Newbie Questions

[Samosa]

thanks lunch,
I didn't realise that midi notes would automatically assigned - does seem pretty random however trying to find the 'right' notes. No doubt the midi overhaul will make a huge difference.

Will certainly have a go with EnergyXT and Stepchild, although I did tell myself to stop trying out more and more sw and get on with the music.

some chance

[Beardedone]

I just installed Tracktion for the first time to try out a true VST host since Automation of some of my VSTs (Cameleon an others) is not working well in Sonar and FLS. Trouble is I do not see how to load in a VSTi. Where is the function to load an instrument? Where is the piano roll? I thought this host was supposed to be easy and intuitive? There is no help topic gor using VSTs!

Gordon

[valley]

The 'new filter' icon in the top right hand corner of the screen.

Drag it to the track you wish to add the plugin to, and a popup list showing all the plugins available will appear.

Choose your fx or vsti from the list.

If the list doesn't contain your plugs then got to the settings tab, choose 'plugins' and set the path correctly.

[tezza]

a real newbie question so I suppose this should go here?

Could someone please spend 30 seconds explaining how how to set up and use drum samplers (e.g. the 202 or 505) in Tracktion. I get as far as dropping them in as filters, can load up the kits I want / add new samples in SR202 - but how to create drum parts / loops are still a mystery to me in Tracktion - am used to going directly into a loop creator; this question is so basic it doesn't bring up answers in a search.

Also, are the multiple outs any use - I've read it can be followed by a patchbay filter, but this doesn't do much without a rack filter.

Cheers

Let me just start by saying, "I luuurrrve the 505". I just tried EnergyXT and it's an awsome companion to the 505. It means I can drop in different effects filters for different drum parts. For instance, I can drop in delay filter/plugin for the clap and a reverb on the snare.

First of all, highlight the whole track and make sure it is routed to the defaul audio device (list in bottom right).

if you look in the back of the 505, you can see which midi notes will trigger which drum parts. So add a new midi clip to the track and lay down some notes for those drump parts.

You should hear something now when you play the clip. Set the clip to the right length [of your loop] and make sure the clip is selected. hit ctrl-C and now hit ctrl-V (a few times). While this is an easy way to copy clips to repeat loops, it means they are all maintained separately until Jules adds midi loops.

Tip: set your curser to the beginning of a clip and hit "I" (for "in" marker), set your cursor to the end of the clip and hit "O" (for "out" marker). Now enable "loop" near the player controls and hit play.
Now you can edit your beat while it is playing back in a loop.

have fun.

[Beardedone]

Thanks Valley!

The term "filter" threw me. I understand the setuo It works great now! Lovely prgram. I'm hooked already!

Gordon

[multree]

juhu... hey Gordon,

good to see that "my" band starts to use Tracktion now we can exchange tracktion archives for the next collabo

enjoy your tracktion time

Mully

[Beardedone]

juhu... hey Gordon,

good to see that "my" band starts to use Tracktion now we can exchange tracktion archives for the next collabo

enjoy your tracktion time

Mully

Hey Boss!

Yeah! Tracktion is nice and simple and as I don't have a native VST host (FLS isn't really) that responds to my keyboard properly, I tried out Tracktion and was hooked once I figured out how to set up A VST (spelled "filter" in Tracktionese). Very nice program. Cameleon morphs and records beautifully in Tracktion . I can't believe I couldn't do that smoothly in Sonar or FLS

I have a newbie question. Do I need to uninstall the demo before installing the full version.

Thanks,
Gordon

[valley]

I have a newbie question. Do I need to uninstall the demo before installing the full version.

Nope. Version updates and demo to full updates just overwrite the existing files, so no need to uninstall.

[Beardedone]

Thanks Valley!

[Beardedone]

This is a really dumb question.

How do I open a blank piano roll for entering midi notes by mouse? I cannot see it anywhere. I have recorded midi playing on from my keys and can click open the resultant clip but on a blank track no dice ....

Thanks,
Gordon

[valley]

select a track, and click the 'insert new clip' button (bottom of the screen). Choose Midi clip, and then just double click on the resultant clip.

[Beardedone]

Thanks Valley,

Now I am having trouble getting my softsynths to sound. They are producing a signal that is showing on the track meter but there is no audio output. Weird. Tracktion is telling me it does not output to a wave device.

[Gargoyle]

Gordon,
Click on the track name to make the entire track highlight in red and then look down to the track properties panel which appears at the bottom of the interface. At the right of it is a list of possible outputs for that track, amongst which should be a suitable audio output device.

If what you're seeing in the list doesn't look right or you can't find a suitable output option which works, then the next stop is the Settings tab (at the very top) where you can set up and configure all your ins and outs if you haven't done so already.

(The output meters show activity not actual audio output)

Hope this helps

[valley]

in particular make sure the track does nto have a MIDI output set as its' output device.

[Beardedone]

Thanks Gargoyle!

I see now! I'm all excited by the fact that Traction is a great host for playing Cameleon. So I'm here at work trying to understand the basics as I try to multitask Tracktion is pretty straightford so far so I might get the hang of it in a week or so

I appreciate your indulgence. My skimming of the help files is not very efficient.

Cheers,
Gordon