Nord User Forum

The SWAM instruments run on iPad or laptop, and are physical models of horns, strings, etc. Each instance of the software models a single instrument. You need to be able to morph multiple parameters at a time to get full expression. Like the real thing, they are capable of surprising nuance, and stand up well as a solo instrument -- just like a real trumpet, sax or violin player. Too fiddly still for playing live, but they sound so realistic recorded they can fool everyone except a real trumpet player.

Can't help you with the libraries, sorry. Did you happen to pick through all the searchable samples here?

cphollis wrote:The SWAM instruments run on iPad or laptop, and are physical models of horns, strings, etc. Each instance of the software models a single instrument. You need to be able to morph multiple parameters at a time to get full expression. Like the real thing, they are capable of surprising nuance, and stand up well as a solo instrument -- just like a real trumpet, sax or violin player. Too fiddly still for playing live, but they sound so realistic recorded they can fool everyone except a real trumpet player.

Can't help you with the libraries, sorry. Did you happen to pick through all the searchable samples here?

Cheers cphollis,

Thanks for explaining the SWAM formats. A bit out of my price range to be honest. I'm on PC and not Mac. I would never rely on my laptop for duties at a live gig. If I owned a Mac I dare say I would.

I have downloaded quite a lot of samples from file-sharing section of the Nord web pages. Mostly brass patches, and a couple of 'signature' packs also.

Maybe someone will kindly clarify if the 'Big Fish Audio' website (I originally linked in post #1) offers compatible materials.

Much appreciated.

As far as I understand, that Big Fish Audio 'Funky Horns' offer is just MIDI files: No audio, no samples included, only notes. You really need to know how digital music production works to be able to understand that there is no sound included. Wonder why they say: 'No drums included'.

It would be very surprising if this would be of any use for you. Probably, it's meant for DAW use.

FZiegler wrote:As far as I understand, that Big Fish Audio 'Funky Horns' offer is just MIDI files: No audio, no samples included, only notes. You really need to know how digital music production works to be able to understand that there is no sound included. Wonder why they say: 'No drums included'.

It would be very surprising if this would be of any use for you. Probably, it's meant for DAW use.

Hi FZiegler,

Perhaps, admittedly, I did not present the clearest of examples. There were many brass/horn packages on display and I should have looked a little closer.

Here is one which contains Wav and AIFF files:

https://www.bigfishaudio.com/detail.htm ... :Brass:721

You may still find this unsuitable though.

Paul

DJKeys wrote:I think a lot is missed when trying to use samples on their own. My best results with brass sounds were combining the samples with synth sounds programmed with the same attack and decay. Also, idiomatic playing is the key to realism, and that is a very difficult skill to master on keyboard, at least for me.

Hi DJ Keys,

Well, I have hooked up my Yamaha mixer and MIDI-ied my (Roland) XV50/50, and have been going through all of the brass/sax patches on the latter. Some of them (not so many, but enough) do sound quite effective when layered with certain downloads from the Nord user site. I also added my control-pedal to act like a volume-swell which gives me a extra touch of control. I could not keep my hands off the board to be honest!

When I do decide I want to commence sampling the two devices MIDI-ied together, what do I do about the FX, please? Record everything 'dry' and then add it onboard the Nord FX section, or record everything with all FX on (meaning I can't change it post)?

<Is it MIDI-ied or MIDI-ed?>

Many thanks.

monsterjazzlicks wrote:

DJKeys wrote:I think a lot is missed when trying to use samples on their own. My best results with brass sounds were combining the samples with synth sounds programmed with the same attack and decay. Also, idiomatic playing is the key to realism, and that is a very difficult skill to master on keyboard, at least for me.

Hi DJ Keys,

When I do decide I want to commence sampling the two devices MIDI-ied together, what do I do about the FX, please? Record everything 'dry' and then add it onboard the Nord FX section, or record everything with all FX on (meaning I can't change it post)?

<Is it MIDI-ied or MIDI-ed?>

Many thanks.

It is Midied.

I would definitely not create samples with effects. This will limit what you can do with them after importing in the instrument. Record everything completely dry, and get the balance between the two instruments the way you like it, as it cannot be changed later other than going through the recording process again-

-dj

It is Midied. - LOL

DJKeys wrote:I would definitely not create samples with effects. This will limit what you can do with them after importing in the instrument. Record everything completely dry, and get the balance between the two instruments the way you like it, as it cannot be changed later other than going through the recording process again-

That's fantastic advice - thank you very much.

I was wondering, sometimes when you program something at home it sounds OK, but when you actually play it on a gig it sounds different (often wrong!). Would you ever go to the extant of renting a rehearsal room for an hour to test out your programming beforehand, or even carry out the programming actually at the rehearsal room? Or are you able to make such judgements in your own home-studio?

Paul

Even renting a rehearsal room won't help much. Things just sound different live as there's a lot of other things going on besides the keyboards: drums, guitars, etc. What sounded good at home now doesn't sit well in the live mix.

Getting your programs to sound their best live is an iterative process. You do what you can ahead of time, but be prepared to get comfortable adjusting them in the heat of battle, and then hit "save" if you like what you've done. Nords are good at that, all the knobs are right there, and it's fun to dial in a sound as you're playing.

The exception would be a quiet acoustic act, maybe me and a guitar? I can put on a pair of headphones and be 95% sure I'm going to like what I come up with ahead of time.

monsterjazzlicks wrote:...I was wondering, sometimes when you program something at home it sounds OK, but when you actually play it on a gig it sounds different (often wrong!)...

True, getting the mix "right" at home doesn't always mean it's going to sound as good playing out. Most of the time just an EQ change can address it, however mixing instruments in a single sample is a little tougher. I'll often record two or three WAV files using different mixes while everything is set up in case a change is needed.