Blue Cat Audio

como baila · Post by **como baila** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:07 am

Could someone point me to an explanation of using the MB-7 hosted VSTs' audio routing? Or provide one?

What does it mean by "channel" in that sub menu and how is the output routed from the channel output to where?

Is this like a send?

If so, where can it be sent? Only to another Blue Cat plug-in for side-chaining or can it be sent to a bus in the DAW?

Thanks.

Blue Cat Audio · Post by **Blue Cat Audio** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 3:01 pm

Hi,

audio is split into multiple frequency bands. Then on each band, the plug-ins are processed in series, just like in any DAW. All frequency bands are then re-mixed together to go to the output of the plug-in.

Which sub-menu are you talking about btw? Can you maybe post a screenshot? i think the only sub-menu containing channels is the MIDI menu, where each channel represents a different MIDI channel received by the plug-in (it is not related to audio).

como baila · Post by **como baila** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:07 pm

I understand how the MB-7 works.

What I am talking about is the menu when you have other VST plugins hosted in slots inside of MB-7 ... two slots pre and two slots post on each channel. I think you call them "sub plug-ins."

When one is loaded and you left click on it in the slot, the menu there is expanded from what you initially see when you haven't yet loaded any sub plug-in.

The menu item is titled "Audio i/o ..." When you select it you see a dialog for input and output with each having the choice between no, one or two 'channels.'

Is it now clear what I am referring to?

Thanks.

Blue Cat Audio · Post by **Blue Cat Audio** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 3:44 pm

Thanks for the precision. This is indeed the selection of audio channels to be used for each sub plug-in. For example, if the stereo version of the MB-7 Mixer plug-in is used, channel 1 corresponds to the left channel and channel 2 corresponds to the right channel. If you are using a side chain, channel 3 and 4 will represent the side chain inputs

In a chain, all channels are by default passed from one slot to the other. You can use this menu to swap channels, or apply an effect to only one of the channels (a mono effect on the left channel only for example). It works as if there were cables between the plug-ins, and you can select the order of the connections.

Does it make sense?

como baila · Post by **como baila** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 4:51 pm

[quote="Blue Cat Audio"
Does it make sense?[/quote]

Almost.

I think I get the use of the input channel(s) for external side-chaining, but some aspects of the output channel(s) is still unclear.

For example, does that also mean that selecting 'Zero' output channels on both output channels on a stereo sub plugin would send the processed audio directly to the MB-7 output, bypassing any other sub plugin in later slots in the chain ... and, effectively change the chain from serial to parallel processing of that specific sub plugin within that specific band?

Or does it mean instead that it would block any audio at all from the MB-7 output?

It would be nice to have a short video focusing on this feature. I wasn't able to find anything about in the manual. Did I miss it?

Thank you.

Blue Cat Audio · Post by **Blue Cat Audio** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 7:56 am

I think you are imagining very complex routings whereas this is really simple. There is indeed no video regarding this feature for the MB-7 Mixer, but it is explained in details for PatchWork, which works the same way.

If you select no outputs for the plug-in, it will receive audio but will not affect the signal (it is just as if it was bypassed).

You can consider the effects chains as a bus with multiple wires, on which each plug-in is connected. By default channels are processed in order, and unconnected channels remain unaffected. You can choose to change how each plug-in is connected to this buss using the audio i/o panel. There is no direct connection to the host nor "tunneling". You can just change the connection between these wires and the pins of each plug-in.

Code: Select all

ch 1----------* plugin A*------------* plugin B with SC*----------
ch 2----------***********------------*                 *----------
ch 3---------------------------------*                 *----------
ch 4---------------------------------*******************----------

como baila · Post by **como baila** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 4:12 pm

Yes, I do tend to over complicate things I don't understand!

While I can see setting one channel to 'no output' in dual mono in order to process just the side or mid ... or possibly in stereo to process just the right or left as an effect, I cannot see any other use for bypassing both channels by setting them to 'no output' other than to park a plugin in a preset that I may or may not want to use for that preset.

Are there any other uses I am missing?

I am of course hoping for the day when phase issues could be addressed to the extent that MB-7 could have each band's channels have separate audio outputs as VSTi instruments with multioutputs do.

Blue Cat Audio · Post by **Blue Cat Audio** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:52 am

There are indeed not many use cases for using no outputs at all, except if you want to be able to use the visual feedback capabilities only of an effect that also affects the signal.

Blue Cat Audio

KVR Audio

MB-7 Sub Plug-in audio routing?