Re: [Linuxsampler-devel] Correct sustain pedal emulation (midi hold controller) ?

[holborn <ho...@te...>]

Hi .. Benno ..


On Lunes, 27 de Octubre de 2003 10:52, be...@ga... wrote:
> Hi,
> I was wondering what's the correct way to handle the sustain pedal when
> implementing a MIDI sound generating module.
>
> from the MIDI specs:
> -----------
> Hold Pedal, controller number: 64:
> When on, this holds (ie, sustains) notes that are playing, even if the
> musician releases the notes. (ie, The Note Off effect is postponed until
> the musician switches the Hold Pedal off). If a MultiTimbral device, then
> each Part usually has its own Hold Pedal setting.
> Note: When on, this also postpones any All Notes Off controller message on
> the same channel.
> Value Range: 0 (to 63) is off. 127 (to 64) is on.
> --------------

Well ... that's not exactly .. in a real acoustic piano ... if you press the 
sustain pedal ... the release is not infinite ...  sounds goes down even with 
this pedal pressed, in commercial synthesizers for piano like sounds that's 
is emulated ... of course the release is to mutch long than if you dont have 
pressed this pedal.
For a brass sound for example the release if you press this pedal is infinite.

> Now same situation as above but with the sustain pedal pressed.
> You hear the first C2, release it (the corresponding note-off is postponed)
> and then press C2 again.
> In that case is it correct that you must hear two sustained C2 notes.
> Or must the first C2 be forced to get faded out  / muted ?
> If not (eg you hear two sustained C2 notes), how far can this go ?
> Can there be 3, 4 etc sustained notes on the same key too ?

Well i'm no sure how the commercial synthesizers or electronic pianos manage 
this but y supose they maintain the "old" note. In a real acoustic piano .. 
the resonance produced when you press this pedal and you have notes hold 
produces different concomitants harmonics, that varies the timbre of a note 
if you have other notes hold ... that is not emulated by electronic machines, 
some electronic machines generates random harmonics only ... well i'm not 
sure about if the new new models can emulate this.

I think a good police is maintain the old note sound ... almost when the new 
note attack-decay sounds... 


Josep