Automating velocity on sustained note + pitch bend - Ableton

Summa Jae

This might be a really stupid question, but I want to automate a sustained note into a a crescendo for session strings 2. I use ableton and I only seem to be able to adjust the velocity at the start of the note. I have the velocity switch activated and thats fine, but I want the velocity to increase over the sustained note and I cant for the life of me figure out if it can be done? Also, I can't seem to get a pitch bend automation working for session strings 2. It works fine if I use the original session strings preset, but in 2 it doesn't work. Ive turned it on and up through the mod settings but it just doesn't work. I dont know whay I'm doing wrong. I can't seem to find the solution. Thanks!

stephen24

It may be that you are prey to a common misconception. Velocity is a MIDI message, a one-off attribute at the start of a note. (It's actually part of the note-on message.) For a string-type instrument it probably doesn't even control loudness.

You need to control Volume, which for some obscure reason many libraries call "Expression". If it's not clear which of your instrument's sliders/knobs controls loudness, you can always use the volume slider in the instrument header.

Milos, why does such a nice guy as you always look so fierce?

Milos

Hmm...could you screenshot the place of the automation settings inside your Session Strings 2?

stephen24

It may be that you are prey to a common misconception. Velocity is a MIDI message, a one-off attribute at the start of a note. (It's actually part of the note-on message.) For a string-type instrument it probably doesn't even control loudness.

You need to control Volume, which for some obscure reason many libraries call "Expression". If it's not clear which of your instrument's sliders/knobs controls loudness, you can always use the volume slider in the instrument header.

Milos, why does such a nice guy as you always look so fierce?

Summa Jae

Thanks Stephen, cool cool. Yeah know how to control volume. I'll just do that. Was hoping I could do it inside the DAW as I saw an example of a guy drawing it in over he course of notes but he seemed to be using protools I think, feature which doesn't look like it's available in Ableton. Any idea about the pitch bend tho? Despite turning it on in Kontakt (and it working in Session Strings 1) it doesn't seem to activate in Sessions Strings 2? Thanks!

Summa Jae

I've got screen shots now, do I need to post into a new post? Where the hell is the attach file button on this thing haha

Milos

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/133911#Comment_133911

How am I fierce...?

I didn't insult him or something...

I just asked him if he could give the screenshot of the issue...

I mean, ok, sorry if I the message looked 'aggressive' or something...

Milos

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/134024#Comment_134024

Don't you have the image button when you write a comment?

Just asking...

stephen24

Milos I didn't say you were fierce, I said you look fierce. If you're anything like your avatar.

Handsome, yes, but a bit fierce.

Milos

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/134044#Comment_134044

Ooohhh...you mean the profile pic.

Oh, I made it 5 years ago.

It is a profile pic for my gmail...

Maybe I should change it, since my drawing skills got a little better...

stephen24

Don't change it! It's brilliant.

Milos

Oh...ok...

Maybe I will change the quality and ad some shading, but I will not really change the style and the context of the image.

When I don't have new ideas for new fx racks for GR, I just open Krita and experiment with animation, drawings etc... so that I can have some time to do something and not be bored, but thanks!

reffahcs

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/133911#Comment_133911

Depending upon the instrument you might look at using CC 02 too which is breath control.