Using SampleTank with Pro Tools LE 7.0

[TomF]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum. I am just getting involved with midi and I'm hoping someone here could help me with this.I just purchased a M-Audio ProKeys Stage piano/USB midi controller.I have ProTools LE 7.0 w/ Digi's OO2R. I'm running this on a Mac G5 2.5 w/ Tiger 10.3.4.

I've tried the controller with the version of Sampletank that came with PT's, which is SE and it works, but I used the new PT instrument track function and had to put SampleTank on each track. I don't know if this was the right way to do this.

Now, I have the upgrade coming today, 2.1 XL should I
use the new Instrument Track funtion and insert ST 2.1 XL
on each track? or is there a better way to set-up Pro Tools LE 7.0 to use SampleTank 2.1 XL?

Thanks for the Help!
Tom

[Mr. Tunes]

Hi there, welcome to the forum. Once you load Sampletank onto an "Instrument" or "Aux" track in pro tools, you shouldn't be loading it any more times. What you do is open a few midi tracks now and select each of their outputs to the Sampletank plugin but to different channels.

The only time you should be running more than one instance of Sampletank is if you run out of instrument slots in the plugin.

You can also try loading Sampletank the old way which is to put it on an Aux track. I think Pro Tools has a really dirty method for handling virtual instruments but oh well. Let me know if this helps at all.

[TomF]

Thanks for the reply MR. Tunes!

I just installed Sampletank 2.0XL tonight. It seems to only work the old way you explained, with it on an aux track.It doesn't seem to work on the new instrument track.But I just installed it and didn't have enough time to play with it.

I did email IK tech support and they confirmed that I need to insert the plug-in on a stereo aux channel, I can't use the new instrument function yet.

Quote from tech support:

"I believe the new instrument fuction in PT 7 doesn't quite work with ST yet, so you can just insert it on a stereo aux track like normal"

Funny, because it doesn't sound like tech support was sure.

Anyway,I'm going to try fooling around with it some more tomorrow.
Have you used it on the new instrument track in PT's?


Thanks again!
Tom

[Mr. Tunes]

Yes it works fine here - ST 2.1 on an Instrument track in PT 7.1 LE. Here are some things to look out for:
When you first put ST on an Instrument track the volume of that track will be at zerod! it's very annoying so turn up the volume on that track. Another thing to keep your eye out for is the Record ready buttons on the track. Sometimes you have to flip it on your midi track or on the ST2 Instrument track to activate it - depending on if you have Auto-Input Monitoring on or off(it's in the Track drop-down menu of PT7).

When you hit keys on your keyboard you should see levels coming through your Midi track. Then you should be seeing levels on the Instrument track. The final step I diagnose is I throw down a Master track and I see if any levels are coming through there. Those are the three stages of levels and if one of those is not showing levels then something is routed incorrectly.

Funny, because it doesn't sound like tech support was sure.

I can understand that tech support is unsure of this issue cause it's not the most commonly used program for virtual synthesis and sampling in the music community(Logic, Cubase, Sonar, DP, Traktion, etc. take the cake over PT). I'll bet you that they're more familiar with diagnosing Amplitube, T-Racks etc. in PT than they are with Sampletank cause more people use PT for recording live tracks, editing and mixing. Synths are a real after-thought in this program hence this discussion we're having here! With many other programs people would laugh if you asked how to hook up Sampletank but with Pro Tools it's actually a valid question lol.

[JAKEYBUBBA]

ive used and use atleast 10 diferent softsynths with pt and have never had a problem. i laugh when people say this. you just have to learn how to do it correctly, thats it. also, make sure you set the input to no input.....

[Slovenec]

I have Protools LE 7.1 (with a 002 control surface). Sonic Synth 2 works perfectly both ways (either aux/midi tracks or instrument track). Sampletank 2 (both 2.0 and 2.1) will not work using either method.

I have tried everything but to no avail. Yep it also annoys me greatly that the faders are automatically turned down when you creat a new aux or instrument track!! What am I doing wrong?

I agree, I've always found it MUCH easier using softsynths within Logic Pro.

[Mr. Tunes]

I have Protools LE 7.1 (with a 002 control surface). Sonic Synth 2 works perfectly both ways (either aux/midi tracks or instrument track). Sampletank 2 (both 2.0 and 2.1) will not work using either method.

