Performance Legato is a concept aimed to give you incredible playability and performance in one simple and easy-to-use patch. These patches are currently available in Spitfire Chamber Strings, Symphonic Strings, Solo Strings, and Symphonic Brass.
What is Legato?
In Sampling, legatos are long articulations with a programmed/recorded 'transition' between the notes. Typically, long articulations include an attack sample, a sustain sample (which is then looped), and a release sample. All of these are then stitched together to make what you hear when you press a key. The final result of this is that you can play a phrase of music that sounds more realistic than if you were to play it using all long notes.
You would use our 'fingered' legato for notes which are connected by or contained within a slur on a musical score; the 'bowed' legato is best used for notes which are marked détaché which means each note is played with a new stroke of the bow; and 'portamento' legato is used where you want the pitch to slide between notes, usually indicated by a wavy line connecting the notes in the score.
How It Works
The way that Performance legato functions can be split into 3 sections: Attack, Transitions & Vibrato. All of these are factors in how you can 'perform' lines with your MIDI controller.
Note: The below figures are specific to our current performance legato patches for Symphonic Strings & Chamber Strings. Whilst Symphonic Brass behaves in the same way, there are some things not included due to the nature of the instruments, such as the runs.
Attack (Short Articulations)
Velocity 1-9 / Smooth Attack
Velocity 10-127 / 4 dynamic layers of Spiccato (6x RR)
Slow Transitions
Velocity 1-19 / Portamento
Velocity 20-84 / Fingered or 'Slurred'
Velocity 85-127 / Bowed
Fast Transitions
Velocity 1-84 / Fast Fingered or 'Slurred'
Velocity 85-127 / Fast Fingered or 'Slurred' with accent.
Run Transitions
Velocity 1-84 / Fingered or 'Slurred' runs (Minor 2nd, Major 2nd & Minor 3rd)
Velocity 85-127 / Fingered or 'Slurred' runs (Minor 2nd, Major 2nd & Minor 3rd with accent)
Vibrato
Senza Vibrato, Molto Vibrato & Non Vibrato. Triggered and controlled by CC21.