[Linuxsampler-devel] Easier instrument articulations changes in the same channel

[Maurizio B. <mau...@gm...>]

Hello,
short version: which is the easiest way to change articulation within the
same channel without calling the exact bank/program for each channel every
time?

I am trying to figure out the best way to write music and change
articulation for an instrument without using different channels and in an
easy way.
I use a very old version of Sibelius (1.4!), through a WinXP guest in
VirtualBox. Even if it is *really* old, it's resource-light and is perfect
for my needs since I know it very well; I know that there is musescore, but
it's still at a too-early stage and not yet usable, even if compared to
that old Sibelius (but I'm waiting!).
Using multimidicast and maple midi I can connect the guest machine to my
host system with linuxsampler running, and this works great.

I have already made an lscp file with an instrument map for Sonatina
Symphonic Orchestra which I use as a "template", and previously I used to
export the midi file from Sibelius, import it in Rosegarden, and then add
program changes to apply the different articulations written as text in the
score. This can be done for simple and short passages, but while working on
large ensambles and/or complex pieces it can be annoying, expecially if you
have to change something back in the score and then add program changes
once again.

Sibelius allows to modify default system text and attach midi commands to
it, so that "pizz." becomes "pizz.~P2" (text after tilde can be hidden),
which correctly sends a program change.
So, I thought that I could modify my instrument map using a different bank
for each instrument, in this way the first program is the default sustain
articulation, the second one is staccato, the third pizzicato and so on. At
this point I just have to add "pizz." and other articulations to the score,
and Sibelius should do the rest.
This is not so "elegant" (and I'd have a lot of banks with just 2-3
programs each, since I added personal modifications and other instruments
to SSO), but is the best that I've figured out so far.

What I'd like to know if there's an easier way of managing articulations
between the instruments.
I thought about bank changes (a bank for every articulation), but I cannot
use them, since usually a bank change requires a program change also and
applying it would mean edit every single bank/program for every staff in
the score, because the default text doesn't keep the program number.
I've seen that Maestro Concert Grand (which is GIG, btw) has multiple
instruments, is there a way to select them with midi control changes sent
to linuxsampler? And is multiple instruments a feature available only for
GIG or for SFZ format also? This could allow simpler (and tidier)
instrument maps.

Thanks for your time, and please forgive my terrible english and
complicated questions! ;-)

Best regards,
Maurizio
-- 
È difficile avere una convinzione precisa quando si parla delle ragioni del
cuore. - "Sostiene Pereira", Antonio Tabucchi
http://www.jidesk.net