NOTION Music Forum

Hi,

I've been thinking about tackling custom rules for Kontakt 4/Symphobia. Unfortunately, I didn't even make it to the first hurdle - fell over putting my running shoes on.

In the first video tutorial on the Notion site it suggests starting off by going to Additional Downloads under Notion and downloading the Custom Rules Documents.zip file. I couldn't find the file. There is a zip file there with VSL presets - i.e. a list of fxp files. But I can't find Custom_Rules.pdf or Custom_Rules.prules. I also looked in the two Custom Rules forums, but found nothing. Has the file been moved?

Also, I downloaded a couple of custom rules sets that people have posted here. I was expecting to see XML code similar to the video tutorial, which I could use as a model. But in each case it was just a list of fxp files that I can't open.

Finally, can anyone confirm that this is the plug-in ID for Kontakt 4? ... 1315531572.

I'd be grateful for some enlightenment.

Thanks,
John
_________________
Notion 3, Reaper x64, Kontakt 4, Intel Quadcore 3.3 GHz,
16 GB RAM, 3 x SATA/7200 RPM HD, Windows 7 Pro

When you get to the download page, click on the "Additional" tab over to the right. Then you'll find what you're looking for.

Notepad2 is a useful free XML editor.

Ah, many thanks Bill. I'll download Notepad2 and give it a try.
John

OK, I've made progress. I downloaded Notepad2 (thanks Bill) and followed the video tutorials closely. I'm trying to write custom rules for Kontakt 4 hosting Symphobia. I put in the plug-in ID etc and can get the dynamic map to function. Great start.

But I can't get keyswitching to work. I loaded a string instrument with several different articulations triggered by key switching. These are the rules I used to try and trigger the staccato patch:

<rule>
<key-switch type="note-on-prefix" midi-pitch="12" velocity="1" />
</rule>

<rule name="staccatto">
<!-- Tests -->
<if articulation = "staccato"/>
<!-- Instructions -->
<key-switch type="note-on-prefix" midi-pitch="13" velocity="1" />
</rule>

What happens is, when it gets to the staccato notes, it holds the notes for a shorter period. Watching the virtual keyboard in Kontakt, it's like someone plays the notes with a slight jabbing motion - no substitue for real staccato. I can't get it to switch to the staccato patch. It doesn't matter what number I put as the midi-pitch value in the second rule. In fact, no matter what number I put in, no key is triggered on the midi keyboard in any octave.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
John

Try a higher extreme velocity. Since it is only a switch lets hit the key harder!

<key-switch type="note-on-prefix" midi-pitch="13" velocity="127" />

hope it helps

Hi Fabio,

Unfortunately, that didn't help. No keys on the Kontakt virtual keyboard are responding to the staccato notes - that is, the staccato patch isn't being triggered. I tried an experiment and removed the custom rules folder from the folder that my test template is in, and everything is exactly the same! In other words, my custom rules don't seem to be having any affect. The staccato notes are played for a briefer time (on the virtual keyboard) and extreme staccato notes are played for an even briefer time, whether my custom rules folder is present or removed. Similarly, the dynamics markings are responded to whether my custom rules folder is present or not. The presence of the custom rules folder makes no difference. The same thing happens whether I use a Symphobia instrument with keyswitching or a Vienna Symphonic instrument with keyswitching - e.g. the VS strings that come with Kontakt.

Any further thoughts on why I can't get the keyswitching to work would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I tried a 'change channel' rule and that didn't work either.

Thanks,
John

Different software places middle C differently. You're probably off an octave on your keyswitch notes.

Thanks Bill. No, that doesn't seem to be the problem.

I constructed a short phrase in a new Notion project called Symphobia Template 1. The first bar contained unmarked quarter notes, the next staccato notes, the next staccatissimo, the next the instruction 'pizz' from under the VSTi tab in the palette, the next tremolo.

I have a Symphobia string patch loaded, which has ten keyswitch notes, to trigger (among other things) staccato, pizzicato and tremolo.

I used the four rules below (see the copy of the custom rules below, written in Notepad2) to try and trigger the keyswitching. For the midi-pitch value I put in 1, 2, 3, 4 for the four rules. The notes played but there is no keyswitching. Then I tried 5, 6, 7, 8 etc, up to 127! Same result. I kept the velocity on 127.

Interestingly, if I actually write the relevant keyswitch note on the score - e.g. D6 for tremolo - the tremolo patch is triggered.

