I’ve noticed that the Sonic Selection library now comes with some of the “VX” instruments.
I.E. Solo Trumpet VX
This is a very welcome addition for the sake of collaborating with fellow Dorico users. I can’t remember if those were part of the old Artist library, or if you had to buy Sonic 2/3 or full HALion/Absolute to get them…
If I recall correctly, the VX programs (and more) were once upon a time far more editable in the old Sonic 3 rendition (Not SE, but the mid-tier Sonic 2/3 product-Now sold as a Content Expansion set for Sonic 7). Quite a few things are missing from the Macro editor that could/should still be exposed via the PROGRAM Tab in Sonic.
Sonic 3 provided access to a lot more options in way more of the older sounds/programs than “Collections” does now that the old Basic/Artist libraries have been updated and merged together as Sonic Selection…so even someone with Sonic 7 Collections can no longer get at things like changing the key-switches, manipulating the MIDI mod matrix, tweaking controls that aren’t in the Macro page, piddling with things like adding/adjusting portamento effects, etc.
These ‘key-switching’ instruments would be more useable in a wide variety of workflows if they defaulted to ‘permanent’ key-switch mode. They currently load up in the temporary mode instead!
It would also be helpful if options were added to the Macro Editor to change the key-switching mode, and change the default articulation when it is in temporary mode (See HALion Symphonic Orchestra for one example of a way to expose these key-switching options in a Macro editor).
If it cannot be added to the Macro editor quickly for the next release, at least do an update that unlocks/exposes the native HALion UI controls in the Sonic Program tab to work with these options. Everybody gets full Sonic now, so in theory it’d be pretty simple to just expose some more stuff in the PROGAM tab of Sonic. Right?
This oversight with the key-switches makes it very difficult to tweak and fine tune the various articulations. Few people have THREE HANDS to hold down keys while attempting to pound notes and also fine tune how they sound with the mouse.
It’s also pretty restrictive for workflow options with hosts that aren’t really geared for temporary style key-switches (must be held down to use, letting it up goes to a default articulation). Cubase and Dorico expression maps are set up for it, but virtually no other workflow can make use of these NICE HALion programs without it being way more trouble than it’s worth.
In the least, please fix all Sonic Selection instruments/programs with key switches so they default to the ‘permanent’ mode (tap a key-switch and it latches until a different key-switch is pressed’.
I honestly believe a lot more people would use them if they were set up out of the box in the ‘permanent’ mode.
Please include the VX programs for the Alto Saxes and Trombones too! I’m puzzled as to why they’ve been left out of Sonic Selection. Those would be quite helpful to Dorico users wanting to do Jazz and Big Band charts.
Something else that’d be nice…I’ve made my own, but including decent falls/scoops/doits as MIDI for the FLEX machine from the factory and ready to be implemented in Dorico would be handy for the low instruments like Bari Sax and Base Trombone (and other instruments without the fancy key-switches too). I see a couple of lame attempts to do some falls (Funk2 E1 and Funk1 E2), but could something better, with Dorico and/or the Cubendo Score Editor in mind come in the kit?
