Using Garritan sounds in Digital Performer 8

Garritan instruments are used in Digital Performer by opening the ARIA Player plug-in. Once your tracks are set up, add keyswitches and MIDI messages to bring realism to the performance of your music, and fine tune the sound of Garritan instruments. Garritan libraries use both keyswitches and MIDI messages to change instrument techniques, articulations, and effects.

This article will walk you through setting up Digital Performer to recognize the ARIA Player, selecting Garritan instruments for your tracks, assigning channels, and adding MIDI messages to affect playback.

Setting up the ARIA player in Digital Performer

Digital Performer will scan for VST plug-ins upon launch. Once your Garritan library is installed, make sure it is set up correctly and then you can enable it for use with Digital Performer.

ClosedTo set up the ARIA player on Mac:

Installing your Garritan library will automatically install the necessary components to your Mac’s Plug-In folder for Digital Performer to use.

  1. Go Digital Performer > Preferences (Mac).
  2. Choose Audio Plug-ins from the General category on the left.

  1. Select the ARIA player and then click Enable.
ClosedTo set up the ARIA player on Windows:

In order for the ARIA Player plug-in to be available in Digital Performer, the ARIA Player VST plug-in must be copied to Digital Performer’s plug-in folder. The ARIA player plugin is located here: C:\Program Files\Garritan\ARIA Player\VST

The ARIA player is available as both a 32-bit plug-in (ARIA Player VST_x86.dll) and a 64-bit plug-in (ARIA Player VST_x64.dll). Make sure that you're copying the correct plug-in for 32-bit or 64-bit Digital Performer. Additionally, select a specific folder for Digital Performer to use for VST plug-ins:

  1. Go to Edit > Preferences.
  2. Choose Audio Plug-ins from the General category on the left.

  1. Click Add to choose the folder where you would like Digital Performer to look for your VST plug-ins.

Setting up tracks

Digital Performer can route information from MIDI tracks to the ARIA player to use the Garritan sounds for playback.

ClosedTo set up tracks using Garritan instruments:

Add MIDI tracks to your project and assign them to the ARIA player with one command.

  1. From the Project menu, choose Add Track > Instruments with Options.

  1. From the assignment drop-down, choose the ARIA Player.

  1. This window adds one MIDI track automatically. You can increase the number depending on how many you need. Click OK to add the tracks. The ARIA Player opens.
  2. Click empty on slot 1 and load an instrument.
ClosedTo assign a track to the ARIA Player:

The ARIA Player and MIDI tracks can also be added separately to your project.

  1. From the Project Menu, choose Add Track > MIDI Track.
  2. From the Project menu, choose Add Track > Instrument Track > ARIA player. The ARIA Player opens.
  3. Click the word empty on slot 1 and load an instrument.

Now the MIDI track can be assigned to the ARIA Player.

  1. Click in the Output column for the track and choose ARIA Player and then the desired track.

ClosedTo change instruments in the ARIA Player:

Once your tracks are set up, open the ARIA Player at any time to change your settings.

  1. Double click on the ARIA player in the Track Name column.

The ARIA Player opens.

  1. Click the word "empty" on slot 1 and load an instrument sound(s).

Controlling Playback

Use MIDI messages and keyswitches to make your music more expressive and realistic. In Garritan libraries, Keyswitch instruments are identified by a KS in the name. The keyswitch is created by adding a specifically designated note found below the instrument's range into the instrument track.

To see how these features work, we will use a track with Trumpet 1 KS from GPO4 and the Mod Wheel to add a crescendo.

ClosedTo add a keyswitch:
  1. Select the Trumpet track and then click the MIDI tab.

  1. Use the pencil to draw a note on D2 in measure 5.

  1. Play back the file and listen for the change to a mute sound in measure 5.

When playback reaches this point in the track, the keyswitch note will trigger a change to a muted trumpet sound. Refer to the section on Keyswitches in your Garritan manual to find out what keyswitch patches are available in your library and how to use them.

ClosedTo add a crescendo with the Mod Wheel:
  1. Select the Trumpet track and click the MIDI tab.

  1. From the Insert Event Type menu at the bottom of the window, choose Controller > Modulation.

  1. Click and drag in the piano roll to draw a crescendo from measure 1 to measure 5.

Each Garritan library includes a wide variety of instrument effects that can be added using MIDI controllers. Refer to your Garritan manual for a full list of MIDI controls for the instruments in your library.

ClosedTo find more help from Digital Performer:

 

Digital Performer Setup

Adding Instruments

Controlling Playback

 

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