Sound of Helm VST patch distorted when opened in Tracktion 7.

[m.f.]

Hello, this issue has happened a number of times using the Helm VST and Tracktion 7. Specifically, I modify a "Helm VST patch" with different effects that are available with the Helm VST (BPM would also have been altered) but when I open the "patch" to create a track in Tracktion the "patch" doesn't resemble the "patch" as it sounded in the Helm VST.
It is quite frustrating since I would have spent an hour or so altering the "patch" to sound exactly the way I like it only to find in Tracktion 7 that it sounds distorted. Not sure if this is a flaw with the Helm VST or Tracktion or just my own lack of experience with the software.
Most of the helm patches sound correct when opened in Tracktion but the odd one does not.
Anyone else encounter anything similar or know why the translation of the Helm patch is distorted in Tracktion 7?

Thanks in advance.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Most of this time it's because the VST level is too high. Check the level meters on the track; and they're probably regularly pushing into the red. Set the output level of Helm (at least for that patch) to be 50% what it currently is; and see if that is sufficient.

[m.f.]

Thanks for your reply. I did check the volume in regards to the patch and it is staying safely in the green zone.
I probably shouldn't have used the word distorted as the sound change I am experiencing is more altered than distorted. It is almost like some of the character of the sound has changed. The sounds may appear less punchy or dulled... in regards to this particular patch the arp effect appears to be less sharp or dulled when opened in Tracktion 7.
Thanks again for your thoughts.

[astey]

Submixes involved?

Used to be buggy.
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=545391&hilit=Submix

[m.f.]

Thanks for your response. No sub-mixes involved... just a single patch on its own. The arp effect has a noticeable octave shift downward in Tracktion compared to how it sounds in the Helm VST but not a whole octave down... kind of like a partial octave. Also overall the patch sounds like the BPM is off, being slightly slower. I tried to adjust the BPM in Tracktion to compensate, however, the patch still sounds altered from its sound in Helm.
Thanks as well for the heads up on the issues with sub-mixes.

[Peter Widdicombe]

I think similar things happen if you have a mix of 44.1 and 48khz audio device settings - and some VST's supposedly only run "well/in tune" with one or the other. That's a difference of 10%, or about 1.5 semitones..

Settings can "correct" this; but the conversion from one to the other can affect character of the sound.

[m.f.]

Thanks for your reply. I checked my settings in Tracktion and the sample rate is set at 44100Hz. I have limited experience with synth software so not sure if that is the setting that you were mentioning. Only a couple patches from Helm sound off... all of the others sound correct when opened in Tracktion compared to what they sound like in the Helm VST.
Appreciate your thoughts. Kind regards