Question

Benefit

• User can switch between articulations on a single track. Useful for Kontakt/ EW Play/ VSL VI PRO
• When moving notes, articulations stay attached to notes
• Alternative to users who like to compose in score order and don't like one articulation per track
• Circumvent recording articulation related control data that is key switch notes into Events 
• Easier transfer to a dedicated notation editor (Sibelius/ Finale/ Notion)
• Easy way to unify articulation based workflow for different libraries and sample player

Use case 

• User loads a track with i.e. Kontakt that holds a key switch instrument or multiple single instruments per midi channel, where a Kontakt 5 multi script allows the user to assign up to 64 of Kontakts’ midi channels to trigger them via Key Switch, Program Change or CC Message
• User opens the Articulation Editor via key command or via the inspector in the Event Editor or Arrange View: 
  • Record notes and articulations in realtime 
  • Enable Step Input and use midi controller to input notes and articulations
  • Select notes in Event Editor, single click cell in Articulation Editor, draw notes or attach articulation to existing selected notes
• Articulation rows follow playhead position and active articulation scrolls into view (1-127)
• Articulation sets are stored per track with the Song and can be exported to folders and imported (iCloud/ Dropbox)
• User can Set Note Color > By Articulation via the View menu, Notes will be colored according to users color setup or default color map
• Articulation Editor note color map defaults to Velocity color map from 1-127 if Output Trigger is set to Program Change/ CC Message/ Articulation ID/ Key Switch, defaults to Note Channel color map from 1-16 if Output Trigger is set to Note Channel
• Ideally articulation names will be shown on Piano Roll notes (depending on vertical zoom level)

Functions

• Single click to select row; Shift click to select multiple rows 
• Hit key on keyboard controller to set key switch note / iPad/ fader or rotary controller to set CC Message or Program Change value (Depending on Input Trigger type)
• Setup which remote controller keyboard, iPad or other controller will be used via the preferences

The Panel you see is designed as a Note-FX inspector panel. It might make sense to have a floating plugin window for general settings or more advanced settings (like all existing Note-FX plugins)

Answer 1

Thank you for the feature request. 

If anyone else agrees or disagrees, then please vote it up, or down. 

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The developers pay close attention to those that are voted on the most. 

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Please click on one or the other. 

Answer 2

If people prefer one articulation per track a better show/hide track system is needed.

Comments

...like the one we have now? :)

Answer 3

It would be sweet when this expression system is compatible with MPE (Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression) too.
More info: here

Answer 4

That would be great if we get it in Studio One :) + 1

Answer 5

+1 Although I agree with Niles.

Each articulation needs unique MIDI CC data, to create realistic performances. Expression Maps were more effective than this design IMO, for two reasons. The editing is simply easier visually (why maps are so freaking popular). But it also supports putting each articulation on it's own midi channel in VEP, which is just as common for users of wet sample libraries that have multiple mic positions. I have 971 Instrument Tracks in S1 just so I can have unique CC data per articulation, and so I can layer articulations together. So Niles' point resonates with me. I just wish I could edit all these articulations in one Piano Roll view that compliments a multi-articulation workflow (like maps do).

I'd love to see Presonus really innovate something great here. The more they get this right and look at people's workflows, they'll win over a ton of folks from a ton of DAW's, especially Cubase and Logic.

Cheers!

Sean

Answer 6

I'd like to add one complaint here about Cubase...

They made Expression Maps, and perhaps in QA they tested creating 100 articulations to see if it was possible. But they didn't actually do a real-life test with the feature with users of large orchestral libraries. There's no way they did. Because creating maps is too tedious because the editor in which you make them is archaic. It's insane. With Vienna Instruments Pro, I can adjust all keyswitches at once. With Cubase I can't. It's all one-by-one. My point here is that Steinberg seemed to think the words "mass edit" aren't important, when working with thousands of articulations across the full orchestra across every sample library. For power users, maps are a pain to create. I even made an Excel file which exported data to maps to make it 10x easier, which was still a pain. All I"m saying is that it's all fine and dandy to make a feature. But making it easy to use is equally important. Mapping articulations makes them easier to edit in the piano roll. But the act of mapping wasn't easy... at all. It may look like it. But just use their editor for a couple hours and you'll see just how poorly designed it is.

