Linux Midi Orchestration Peter Schaffter © 2017 Peter Schaffter Contents Preface. 1 Preliminaries. 3 Software prerequisites . 3 Score template . 4 Adding extra channels to staves . 7 Editing the template’ s .mscx source file . 8 Creating a port/channel mapping file . 9 Acquiring soundfonts . 11 What to look for in a soundfont . 12 Neutrality. 13 Timbre. 13 Attack. 13 Vibrato. 13 Swell. 13 Looped samples . 14 Normalized samples . 14 Velocity layers . 14 No reverb . 15 Mono vs. Stereo . 15 The string section . 15 Chorused woodwinds . 17 Brass sections . 17 Building a library . 17 Useful tools . 18 Setting up the orchestra . 19 Non-session-manager. 19 LinuxSampler. 20 Mapping instruments . 21 Percussion channels . 25 Setting levels . 26 Non-mixer. 26 - i - LINUX MIDI ORCHESTRATION Contents Instrument strips . 26 Department strips . 27 Section strips . 29 Reverb strips . 30 Reverb Master and Master Out strips . 30 Carla. 31 Plugin rack — add Calf Multi Chorus . 32 The patchbay . 33 Wiring the orchestra together . 34 The virtual hall . 34 Z-axis panning . 36 Connections 1: MuseScore to LinuxSampler . 38 Connections 2: LinuxSampler to Non-mixer . 38 Connections 3: Instrument strips to department strips . 40 Connections 4: Departments to Sections & zita-rev1 strips . 41 Connections 5: Sections and zita-rev1 strips to masters . 42 Connections 6: Master to jamin→system(playback). 42 Levels, panning, and reverb . 45 Setting instrument levels . 45 Applying chorusing to wind departments . 46 Applying equalization to string departments . 47 Panning: left/right placement of departments . 48 Reverb: front/back placement of departments . 51 Special cases: 2nd violins, violas, French horns . 53 2nd violins . 53 Violas. 53 French horns . 53 Balancing the ensemble . 53 Pre-mastering. 55 JAMIN settings . 55 Makeup gain . 55 Equalization and compression . 55 Shelf filters . 56 - ii - LINUX MIDI ORCHESTRATION Contents Bypassing compression . 57 Scoring for the midi orchestra with MuseScore . 59 Starting a new project . 60 Setting up the score . 61 Adding instruments . 61 Workfl ow. 62 Midi editing controls . 63 Tools. 64 The Inspector . 64 Staff Text Properties. 65 Tempo markings . 65 Articulations. 65 The Mixer . 65 Scoring techniques . 66 Tempo. 66 Dynamics. 66 Dynamic markings . 66 Hidden dynamics . 67 Doubling notes . 68 Sforzando. 69 Crescendo/diminuendo. 70 Swell. 72 Phrasing. 72 Note velocity . 72 Problem notes . 73 Articulations. 74 Changing articulation gate times . 75 Improving staccato . 75 Repeated notes, portato . 76 Phrase/slur ends . 77 Accelerando, ritardando . ..