you already know this but you can Batch Re-save in Kontakt. Instruments will load up instantly after that. Especially useful for really huge sample libraries. Cheers! :)

[@MichaelSmith-on1ig]

Literally the first thing that came to my mind

[@Pauluz_The_Web_Gnome]

Not all instruments

[@improbox8595]

If you don t need it a lot, another idea is to record everything with the same articulation, then set tempo to very slow and "add"record the keyswitches. maybe this helps s.o. Thanks for the video 👍 and many greetings.

[@BarrieT]

This has been a great help, as my small studio is too crowded with an 88 key controller and this makes key switching, without dropping octaves, impossible on smaller keyboards. many thanks :)

[@AyJayOlly]

Another tip to consider is if you have a MIDI keyboard with split or zone functions, depending on the range of the keyboard you could split the keyboard so that the lower range is MIDI Channel 1 and the upper range is MIDI Channel 2 and then play two articulations at the same time, maybe even split to 3 or 4 MIDI channels with full range keyboards :)

[@charliemcgrain]

Such an absoluite gentleman. A joy to spend time in this man's company and always tons of things to learn and be inspired by. Well done Guy, top Guy.

[@christiaanbezuidenhout6984]

3:54 You can change Midi channels faster for each channel. Right between the monitor button and the Automation Read enable buttons.

[@LeapingDodo]

Probably worth mentioning expression maps in this conversation. Bigger set up but smoother in the end

[@Bring_MeSunshine]

All really useful to me, including the comments, as I',m moving into libraries proper for the first time. It also answers a question I asked on another of your videos about whythere were always the little segments of track at the beginnings of each

[@7StarsDog]

Thanks Guy for all your great videos - they are really helping me get over the various technical hurdles of writing music.

[@Pravdaband]

You sir, are the Dali Llama of compositional and technical knowledge. And a Saint for sharing this with the rest of us! Most ppl play their knowledge close to the vest

[@euriggwilym1029]

When using Key switching you could use a separate track for the KS midi data

[@guym1428]

I do that all the time and that is a really excellent idea I should have mentioned. Makes it a lot easier to edit and transpose.

[@karayuschij]

The way I do :)

[@StratsRUs]

That's the most obvious and fun one

[@yigitalpdikmen331]

Thanks Mr. Michelmore, using built-in multiple articulated patches with layered / bus tracks is really good idea. As you said, Keyswitching is a bit of trouble sometimes. Also loading same patch more than one but memory is still the same, because of shared same sample pool, is nice feature.

[@JoshuaHults]

You are my new bestest friend evers of bestest evers

[@DRUMAdam91]

This is so helpful, no wonder I'm using so much RAM all the time! Guess I'll have to remake my template

[@ridgero]

Wouldn't it be way easier to just load only one single articulation per track? I do it one by one and I don't need to play a certain keyswitch at the beginning of the track, because I only load the articulations I need.

[@VIRGILSEGALMUSIC]

I found that useful. Thank you for your well-articulated video

[@ericclement1598]

this changed the game for me lol THANK YOU 🎉

[@CreatorsMediaTools]

I truly love all of your videos and always look forward to your new content. Thanks so much!

[@MartinJG100]

Yes. Midi track selection per your example is better in my view. The other way is to use the channels within each midi track which is less cluttered but not as easy to work with on the fly and all the articulations feel a bit buried. It's the mucking about that gets on our wotsits. PS - Just discovered your channel and working my way through it. Really enjoyable.

[@dainty1dainty]

Well done & thanks for this! Since my Cubase-version doesn't support expression mapping, this would be the best solution.

[@redguitar6062]

Another Eureka moment! I watch and watch and watch. Here, there, everywhere. Information piles up. Ideas abound. Guitars out the old wazzoo. Keyboard, Logic, Monitors, DT700 Pro cans. S61 mkII on its way. Kontakt in the offing. I've been "composing" for years. What the hell is stopping me? A combination of age and a lack of contacts I suppose. Heeeeeeeelp 🤣

[@warrenography]

I'm back again, for a refresher!!!

