external audio thru vst fx

[sadhaka]

can anyone tell me how i can use hardware snyth's but mess about with the vst fx on the incoming audio? i'm pretty new to pc music and only have muzys3, audacity, samplitude v8 se. is there some software needed to allow this?

thanks

[feyshay]

It depends on what you will be doing. I'm not familiar with the programs that you have. You could use any of the main DAW's, and depending on your preference you might go with Ableton Live, Cubase, ProTools, whatever...
You might be able to make do with what you have. What people typically do is use a DI or send their output from their synth into an audio interface (a soundcard). I use a firewire one. That gets the sound from the synth into the computer. Then you monitor the audio in a program like Audacity. You then put your VST effects onto the track as an insert, or use send or master channels. Pretty easy to do actually. If a program has audio input, recording and allows VST plug-ins, you should be good to go.

[sadhaka]

If a program has audio input, recording and allows VST plug-ins, you should be good to go.

the programs i have do all that, the problem is i want to do it live, not play the synth, record the sound, then effect the sound. i want to play the synth and hear the sound with vst's applied and then record/save the sound to play in an audio track in a sequencer - muzys or samplitude.

thanks for your help though. at least you tried more than i can say for the 40 people who looked in and passed on by!!! Grrr.

seriously though thanks.

scott

[Ja.x]

I don't get exactly what you want . You mean record a part from an external synth, apply an effect on it and trigger the part live?

[R.A.W.]

at least you tried more than i can say for the 40 people who looked in and passed on by!!! Grrr.

i am one of those 40 .. from the 3 progs you mentioned i only know audacity which can't do what you want. and that's why i didn't answer instead of spamming.

that said i think u really should check the manuals, all hosts allow to arm or monitor an audio track, so just do that while using effects on the inserts.

[sadhaka]

I don't get exactly what you want . You mean record a part from an external synth, apply an effect on it and trigger the part live?

I want to play my novation nova hardware synth, which is obviously plugged into pc audio in. whilst playing, i want to add vst effects and monitor the synth through these effects so i can adjust the effects to find a sound i like, before committing to wav file for inclusion to audio track in sequencer. sorry hope that's clearer.

i am one of those 40 .. from the 3 progs you mentioned i only know audacity which can't do what you want. and that's why i didn't answer instead of spamming.

that said i think u really should check the manuals, all hosts allow to arm or monitor an audio track, so just do that while using effects on the inserts.

sorry, i guessed that, just kiddin' there isn't much of a manual with muzys. it explain a little but about pretty much every function but not in enough detail for a complete beginner to understand.

[feyshay]

I recommend that you check out the Demo for Live 5. It is a ridiculous deal right now for like $300 (maybe even with a MIDI controller to boot). Easy to learn relatively to others. You will need an audio input device. Might I suggest a Presonus Firebox or a MOTU Ultralite as relatively cheap and yet of decent quality with decent I/O options. (I'd go for the Ultralite and spend the extra $200). Do not go too cheap, though. You will only be frustrated.
That is a really good live use program and can be used as a sequencer and non-sophisticated DAW. I have it and use it for live play all the time. It can be used exactly as you want it.
There are cheaper solutions like Energy XT that could be used in the same way.

[runagate]

Samplitude has a "live mixer" mode.

Run the input into it and go to "audio options" or something like that and then there's a "monitoring" option somewhere in there and you have to select "software fx monitoring" mode or something like that.

I've been handed the manual before and had it demanded of me to figure this out for people before so though I'm sure what I just said works I can't tell you the exact place to look for the options... you probably know where the audio options are though, right? It's underneath the typical host list of sound card selections with the little checkboxes next to them.

[runagate]

Or you could use this which just got updated today.

It's absolutely brilliant donationware. I still plan on properly sitting down and learning it when time allows.

http://www.sensomusic.com/news/

[sadhaka]

thanks to all...

will try those ideas, and the download! cheers

[sadhaka]

Samplitude has a "live mixer" mode.

Run the input into it and go to "audio options" or something like that and then there's a "monitoring" option somewhere in there and you have to select "software fx monitoring" mode or something like that.

what's this live mixer mode? can't find anything like that. doesn't seem to exist on samplitude v8se. got external audio going through mixer channel 1, but can't adjust volume, at least not in the software only externally via hardware synth?! i can't beleive it's that difficult! surely i'm not the only one wanting to add effects to external synths, and monitor and adjust live before the recording process even begins!!

you probably know where the audio options are though, right? It's underneath the typical host list of sound card selections with the little checkboxes next to them.

no i don't, i'm thick!! i did say i'm new to all this pc music stuff. i'm in a bit of a rush to sort this out cos' i'll be offline for quite some time as from tomorrow(20th sept) please...


thanks

scott

[runagate]

Shit, um, I don't own Samplitude so I can't describe it super well from memory.

Let's see... on the top menu bar, way towards the right but not the very last one to the right is I think an "Options" menu.

Much as to the far left there's he drop-down "File" menu.

So under that one of the options, I believe the furthest down the list or almost at the bottom is "Audio Options" or something like that.

Click on that. Then there's a big page open, on the left is a column of thumbail-like icons that say "Record Options" "Playback Options" and stuff like that. You want the Play Options so click that.

Then on the resulting page there at the top should be a fram with little checkboxes that say the name of your soundcards or Asio4all or whatnot. Below that is areas to select the internal mixing bitrate (by default 32 float I believe) and samplerate, then below that somewhere I'm pretty sure is where the "Monitoring" options dropdown list is.

Click that and there's 2 different parts. The top is to choose between "Classic Mode" and "Tape Mode" or something like that. I don't think those options affect what you want to do.

Then beneath that is a list of 4 options. I can't recall what they are but the last 2 are "Software Monitoring" and "Software Fx Monitoring" - if I recall correctly the 1st means that you hear the effects in the mixer channels live. The second one is necessary to hear VSTis playing live from midi input.

I hope that helps.

Look for "software monitoring" in the help file search function.

Also, it MUST be using ASIO drivers, asio4all is freeware if you don't have an asio driver for your soundcard. Just google it.

I hope that helps and I'l check back later.
Maybe one of my friends who doesn't have a PC snagged the free Samp8SE and will give it to me.

[sadhaka]

did you get my e-mail runagate?

i've just got reason 3 (with rebirth2/recycle2.1) is that any good for what i'm trying to do?

don't know what else to do, these programs have so many menu's and options that i don't have a clue about. it's just a tad frustrating. especially when the manuals don't help!!

i've got a headache now

[sadhaka]

just to let anyone interested know, my problem was solved by an application called spin audio virtual mixer. with help from DiGiT, thanks bud!!

http://www.spinaudio.com/