I read an article about a new approach used in creating Synful - a VST
plug-in for some very realistic sounding solo acoustic instruments.

http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/09/07/synful.html

In the article, the inventor emphasizes the importance of using an
expression controller to get the performances to sound realistic. I've
always hand-written expression data in my sequence directly and never
bought an expression pedal or breath controller. The realism in the
Synful demos makes me want to go out and buy one. So my question is, is
it worth it to buy a breath controller? They're about $80. How many
people here use one? Do you use an expression pedal? What kinds of
music do you use it for?

~ Lauren

In article .com,
"Lauren the Ravishing" wrote:

I read an article about a new approach used in creating Synful - a VST
plug-in for some very realistic sounding solo acoustic instruments.

http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/09/07/synful.html

In the article, the inventor emphasizes the importance of using an
expression controller to get the performances to sound realistic. I've
always hand-written expression data in my sequence directly and never
bought an expression pedal or breath controller. The realism in the
Synful demos makes me want to go out and buy one. So my question is, is
it worth it to buy a breath controller? They're about $80. How many
people here use one? Do you use an expression pedal? What kinds of
music do you use it for?

~ Lauren


Yamaha has made good use of the breath controller , from the days of FM synths
through the VL series. The physical modeling synths do a very credible job of
emulating sax, trumpet, and other wind instruments by applying breath controller
information to the synthesis. You do need a patch that makes proper use of the
controller.

-Jay
--
x------- Jay Kadis ------- x---- Jay's Attic Studio ------x
x Lecturer, Audio Engineer x Dexter Records x
x CCRMA, Stanford University x http://www.offbeats.com/ x
x---------- http://ccrma.stanford.edu/~jay/ ------------x

I bought a yamaha vl70-m with a "turbo" chip from
patchmanmusic.com...for use with my wx5 wind controller (yamaha's
version of the ewi). I whole-heartedly agree with Jay's comments.

I am a reed player by trade, and I think it does an outstanding
job...what the sound itself lacks in realism (compared to samples, or
the real thing) is at the very least balanced IMO, by the expressive
capabilities that you gain by using breath and embouchre adjustments as
opposed to midi controllers on a keyboard. There are some things that
would simply take too long to program on a sampler that can be done
with a wind controller and properly programmed patches in one take.

There are demos on the patchmanmusic site as well as patches tweaked
for breath control for just about every synth imaginable. Matt is
very knowledgeable and helpful, too...check it out.

--Matt Corey
Fort Lauderdale