The FX Cycler (a plug-in idea)

DSP, Plugin and Host development discussion.
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Lunch Money wrote:NicFit-- do you mean that eXT can already do it natively, or that it'd be a cinch to host a plugin like Pegger/Reggep or the other 4:1 plugin suggested (in the other thread... or was it mentioned here, too?)?

If it's easily done natively in eXT, do you have a link to a tutorial? (ie. have you already done one? I'm not about to ask you to WRITE one!! :D)

Greg
don't have time for a tutorial but I can give you a couple XT presets to disect...

You will need Synth1 and Classic Delay to open the files...it wasn't specified if the switching should be pre or post fx, so I made both ;)

Pre
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here's the keys:
C1=Dry
C#1=FX1
D1=FX2
D#1=FX3
E1=FX4

let me know if you have any questions...

nF

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Mucho appreciated!

However, it won't load for me. ;) Dunno if the folder paths have to be exactly the same, because mine are non-standard...?

Cheers, though!
Greg

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Lunch Money wrote:Mucho appreciated!

However, it won't load for me. ;) Dunno if the folder paths have to be exactly the same, because mine are non-standard...?

Cheers, though!

Greg
sorry...do you have Synth1 and Kjaerhusaudio Classic Delay installed? ...also I saved the file with the latest beta of XT(August 6th) if that helps.


nF

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Yep, I have both those plugins... but I was using 1.27, not the latest beta. Just installed the beta, and still no go. Loaded both plugins just to be sure, and they both loaded fine.

Dunno! No love. ;) Don't sweat it, though, I'm sure you have more important things to do.

Greg

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I'm sure you're all right when you say it's possible to do this sort of thing with eXT or QFX, but it just won't be the same. Not for me anyway. I kind of expected suggestions on work-arounds to this technique, but it doesn't inspire me to try. That's not because there's something wrong with these tools or suggestions, but the feel ain't there. Wtf..? Feel..? Features is nothing. Feel is everything. I like to use Native Instrument's Reaktor as an example. Reaktor is one powerful mofo, and I'm sure I would be heavenly rewarded if I knew it inside out. However, I don't like the feel of Reaktor which doesn't encourage me to learn it. Too much of a good thing. Some of you may think "bleh your loss", but I truly believe for a lot of people the whole feel thing has a tremendous amount of say in its appeal.

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hibrasil wrote:deranger,

could you use my plugins quadmix and quadpan to do what you want?

oli

http://www.oli.adbe.org
Hmmm, i've never seen this before. Gonna check it out now. Thanks :)

EDIT: Not exactly what I was imagine, but still pretty damn cool. I was thinking more on the lines of...

Load one plugin, which gives you the option to load four more VST FX plugins into the interface, sorta like chainer in a way. At that point, each of the plugins would represente a corner on a XY pad. Then be able to sync to lfo's, like in your plugin, or use freehand with your mouse and morph between the 4 different VST FX.

Imagine it.. Have a bitchrusher, Reverb, Delay, and phaser loaded and make constantly evolving pads or synthe sequences! Perfect for experimental, and acid styles! 8)
Last edited by Deranger604 on Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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kl3in wrote:I truly believe for a lot of people the whole feel thing has a tremendous amount of say in its appeal.
For deffo. I think most people here would agree that a plugin dedicated to the task would be best - we were more suggesting ways thay you'd be able to achieve what you want relatively easily. But without the feel.

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texture wrote:
kl3in wrote:I truly believe for a lot of people the whole feel thing has a tremendous amount of say in its appeal.
For deffo. I think most people here would agree that a plugin dedicated to the task would be best - we were more suggesting ways thay you'd be able to achieve what you want relatively easily. But without the feel.
And thank you for that!

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Yeah,

People don't suggest alternatives and workarounds because they don't think you have a good idea, but rather because we want to give you tools you can use right now!

As for feel, I think some of the plugs suggested ARE exactly for what you were suggesting, except you'd have to use either a standalone step-sequencer (StepChild?) or the MIDI piano roll to set up your patterns, instead of having it native to the plugin.

Something to be said for feel, for sure. Can't contradict THAT. But there's also something to be said for taking a chance. I never bothered with a lot of MDA plugs before because they were in the host's native interface (ie. no UI), which in Tracktion is uninspiring. However, based on a few suggestions, I gave them a try, and I was well surprised and pleased with the results. I realized that I was missing out by judging a book by its cover.

Greg

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I do this alot actually and have for quite sometime. It's not as difficult as it may at first seem and there are many plugins built around this type of use or that enable it. There's also many hosts, techniques, and ways to do it. i'll point out a few:

some hosts (logic jumps to mind) you can automate the cycling using midi events.

using a VST (like QuadPan http://www.oli.adbe.org) or native plugin (buzz has tons of these) you can use multi output or amps or whatever and use these plugins to cycle through each effect through the use of an LFO, amplitude input, whatever.

some sequencers allow single tracks to have multiple channels (such as a keyboard split) you can have each of these channels go through their own effect setup or aux and then automate the cycling with a plugin like those mentioned above or whatever the host itself provides.

You can also use midi filters (the NDC Midi plugin pack comes to mind) in order to change effect paths, channels or aux's. That is if your host supports internal midi routing or if you use a loopback device like HUBI or MIDIOX, most of the better hosts do. With this you could use with a notefilter or split filter in order to route to different synths or samplers based on keyvalue (c-1, d-2, etc).

Of course, alot of these features are going to be lost on nonmodular hosts and more difficult to achieve, at least not without plugins to add the features. Maybe with the exception of logic and a few things in cubase sx).

So far i've used these kinds of techniques in Buzz (primarily), EnergyXT, Console, Bidule and Logic (though I offically dislike logic nowadays). You could also do it with or through the help of apps like puredata and max/msp but of course that raises the needed experience level.

I don't know if it's possible with Fruitloops or Reason or other similar applications. Probably not in Reason, unless you can actively edit and reroute fx connections dynamically in the sequencer/track editor. Buzz is by far the superior host in this realm that I know of today. Logic's Enviroment and the use midi events once you are familiar to both can also be setup to do such things.

Anyways, check out QuadPan (its more than a Pan). It's your most likely candidate in whatever host you are using.

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mute wrote: I don't know if it's possible with Fruitloops or Reason or other similar applications.
This is easily done with FL Studio. The FX bus assigned to each channel can be automated or linked to any "internal controller":
* Use a keyboard controller to have velocity or midi note could modulate the FX bus
* Use a formula controller to have an LFO be the modulator
* Use a peak controller to have the volume of another sound-source modulate the FX bus

etc...

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cool, good to know

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