Yamaha MU100R MU100R Owners Manual - Page 76

Playing and Editing VL Voices The Controllers The input to an acoustic wind instrument comes from the player's lungs, trachea, oral cavity, and lips. In a string instrument it comes from the player's arm movement, transmitted to the string via a bow. These elements actually form an important part of the sound generating system and, in the VL tone generator section, are included in the controllers block. The player also influences the sound of the instrument by playing the keys, tone holes, or frets, and this aspect of control constitutes another part of the controllers block. These and other control parameters provided by the VL tone generator section are listed in the illustration below. In essence, the controller parameters determine how the instrument "plays". All of these parameters can be assigned to any external controller that can be used with the VL tone generator section: breath controller, foot controller, modulation wheel, etc. The pressure parameter, for example, will normally be assigned to a breath controller so the player can control the dynamics of the instrument by varying the breath pressure applied to the controller - a natural, instinctive way to play wind-instrument Voices. At the same time the growl and throat parameters might also be assigned to the breath controller in order to achieve life-like response and effects. Embouchure The tightness of the lips against the reed or against each other, or the force of the bow against the string. Tonguing Simulates the half-tonguing technique used by saxophone players by changing the "slit" of the reed. Pitch Changes the length of the air column or string, and thereby the pitch of the sound. Throat Controls the characteristics of the "player's" throat or bowing arm. Pressure The amount of breath pressure applied to the reed or mouthpiece, or bow velocity applied to the string. Growl A periodic pressure (bow velocity) modulation which produces the "growl" effect often heard in wind instruments. Damping & Absorption Simulate the effects of air friction in the pipe or on the string, and of highfrequency losses at the end of the pipe or string. Scream Drives the entire system into chaotic oscillation, creating effects that can only be achieved with physical modelling technology. Guided Tour 65