EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Thomas wrote:
>I'm currently converting my bass libs from Giga to EXS24 mk II.
>In the Giga version I have a special Bass string program, which is
>like this:
>
>Midichannel 1: E-string
>Midichannel 2: A-string
>Midichannel 3: D-string
>Midichannel 4: G-string
>
>How can I do this with EXS24 mk II?

There's a basic problem in concept to address here first. Even in the 
Giga version, how do you play this instrument live?
You could set up a split on a controller keyboard that sends MIDI 
channel 1 from E1 to G#1 (for the E-string), then MIDI channel 2 from 
A1 to C#2 (for the A-string) and so on.

But that means that you never play higher than the 4th fret except 
perhaps on the G-string. Not how most bass players would work.

Now, if your program does in fact extend up the fretboard on each 
string by at least an octave (12th fret) you'd have to play your bass 
part live on one MIDI channel, and then re-organise all your 
notes/MIDI channels to move up and down the fretboard as you choose.

If this is the case, you might as well just set up 4 x EXS24 mkII 
(one for each string) and program accordingly.

There is one other option perhaps, that uses a new feature I just 
discovered while trying out the Vienna Symphonic Library demo CD. One 
of their programs makes use of Keyswitching, which I believe is a new 
feature in EXS24 mkII. In case you don't know about it (I didn't!), 
certain keys in an EXS instrument (usually chosen to be outside the 
playable range of the instrument) are defined so that they select 
different groups of samples. In the case of a bass, you can use the 
high keys. So, you could set C8 to select the E-string samples, D8 to 
select the A-string and so on. After you press D8 once, the new set 
of samples plays. Your sets of samples lie parallel on the keyboard 
as if they were velocity switchable, but actually Keyswitchable.

In this way, with a bit of manoeuvering, you could actually play your 
whole instrument live using only one MIDI channel plus keyswitches.

Hope this long-winded post makes sense.......

Regards - Colin