CONTROLLING GARRITAN ORCHESTRA WITH KEYBOARD MOD
In addition to the mod wheel (CC#1), Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 will also respond to breath control (CC#2) and MIDI expression (CC#11) to control the function of expressive volume/timbre. Additionally, cymbals, snare drum, and bass drum use mod wheel to control volume of rolled crescendos/decrescendos when the proper note is played. It is analogous to the air being blown through a wind instrument or a bow being drawn across the strings in a string instrument.
It is intended to be used as an expressive controller that is in nearly constant motion shaping the volume and timbre of a passage. Remember that in Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 the mod wheel is not a “set and forget” controller. In the case of a sequencer, make sure to record a nudge of the mod wheel at the beginning of every MIDI track so that Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 instruments will start with the correct volume upon playback. The mod wheel controls the dynamic ebb and flow of volume and timbre changes. In typical General MIDI soundsets, the mod wheel is used for its typical function to add modulation or vibrato to the sounds. Note: Instruments that do not sustain their sounds, such as pianos and drums, follow the General MIDI convention using note velocity for dynamics and sustain pedal for sustains. Especially with the brass instruments, louder levels produce a brighter sound. strings, woodwinds, brass, organ, wind machine). With Garritan Personal Orchestra 5, the mod wheel simultaneously controls both volume and timbre for sustaining instruments (e.g. Normally, this controller is mounted on the left side of the keyboard and is played with the left hand. Dynamics and expression in Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 are achieved through the mod wheel. Without dynamics, music lacks depth of expression. Every phrase and note has unwritten dynamics and nuances that players interpret. One thing that makes an orchestra sound great is dynamic contrast.