I wanted to know if you could create some new keymaps to download. When I am writing I may use a series of metals in the pit such as triangle, bell tree, bell plate, wind chimes, cymbals etc. Sometimes I will use orchestral specific instruments in the pit such as tambourine, triangle, crash cymbals. I wanted to see if some of these instruments could be created in a rack. So that it would not require so many load ups of specific instruments and would not require staff changes etc.

I'd like to restate my request in simpler terms...

As many non-pitched instruments as possible. Gong and concert bass, along with some susp. cyms are a must. From there, as many others as possible. Use all 88 keys and max it out!

After writing the last couple of years, it seems I would still love to have a rack with a lot of cymbal sounds (aka: cymbal-rack-a-saurus).

dave

[quote author=percatap link=topic=606.msg4871#msg4871 date=1149024263]
I am curious to see if there are still plans to make some new kemaps for VDL2.  If so, when can we expect them?
[/quote]

There will be a few new combination instruments in a forthcoming VDL2 library update. This should be available soon.

I am curious to see if there are still plans to make some new kemaps for VDL2.�� If so, when can we expect them?

[quote author=drumdude03 link=topic=606.msg2966#msg2966 date=1123126195]
I think it would be nice if there were key maps for battery instruments that were only the very basic sounds.  Like for the bass drums just the regular drum sounds and snares, just basic right and left hands and maybe rims.  I'm finding that having only 512 mb of memory is very limiting.  I do plan to get more memory very soon but I do still think it would be good for some really basic key maps for people who don't need all of those extra sounds in everything they're writing.... ie. me ;)
[/quote]
Actually, there's something like this already in VDL2. Check out the ";Finale 2005 Map"; in ";Combination Instruments";. Using this instrument, you'll have all your battery sounds in one instrument. Furthermore, most of sounds will automatically alternate between RH and LH hits.

For Sibelius users, don't let the name of this instrument fool you. You can still use this instrument in Sibelius. You'd just have to create the mapping in House Styles>Edit Staff Types, but since it only uses a basic set of sounds, it shouldn't take too long.

I think it would be nice if there were key maps for battery instruments that were only the very basic sounds.  Like for the bass drums just the regular drum sounds and snares, just basic right and left hands and maybe rims.  I'm finding that having only 512 mb of memory is very limiting.  I do plan to get more memory very soon but I do still think it would be good for some really basic key maps for people who don't need all of those extra sounds in everything they're writing.... ie. me ;)

I think my biggest want would just be a general percussion accessory map.  With 8 octaves of mapping space you could definitely squeeze in most of the common concert/pit accessory sounds into one map:

triangle
tambourine
shakers
vibraslap
ratchet
guiro
finger cymbal
agogo bells
rainsticks
slapsticks
sleighbells
cowbell
woodblocks
wind chimes
castinets

I often devote an entire stave to accessory instruments so this'd be a lot more helpful than loading 10 instruments in a bank, but being a large keymap this might not be practical if people inline a lot of individual accessories in general percussion parts.

Combining effect instruments would be pretty useful.  For instance, right now I could really use a metal effect combo that had bell plates, earth plate, propane tank, and all the other metal effects (not accessory instruments).  Just a thought...

[quote author=Luke Aylsworth link=topic=606.msg2625#msg2625 date=1119736605]
I would like to see a rack set up similar to Rack Combo A except it would include the following:

Tambourine
Triangle
Wind Chimes
Woodblock
Tam Tam
Concert Bass
Finger Cymbals

I am not sure if you have to subtract exsisting instruments in Rack A in order to add those instrumnets above. If instruments have to be subtracted I would suggest removing the snare drum and tenor drum. If you can add instruments to the Rack A combo, I would think the addition of the above instrumnets would make almost everyone happy.
[/quote]

I agree with Luke.  His reply is a little more to thep oint than my previous one.

I would like to see a Rack Combo adding tambourine (orchestral and rock) but obviously not all the available sounds as the single tambourine sound currently available, triangle, concert bass, gong, congas and bongos (again, obviously not all the available sounds as the single cound currently available).

I have racks that have 1 or 2 players that use the above instruments and it would ROCK tobe aboe to have all that in one ";instrument";.

Thanks for your continued support and for such a great product Jim!!

Great ideas everybody. Keep them coming!

Jim,

I think the thing for me that is missing in the rack combo would be more cymbal sounds.  I like to use at least 2 or 3 different crashes along with some suspended cymbal as well.  So here would be my list of things I would use most in a rack.

3 crash cymbals
1 china boy
1 splash cym
2 sus cym sounds
1 zil-bel
4 concert toms
1 concert snare (snares on/off)
hi-hat
breakdrum
temple blocks
windchimes
cowbell
triangle

and anything else you can cram in there for a table attachment, like...
ratchet
slapstick
castanets
vibraslap

Hope my comments are helpful.

Dave

Jim:

I would like to see a rack set up similar to Rack Combo A except it would include the following:

Tambourine
Triangle
Wind Chimes
Woodblock
Tam Tam
Concert Bass
Finger Cymbals

I am not sure if you have to subtract exsisting instruments in Rack A in order to add those instrumnets above. If instruments have to be subtracted I would suggest removing the snare drum and tenor drum. If you can add instruments to the Rack A combo, I would think the addition of the above instrumnets would make almost everyone happy.

Thanks Jim!

There will be at least one additional rack setup in the next library update. There is not yet a target date for releasing that update though.

In the meantime, I'd like to encourage anyone who'd like to use these sorts of ";rack setups"; to chime in with any requests on what you'd like to see included in future rack configurations.