Routing MIDI channels in Waveform

[johnch92]

I have a sequencer plugin that I often use for drums, but now want to use for some rhythmic melodies too. It can output different "tracks" to different MIDI channels, so I was hoping I could send one MIDI channel to each track to use with different virtual instruments. Is that possible?

[Peter Widdicombe]

Read up on the use of "racks" - although I'm not sure if it can handle splitting MIDI in this way ?

What may be more convenient is WITHIN A RACK first put the plugin, and then have it's MIDI outputs fed to the different VST's ALL inserted into the rack. Audio outputs from each of these VST's can then be fed to individual track inputs. This whole setup can then be saved to simply pop into other projects as needed, as a preset.

I'm not sure that you can do the same with MIDI - MIDI outputs from an internal sequencer distinctly fed to MIDI inputs on individual tracks ?

[johnch92]

Thanks - I did think there might be a way to do this with racks. The problem is that there is only one "MIDI output" on the plugin in the rack, so unless there is some option to split by channel that I've missed I can't split it to send to different VSTs?

[Peter Widdicombe]

If your VST does actually output to multiple channels, there is a second way; but you will need to find "J"'s channelfilter.dll (in a small file with lots of interesting plugins.
(One of those OTHER ones is one that allows you to remap cc: numbers, allowing me to change pitchbend to mod wheel on a low-level Casio keyboard)

1. Put a new rack just AFTER that VST that generates MIDI. In that rack ALL you need is to patch midi IN to midi OUT.
2. Holding the control key, drag it to as many tracks as you need as the FIRST VST in the list on each track. Add the VST you want to fire off, on each track.
3. At this point, all vst's will sound when any output comes from the sequencer or input.
4. Add J's channelfilter to each track BETWEEN the copied / shared MIDI rack, and the VST. Set the channel on the channel filter to the ONE you want to be heard (channel 1-16). Note the Channelfilter defaults to OMNI model until you set it for EACH track.

You can use the same method WITHIN the rack, if you desire to have the instruments sitting in the rack rather than outside as separate tracks.

[johnch92]

That put me close enough to find a nice solution I don't know where to find the channelfilter.dll, but the builtin midi patch bay has the desired effect, I simply block all then add the channels I want to each track. All it required was a change of mindset really - rather than routing a MIDI channel to somewhere, one has to block all the others! Once you think of it that way the solution is rather obvious. Thanks!

[Peter Widdicombe]

Haha - never thought of using the MIDI patch bay as a filter !

What I DID come across is a Waveform built-in MIDI filter, but it appears to be a "mid-span" VST keyboard - pretty, that will show what's coming through, and allow you to inject notes as well ? Just oddly named. Doesn't really seem to be a "filter" per se, other than it passes notes through, like the typical Unix "filter" shell utility.

Probably should be something like "MIDI inline keyboard" to make it somewhat obvious - unless it's a development effort that isn't yet completed?