Posted
Hi forgive me if I have missed this but there seems to be a lot of interpretation parameter templates in the orchestral variety. Is there any information on these?
Thu, 2014-02-27 - 22:01 Permalink
Hi Proto
The Orchestral templates came in during one of the recent updates. On the MIDI Import page, there is also an option to tick 'Orchestral' so that Synfire can use these templates where appropriate.
I've spent quite a lot of time studying Interpretation recently, and the way I understand it is this:
A preset is simply a saved setting based upon all the values set in the Form, Voice Leading and Preset tabs. You can change any of these and save them as your own preset if you like, but the secret is understanding what each of these settings does.
This would involve reading the manual, but unfortunately this is not easy when you're trying to compare different presets, together with the fact that not all of the settings are explained in the manual.
I guess that Andre has experimented with the settings and found those that he believes are most appropriate, and has simply called them Orchestral. I suppose he could just have called them Dave or Fred and we would have been non-the-wiser!
Therefore, for my own purposes, I have compiled a spreadsheet that shows all the presets together with all the values in the various settings tabs. Not only that, but it also shows a detailed description of what each setting means. This makes it much easier to see 'at a glance', the differences between all the presets, and also helps you to understand a bit better what each one does.
Like I said, I have done this for my own benefit and it has helped me a great deal. However, if you think it could be useful, I could post it on here? I would just need to tidy it up a bit to make it look a bit more professional!
Anyway, I hope that has helped a bit, and let me know if you would like me to post the spreadsheet.
Fri, 2014-02-28 - 01:53 Permalink
yes please that would be great.
Lately Ive been starting to create orchestral textures. Ive just been writing bass and cello parts - trying to slowly build things up then slowly bring them down.
Since we cannot know what notes are going to be placed when we draw a note, I have been trying to have the root of the chord OR the lowest note of the inversion be represented on the middle 0 line for the basses.
Why would i want do do that? Because allways its sooner than later, my ideas get ensnared in synfire, and i then have to "go fish" for the notes, by entering them and then using the arrow keys. The interpretation settings, strong and weak, bypassing interpretation, and ungrouping or grouping the segment phrases.
I am just speaking about the bass only, Im keeping it simple. And the orchestral bass template is a different horse than the bass template.
I suppose one might say, this is not what synfire was designed for, as synfire is a broad stroke of the brush. But in my opinion, if you follow through on that idea, eventually the composer will want to delve deeper. to really know what is going to happen before commiting to an idea. To understand before using a tool, what it will do, is more important than merely having it.