If it's not clear why this is relevant, please add this feature and make it easy to map things out on a large scale! =)

-Sean

Answer 7

+1 (and +20 for the whole film composition course where I'm studying  )

I think it would change the whole market concerning software for users, who work with orchestral sample libraries, if this feature would be in StudioOne!
I know a lot of people (including me!) who like StudioOne better than Cubase, but they only stick with Cubase because of their "Expression Maps" function...

I hope something like that will be implemented in the future!

Answer 8

@sean

I agree with you. My mockup is just that, a mockup. It's posted here to see how others react to it. It's great to see that many of you are on the same page that in regards to articulation driven music production studio one should incorporate some kind of visual support for us composers/producers. Of course my raw concept is by far not 100% how I think it should be in studio one but I feel something more than plain text driven design thinking was needed to bring attention to this specific area. If such a feature comes to life in studio one I hope the developers realize a much more agile system then what expression maps has to offer. In regards to expression maps I personally prefer note bound expressions over directions. In Logic Pro I still work that way where articulations are spread over 16 midi channels per instrument. Logic Pro allows to change a notes midi channel. If I move the midi note the articulation moves with it!

Answer 9

I've updated the pictures aiming at this being implemented as Note-FX

Answer 10

I searched the forum already some time ago for feature requests on this topic "articulation switching". And I found this post https://forums.presonus.com/viewtopic.php?f=111&t=5878&p=56068&hilit=articulation#p56068 on which you also responded with these images. And back then I also responded. It simply shows how important it would be to have a good way to switch articulations.

I just want to add that I need more than 1 articulation per note. VSL supports switching e.g. from a long legato note to a tremolo playing at the end. Talking about strings in this case.

There you have a 2 dimensional array and you can define what Midi information is used for X and Y axis.

I also like the concept of having a single track for switching articulations. Like at the bottom of the Midi Editor window where you have "Velocity, Modulation, PitchBend, AfterTouch". Just one more tab named "Articulation" or "Macros" (strange name, see below why).

Now imagine we could define Midi Macros. Just like you proposed, with names and colors, but instead of single notes we define a group of midi signals. And then we can use these Macros in the "Macros"/"Articulations" tab in the Studio One Midi Editor. These would mean that I can control the velocity and the articulation in just a small view area. Like this …

Here you can see how I switch articulation within the same note. What do you think?

OR like your solution but somehow having the possibility to split a note in different articulations. This would be even better because I like your idea having the articulation connected to the note.

Best regards

Marco

Answer 11

Sambosun,

I realized it was just a mock-up. Whether they do something like your design, something more like Expression Maps, or something altogether new is irrelevant to me. I'm open to various designs, as long as the right functionality is represented in the final design.

We need flexibility in how articulations are sent to the VST. Things like Keyswitches, CC values, etc. But it's even more crucial to those of us who rely on full "note expression" to allow unique CC editing per articulation. My CC data for a staccato and Tremelo will be different. I might even use both articulations at the same time (which is why they are on different midi channels for me). A lot of users do this. Just as many users lump all their articulations on one midi channel and just use s keyswitch and keep it simpler, though less flexible in the performance. But altogether, we're a diverse crowd.

I appreciate simple designs. But the final result still has to give us both flexibility AND simplicity. That's a tricky thing, but Dorico is headed in that exact direction with articulations. So I'm hoping S1 can really do something great here. :)

-Sean

Answer 12

An Articulation Editor should ideally allow me to set a velocity for keyswitches. Cinematic Studio Strings has "Velocity Sensitive Keyswitches" so a C0 with a velocity of 0-64 will trigger the Sustain keyswitch with the Standard Legato, but a velocity between 65 and 127 will trigger the Advanced Legato.

Any Articulation Editor should include the ability to transmit a velocity for the keyswitch. 

