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Accessing the "Expression" function (conveniently) for audio instruments

I've been working on this off and on for the last couple of months, but I still don't know how to get these two functions into a Hyperdraw window so they can be automated easily. Does anyone know?

As background, let me say that I got my start with Garageband in 2005 and moved on to Logic Express at the beginning of this year. I knew nothing about making music prior to that and I don't play any instruments. Everything I do is with "software" or "audio" instruments.

One thing I noticed right away was that Garageband was set up to give users easy access to functions called "expression" and "foot control" via the region (loop) based editing window, just like Hyperdraw -- and that Logic Express wasn't. Foot control is used with the symphonic instrument jam pack to change articulation (e.g., staccato, pizz., legato); expression seems to be another way to control the sound volume in addition to velocity (which has other affects besides just volume) and the track volume control, which along with pan was also easily edited (automated).

In Logic Express, nothing seems easy about adjusting "foot control" or "expression." Pan and volume are easily accessible in Hyperdraw windows, either in the matrix editor or using track automation. But I cannot figure out how to edit expression or foot control in Hyperdraw, and this is VERY inconvenient.

I eventually found that foot control changes can be created in Event List windows. Creating and positioning a new Change Control event is not hard. One just needs to know that the "number" for a foot control event is 4 and the number for an expression event is 11 (volume is 7, pan is 10).

That's been working for me as far as controlling instrument articulations, but that's no good for the expression function. My main use of "expression" has been to lower the volume at the end of long legato string notes and likewise with other instruments. Logic Express actually does this by creating multiple change control events -- easy to adjust in a hyperdraw window, hideously difficult in the Event List.

By the way, does anyone know what "expression" really is? Is it anything other than another control on the sound volume? If that's all it is, maybe I don't need it. I just learned know how to do track automation on plug ins and other functions. While experimenting with that, I found a number of ways to affect the volume using EXSP24 parameters -- not that I know what any of them are, but I know how to automate them. I even saw that "ctrl 11" appears on the EXSP24 panel, but it wasn't obvious how to get to make use of it.

So how about it? Does anyone know if there is an embarassingly simple means to get expression into Hyperdraw? Especially for editing regions -- I'd really like to use it in the matrix editor if I could. Although I'll take using it in track automation if needed. Alternately, can anyone recommend a good substitute for the expression feature that I could use in matrix editor/hyperdraw?

PowerMac G5 2.3 GHz / PowerBook G4 15" 1.67 GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Jul 29, 2006 8:42 PM

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Accessing the "Expression" function (conveniently) for audio instruments

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