The plug-in ID is the same one 'pcartwright' (presumably successfully) used for Kontakt 4 hosting LA Scoring Strings, so I assume that that is not the problem.

I have also done some (less methodical) experimentation.

E.g. I tried the above with Vienna Symphonic strings, which comes with Kontakt, and also has keyswitching. I tried a random combination of some midi-pitch values, still with no affect. On the Kontakt virtual keyboard I can see no key being triggered at any octave.

Since I have the system files for Notion 3 on a different drive (F) from my project files (E), I tried the following two combinations of file location. (Upon installation Notion created a file called 'Rules' under Support, so I thought sticking my rules and project file in there might help.) No luck.

Notion File:
F:>Notion>Templates>SymphobiaTemplate1>SymphobiaTemplate1
Custom Rules File: F:>Notion>Templates>SymphobiaTemplate1>Rules>Custom_rules

Notion File:
E:>Notion3>Support>SymphobiaTemplate1
E:>Notion3>Support>Rules>Custom_rules

I also tried some change-channel rules, but this means more can go wrong (e.g. with setting up the routing), so I didn't persist with this.

I'd be grateful if anyone has any other suggestions. I'm at a bit of a loss.

Thanks,
John

_____________________________

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<rule-set version="1">

<!-- NOTION3 Rules Template File-->

<!-- substitute xxxx with a unique 4 character identifier. You can specify as many dynamic maps as you want -->
<dynamic-map id="SYMP">
<!-- You can assign your own dynamic values here. 0-127 MIDI values. -->
<dynamic dynamic="ppppp" value="0" />
<dynamic dynamic="pppp" value="10" />
<dynamic dynamic="ppp" value="30" />
<dynamic dynamic="pp" value="40" />
<dynamic dynamic="p" value="50" />
<dynamic dynamic="mp" value="75" />
<dynamic dynamic="mf" value="85" />
<dynamic dynamic="f" value="100" />
<dynamic dynamic="ff" value="106" />
<dynamic dynamic="fff" value="112" />
<dynamic dynamic="ffff" value="120" />
<dynamic dynamic="fffff" value="127" />
</dynamic-map>

<plugin id="1315531572"> <!-- Enter PluginID here or use <midi-out id="X"> where X = A,B,C or D for MIDI out port rules-->

<!-- Plugin ID's Menu -->
<!-- Vienna Instruments: 1448299603 -->
<!-- Vienna Ensemble: 1448299589 -->
<!-- Vienna Ensemble Pro: 1987274096 -->
<!-- PLAY: 1886151033 -->
<!-- ARIA: 1195463233 -->
<!-- Miroslav Philharmonik PC : 1346908464-->
<!-- Miroslav Philharmonik Mac : 808536144-->

<setup>
<velocity-map id="SYMP" /> <!-- choose dynamic map by id -->
<hairpin-map id="SYMP" />
<hairpin-cc value="11" />
<!-- uncomment to set return CC value for hairpins. Useful when both velocity and CC control volume as well as timbre -->
<!-- <hairpin-anchor value="75" /> -->
</setup>

<!-- Example Rules. Feel free to edit, copy and paste to create rules to suit your needs -->

<rule>
<key-switch type="note-on-prefix" midi-pitch="12" velocity="127" />
</rule>

<rule name="staccatto">
<!-- Tests -->
<if articulation = "staccato"/>
<!-- Instructions -->
<key-switch type="note-on-prefix" midi-pitch="1" velocity="127" />
</rule>

<rule name="staccatissimo">
<!-- Tests -->
<if articulation = "staccatissimo"/>
<!-- Instructions -->
<key-switch type="note-on-prefix" midi-pitch="2" velocity="127" />
</rule>

<rule name="pizz">
<!-- Tests -->
<if technique = "pizz" />
<!-- Instructions -->
<key-switch type="note-on-prefix" midi-pitch="3" velocity="127" />
</rule>

<rule name="tremolo">
<!-- Tests -->
<if technique = "trem" />
<!-- Instructions -->
<key-switch type="note-on-prefix" midi-pitch="4" velocity="127" />
</rule>

</plugin> <!-- use </midi-out> if you used <midi-out id="X"> in the start of the document-->

</rule-set>

I think your midi-notes are way down in the wrong range...

Hi Bill,

You might have skipped down to the rules before reading the material above, which is understandable given it was a rather lengthy post. In fact, for the midi-pitch values I tested the entire range starting from 1, 2, 3, 4, and going up to 124, 125, 126, 127. A very tedious exercise.

Thanks,
John