 Here is a table showing how quite a few articulations are dependent upon the velocity of the keyswitch note:

Articulation	Keyswitch	Velocity Sensitive Keyswitches
Sustain	C0	0-64: Standard Legato		65-127: Advanced Legato
Tremolo	C#0
MeasuredTrem	D0
Trills	D#0
Harmonic	E0
Staccato	F0	0-32: Spiccato	33-64: Staccatissimo	65-96: Staccato	97-127: Sfz
Marcato	F#0	0-64: Spiccato Overlay Off		65-127: Spiccato Overlay On
Pizzicato	G0	0-41: Pizzicato	42-84: Bartok Snap	85-127: Col Legno
Con Sodino	Bb0	0-64: Con Sordino Off		65-127: Con Sordino On
Legato	B0	0-64: Legato Off		65-127: Legato On

Answer 13

As a Kontakt user myself, this kind of functionality is almost a requirement!  Yes, yes, and, YES! Great concept and mockup Sambosun.

Answer 14

Hey Sambosun,

your concept is just awesome. I would love if Presonus could implement it that way!

Fingers crossed.

Answer 15

I also agree with Sean that articulations need independent  cc data editing per articulation and let the user choose which cc data should be send to all articulations.

Answer 16

Good suggestion, and a lot of good info in the comments too. Fingers crossed for future versions implementing a system for this.

Answer 17

already studio one 4 but still miss this feature I hope we can see this on next 0.1 or 0.2 updates now are one of the most vote features

Answer 18

Can't believe Studio one 4 is out there without any basic articulation editor. It's here since 2015! I am starting to get skeptical on this one, and on studio one itself in an overall view.

Answer 19

Yes! Please make it usable with CC32 - I mostly abandoned regular keyswitching for using CCs.

Also really helpful would be additional features and view options for the midi event CC lanes - For example hide or always/by default show certain CCs/automations.

Answer 20

Is this suggestion a little bit like my suggestion? maybe it is another solution which is not so complicated?

https://answers.presonus.com/12347/ornament-catalog-from-which-ornaments-assigned-midi-notes

Answer 21

I agree, this would be awesome. This to me is the one thing Cubase still has over Studio One.  Maybe in 4.5?

Answer 22

If they implement this feature, i will definitely switch to Studio One.

Answer 23

Almost 5 years later, and almost 500 upvotes later... Articulation mapping still only available on Cubase and Logic Pro X. Available too as addon for Reaper (with both Reaticulate and BRSO) and FL Studio (BRSO).

Answer 24

Cubase with expression maps has probably the best implementation yet.

As you can see, for each input switch, it is possible to define many actions, such as change expression, max velocity, and so forth.

Input keyswitch: the keyswitch you want to use. Output keyswitch: the keyswitch defined by the library.
One can define multipe switches in the output, for adding a legato to a vibrato for example.

One can choose attribute (once per not) or direction (until another switch).

Cubase's implementation also works with expression based on midi channel, not keyswitch.

How it looks automated:

Expressions can be played, or added with the pen later, which is super easy.

See JunkieXL's great video:

In addition to expression maps, dynamic mapping comes hand in hand and should be implemented too.

Answer 25

4.5 is out. 3.5 years later. No apparent signs of progress on this?do we still believe presonus is going to implement this?

Answer 26

Sambosun,

Brilliant! So necessary!

I had a feeling that PreSonus will add this feature in version 4.5 but it didn't happen. That is so disappointing.

Answer 27

since 4.5 an articulation editor is even more important. To use the chord track and tracks follow the chord track is enable, only notes can transpose, articulations or sequence trigger keys need stay on same note. I hope the articulation is next on presonus todo list, then vst midi plugins in the multi instrument support, and possible to tie notes in impact XT. for the other two features is feature request too here, with many likes

Answer 28

We something like so bad.  Its the one thing that keeps me tied to LogicPro.  

some kind of articulationID attitribute to all notes would be ideal.

Just like in LogicPro, it may be necessary to also have additional Scripting ability to modify the actions taken for each articulation.  In LogicPro this can be done with the Scripter javascript plugin.  Not sure what would make sense in S1.  But both LogicPro and Cubase have some articulation handling built in, but its always missing a few things that additional scripting is able to handle.

Answer 29

Hope to see it in 4.6 in Fall. Have a scoring project coming up and do not want to do it in Cubase or Logic.

Answer 30

Just waiting for this feature to fully make the switch!

Answer 31

I too use Cubase occasionally. On my last cue I had to use a lot of Cubase expression maps for Libraries from spitfire and orchestral tools.

But

1. I exclusively use attributes. Why? because they are bound to notes and always follow the notes and are respected when delaying notes etc.

