Subject:Questions about using VSTi-s w/ACID 5.0

Posted by: bartchilders

Date:2/4/2005 7:19:07 AM

Long-time ACID user who drifted away after 40

I'm using the 5.0 demo but there are some quirks(?) with the VSTi support that have got me puzzled:

I'm trying to use a multi-out VSTi - ACID automatically creates all of the mixer buses for every output. Is there any way to delete un-used/un-need outputs w/o removing the entire VSTi?

I then create a MIDI track that's routed to the multi-out VSti (a drum sampler in this case). Once I enter some MIDI data that MIDI track will ONLY trigger notes that are routed out VSTi output 1. For the life of me I can't get this 1 MIDI track to trigger other notes!

Thinking maybe this is a limitation of ACID MIDI's capabilites (I can't find anything related to this issue in the manual or help files) I figure "fine, I'll create another MIDI track for trigger the snare, anothe for the hi-hat, etc."
Nope, that doesn't work either.

This sure smells like user-error - can anyone help me out?

Subject:RE: Questions about using VSTi-s w/ACID 5.0

Reply by: pwppch

Date:2/4/2005 7:39:41 AM

There is no way to remove the sub buses that a VSTi creates with in ACID. (We modeled how Steinberg does this in Cubase/Nuendo.)

Only plugins that permit you to configure the number of buses will allow you to change the number of busses ACID exposes. Most of these do not do it dynamically, so you will have to configure the plugin and remove it then re-add it.

A VSTi has a single MIDI input "port" it exposes. The VSTi defines how a voice it generates will be routed to its available buses. Depending on the VSTi, this can be very different.

Which VSTi are you using? It should tell you in its documentation how to route to its outputs and how to configure the number of outputs it exposes.

Peter

Subject:RE: Questions about using VSTi-s w/ACID 5.0

Reply by: bartchilders

Date:2/4/2005 8:34:45 AM

I've tried: DR-008, DFH2 ( a KOMPAKT-powered VSti) and SFZ. They all behave the same way in ACID.

In SONAR - they work how I expect. A single MIDI clip triggers all notes.

I'm confident it isn't an issue with the VSTi - ACID is doing something odd.

Another odd symptom: When I first load the VSTi - I can manually trigger all the pads and see that they are being routed to the correct output. I then add the MIDI track - clicking the piano-roll notes will also trigger the correct pads - all is well.

Now I add MIDI notes to trigger the kick at C2 say. From this point on - ONLY pads assigned to the KICK output will trigger - from the piano-roll, and from the VSTi interface.

Quick update: sranger and stranger

Mucking around with it some more. I can open the interface (DR-008 in this case) and I can see the pads light-up but no sound is being triggered except for output 1. Weird.

OK - one more update.

When I try to audition the MIDI clip in the piano roll - I only get the 1st output. When I paint the pattern out in the trackview, it will trigger the pattern correctly after I restart playback from the very beginning.

I'm mucking around with the different settings in DR-008 (enabling full automation etc.).

Another question - does ACID automatically generate a NOTE-OFF after each NOTE-ON? I've set DR-008 to default to ONE-SHOT mode (where it should trigger the entire sample afte recieving a NOTE-ON. However, the samples are being clipped according to the note-duration.


One more question: is there a way to select what Softsynth MIDI loops/clips are auditioned on from the Explorer? My MIDI clips are being auditioned with a piano sound (via what mechanism I have no idea). It sure would be nice if I could audition MIDI drum clips with a drum-synth, bass clips via the bass synth etc. Is there way to select/change this?

Subject:RE: Questions about using VSTi-s w/ACID 5.0

Reply by: pwppch

Date:2/4/2005 5:13:30 PM

I have confirmed the problems you describe. There is no work around that I can discover.

I am looking for a fix for the update.

>>Another question - does ACID automatically generate a NOTE-OFF after each NOTE-ON? I've set DR-008 to default to ONE-SHOT mode (where it should trigger the entire sample afte recieving a NOTE-ON. However, the samples are being clipped according to the note-duration.
<<
Yes, it always generates a note off for all note ons. There is no way to filter out only note off events in ACID.

>>One more question: is there a way to select what Softsynth MIDI loops/clips are auditioned on from the Explorer? My MIDI clips are being auditioned with a piano sound (via what mechanism I have no idea). It sure would be nice if I could audition MIDI drum clips with a drum-synth, bass clips via the bass synth etc. Is there way to select/change this?
<<

Nope. We always preview through a default - and hidden - DLS GM soft synth.

Q: How would you decide which synth to "preview through"?

I mean, you'd have to manually reconfigure based upon what you are previewing. Give me a work flow that would be acceptable.

Peter






Peter

Subject:RE: Questions about using VSTi-s w/ACID 5.0

Reply by: bartchilders

Date:2/4/2005 5:24:11 PM

Well, at least I know I'm not crazy.

As for the MIDI clip preview:

My first choice would be to auto-preview through the softh-synth that had it's properties opened last. That seems practical to me.

Less appealing: open the properties to the hidden-preview DLS so I can audition drum loops with a drum sound, or bass sounds through a bass sound etc.