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Standard Orchestra Documentation

The instruments in the Standard Orchestra version of

Virtual Playing Orchestra work the same as many VST Get
Get Virtual
Virtual Playing
Playing Orchestra
Orchestra (free)
(free)
instruments, especially free ones. The volume of any
note depends on how hard, or how fast, a key on your
MIDI controller is pressed. Once you play a note, the MORE ...
volume of that note doesn’t change while you are
holding that note. What was version 2.x of Virtual
Playing Library is now labelled “Standard Orchestra”
in version 3.x of Virtual Playing Orchestra with a few
extra instruments added in version 3.1.

Instruments other than Woodwinds, Strings and Brass, are identical in both the Standard Orchestra and the
Performance Orchestra.

Standard Orchestra Notes

Key switches are assigned to the following notes, with "n" representing
where the key switches start

Cn = Sustain (default)
C#n = Tremolo (only for string section)
Dn = Normal / General Purpose (mod wheel changes length of note
attack)
D#n = Accent (an accented sustain)
En = Staccato
Fn = Pizzicato (only for strings, of course)
There seems to be some confusion about use of the mod wheel. The
mod wheel will only have an effect on the attack of the samples (how
long it takes for the sound to reach it's volume after a key is pressed)
on patches labelled "normal-mod-wheel"

Standard Orchestra Instruments

Woodwinds
Articulations : Sustain, Normal-mod-wheel, Accent, Staccato

Instruments Range Notes

Piccolo D5-C8 Key switches start at C2
(Solo)
It may be necessary to transpose your
MIDI controller up an octave to reach the
upper notes
Load the C3 key switch patch if you
transpose the MIDI notes up and you still
want key switches at C2

Flute C4-D7 Key switches start at C2

(Solo, Section)
It may be necessary to transpose your
MIDI controller up an octave to reach the
upper notes
Load the C3 key switch patch if you
transpose the MIDI notes up and you still
want key switches at C2

Alto Flute G3-G6 Key switches start at C2

(Solo)
Oboe Bb3-A6 Key switches start at C2
(Solo, Section)
English Horn E3-Bb5 Key switches start at C2
(Solo)
Clarinet D3-Bb6 Key switches start at C2
(Solo, Section)
Bass Clarinet Bb1-A5 Key switches start at C6
(Solo)
It may be necessary to transpose your
MIDI controller down an octave to reach
the lowest notes
Load the C1 key switch patch if you
transpose the MIDI notes down to get key
switches at C2
Bassoon Bb1-Eb5 Key switches start at C6
(Solo, Section)
It may be necessary to transpose your
MIDI controller down an octave to reach
the lowest notes
Load the C5 key switch patch if you
transpose the MIDI notes down and you
still want key switches at C6

Contrabassoon Bb0-Bb3 Key switches start at C6

(Solo)
It may be necessary to transpose your
MIDI controller down an octave or two to
reach the lowest notes
Load the C5 or C4 key switch patch if you
transpose the MIDI notes down 1 or 2
octaves and you still want key switches at
C6

All Bb1-C8 All Woodwinds cross faded, spread across the

Woodwinds keyboard.
(Solo, Section) 2 versions:

centered in the stereo field

panned to orchestra seating positions

Strings
Articulations: Sustain, Tremolo, Normal-mod-wheel, Accent, Staccato,
Pizzicato

Instruments Range Notes

1st Violins G3-A7 Key switches start at C2
(Solo,
Section) It may be necessary to transpose your MIDI
controller up an octave to reach the upper
notes
Load the C3 key switch patch if you transpose
 the MIDI notes up and you still want key
switches at C2

2nd Violins G3-A7 Key switches start at C2

(Solo,
Section) It may be necessary to transpose your MIDI
controller up an octave to reach the upper
notes
Load the C3 key switch patch if you transpose
the MIDI notes up and you still want key
switches at C2

Viola C3-A6 Key switches start at C2

(Solo,
Section)
Cello C2-A5 Key switches start at C6
(Solo,
Section)
String Bass C1-G4 Key switches start at C6
(Solo,
Section) It may be necessary to transpose your MIDI
controller down an octave to reach the lowest
notes
Load the C5 key switch patch if you transpose
the MIDI notes for the String Bass patch
down and you still want key switches at C6

All Strings C1-A7 All Strings cross faded, spread across the
(Solo, keyboard.
Section) 2 versions:

centered in the stereo field

panned to orchestra seating positions

NOTES:
- Only instrument with SOLO tremolo is 1st violin
Brass
Articulations : Sustain, Normal-mod-wheel, Accent, Staccato

Instruments Range Notes

Trumpet F#3-C6 Key switches start at C2.
(Solo, Section)
French Horn B1-F5 Key switches start at C6
(Solo, Section)
Trombone E2-F5 Key switches start at C6
(Solo, Section)
Bass Trombone Bb0-F5 Key switches start at C6
(Solo)
It may be necessary to transpose your
MIDI controller down an octave to reach
the lowest notes

Tuba D1-D4 Key switches start at C6

(Solo)
All Brass D1-C6 All Brass cross faded, spread across the
(Solo, Section) keyboard.
2 versions:

centered in the stereo field

panned to orchestra seating positions

NOTES:
- Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone also have dynamic cross faded
(-DXF) versions of all of the above articulations, such that the mod wheel
can be used to control the volume and blending of low and high velocity
layers to enable crescendo, decrescendo during a held note.

- Dynamic Cross Faded (-DXF) versions of "Normal Mod Wheel" (called

"Normal-DXF"), use cc73 (attack time) to control the attack of the
samples, and mod wheel to control the volume and dynamic cross fade.

