Any way to adjust dynamics range?

[David Coombes]

I'm trying to record sheet music as audio for a choir to practice from. The problem I have is the dynamic range is too great. Piano phrases are quiet and fortissimo 'blows the limiter'. It's proving very hard to achieve balance. Is there a way to set the dynamic range that the different volume levels is interpreted as? eg. If they are resolved as MIDI velocity values, I'd like to change from the current 'p = 50', 'ff = 110' to something more like 'p = 70', 'ff=100'.

Or do we just have to run compressors on every channel? That'd seem pretty odd seeing as Notion doesn't appear to come with a compressor as standard.

[fabiolcati]

Hi David.
Values for dynamics are set in the rules file.
You can find it just at the beginning of it.

[thorrild]

David,

If you are using Notion's own sounds, you cannot access the rules. That applies only to third-party sound libraries.

That said, you may be having these problems for some other reason. Maybe you need to check your mixer settings. I find that I rarely have to change the volume sliders for any instruments. Most of the time, I leave them at -6db, as they come by default. Exceptions are brass instruments (I generally like a little more oomph in that department) and Timpani, which I boost either by adding to the individual dynamics (often by as much as 3 dynamic levels), or by pushing the slider up to affect the Timpani volume across the board.

I don't recall ever having been bothered by the preset difference between pp and ff in Notion's piano sample. With the mixer settings described above, I can listen comfortably to piano music with dynamic range all the way from ppppp to fffff.

Best wishes,
Thorrild

[idiotSavant]

I've had problems with the dynamic range from the beginning, using VSL libraries. I've requested some sort of adjustment capability easily accessible in the program, a dynamic range adjustment slider or some such that can adjust the quietest ppppp up by some percentage and the loudest fffff down by some percentage, and would adjust all the dynamics in between accordingly.

Failing that, I've taken to using compressors and limiters to bring the range to within tolerable limits. Now that I think about it, that's kind of what I've requested: a form of compression, which might be why it's fallen on deaf ears. Compression is sometimes seen as a dirty word in the classical world.

[thorrild]

Compression is sometimes seen as a dirty word in the classical world.

So true, and more than a little strange, since all commercial recordings of classical music are compressed for CD release. As far as I know, you cannot buy any uncompressed recordings... But I could be wrong.

To the OP, just what piano sample are you using? Notion's of VSL's? Or something else?

Best wishes,
Thorrild

[Admin]

Dear All,

You are welcome to use compressors. The sound a user wants is what they need to go after. Don't worry about just what the Classical world thinks about Compressors. Use them if you want and use them well. There are many instrument samples that need them. Remember, we are not playing back real instruments, so make them sound real. It's a different aural world than recording. Everything comes out of a speaker. You may have to tweak it if you don't like it.

Best,

-Admin

[David Coombes]

I'm using Dimension VSL with Garritan Pocket Orchestra. The flute completely blows out at Forte. the manual is very light on the subject of 'rules'.