EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Hendrik Jan Veenstra wrote:
> As for the Select by Group#, this is the most puzzling of all imo.
> Again suppose there are 3 groups, G1, G2 and G3.  Set G1 to Select by
> Group:start, set G2 to Select by Group:G1, and G3 to Select by
> Group:G2.
> Now play staccato (i.e. unconnected) notes: you'll hear the notes
> being played by G1, G2, G3, G1, G2... respectively.  I.e. if G1 has
> played, then the next note will be played by G2, since G2 is set to
> Select by G1.
> 
> However (this is where it gets puzzling): play a note, and keep the
> key down. Suppose you happen to hear G1 playing.  Now play additional
> keys: they'll all play G1.  I.e. as long as you play legato
> (overlapping notes) the next group will _not_ be triggered -- all
> notes will be played by the same group.  Only as soon as you release
> all keys, and then hit a new key, will G2 sound.
> 
> Furthermore: one of the Groups must be set to "Select by Group:start"
> for this feature to work.  This is probably the way to "get the EXS
> on its way".  I.e. the EXS must know which group to start with.  You
> can't have 2 groups set up like "G1 selects G2, and G2 selects G1" -
> you'll simply hear nothing.
> Also the groups should be picked out uniquely.  You can't have G1 set
> to 'start' and then have both G2 and G3 selected by G1: only one of
> the groups (G2 or G3) will actually sound.
> 
> Still there?  Fine :-).  I'm not sure how you would ever use this
> "Select by Group#".

SNIP
> If anyone can think of some sort of sensible way to use the "Select
> by Group" stuff, I would be very curious to know.
> 
This is my first post here so be gentle with me and hi to everyone. (BTW I
don't have any tuning problems!!!!)

I can think of a couple of uses for the Select By Group function. Some of
the really good real drum libraries have left and right hand samples for
each drum. Each could be assigned to it's own group and via Select By Group
they could alternate automatically on a fast 16th note fill for example.

More usefully, some of the Giga libraries have multiple variations of
stacatto samples, for example up and down bow strokes in Garritan Orchestral
Strings as Sascha mentioned. The SAM Horns library has four variations of
Staccato sample for each note. Auto alternating via Select by Group of the
above would be great for the above.

I'm assuming the Select By Note function is similar to Gigastudio's
Keyswitching function where different articulations of an instrument play
depending on which of the assigned Keyswitches have been triggered.

You could for example have a violin patch where hitting C1 meant you got a
legato articulation, D1, detache, E1 stacatto etc. Then if the stacatto
samples also had a "Select By Group" condition set up you'd get the auto
alternation to get rid of the machine gun effect. This is good stuff that
even Gigastudio can't do on it's own if my assumptions are correct.

Doug of EastWest has stated on the Northern Sounds Gigastudio forum that the
EWQL Symphony Orchestra will be released on another format before a Giga
version is released. All this new functionality in the EXS24 MkII makes me
wonder if the EXS is the other format!!!

Dave Marsden
UK
http://www.gameaudio.com