I have tried everything but to no avail. Yep it also annoys me greatly that the faders are automatically turned down when you creat a new aux or instrument track!! What am I doing wrong?

I agree, I've always found it MUCH easier using softsynths within Logic Pro.

that's so weird about ST2 not working but Sonik is working. It's like the same plugin as ST 2.0 which confuses me. is your ST2 working in other hosts like Logic?

You're not doing anything wrong - that's pro tool's default fader position. they're the ones doing something wrong haha.

[Slovenec]

Sampletank 2 works perfectly within Logic Pro 7.2 and has always worked fine within this DAW:).

When I had Protools 6.4 (with my old Digi 001), it also worked very well. However after getting Protools 6.9, the problems started!

Yes, I'm also TOTALLY baffled as to why ST2 doesn't work in PT7 whereas SS2 does work!

It's bizzare to say the least and also very annoying. I've tried everything except reinstalling sampletank.

I think I shall try this next! .

[Mr. Tunes]

Sampletank 2 works perfectly within Logic Pro 7.2 and has always worked fine within this DAW:).

When I had Protools 6.4 (with my old Digi 001), it also worked very well. However after getting Protools 6.9, the problems started!

Yes, I'm also TOTALLY baffled as to why ST2 doesn't work in PT7 whereas SS2 does work!

It's bizzare to say the least and also very annoying. I've tried everything except reinstalling sampletank.

I think I shall try this next! .

yeah i would try reinstalling it - definitely. i dont think that should be a big hassle since you can leave your instruments intact, and you also won't need to use up another auth code cause it's the same machine. please let me know if it fixes it. i'm very curious about this.

[Slovenec]

Hi Mr.Tunes!

I'm doing a complete new download of both ST2.09 and 2.1.1 as I this message is being typed!

I will let you know how I go once I've reinstalled both plug ins:).

Touch wood everything will work fine!

Thanks for your advice and support! .

[Slovenec]

NOPE! .

Neither ST2 or ST2.1 are 'working' even after uninstalling and reinstalling the plugs!!!!!!!!!!

What the hell gives here???? I've tried the plugs using both instrument tracks as well as the old aux/midi track method and nothing works!!!!! Yep, I'm getting MIDI information just fine on the MIDI track and SS2 works perfectly just like before!!!!

I'm totally baffled! IK Multimedia to the rescue!!!!!!!!!:).

[beergeek]

NOPE! .

Neither ST2 or ST2.1 are 'working' even after uninstalling and reinstalling the plugs!!!!!!!!!!

What the hell gives here???? I've tried the plugs using both instrument tracks as well as the old aux/midi track method and nothing works!!!!! Yep, I'm getting MIDI information just fine on the MIDI track and SS2 works perfectly just like before!!!!

I'm totally baffled! IK Multimedia to the rescue!!!!!!!!!:).

Ok...so what do we know for sure? Since SS2 works fine, midi goes to the track but ST2 makes no sound. Do the keys on the ST2 keyboard light when you play? IN other words, can you verify whether the midi is getting into ST2?

If the midi is getting in to ST2 and no sound is coming out check the permissions on the Instruments folder and make sure you have read and write. I've heard of this happenening before although I don't know if it causes the same problem.

Just a thought....

[Slovenec]

Beergeek! I will go and check that out. When I tried to play ST2 from it's own plug in keyboard, there was no response either.

I will go and check whether the midi notes can be seen on the ST2 keyboard when I play from my midi controller and report back.

I'm also waiting for a reply back from IK Multimedia.

Thanks for your advice:).

[Slovenec]

MIRACLE!!!!!! ST2 inexplicably started to work normally this afternoon. I did not change any settings. It simply started to work!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!:).

Not only that, but it works normally using both the aux/midi track method or using a new instrument tracks in Protools 7! IK Multimedia support told me that I wouldn't be able to use ST2 with an instrument track! Go figure.

Now I have another querie---------------

WHen I record MIDI along with a click track, the data which is played back seems to move a little bit in front of the click/beat. I've tried changing hardware buffer sizes etc, but to no avail. It seems like it's only a few miliseconds but of course it's useless. I know I can go and move each track backward a bit, but this shouldn't be a workaround. Once again, I don't have any such issues in Logic Pro and have to use Protools LE for some work I'm doing for clients who also have a 002. Thanks for any advice once again! .