User Manual

ARTURIA – BRASS 2 – USER’S MANUAL

6 USING BRASS IN MIDI

6.1 LIVE Mode

In the Live mode, using a MIDI controller is indispensable if you wish to truly play your

instrument or kit. A MIDI controller is a physical interface, a control keyboard or a pedal

for example, that permits control of your software by a MIDI protocol device.

One of the major interests of the physical model synthesis that are proposed in BRASS 2

is the fact that they offer a control instrument close to that which we find on the original

instrument.

Working on the keyboard will be more practical and useful for the studio musician that

searches to compose in a well-known environment. Controlling the pressure by a breath-

controller will give a degree of additional realism. Controlling through pedals, joysticks,

etc. also permits enjoyable ease in your search for realism and expressivity.

Using a MIDI wind controller like the Akai EWI allows the most intuitive control over the

physical models by going back to the original playing modes of these instruments, and

sending by MIDI messages the performance parameters of your playing.

6.1.1 Using a MIDI keyboard

A MIDI keyboard literally permits you to play an instrument proposed in BRASS 2 in the

same manner an instrumentalist would.

Example of a MIDI control keyboard

In using the possibilities of control offered by the keyboard (velocity or after touch for

example) you’re going to be able to get closer to the level of expression of a master

instrumentalist on the trumpet, saxophone, or the trombone.

• The velocity is the force with which the keys of the keyboard are pushed. The

MIDI keyboards of a certain level can transmit this information to BRASS 2 which

will transform itself and send back the sound associated with the pressure.