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The Interface

On the left is the main interface for GROSSO. This particular interface is for the Strings instrument but each orchestral group has it’s own separate Kontakt patch, each of which are colour coded: Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion and Choir all operate in exactly the same manner.

Presets

Whichever instrument you choose, GROSSO has 4 user presets, each of which can be assigned up to 3 different fields. The presets can be selected either by clicking them in the interface or with keyswitches.

Fields

Each field has a number of options which can be activated / deactivated. Regardless of which preset or field is in use, they all have the same options, outlined below.

Score View

The phrases in GROSSO are represented by graphics instead of actual notations. However, clicking on the score icon shown here will access the original notation

Version 2.0 - What's Changed?

Since we originally released Grosso we have built many improvements into the engine that enable even more flexibility with the onboard phrases. With version 2.0 of Grosso we bring all the functionality of our later libraries such as Capriccio and Sotto to the original Grosso:

New features:

• Sample offset controls
• Phrase picker previews
• Release sample volume adjustment
• Dedicated patches for Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol keyboards
• MIDI drag and drop from the score window

Sample Offset

A new feature to Grosso V2.0 is the sample offset function.

Click the OFFSET legend at the bottom of the options interface to display the offset controls (shown here with the Strings instrument).

Each mark on the slider represents a quarter note, so the maximum and minimum values are one beat forwards and backwards relative to the original first beat of the phrase. Note that when you double or halve the tempo of a phrase, the offset value will stay relative to the host tempo, so relative to the phrase content tempo these values will change. e.g. when the tempo button is set to 2x all offset values are doubled.

You can use the sample offset function subtly, for very minor adjustments, to tighten up the timing of phrases relative to one another.

You can also use the function to make more dramatic timing changes by offsetting one or more fields by entire beats, resulting in more complex polyrhythms and syncopation.

Phrase Picker Previews

It is now possible to preview the phrases from within the phrase picker. Just click the speaker icon to the left of any phrase to hear an example of the phrase being played. If there are variations of the phrase then clicking multiple times on the speaker will cycle through the variations.

Release Sample Volume

From within the VOLUME option panel you now have the ability to change the volumes of the release samples for any phrase.

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol

Grosso version 2.0 is compatible with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol keyboards. If you are a user of one of these controller keyboards then you should download and use the Komplete Kontrol version of Grosso V2.0 from your users account at https://users.sonokinetic.net

Doing so will mean that key lights on your keyboard will show the corresponding colors of the Grosso keyswitches. In addition, the rotary controls of your keyboard will be automatically assigned to the most commonly used functions in Grosso.

MIDI Drag and Drop

The Grosso interface now features a drag MIDI button. Click the button, hold and drag into your DAW to paste the MIDI information from the Grosso score straight into track(s) in your DAW.

One or more MIDI tracks will be created in your DAW which correlate with the number of staves shown in the score view for that particular phrase. You can then assign your own virtual instruments to these tracks and edit the MIDI data in the normal way.

We’ve developed this to be a real time-saver when you need access to the MIDI data of Grosso outside of the instrument itself. Drag MIDI is useful for several things and gives you ultimate flexibility over the notation of the phrases within Grosso. For example, for doubling instruments, transposing or more complex editing. Drag MIDI also allows a quick and easy way for orchestrators to transfer Grosso’s phrases to a score prepared for live players.

Please note that the MIDI is derived from the original score that the musicians performed, not from the performance itself. Therefore the MIDI will not reflect the nuances of play, and you will have to adjust it manually to get a perfect match with the played performance when doubling it with external instruments. Also note that the MIDI dragged cannot be used as an input for Grosso, you'll need other virtual instruments on different tracks in your DAW to play the dragged and dropped MIDI files.

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