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View Full Version : Creating a custom keyswitch in Kontakt2


Stefan Podell
07-20-2005, 10:09 AM
I am by no means a Kontakt expert, but here's a pretty straightforward way to make a custom (Kustom?) keyswitch. Let's say we're going to make a new 18V C0-D0 keyswitch containing these patches:

F 18V Exp
F 18V Marc Long
F 18V Pizz

I don't know why I chose those. I just did... :p Choose your own! :)

Okay, here we go.

Load each of the instruments that are going in the keyswitch -- in this example, the three listed above.
Click on the Load/Save button at the top of the K2 window and choose "new instrument"
Click on the wrench icon for the first instrument. F 18V Exp in this case.
Click on "Group Editor"
Select all the groups. You can probably do this by just shift-clicking on the last group, since the first group is already selected.
Click on the Group Editor's "Edit" button and choose "copy select group(s)"
Click the wrench again to get back to the instrument list
Click the wrench for the new instrument
Click on "Group Editor"
Click on the Group Editor's "Edit" button and choose "paste group(s) with samples"
Make sure the "Edit All Groups" button (it should be dark red)
Select each of the groups you just pasted in. In this example, there are three new groups: "f 18v exp piano 'on'", 'f 18v exp forte 'on'", and "f 18v exp 'rel'". Selecting means clicking on the check-box to the left of each group.
Click on "Group Start Options" just below the list of groups. You should see "Group Starts" followed by a button that says "always".
Click on "always" and choose "start on key"
Edit the two fields to the right of "if key is between". In this case, C0 is already in both fields. Make sure to use a key that isn't in the range of the instrument.
Click the wrench again to get back to the instrument list (skip this step the last time).
Repeat steps 3 through 16 for each additional instrument you want to add. The groups you copy will be different each time, and the "start on key" values will be different (for example, C#0, D0, ...)
Again, make sure the "Edit All Groups" button is dark.
Select the "Group 1" group. It was the default group when you created the instrument.
Click on the Group Editor's "Edit" button and choose "delete selected group(s)"
Click on the wrench to get back to the instrument list
Click on "EMPTY INSTRUMENT" and change the name to something more useful.
Click on "Load/Save" and choose "save >" and select the new instrument from the list.


It's a lot of steps, but most of it is repeated. And once you do this a couple of times, it becomes easier. Or it might, at any rate.

I hope that helps!

- Stefan

dubaifox
07-20-2005, 12:54 PM
Hey that is great Stefan, Many Thanks!

I will give it a try.

sinkd
07-20-2005, 10:09 PM
Hi Stefan,

Isn't there also a way to script incoming MIDI data (like keys C0, C#0, D0, etc.) to generate a program change within a multi-instrument? I haven't worked with the scripting (just got K2 last week) but it might also be a possibility.

D
S

Stefan Podell
07-20-2005, 10:29 PM
Probably, though I haven't availed myself of the scripting engine yet. :p

One advantage of using keyswitches over multis, though, is that you get more bang for the buck, in terms of instruments per K2 instance. For example, I might be able to load 16 keyswitch instruments in one instance, and cover all the woodwinds and brass (in fact, that's what I do). But if I used multis, I'd need at least 4 instances to cover all of it. And each K2 instance takes RAM and CPU.

- Stefan

KevinKauai
07-21-2005, 06:31 AM
Hi, Stefan - -

Recently Chris Caouette guided me through the steps of constructing a custom KeySwitch in Kontakt 2 and I documented each step graphically in the spirit of "giving back".

I announced the availability some weeks ago, but perhaps it didn't make this Forum. The tutorial (also printable/downloadable as a PDF) is here: http://www.kevintweedy.net/K2T/K2_KeySwitch.htm

I find that pictures help when going through 20+ unforgiving steps, so the tutorial is loaded with (I think) clear screen shots which make each move unambiguous.

Kindly report any problems or exceptions on the email link there.

;) KevinKauai

sinkd
07-21-2005, 10:14 AM
Thanks, Kevin.

I'll check it out, too.

Stefan, what I meant to say was to use instrument banks (not multis) and switch between patches (001, 002, 003, etc.) with program change info coming from a script. This should work now that the program change bug is fixed in K2.

If I get something working, I'll post it up.

D
S