Bovo Violin is a free, physically modeled four-string instrument calibrated by experts using recordings of our S.A. Deroux violin. Bow strokes, finger contact, and shared string resonance shape its sound in real time.
Quick start
- Load Bovo Violin on a stereo software-instrument/MIDI track. Logic Pro uses AU; Ableton Live can use VST3 or AU.
- Enable the keyboard's MIDI input and arm or monitor the track. Start with All MIDI channels in the plug-in.
- In Play → Performance profile, choose Classical Cantabile. Choose Assisted to let expression, bow character and vibrato develop automatically.
- Play within MIDI 55–105, G3–A7 when middle C is C4. The four open strings are G3/55, D4/62, A4/69 and E5/76.
- Overlap notes for a connected melody. Play separate notes for separate bow strokes. A sustain pedal sending CC64 extends a slur through gaps between keys.
- Move the mod wheel, CC1, to shape dynamics. It takes control of expression. Click that control's Auto button to return it to the performer.
- Start with Solo Recital and Solo finish for space and output. The instrument uses its fixed Air & wood body model. Keep the DAW track pan centered.
Fresh instances already use Assisted Live Keyboard, Classical vibrato character, standard bow phrasing, the Air & wood body model, Solo Recital space and Solo finish. The named performance profiles provide additional starting points.
Reset defaults, in the top bar on every page, restores the complete factory setup: sound, performance, room, microphones, output and MIDI settings. It clears CC overrides, keyswitch selections, pedals and pitch bend, and stops sounding notes. The current page and window size stay in place. A single slider can still be reset by double-clicking it.
For a chord, select Chords on Play or tap MIDI 34, then hold the pitches together. The normal Melody selection is a single line.
Read the interface
| Page | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Play | Performance profile, Assisted/Expressive Live, articulation, expression, bow character, vibrato amount, master, bow commands and output finish |
| Bow | Force, speed, sounding point, hair, stroke variation, engagement, tremolo, spiccato and continuous bow |
| Left Hand | Vibrato character and detailed motion, harmonic touch, finger contact, shifting and portamento |
| Resonance | Tone, body contribution, shared string ringing, chord balance and roll, G depth, upper E response and mute |
| Space | Venue, room return, microphone perspective, room setups and output finishing |
| MIDI | Input channel, bend range, string channels, keyswitch bank, aftertouch, controller reset and the active map |
The violin shows each active string and planted finger contact. Multiple planted contacts can be visible together. The separate string display reads G, D, A, E from bottom to top and distinguishes bowed, held and ringing strings.
The bow remains visible when lifted. On string, Moving, Lifted and Retake indicate its actual contact state. A stationary martelé pressure catch should not look like a moving stroke.
The lower keyboard shows playable notes and the colored switch groups. You can audition notes and switches with the mouse; the same actions respond to incoming MIDI.
The Hand readout on Play shows the sounding vibrato width, rate and moving pitch offset. Detailed sliders show settings or incoming controller targets; they are not plots of every internal oscillation.
Hover a control to see its CC and automation name. Double-click a continuous slider to restore its factory value. Panic stops the current performance and clears its acoustic memory; use it for a stuck note, rather than as the normal end of a phrase.
Playing a Music Agent export
Bovo Music Agent’s violin stems are performed with Bovo Violin. The exported MIDI carries CCs and keyswitches for dynamics, vibrato, bowing, and articulation changes.
- Export your chosen violin performance as MIDI from Bovo Music Agent. Keep the original file as a reference.
- Load a fresh Bovo Violin instance on a software-instrument track. Start with All MIDI channels, keyswitches enabled, and the default First live switch, MIDI 34.
- Import the MIDI at the song’s tempo. Preserve its controller events, keyswitch notes, note-offs, and timing. Leave the keyswitch notes untransposed; the low notes select playing actions rather than sounding violin pitches.
- Start playback from the beginning of the clip so its initial controller values and switches arrive before the affected notes. Incoming CCs can take control of settings shown in the interface. Avoid loading another performance profile after playback begins, because it resets performance controls.
- Edit the notes and controller lanes in your DAW to refine expression, vibrato, and bowing. Keep articulation switches before the notes they affect, with their matching note-offs. Leave enough time after the last note for the instrument and room tail.
MIDI carries the performance; the plug-in’s tone, room, microphone, and output settings also affect the sound. Adjust these for your mix. For control assignments, see MIDI and automation reference. For playing actions, see Grouped keyswitches.
You can also import ordinary note MIDI and use Assisted for automatic expression, bow character, and vibrato. Prepared CCs and keyswitches give you direct control over more of the performance.