Ample Sound has released version 1.5 of Ample Ethno Ukulele, a virtual ukulele instrument for Windows and Mac.
The update includes a new Riffer module, a riff generator featuring MIDI edit of stringed instruments, multiple formats conversion, automatic riff creation, and more.
String Roll – original notation of stringed instruments
Riffer uses the notation invented by Ample Sound– String Roll. Traditional tab can only write quantized MIDI. It only records fingering without directly showing important information such as pitch, velocity and so on. While a Piano Roll can show MIDI in good detail, it cannot avoid using keyswitches and MIDI controller for fingering, articulation, expression of stringed instruments, resulting in messy notation.
String Roll preserves the composing details of MIDI while it can clearly show fingering, articulation, expression, and even noise in string performances. Every note has 8 attributes – pitch, velocity, length, off velocity, articulation, legato, vibrato and bend, with which the user can make a delicate lick.
The line represents guitar string. Text on the notes represents pitch, Color represents velocity, and length represents duration. Four independent attributes – articulation, legato, vibrato, bend – are shown as icons above. Additionally, any noise including fret buzz, finger slapping or any other special performing skills could be written on the FX-line, which is below the guitar strings.
Information shown on the notes can be changed to various parameters such as pitch, fret, pitch + fret, velocity, duration, off velocity.
The user can easily use the graphic curve above to create a bend. Pitch wheel messages generated by this can also be used for bend in other virtual instruments.
Swing, Velocity Humanization, Velocity Proportion and other real-time parameters can give controllable humanization for quantized MIDI notes.
Strum Feature
Strum Note can control each note in the chord, and 8 other properties including Chord Root, Chord Type, Chord Position, Articulation, Legato, Strum Time, Velocity, Strum Mode. The change of Strum Note will be applied to all notes in the chord. Strummer could make strums quickly even for live play in real time, but Riffer can realize almost all articulations in real playing and conveniently play solo and arpeggio between the strums.
Dice – Automatic Composing
Select the Density of notes, key, chord, range of velocity, click the dice and a main riff will be created. It is not simply a random algorithm, it summarizes the rules of scale and groove of different styles through analyzing a great collection of music scores.
Multiple Formats Conversion
Users can write and compose in Riffer, then directly drag the riff to a MIDI track. Every fingering, articulation, and expression will be automatically converted to MIDI keyswitch and controller. Riffer humanizations can also be included in MIDI.
The user can also import their own MIDI files and tabs into Riffer without any loss (from tab to riff).
Version 1.5 also adds 15 chord types in Strummer.
Ample Ethno Ukulele (VST/AU/RTAS/AAX/Standalone) is on sale at 20% off until September 4th, 2017.
More information: Ample Sound / Ample Ethno Ukulele