2. Steinbergs expression maps setup and maintenance workflow for expression maps is 1990 style. the expression maps window has no form of batch editing. I have to import expression maps one by one. that is totally bonkers and a workflow killer.

Anyways. I am confident that Presonus Software will take care of a good solution that is modern and also implements some kind of delay compensation per articulation which is especially useful if you use high latent artics like legato in CSS (cinematic studio strings) in one patch not distributed by midi channel.

I also have to admit that my workflow is a mix of one articulation per track and articulation switching on one track in Logic and Cubase.

And I highly recommend babylonwaves articulation maps!

Answer 32

I love the idea. I just want to pinpoint it might be useful to add the ability to select multiple keyswitches at the same time too. For example with spitfire libs if you press two keyswitches at the same time (e.g., marcato and staccato) you can stack them for a particular note. This might be only possible when using notes as keyswitches mode though.

From the UI side probably it could be enabled by shift clicking on an articulation name to add/remove an extra articulation.

This could also put the artic names in a note separating the names by a comma (e.g. "marcato, staccato"), by mixing the two colors and by putting two triangles near each of the active articulations.

Clicking (without shift) on an articulation would still act as usual, unselecting all selected articulations and selecting a single one.

Also I think it would be nice if there were settings (midi effects?) per articulation. For example, for a legato articulation it could be set that the note might need to start 20ms early and play for 40ms longer than written in the piano roll. That way writing legato lines wouldn't need to be offset when written and would make it easier to export to notation.

Answer 33

Does anyone know if this will ever be implemented?

Will it be in version 4.6 or a future version 5?

I would purchase Studio One if this feature was available now.

Answer 34

PreSonus will get it done. I don't doubt that. It's just a matter of when.

1 - This wasn't the top feature request at first. It's Jan 2020 now  (4 years after this was suggested in December 2015). Last year this rose to the top. Before that, it was climbing as other stuff was getting added to S1. I've followed this request closely cause it's my top need. Now that they are aware of it and it's the top need, we'll have a front row seat to an amazing Studio One v5 coming in 2020.

2 - PreSonus has a solid track record for user requests. Will they ignore this? Of course not. In less time, they've done more for UI / workflow than [the other company] has since introducing maps 10 years ago without improvements since. In the last 4 years, only two DAWs have added similar features. One did a half-hearted attempt that is.... horrible. The other was Logic with Articulation Sets. Logic's UI was easier to setup than maps in Cubase, but the UI on the front end isn't nearly as intuitive for workflow. You can't even see what articulations are being used and where, let alone being able to adjust it intuitively. I'd rather PreSonus get it right a bit late, than do it wrong and live with it (as everyone else has been doing).

This will be an exciting year for S1. Here's to hoping for some innovation on this feature! 

-Sean

Answer 35

PLEASE bring these to Studio One. With 574 upvotes this is clearly high in demand. This is the only x-factor that still keeps me tied to Logic as my full time DAW for now... 

Answer 36

An articulation editor (and or expression maps) should have been there looong ago.

How come Presonus ducks this much requested feature???

Answer 37

Would also LOVE to see this happen in the next update.  PLEASE!

Answer 38

There are two features missing from Studio One that keep me from switching from Logic. 1. Articulation Mapping. Dont do it like cubase that is terrible and time consuming. Do it like logic and team up with Babylonwaves for the maps. 2. Exporting audio to video.

Comments

Exporting audio to video is already possible since May 2019 (version 4.5)

Answer 39

+1.000.000 to this request. I'd love to see Presonus developers beat Cubase by having an articulation auto-detector, articulation player as well as an articulation program module. It would be great not having to type in the articulations from a virtual instrument first, but just have S1 to automatically find them. A nice performance module would be nice to, so you can audit how the articulations sound in context with your track, in real time. Ability to program templates would be great too. Can you beat the Cubase devs, Presonus team? I dare you..

Answer 40

Long time Cubase user here, just waiting for this to try S1!.

Answer 41

Wouldnt it be possible to change it to real MIDI notes to see it visually?

It would help alot if it is not just color.

Answer 42

Finally, Implemented. Please archive this as this is implemented.

Answer 43

I wouldn't consider Articulation Editor is implemented. What they implemented is just basic keyswitch editor.

