Create Expressive String Parts in Logic

Pro's EXS24 Using Articulation IDs

Joe Albano on Mar 23, 2015 in LOGIC PRO 0 comments

Logics EXS24 Sampler was one of the first software samplers, and at first glance, it looks like it
hasnt changed all that much since it first hit the scene. But while EXS24 front panel is largely
unchanged, there have been numerous upgrades and additions under the hood.
Note: Learn more from Joe Albano about using the EXS24 in his complete video
course, Logic 102 The EXS24: Sampling Explored at AskVideo.

Fig 1 The EXS24 sampler

These improvementscoupled with EXS integration into Logic itself, which in effect adds all of
Logics latest & greatest features to EXS programming palatehave transformed EXS from a cute
but lightweight built-in to a much more capable, high-end sampler.

The Little Sampler That Could

Under-the-hood features added to EXS over the years have included Group-based Filter &
Envelope Offsets (to augment EXS single set of front-panel parameters), various randomization
options for Pitch, Velocity, & Sample Select (to combat the dreaded sampler machine-gun effect),
and Exclusive Groups (for proper polyphonic hi-hat cutoff behavior, among other uses). In this
article, Im going to look at one of the features of EXS that, although its been around for a little
while, is still unfamiliar to many peopleArticulation IDs.

Fig 2 EXSs Instrument Editor window Groups view

Articulate That
In EXS Group viewhidden away in the businesslike Instrument Editor windowis a parameter
called Select Group By. This is EXS way of letting you combine multiple keymaps of the same
instrument, for more expressive performance variations. A classic example of this is Orchestral
Strings. String players may employ various performance techniquesoften called articulations
during a performance, ranging from standard legato (smooth bowing), to staccato (short, sharp
notes), to pizzicato (plucking), to tremolo (repetitive bowing for tension), to musical trills.
A string passage may incorporate several of these techniques, with the players changing on the fly.
In olden days, if you had multiple keymaps of these articulations for EXS, youd have had to load
each one into a separate EXS plug-in instance, and record the musical lines piecemeal. But by

utilizing EXS Select Group By function, you can playand recorda string part in real time,
changing bowing techniques (articulations) on the fly. There are several ways to accomplish this
Ill show them with the included Cinema Strings patch, which incorporates all of the above
articulations as individual keymap Groups in one extra-large EXS instrument.

Keyswitching
Many sample libraries make use of keyswitching to provide real-time access to multiple
articulations. This usually requires a full-size 88-note keyboard controller, so you can use the lowest
notes (unused by the instrument) as switches, to call up the different Groups of the different
performance techniques.

Fig 3 Keyswitching: Different Groups in EXS controlled by different (unused low) notes on a controller

In EXS, youd set the Select Group By option for each Group to a different keythen by tapping
the keys while playing, youll switch between different sample sets, for different playing
techniques. You can even switch Groups while notes are being heldthe next notes played will use
the new articulation.
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Keyswitching works fine, but there are some drawbacks. What if your keyboard is too short to spare
any notes? Well, you can accomplish the same thing by assigning an unused controller to switch
Groups instead. Any CC will doApple used ModWheel for the Jam Pack libraries, and that would
be a pretty standard choice. But a drawback to using either notes or a controller to switch
articulations is that now you have to keep track of additional data in the MIDI recordings when you

want to edit the part. Its easy for the keyswitch notes or controller data to get separated or out-ofsync with the music, resulting in the wrong playing technique for some notes after a complex edit.

Fig 4 The resulting MIDI recording, with the keyswitch notes visible at the bottom of the display

Articulation IDs to the rescue

Enter Articulation IDs. These are not bits of standard MIDI data, theyre bits of internal metadata
that are tied to the notes themselvesyou can view and edit them in the event Editor (Fig 5).

Fig 5 Articulation IDs can be viewed and edited in the Event editor

To utilize them in EXS, you just select Articulation ID, instead of Note or Controller, for each
Group in Select Group By, and make sure each group has a different ID number (Fig 6).

Fig 6 Articulation IDs assigned to different groups in EXS Edit window->Groups view->Select Group By area

But now how do you assign these ID tags to the notes in a MIDI recording? Well, if you have a
performance thats already been recorded, you can simply go through the MIDI sequence, selecting
different phrases, and applying the appropriate Articulation ID tags in the Event Editor (Fig 5).

Once this is done, the correct articulation will be permanently tied to each note/phrase, so you can
edit freely, and always be assured of hearing the correct performance techniqueno additional
MIDI data needed.

Real-time expression
But many (most?) people want to be able to play & record the parts in real time, changing
articulations on the fly, as with key or controller switching, but when the performance is done, they
want a MIDI recording without any stray MIDI switching datajust the notes with appropriate
Articulation IDs tied to them. Now, its easy enough to assign, say, a MIDI controller to switch
Articulation IDs in EXS in real time, via the Modulation Matrix (Router). You just assign
Articulation ID as the Destination, the controller of choicelike ModWheelas the source, and set
Intensity to max. But while this will let you switch articulations on-the-fly, youll end up recording
the ModWheel data, negating the main advantage of Articulation IDsthe fact that theyre tied to
the notes themselves!
So, instead of assigning ModWheel directly to Articulation ID via the Mod Matrix, youd assign a
Smart Control knob or button to switch Articulation IDs, and then set an external controller
(ModWheel again, for this example) to control the Smart knob. The result will be the sameyou
can play in real time, switching Articulation IDs on-the-fly with the ModWheelbut since the
external controller setting in the Smart Controls panel intercepts ModWheel messages, they wont
be recorded. Instead, the resulting movements of the Smart knob will be, adding the appropriate
Articulation ID to each note recordedexactly the desired result.

Fig 7 A Smart Control set to switch Articulation IDs, controlled by the ModWheel via External Assignment

The only caveat here is that while the ModWheel is assigned to a Smart Control, it cant be used for
other, normal purposes. So when youre done recording your string parts, youll want to click the
little pencil icon at the bottom of the Smart Control panel External Assignment area and delete
the ModWheel assignment, restoring its normal function.

Express Yourself
The Cinema Strings patch comes with Articulation IDs already assigned in EXS, and a Smart
Control panel already providedall you have to do is set up the external controller assignment for
real-time switching from the keyboard. But if you want to change or expand the supplied
articulation options, or add Articulation IDs and real-time control to any other EXS Instruments
with a collection of performance techniques, its easy enough to do, and it can help to add that allimportant level of expressiveness to MIDI performances and recordings.