Abbey Road Orchestra: Violas Core

Legato Techniques

Performance Legato

A hugely detailed and highly playable legato patch which reacts in realtime to playing speed

Lyrical Legato

A relaxed legato patch for slower moving melody lines.

Long Techniques

Long

A polyphonic sustained longs patch for pads and chordal writing.

Flautando

A sustained note performed with a fast bow speed playing close to the fingerboard (sul tasto) creating a delicate and airy flute-like sound

Tremolo

A technique performed with rapid continuous bowing, creating delicate flurrying textures at lower dynamics with increasing intensity at louder volumes

Harmonics

Sustained notes produced from the overtones of the string (artificial harmonics) sounding higher than the fundamental to create glassy, suspenseful textures

Trills (Major & Minor 2nds & 3rds)

Rapid alternating between two notes.

Tremolo (Measured - 150 & 180 BPM)

Tremolo performed with a specified number of repeated notes which may be sync’d to the host DAW's tempo.

Short Techniques

Spiccatissimo

An extremely short note length performed by quickly bouncing the bow on the string - an agile technique for very fast, articulate material

Spiccato

A very short and crisp note length performed by bouncing the bow on the string creating a sprightly 'all-purpose' short articulation

Staccato

A short note length performed with the bow starting on the string, sounding clearly detached with a slight accent

Marcato

A technique performed with a strong accented front to the note - presented as a longer note length than 'staccato' with the option of Timed Release triggers

Pizzicato

A short note produced by plucking the strings with the fingers. ‘Bartok pizzicato is recorded at the very highest dynamic.

Col Legno

A technique performed by tapping the string with the back of the bow or a pencil, producing a light and woody sound

Signals

Mix 1

A full-sounding room mix by Simon Rhodes, formed from Tree 1, Overheads, Outriggers 1, and a curated blend of spots.