Hello Everybody,

I was looking at the software arranger LiveStyler at http://www.live-styler.de/home/ and i wonder if someone tried that ?

how are VST responding, does the processor can manage many vst + live styler, is it stable ?

I know we can hook up a ketron SD2 orchestral sound modules and also wonder how good theses sounds react with a software arranger ?

it's a shame they didn't do an osX version of that

Have a nice day
MJ

The problem that I see with most soft solutions is that, on the whole, VSTi designers don't PRIMARILY design VSTi's for live use. First and foremost they are a studio tool, for integration with DAW's, etc., and often the live use is not prioritized. There's a LOT of things that have to be just right for a soundset to work well as a live stage instrument, not to mention all the other things it needs for arranger integration (how well does it handle 'late' note corrections, for instance?).

How evenly are all the sounds balanced? Can you go from one horn section sound to another without having to make a volume or EQ adjustment? Does one drum kit map EXACTLY onto another, do all the bass sounds respond the same way to velocity? Can you change from a flute sound to a synth sound without having to grab a fader?

There's a LOT more to making a coherent soundset that requires little or no input from the user live than many give credit for... And, I think at this point in time, it is why the software arrangers still struggle to be as easy to use as a closed one.

I agree with Diki...
They sound good but are not designed for true live use. I have used EMU's version 2 and it DOES work fine in a live mode (you can do dynamic bank/prg changes on the fly very nicely)

The other thing not so good with software arrangers is the TOTAL INTEGRATION is not there...you have to do all that yourself...lots of work, and I mean lots.

But, it can work very well if you want to build your own, so to speak.

I have and do use Live-styler V10.

Lee S.

I've been using OMB, LiveStyler's competition, for quite a few years. I use it in conjunction with Gigastudio. Gigastudio IS designed for live playing and it responds to program changes flawlesly. I put together my collection of sounds over the years.
Does anyone know how I can post a demo online for everyone to hear?

How well do ANY of these VSTi's handle the type of instant pitch correction that happens in arrangers when you play a chord slightly late?

Most arrangers bend each note instantly to the new one it is supposed to be without re-triggering the sound. It involves portamento-ing to the new note, with codes to start and stop this when it is done. On multiple notes (for chords) over multiple Parts on multiple channels. It is the one feature that makes less than perfectly precise playing acceptable.

Do any of the VSTi's do this?

There is SO much more to an arranger soundset and engine than many of us think. Unique things that really have no use except for arrangers, to be honest. I just don't see VSTi designers taking this into account, just for little ol' us...

Diki, Very interresting view about the integration needed

I just install a keyboard on Kore 2 and my macbook pro, 2 core, go to 30% cpu while playing just 1 sound , no accompagnment, no beat, nothing, just 1 sound and having fun on the 61 notes..

That will be a difficult integration to do all that in real times, i think i will stick to my 910 hehe

Jick, it's verry east if you want to put something online, you need somes webspace for that, maybe google something like "Free mp3 host"

after you'll put the link in the msg, something like http://your-mp3-host/yourname/yoursong.mp3

Thanks for all the answers guys
MJ

If you just want to post something for others, try http://www.4shared.com/ and set up a free account.

How an arranger handles chord changes is totally down to the arranger software, (Different types of voices require different settings, and while Factory styles are all done for you, if you use a converted style or convert from Midi, you will need to set them manually) so providing the VSTi is setup to receive and act on these changes, (Some sounds are just for solo sounds, like the Yamaha SA voices are) then there is normally no problem.

Like most things it will initially be trial and error until you get the hang of it.
Hope this helps

Bill

Bill, pretty much ALL arrangers got some kind of system to deal with playing a chord fractionally (less than one beat) late. The main way is to instantly 'bend' the note from its' 'wrong value' (you played a C chord after a G7, but slightly late - the arranger plays the G7 on the 'one', but then INSTANTLY changes it to a C chord, but without retriggering the chord) to the right one.

To be honest, I don't know of any soft arrangers, or VSTi's that can do this. Please tell me if you know of some that do...

My BIG complaint is:
When using the ensemble feature IF you play the melody note a fraction ahead of the chord change...you do not get the harmony notes, just the lead!

Drives me crazy.....
My Pa2 does it and if I remember correctly? So did my T2.

What should happen is it picks the harmonys up when the chrd change does happen...

I'm talking about a very short delay here from the lead played until the chord change...milliseconds...so it would sound fine.

Lee S.

Lee S.

Hi Diki
Styles are just Midi Loops, and any slides or bends are also done via Midi, therefore if you transmit this to a VSTi sound instead of the internal sound, then the VSTi will do exactly the same as if it was an internal sound. (Exceptions are voices that use articulations (Hence you never see SA voices in Yamaha styles) which may not react as expected, but you can usually turn these off)
Hope this clears things

Bill