Can singing be directly processed to come out as a violin?

[Herr Joachim]

It would be very neat to have the opportunity to sing into a microphone
into a synth or software, and having your voice processed to come out live as a violin,
trumpet or other instruments. Preferably based on good samples,
and if glissandi, not just plain pitches (vocoded) worked it would be superb.

Have a lovely day.

 

[zazz]

i think you could......voice to midi ...playing violin samples.....

but on a basic humanitarian level ...its not right....

go learn the violin.....i think you and the rest of the planet will appreciated it more!!!

 

[Herr Joachim]

Found one solution: http://www.geocities.com/vocal2midi/

Other possibilities?

 

[mikeh]

When converting an analog signal (a voice) into a MIDI signal requires some very specific conversion capability and depending on the MIDI device you are trying to trigger, you may or may not get a smooth transition from one note to the next (as an example a slide on a violin may sound choppy (like a series of individual half steps - vs. a continuous slide).

I've never heard of the V2M (it appears that it is not distributed by any established distribution network) - so I have no idea if it really works or not. If it does what it claims....it looks very cool indeed. I did not try to down load any samples (I'm at work and there are several limitations to internet use on our office computers).

Also, keep in mind - most GM (general MIDI) sounds are weak at best, so any sounds that come with the V2M may be less then inspired (although violin is easier to emulate than many other instrument sounds). Even if the V2M does track accurately - you may still need to purchase a sound library for realistic violin sounds.

I would proceed with due caution - but please inform us if you actually buy the V2M - and more importantly if it really works. If it does work - it will be on my short list of things to buy.

Regarding using a voice to trigger violin sounds vs. learning to play violin. I see using the voice as valid as using a keyboard to trigger various sounds. I actually purchased a violin and learned how to play it (but not well) - I soon realized I did not have the chops to play violin well enough to record nor did I have a room large enough or warm enough to capture a good recorded sound - so I still use keyboards when I need a violin sound. It is not cheating - it is creating music.

 

[DavidK]

so any sounds that come with the V2M may be less then inspired (although violin is easier to emulate than many other instrument sounds).

Personally, I would say the opposite. Bowed instruments are incredibly hard to emulate well.

The keyboard is still the best midi instrument I have come across. It might be possible to do what the OP wants in 50 years, but not now. Too many variables with attack.

The one thing that is the most difficult with synths and midi is getting the attacks of bowed instruments. We string players have thousands, and they change on every note. We never start a slow piece, we sneak in A voice can too, but its going to be very awkward because only at a certain volume will it trigger. We have no volume limitations as string players, we can literally play and nothing will come out.

Anyhoo, for all the trouble that it would be, I would just do it with a keyboard. Ive tried midi violins and pitch-to-midi interfaces, and they never work well enough to give them any serious thought. The opposite is probably true as well, it would be really inaccurate to try and trigger violin attacks with vocals, they would be all over the map.

 

[mikeh]

David - I defer to your expertise as a string player. I have a couple of violin samples (actually "fiddle" samples) from Roland XV card that have fairly realistic attack - but I in no way should imply all the the various and subtle bow techniques can be accurately captured (that would require a whole lotta sample points).

The one thing I think we can agree on - a voice to MIDI conversion would likely not be ideal for most melodic instruments (although I'm thinking some cool things could be done with percussive sounds).

 

[DavidK]

David - I defer to your expertise as a string player. I have a couple of violin samples (actually "fiddle" samples) from Roland XV card that have fairly realistic attack - but I in no way should imply all the the various and subtle bow techniques can be accurately captured (that would require a whole lotta sample points).

Its all perspective. If I have an oboe patch I think is great, you can play it for an oboe player and they will vomit. Almost any sampled drums fool me. I think a piano is easy to sample, yet pianists will bitch and moan. I suppose its all equal in the end, the more you are familiar with an instrument, the least likely you will be happy with the sampled version.

 

[warble2]

That product seems interesting, but I'm not immensily impressed with the output samples or the statement "all sales are final". That's a modest bit coin to drop - either the software or standalone version.