I experience often hanging notes when using NI String Ensemble Symphony Essentials. This is an issue that seems to be around already for years now. But according to NI it should have been solved in version 1.4.0 ( in 2018 ). It is not solved !!
When you “google” this issue, lots of people complain about random ‘note hangs’. After extensive testing I found a way reproduce the issue in a consistent way.
I created a support ticket at NI for this, in which I explain how to reproduce it, and other observations.
Hereby the content of the ticket:
Sometimes I have hanging notes while playing Symphony Essentials String Ensemble. This Is/was a known issue, but according to the changelog it should have been fixed in version 1.4.0 (2018-10-16). I’m currently running version 1.4.1, but the issue is still not fixed.
As I use this Library during live performances, this is not something you want to happen during a performance. I did some extensive testing and found in my opinion what the issue is. I also have an easy way to reproduce the issue:
Press a note, and keep it pressed.
Then Press the Sustain pedal and keep it pressed
Press again the same note and keep it pressed
Now release the sustain pedal (while note is still pressed.
Now release the pressed note, and you will hear the note keeps playing.
When you observe the number of used voices, you will see that everytime you press the same note (while sustain pedal is pressed), the number of voices will increase by 2. It seems that previous sample is not being released, after triggering/playing the same note again.
When you play the same note 4 times, then 8 voices will be used. Keeping the note pressed, and then release the sustain pedal, only the last 2 voices are released, and the 6 are still playing. Pressing the sustain pedal another time, will release then all remaining voices.
I tested with all the other symphony essential / and also symphony series libraries. And this only happens with “string ensemble symphony essentials”. All other libraries will retrigger the same sample / or release it before triggering it again. In that way the number of voices will not increase while playing the same note several times.
I hope this gives a clear view on how to reproduce the issue, and in that way also a hint on how to solve it.
I only have tested this on Windows, and I’m curious if anyone can reproduce this also on Mac. To rule out GP as the cause, I tested also in Cubase and Pro Tools, and on 2 different computers. The result was everytime the same.
Its nice that this solves the issue in GP. It does not change the fact the NI should get its plugin’s to work correctly. ( For the users that don’t use GP) The problem should be solved at the source, so I hope NI will somehow react, but knowing them…
As many use to say here: this is not a solution, but a workaround
Hello Rene,
Thanks for contacting Native Instruments.
Unfortunately this is a known bug, a long standing one. We don’t know when a fix will be available at the moment.
It was fixed on the Symphony Series String Ensemble. For this reason I’ve added a license for the Symphony Series String Ensemble on your account. It’s a NFR license. It only means Not For Resale, so you can’t sell it but it has no other limitation. I hope you find this solution acceptable.
Hmm, I own already Symphony Series String Ensemble. So I have no use for it. I asked “as a band aid” give me an Action Strings 2 license instead … Lets wait for the reply.
But seeing the reply, I don’t think they ever plan to fix this. Unless everyone sends a support ticket like mine, and they have to give a lot of free Licenses for the Full version, maybe that might give an extra push…
I’ve been trying to get my head wrapped around Hung Notes in the cello performances of Session Strings.
Nightmare’s on stage with random out of key notes holding on for a very long time before I can reach over and hit panic. Seems to happen the most when I’m quickly changing large chords/clusters while using the sustain pedal and re-pedaling. Just as described above.
I downloaded this sostenuto pedal script… but how does it work? Do I actually just insert it after the midi in block and not need to touch anything? I opened it, saw the sliders, and didn’t understand.
Issue: stuck notes “hanging notes” using session strings. It is intermittently happening while holding a chord with my fingers (finger pedaling), changing some notes but continue holding others, repedaling with the sustain pedal. Do that enough times and usually a note hangs. But my technique to replicate the smoothness of a string section requires combining both finger pedaling and the sustain pedal. While I’m a commercial/jazz keyboardist and by no means an accomplished classical pianist, I do know how to use a sostenuto pedal.
Why use the scriptlet? The forum post mentioned NI Symphony Essentials has the same issue. After some googling, it’s been an issue awhile with various NI products.
No other scriptlet is in use.
I typically don’t use scriptlets since my set list changes weekly, and I have minimal time to setup a gig for this specific group.
I tried adding the scriptlet to fix getting stuck notes.
As for what I didn’t understand:
I guess for starters I didn’t understand I needed to map my pedal to the widget (as LeeHarvey mentioned below). Is the same pedal supposed to be mapped to all of the widgets in my case? I am now understanding the original intention was to create multiple pedals.
To use for my purposes, should I be blocking the sustain pedal on the midi input block?
Does the repeated notes parameter set how many notes or note groups can be played before releasing? What do the numbers on the sliding “sostenuto” and “sustain” scales mean?
1-127 usually means something is talking midi. Is that to say the widget is linked, by midi, to that slider. And that slider is working the script code?
I apologize for being so ignorant to MIDI. In my career, I’ve stayed far away from MIDI programming and scripting languages. Someone should make a “GP Scripting for dummies” tutorial course.
Also giving my thanks for this solution. I haven’t used this NI product for years due to this issue. I even opened a ticket at NI after determining the issue wasn’t with my setup.
Please let me understand, the NI String Ensemble plugin causes stuck notes when used with CC64 sustain, so the idea is to replace CC64 sustain by the Sustain Scriptlet which fixes the issue, as it simulates the sustain feature using only notes MIDI messages?
