I'm working with about 60 orchestral instruments per project, using vienna ens. pro soft synths connecting with VEP on slave computer with 16 instruments per soft synth. What is the best type of track to use in SONAR for each instrument, audio and soft synth?

I run EWQLSO via 5 instances of EW's Play engine.

1 = Strings
2 = Brass
3 = Woods
4/5 = Percussion

Each nominal 'track' has 3 tracks in Sonar

1 = Audio Track
2 = Normal Midi track for note events & controllers
3 = Drum Map for all keyswitched articulations

This adds up to about 135 tracks once all artics are loaded

These are then grouped, by folder

1 = Strings Audio
2 = Strings Midi
3 = Strings KS
4 = Brass Audio
5 = Brass Midi
6 = Brass KS
7 = Woods Audio
8 = Woods Midi
9 = Woods KS
10 = Percussion Audio
11 = Percussion Midi

There are no Ks artics for any of the percussion modules, each one has it's notes (where applicable) just mapped across the keybaord

Hope this helps

Bristol_Jonesey


I run EWQLSO via 5 instances of EW's Play engine.

1 = Strings
2 = Brass
3 = Woods
4/5 = Percussion

Each nominal 'track' has 3 tracks in Sonar

1 = Audio Track
2 = Normal Midi track for note events & controllers
3 = Drum Map for all keyswitched articulations

This adds up to about 135 tracks once all artics are loaded

These are then grouped, by folder

1 = Strings Audio
2 = Strings Midi
3 = Strings KS
4 = Brass Audio
5 = Brass Midi
6 = Brass KS
7 = Woods Audio
8 = Woods Midi
9 = Woods KS
10 = Percussion Audio
11 = Percussion Midi

There are no Ks artics for any of the percussion modules, each one has it's notes (where applicable) just mapped across the keybaord

Hope this helps

That's pretty much how I run EWQLSO.  The drum maps are really helpful.

jjim1


  I'm working with about 60 orchestral instruments per project, using vienna ens. pro soft synths connecting with VEP on slave computer with 16 instruments per soft synth. What is the best type of track to use in SONAR for each instrument, audio and soft synth?

If you are using VEP 5, you aren't limited to 16 midi channels per instance of VEP. The Event Input plugin allows you to have up to 48 midi ports (X 16 midi channels!) per instance.

Thank you very much both bentleyously and vintagevibe. This information is exactly what I've been needing. Right now I'm running VEP 4 but will move to VEP 5 as soon as my new computer gets built. I've been getting by with my crude setup. However, I'll start a switchover today. I do orchestral and concert band renditions of various published compositions. jjim1

That's quite alright, you're welcome

I'd like to ask the folks who weighed in on this for a little more info.

I like the idea of a separate midi KS track (shoulda thought of that one myself - duh!). I'm curious about the drum map references though. I haven't looked into setting up drum maps myself, they usually just work when I use a drum synth like SD3. Do those of you who use them in this context have some maps set up with articulation names? If so, do you set them up yourselves or are there templates available for that (could be a lot of work, if not) - or possible some secret for creating them quickly.

I use EW Symphonic Orchestra (gold) and Symphonic Choirs as well as Garritan libraries (GPO, JABB, and IO).

Any additional info would be appreciated!

It all depends on what kind of libraries you're running, how much memory you have and how you divide up your orchestra.
 
I run VSL orchestral cube on a separate computer, so in a typical template I use the following tracks in my symphony #8:
 
1.  piccolo
2.  flutes (for solo flutes or 2-3 flutes playing different parts)
3.  3 flutes (samples are three flutes in unison)
4.  oboes
5.  3 oboes (ditto flutes)
6.  Eng horn
7. clarinets
8.  3 clarinets (ditto flutes)
9.  bass clarinet
10.  bassoons
11.  3 bassoons  (ditto flutes)
 
12.  2 horns
13.  2 horns
14.  4 horns (for unison)
15.  trpt 1
16.  trpt 2
17. trpt 3
18.  3 trpts, unison
19.  tromb1
20.  tromb2
21.  tromb3
22.  3 trombones (unison)
23.  tuba
 
24.  timpani
25.  cymbals/gong
26.  snare
27.  tambourine
28.  harp
 
29.  vln 1
30.  vln 2
31.  vlas
32.  cellos
33.  double basses
 
You can hear what I consider my best symphony to date here:
www.jerrygerber.com/symph8.htm
 
Also, for those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, you might want to take a look at the new workshop I am presenting at the San Francisco New Music Center in May: 
www.jerrygerber.com/beyondthemidimockup.htm
 
Best,
 
Jerry

jac


I'd like to ask the folks who weighed in on this for a little more info.

I like the idea of a separate midi KS track (shoulda thought of that one myself - duh!). I'm curious about the drum map references though. I haven't looked into setting up drum maps myself, they usually just work when I use a drum synth like SD3. Do those of you who use them in this context have some maps set up with articulation names? If so, do you set them up yourselves or are there templates available for that (could be a lot of work, if not) - or possible some secret for creating them quickly.

I use EW Symphonic Orchestra (gold) and Symphonic Choirs as well as Garritan libraries (GPO, JABB, and IO).

Any additional info would be appreciated!

I created all (39?) drum maps individually from scratch. It took about 3 nights but it's something I will never have to do again, other than maybe creating new ones should the need arise.


There is a thread of mine somewhere detailing exactly how I did it, but I'm damned if i can find it, you're welcome to search for it yourself

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?high=&m=2541513&mpage=1#2550531

Post #8