• AMATI VIOLA Manual
  • Articulation Types

Articulation Types

Abstract

Learn about the characteristics and controls of each articulation type in AMATI VIOLA.

Articulations are grouped into six different categories; Long, Short, Expressive, Dynamic, Special and Adaptive. The following chapter describes the characteristics of each articulation. The controls vary depending on the type of articulation, and the available controls are also described below.

CELLO_Callout_Articulation_Details.png

The six articulation categories and their respective articulation types.

Long Articulations

Long articulations include Sustain, Marcato and Detaché. Each of these articulations offers a range of legato modes. Choose the desired mode using the selector.

  • Sustain: Play long, sustained notes.

  • Marcato: Play accented notes. Notes played in marcato are played with a stronger attack compared to a sustained note.

  • Detaché: Each note is played with a separate bow stroke. Faster bow strokes make detaché useful when playing faster passages. The bow changes are smooth and not accented

CELLO_Legato_Mode_Selector.png

The Legato Mode selector with the Legato switches.

Tip

Double stop is a string instrument technique of playing two notes simultaneously. Articulations that are usually monophonic, such as Sustain and Marcato, allow you to play double stops. To achieve this, simply press or trigger two notes precisely at the same time.

Short Articulations

Short articulations include Sautillé Single, Spiccatissimo, Spiccato, Staccato, and Pizzicato.

  • Sautillé Single: Alternating bow strokes. The wooden part of the bow jumps or hops up on each note change. Compared to the similar spiccato articulation where the whole hair of the bow leaves the string, sautillé allows you to play faster passages as the hair of the bow stays on the string.

  • Spiccatissimo: A shorter and more accented version of the spiccato articulation.

  • Spiccato: Alternating bow strokes. The hair of the bow bounces off the string on each note change.

  • Staccato: A short, non-bouncing bow stroke, where the bow does not leave the string.

  • Pizzicato: The string is picked with the index finger of the bowing hand. Pizzicato creates a very different, almost percussive sound compared to bowing.

Note

The loudness and the dynamics of the short articulations can be controlled via playing MIDI notes at different velocities through your DAW or a MIDI controller.

Expressive

Expressive articulations include Tremolo, Trill, Ricochet, and Sautillé. Each articulation has varying controls that relate to its performance and behavior:

  • Tremolo: The note is played repeatedly with no specific accent with fast alternating bow strokes.

    CREMONA_Articulation_Tremolo.png

    • Speed: Adjusts the change the speed of the tremolo strokes.

    • Legato Selector: Switches between a Bowed legato and Rebow transitions.

  • Trill: Two notes are alternated in quick succession, either on a half note or whole note range.

    CREMONA_Articulation_Trill.png

    • Speed: Adjusts the speed at which the notes are alternating.

    • Interval Vel: Sets the threshold value where the trill range changes from half note to whole note. The value implicates the velocity of the MIDI notes played on the DAW or with a MIDI controller. For example, if the value is set at 64, MIDI notes below this velocity will trigger a half note trill. MIDI notes played at a velocity higher than 64 will trigger a whole note trill.

    • Legato Selector: Switches between Portamento and Rebow legato transitions.

  • Ricochet: Several notes are played with the same bow direction while the bow is bouncing on the string.

    Ricochet_Speed.png

    • Speed: Adjusts the speed of the ricochet bounces.

  • Sautillé: Sautillé notes played repeatedly.

    CREMONA_Articulation_Sautille.png

    • Tempo Sync: Switches sync on or off. When on, click the x 1 switch to play the notes in sync with the tempo of your DAW. When off, use the Speed slider to control the speed of the articulation.

    • Speed: Adjusts the speed of the articulation continuously when Tempo Sync is switched off.

Tip

Use the modulation wheel or MIDI CC1 to control the dynamics of the expressive articulations with your MIDI controller or DAW.

Dynamic

Dynamic articulations include Crescendo, Diminuendo Short, and Diminuendo Long. Each variation provides a Speed control, that can be used to adjust the speed of the loudness increase or decrease.

  • Crescendo: The loudness of the bowed note increases gradually. Use the Speed control to adjust the speed of the loudness increase.

  • Diminuendo Short: The loudness of the bowed note decreases gradually. Use the Speed control to adjust the speed of the loudness decrease.

  • Diminuendo Long: The loudness of the bowed note decreases gradually. The loudness decreases slower compared to the shorter diminuendo articulation. Use the Speed control to adjust the speed of the loudness decrease.

Special

Special articulations include Sul Pont, Sul Tasto, Harmonics, and Col Legno. They recreate techniques that produce a range of interesting timbral results. Some of these articulations offer bow change controls.

  • Sul Pont: Notes are bowed close to the bridge, resulting in a different timbre.

  • Sul Tasto: Notes are bowed near or over the fingerboard, resulting in a very soft, flute-like timbre.

  • Harmonics: Notes are played by placing fingers gently on the strings, resulting in harmonic overtones.

  • Col Legno: Notes are played by striking the string with the wooden part of the bow as opposed to the hair of the bow, resulting in percussive notes.

Adaptive

  • Virtuoso: Virtuoso is a performance mode that intelligently combines several articulations. Virtuoso is a great way to perform realistic viola performances on a MIDI keyboard or sketch ideas quickly and efficiently without programming keyswitches. Here are some of the features that make Virtuoso a unique performance tool.

    CREMONA_Articulation_Adaptive.png

    • Legato Style: By default, when playing legato notes in lower velocities, the note transitions will be played in fingered or bowed legato styles. Legato notes with higher velocities will trigger portamento transitions. Use the Legato Style selector to change the order of the aforementioned styles according to the velocity, so that lower velocities will trigger portamento transitions and higher velocities result in fingered or bowed legato transitions.

    • Velocity: Set the threshold value for the velocity where the legato style is changed. Notes with low velocities (104 and under) will trigger notes played with sustained articulation, while notes with higher velocities (105 and higher) will result in notes played in marcato style.

Note

In Virtuoso mode, the spiccatissimo and staccato articulations are controlled via mod wheel instead of keyboard velocity. Use the pitch bend control on your MIDI keyboard or DAW to adjust the playing style between spiccatissimo and staccato articulations. Turn the control up to play notes in spiccatissimo and turn the control down to play notes in staccato.

Legato and Bow Change Controls

Category

Articulation

Fingered Legato

Bowed Legato

Portamento

Rebow

Runs

Bow Change

Long

Sustain

x

x

x

x

x

Marcato

x

x

x

x

x

Detaché

x

x

Short

Sautillé Single

Spiccatissimo

Spiccato

Staccato

Pizzicato

Expressive

Tremolo

x

x

Trill

x

x

Ricochet

Sautillé

Dynamic

Crescendo

Diminuendo Short

Diminuendo Long

Special

Sul Pont

x

Sul Tasto

x

Harmonics

x

Col Legno

Adaptive

Virtuoso

x

x

x

x

Note

Detaché articulation has no automatic bow change, so notes end when they are played long enough. However, you can change the bow direction manually with the Bow Change feature.