Articulation
Learn about different categories of articulations in AMATI VIOLA to expressive and realistic performances.
Just like a true virtuoso is able to make their instrument speak in different colors and tones, AMATI VIOLA includes a comprehensive selection of articulations allowing for expressive and realistic viola performances. Articulations shape the instrument's sound through variations in transients, length of the notes, bow pressure and position, and hand, finger and wrist movements. AMATI VIOLA provides 20 articulation variations that can be loaded into slots. For more details on articulation types and their respective controls, refer to Articulation Types.
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Keyswitch: Articulations can be switched using keyswitches that are assigned to MIDI notes of your choosing. For more information, refer to Keyswitch.
Articulation Types: 20 different articulations are grouped into six categories. For more information, refer to Articulation Types.
Con Sordino: Play the instrument in mute style with a damper. For more information, refer to Con Sordino.
Open (dots icon): Opens the Articulation page for the selected articulation slot.
Legato Modes: Select from several different legato modes, which define the transition from one note to the next when playing legato. For more information, refer to Legato Modes.
Bow Change: Control and force bow changes when playing certain articulations. For more information, refer to Bow Change.
Close (x icon): Closes the Articulation page and returns to the Main page.
Articulation Slots
AMATI VIOLA offers eight articulation slots, which can be found at the bottom of the Main page. Select an articulation by clicking the corresponding articulation slot. Open the Articulation page by clicking the symbol in the top right corner of the slot, and load an articulation into the slot by selecting from the 20 available articulation types.
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Articulation slots at the bottom of the Main page.
Keyswitch
The articulations can be switched using keyswitches that are assigned to MIDI notes of your choosing. The active keyswitch is visible in the top-left corner of each articulation slot in the Main page.
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The Articulation keyswitch and MIDI learn button.
Keyswitch Selector: Selects the preferred keyswitch for the selected articulation. Drag the selector up or down to select the keyswitch note.
MIDI Learn: Activates the MIDI Learn button. Use this to alternatively set the keyswitch by pressing a key on your MIDI keyboard or controller
Bow Change
AMATI VIOLA allows you to control and force bow changes when playing certain articulations. The active keyswitch for Bow Change is indicated with an illuminated purple key in the keyboard section, located at the bottom of the KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER window. Not all articulations allow for bow changes, refer to Legato and Bow Change Controls for a list of articulations that offer this feature.
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The Bow Change keyswitch and MIDI learn button.
Keyswitch Selector: Selects the keyswitch for controlling bow changes. Drag the selector up or down to select the keyswitch note.
MIDI Learn: Activates the MIDI Learn button. Use this to alternatively set the keyswitch by pressing a key on your MIDI keyboard or controller.
The active keyswitch for Bow Change is indicated with an illuminated purple key.
Tip
If you hold a note down long enough when using a longer articulation such as Sustain or Legato, AMATI VIOLA performs the bow change automatically in a natural-sounding way.
Con Sordino
A sordino is a damper used to mute or control the volume level of a string instrument performance. String instrument sordinos were widely popularized by romantic composers who looked for new timbres and ways to perform in more conservative volume levels. AMATI VIOLA allows you to play the instrument in Con Sordino (Italian for 'with mute') style, which produces a completely different timbre. Use the Con Sordino switch to activate the damper.
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The Con Sordino button.
Con Sordino: Switches the damper on or off. When Con Sordino is active, the button is highlighted and the damper is in effect.
Legato Modes
Legato is a musical term used to describe notes that are played smoothly and connected without silence in between. Long articulation styles offer the choice between a number of different legato modes, which define the transition from one note to the next when playing legato. Click the respective legato type to select the desired legato mode.
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The Legato Mode selector with Legato types.
Depending on the articulation, up to five legato modes are available:
Fingered: Changes the note without changing the direction of the bow, allowing you to play multiple notes without rebowing.
Bowed: The bow direction is changed simultaneously with the note change.
Portamento: The note changes are performed with a glide, simulating how a violaist would slide a left-hand finger on the fingerboard to move between two notes.
Rebow: Rebow changes the note with a new bow stroke, but without audible finger movement of the left hand.
Runs: Legato mode designed for playing fast legato runs.
Note
Legato mode is not available for all articulation types. For more information, refer to Legato and Bow Change Controls.