Vocals
Articulations : Sustain, Normal-mod-wheel

Instruments Range Notes

Choir Male G2-F#4
Choir Female G4-C6
Choir Mixed G2-C6 Choir Male & Choir Female

Other Instrument Notes

Key switches are assigned to the following notes

For Harp, C0 = Sustain (default), D0 = Dampened - OR - B7 = Sustain,

C8 = Dampened
For Timpani, C5 = Hit (default), D5 = roll
For Vibraphone, C2 = Auto Dampened (default), D2 = Open, E2 =
Silence all notes

Other Instruments
Strings
Instruments Range Articulations Notes
Harp Solo B0 - Sustain, Key switches start at C0 or B7.
G#7 Dampened May need to transpose up or
down to reach Key switches

Keys
Instruments Range Articulations Notes
Celesta C4 - C8 - It may be necessary to transpose
your MIDI controller up an octave
to reach the upper notes
Percussion
Instruments Range Articulations Notes
Glockenspiel F5 - -
C8
Timpani C2 - Hit, Roll Key switches start at C6
C4
Tubular C4 - - A3 silences all notes
Bells G5
Snare Drum - Hit, Roll
Xylophone C4 - -
C8
Vibraphone F3 - F7 Auto Damp, Key switches start at C2, E2
Open silences all notes

Key Mapping for Percussion

Bass drum, Snare, Cymbals
Note # Note Name Instrument
36 C2 Bass Drum 1
38 D2 Bass Drum 2

48 C3 Snare Drum 1 Hit - Left Hand

49 C#3 Snare Drum 1 Hit - Round Robin
50 D3 Snare Drum 1 Hit - Right Hand

52 E3 Snare Drum 1 Roll

53 F3 Snare Drum 2 Hit - Left Hand
54 F#3 Snare Drum 2 Hit - Round Robin
55 G3 Snare Drum 2 Hit - Right Hand
56 G#3 Snare Drum 2 Tap (stick, on rim of drum)
57 A3 Snare Drum 2 Roll

60 C4 Cymbals 1 Roll A
61 C#4 Cymbals 1 Crash Lo
62 D4 Cymbals 1 Roll B
63 D#4 Cymbals 1 Crash Hi

65 F4 Cymbals 2 Short Roll

66 F#4 Cymbals 2 Crash Lo
67 G4 Cymbals 2 Medium Roll
69 A4 Cymbals 2 Long Roll
70 A#4 Cymbals 2 Crash Hi

Cymbals
Note # Note Name Instrument
60 C4 Cymbals 1 Roll A
61 C#4 Cymbals 1 Crash Lo
62 D4 Cymbals 1 Roll B
63 D#4 Cymbals 1 Crash Hi

65 F4 Cymbals 2 Short Roll

66 F#4 Cymbals 2 Crash Lo
67 G4 Cymbals 2 Medium Roll
69 A4 Cymbals 2 Long Roll
70 A#4 Cymbals 2 Crash Hi

Miscellaneous Percussion
Note # Note Name Instrument
43 G2 Triangle roll Hi
44 G#2 Muted Triangle Hi
45 A2 Open Triangle Hi
46 A#2 Gong Hit
47 B2 TamTam A
48 C3 TamTam B
49 C#3 TamTam C
50 D3
51 D#3 Finger Cymbals - Hi
52 E3 Finger Cymbals - Lo
53 F3 Tambourine Shake
 54 F#3 Tambourine Hit
55 G3 Tambourine Roll
56 G#3 Cowbell
57 A3
58 A#3 Vibra slap
59 B3
60 C4 Quinto Hit (or high conga)
61 C#4 Quinto Tap
62 D4 Conga Hit (or mid conga)
63 D#4 Conga Tap
64 E4 Tumba Hit (or low conga)
65 F4 Tumba Tap1
66 F#4
67 G4
68 G#4
69 A4 Cabasa
70 A#4 Shaker
71 B4 Ratchet Crank
72 C5 Ratchet Fast
73 C#5 Ratchet Slow
74 D5 Castanets
75 D#5 Claves
76 E5 Wood-block-hi
77 F5 Wood-block-lo
78 F#5
79 G5 Triangle roll Lo
80 G#5 Muted Triangle Lo
81 A5 Open triangle Lo
82 A#5 Sleighbells
83 C6 Bell Tree 1 Stroke 1
84 C#6 Bell Tree 1 Stroke 2
86 D6 Bell Tree 1 Stroke 3
87 D#6 Bell Tree 1 Stroke 4
88 E6 Bell Tree 2
89 F6 Bar Chimes A
90 F#6 Bar Chimes B
91 G6 Bar Chimes C
7 comments on “Standard Orchestra Documentation”
1. evan
July 15, 2022 at 4:26 pm

Thanks! I love Virtual Playing Orchestra

Reply

Paul Battersby
July 15, 2022 at 5:00 pm

You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

Reply

2. Byron R. Bates
May 17, 2020 at 6:19 pm

Can write music notation – just learning about sampling for playback orchestration.

Reply

Paul Battersby
May 17, 2020 at 9:28 pm

We live in a fortunate time where the tools exist that enable us to compose for an
orchestra and hear that composition, without needing to have an orchestra.

Reply

Daniel Kern
July 13, 2020 at 4:37 pm
 Sure is amazing!

Reply

Lincoln A Moura Jr
May 8, 2021 at 3:01 pm

You´re dead right!

Imagine how skifull classical composers were. They had to write their
composition from imagination to paper and find the money to put an orchestra
together to play the score, hopefully with not much to amend….
No me, clearly…
PS. Thanks for the initiative :-)!

Reply

Paul Battersby
May 8, 2021 at 3:11 pm

Also imagine how difficult it was to study orchestration without any

recordings. Just orchestral scores and theory and the occasional
concert. Not much room for trial and error to learn what sounds good.

Reply

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