[@RayMurray]

watching this video relieved my constipation. I'm a happy and proud subscriber. Thank you Master :)

[@igorsenayoutube]

Thank you very much for this =) Your channel is absolutely awesome: great content and humour. What´s not to like? Been struggling on which method to use(keyswitch vs articulation) and this is the best of both worlds. BRSO articulate might also be a great option, i just don´t like to handle colors in FL Studio. Will take a further look into it and see which method is the best.

[@schlonzschuppe4516]

that was just another master advice sir. great to learn from the best.

[@UsernameInvalid48]

Great video. It's also possible if you want to combine the methods and use it in real time and have a midi controller arm/disarm tracks on the fly (aka change articulations). Of course you will be limited to one handed playing on the keys which is a drawback.

[@paultuck558]

Best channel ever.

[@joseperez5580]

Thank you for this tutorial video. You make everything sound so easy! Currently I'm working with Session Horns Pro and Sibelius. I'm searching on how to make my sounds more realistic with the most effective ornaments and articulations. Do you have a tutorial video on how to achieve these ideas across? If there is one, I would most definitely love to see that.

[@LawrenceBall]

useful in helping me understand key switching, thanks Guy

[@DJKLProductions]

I just seperate long and short articulation. Within these categories I use keyswitches but with Cubase's expression maps, so, that I don't have annoying keyswitch midi notes in my clips.

[@paulorego9334]

I never knew Kontakt did that @3:30 thanks for the tip!

[@jdmichaels4996]

That was so wonderful. Thank you thank you!

[@jasonmeyermusic5639]

Thanx Mr Think, entertaining and very educative!!!!

[@warrenography]

Thanks, I was wondering precisely how to do that!

[@ChrisJones-tq2gv]

Thanks Guy! This is easy and immediate! Power in simplicity-i'm off to play now!!

[@guym1428]

I think you can make this stuff too complicated when we should be concentrating on writing great music. Thanks for the support!

[@Dave-nm8uk]

Hi Guy. I'm not sure if this is the best place to put this comment - you have so many videos now. You have done a lot with sample libraries in different contexts, but mostly they have been with instruments. I have wondered about voices and choirs. There are a few virtual "instruments" which do choirs, such as EastWest Symphonic Choir and Requiem Light, plus no doubt many more. You can find details of some if you do a search for best VST choir plug-ins. There may well be others which I've not found yet. These do seem particularly aimed at film music producers - but why not? The top few can certainly be used to produce film trailers, and even produce recognisable words. Requiem Light is OK if one wants to write a requiem, though the sounds are full of reverb, which is presumably a trick to make the sounds more acceptable. There will probably always be compromises. EastWest appears to be the best of the available ones for the time being. It'd be good though if you could do a video (one or more) about using voices as well as instruments.

[@djaafar1]

Hello and thanks for the sharing. When I try to create, for example, a Solo violon I use articulations because often I need to change the sound in real time and this can not be done with key switches. I think that your method is excellent for orchestration note for solos.

[@ChristopherByrumHarris]

Also, in regards to the Articulations versus KS. Spitfire Audio actually includes individual patches so you don't have to load the key-switching patches and use the first bar to set the articulation you want. In fact, I would recommend not loading multiple versions of the all in one patch because you are still loading the patches scripts which can cause some system bottlenecks, especially on a less beefed up system. The individual patches will certainly save you on system resources. Lastly, for Cubase users, you have Expression Maps which act like keyswitches but afford you the ability to set your locator anywhere and they will play the articulations you have set, versus having to play before the passage. Cubase certainly offers users multiple workflows.

[@guym1428]

That's true. Ive not had a problem but then anything we can do to reduce cpu pays dividends in the long run. Yes expression maps are great once you've got them setup and Cubase, for really large templates, wins hands down at the moment over Logic and even DP which is pretty good, but expression maps are a Cubase specific thing. As Scott mentioned Spitfire also advocate the UACC controller thing but until more people support it Im not sure how useful it's going to be. It's a good idea though.

