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What are the requirements for this sound collection?
See the “What You Need” sidebar on the main Artikulation page.
Some of the demos contain musical gestures that I don’t normally hear from a synthesizer - flutter tonguing and half-valve trumpet effects, Celtic ornaments, etc. Will I be able to recreate those gestures if I have these sounds?
Yes. Depending on your keyboard and breath controller proficiency, you may experience a learning curve. With new tools at your fingertips, this is to be expected. To help you along the way, the included documentation file lists the key features of every sound and offers tutorials for creating some of the more unusual musical gestures. Tutorial topics include:
Bagpipe ornaments, automated pitch bend, and vibrato
Tin whistle ornaments
Saxophone phrasing, vibrato, and trills
Harmonica fast repeated chords, breathing in and out
String section falls
Trumpet half-valve and fall-off effects
Idiomatic high trumpet note
Muted trumpet flutter wah
Trombone phrasing and grace notes
Brass falls, Brass doits (upward falls)
Timpani rolls
How important is using a breath controller?
Customers are strongly encouraged to use a Yamaha BC3 with Artikulation. K-Sounds believes this provides the most intuitive means of expression for these sounds. However, if you do not have a breath controller, or if you use a MO6 / MO8 (which lacks a breath controller input), you may still use another controller such as a foot controller. Assign the controller of your choice to send MIDI CC 02 (breath) data. For details, see the “Using an Expression Pedal” section in the documentation file after ordering.
At the same time, if you have a breath controller, adding a pedal may be useful for certain applications. For example, playing long string ensemble phrases may be easier when using a pedal. The electric guitar voices may also benefit from a pedal.
I see you recommend using a BREATH controller. Is Artikulation compatible with WIND controllers such as the Yamaha WX5?
The WX5 can control any MIDI tone generator, including those that can load Artikulation, but it will not allow you to utilize all of Artikulation’s expressive potential. With a WX5, you will be able to play notes, control dynamics with breath, and use pitch bend functionality. However, the WX5 is monophonic, so you will lose the benefit of polyphonic play when using the many ensemble instruments. As well, the WX5 does not allow velocity data and breath control data to be manipulated independently; this will prevent you from having independent control over dynamic and attack speed. Because the WX5 does not transmit aftertouch, you will not be able to add vibrato without using additional gear such as the Yamaha MFC10 MIDI Foot Controller.
If you are considering using a wind controller other than the WX5: For best compatibility, the wind controller should offer independent control of velocity (for attack speed), breath (for dynamics), channel aftertouch (for vibrato), and pitch bend. Even if your wind controller has all of these controls, you will still be limited to monophonic play. Ensembles and sounds designed specifically for two-hand play (such as cymbal roll, timpani roll, or bagpipe splits) will not have full functionality.
How does Artikulation compare with the Yamaha PLG150-VL?
Similarities: Both products are extremely expressive when combined with a breath controller. Both allow musicians to perform musical gestures typically not available on a synthesizer. Both products offer unique timbres and exclusive tools for musical expression. Both products are user-installable. Both can use the host’s effects. In Performance, Song, or Multi mode, you can use these products simultaneously on the same machine.
Differences: The PLG150-VL is hardware. Artikulation is a downloadable collection of data.The PLG150-VL uses physical modeling synthesis. Artikulation uses sample playback. The PLG150-VL is monophonic and monotimbral. Artikulation can be monophonic or polyphonic, and it can be used multitimbrally. A single PLG150-VL can only be installed on one compatible host at a time. A single user with multiple compatible machines may load Artikulation on each of them. Both products offer unique vibrato characteristics. The PLG150-VL offers DSP generated overblowing; Artikulation does not. When using a breath controller while playing, PLG150-VL voices typically do not sound until breath is applied. Most Artikulation instruments sound at a soft dynamic with no breath applied. The PLG150-VL can be installed on any PLG150-compatible product. Artikulation can only be installed on a few compatible models (see the “What You Need” sidebar on the main Artikulation page). The PLG150-VL is designed for compatibility with Yamaha wind controllers; Artikulation is not (see previous question).
I purchased these sounds, but they don’t respond to my breath controller very well. How can I adjust the breath controller to make it work properly?
Please refer to the “Personalizing Your Breath Controller” section in the documentation file.