Articulation maps

Articulation maps are a universal way to deal with expressions/articulations in VST instruments or hardware MIDI instruments that may be controlled by various methods including:

Note “key switches”

The velocity of a note

Control change events

Grouping of patches across different MIDI channels (e.g. legato strings patch on ch 1, pizzicato patch on ch 2, etc.)

If you work with sample libraries and virtual instruments, articulation maps are sure to improve your MIDI and articulation/keyswitch workflow.

Recreating a convincing performance with sample libraries and virtual instruments can be a difficult task. The process is made somewhat easier if the sampled instrument includes a range of performance articulations, which is commonly controlled via “keyswitches”. These are used to trigger different sample layers that contain the various performance options. Cakewalk's support for articulation maps make it easy to work with articulations and keyswitches.

Articulation maps provide a much simpler way of switching articulations, without having to manually edit MIDI events in the track. All articulations appear neatly at the top of the Piano Roll view instead of spread across the Notes pane, which helps you to better visualize and edit the articulations and keyswitches.

When recording, you can focus on the actual performance — getting the right notes, rather than building expression into the performance — then use articulations to add expression after the basic performance has been recorded. Adding articulations as part of the editing process is often easier than trying to play keyswitches in live via your keyboard.

Articulations do either, or both, of the following:

Trigger new MIDI events (Generate New MIDI Events in the Articulation Map Editor)

Alter existing MIDI events (Transform Existing MIDI Events in the Articulation Map Editor)

Articulations that are added to MIDI and Instrument tracks are automatically applied during playback.

An Articulation map is a collection of up to 255 articulations, normally associated with a single VSTi or sample library. Each articulation has a collection of MIDI Events to send out and/or a collection MIDI Transforms to apply to existing MIDI data.

Cakewalk includes a few general-purpose articulation maps that let you experiment with the feature. You can create your own articulation maps, or download maps for orchestra libraries and virtual instruments.

Cakewalk can import Cubase expression maps, so you can get started quickly by downloading maps for popular instrument libraries such as Vienna Symphonic Library, Garritan, Kontakt, etc. See Importing articulation maps.

 

See:

Using Articulation Maps

Editing articulations

The Articulation Map Editor

Creating an articulation map

Modifying an existing articulation map

Importing articulation maps

Exporting articulation maps

Applying articulations

Extracting keyswitch articulations from existing MIDI data