[@ChristopherByrumHarris]

+Guy Michelmore UACC would be more successful if devs supported it more. Too much competition and less shaking hands. There is a logic script called ski-switcher which is very similar to expression maps. DP still needs something like it though. To each their own though. Are you still using DP? What brought you over to Cubase?

[@guym1428]

Cubase is just the best in class by a mile. Some many small workflow things. Really committed and supportive company - the Steinberg people are wonderful and come and see us often. Thye really listen. Truly cross platform. I could go on!

[@gazomusic]

Would dig to see your new template in Cubase. Maybe your next video on that.

[@bdok]

Thank you for this lesson. it is a very useful tip.

[@Rockhopper1]

Thank you, been trying to get my head round this,

[@Larry30102]

Super tutorial. Many thanks!!

[@kevinb1900]

Great tutorial, as always, thank you Guy!

[@Bashanvibe]

this we helps I'm going to apply this to my daw on logic x

[@vicontekatharsis4543]

Thanks, very useful video!❤

[@SohanAli]

please upload a mixing session please please please....how do you mix (orchestral) multiple stereo tracks !!

[@remix2112]

You should take a look at Thinkspace's Orchestral Mixing class. I purchased it, and it was really great. They provide the projects for multiple DAWs. I also purchased their Cinematic Orchestration and Composer Blueprints Training classes, and they were well worth it!

[@djcata7474]

Two questions: 1. Why record the keyswitch at the beginning, if you're not going to use keyswiches throught the project? Why not just click on the desired articulation? 2. How do you get past the fact that the modwheel, which usually controlls the volume, only works on channel 1? (A1)

[@FreestyleEntOnline]

sometimes you might hit the keyswitches on accident and now something in your project sounds wrong.. with this technique all you have to do is play the beginning to reset all your tracks to the desired articulation

[@guym1428]

1 - so that all the articulations are set to a default. If you aren't really careful about setting a KS everytime you play you're in trouble. If you are really reliable and always do that then no worries. 2 - my modwheel works on any channel - why just channel 1?

[@gazomusic]

Does the trick of loading up a keyswitch patch for each articulation also work with EW PLAY. I see you're doing it with Kontakt. Keen to know if the trick works with PLAY as well so that it only loads the samples into RAM if load up multiple keyswitch patches.

[@Larsmannetje66]

0:37 😂😂 Laughing out loud here (and getting strange looks because of this sudden outburst)!

[@chrisjustaguyfrom3304]

I love this🤔thanks for this man. I'm looking up how I can do this in fl studio👍

[@TerenceKearns]

in 2020, Studio ONE v5 is now the GOD of key-switching. Worth switching to it just for that if you're a composer! (see what I did there ;)

[@vitorsilvaus]

How do you automatically set the midi channel of your controller? Is it set to omni and then the midi tracks is the responsible to output the right channels to kontakt?

[@Esrom_music]

It hurts my soul that this is the right way to go

[@yadinmichaeli12]

Nice video very helpful thank you very much :)

[@chekadsarami4288]

Hi Sir! Thanks for the videos. May I ask why you don't use Score editor?

[@ewanbirch9719]

What if you don't have kontakt. Say for exmaple I use BBCSO and I don't really use keyswtiches. Will loading up multiple instances and tracks of different articulations make Cubase crash. As I can't do what you did in Kontakt in the video and load them all in to one instance!

[@DevGaming-ec4jp]

Hi, Could you please do a video showing how to do articulation sets with BBCSO Core, because so far I have not been successful and getting stressed over it !! When I say articulation sets , I mean being able to change the articulation of specific notes via the Piano roll in logic Pro X with the BBCSO Plugin. Thank you!!

[@rdpatterson2682]

Ok, this is fantastic.

[@MiksCasal]

Thank you!

