The Controllers - Yamaha MU100R Owner's Manual

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 in-
fluences 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 genera-
tor 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 saxo-
phone 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.
Damping & Absorption
Simulate the effects of air
friction in the pipe or on
the string, and of high-
frequency losses at the end
of the pipe or string.
Guided Tour
Playing and Editing VL Voices
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.
Scream
Drives the entire system
into chaotic oscillation,
creating effects that can
only be achieved with
physical modelling
technology.
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