Harmonics with SWAM solo strings (VST) and Dorico

[noisemaker24]

I’m looking for some help.

I use Dorico with the SWAM Solo Strings VST (specifically cello, but this would apply to any of the SWAM solo strings). Dorico plays harmonics at the sounding pitch for the harmonic partial (2nd, 3rd, 4th etc) - which makes sense. However, the SWAM instruments play harmonics based on the fundamental pitch - then calculate the harmonic sound based on which partial is indicated (2nd, 3rd, 4th). These can be changed via a MIDI CC value. Dorico Playback Mode supports MIDI CC via automation, so this works. The problem is the SWAM instrument uses whatever note it receives as the fundamental, whereas Dorico sends the higher partial - so everything is now higher by an 8va, 12th, or 2 8vas.

I have several passages which use a lot of harmonics, and want a way to keep the SWAM cello as it has so many expressive features controlled using Dorico’s CC automation (bow pressure, vibrato, bow position, dynamics, tremolo speed, etc).

I initially thought an expression map would work - but I don’t see a way for an “add-on switch” to include note transposition.

The only solution I’ve found is to notate the fundamental, place a chord note in brackets as the harmonic and use the “suppress playback” note option on the harmonic partial note. This works - the fundamental will now go to SWAM, but it uses a non-conventional solution for string harmonics, where the many Dorico options otherwise give nice standard notation options for harmonics.

I’m relatively new to Dorico, so I’m hoping there may be some solution I haven’t considered. Any input or suggestions welcome!

[dspreadbury]

I’m not sure whether @Major81, who has been working with the SWAM instruments for a while, has come up with a good approach for this. You can find the expression maps he’s produced here:

Expression maps for SWAM wind?

I once had a zoom call with the CTO Lele and Andrea of Audio Modeling about my expression maps, since they wanted to build their own. But I don’t know if they are still working on that. It really has been a while. Here is a project with an XM for SWAM instruments. They work best with Vienna Ensemble pro, where I build sections out of small sections. But that is more for the strings. I don’t know if this projects use my latest expression map. But anyway you should use these settings: Mapping S…

[noisemaker24]

Thanks! I found the Audio Modeling expression map in the files that @Major81 graciously provided. There was an add-on switch for “Natural Harmonic 1.” But this didn’t solve the problem of Dorico playing the sounding pitch and the SWAM VST treating it as the fundamental. I tried adding a “Base” switch, with a transposition but that didn’t change anything. I will admit that this is my first time trying expression maps, so it is possible I don’t have it all wired together properly…

Nonetheless, I am grateful for the quick response and for pointing me to the previous post about SWAM expression maps. I probably should have found this on my own, but my search criteria was probably too narrow.

[Major81]

Hey,

Im glad you downloaded the XM. My expression maps are in development and I didn’t spend time on the harmonics yet. Maybe you can ask Andrea from Audio Modeling. The still developing their own maps.

Best,
Matze

[noisemaker24]

Thanks for your response. I opened a ticket on this with Audio Modeling. Andrea responded with: “I believe the best approach would be to create a specific notation for each harmonic articulation in Dorico.”

So I take this to mean to create a custom performance technique for each harmonic notation type (natural 2nd partial, natural 3rd partial, artificial 4th partial, etc) rather than use the existing harmonic notation capabilities. I’ll explore this.

Since you are working on your expression maps I’d like to suggest staying in touch - I would love to see how you evolve this and I would be happy to try out what you’ve done. As another suggestion - if you do develop something to share - it might be useful to include a SWAM preset file that has the MIDI CC mappings you use in the expression map.

[Major81]

@noisemaker24

As another suggestion - if you do develop something to share - it might be useful to include a SWAM preset file that has the MIDI CC mappings you use in the expression map.

This is a good Idea. Never thought of that… do you know where they are stored on a Mac? And how they are named?

[noisemaker24]

Preset files can be stored anywhere. They use a “.swam” file extension. When you export you choose what aspect of the Preset to use (MIDI, instrument, etc or full Preset) and select where to store them. Import and Export are available in the main menu. You can also access Export from the options menu of an individual preset.

[jaskarbong]

I’m not at my computer right now, but I think you can find them in the shared user folder….
…/Audio Modeling/SWAM3/etc.
You’ll have to pick the Right group: Woodwinds, Brasses, Strings (solo or section), then continue down through the appropriate instruments, then I think it’s /presets/factory.
The actual MidiMapping files end with .swamec. (The MT files are micro tuning while the swamfiles are the individual voices and Room settings.)
Be very careful if you edit them! (At least back them up, in case you need to replace them.) Also note that while you can create your own, the original factory files will be overwritten with each upgrade!
Hope that helps.
— Jim