[@AshleyKampta2]

Hi Guy! Thanks so much for all your videos. I'm building my template at the moment and this one is coming in very handy for me. I'm curious to know what screen recording software you're using to record this video. I'm looking at possible options for making my own videos in future.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

We use iShowU HD for our screen capture along with Wirecast to vision mix live. But that's because we have Wirecast for live streaming as well, it's probably a bit over kill for your needs :)

[@TheReyalityVault]

God bless this man

[@LosoIAm]

Doesn't Cubase (whatever version you're using have an auto-rewind function)? Just curious. Thank you for the video, though.

[@MiljanPusonjic]

Is there possibilty to control - change those articulations with some button or modulation wheel on your keyboard?

[@shmk1]

I have a question, not too sure if it is dumb but if you use the multi track method how do you make it sound like one violin section? Won’t the “tails” or reverb ring out whilst the next articulation is already playing? Also how would you bounce the stem to make it sound like a cohesive section? Thanks I’m advance.

[@TheRangeControl]

Why not expression map?

[@letsplayharmonica]

Hi! Why don't you simply draw the respective keyswitch note direct on the piano roll, on the same track, just below the midi music event instead of record it? Is it not possible?

[@yuggothproductions]

I thought Cubase has expression mapping? That's one of the reasons why I am eventually going to switch from Logic X

[@guym1428]

Yes it's brilliant but Cubase specific. I should do another one on that. Actually I could do this for hours as there's so much to say but attention span on youtube is about ten minutes!

[@yuggothproductions]

Haha very true.

[@soundtreks]

Also if you are simply using 1 art per track why not load from the individual patches instead of the KS multi patches? That's what I do because I agree that KS can be an issue if you forget to include the first KS note at the start of the track

[@guym1428]

Yup can do. I tend to have a keyswitch patch to over all the articulations I don't use often but you can do individual patches for each where available

[@homeofcreation]

What you say. At the end about common arts on separate tracks and uncommon arts an as iks track, is that still your favourite workflow and is that better if you go to Dorico for score and parts?

[@TheRangeControl]

How is setting this up repeatedly not more time consuming than just using expression map? (Not being snarky, I am a NOOB and sincerely would like to understand as I learn.)

[@Terandolus]

Subbed. Neato guy deserves neato sub.

[@camii847]

So, you are telling me that the computer doesn't consume extra gb if you open the same library more time that once?

[@AbigailMazza]

I've had this exact dilemma this week and I thought earlier "I wish Guy had a video on this"

[@guym1428]

Glad to help - there are other more sophisticated solutions as Scott says below using MIDI CC or expression maps in Cubase but these two are the quickest and simplest which for most people = most effective!

[@AbigailMazza]

Starting a final project for my University this month, and I needed something quick and effective, so this works perfect. I typically hate working with key switches, but I'm not sure how I've not thought of this workflow. Thank you much!

[@ridgero]

Have you tried Batch Re-Save? My Albion One Strings patch loads in less than a second, I use a regular Samsung Evo 860 SSD and I don't have the newest hardware in my computer.

[@falcolink23]

Key switches (Y)

[@GTBannah]

Nice video, as usual, BUT, what is that controller you're working with? PLEASE??

[@guym1428]

M audio keystation pro 88 I think, We've got quite a lot of them and they work fine. They're not as good as some but Im used to it and keep prevaricating about getting a more top end one!

[@GTBannah]

O.K. Thanx for the response! keep up the good work! (Y)

[@ChristopherByrumHarris]

Guy, you should batch re-save your libraries in Kontakt. They will load so much faster and speed up your workflow. But, I have a feeling you already knew that. ;)

[@guym1428]

Yes I do normally - this is a new template and I simply ran out of time before I had to start a project. There are only so many hours of template tinkering I can face in any one week! Actually I have another really interesting challenge in that I am setting this template up on two rigs in two different locations and using google drive to keep them synched. This means I have to work hard to make sure Kontakt loads the programmes without complaining! Working pretty well at the moment though.