Answer 44

The current implementation is nowhere near my proposal! It is a start for sure and should never be as convoluted as cubase/nuendo implementation. But as I said it is only the beginning.

the current implementation doesn’t allow to send a keyswitch and cc data at the same time. Think about CSS or VSL instruments!

So no it is not implemented and therefore should not be marked as implemented nor archived!!!

Answer 45

I would also like to point out, specially working with a lot of Kontakt instances or multi channel instruments, being able to send an articulation to a specific MIDI channel, is a deal breaker for me.
And as mentioned CC it's as important as well for many libraries.

It's a good start, specially love the simplicity and easy to use approach, but it is still need some work.
Keep it up ;)

Answer 46

This feature really needs to allow the user to color code the articulations so that they are more easily readable.  Currently it is just random.

Answer 47

As previously said, the current implementation is a start but some libraries also need to send several keyswitches in sequence (like VSL Synchron player) where you send a C1 followed by a D2 for instance. Now we are limited to only one note message per articulation... Too limited for almost all the libraries out there.

Answer 48

Studio One v5 rocks!! Thank you for listening!!

PreSonus might have been smart not to add the full design here.

1 - Smarter instruments require less complex mapping. Look at StaffPad and Infinite Brass. Infinite uses CC's, but Kontakt can convert them easily. Even Spitfire's violin is semi-smart now.

2 - You don't need MIDI channels if sample devs do their job right. 16 Keyswitches can standardize most orchestral techniques, if playback is smart. Bowing placement (sul pont, tasto, normale) via CC allows both agility AND simplified mapping.

3 - The ideal composer UX is... composing, not XML. StaffPad taps to add/swap instruments of multiple libraries. In-app stores w/ pre-mapped libraries is the future, not handing users XML maps and saying "get it working on your own". S1 ought to go that route.

4 - VSL started in the 90's - Spitfire started in 2010 - Then Aaron Venture happened. He re-recorded every woodwind, gives out all updates and expansions for free, and now we see tons of people on VI-Control wondering why they ever bought from Spitfire or Orchestral Tools. Thing is... markets shift. They improve too. But, expecting Studio One to cater to outdated methods is... well... maybe it's time we either move on OR bug sample devs instead now. Each of those companies could improve their Kontakt scripts and proprietary samplers to be more agile with fewer keyswitches. 3 tremolo speeds shouldn't be keyswitches. They should be speed-triggered automatically. It's time their own software dev teams realized how players actually play their instruments... intelligently. The libraries of 2020-2030 are getting smarter... and that's what we need right now. Not more XML. I'm not opposed to better XML mapping. I'd just rather see sample devs improve first, to see what the next step OUGHT to be, instead of simply maintaining old ideas. Cubase didn't touch maps for 10 years. Sibelius had Sound Sets decades+ ago. Everyone else copying Cubase has only done it poorly and convoluted, without actually raising the bar on workflow and UX, which is what we all really need deep down.

In any case...

The PreSonus revolution has begun! Once they link hairpins & KS's to the notation, S1 will be unbeatable! S1 v5 made 2020 better. :)

Answer 49

It’s great that this FR is still alive.

I want to point out that I too hope instruments and libraries will become more intelligent. Especially now that developers can take advantage of the neural engine on mac computers.

so yes to semi intelligent articulation switching like StaffPad. Although the challenge still might be real-time vs offline (StaffPad)

Answer 50

Happy to see Studio One implement the early stages of this important feature for composers. For the next phase I'd like to see:

• Different trigger sources besides NOTES - we need cc's and program changes too (and MIDI channel for each). Extra credit for Velocity and also Momentary! (only while key is being held)

• Independent output triggers from the input - ie user can use cc to trigger the articulation change, but choose a key switch to send to the instrument.

• Multiple parameters sent on trigger. ie : more than one key switch (up to 4 would be enough I think), A key switch plus a cc value, 2 different cc values, etc. Again important to be able to set specific MIDI channels on both sides, input and output.

•Somehow Logic's implementation of articulation switching has allowed DIFFERENT articulations for two notes that are in a vertical structure (hitting at the same time). This has been useful. Seems to work better with Keyswitches vs cc values.

Another extra credit - have a page on the iPad Studio One Remote that auto populates the keyswitches as remote buttons!!

Looking forward to what this feature will bring in future releases!