Neat Trick - controlling Line In

[thesoundsmith]

I'm sure this is old news to many, but I've been wanting to have control over a Line Input while directing midi to Source plugs, not using the snapshot or Multi-based controls. I just read that if there are no instruments, the system then sends midi to the topmst FX plug. So I select Line In, then inserted Little Green Amp II and created two patches - one with as transparent an amp thru as I could program, the other with the Standby on, so no sound gets through. Now with patch change, I can turn the Line In on or off at will, and have some control besides, if i wish to dedicate a controller preset to it.

What I'd like to know: is there a better insert to obtain this control? All I reall want is a simple on/off for volume or signal that doesn't use cc7 or cc11 to obtain it. No other processing is needed, and the less the better CPU-wise.

[peterfs]

I'm sure this is old news to many, but I've been wanting to have control over a Line Input while directing midi to Source plugs, not using the snapshot or Multi-based controls. I just read that if there are no instruments, the system then sends midi to the topmst FX plug. So I select Line In, then inserted Little Green Amp II and created two patches - one with as transparent an amp thru as I could program, the other with the Standby on, so no sound gets through. Now with patch change, I can turn the Line In on or off at will, and have some control besides, if i wish to dedicate a controller preset to it.

What I'd like to know: is there a better insert to obtain this control? All I reall want is a simple on/off for volume or signal that doesn't use cc7 or cc11 to obtain it. No other processing is needed, and the less the better CPU-wise.

You could set up a snapshot bank to do this. Just turn disable the line-in channel for the patch you want.

[thesoundsmith]

there are other considerations with snapshots, and they don't work the way I like. I just want a nice simple audio VCA equivalent...

[peterfs]

there are other considerations with snapshots, and they don't work the way I like. I just want a nice simple audio VCA equivalent...

How about using the Receptor mixer controls directly, i.e. you could use midi CC 116 on the channel that line-in is instantiated to toggle the bypass? I don't think this would work if you have "route cc to source plugin" selected though.

I leave the route cc option disabled so I can control the receptor mixer. There's some pain in this because I have to remap my controller to send NRPNs or front panel controller mappings to change parameters. But I have the flexibility to control both; for example I like being able to selectively disable the FXs on a channel.

But I can see there's a number of ways to approach Receptor control; maybe we could start a sticky thread for people to discuss their setups. "thesoundsmith", I think you already started one on the "ultimate live rig discussion"...

[thesoundsmith]

Good idea, Peter. Actually, i think there used to be a sticky for posting setups, but I believe it died from lack of interest just about as I got my Receptor.

I make heavy use of ccs when I play jazz or funk gigs, for the hotel/resort dates it doesn't matter, but I need to set up 'giggus maximus' the way I play, and that is probably quite different than your personal maximized gig rig, both from the standpoint of what plugs you prefer for the various keyboards and what properties are more significant when you are tweaking the Receptor's performance edge and have to start making trade-offs. But most live rigs share the same basic needs - acoustic piano, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond and perhaps clav. Beyond that there is a LOT of room for variation. I have tons of setups that are works in progress, and don't look anything like the Live Rig patch (I only wish we had global bank copy and paste.)

[gregh1]

I updated my free VST plugin, GH-LRSelector (770KB), to include a Mute button, which is mapped to CC#31 (but MIDI CC support is not working yet).

[thesoundsmith]

Greg, I'm not clear - is there a new version of the plug, or did you modify it? And are the ccs not working because you have not mapped them or figured it out or because the update is not fully functional? This would be a preferred method, less CPU and certianly less distortion.

[gregh1]

It's a modified/new version, dated 2006-08-16 in the about box. I didn't get CCs working because it got kind of late at night, and so I thought at least I'd upload it with the mute button, which can be automated in other hosts. I'll take another crack at it tonight or tomorrow.

[gregh1]

Here's GH-LRSelector 2006-08-18, now with MIDI control of Mute. From the accompanying text file:

Controlling the plugin via MIDI on Receptor:
--------------------------------------------
If all of these conditions are true:
- the channel source on Receptor is "Line Input" or similar
- GH-LRSelector is in the FXA slot
- "Route MIDI CCs to Source Plugin" is enabled on the Setup page
then MIDI CC#31 will control muting on GH-LRSelector.

Otherwise, if "Route MIDI CCs to Source Plugin" is off, then you can control GH-LRSelector using Receptor's Parameter Assign feature. For example if GH-LRSelector is in the FXA slot, you can assign the GH-LRSelector "Mute" button to parameter order 1 using the downward-pointing arrow on the "faceless mode" edit screen. This will map the GH-LRSelector "Mute" button to MIDI CC#72. (Because of an anomaly in Receptor, the Assign arrow will not work for the GH-LRSelector "Source" parameter at this time.)

Another way to control the plugin, if "Route MIDI CCs to Source Plugin" is off, is to use NRPNs (e.g. B0 63 20 B0 62 00, as shown on the Receptor screen).

[thesoundsmith]

This will be a great upgrade. Thanks, Greg.

[PhilMuller]

Thanks for the free tool Greg. We appreciate it. I went to your website and noticed that you sell MIDIjet. I will be buying one from you in the next few weeks (as soon as I pay my next credit card bill). I have also placed a post on www.accordionplayers.org telling about the device.

[gregh1]

Thanks for the thanks! I was thinking about adding volume control (CC#7) to the plugin, but maybe simpler is better? Let me know. By the way, I think the "anomaly" mentioned above is due to the Mute LED, which Receptor assumes is an active control, but can't automate it since it goes from 0.00 to 0.00. I'll try to replace the LED with a different kind of indicator.
Yeah, the MIDIjet is neat. Keyboard players can now go wireless and get out in front - put on your best spandex pants and rock on!

[thesoundsmith]

greg, first off, thanks again, this plug will defintiely be useful for Recpetor. I have one primary problem, the color of the text and the background is si similar, I cannot read any of the selections. The first one (top) I believe is 'Bypass'? is this where I should be connected to let Line in maintain as a stereo input? (Easy to test, but my rig is at the club today and tomorrow.

And I would LOVE a cc7 volue (or cc1, or configurable... )

Hey, once Receptor will allow two USB keyboard inputs, midiJet might let me dig out my Roland AX1...

[gregh1]

You're right about the color, so here's GH-LRSelector 2006-08-22. The LED is fixed, and there's also a volume control (but not CC#7 controllable).
Yes, "Bypass" maintains the stereo input. "Combined" merges left and right to create a mono signal (making this plugin perhaps the simplest mono-maker).

[thesoundsmith]

And absolutely perfect for ther task, Greg. Sometimes all you want is basic. Thanks for your expertise.