R.A.W.- A new website hosting free GS3 instruments

[Herman Witkam]

Hi folks.
I've just launched a new website hosting GS3 instruments. I've started with two, Percussion FX and a Peruvian Tarka Flute:
Articulations: Sustain Vibrato, Sustain Non Vibato, Staccato (4 way round robin), Portato (some velocity layered) and 25 short performances.
This website wil be updated every now and then.
http://raw.herman-witkam.com/

EDIT: If the above link doesn't work, use this one: http://www.herman-witkam.com/raw/

[Lux]

Herman,

Nice idea!

I guess you have to fix the link though. Doesnt work for me.

Luca

[Herman Witkam]

The second link should be working.

[Przemek K.]

Hi Herman,

the Tarka Flute sounds wonderful...i like especially the x-fade sustain to vibrato patch.

Combined with Gigapulse its a killer :)

[Herman Witkam]

Thanks, Przemyslaw.
I've also achieved great results in combo with the Gigapulse halls.

Neotypic: The reason for GS3 is the RoundRobin functionality. I have 4 staccato samples for around every two semitones as a region. After converting it to GS2 would lose that functionality. I've just converted the Round Robin controllers to modwheel, and will upload them soon. Check the page for updates.

EDIT: Also watch the page for the Kontakt version coming up, programmed by Alan Lastufka!

[Aaron Dirk]

EDIT: Also watch the page for the Kontakt version coming up, programmed by Alan Lastufka!


Cool, I don't have GS3, the Kontakt version by Alan will come in handy :)

[Herman Witkam]

Alan has programmed the Kontakt version, which is now online:
http://www.herman-witkam.com/raw/
Don't forget dropping a line in the guestbook. Feedback is appreciated.

[Herman Witkam]

There will be, tonight.

[Herman Witkam]

Me too. Too bad I can't be tape operator and musician at the same time ;-)

The Kontakt version of the Tarka (by Alan Lastufka) has now been uploaded.

http://www.herman-witkam.com/raw/

EDIT: And there is now a GS2.5 version for the Percussion FX

[Link F.]

The V to NV patch doesn't work - it can't find the samples, and once given the directory it doesn't make any sound.


How are the crossfades handled? If its by the mod wheel the mod wheel has to be moved before you will hear sounds or it just plays nothing - try flinging around the modwheel whiel playing.

I ran into this problem on some other instruments when playing them.

[Ben H]

Thanks for this, it's mighty kind of you.

[Herman Witkam]

Some quick feedback from the Kontakt version:

The V to NV patch doesn't work - it can't find the samples, and once given the directory it doesn't make any sound.

The dynamics aren't even over the range. Playing C3 followed by C4 will show this. It might help to compress the samples so they're all even?

I'd love to hear some "dirtier" sounds. For me part of what makes the more breathy flutes is the sound of the player. Perhaps two pads, one of one with a recording of the fingers hitting/covering the hole corresponding to the note (since the placement of fingers makes a distinct resonance), and another with a mic positioned close and slightly off center of the mouthpiece to catch the breath noise. Used discreetly it could add to the ambiance.

The staccatos are nice!

A nice start so far! Thanks!

Thanks!
About the kontakt programming, I'll have to ask Alan about that, since I don't own Kontakt.
If I try to play any "dirtier" the flute will overblow, which is an effect on itself. I'm planning to record that. I also have some unedited material (fllutter tongues & breath noises for example) that I will add soon. The current recordings were already done really close to the mouthpiece, so that's why it's quite airy already. I want to add multilayer breath sounds to every patch, so that a fixed midi note can be hit to get the breath sound. This way you can decide exactly where to use the sound.
I've tried listening to the finger settings without actually playing. I had to tick them pretty hard to get any sound at all, harder than I would ever do so when playing a passage. The wood is probably too soft for that. Some of these suggestions do apply to lots of other woods I'm planning to record!


How are the crossfades handled? If its by the mod wheel the mod wheel has to be moved before you will hear sounds or it just plays nothing - try flinging around the modwheel whiel playing.

I ran into this problem on some other instruments when playing them.
With which version does that happen? The GS3/GS2 versions start with the SusNV notes, and when the modwheel is used it starts to crossfade between the SusNV and SusV notes.

[Link F.]

Herman,

I didn't mean with your instruments, I haven't had a chance to download them yet, I was speaking in general. I have a few libraries that use the modwheel for cross fades and typically those patches don't sound until you move the mod wheel a little. This was a big thing when GPO started shipping, everyone though they had blank patches until they moved the mod wheel a bit.

I was just thinking this might be the same issue here.

[Herman Witkam]

It might be, I worked around this in my Gigastudio programming, and in Kontakt it does this automatically as well.

[Herman Witkam]

Tarka v1.1 GS3 / GS2.5
------------------------
- Added breath sounds
- Added 14 new performances

http://www.herman-witkam.com/raw/

[Link F.]

So you got them working then?

[Link F.]

Do you have a sequencer? You can draw in the mod data on CC#1...

[Herman Witkam]

Until you get a modwheel, you could just use the SusV/NV VEL patch right?

[Herman Witkam]

Tarka mp3 demo added
----------------------
"Submitting to the Mountain" is a demo I composed to show the abilities of using the phrases and the sustains with "faked legato mode", achieved by using slight pitch wheel changes at the ends of notes. Players' breath is also included.

http://www.herman-witkam.com/audio/submitting_to_the_mountain.mp3

[Joseph Burrell]

Grabbed the Kontakt files. I like the frame drum files a lot. Thanks Herman.

[FredProgGH]

Tarka mp3 demo added
----------------------
"Submitting to the Mountain" is a demo I composed to show the abilities of using the phrases and the sustains with "faked legato mode", achieved by using slight pitch wheel changes at the ends of notes. Players' breath is also included.

http://www.herman-witkam.com/audio/submitting_to_the_mountain.mp3

Very nice work!!

[Herman Witkam]

Thanks ;-)

[Herman Witkam]

First R.A.W. User demo uploaded
-------------------------------
"Psychedelic Revelations in Peru" - composed by Sid Barnhoorn
http://www.herman-witkam.com/raw/user_demos/sidbarnhoorn_psychedelic_revelations.mp3

The Tin Whistle patch has been updated as well:
http://www.herman-witkam.com/raw/

[Alewis]

Thanks so much!! Really cool of you to share your work with the rest of us.

[Gary M. Thomas]

Herman,

Wow, Excellent samples.... thank you so much. You do very nice work, and they really sound great. Thanks again for your generosity..... Gary