Subject:Controling VST Effects via MIDI...

Posted by: DJ_Don

Date:5/3/2005 8:43:26 AM

Hi everyone,

If I have (for example) a VST Filter that you can control the cutoff via MIDI, how would I set that up in Acid so I can have the track play, and tweak that parameter via a MIDI controller so the resulting sweeps are recorded as a MIDI CC? I hope I'm asking this right. I'm not sure it Acid can do this, but please let me know. I know you can draw in the envelope to automate the effect parameter, but if you could do this via MIDI, it would be awesome. Thanks in advance.

Peace.

Subject:RE: Controling VST Effects via MIDI...

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:5/3/2005 9:09:24 AM

You can do this by recording the MIDI CC information live. If you don’t have a free hand to change the parameters while you’re playing, you can always record a separate track with only the CC information. In other words, record your MIDI track and play the parts. Then record a second track (routed to the same VSTi on the same channel) but this time just change the parameters in real-time from the knobs and dials on your MIDI Keyboard Controller. ACID will record the changes. Unfortunately, there is no way to do with this with envelopes. (that would be a nice feature) You can always use the MIDI Piano Roll Editor to add or change this information later. The controller data is at the bottom if the MIDI editor.

~jr

Subject:RE: Controling VST Effects via MIDI...

Reply by: DJ_Don

Date:5/3/2005 4:56:37 PM

Thanks, but I'm refering to effects--not soft synths. Say I record a track of MIDI CC information. Now how do I assign that info to an effect that's put on an audio track already in my project? I'm probably not being clear (let me know if you can't figure out what I'm asking). Thanks again.

Subject:RE: Controling VST Effects via MIDI...

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:5/3/2005 5:54:07 PM

Yes I was talking about instruments (sorry). I’ve never heard of VST effects that can be controlled by MIDI. How does that work? How does it know what MIDI channel to listen to? What VST Effect do you have in mind? If there’s a trial or demo version I’d be happy to play with it and see what I can find. I’m just not sure how this would work in ACID because ACID doesn’t support MIDI Effects so I don’t see how the MIDI data would ever get to the VST Effect.

The only way I know of to automate VST Effects is with an FX Automation Envelope but that doesn’t respond to MIDI data.

~jr

Subject:RE: Controling VST Effects via MIDI...

Reply by: DJ_Don

Date:5/3/2005 7:08:32 PM

I was looking into the Ohm Force Quad Filter. It talks about MIDI automation in the info section. However, that function is disabled in the demo, and I haven't bought it (yet). Let me know what you find. Here's the link:

http://www.ohmforce.com/ViewProduct.do?p=QuadFrohmage

Subject:RE: Controling VST Effects via MIDI...

Reply by: DJ_Don

Date:5/3/2005 7:12:36 PM

Oh, and while you're at it, their Frohmage filter rocks, and it's free. Check out the downloads section. Also, now that I think about it, my Pro 53 soft synth can be used as a VST effect. It would be cool to be able to tweak it via MIDI when used as an effect (obviously you can do that when using it as a soft synth). Thanks.

Subject:RE: Controling VST Effects via MIDI...

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:5/3/2005 8:36:40 PM

Well... you’re right. The Demo doesn’t support MIDI input at all. It would have been nice if they at least showed you what would have been selectable in the menu but grey it out. Unfortunately, the menu item doesn’t work at all. That’s pretty stupid if the demo is supposed to help you make a buying decision.

You might want to email them and explain that you cannot possibly evaluate their software since they’ve disabled the one feature that you plan to use. Perhaps they will let you buy it and return it if it doesn’t work with ACID. Perhaps they will wise up and provide a new demo with all the features enabled so potential customers can evaluate it properly.

Since I can’t see what the options are for MIDI input I can’t tell you if it will work (sorry). You should be able to use a MIDI Loopback driver to route a track of MIDI CC information into its input. It’s just impossible to tell with the demo version. Too bad. It looks promising.

~jr