Hi … I am in the process of deciding whether to switch into the world of Cubase (Demo-ing Pro now). I’m liking the UI so far, but the two features that are baffling are: Expression Map Import from VST3 instruments, and how to import .grv files for midi groove quantization. I think I’m following all the steps for expressions, but I have no option to import. My VI’s are loaded, patches are loaded, and there is midi in the track itself. I’ve had zero issues with StudioOne with this feature, so I know the VST’s can push out the data. Right now I’m trying to use map from Vienna Synchron Player (ViolinPro 14). Thoughts?
Expression map import is exclusive to studio one. From what I understand it only works with Vienna instruments anyway.
We Cubase users all create expression maps ourselves! It’s better that way anyway as you’ll find there are articulations you never use. And maybe hou always want your shorts on c0, etc.
If Cubase can import an Expression map from a VSTi it will show up in the drop-down menu, as in the following images - the first instrument is able, the second isn’t.
Also, there is this (It’s in English, don’t know why it looks as if it’s in German):
There may be others…
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From my understanding it only works with Steinberg’s own instruments.
This has been my experience.
True - mlib,.it seems to work only on Steinberg instruments. Or at least only Steinberg instruments and none of the VI’s I have. Fortunately, the folks at BabylonWaves have a solution for everything else. At EU95 it’s well worth the money to have them all complete. Thanks for taking the time to reach out … I do appreciate it! Have a terrific day/night!
Steve
effectively true, though any VST instrument whose author implemented the function can do it too. It’s been a while since I explored that though, so don’t have much to offer…
That should be the case, true. Sadly … I’ve have Synchron and Ample both work vey well in other DAW’s. So … I’m led to believe it’s a Cubase thing. Babylon here I go …
I’ve been researching expression maps for several months now. This thread contains some misunderstandings. I’ve worked with Cubase, Native Instruments, and Vienna Symphonic Library instruments. I don’t know about other libraries, but importing mappings is only available for Instruments distributed by Cubase. Check with support or the help files for exact details.
Importation of expression maps is not available for VSL instruments, but downloads are available for the Synchron and Synchron-ized Libraries. All other expression maps distributed by VSL for their other libraries are obsolete and will only (possibly) work with older versions of Cubase that Steinberg no longer supports. The current Synchron mappings can be opened in the Cubase expression map app once unzipped. You will want to modify them to the attribute function, as the directional function is unusable.
As luck would have it, if you are interested, I have expression maps worked out for several of the wind instrument libraries (Vienna Instrument 2.0 only) and all of the Orchestra Strings. I could share one of those with you if you’d like.
“You will want to modify them to the attribute function, as the directional function is unusable.”
just curious, what is unusable of the directional function?
I don’t think Steinberg has made any updates in the Expression Maps area since its inception. (Sadly.)
Guy Michelmore explains in this video.
The Steinberg expression map app can still be used (it’s all we have) for expression map making. Vienna Symphonic Library’s patches are not very useful without the application of expression maps. Those for Vienna Instruments Pro 2.0 put up by VSL can’t be opened in Cubase 13. Or 12. Or 11. Or 10. Or 9. So I’ve had to make my own.
i see, the VSL expression maps for recent Synchron work fine in both direction and attribute mode.
What Guy is showing in the video is directions mode of Babylon Waves Art Conductor expression maps, which are useless cause they use one group instead of four to combine all articulations in a few articulation lanes.
I didn’t know some older libraries are not supported by VSL expression maps, but there is a free online tool to quickly make your own for Cubase/Nuendo https://expressionmaps.soundsinabox.de/
I have that tool.
I could not use the direction mode for more than about eight articulations as how they appear is too crowded and too spidery to read. If you’re only loading six or fewer at a time they might be legible but then when there are thirty or more articulations for a single instrument, what are we looking at for usefulness? I’ve got exactly 52 articulations for orchestral cello. I don’t find the idea of breaking up the mappings into several groups very appealing.
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