[@ChristopherByrumHarris]

+Guy Michelmore that is a rather interesting setup. I would love to see a video or two on that in the future. I am in the process of helping a composer with his new studio setup. Multiple rigs, all networked so he can work anywhere in his space. It's always interesting to see how others are using today's tech.

[@guym1428]

Kontakt is challenging in that regard but doable. You end up buying a lot of iloks etc or it;s always in teh wrong place. Will definitely do a vid though.

[@remix2112]

I have 2 rigs in 2 locations each with 2 VEP slaves, and it is all synced through Google, as well. I attached Lego character keychains to all 7 of my iLoks so I can keep track of license placement; I also assigned corresponding desktop wallpaper to match the Lego characters. It keeps things clear when I remote to the PC & see Lego Superman/Boba Fett/Batgirl, etc.!

[@sammakesmusic]

Can you please explain how you sync via Google? What gets synced and what doesn't?

[@yaroslavv.728]

OMG! First time ever I see somebody using the same midi keyboard as me. My life is fulfilled.

[@DarrenJuniper]

Which midi keyboard is that?

[@yaroslavv.728]

It is M-Audio Oxygen 88, kinda old and very heavy

[@jamieduff1670]

I still have one of those. My favorite of the full size MIDI controllers.

[@yaroslavv.728]

It's decent in its price range

[@Jeff034]

Heeeeelp - my Albion one strings sounds go all the way to the bottom of the keyboard (no control keys). What am I missing?

[@deeprajbangshi5521]

thanks for teach me

[@christiaantinga]

Eureka moment. Thanx :)

[@oridoron7]

05:07 best moment of this tutorial

[@chonkypixel1006]

Ooh, who can identify the instrument used in the intro sting?

[@yslsual6797]

Hi guy,What type of Monitor speaker do you use?

[@RockBoBsteRMusic]

I'm really confused on how to set it all up. I've watched so many things and it still confuses me. To make an entire thing for flutes. I would load opus Choose Flute KS Master Choose the first 16 patches to work in the first KS Master Then the next amount of KS in the So they're all choose able. So I've got two KS Master open in one instance of Opus. But now I would have to triple that, and have one KS Master as soft, one as classic, one as epic. So I've got 6 KS Master open in One instance of Opus. But now I've got to double that, one for solo flute, one for 3 flutes. So I would have 12 KS Master open in one instance of Opus. Now I would need to open 12 BRSO plugs in, Match all port 1, but go up in channels 1-12 But I would have to program the first BRSO to work the mod wheel and everything. Then start cloning and just go up in channels. That's how I have it in my head.

[@RockBoBsteRMusic]

But then do that for every instrument in the orchestra. So I'm going to have like 400 BRSO?

[@sxdrujandis]

Any idea of how to 'lock' articulations so they don't change when you don't want them to? (in kontakt)

[@thinkspaceeducation4308]

If you can edit the program, get rid of the keyswitches. In practice selecting one articulation with a keyswitch right at the start of the piece does the trick unless you accidentally lean on C0 or spill your coffee.

[@theandroids]

First option is better second option is long winded. But thanks.

[@Evangelionism]

The 20 dislikes are by swollen thumbs that meant to press "like".

[@soundtreks]

Not using DP anymore Guy? 😩

[@CreatorsMediaTools]

ThinkSpace Education is a Steinberg Certified Training Center also.

[@Xav1ez]

Great video, this was something I just started looking into! :) Sidenote though, that Albion library is NOT loading fast! I'd say it's pretty slow and you should look into batch resaving the library, mine loads in literally less than 3 seconds, from a regular 7200 rpm HDD. I'm talking about that first loading window though, the loading of sample data into memory is ofc slower on my system. Here's Spitfires video on batch resaving in Kontakt: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqPIko19ash2pJI

[@alainthiry3965]

what nervosity... the subject is intersting by himself... tiring

[@TanaMuzicka]

900th liker :)