Harpsichord: Virtual Instrument Product Manual Versilian Studios - 2015
Harpsichord: Virtual Instrument Product Manual Versilian Studios - 2015
Harpsichord: Virtual Instrument Product Manual Versilian Studios - 2015
Harpsichord
Virtual Instrument Product Manual
Version 1.0
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ................................................................................................... 1
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2
Making Of… .......................................................................................................... 3
Installation Instructions (Windows) ...................................................................... 4
Installation Instructions (Mac) ............................................................................... 4
Uninstallation........................................................................................................... 5
Interface................................................................................................................... 6
Maize Interface ................................................................................................. 6
Kontakt Interface ............................................................................................... 8
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................... 9
Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 12
2
Introduction
Harpsichords have been in use since the Renaissance, and as
keyboard instruments, they represent and unique and now ignored
method of performance- by plucking the strings (pianos hit the strings
with a hammer). This leaves the harpsichord without functional dynamics.
Builders of the time dealt with this by providing multiple stops, or
“presets”, that enabled the keyboard to change timbres to match the
ensemble size or music as needed.
When the piano came along, however, the harpsichord quickly fell
into disuse for a number of reasons. While a fair number of instruments
remain from the period, many in use are instead professional
reconstructions and replicas. The wide range of sizes and shapes, and the
hand-made nature of the instruments gives modern replica makers a
broad range of inspirations and options when building replicas.
This manual will walk you through the background, installation, and
usage of this virtual instrument plugin.
3
Making Of…
Finding a harpsichord in the wild is even harder than trying to find
any exotic brass or wind instrument you could name. First, you must
befriend either an early music performer or a musicologist (or someone
who is a bit of both). Then you have to find enough of an excuse to hang
out with them for a long enough time to see if you can find an early
keyboards fanatic among their friend group. If you are lucky enough to
find one, then it’s a matter of persuading them to give you at least two
hours of time alone with their expensive, somewhat delicate instrument.
Normally something involving a transfer of money or books of early
notation is involved in this process.
Finally, the day comes and you find yourself with quite the cold,
lugging your equipment halfway across Boston. Of course, there are no
precedents on how to mic a harpsichord, so some experimenting is
required. Finally, you get the sound you want. Then you realize the
keyboard is in A 415. Luckily, that’s only an approximate equal-
tempered half-step transposition, so sampling in C major would result in B
major (might want to let the cutter know). A few hours of recording later,
you have just sampled a harpsichord. Congratulations.
Uninstallation
Uninstalling the Harpsichord only requires that you delete all of the
installed files that you placed or had placed during the automatic
installer process. For Windows users, this means the .dll file and
.instruments folder per 32-bit and 64-bit versions, as well as the
Harpsichord Kontakt folder and its contents. For Mac users, this means the
.component file in your library and the Harpsichord Kontakt folder and
its contents.
6
Interface
There are two possible User Interfaces (UI’s) for the Harpsichord
that you will be dealing with; the Maize interface, used for VSTi and
Audio Units, and the Kontakt interface, used for the Kontakt version.
Maize Interface
Kontakt Interface
High Pass/Low Pass: Permits you to add and fine tune a high
and/or low pass filter to remove noise or alter the tone of the
instrument as desired.
Release Volume: Adjust the volume of the samples triggered when
notes are released.
Key Vol.: An added key press sound (‘clunk’) for those who desire
a more clunky, mechanical sound.
Width, Pan: Stereo width and stereo pan (phase-based) allow you
to place the instrument in a stereo field very accurately.
Pre Delay, Room, and Room Size: Settings for convolution reverb.
Experiment around to find the best results for your application. The
white circle indicates if it is on (white) or off (grey, like the High
Pass/Low Pass section shown in the image above).
Additional settings may be accessed via the wrench tool. Prior patch editing
experience recommended.
9
Troubleshooting
Below are some possible issues and steps you can take to try to
resolve them. If you cannot fix the issue following these steps, need
additional assistance, or your issue is not below, feel free to send us an
e-mail at contact@versilstudios.net or use our support page here. We
will reply as soon as possible to your request and help you through the
fix. Follow each step below sequentially for best results. There’s also the
Grand FAQ!
4. Note that most instruments don’t cover the entire keyboard so you
may not hear any sounds if you press certain keys. Try to find the
range of the instrument by moving up and down the keyboard.
Issue: Getting a time limit warning in Kontakt.
Due to the way the world works, we can only release products for
the FULL version of Kontakt. Kontakt Player will only let you use the
Harpsichord for a limited duration before needing to be restarted.
Conclusion
I would like to personally thank you for purchasing and installing
one of our plugins. We try to create things that are useful and at the
same time enjoyable to play and use.
Developing plugins is something that is both an extremely
demanding and extremely rewarding experience at the same time, much
like pursuing a career in music. Through creating this instrument I’ve been
able to write our story and I hope the end result will help you tell your
own story.
Though it may sound cheesy, every time I see (or rather, hear)
someone using one of my creations, it is like hearing someone cover an
old standard in a new and refreshing way. There’s just about nothing
more humbling than submitting your pet project to the world and hearing
the world submit their pet projects back!
If you have any questions, comments, want to let us know about
your musical work that used our plugins, or even just want to chat, feel
free to drop me a line at contact@versilstudios.net.
Keep compos(ed/ing)!